Chapter 9 guys. I really appreciate the support you guys have been giving me. I'm kind of using these as practice for writing my own original works.

Jaye stepped into the lecture theatre, a good thirty minutes late. Professor Oobleck regarded him with a blank look.

'Ah Mister Ryder. Would you care to explain why you are late?' The Professor zipped up to him, much too close for comfort. Jaye started at the sudden apparition of Professor Oobleck's face.

'JESU-Ah…I was having a talking with Miss Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin.' Jaye responded, staring at face that was far too close to his own. Professor Oobleck observed him for a moment, sipping loudly from his cup right in Jaye's face before zipping back to his desk.

'Very well Mister Ryder, take your seat.' The hyperactive professor sipped rapidly from a coffee cup. Jaye walked over to where Blake was waving at him and slid into the booth. He jumped again, banging his knees against the bottom of the table, when Professor Oobleck suddenly apparated in front of him.

'And it's Professor Goodwitch, by the by.' He informed the startled boy, zipping back to his desk. Jaye placed a hand over his racing heart.

'What the heck is wrong with this guy!' He wheezed, his heart still hammering against his ribcage from the heart attack he'd nearly had. Blake patted him on the back.

'Don't worry, he startled us too, but you'll probably get used to it in the next half-hour or so.' She soothed, clearly amused by the usually unshakeable Jaye doubled over to avoid having a fit. Professor Oobleck cleared his throat loudly.

'As I was saying, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution, more popularly known as the Faunus War, humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie.' The green haired Sonic The Hedgehog reincarnate declared, taking rapid sips from his coffee cup. He zipped to the front of the class.

'Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the….' The professor zipped back and forth within the classroom. Jaye leaned forward in his seat. As much as he hated class, this professor, once you got used to the rapid movement, was actually quite entertaining, and he was interested to know about the Faunus War.

'Now, which one of you young scholars can tell me what many theorists believe to be the turning point in the third year of the war?' He posed to the class. Weiss, like the goody two shoes know it all she was, raised her hand.

'The battle at Fort Castle.' She declared, and Professor Oobleck dashed back to his desk.

'Precisely! And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?' He asked again. At this point, Jaye noticed Cardin flick something at Jaune's head. Jaune, who was fast asleep, was shocked awake. On his movement, Professor Oobleck shot over to him.

'MR ARC! FINALLY CONTRIBUTING TO CLASS! THIS IS EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT! What is the answer!' He asked like an excited puppy, clearly invading Jaune's personal space. Jaune looked at him, confusion plastered across his face.

'Uuuuuuh…the answer…' He stammered, while Professor Oobleck stared at him in anticipation. 'The advantage…of the Faunus…had over that guy's stuff…'

Jaune glanced desperately around the room, finally noticing Pyrrha, who was gesturing frantically at him. She had her hands cupped around her eyes, and he squinted at her gesture.

'Uuuuh, binoculars!' Jaune announced, and the class erupted into laughter. Pyrrha and Jaye simultaneously facepalmed, and the Professor shot back to his desk.

'Very funny Mister Arc. Cardin! Perhaps you would like to share your thoughts on the subject?'

Cardin rocked back in his seat, his legs on the desk. 'Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier.'

'You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you, Cardin?' Pyrrha shot at him, glaring slightly. He returned the glare, raising his hands confrontationally.

'What? You got a problem?' He challenged. Pyrrha ignored him, turning back to the Professor.

'No. I have the answer. It's night vision. Many Faunus are known to have nearly-perfect sight in the dark.' She answered, and Professor Oobleck smiled. Cardin groaned to himself, rolling his eyes.

'General Lagune was inexperienced, and made the mistake of trying to ambush the Faunus in their sleep.' Blake continued. 'His massive army was outmatched, and the General was captured. Perhaps if he'd paid attention in class, he wouldn't have been remembered as such a failure.'

Cardin, clenched his fist, rising from his chair. Blake narrowed her eyes at him, and Jaye prepared to step in front of her if the need arose.

'Mister Winchester, please take your seat. You and Mister Arc can both see me after class for additional readings.' He sipped again from his ever-present coffee cup, and Jaune groaned in response. 'Now! Moving on.' The Professor shot across the classroom again.

After Class

'You two have been struggling in my class from day one! Now, I don't know if it's a lack of interest or just your stubborn nature, but whatever it is, it stops now.' Professor Oobleck declared to the two boys, placing his mug down on the table.

'You've worked hard to gain entrance to this school, and we only accept the best of the best. SO! I expect you to act like it.' He announced, retrieving his coffee mug. 'History is important gentlemen! If you can't learn from it, you're destined to repeat it.'

He paused emphatically, before raising his mug in the air. 'Pages 51 to 91. I want an essay on my desk by next class!'

The Professor darted out of the classroom. Jaune groaned, gathering his things, and trudged out the door. Walking up from behind him, Cardin shoved Jaune to the floor, stalking off angrily. Pyrrha, who was standing by the door along with Blake, Ren, Nora and Jaye, hurried over to help him up, pulling him to his feet.

'You know, I really will break his legs.' She huffed, glaring at Cardin's back. Jaune sighed, clearly exhausted by everything. Pyrrha studied him for a moment concernedly, and Jaune refused to meet her gaze. All of a sudden, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Jaye pull her away from Jaune.

'Hey!' She exclaimed, and Jaye ignored her. Walking up to the blond, Jaye shoved him to the floor again.

'Ow! Hey man, what's your deal?' Jaune yelled, dragging himself to his feet. Jaye kicked him in the chest, sending him skidding across the floor.

'Jaye! What are you doing! Leave him alone!' Pyrrha shouted, and the group started towards him. Jaye snapped his fingers, and the group skidded to a halt as a wall of ice shot up between them and the boys.

Turning his attention back to Jaune, who was getting off the floor, Jaye promptly kicked him again.

'Get up.' He told the scraggly blond, kicking him to the floor again. Jaune flailed his arms at Jaye.

'I can't get up if you don't let me!' He yelled, earning him a kick across the face this time.

'That's the point you idiot.' Jaye growled, kicking him again.

'HEY! JAYE WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING!' Jaye looked up to see Ruby and Yang standing down the corridor from him. Snapping his fingers again, another wall of ice shot up between them, and Yang charged it.

'What the heck? He doesn't even have his dust with him, how's he doing this?!' Yang yelled, punching the wall. Behind the other wall, Pyrrha pounded on it to no avail.

'JAYE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! TAKE THIS WALL DOWN!' She yelled, and Nora backed up a few steps.

'Pyrrha, step aside!' She cautioned, and Pyrrha dived out of the way.

Jaye grabbed Jaune by the collar pulling him to his feet. At that moment, both ice walls came crashing down, and the two groups rushed in.

'STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!' Jaye yelled into Jaune's face, shaking him violently, and the blond stared at him dumbly.

'WHY DO YOU ALWAYS LET PEOPLE PUSH YOU AROUND?! AREN'T YOU TIRED OF THIS?!' He yelled, and Jaune just stared at the floor, unresponsive. Clenching his teeth, Jaye cocked back his arm, raising his fist. Pyrrha jumped between them.

'JAYE! STOP!' She yelled, and Jaye paused, fist still raised.

'Come with me!' She grabbed Jaune by the hand, dragging him with her.

Jaye watched them go, letting his hand fall to his side again. Yang stormed up to him, grabbing him by the collar.

'Alright buddy, you've got some explaining to do before I decide to go to town on you, so you'd better have a damn good explanation for this.' Yang hissed in his face, seething with anger. Jaye stared back at her, uncaring, and Yang raised a fist.

'Yang, wait.' Nora cut in, and Ren put a hand on her shoulder.

A Few Minutes Later

'So that's what happened.' Yang sighed, pacing. She kicked the wall.

'Damn it. We really should just break Cardin's legs.' She kicked the wall again.

'No.' Jaye said, crossing his arms. 'Jaune needs to handle this himself.'

The group fell into silence, knowing that he was right. Nora looked around nervously, the silence unsettling her. She searched desperately for a way to lighten the mood.

'So Jaye, this totally isn't like you! Who knew you cared so much for Jaune, huh?' She elbowed him playfully, but the forced joviality did little for their moods. Nora's face fell again. Ruby took a deep breath.

'I think…the fact that Jaye wouldn't normally do this, really just goes to show how bad this is.' The hooded girl voiced what was on everyone's minds. 'Jaye's right. Jaune needs to either handle this himself, or not at all. HE has to stop the bullying, and we can only help him if he asks for it.'

Dormitory Rooftop

Jaune stepped through the door to the roof, and was greeted by a magnificent view of the CCT Tower. Behind them, a doorway led down into the dorms, and another wall behind that led up to a higher dormer roof, designed like a traditional medieval castle would be. Turning to the red head, he shook his head.

'Pyrrha, I know that I'm going through a hard time right now, but I'm not THAT depressed.' He told her, peeking over the edge. 'I can always be a farmer, or something.'

Pyrrha's eyes darted confusedly between Jaune's face and the edge of the building. She jumped in realization, and pushed Jaune away from the edge.

'N-No! That's not why I brought you up here!' She panicked, waving her hands awkwardly. She realized what she was doing, and stopped, letting them fall to her sides.

'Jaune, I know you're having a difficult time in class. And that you're still not the strongest of fighters, so…' Pyrrha steadied herself, taking a deep breath.

'I want to help you!' She blurted out, blushing furiously as she did so. 'We can train up here after class where no one can bother us!'

Jaune scratched his head, staring at the ground. 'You think I need help?'

'No! No, that's not what I meant!' She reached for his hand, pausing, settled for hugging her arm instead.

'But you just said it.' Jaune replied, and Pyrrha sighed in exasperation.

'Jaune, everyone needs a little push from time to time. It doesn't make you any different from the rest of us.' She reasoned, speaking with increasing fervor. 'You made it to Beacon, that speaks volumes of what you're capable of!'

Jaune turned away from her. 'You're wrong, I-I don't belong here.'

'That's a terrible thing to say, of course you do!' Pyrrha began but Jaune interrupted her.

'No, I don't! I-…I wasn't really accepted into Beacon.' He admitted, glaring at the floor. Pyrrha paused for a moment, stunned.

'Wha-What do you mean?' Jaune sighed, turning away from her.

'I mean I didn't go to combat school, I didn't pass any tests, I didn't earn my spot in this academy! I lied, okay? I got my hands on some fake transcripts and I lied.' Pyrrha stared at him, dumbfounded.

'What? But, why?' Jaune whirled on the red head.

'Beacause-! This is what I've always wanted to be! My Father, my Grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one too. I was just never good enough' He confessed, kicking at the floor. Pyrrha placed her hand on his shoulder.

'Then let me help you!' She offered, and the blond whirled on her.

'I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!' He yelled, slamming his fist into his chest.

'I'm tired of being the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives! Don't you understand?!' Jaune threw his arms into the air, as if trying to release his pain and his suffering. 'If I don't do this on my own, then what good am I?'

Pyrrha reached for his hand, and he pulled away.

'Just…leave me alone. Okay?' He told her, looking away, and Pyrrha dropped her hand, hugging herself. He glanced at her, and was shocked to see tears in her eyes. Pyrrha blinked, a tear sliding down her cheek, and turned away from him.

'If that's what you think is best.' She replied, trying her best to sound calm. She left quietly, tears pouring down her face, and Jaune watched her leave. He paced quietly, not noticing Jaye shift in the shadows. He sat quietly on the slanted roof, out of sight from Jaune, and pondered about what he'd just heard.

'Oh Jaune.' A snide voice sounded from below, and Jaune jumped as Cardin's head, popped up over the ledge.

'Cardin?! What are you doing here?!' Jaune exclaimed in surprise, and the snide bully walked over to him.

'I couldn't help but overhear you two from my dorm room. So, you snuck into Beacon huh?' He revealed, a wide grin plastered across his face, and Jaune felt a soul-crushing terror envelop him. 'I gotta say Jaune, I never expected YOU to be such a rebel.'

'Please Cardin, please don't tell anyone.' He begged, and Cardin smirked even wider.

'Jaune, come on, I'd never rat out a friend like that!' He said, strolling over to Jaune, throwing an arm over his shoulders.

'Uh, a friend?' Jaune repeated, skeptical, and Cardin's arm shifted from Jaune's shoulders to his neck, pulling him into a headlock.

'Of course! We're friends now Jauney Boy! And the way I see it, as long as you're there for me when I need you, we're going to be friends for a long time.' Cardin said triumphantly, choking Jaune. He finally let go, and Jaune dropped to the ground, heaving. Jaye seriously considered kicking Cardin off the roof there and then, but decided against it. Jaune needed to overcome this himself.

'That being said, I really don't have time to do the readings Doctor Oobleck gave us today.' He told Jaune, leaning over the blond boy. 'Think you could, take care of that for me, buddy? That's what I thought.'

He rustled Jaune's hair violently, throwing the blond's head back and forth. Laughing, he turned around, making his way back to the ledge.

'Don't worry Jaune; your secret's safe with me.' He said, grinning, as he lowered himself down to the window. Jaune sat on the floor, stunned, unmoving, staring into blank space. He picked himself slowly off the floor. Jaye stood up, sliding down the slant and onto the flat roof.

'Hey.' He called, and Jaune jumped for the second time that evening.

'Are you serious?! Will you people stop sneaking up on me!' He turned to face the dark-haired boy. 'So I'm guessing you overheard too. Whoopdie do. Do you want me to do your homework too?'

The blond dropped his head in defeat, and Jaye placed himself right in front of him.

'I only want one thing from you.' He declared, and Jaune glanced up at him.

'And what's that?' He asked, exasperated and resigned to the worst. Jaye stared him in the eye.

'I want you to stand up for yourself.' He said firmly, and Jaune looked at him in confusion.

'What? Why? I thought you hated me?' He shook his head in disbelief, and, noting Jaye's incredulous look, scratched his head sheepishly. 'It certainly seemed that way earlier.'

'Oh for God's sake, you think I did that to you in the hall because I hated you?! If I really hated you, do you think I'd be here telling you this?' Jaye rolled his eyes, squaring up to the taller boy, grabbing him by the collar.

'If I really hated you, I wouldn't even acknowledge your existence, and if you managed to annoy me, I'd do far worse than just kick you.' He spat, shoving Jaune backwards.

'We all want to be heroes, Jaune, that's why we're here. That's why we came to Beacon in the first place. But we never did it alone, none of us did. You think we became great fighters just training by ourselves?' He turned away from the dejected blond, walking to the door.

'I don't hate you, but the way you are right now? I can't even bring myself to tolerate you. If you want my respect, hell if you respect yourself, then you'd do something about this crap you're stuck in.' Jaye kicked the door open, pausing in the doorway.

'And you'd better damn well apologize to Pyrrha. She's deserves better.' He added, disappearing down the dark stairway.

Jaune stared after him, kicking at the ground. He gazed up at the sky, hoping for some comfort in the constellations. But there wasn't a star in sight, and he felt terribly, terribly alone.

So that's chapter 9 done guys. Let me know if you have any ideas for future chapters. Also, I'm thinking of writing a couple of spinoff chapters and oneshots, possibly and probably involving Jaye. Mostly will be for hilarious events from RWBY Chibi, or for little romance oneshots. If ya'll are reading this, do me a favor and read those and post reviews. I want to get better at writing romances, so I'm gonna need you guys' help!