In this chapter, we get something you've all been waiting for. The Wings Begin To Emerge! And some other things as well.
Chapter 15: Growth spurts, family matters, drama and In The Emeperor's Secret Service
It hurt. Everything hurt. But worst was his back. It was a dull ache, a dull ache that would not go away! The very same ache that had begun the day before had now become constant.
It had gotten worse after his session with Pyrrha.
'Easy pace, my ass! Had something been bothering her or something?' had Jaune asked himself afterwards.
He remembered his little snarky remark to her during yesterday's combat class but come on!
Jaune had tried to ignore the ache but found that he couldn't. When he thought that he had pushed the pain away by force of will it would return worse than ever.
Jaune could not get comfortable at all. He was stuck on his back, once again using Ren's ointment for the pain and itch. Once again Ren had told him to only sleep on his back so that the ointment could do its thing.
It had helped in the evening but had lost its potency against the ache after a few hours. Since then Jaune had been awake, staring into the sieling. He had been doing it for at least a few hours now. Jaune picked up his scroll and checked the time. It was five a.m.
'Dust, can't time go any faster!'
Jaune turned his head and looked at Pyrrha, Ren and Nora. They were all sleeping peacefully. He wondered what they would do in his situation.
"Get up and do something!" said Jaune's mental image of Nora with boundless energy.
"Laying in bed suffering won't achieve you anything." said his grumpy mental image of Ren. Just like the real Ren it was not a morning person but it did have a point.
The ointment had stopped working but it still felt icky on his skin. Figuring that it was pointless to stay in bed Jaune decided to get up for a shower to get the goo off.
It would be nice actually, not having to rush his shower for once. He would take his time showering, something he had not permitted himself in a long time.
The feeling of getting the goo off his skin was great. He did not even have to touch it to get it off. One thing he had to congratulate Ren on was that it had dealt with the itch. As he figuratively felt his problems wash away he held back the urge to sing in the shower.
His sisters had once told him that he did sing in the shower and had teased him mercilessly about it.
Now the "Rock Wall Girls" of the Arc family was not around to tease him but he did not want to wake his teammates.
He turned of the water and grabbed a towel. As he dried his back he felt something stick to it. When the towel went over his back he felt a small tug. It felt odd. Had some of the ointment stuck to his back?
No, that was not it. It did not feel sticky or icky. He tried to scratch it and felt that something was there.
Stepping in front of the mirror he tried to see what was on his back. Taking a moment to find a good enough angle to see his back Jaune looked.
"Oh crap baskets."
From his back two stumps were sticking out, one on each side of his back. Jaune gently touched one of them. First he felt nothing from them but after he applied a bit more pressure he felt the touch of his own fingers.
Jaune could only describe the feeling as "reverse phantom pain" as this was not feeling in a lost limb but rather feeling in a new body part.
He nudged them a bit more and indeed there was feeling. He applied more and more pressure until suddenly the stump he was pressing recoiled like it had touched a hot stove.
It. Had. Moved.
He had seen it move. He had felt it move.
With a bit more prodding he got one of the stumps to move again. After even more poking he almost got it to move by his own will.
Jaune was fascinated and freaked out at the same time. The fangs he had been able to deal with. The thirst he had gotten a handle on with Pyrrha's help. But this?
He gulped. He needed to think. What was happening? Did it have something to do with the dreams? Was the Thirst involved in this? What were the things on his back?
What should he do about them? What could he do about them?
He needed to think. He needed to hide. Hide so that he could think in peace.
How would the others take this? They were kind of okay with the fangs, but this? What would the world think?
If this got out he could be sent off to Atlas to be studied and experimented on.
'Better not to take any chances.'
He quietly walked back to his bed and laid down. He would pretend to sleep or something and stay in bed as the others went of to class. Then he would be alone to think.
He found that he couldn't sleep on his back. The growths were too sensitive now, like his prodding had made them more keen to touch now. Jaune rolled over to his side and tried his hardest to keep the things still. They almost seemed to have a mind of their own.
Eventually he got them under control but how long would it last?
Even with all his worries the sleepless night caught up with him and soon he was asleep again.
And once again he dreamt of old memories.
He dreamt of Baal, of flying, of wings….
Pyrrha stretched her arms as she woke.
"Morning all"
To her side Ren was waking Nora up. While the rest of the team used their scrolls as alarm clocks Nora did not. It was Ren's idea as he feared that she would smash her scroll if it woke her. Even now as he tried to wake Nora he was careful not to get into her striking range. Something he had learned over several years of living with her.
'And 3, 2, 1….' Pyrrha thought as she expected Jaune's scroll to sound its alarm. Like clockwork it rang and Jaune reached out to shut it up.
And then…. he didn't get up.
He just laid there, not moving.
This was new and Pyrrha had by now learned that new was rarely good for Jaune. The fangs, the nightmares and the Thirst were proof of that.
"Are you okay, Jaune?"
He let out a cough. It sounded bad.
"Feeling sick. Think I will stay in bed today."
His voice was course but something was off. He coughed again and it really didn't sound good.
Pyrrha reasoned that she could send him to the infirmary so that the doctor could have a look at him once he was well enough. For now it was time for a shower.
Well, once Ren and Nora were done with theirs'.
Surprisingly it seemed like Jaune had been in the shower before any of them.
In a low voice he admitted that he had. He claimed it was because he had woken up because he had been sweaty from his fever and wished to get clean and to dissolve some of the mucus in his chest with the steam. At least that was what Pyrrha thought her partner meant. He kept coughing fiercely and his breath was ragged, maybe a bit pained.
'Yep, definitely taking him to the doc.' thought Pyrrha as she took her turn in the shower.
When Pyrrha exited the shower, dressed and ready, Ren and Nora had already left, not wanting to catch whatever Jaune had. A bit ridiculous as Jaune was not that bad off. He was not coughing anymore and he was already breathing normally again.
In fact, was he even sick at all? Come to think of it, his coughing and ragged breath had seemed a bit forced before. Was he just pretending to be sick?
'Just great, like we didn't have enough on our plate. Now our leader has decided to skip out on his studies.'
Pyrrha stepped forward to pull/push him out of bed.
'Sometimes we all need a little push.' Pyrrha thought to herself.
'...out of bed.'
As she got closer she could see that Jaune's pose seemed off. Through the sheets she could see something sticking out. Were they lumps? Did they just move? Was something amiss?
"Jaune, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, just a bit ill."
It was a lie, Pyrrha could tell that much. Jaune was so worried that he couldn't pretend to be sick anymore.
Then the things moved again.
"We both know that is not true. Now tell me what is wrong."
"No!"
His answer made Pyrrha flinch. It was the bark of someone scared and cornered.
"Leave me be! You would only rat me out to Atlas!"
Rat him out? To Atlas? Was this a faunus-not-faunus thing? Had she not been fine with the previous stuff? Had she not even helped him with the Thirst? Why did he not trust her?
She was getting annoyed with this.
'That's it! I'm getting answers!'
She grabbed the bedsheet and pulled faster than Jaune could react. The cloth was pulled from his back and she saw them, the things sticking out of his back. She was shocked.
"Oh dear."
Jaune pulled away from her, trying to hide his back and the things on it. He looked ashamed.
"Jaune, when did this start? Does it have something to do with his nightmares? Is anything else the matter?"
Pyrrha was already putting two and two together in her head.
"Was it the itch?"
"What is it to you? You are just going to-"
"Why would I do anything? Jaune, we are partners, why would I do anything bad to you?"
This seemed to calm Jaune down a bit. It was like when she helped him with the thirst.
"For that would be what anyone would do." Jaune said, ashamed for assuming that she would turn on him.
"I'm sorry for not trusting you."
"No, I get it. It's fine. Given the circumstances I understand your thoughts."
It was a half-truth. She had mixed feelings about Jaune's statement. On one hand he assumed she would act like everyone else and freak out. Jaune seeing her like "anyone" was what had made her make him her friend.
On the other hand she was a tad disappointed that he had assumed she would turn on him.
Pyrrha did not dwell on these thoughts for long and took heart. Her partner needed help and she would make sure he got it.
"Get dressed. We are going to the infirmary."
"But-"
"Jaune," she put her hand on his shoulder.
"We. Are. Going. To. The. Infirmary."
She would suffer no argument in this matter. She was going to look after her team leader, whatever he wanted her to or not.
Soon enough Jaune saw reason.
"Okay, let me just grab my shirt and pants."
"No."
Pyrrha was thinking serious thoughts.
While she was mostly fine with Jaune's condition others might not be. His growths needed to be hidden. A shirt would not be enough.
"What! Pyr, I'm not going out without pants!"
This snapped Pyrrha from her thoughts and made her chuckle. She didn't know if he had intended his words to be a joke or if it was just his natural goofiness Whilst she herself would not be bothered to see his bare chest, him going bare chested Would cause problems if they ran into anyone.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean your pants. I meant your shirt. Just put on your hoodie. It should cover them up better than a shirt."
"Oh, good thinking." Jaune gave her a small smile.
"I swear, I don't know what I would do without you, Pyr."
Arzet Surgia was sipping his morning coffee in peace and quiet. Many other in his profession would envy him for his position in life. His work as resident physician at Beacon Academy left him a lot of spare time, a decent paycheck and plenty of time for scholarly work. There was seldom any real rush for him.
Beacon had always been good to him.
As all of the students had aura, serious injuries were rare and even if they occurred the students usually managed to patch themselves up.
One would think that with all the students having aura there would not be a need for a doctor at Beacon but they would be wrong. Students still got sick and needed medication. There were the seasonal allergies, girls who needed the pill, the annual flu and strained muscles. Then there were the very serious cases when aura wasn't enough. In those cases he was very much needed.
After a few years of leading the school had Ozpin decided that it would be better to always have a physician at hand rather than to send the students to the hospital in town.
It had not taken long for Surgia to prove his worth to the school. In a single year had he almost prevented all deaths at the school. The few that did die did so during the entrance exam.
Surgia was about to indulge himself with an article about aura's rejuvenating properties on crushed testicles when someone knocked at the door.
"Enter."
In stepped Pyrrha Nikos, one of the last faces Surgia had expected to see. She walked steadily, had no obvious signs of illness and seemed otherwise healthy.
'Not her then.'
Nikos' face spoke of concern and now Surgia could hear another set of footsteps.
'But maybe this one then.'
In stepped Jaune Arc. Surgia knew of him. Partner to the champion, leader of Team JNPR, the man who had sent Cardin Winchester to Surgia with smashed testicles that had miraculously healed.
That case still baffled Surgia. How the hell had Winchester gotten better so fast? Well, that didn't matter now. The boy seemed troubled.
Surgia knew a few other details about Arc. He had supposedly sprouted fangs soon after he arrived at Beacon. It was no secret. It had been the subject of discussion all over the school when it had happened.
Now that Surgia was seeing them with his own eyes he could confirm the rumors to himself.
But was this visit about the fangs?
"Ah, Mr. Arc, how are we today? You seem a bit worried."
Surgia did not jump to the conclusion that Arc was here about the fangs. It was better to let the patient speak their mind, to let them relax a bit and make it seem like you listen to them. It made for a feeling of thrust between doctor and patient.
Contact with the patient was always important. So many freshly minted doctors forgot about that.
The boy seemed hesitant. He turned to his partner for support. She gave him a nod.
"No need to worry, Mr. Arc. nothing you tell me shall leave the premise of these walls. Physicians honour."
"Well, you see, I, a few days ago I…." Arc sighed.
"I better just show you."
He removed his hoodie and turned his back to Surgia.
It took all the self control Surgia had not to gasp at what he saw. He had never in his entire life seen something like this. This demanded examination!
He pull out a stool for the boy to sit on and one for himself and got to work.
Two protrusions, each about half an inch long, stuck out from the boy's back. The skin around them showed signs of agitation but it seemed to be subsiding. The skin was also intact. These things, whatever they were, had not broken skin. Rather the skin seemed to shape itself around these things.
"May I touch them?"
"Y-yes. But be gentle, they are still ra-rather se-se-sensitive."
"Thousand pardons, my fingers are a bit cold."
Surgia kept a calm and professional tone. He felt blood pulsing through them, a bit of bone and so forth. Surgia suspected he could make out a joint but didn't jump to conclusions.
This was no cancer or ordinary lump. They had too much orderly structure for that. The things moved when he touched them. They reacted to stimuli. That probably meant they had feeling.
"Could you describe the feeling of touch in them?"
"Like someone is touching my back but not my back at the same time. It's like you are touching something else."
"I see."
That meant new nerves and signal pathways to the boy's brain had already formed to a degree. And the boy had mentioned something about a few days. Dust, how fast were these things developing? Not to mention the muscles! The things were already quite strong and moved around quite well.
"How long have you had these?"
"It started as an itch a couple of days ago. I noticed these this morning in the shower."
This morning and this strong! Dust, it couldn't be! But there they were, as real as Surgia!
"I see. Would you wait here for a moment. I need to start up one of my machines."
The boy nodded and waited.
The machine in question was a MRI. It had been ridiculously expensive but had been worth every Lien. Surgia had almost had to threaten to destroy Ozpin's and Oobleck's coffee stashes in order to get the approval for this thing.
Still, it had been worth it. It was perfect for diagnosing huntsmen! It being non-invasive meant that aura was no obstacle like in surgery and one could look anywhere in the patient! Brain trauma, blood clotting and broken bones, all was revealed with the MRI.
It was Surgia's best friend.
As the machine got ready he picked up a few pair of needles, some ampules and test tubes.
"Now I understand perfectly if you are worried of becoming a human test subject but would you let me draw some blood and take some tissue samples? All for the sake of getting to the bottom of this. This will stay between us, of course."
Jaune eyed the instruments with disdain but relented.
"If it will help, then yes."
Jaune knew that his genetic material probably differed from ordinary humans by this point but maybe this could help them understand why he was changing.
Jaune held out his arm and made ready for the needles in the proper position for blood sampling.
"Been through this sort of thing before? The needles, I mean."
"Yes, I got sick quite often as a kid. Doctors often had to take blood samples to check blood values and infection values."
Surgia got to work but kept talking. Talking kept patients from stressing out over the needles and made them think of other things, dulling the stings. Not that it was needed. Arc barely twitched as the needle went through his skin.
"What of the rest of your family? Did they have the same issue?"
"No, my sisters are pictures of perfect health. It was just I who got sick every year."
The boy bent his head in shame. Clearly speaking of his shortcomings was not good for him, whatever they were his fault or not. Given his current state of mind it would be best not to pry.
Soon Surgia had collected all the samples he thought he would need and the MRI was almost ready for use. He decided to check Jaune's teeth as well, seeing as they were also changed.
'It may be connected to his other change.'
Teeth were not Surgia's speciality but he knew that if the teeth did not get along well with their neighbors they would cause discomfort and problems.
To his amazement they looked like they had always been like this, like they were meant to be like this. They fitted perfectly in the boys mouth, not wearing down on the gums or pressing on the other teeth.
The MRI signaled that it was ready for use. Surgia asked Arc to take off all things that had any metal in them and lay down on the intended place.
"Try not to move."
As the machine did its work Surgia handled the samples he had taken. With all the spare time his job gave him and Ozpin's refusal to hire him an assistant Surgia had learned to handle samples on his own.
"I have already given you your precious machine. Do not expect more any time soon." had Ozpin said once he knew Surgia could not get to his or Oobleck's stashes again.
Soon the MRI was done and Surgia braced himself for whatever he would find. It was a good thing that he did for otherwise his poker face would have failed him. Having a good poker face kept the patients calm and confident in their doctor.
On the inside however Surgia was screaming.
It was madness!
He saw the things growing on the boys back but that was not all.
Throughout his body there was anomalies. Some looked like proper organs while others did not.
How was the boy alive?
What's more, the kid was fine! He showed no signs of physical problems at all!
He was snapped from his thoughts by Nikos.
"Doctor, how is my partner?"
"Oh, yes, a very interesting case."
No shit it was!
"But I do not believe it is anything to worry about at this point. I believe what Mr. Arc is going through right now is growing pains. It will be a bother to deal with but it will pass."
Eventually at least, depending on what the things would become.
"It would be safe to assume you have already been through the worst of it. I will provide you with some painkillers in case you will need them. Nothing too strong, same stuff as for headaches."
Surgia was cursing himself. He was practically lying through his teeth!
But the boy had to be calmed down. Surgia had to buy time in order to do his tests and consult the literature. If there was any literature about this sort of thing!
He had a duty to help and if he had to bend his principles to do it then so be it. And most importantly, this had to be kept in house. It would probably be for the best if not even Ozpin learned of this.
There were many who would not hesitate to strap the boy to a table and start cutting.
A particular former doctor from Atlas came to mind.
'Dust, never again!'
For all of Atlas' achievements, a strong moral compass regardin
patient rights and research ethics had never been among them.
To his great delight the boy believed him. That was step one.
"Now, if anything changes, and I do mean anything, come see me again. Now given that this has been rather taxing on you both, why don't you take the day off."
"But we have classes!" the boy protested.
"I'll write you a note, for both of you."
"Em, thank you but I don't think professor Goodwitch will-" said Nikos but Surgia cut her off.
"Kids, who do you think taught her how to be scary? If the teachers nag or complain just tell them that I let you go. That will shut them up. Now scurry off, I'm a busy man."
'A busy man indeed.' thought Surgia as he sat down again by the computer.
From his desk he took out a bottle of aged spirits and a journal. After taking a small sip he began to write.
Even if this case was to be kept in house some documentation had to be done.
Journal of Arzet Surgia, resident physician of Beacon Academy.
I have never in my life seen such a thing. Today a student came to my practice and displayed something most peculiar. Apart from his obviously changed teeth and the growths on his back a MRI also showed several additional organs.
These included a heart and a lung. But all of these organs were strange. Best I can tell they looked like atrophied organs recovering and growing. I am amazed that they are not causing him any discomfort, not to mention killing him.
The teeth, while long and unnatural, seem to fit perfectly with their neighbors and do not seem to aggravate the gums. And the things on his back I have no words for. They are not even a day old but they are already so strong. In addition to this it would seem like the patient's back musculature is changing in order to accommodate these new appendages.
This case in unprecedented in medical history and as the first doctor to face it I shall not falter in my duties. I shall attempt to get to the bottom of this while at the same time try to help my patient.
But for all this madness I have seen I do not believe the boy to be in any danger. While these changes would kill a ordinary man he seems perfectly healthy. There is no sign of any infection in the patient at all.
Maybe it is as it should be. Maybe the gods have something in mind for him. These words may sound inappropriate for a man of science but I am at a loss for words or logical explanations.
I shall not lie. I do not have any idea of what is causing this. He is clearly not born with this but how else could he have all these changes? For now I shall study all literature I can find that might aid me in helping my patient.
The Brothers willing, I shall succeed.
"So what now?" asked Pyrrha.
They were back at their dorm. Jaune had taken off his hoodie and was feeling out his new body parts.
"I mean, I guess I should try to adapt to this." said Jaune and moved his growths. It had not even been a day but he could already control them pretty well. The sight did make Pyrrha shiver a bit.
"Do they hurt?"
"Not that badly anymore and the itch is gone. Sore as hell but they do not hurt anymore."
"Well, that's good. But, eh, what do we call those things? They are there right, in your other memories and dreams?"
Jaune seemed deep in thought, like he was trying to remember something. After falling asleep again after discovering them he had dreamt again. This time it had been about the wings and how he had been dreaded and adored for them at the same time.
They were a mutation after all.
"I think I know what they are."
"Well, tell me."
"Wings."
Pyrrha was silent for a moment.
"Wings? As in flying bird wings? Though I suppose you won't fly with these."
"Yes, they are wings." he looked Pyrrha in the eye.
"And I fear they will keep growing."
"How much?"
"Until I can fly with them."
Flying? Was he pulling her leg? A creature the size of a human flying under its own power was ridiculous! Sure, there were the grimm Nevermores but those were bird like.
A flying human simply wasn't possible.
She did not bring that up however. The things on Jaune's back now had a proper noun and that was enough for now.
"Jaune, will you be telling your family of this?"
He sighed heavily.
"I'll see, Pyr. Maybe not now but sometime soon."
Somewhere far a away from Beacon
In the Arc homestead Livia Arc was going through her notes again. The news of her sons constant nightmares had made her think and worry. She had lost count of how many times she had gone through her journals these past few months.
It turned out that Jaune had actually had these nightmare once a year his whole life until now. It would seem that the first time he had seemed to have these nightmares had been the day Jaune had been born. That was worrying.
Livia Arc could remember how what had been supposed to be one of the best days of her life had become one of her worst at the same time.
Livia remembered the day Jaune had been born.
He had been born small, smaller than his sisters.
Livia couldn't understand why. The pregnancy had gone almost perfectly. At her check-ups she had not seen or heard anything that would suggest it happening or explain why he had been so small. She had eaten well and made sure that nothing had disturbed the pregnancy and still around the middle of her last trimester something had changed…
But the worst part had been the crying, the inexplicable crying. Once she had gotten to hold her little baby boy and he had fallen asleep he had begun to cry.
They had never understood why.
It had not been hunger and there was nothing wrong with him otherwise. He just began to cry every time he fell asleep.
He had cried and wrung his body as if something had marred him or was hurting him. He had recoiled and screamed even louder when they had touched his side or back.
Augustus had demanded that the doctors do the tests again and that they would do them right this time. The tests were repeated but nothing turned up. It was a mystery.
The doctors had no idea of what was going on even as they consulted their colleagues and even retired professionals.
It had been terrible for the family. Jaune had just been born and now they had all been wondering if there had been something wrong with him or if he was even going to make it. Livia had tried to calm her boy but nothing worked. The instant he fell asleep he would begin screaming and writhe in pain as if something was hurting him.
Augustus had been dead silent. For all his skill as a huntsman there had been nothing he could do for his baby boy. He was powerless.
One of the happiest days of his life had become a nightmare. Jaune's grandfather, Gaius 'Julius' Arc had been there as well.
He had no words for what was happening.
The girls, Virdine, Iolite and Rosinca had been worried. They had all been happy to hear that they would get a brother but when he wouldn't stop crying they became sad. Livia could still remember Virdine, her oldest, tug at her sleeve and ask what was wrong with her brother. To tell her daughter that she didn't know had almost made Livia cry.
Then Iolite had come up to her as well.
"Yes, sweetie? What is it?" Livia had asked.
"Is my brother gonna be alright?"
That question and knowing that she didn't know the answer had made Livia cry. Gaius had taken the girls out of the room then, not wishing them to see their mother cry.
After one day Jaune had finally stopped crying. Livia's and Augustus' tears of sorrow had been replace by tears of joy. Their boy would be alright. And then, almost one year after his birth, the crying began again. The same happened the year after that and the year after that and...
Livia Arc felt her husband's hand on her shoulder, bringing her up from the horrible memories. He handed her a cup of tea.
"Plenty of honey, just like you like it, Honey."
"Thank you, dear."
Augustus sat down next to his wife on the couch.
"You are worried for him?"
"Of course I am. I'm his mother for dust's sake. Aren't you?"
"Yes. Terrified even."
Augustus Arc looked around the living room that had temporarily been transformed into Livia's study. He saw the drawings, the notes and calculations based on her journals. There were lexicons and books of names from all across Remnant. His wife had been busy.
"Well? Do we know anything new?"
"Nothing new." she sighed.
"The nightmares come at least once a year, about five days before the day of the previous year's nightmares. The words and names he dreams of are not from Remnant far as I can tell. The real difference between his nightmare now and before is that now he remembers them, names and faces included."
"Have you heard anything from Beacon? Has this Lie fellow contacted you?"
"We have been corresponding a bit and he tells me that Jaune is doing much better now."
"Oh?"
"His nightmares are not as bad anymore. He still has them but at least he gets some sleep now. His skills as team leader and general performance has improved to the point that he can hold his own and his grades have gotten better."
Augustus whistled. That was good. Maybe he had been wrong about Jaune this entire time. Maybe he was Huntsman material after all.
There were a questions though.
"Why hasn't he called? Doesn't he want to talk to us? Has he turned his back on us because we never had any faith in him or is it the way we treated him? Never letting him even try to see if he had what it takes? Letting the girls tease him all the time?"
Livia sighed. Her son's messages from when he had gotten accepted into Beacon proper had hurt her very soul.
Jaune had doubted his very heritage and if he actually was their child. The possible scenarios that could be going through the boy's head were extremely worrying.
Jaune had always gotten a 'special treatment' in the family. Problem was that 'special' did not always mean 'good'.
Livia and Augustus had simply hoped that Jaune would see reason and look back at his relation with his sisters with fondness and understanding. Now they were not so sure that would be the case.
"No, that's not it but I know what you mean. We always were protective of him but we were not really supportive of him. Remember how heartbroken he had been when we forbade him from becoming a huntsman?"
Their last message to him before he got accepted into Beacon had probably not helped matters either. They could have worded it so much better.
"We forbade him to speak of becoming one, Livia. We never forbade him from becoming one." Augustus corrected her.
He had given that a bit of thought. He had actually been a bit proud of his boy for exploiting that detail. Runaway or not, he still held his word like an Arc to the letter.
"So why hasn't he called? The girls are getting anxious."
"According to Lie Ren some things have happened and Jaune is just waiting for a good time to talk with us about them in person."
"In person? Not over scroll?"
"Yes. Ren said that it is for the best but maybe he could try to convince Jaune otherwise for us."
Augustus thought for a while and then shook his head.
"No. I think if there is one thing I have learned from all this it is that we have to let Jaune be the master of his own fate for once. We denied him that too often in the past and it ended up holding him back. It has to stop. Besides, he has said that he will give us a call so he will, eventually."
"Yes, yes, he is still an Arc. He will keep his word." Livia sighed.
"I just have this terrible feeling that he is keeping something hidden from us."
"He probably is but he is just waiting for a good time to let us know."
"Any idea of what it might be?"
"No idea. I had a talk with Gaius about it. He guessed it's a girl, seeing as Beacon tends to be full with pretty girls. He isn't wrong about that but I doubt that is what is going on."
Livia chuckled at that. Jaune getting a girlfriend would indeed be something.
"Yes, I can imagine him wanting to keep something like that a secret from his sisters but I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
There was the sound of footsteps from the stair leading to the second floor of the house. Morganite, Rosinca and Blende came stomping down.
"Well girls, did you find anything?"
"Not a damn thing." said Morganite earning her mother's ire.
"Mind your language in this house, young lady."
"Sorry mom. I'm just frustrated. We have been going through all books, comics, shows, movies and everything else he has ever looked at."
"And?"
"AND NOTHING! We haven't got a clue as to who these "brothers" of his are."
Rosinca nodded.
"I've been asking around town. There is no one around that Jaune could possibly call brother."
Blende just collapsed into a chair. She was not used to this kind of detective work, being the youngest of the Arc children.
"I don't get it! Why is he dreaming that he has brothers with such weird names. Mom, did you do something weird when you were pregnant with him?"
"Nothing weirder than what I did when I had you girls." answered Livia Arc with a disapproving tone.
Blende sighed and looked around the room.
Livia Arc recognized this as one of her daughter's tells for when she had something on her heart.
"Yes Blende?"
"Has Jaune called yet?"
"No but he will at some point. He has promised."
"Well has this Ren guy called? Has he said anything interesting?"
Lydia rolled her eyes.
'Dust, will this girl not let it go?'
"Yes, he has called and no, he hasn't said anything about Pyrrha Nikos. She and your brother are getting along well, just like the rest of their team."
"But mom, what about-"
"Enough." Interrupted Augustus.
"We both know full well that your brother doesn't know anything about her past and probably doesn't really care. Now, it is late. Go wash your hands and have your evening meal. You have all been staying up late as of late and I will not have that."
The girls scurried off and Augustus sank back into the couch.
"I swear, how can she have such a fascination on one person? None of her sisters do."
"No idea. Different times and circumstances perhaps? But what do you think?"
"About what?"
"About Nikos? You do know who she is after all. Unlike Jaune you do follow the news."
He shrugged but his face was painted with shame. He had denied his son any and all means to learn of huntsmen and their crafts.
"That and I sort of made sure not to expose him to anything combat related when he was young. But I suppose that it is a good thing he has someone of her skill with him. Beacon can be ruthless to those unprepared. Just as long as they get along I think they will go fine."
"I do hope so."
The married couple got quiet for a while.
"So how has Gaius been lately? What were his thoughts on Jaune's actions?"
"He has been doing pretty well and he is practically ecstatic about what Jaune is doing."
Livia sighed. Of course Gaius would be.
It was probably the old man's fault that Jaune had gotten this idea in the first place. It had been Gaius who had told the children of the Arcs' family history, of tales of heroes and such. Jaune's parents had not liked him doing it but they could not deny their children their family history.
When he had learned of Livia's and Augustus' plans to not let Jaune become a huntsman, or their ban on any and all things huntsman in the house, he had gotten quite upset. He had told them that their decision would come to bite them in the ass someday.
The boy wanted to become a huntsman to be a hero. Heroes protect and save people. Letting him become a huntsman would give the boy a better chance of surviving when he eventually would try to save someone.
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped. He always had a soft spot for Jaune. Do you think we should have him over for dinner someday?"
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind but I'm warning you, the instant we sit down at the table he is going to say 'I told you so'."
"He would. Well we better get ready for bed too. We need to set a good example for the girls after all."
"Only while they are still living under our roof." Augustus mused in a tone that spoke of mischief.
"But I don't feel like going to bed just yet."
They got up from the couch and Augustus walked over to the music unit and put on a song.
"You can't wait to have them out off your hair, can you?" Livia said jokingly and felt her husband put his hand on her hip as he embraced her for a little dance.
"No, and neither can you." he answered jokingly.
Having their children in the house had never gotten in the way of them enjoying one another. But they did have to restrain themselves and not make too much noise while the kids were in the house. Thus they acted like they were now, and just settled for a dance in the evening.
"What's the occasion?" asked Livia.
"If memory serves, it will soon be time for the Vytal Festival Ball. You could say that I am feeling nostalgic."
"Do you think Jaune will go?"
"I hope so. It can really be a wonderful time."
"Dust, his suit is still here! Do you think he will have time to get a new one?"
"Dear, he managed to get into Beacon without training. I'm sure getting a suit will be no problem for him."
A few days later
"Quite a good fit, master Taillen. Especially given how little time you were given."
Jaune was looking at his own reflection in a mirror, admiring the craftsman's craft. It was a fine two piece suit. Whilst the lion's share of it was the typical black were the collar and lapel hinted with gold and crimson, same around the ends of the sleeves.
It was not quite the artificer armor he had worn in his past life but it was fine nonetheless.
"Thank you, Mr. Arc. I do so appreciate satisfied customers that recognize my efforts."
"Paying customers, you mean." said Weiss, making the both Jaune and Siwan Taillen roll their eyes.
Ultimately it would be Weiss who would approve of the suit. They both knew that she had a right to speak her mind in this matter. She was going to pay for it, after all.
Jaune could not hope to afford the suit on his own so he was begrudgingly dependent on the girl. Even though he loathed the fact.
Siwan on the other hand could not afford to not get paid for this work and selling it for less than its actual worth would not be a sound business practice.
Weiss stepped forward, inspecting the goods. She seemed satisfied except for a few details. Weiss being Weiss could not let that stand.
'Iiit haaasss too beee peeerfect...'
"A bit tight over the back and shoulders, I believe."
That was true. Jaune had been bulking up recently and with the emergence of the wings on his back the measurements taken by Tallien were a bit off. This did however not seem to worry the tailor too much.
"Not a issue, i assure you. I took this eventuality into consideration. Young huntsmen, you see..."
He clapped Jaune on the shoulder.
"... train a bit too much to wear suits regularly. Their shoulders get too wide too fast. No, just a minor adjustment and the suit will be ready."
"Good." said Jaune, happy that this would soon be over. "When do you think it will be ready?"
"Hmm, the day of the ball I believe."
"What!? But I have someone waiting for me at the dance. I mustn't be late!"
"Fear not. I will make sure to get it here in time for the ball."
"I'll hold you to that."
Weiss stepped forward.
"Good. Mr. Taillen, a word if you don't mind. There are a few minor details I would like to discuss about the suit."
"Eh, do I need to be here for that?" asked Jaune who had begun to take off the suit.
"No, it is just a matter of a few finishing touches. You just worry about not tripping over your own feet in front of your partner."
"Yeah, I'll do that."
Jaune did not bother to hide the annoyance in his voice.
Emerald had, just as Cinder had told her to, kept an eye on Jaune Arc.
She did consider it a waste of her talents but Mercury was simply not suited for the task.
This task demanded someone who could be discreet and silent on their feet, something Mercury wasn't. Despite being the son of a great assassin his footsteps sounded like his feet were made of metal.
'Oh wait, they are. Silly me.'
Still, Emerald did find this job amusing. She had noticed Arc sneaking away from his team with the Schnee girl only for them to lock themselves up in a secluded room.
'Naughty, naughty.' had Emerald thought when she remembered that Schnee was supposed to attend the ball with Neptune Vasilias.
'So close to the dance and already sneaking off with some other guy's girl. Tsk. Tsk.'
Emerald had almost been disappointed when she figured out what was actually going on by eavesdropping through the keyhole.
'So Arc has promised to go with the champ but has turned to Schnee in order to get a proper suit? Not quite the scandal I had hoped but it doesn't have to be one for our purposes.'
Emerald had figured out that Pyrrha Nikos, "The Invincible Girl", had for some unknown, dust-damned, and foolish reason a flame for the fanged Arc.
Then Emerald got an idea. It was like a whisper in the back of her mind.
'How would the Invincible Girl react to learning that Arc had secret meetings with Schnee despite promising to go to the dance with Nikos?'
'It wooould beee heaaartbreakiiing.' said a voice in her mischievous mind.
Oh yes, it would indeed be heartbreaking.
Emerald took out her scroll and messaged Cinder. She would appreciate this opportunity very much.
It was time for gossip, lies and slander. Three of Emerald's favorite things, only bested by a few scant things.
Unbeknownst to Emerald however, she had not been as stealthy as she had believed.
From the shadows the eyes of Sky Lark were watching her on Cardin's orders.
Being a mischievous character himself he had quickly realized that the mint haired girl was up to no good. Her behavior and the way she snuck around after Arc was proof enough. Not to mention the look on her face as she tapped away on her scroll.
Sky picked up his own scroll and messages Cardin. He would want to know of this.
"They are moving. Up to no-good."
Soon he got an answer.
"Follow at a distance. Do not get seen. For the Emperor."
Sky chuckled.
"For the Emperor indeed."
Even if it wasn't for Cardin's new "Emperor", Sky would still do this. If for nothing else than to figure out why the Cinder bitch was so interested in Arc all of a sudden.
"Well, enjoy your suit, Fangs. It had better be worth all this time with the Ice-bitch."
It had not taken Cinder long to come up with a way of using the information Cinder had brought her. It was like Cinder had been given a dark muse. Like out of nowhere she was getting these wonderful ideas to demoralize the Invincible Girl and Cinder just couldn't help but put them to use.
'Breeak heeer heaaart. Heee issss the keyyy to heeer heart.'
Of course, the voice didn't tell Cinder that Nikos was the key to Arc's heart. But hey, what Cinder doesn't know, she doesn't need to know, it thought.
They were in the library.
They had rehearsed their roles and were now ready for their "play".
The first act had been to pretended to be looking for a book whilst searching for their target.
Once they had found her their second act began: to pretend that they had not to noticed her while they let their poisoned words do the rest.
"Are you sure, Emerald?" asked Cinder is faked surprise, making sure that Nikos heard her.
"Oh, but I am. I saw the Schnee girl sneak off with Arc but a few hours ago." answered Emerald as she played her role with gusto.
"Oh my. What do you think they were doing?"
"I don't know but when I saw Arc again he seemed a bit, em, tired. Like he had been exhausting himself."
Cinder leaned in closer, as if to whisper something to Emerald. But she didn't whisper at all. She did lower her voice a bit but she made sure Nikos would hear every word.
"Do you think they did… it?"
In the corner of her eye Cinder could see Nikos flinch at her words. The girl had been on edge ever since they had started talking about Arc and Schnee.
Tugging at the redhead's heartstrings was almost too easy.
"Maybe, he certainly seemed to want it kept secret though. He left separate from Schnee." said Emerald, mimicking her leaders way of directing her voice towards Nikos.
"What a scoundrel. And Emerald, can you guess what I heard about Arc?"
"What? Tell me!"
"He had promised to attend the ball with Nikos, the Champion."
"Good dust, Cinder! And now he is just going off with Schnee! Doesn't Nikos matter at all to him?"
The champion stood up from her table and walked off. She seemed calm and composed but to an experienced manipulator like Cinder it was clear that their little play had done its work.
With a little more push the girl's heart would break, effectively removing her from any and all calculations. For without the heart, there is no will to drive the body.
Question was, what sort of push would they use?
Cinder signaled for Emerald to follow her.
"My, my, Nikos seems a bit upset. I wonder if something is bothering her?"
Cinder's voice was ripe with sarcasm.
"Yes, let's hope for her sake that Arc's suit doesn't suffer any delays." answered Emerald in the same tone. In reality it was a suggestion for what to do next. To make sure the delivery suffered a delay.
"Indeed Emerald, indeed."
A new idea was forming in Cinder's head. Her dark muse was already giving her a juicy idea.
She would have Emerald go on a little errand for her. To carry a simple message, nothing more.
Just a little something to make sure that the knight didn't get to his maiden in time.
Cinder had recently learned that Roman Torchwick was visiting Vale to gather 'supplies' before he darted back to his excursion at Mountain Glenn. Said supplies were bombs but that didn't bother Cinder none.
The 'good' Mr. Torchwick would have to squeeze in a little job into his tight schedule for her.
But even as Cinder was trying to be professional about all of this, she couldn't help but take pleasure in what she was doing to the champion.
She just couldn't help it.
Because Cinder Fall is a cunt.
Pyrrha's point of view
Pyrrha had pretended not to hear their talk. Somehow she had managed to to keep herself under check.
'It is just dance practice.' she had told herself.
'She is just helping him remember how to dance.'
But try as she might, there was a voice of doubt in the back of her mind that she couldn't silence. Its words seeped easily into her heart.
'Keeeep telling yourselfff thaaat. Hee isss keeeping sssecretsss from youuu.''
Why would he want to keep his dealings with Weiss a secret? Pyrrha believe in Jaune, she really wanted to but he had obviously not been completely up front about his last meeting with Weiss. Why?
'Heee isss young and handsooome and sheee is young and prettyyy.'
"He had promised to attend the ball with Nikos, the Champion."
Cinder's words carried to Pyrrha even as Cinder had tried to whisper them.
"Good dust! And now he is just going off with Schnee! Doesn't Nikos matter at all to him?"
'Yesss. Dooo youuu matter to hiiim at aaall?'
That was it! It was like a dagger was driven into her heart. Pyrrha did her best not to storm off. She tried to force herself into the state of mind she entered during her times in the tournaments to keep herself focused.
It didn't help.
Did she even matter to him at all? For all she had done for him, this was how he thanked her! Had her affection made him think that he could just go off with just anyone?
And why did Weiss go along with this? She must have known about Pyrrha's feeling for him!
Everyone from their teams knew except for Jaune.
Was this some damn scheme to get back at Pyrrha for choosing Jaune as a partner over Weiss? Damn it, Pyrrha thought Weiss was past that!
Pyrrha tried to calm herself but the feeling of betrayal just wouldn't go away, not yet.
The treacherous voice in her mind just wouldn't cease.
'Youuu don't matterrr tooo hiiim.'
Jaune would certainly have a explanation for all of this. But now she needed to think. She needed to be alone for a while.
Neither Cinder or Emerald or Pyrrha had notice Team CRDL sitting conspiratorially in the library as they walked by.
A rather rare sight actually, given that at least two of them seemed to be allergic to books.
Team CRDL on the other hand had noticed everything and heard everything. The obvious set up, the act and the bitches' reaction to Nikos'. Not to mention Emerald's little suggestion.
"Well, well, well, I think we have just uncovered another piece of the bitch's plan."
Sky was pleased with himself for getting them the lead for this.
Russel nodded.
"Aye. Question is, is their end goal Arc or Nikos?"
"Could be something else entirely." Dove countered.
"You know, like stepping stones, slowly working their way towards something. Maybe she wants to demoralize them for the Tournament?"
They all turned to Cardin who was thinking about the situation and his directives from the Emperor.
He could tell Arc about this but in doing so he would have to reveal his little talk with the Emperor and the Emperor's order, the order to do as Arc said.
Cardin was not really keen on taking orders from Arc even if the Emperor had told him to do as Arc said.
He feared that if Arc knew of the Emperor's order he might use it to turn Cardin into his errand boy and get revenge for Cardin doing the same to him.
So telling Arc was out off the question.
Telling Nikos would probably be a bad idea as well.
She and CRDL were not on good terms after that she had learned of their plans to get her attacked by wasps.
She would probably assume they were lying about Cinder and Emerald, trying to cover for them, making the pairs' lies even more potent. Furthermore Cardin had no proof of Cinder's ulterior motive.
He didn't have a clue as to what that might be. Without that his chances of convincing Nikos were equal to a snowball's chance of survival in hell.
There was silence until finally Russel spoke up.
"Well Cardin, should we tell Jaun- I mean the Lord Primarch?"
"I don't know. Let's just keep an eye on it."
Hell, Cardin wasn't cut out for this espionage stuff. He preferred hitting things until they stopped being a problem. But this was not a problem he could just bash over its head.
"What about the suit? They might try to delay it somehow. They were willing to shadow Arc, maybe they would try to steal it."
"Yeah, and I don't trust that Emerald chick." muttered sky.
"It's the way she keeps looking at people's pockets, like a pickpocket."
Cardin scratched his head. The bitches might try to steal the suit. Maybe he could do something about that.
"I have an idea. Hope you guys like chopping for clothes."
The way Cardin figured things would go just fine as long as Arc got to the dance in time to meet up with Nikos.
They just had to make sure that it happened… somehow.
Cunt, thy name ist Cinder.
So by now you all should have an idea of what the voices want and what they are.