Author's note: Have I mentioned how flipping awesome you guys are? The support has been incredible, and I haven't enjoyed writing a fic this much in ages. Thank you all.
This chapter features some stuff I think a lot of people have been waiting for. Incidentally, in this fic, the Tournament will be covered in Season 2, since Season 3 will MAJOR canon divergence.
With that out of the way… let's rock!
Season 2 Chapter 4:
The atmosphere was electric. Not a sound was made. Every breath was held, chests tight with tension as every pair of eyes watched, unblinking, the sight in front of them.
The two boys faced off. Both stood over six feet tall, and in many ways, mirrored each other perfectly. Lean muscle rippled on both frames, their bodies filled with strength and vitality. Both were stoic, their faces giving no sign of their thoughts and intentions, bespeaking only laser focus.
One, dark haired, wearing a hat that seemed to almost fuse with that very same hair. His hands were by his sides, his hips slightly lowered and knees bent. He was ready to move at any moment.
The other, with hair golden as the sun. He had his hands high, in a boxing stance. Legs bent and slightly apart, one side angled diagonally towards the opponent. He bobbed slightly on his feet.
Both of them waited, not making a move. Searching for the opening in the other's focus.
In the crowd, Yang leaned in closer to Weiss.
"Hey, are you seeing this? That guy's fighting on an even level with Jaune. How's he doing it? Your boyfriend tell you anything about how his kung fu magic works?"
Weiss shook his head.
"It's too fast to tell for sure… but there's something weird about that guy's Aura. It's almost as if it's capable of separating from his body."
"So… a projection-type Semblance?"
"I don't think so… it seems too solid… too well defined. Almost as if it's alive."
This was the first time anyone at Beacon had seen Jaune actually have to try during a fight.
The result was spectacular.
The arena floor had been shattered entirely, bits of rubble scattered around as the fighters now stood on bare ground.
Jaune had launched blow after blow, but none of them had landed. He had also blocked and avoided several hits, not allowing a single attack to damage him.
But the curious thing was… he appeared to be fighting thin air.
His opponent, Jotaro, didn't attack Jaune physically. At least, not with his own body. Yet, something was fighting Jaune. The vibrations from the impacts of whatever was meeting Jaune's fists was shaking the entire building.
And while Jaune had broken part of the ring… that invisible thing had broken the other half of it.
"Heh," said Jaune. "Star Platinum is as strong as ever, huh?"
"I could say the same about you," replied Jotaro.
Behind him, a massive figure floated in the air, even larger than him. Standing close to seven feet tall, his bone structure was massive, and his musculature made him seem like a god out of the old myths. His skin was purple, and he was clad only in a loincloth. Wild black hair trailed from his head.
This was Jotaro's hidden power, the violent guardian spirit that obliterated all who stood in front of him with overwhelming strength.
Special Ability: Stand Wielder.
Jotaro Kujo's fighting spirit (Aura) and psychic energy combine and manifest themselves physically in the form of a guardian spirit, called a Stand. Jotaro's Stand is named Star Platinum, and is a reflection of his very soul. As a close range Stand, Star Platinum boasts incredible strength and speed, capable of shattering diamonds with his punches.
Star Platinum was invisible to most people. However, to a practitioner of Hokuto Shin Ken, who could sense Auras and use his own consciously, his form was revealed.
"Well, no point dragging this out," said Jaune. "Showdown?"
"Call," replied Jotaro.
Neither of the two friends were willing to use their hidden killing or crippling moves on the other, and were instead using this sparring match as an exercise in fighting.
Since they were stalemated in terms of striking, all that remained… was an exchange of blows until one of them went down.
Jaune couldn't help but let a grin show on his face. In truth, he did not enjoy fighting at all normally.
But this… this was different. This kind of fight made him a better person. It taught him respect, and made him connect to his opponent in a way nothing else could.
Yeah, I can see your soul, Jotaro. I'm glad you're my friend.
As one, both of them roared out loud, Star Platinum uttering Jotaro's own war cry.
Shinken and Stand rushed right at each other, neither one intending to back down.
They accelerated near-instantly to a speed just below that of sound, neither one wanting to destroy the entire building.
And though they were holding back, the collision of their fists nearly blew everyone backwards.
"Ata! ATA! ATATATATATATATATATA!"
"Ora! ORA! ORAORAORAORAORA!"
Like machine guns, both figures fired off punch after punch, meeting the other's strikes with their own. It was like watching two storms collide.
Weiss watched in awe.
Incredible. So this is the world he belongs to…
In that moment, she was incredibly proud of Jaune, but somehow, her heart ached as well.
He was smiling. Truly happy, something so rare for him. That was the joy of fighting a worthy and equal opponent, one who was also a friend.
Somehow, in that moment, he seemed immeasurably distant.
That Jotaro guy is incredible too. Is everyone in Jaune's world like this? It's as if they're all legends. Heroes out of some kind of myth. I wouldn't be surprised if they all travel the world, saving lives.
"WATAAAAAAAAA!"
"ORAAAAAAAAA!"
One final time, two titanic fists smashed into each other, the shockwave denting the concrete floor that had so far been under the ring.
Both figures pushed, but neither succeeded in moving the other.
At the same time, both lowered their fists, and Jotaro called Star Platinum back into him, causing the giant to disappear from view.
"I concede," he said, with a hint of a smile.
"That's a coincidence," replied Jaune. "So do I."
"The match is a draw," said Goodwitch, who was remaining faithful to her task as referee. This bout followed none of the rules of a standard spar, since the amount of Aura both fighters had was too large to be measured by the arena's systems. She couldn't even declare either of them a winner due to ring out, since the ring itself had been destroyed.
It was an absurd battle.
Yet, it had been, for lack of another word, beautiful.
Somehow, seeing it made her feel proud.
Jaune had proven himself a trustworthy ally, and something about Jotaro Kujo from Shade seemed honourable and true as well.
"Let this serve as a shining example of what you should all strive to be as Hunters. Stand proud, and fight!" she said.
One by one, the students clapped, and soon, applause broke out in full, many standing up to show their respect to the two warriors, who clasped hands.
"This was fun," said Jaune. "I wish your old man could be here to see this."
"Yeah," replied Jotaro, smiling, with just a hint of moisture in his eyes. "I wish that too."
As they walked off the arena floor and into the stands together, Jotaro said one other thing.
"Jaune… you have a family here. Treasure them. But one day… you should visit your blood too."
Jaune closed his eyes, acknowledging the validity of the advice.
"Yeah. I will."
Elsewhere in the stands, Lily Arc had witnessed the entire match, carefully observing everything and analysing it. She was seated right at the back, so no one saw, but she wiped away a tear quickly.
You've gotten so strong, Brother. You overcame your fate. Well done. I too, won't hold back when I face you.
She had seen him fight twice now. Once, when he effortlessly incapacitated Qrow Branwen and Winter Schnee. And now, a second time, when he fought to a tie against a far more formidable opponent, Jotaro Kujo.
She had done her research on Kujo, and on Hokuto Shin Ken as well.
Physically, Jaune far outstripped most Hunters. But it was his knowledge and skill that took that power and made it an unstoppable force.
Pressure point manipulation to alter bodily functioning in a variety of ways. And the ability to project his Aura and strike from a distance.
Jaune was indeed powerful.
It was a little known fact, but Winter had sparred with Lily at Atlas.
The record was 3-0 in Lily's favour.
You're powerful, brother. But that won't be enough to beat me.
She got up and walked away.
In the meantime, Jaune and Jotaro made their way over to RWBY and the rest of JNPR.
"That was an incredible fight," said Pyrrha.
"I hate to say it, but you guys are on a different level. What sort of roids are they feeding the people at Shade?" asked Yang.
"Nothing. They aren't feeding any roids," replied Blake, who was close to Sun, also from Shade Academy.
"That. Was. Awesome!" said Ruby.
The young girl had recovered quickly from seeing her uncle defeated. She was still young, with an indomitable spirit. Seeing stronger and stronger people only made her want to improve instead of intimidating her. She was back to her regular self now, and that meant she was trying to learn how exactly the two boys were able to fight like they did.
"It was like, you were hitting him, but you weren't actually hitting him? How exactly did you do that? Is your Semblance some kind of telekinesis?"
She zoomed around Jotaro, rapidly shooting off question after question.
Jaune saw the warning signs. A vein was starting to pulse in Jotaro's temple.
As the Shinken had learnt long ago, Jotaro's pet peeve was, in his own words, "noisy women".
He decided to intervene before the situation got out of hand.
"Ah, it's a secret," he said, gently steering Ruby away from him. "Can't go around giving it away now, can we?"
It was at times like this that Alucard served as a natural deterrent. Though his manners were perfect when he wanted them to be, most humans experienced instinctive dread in his presence, since he was after all, a creature that was supposed to prey on humans, though he hadn't done so in a long time.
At the moment, however, he had other things to worry about.
Weiss still looked subdued and preoccupied. She had been that way since the meeting with Winter.
The Previous Day:
It was an awkward situation for Jaune, who tried not to squirm in his chair. Fighting Winter Schnee? Easy. Getting interviewed by her as a potential boyfriend for her younger sister? That was more complicated.
To make matters worse, Jaune was not even aware that Weiss had any such feelings towards him.
Weiss knew what her feelings were, but was aware that Jaune was too dense to have noticed.
Winter had seen that the two were close, and had concluded they might be dating, something she would not approve of until she got a better idea of his character.
And so, the three now sat, of course, in Williams' restaurant. Because budget.
"This is where you dine these days," Winter said, with mild distaste.
"It's actually really good," Weiss replied, defending the establishment.
Jaune silently thanked her.
Weiss really had changed a lot since her arrival at Beacon.
"Hmph. We shall see," said Winter, not impressed so far.
They ordered, and waited for the food to arrive. As they did, Winter decided to open the interview.
"Now. Explain."
No beating around the bush.
"Well," said Weiss. "This is Jaune Souther. He's a first year student at Beacon, and in my class. And we're… friends." She said the last word with a bit of a struggle, since she wanted to be much more than that.
That fact didn't go unnoticed by Winter.
"Really, a friend? Is this true?" she said, looking right into Jaune's eyes. It was a technique she had often used. It tended to unsettle people, causing them to give an involuntary reaction if they were lying.
Of course, since Jaune really did think of Weiss as a friend, he wasn't lying when he replied.
"Yes, it is," he said. This whole situation was uncomfortable. He believed Winter had some kind of misconception regarding his intentions towards Weiss, and he wanted to clear it up.
"Is that so? You seem awfully close for friends." Winter uttered the word in a clear tone of sarcasm.
This time, she looked right into Weiss' eyes, and got a reaction.
Weiss flinched slightly and looked away, unable to maintain eye contact.
Yes. She's hiding something.
"That's all we are, Winter. Hahaha, why would we be anything else? My my, you're being paranoid, sister, hahaha…"
She laughed nervously as she attempted to distract from the topic.
Winter, of course, figured it out immediately.
The situation was the exact opposite of what she had been afraid of.
It wasn't Jaune who trying to get into Weiss' pants.
It was the other way around.
She smiled tightly at her sister.
"I see. Well, that's good to know," she said aloud.
We will speak of this in private, her eyes said, a message Weiss received, causing her to gulp nervously.
Present Time:
"Hey. You okay?"
A voice broke into Weiss' thoughts, and she looked at Jaune, whose face was filled with concern. While that made her happy, she had no way of telling him the truth.
Which was, that he was the very reason she wasn't okay.
Specifically, because her sister would most probably do her best to make sure nothing further developed between the two of them.
After the three of them had left the diner, Winter had texted Weiss and told her to come to the guest quarters in the evening. That meeting was today.
Winter had always been strict, and held herself and others to the highest standards, so Weiss had no doubt she would question her until she found out exactly what her intentions were. Since childhood, the younger sister had looked up to her for her strength, intelligence, ideals and ability to forge her own identity, separate from the Schnee name.
Weiss came to Beacon to achieve the same thing: an identity of her own. Freedom.
She had always been intimidated by Winter, and that fact hadn't changed, even now.
"I- I'm…" she paused, and decided to ask, even if indirectly, how Jaune would have dealt with such a situation. "Have you never had someone you wanted to make proud? And no matter how hard you tried, it was never enough. They'd keep seeing you as useless, and you'd be too scared to show them you're not."
She stopped when she realized how ridiculous it sounded to ask Jaune Souther if he had ever felt useless.
"What am I saying? Of course, you wouldn't-"
"I've felt that way."
Jaune's childhood had been like that. Born without the more obvious talents of his sisters, he had constantly felt like the runt of the litter, and felt like a lesser person because he wasn't able to keep up with them. And no matter how hard he had tried, he had never been able to win the approval of his father.
But all that had changed, when he had left home.
"You have to realize, admiration can blind you. Follow logic, and instinct. Your instincts will always show you the path to grow. Focus on your own growth, and not on making anyone else proud. That will mean going against the person you look up to. There will be confrontation. But the moment you face that person without backing down… is the moment you leave behind your former shell. From a child scrambling after others… to a woman who decides her own path in life. And… thinking of it: would you rather win someone's approval… or stand next to them as an equal?"
Weiss stared at him, reminded once more how easy it was to be distracted by one aspect of him, and ignore the others.
Before he became the Godfist, he was simply a boy who ran away from home.
I see now. This is why he wants to fight Lily, isn't it?
Suddenly, the reason behind the strength in those fists became clear.
The callouses on the knuckles and palms shone, visible like never before, along with countless small scars on his arms and chest, that Weiss had not paid mind to before.
These were testaments to his effort. The blood, sweat and tears he must have paid to get where he was.
He had stopped seeking approval, and instead, focused on growing. And now, with the strength he had gained, he would show them he was worthy… by surpassing them all.
"You're something else," Weiss said, shaking her head. But she was smiling.
This was a goal she could believe in, and give herself to, without regret.
A goal not based on anyone else' expectations, but her own desires.
I want to be strong. I don't care about being the strongest. But, enough to live free, on my own terms. That's all. And, in the life I see… I want you by my side.
Yeah, I'll fight for that goal.
Even if it means against Winter.
"Jaune, thanks."
"Eh? It's nothing much. Just some ramblings."
"No. You help a lot more than you think."
The group walked away together.
Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched by a certain trio of infiltrators.
"Hey, hey, this is no joke. Are these guys for real?" said Mercury, who had sweat rolling down his face. "There's no way we can take them. And, no offence, Cinder… but as you are, you can't either…"
"You think I don't know that, fool?" grunted the woman. Her mind was racing. Since coming to Beacon, she had heard rumours of the so-called Shinken, the Godfist. But hearing and seeing were two different things.
The power in those fists was beyond unreal. And he hadn't been anywhere near going all out.
Even with half the power of a Maiden, she didn't stand a chance.
A tale she had once heard from Salem ran through her mind.
Long ago, in the age of gods, when the Twins had quarreled, a third being had come to Remnant.
Asura, God of Strength, Wrath, War and Martial Arts.
Seeing the chaos in the world, he had soundly defeated both Twins, and admonished them for their irresponsibility. Before leaving, he had left behind the seed of his power.
Everything after this was legend… but it was said that this power was sublimated in the form of a way of fighting and a spirit… that were invincible.
The possessor of that art inherited the spirit, and the power of the God of War.
Salem had gone on to speak of the only human she had met in her existence who had been able to stand undaunted before her.
That man too had borne the title of Shinken, given to him by the people… and his name had been…
"Kenshiro. That boy is Kenshiro's disciple, I know it."
"Kenshiro?" asked Emerald, the name unfamiliar to her.
"Never mind," said Cinder. "Stay focused on the mission. We don't need to fight them yet. Only obtain the power hidden under Ozpin's tower. Once I have that, the boy will be no issue."
Emerald was less sure about that.
Jaune alone was one thing.
But that Jotaro had been every bit his equal.
Later that evening:
Weiss knocked on the door of the room she had been asked to come to.
"Enter," said a voice from within.
She pushed open the door and entered, closing it behind her. The room was similar to RWBY's dorm, but far more Spartan in its setup. There was only a bed, a closet and a study table, along with some chairs. On one of these say Winter Schnee, looking at her expectantly.
"Come, sit," she said.
Weiss took one of the vacant chairs and sat down.
"Now, then, Weiss. Given that it is just the two of us here, let us speak openly. Your feelings for this Jaune… Souther" (she forced the word out unwillingly) "are deeper than simply platonic, are they not?"
By going right to the point, her intention was to break down Weiss' determination at the start, exposing any possible hesitation. If one hesitated, they were unsure. If Weiss was unsure of this boy, then there was no way Winter would allow her to get involved any further with him.
To the utter shock of the elder sister, however, when Weiss answered, her voice was strong and confident.
"Yes, they are," she said, without any stuttering or pauses, clearly, loudly.
Winter frowned.
"I see. So what exactly do you think of him?"
"He is an outstanding man. The best I have seen."
This was not going according to plan. Winter had expected to talk Weiss out of a poor life choice. She had expected to talk some sense into the well-meaning, but naive younger sister she was so fond of.
Instead, she was meeting a young woman who was making her own decisions.
One who spoke with conviction, with the voice and eyes of one who has made her choice, and is ready to face whatever it brings, one way or another.
Absurd. She must be taken in by his strength. This foolish girl… can't she see? There's more to life than combat ability.
"The best man you have seen? Because he is the strongest? The best fighter?"
Weiss shook her head.
"No."
Memories ran through her. Everything she knew of Jaune, everything she had witnessed, and everything he had told her.
The words came on their own.
"Even if he were the weakest man on Remnant, he would still be the best. He values life, and is willing to fight for it, even it means being hated."
She remembered him taking on Cardin, and subsequently, the Anti-Faunus thugs.
"He can admit when he is wrong, and is willing to see past the mistakes of others, and give them a chance to be better.
She remembered that he had believed in CRDL, and stood by them, something no one else had done.
"He has genuine respect for others, and no arrogance or self-superiority."
She remembered the countless times she had seen him spend time with the crew at Beacon, or the town docks, and even his friendship with Williams, who ran his favourite diner.
"Above all, he is kind, and compassionate."
She remembered the very first time he had truly spoken with her.
The time he had come and spoken a kind word after Ruby had been chosen as leader, and not her.
He had seen right past her fears and insecurities. It didn't mean he knew everything about her. It didn't mean he understood her completely. But he had been able to see her for what she wanted to be, and reminded her that that person was worth striving to become.
"Yes," said Weiss, smiling now. "It's funny. I used to think courtesy, politeness and speech indicated character. After all, one who took the time to work on those aspects must be self-aware, at least to some extent. And of course, the measure of a person was how well they could keep their true intentions hidden. How well they could work in silence. Only a fool would allow the world to see him for what he truly is."
She paused, and her smile grew bigger.
"There's no such thing. The so-called common people possess as much nobility as us. In their own quiet way, they strive day in and day out, with dignity, perhaps resenting their lot in life, but walking forwards all the same."
Her voice grew stronger, and her eyes shone with determination.
"Jaune Souther has more actual nobility than the blood of every Atlesian aristocrat combined. But I could care less about that. He is a good man. Honest and true. Smart, but never scheming. Brave, but never cruel. You want proof of his character? He's the most powerful being at Beacon, and he has never used that power to harm others."
She looked Winter in the eye.
"I… consider him much more than a friend. And I'll find out exactly how much more. I won't leave his side. Now… or after I graduate Beacon."
Winter's eyes widened.
What happened to my little sister?
I left you when you were a fish who could barely swim.
Now… you're almost a dragon.
Weiss was not a child anymore. Therefore, Winter could not talk down to her anymore. It didn't matter that her skills as a Huntress left much to be desired.
Before all those things, came simple courage and resolve, and Weiss was showing that.
All right, let's put your guts to the test, then.
"So your choice is made? You are ready to deal with the consequences?"
"Yes."
"Then give up your inheritance. Stop relying on the allowance that man sends you."
Weiss did not falter, and Winter nodded in approval.
Good. She isn't scared. The fight is just beginning though.
"You desire freedom, do you not? Don't let that freedom be tainted by dependence on that man who calls himself our father. Win a life for yourself. One that you'll spend with this boy who means so much to you."
Weiss nodded.
"Yes… that makes sense. But I'm still in school… how do I provide for myself?"
"Well, Beacon handles lodging, food and other necessities, so you're at an advantage for now. Once you graduate, you'll make a living as a Huntress. But in the meantime, there is a way you can earn enough to not depend on anyone."
Weiss' eyes widened.
"Really?! How? How do I do that."
Winter smiled.
"Win the Vytal Festival, and take the prize money for yourself."
Yes. Yes, that works. Everything fits together. I can do this.
She grabbed her elder sister's hands in gratitude.
"Thank you, Winter."
"Oh, don't thank me yet. You and Souther aren't on the same team, remember? To win the prize… you have to beat him."
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
"EEEEEHHHHHH?!"
Ah, yes, thought Winter. There she is. It's good to know there is still some of the old Weiss in her, or she'd become a stranger.
"Good luck, little sister. I will be cheering you on."
"But that's impossible! I can't beat him! You can't beat him," Weiss protested.
"True, I cannot. But you can."
"How?! He's stronger, faster, more durable, more skilled, has sharper senses, more techniques at his disposal, shows no signs of mental weakness, and likely has some insane hidden Semblance."
"Ah, Weiss. Always looking at every situation from the wrong perspective. Well, I'll leave it to you to figure it. Good luck."
It was clear ending to the meeting.
As Weiss turned to leave, Winter spoke.
"Take this with you."
She held out a leather jacket that was indeed positively sparkling.
"Got this cleaned up at the best launderers' in town. After I got that drunken idiot to scrub it first, of course. Give it to Souther with my best wishes."
Weiss nodded and took that jacket, beginning to leave.
"Really though, I did not think you were into large men with muscles."
"You don't get to judge my fetishes!" Weiss shouted quickly as she dashed out, blushing furiously.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere:
Sigh, what's he want with me this time?
Jaune was headed to Ozpin's office yet again. He had received a text asking him to come.
Can't I get a little bit of downtime?
The familiar elevator carried him up to the office, and the doors slid open. He walked in. The only other figure present besides Ozpin… was Lily.
"Hey hey, brother. Guess you got this VIP-only invite too, huh?"
"More like dirty-work only invite," Jaune quipped.
"Nah, nah, this isn't the usual routine", Lily assured him. "I think…"
"She is correct, Mr Souther," said Ozpin. "It is for a task, but one far more in keeping with your position here as a student."
That surprised Jaune.
Well, it wasn't an unpleasant change, getting called to the headmaster's office for regular school stuff for once. But then, Lily was here too.
"So? What's the deal?"
"Well, you see, Mr Arc. The tournament ball is in a week, as you know."
"Uh-huh."
"Now, it is customary for alcohol to be served at this event, although those below legal age are not permitted to partake of the same."
"Uh… ok, I guess."
Jaune had no idea where he was going with this.
"Where do I come into the picture here?"
"Well," Ozpin looked slightly shifty and awkward. "There has been a little bit of an issue. You see, normally, we get professionals to handle the bar during the event. This year, however, due to *ahem* unfortunate circumstances, the staff we normally hire from a local establishment will be unavailable."
Elsewhere:
Junior was nursing several broken bones.
"I hate that Xiao Long girl."
Back in Ozpin's Office:
"In any case, the long and the short of it is that we have managed to procure the alcohol, but we will require someone to run the bar. Their duties would include mixing and serving drinks."
At this point, Jaune had a horrible idea of what was coming.
"Nope. Not going to happen. Out of the question."
Ozpin continued as if he hadn't heard him at all.
"I've heard somewhere that Hokuto Shin Ken practitioners can accurately guess the exact composition of a drink, along with its components, and reproduce the same if they are given the ingredients. Would you not say this is an opportunity to put that skill to the test? I do understand, of course, if this is just a rumour, and Hokuto Shin Ken isn't actually capable of a feat such as that…"
Ozpin slyly watched for his response, and was rewarded with the sight of a vein bulging in Jaune's temple.
"Are you questioning the 1800 years of the Divine Fist? Hokuto Shin Ken… is invincible! I'll mix drinks like none of you have ever had the privilege of experiencing. I'll bring forth the liquor of the heavens themselves!"
"So easy to manipulate," muttered Lily.
"Excellent!" said Ozpin. "The required attire is a formal suit, and one has already been custom made for you. It will be sent to you tomorrow morning. Please try it out and let us know in case any alterations are required."
Jaune was about to leave, when he remembered something.
"Why is she here?" he asked, pointing at Lily.
"Ah. Well, you see, the tournament ball not only has a bar, but also an entire section dedicated to various games of chance, which take place one after the other."
"Alcohol and gambling. We are in a school, right? And not a Yakuza film?"
"*Ahem. This year, that section will be run by Lily Arc, who has agreed to provide her assistance to us."
Jaune looked at his sister, who was grinning broadly and holding up a peace sign.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Hey, someone's got to make sure the house doesn't lose."
Jaune looked at Ozpin.
"Please don't tell me this is how Beacon gets its funding."
Ozpin checked his watch.
"Well, would you look at the time. I am running rather late for another appointment, so we'll cut our meeting short for today. I look forward to seeing you at the ball."
With that, Ozpin all but sprinted out of his own office.
"That irresponsible troll," said Jaune. "How does someone like this become headmaster?"
"Lots and lots of weed, brother," replied Lily.
Jaune found himself laughing in spite of himself, and she joined in.
For a brief moment, they were children again, bonding over some ridiculous bug or glitch in a game they were playing together.
The moment passed quickly.
"I won't be taking it easy on you in the tournament," said Jaune.
"Neither should you. If you don't bring your absolute best, you won't stand a chance."
The rest of the week passed quickly. Classes reduced workload a lot, since most teachers knew that students would have their minds on other things, mostly to do with potential dates.
The day of the ball arrived, and nervous excitement had hit a fever pitch.
Yang and Ruby had been assigned the task of helping organize the event, though most of this was handled by Ozpin and Goodwitch. Weiss had been offered the chance as well, but she had declined.
She was far too busy psyching herself up for what she planned to do during the date.
Some would call it dramatic, but this was her first pseudo-proper date with Jaune, and she couldn't think of a better time to end his misconceptions, and reveal her feelings to him.
Classes were off for the day and the next, and she would have loved to spend the morning with him, but it seemed… wrong to meet up before the actual date. In a way, it would ruin the anticipation.
So, an anxious morning of trying to pass the time ensued. She read course books, classic fiction, and even some of Blake's smut in an attempt to distract herself. The last of those proved to be a bad idea, as she was now stuck with images of doing the same things with Jaune as the couples in those books.
Arrrrgghhh… why am I acting like some kind of lovestruck teen? Have to get my act together! Love is war, and the one who enters the battlefield unprepared will die!
She sat down and did some breathing exercises, regaining some sense of calm.
Now. Just nine hours to go. I can do this. I can totally do this.
Meanwhile…
"Jaune, why are you doing push ups?"
"The question", said Jaune, speaking while pumping out reps, "Is why you aren't doing push ups, Ren. One should never neglect bodyweight training. I mean, you want to look good for Nora, right?"
Ren groaned.
"We've been over this. We aren't dating."
Jaune pushed himself to his feet.
"The hell is wrong with you? How can you have an amazing girl like that interested in you and not notice?"
Ren glared at him, stopping himself from trying to choke him out with difficulty.
The fucking irony of hearing it from you, of all people, he thought.
"Uh, I'm right here, you know," said Nora, from the bed.
"Hello, Nora," said Jaune.
"Hi."
He turned his attention back towards Ren.
"As I was saying, you gotta make some effort, or there won't be any progress?"
"Oh, for the love of- you know what? Just own up and admit that you're nervous."
"Nervous? Me? Impossible. I don't get nervous! I'm cooler than ice."
Jaune made an exaggerated pose. It appeared Jotaro's influence was starting to show itself now that he was in Vale.
Ren sighed.
"Look, you can try to hide it all you want, but it's clear as day that you're excited for your date with Weiss. Why can't you just come out and admit it?"
"That's…"
Jaune took a deep breath.
How did he feel?
He was excited. It was impossible for him not to be.
Weiss was, in every way, an incredible person. She was strong, clever, brave, determined, and had a heart. Her determination and unwavering support over the past semester had touched him.
Slowly but surely, she had proved he could trust her. He no longer felt butterflies in his stomach like he did when he had first met her. It was replaced by a stronger feeling. A sense of warmth in his heart.
It leapt every time he saw her.
He was happy when he was with her.
In so many ways, she was the friend he had never had before. No matter how difficult it got, he knew she would always be by his side. Knowing he could always count on her gave her a sense of security and peace. Jaune did not associate home with a place. He thought of it as people one belonged with.
Yet, Weiss was a girl. And the fact that she was extraordinarily attractive did not escape his notice. His earlier crush was gone, but something stronger was in its place. He was still attracted to her. But now, she was also a person he trusted and respected.
But for Jaune, who had never been in a relationship before, or even interacted with girls beyond what was strictly necessary (barring his family, who didn't count), it was difficult to confidently believe that she might think of him that way. In the absence of any such statement, he did not want to assume anything and develop hopes that would be dashed.
"She's just a friend," he said aloud.
Three simultaneous snorts were heard in the room.
"It's as if he put all his points in Combat Perception, and saved nothing for Social."
"Density to rival a black hole. How are you not crushing this room right now?"
"You have to look at it from a different perspective. One where your head is not up your ass."
All three of his teammates gave their honest opinions on the matter.
"Thanks, guys," said Jaune. "Very helpful."
That Night. Vytal Festival Tournament Ball:
The event had started off without a hitch. All preparations were done right, and people were starting to arrive. Most looked around in wonder at the ambient lighting as they took in the music.
Jaune checked himself in the mirror one final time. The suit Ozpin had sent indeed fit perfectly, neither tight nor loose. It was also of a cut that emphasized his physique, making his wide shoulders and strong frame stand out. The blazer and trousers were black, while the shirt was white. A bow tie was worn under the collar. For this occasion, Jaune had swept back his hair, making him look considerably more like the legendary Nanto warrior whose name he had adopted.
Satisfied with his appearance, he headed out.
Well, here we go.
The rest of JNPR had already left. Ren and Nora had expectedly gone together, and Pyrrha had gone with Jotaro frigging Kujo of all people.
She took my advice about seeking out strong people and facing challenges. Asking out Jotaro is no mean feat.
Closing the door to his own dorm, he walked across the hallway and knocked on the door opposite.
It was opened, revealing Yang, who was in a black dress that did an excellent job of showing off her voluptuous body and considerable assets. She looked him up and down, and whistled slightly.
"Wow. You didn't hold back at all, did you?"
"Thanks. You look pretty good yourself. Is Weiss in?"
"She is indeed," said Yang, smirking. Turning, she called into the dorm. "Hey, Ice Queen. Your date's here!"
She moved aside as footsteps approached, and Jaune got his first look at Weiss in her attire for the evening.
Weiss had stayed true to her style, wearing a white off-the-shoulder dress with red accents. Unlike usual, her silver hair was tied in a different style, falling luxuriously down her back. While Weiss was not as generously endowed as Yang or Blake, it didn't matter at all. Her slender figure, a combination of nature's gifts and her own efforts, curved out into surprisingly full hips, creating a sensuous contour that Jaune could not take his eyes off. The dress cut to one side, revealing one of her long, shapely legs from the thigh down, firm from training. And there was her perfect face, which always looked like it had been sculpted with love by God. Tonight, it was radiant, as she smiled without reserve at Jaune, her blue eyes sparkling with joy. She hadn't used any make-up. None was needed, or wanted.
The full force of that smile hit Jaune harder than any punches in recent memory.
"You look… amazing," he said, before he could stop himself.
Weiss' cheeks grew slightly red, but she didn't break eye contact.
"You don't look shabby yourself, Successor."
Jaune remained standing there, not really having any idea of what to do next. He had never attended any formal events of this sort before. From what he vaguely remembered of films he had seen as a kid, the couple was supposed to link arms.
Not sure if he was doing it right, he extended one arm from his body slightly, and Weiss took it eagerly. He could feel her chest against himself now, and she was very close. He realized for the first time how warm she was. It made him instinctively want to pull her even closer, and wrap around her protectively. She smelled amazing too. Normally, a Successor to the Divine Fist could have identified every component of that natural smell. But at the moment, Jaune couldn't, and didn't even care to try.
The experience of new sensations was not limited to Jaune either.
Weiss had seen Jaune's formidable body before. His leather vest typically exposed the hard cuts of his upper pectorals, and the entirety of his arms. She was linked to one of those arms now, and it felt even bigger than it looked from afar, nearly twice the thickness of her own. She instinctively felt the muscle under the sleeve. It was firm, and felt strong. Dependable. An arm that could provide, defend, and fight for her. She also realized just how tall Jaune was, her head barely reaching his shoulders. She wished they weren't going to some ball at all: that there would be no people, so she could pull closer to that massive frame and allow him to hold her.
"Well, shall we?" asked Weiss.
"Yeah, let's go," Jaune replied.
The two of them proceeded to the Main Hall, where the event was being held, and entered through the door together.
"They didn't spare any effort, it seems," said Weiss, looking around.
"Yeah, because this is where there illegal earnings come from," Jaune replied.
"What?"
"Nothing. I said I'm happy they're playing GreenDay."
The space in the centre had been cleared out to function as a dance floor. The long tables were close to the walls, laden with food, and there were several tables provided for people to dine on as well, as long as separate chairs for those who simply wanted to rest and enjoy without partaking in any dancing. And as Ozpin had said, there was a table around which several older people who appeared to be business bigwigs were hovering.
That table was under the charge of Lily Arc… who was in her armour even on this night.
That's crazy… but in a weird way, I can respect it.
There was also a bar, that was currently unmanned.
It then occurred to Jaune that he had completely forgotten to tell Weiss that he would need to be the one handling that.
"There doesn't appear to be anyone behind that bar," Weiss noted, her eyes following his to it.
"Ah, uh…. That's because I'm supposed to be the one there."
Weiss blinked a few times.
"What?"
"I'm supposed to be the bartender for the night."
"... Oh, I see."
It was hard for Weiss to keep the disappointment from her voice.
She had been looking forward to this for a while, only to find that even on this night, his attention wouldn't be completely on her. Or at all, if he was going to be manning a counter by himself.
Jaune mentally swore.
He had been taken in by Ozpin's provocation, and not been cool and calm enough to remember that he already had plans for the night.
"It'll only be for a little while," he said to Weiss. "It's not a paid gig or anything, and I never said I'd be there the whole evening."
"But that would mean compromising, wouldn't it? That just doesn't seem right, from you of all people."
"But I-"
He stopped, not knowing what to say. Weiss wasn't looking at him.
"Go on, do what you have to. I'll be fine."
She walked away without giving him a chance to say anything further.
Jaune watched her go with a growing feeling of indescribable sadness and frustration.
Of course I can't have fun. Why the fuck did I even expect any differently?
Mood soured, he walked over to the bar and casually flipped himself over it to stand behind it, all regard for a pretense of what people called "manners" gone. Taking off his blazer, he stuffed it under the table and rolled back the sleeves of his shirt.
Bring it on.
In frustration, he turned around and began to inspect the ingredients he'd have to work with, and picked out a few choice ones.
Though he recognized none of the brand names, his senses couldn't be deceived, and through a combination of colour, odour and behaviour, he quickly determined what was what, and effectively estimated a good mix. He proceeded to create the concoction in a small shot glass.
"Well well. A bartender who takes the initiative before anyone even asks for anything. I like it."
Jaune looked up to see Professors Port and Oobleck.
He was in no mood for conversation, so he merely shot them a sullen glance instead of replying.
"Ah, it appears he's not in a good mood," said Oobleck, speaking quickly as usual.
"I recognize that look. You, my boy, are experiencing trouble with women, are you not?"
Jaune groaned.
"Look, just order something or go have gun elsewhere. You're jamming up the traffic here."
Port laughed loudly.
"Well said. All right then, I'll have whatever it is you've just made."
"And I'll have one too," said Oobleck.
Jaune looked at them cautiously.
"You sure? I mixed this one for myself, and I've got a stronger resistance than most…"
"Oh, I'm confident we can handle at least a shot each."
"Your choice," said the Shinken. Creating a second shot of the same, he slid both glasses forward towards the first two customers.
"What is this called?" Oobleck asked, ever the curious one.
Jaune considered the question. It was just something he had come up with on the spot. Yet, he would need to name the drink. Since he had fixed it up for himself as a way to temporarily forget how massively he'd screwed up this evening, he decided to go with…
"Star of Sorrow!"
"Oho! Unusual name! He put his feelings of regret for the woman he lost into it," said Port, far too cheerfully for the occasion. Jaune sincerely hoped no one made the mistake of inviting him to a funeral.
"Well, cheers," said Oobleck.
Clinking glasses slightly, both of them downed their drinks in one gulp.
The burning sensation of alcohol rushed down their throats, as expected. Apart from that, there was a refreshing feel to the drink, which went down smoothly. And an unusual flavour… bittersweet.
"That's… curious. I'm certain I was in a good mood when I came here."
"This… overwhelming regret. Similar to what I feel when I nick coffee from Ozpin's office…"
The two professors looked much more sombre now, walking away with a look on their faces that suggested they were reconsidering their life choices.
Jauned sighed as they left. This was going to be a long evening.
Customers proceeded to come, their number and frequency quickly increasing as whispers spread of the bartender capable of creating concoctions that were magic.
Finally, when the dancing began in proper, and most people took the floor, Jaune got a breather. He sat down on the table, watching disconsolately.
"Rough night?" said a familiar voice.
"Not in the mood for you right now," Jaune replied.
"Oh, come on. It can't be that bad, right?"
With most people dancing, Lily had gotten a break from presiding over the gambling as well. She performed a trick with several high value coins as she stood leaning against the bar.
"Four million lien?" Jaune raised an eyebrow. "No one would be stupid enough to fall for tricks long enough to lose that much. Just how good are you at gambling?"
"At Atlas, they used to say I have the devil's luck. Did you know: the money I made this way is greater than the Arc fortune?"
Jaune couldn't help but laugh a little at that.
It was somehow satisfying to hear that she had been successful after walking away from the family.
"Does the old man know?"
"Nah. We haven't spoken in years. Things were never quite the same after you left."
"I see."
Neither of them said anything for a while.
"You left to get stronger. Trained under someone called Kenshiro, didn't you? I'm glad it worked out for you."
"Thanks. I never asked… but why did you leave? It's not like you had a reason to."
"I did. I had my reasons. Graduated Combat School early, and got scouted by Atlas, who wanted me to enlist. It was a chance to leave that place, so I took it."
"You in the military, huh? You know, I don't believe it, even after I've seen it."
"Hahaha, fair enough."
Once more, a brief silence followed.
"It was sort of strange. I didn't really have a goal, other than getting away from them. Maybe it's a good thing I went to Atlas. They gave me something to do. Something to give my life for."
"It's strange now, to hear you speak like that. Didn't you want to be the best?"
"That was a long time ago, brother. You and I both know about The Illusion."
Jaune nodded. It was something Kenshiro had told him about, and something his own experience had confirmed.
"There is no such thing as 'strongest' or 'best'. It's an illusion, and the closer one gets to such a state, the farther it slips away."
Lily nodded.
"Everything you truly need… is right here."
Jaune looked at her.
She was staring at the people on the dance floor, with a look on her face he had never seen before. It was unlike her usual, confrontational, sly gaze. She looked sad. Almost wistful.
"You have some good friends here. No, maybe that's incorrect. You did the impossible. Found a new family. Hold on to them."
For once, Jaune found himself nodding to something she had said.
"Yeah. That's the plan."
Jaune noticed that she was even carrying her oversized sword, which was strapped to her back as always.
"Doesn't it get tiring to carry that around everywhere?"
"Hahahaha! Sometimes, I guess?"
She turned to leave, but offered one final piece of advice.
"You should believe in that girl a little more. Her feelings aren't weak that she'd leave over one mistake."
She shot a glance at Jaune, and winked.
"You can get away with letting this date be a failure. But I'm pretty sure you can do better than that."
With that, she left.
Jaune watched her go, with wide eyes.
Heh. To think, a day would come, when you would give good advice.
But… she's right.
I AM better than this.
This evening was supposed to be spent with Weiss. The ball came second. But since he had accepted, he'd show them exactly how powerful Hokuto Shin Ken was.
Going over to the bar, he flipped over it, and grabbed several bottles.
"All right, listen up!" he shouted loud, so that everyone heard. "This is the only drink that's going to be available this evening. Take it or leave it. I guarantee it'll satisfy. If it doesn't, I leave Beacon tomorrow."
Murmurs began to go around at his audacious challenge.
Normally, it'd be considered a breach of etiquette. But with the Vytal Festival looming, everyone's competitive spirit was awake, and they welcomed his fire.
"All right, big guy. We'll take ya up on that."
"Yeah. Get us drunk if ya can!"
Several shouts of similar statements rang out.
Jaune delivered a steely gaze, then flipped four bottles into the air simultaneously, all of them open.
While they were still going up, he prepared the vessel for the mix. Flawlessly, he caught each bottle on its way down, and poured the exact right quantity of its contents into the vessel before putting it away safely. In this way, the constituents were ready. Holding the vessel with both hands, he began to shake it, faster and faster, with growing force.
"Mix, mix, mix, mix ,mix, mix, mix, mix, mix, MIX!"
Finally, the onlookers were dazzled by a momentary glimmer of light from the vessel.
"Hey, did that just?"
"No way…"
"This is some kind of trick, right?"
Finished with the preparation, Jaune laid out an entire row of shot glasses all over the bar, and poured a miniscule amount of the concoction into each. In this manner, he prepared a total of one hundred glasses in five minutes.
"Oi oi, this is some kind of joke, right? There's no way that tiny amount is going to get anyone drunk!"
The statement came from a large, middle aged man in Atlas formal wear.
Jaune looked at him.
"Say that after you've tried it. But be warned. This is not for the faint of heart."
The man glared at him.
"Huh! I'll show you how I can hold my liquor. Watch this!"
In one smooth motion, the man grabbed a glass and poured its contents down his throat.
He looked triumphantly at Jaune.
"Hahahaha! You see that? Not even a burn on the way down. You call this a cocktail? What is this? Cheap soda?"
"You don't get it, do you?" said Jaune, exuding a menacing aura.
The man backed away a step, intimidated.
Jaune continued.
"You are already drunk."
"What?"
Right on cue, the man felt a pleasant numbness come over him. His balance weakened, and he struggled to stay up.
"Wooaaaaah!"
Applause rang out from the entire ballroom. By the end, everyone's attention had been directed towards the spectacle.
That should take care of that. If they finish all of that, there won't be a single person on their feet in this hall.
Duties done for the evening, Jaune looked around for Weiss, and was unable to spot her anywhere. He spread out his senses, and located her Aura outside. In the grounds. He dashed into motion, sprinting out of the room. Not bothering to use the door, he simply jumped out of one of the large open windows, landing gracefully below, to further applause from the crowd, which had taken to watching his exit.
Jaune couldn't hear them. His attention was focused entirely on one person. As he ran like the wind, he recognized the path his legs were leading him down.
Weiss' Aura was in the same part of the Beacon grounds where he had found her after the Initiation. Where she had sat alone, disconsolate at not being made the leader. That was the spot where they had had their first real conversation.
Within seconds, she was in his sight. He slowed and came to a stop.
Sitting alone, on that bench, she looked so small against the night sky. It was fitting in a way that her pale, snow-like visage was framed by its dark canvas.
For a moment, Jaune forgot to breathe, completely blown away by the sight.
But his senses returned as soon he noticed her red-rimmed eyes, and her forlorn face.
He felt an actual physical pain at having made her feel that way. At having made her sad, having caused her to be out here all alone, at a time when she should have been enjoying herself. At a time when she should have been happy.
It meant that much to her? Just spending an evening with me?
The thought seemed arrogant. It seemed illogical and impossible that spending time with him of all people would be that important to her.
But Jaune didn't care. At this moment, he only wanted to take away whatever was causing her pain.
He walked towards her. She hadn't noticed his presence yet, and soon, he was standing mere feet away from her.
"Weiss…"
She turned and looked up at the sound of his voice, and their eyes met.
Those eyes glittered slightly, trembling, wet with tears.
The Weiss who was always strong, always in control, always trying her best, had cried, and it was his fault.
Jaune felt terrible about it. Seeing the one person who had had his back and done everything to be there by his side was in pain, and he couldn't bear the sight of it.
Abandoning hesitation and doubt, he came forward and knelt in front of her before pulling her into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"What are you sorry for?" she asked in a low voice.
"I-" his words stuck, but he forced himself to push past his fear. "I was supposed to spend this evening with you, wasn't I? And I screwed it up."
She said nothing.
"Weiss? I'm sorry. I know now that it meant a lot to you."
"But it didn't mean anything to you, did it?" she said in a tone devoid of emotion.
Jaune shook his head vehemently.
"It means everything to me!"
Weiss' hands gripped his shirt as she pushed him apart far enough for their eyes to meet.
"Then how could you just go and do something else! Did you not even bother remembering that we had plans? Was it not worth putting some time aside for? Or did you think you could just do whatever?"
"I-" He couldn't say anything. Her words stung.
He had been lax. They did have plans.
And Weiss deserved better than this.
He had failed her here, and making excuses was unseemly.
"I didn't think that at all," he said softly. "But you're right. I was careless, and rude. I really screwed up this time. I failed entirely."
There is a specific expression that one only witnesses on the face of one who has lost. It was common at Beacon, with all the competition between students. One day you won, another you lost. Weiss had seen it on almost everyone's face. Ruby. Yang. Blake. Ren. Nora. Even Pyrrha. She had seen it many times on her own.
But she had never seen it on Jaune's face before.
Whether it was the Initiation, or standing up for Velvet, or fighting thugs, or the battle at the docks. Even against two extremely skilled Hunters. Jaune had never been daunted by the opponents put in front of him. Without fail, he had emerged victorious.
Until now.
He looked utterly defeated. For all his strength, skill and resolve, he was helpless here.
What made it even worse was that even in the mood Weiss was in, she hadn't lost sight of who he was. That he was a boy who had stood by people when they had needed him, even if he had been hated for it. Whatever the need, if Jaune was capable of answering it, he had.
Seeing him like this only made the tears flow more. The evening had already become a trainwreck, and it was getting worse.
A number of feelings raged within Weiss.
Appreciation for how much of a stand-up guy he was, and resentment at the fact that that was precisely the reason why he had treated her well. It hurt and angered her to think that she was nothing special to him, and that he had been nice to her because that was how he was to everyone.
And thus, even knowing how unfair she was being, she couldn't help but let her anger out.
"So you won't even try to deny it? It's not even worth fighting to hold on to for you, is it?"
"That's not true-"
"Oh, bullshit, Jaune. Just cut it out, already. I don't want this regular, by-default kindness from you. Save your pity."
There was a flash of anger in Jaune's eyes.
At long last, after countless failed attempts via swords, hammers, axes, fists and bullets by many an aspiring Hunter, someone at Beacon had manages to get past his armour and land a scratch on him.
Weiss noticed it.
"What pity, exactly? I've never given you any pity. By-default kindness? What is that even supposed to mean? Are you listening to yourself right now?"
It was the first time Jaune was expressing anger on a personal level, over something done to him. It wasn't Jaune the Shinken who was lashing out, it was simply Jaune the boy, the person.
He continued.
"How do you even say something like that? I don't throw my trust around, you know this. You of all people know this. What, you think I treat you like everyone else? Is that what you think?"
"That is exactly what I think, Jaune!" Weiss responded, not backing down one inch now that push had come to shove. "If you're good to everyone, then how is what we have anything different? It's always the same. Always the same robotic fucking perfection. Like you have no flaws at all. Did you have to trade your soul for all that power? Is that it? Is that why I always feel like I'm the only one who actually cares about this? About us? Why it feels like I'm the only one trying?"
"Oh, that's absolutely rich, coming from the one who turned tail and ran just because I put someone in their place. Only one trying? Well, I guess your efforts are weak then."
Weiss' eyes widened.
That had been a low blow, bringing up the past like that. Just a few minutes ago, it would have been unthinkable to her that Jaune would pull a move like that.
She had managed to get under his skin to the extent that he would lash out that desperately, holding nothing back.
Somehow, it gave her a tiny feeling of happiness.
Simply knowing that at the very least, she meant enough to the boy to genuinely anger him.
So, she responded in kind.
"That would be a lot more convincing coming from someone who basically didn't ditch me after agreeing to spend the evening."
Jaune threw up his hands.
"I said I'm fucking sorry! What do you want? I'm tired of beating around the bush. Just tell me what you want already."
Weiss clenched her teeth, reaching out and grabbing his collar, hard.
"What I want? What I want? What the fuck do you want? All that power, and you're still a non-committal little bitch where it counts. What am I to you exactly? Why don't you tell me that?"
Jaune bared his own teeth.
"Oh, so now we're doing this, are we? Of course, put it all on me. Typical. You don't think I've been dealing with that pressure since day one?"
Weiss frowned.
"You've lost me. What the fuck are you even talking about now?"
Both teens, normally polite and well-spoken, had had their smooth exteriors well and properly shattered by now.
"You think this is easy for me?" said Jaune, all but shouting now. "How the fuck am I supposed to know what you're feeling? You think I've done this before? You really think I do this with everyone? Do I fucking look like I'm that smooth? Every second is difficult. I have to ask myself if I'm going too far. Whether I'm overstepping my bounds. Reading more into things than there actually is. Because if I screw up once, it's all over. Once it breaks, you can't put it back together. I know that. I know that better than anyone. So I do what I can. Do what I can to make sure I do right by you."
"Why? Why would you go to that extent? Why would you put yourself through that?"
"Because I care about you, all right?" Jaune snapped, finally at the end of his patience.
Even Weiss seemed taken aback by his outburst, and Jaune was breathing hard, visibly exhausted.
When he spoke again, it was in a much softer voice.
"I don't want to lose you, all right? And if that meant I had to compromise, to hold on to you, I'd rather do that. Yes, it's a bitch move, I know. Are you happy now? Happy you've broken through my 'robotic perfection'? This human enough for you?"
But Weiss wasn't paying any mind to his weak attempts at being passive aggressive.
All of her was focused on what he had said first.
"I don't want to lose you. And if that meant I had to compromise, I'd rather do that."
He didn't want to lose her.
He wanted to hold on to her badly enough that he'd compromise on his otherwise unshakable ideals.
He did care about her. She did mean something to him.
The thought sent, after a long cold evening, a surge of warmth through her.
Compromise, he said. What exactly is he compromising on?
Weiss had a wild hope for what it might be.
Her heart was hammering in her chest.
She had already come this far.
And she had been prepared to lose from the start.
In fact, she had been the one putting things on the line.
It was about time he risked something too. If he couldn't even risk stating his true feelings and getting rejected, then she didn't want to be with him. No matter how good of a man he was. No matter how much she liked him.
"Fuck compromise," Weiss said. "Be honest for once. Just tell me: what am I to you, really?"
Put on the spot, Jaune now had only two choices.
To answer with the truth, or back down, and lose her forever.
If he answered with the truth, and it turned out she didn't feel the same way, it would end anyway.
Either way, there was no escape.
But pushed to this point, Jaune chose to go with the truth. If he was going down no matter what, then he'd go down having revealed who he truly was, and what he felt.
"I used to think you were the first real friend I made here," Jaune said.
A look of sheer hurt and betrayal crossed Weiss' face for a second, but Jaune wasn't done.
He shook his head.
"But looking back, I probably forced myself to think that. It seemed safe, in a way. If I'm honest, I don't think I ever saw you as a friend. Not really, anyway."
Weiss prepared to run. This was quite enough, and she was hurting inside. Just as she was about to do so, however, he said something that made her stay.
"I mean, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be attracted to friends that way. I kept thinking about you. But I guess I didn't want screw up what I already had. I liked the fact that you had my back. And… I enjoyed spending time with you. A lot. I wanted to know more. But, if you didn't feel the same way, I'd lose you. So I kept telling myself to play it safe."
He looked her in the eye.
"I guess that plan's out the window now."
He paused and took a deep breath, then said the words that changed everything.
"I like you, Weiss. As more than just a friend. And… I know I screw up a lot, but that's how I feel. If it isn't mutual, then I understand-"
"Just shut up already."
Before he had could react, she pressed her lips onto his.