Hope i explained things clearly, let me know if not. enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 5
Jaune felt like he was floating in a sea of jelly, unable to move but so warm all around. His eyelids felt so heavy, keeping him blind to the world around.
Jaune? I've repaired the damaged done to your heart. You can open your eyes. At its words, the floating, jelly feeling disappeared and he could feel his eyes opening slowly. What he woke up to gave him more than a moment's pause, having trouble taking in everything around him.
"Are we… still at Jacques's?" He gazed around, the surprise clear on his features. The hallway was almost completely covered in the same white substance as his claws, black veins spread throughout with only a single light still showing. It had also breached the other doors as well, the material caving inwards at several spots where Jaune was sure they used to be.
We are, I made some necessary adjustments to the surroundings to protect you, so it looks different. The grimm explained, it was unclear if the other humans would do something drastic so it took the best steps to ensure Jaune's and its own safety.
Jaune walked over to a wall and placed his hand on it, goosebumps crawling up his arm on contact. It felt as hard as the steel walls it covered but radiated its own warmth, Jaune wasn't sure if anything could compare.
"What are you…?" If the Grimm wasn't privy to Jaune's emotions it might have thought there was fear in that question. But the boy continued to show not but curiosity, confusing the grimm further, why did the other humans showed such fear?
Those humans I broke down called me grimm. I believe your dad used to tell you stories about them. But I don't match your dad's description of "Grimm bigger than a mountain". It paused, attempting to collect more information from the guards brain matter. It's hard to remember… I don't think I match the other human's memories of grimm either.
Jaune sat on the ground, an uncomfortably sick feeling welling up inside his stomach. His heart began to hammer, but he knew the grimm wouldn't let it last. What's wrong Jaune? I can feel you're getting upset, please tell me why. It asked politely, trying to mimic the way Jaune was taught, hoping to calm him.
"Why don't I remember you… "breaking down" those people?" He knew what it meant, he knew he had killed people, or at least a part of him knew. The rest of him didn't know what to think, feeling confused. Scared.
The Grimm was silent, unsure how to answer. ...I believe something is wrong with us. Twice now we have gone into a frenzy that neither of us remember, I am not positive yet but i believe the cause to be other humans. It couldn't remember exactly what happened that lead to Jaune with a chunk of metal wedge in his spine but it remembered what happened just before and after.
Though technically you don't remember because you were wounded and unconscious. It felt the need to answer his original question, thought left out just how close to death Jaune had been.
Jaune felt confused, why had he been shot? Did Jacques know? It didn't make sense why they would shoot someone that Jacques knew about but the voice hadn't lied to him yet. "Why did you kill people?" Jaune still had to ask, he thought he already knew but he wanted to hear out loud.
One of them shot you Jaune, and neither of us can remember why. If they had done it for no reason we would have to eliminate the threat but I don't know if that was the case. It sounded lost in thought for a moment before continuing. I needed fresh material to repair the damaged done to your organs, in my haste I failed to notice several other humans with weapons when I took the materials from the one who shot you.
I reacted fast enough to stop any metal from entering your body but I couldn't do it for long, as a result I chose to break down two more humans and make a barricade between us. Jaune raised an eyebrow and looked around, the entire hallway plus rooms was covered in the material. It was simple enough to see there was far too much material to be just two people.
Several rooms contained small Grimm while the farthest room had a large supply of my… I think you could call it my body. It offered, anticipating Jaune's next question.
Jaune scratched his head for a few seconds, trying to process the explanation, before letting out a frustrated sigh. "That doesn't make things very easy…" He muttered under his breath. I'm sorry Jaune, I did what I had to to keep you alive. Its tone sounded surprisingly apologetic, feeling the remorse that Jaune was radiating.
"It's not your fault… I lost control too. So what's happening now Grimm? Should I call you Grimm?" Jaune asked, unsure if the voice wanted the name that someone it killed had called it.
Hmm perhaps… But I believe that name is meant to describe all sorts of creatures, not just myself. Jaune frowned, unsure what a name was supposed to be, how did his parents think of his name? It sounded like the grimm wanted one too so he didn't want to disappoint his friend.
Jaune scratched his chin, looking around at the grimm's creation, maybe he could use what it looked like. White with black running through it… whiteblack. Whitback. "What about Whitback?" Jaune looked up around at the grimm's makeshift shelter made solely to protect him. "Whitback the Grand Protector!" Jaune smiled at the title he came up with.
Whitback. the Grand Protector? Whitback sounded out his new name, enjoying how it made Jaune smile. Yes, I think it will do rather well. Jaune nodded, pleased with himself.
We still have the other humans to deal with. Jaune frowned again, he just wanted to close his eyes and hope everything would be better when he woke up. He knew it was impossible but the thought remained.
"Maybe we can talk…?" Jaune asked, unsure how Whitback would react to the suggestion. Are you sure that's possible? They have attempted to breach several times already, I've been forced to destroy their weapons and fracture bones to prevent them from touching me. Jaune breathed a sigh of relief, at least it was showing restraint.
"I still think we should try, worse case we're back to standing around in here." Jaune motioned around him, hoping Whitback would understand or at least let him try. If you believe it to be our best option then I'll try to help you. Assuming it doesn't put our life at risk. Jaune flashed a bright smile and nodded "Agreed".
\-/
"What do we do?" A confused voice rang out from the group of security guards, the confusion mirrored what several of the group was feeling. The majority of them were holding position at the top of the staircase while several went to brief general Ironwood on the situation when he arrived. "I mean, it isn't doing anything and we can't break it so do we just sit here?"
"I believe that is what Mr. Schnee ordered us to do, yes." A voice rang out over the headset, clearly the security room hadn't seen anything strange after the original incident, so what was the subject doing? The waiting was simultaneously terrifying and a bit boring.
"What is going on here!?" A deep voice called out, commanding so much power while barely needing to raising it. General Ironwood seemingly drove a rod up all the guards backs, everyone standing right up at his words. "Awaiting further orders sir!" A brave soul replied.
"I was informed there was already three men dead, and this is how you "hold the line"?! Disgraceful!" He was already moving, strides so long he was at the stairs in seconds, keeping an eye on the unknown substance that blocked them. "I-it hasn't done anything sir." A less brave, more foolish voice, pointed out.
"And you think that means it's safe?!" Before Ironwood could continue a loud cracking sound resonated from the grimm-made structure, the wall beginning to liquify and move.
"Arms at the ready!" He commanded, not a soul daring to disobey they all lined up beside him, aiming rifles at the shifting, almost slime-like material. Then it began shrinking, Pulling backwards until they couldn't see it without moving further down the stairs.
"Secure the files and make your way to my position" Ironwood muttered into his collar, giving his specialist the green light. He then started walking down, his revolver ready to blast a hole into whatever might move too quickly.
The strange substance continued to retreat, until it was completely absent in the hallway, save for a single door covered by it at the end of the hallway.
"Check the other rooms in pairs of two, make sure nothing surprises us." He ordered the soldiers behind him and continue to the "Grimm" looking door. He motioned to one of the remaining guards "You, Keep an eye on it." Without another word he opened the door closest to the grimm, marked "observation", putting two and two together he entered and shut it behind him.
When he saw the small, pale child with red eyes and black veins standing just on the other side of a thick pane of glass, he knew he found Jacques's little project. "Jacques told me about you, his files said you were an orphaned boy they combined with some new grimm. Is that true?" Ironwood let his revolver fall to his side, but his finger remained on the trigger just in case.
Jaune nodded slowly, uncertainty written on his face but he didn't seemed panicked or distressed. "Am I talking with The grimm? or Jaune?" Ironwood pressed, hoping he wouldn't have to put a child down, but fully expecting to.
"Both" Its voice reverberated through the room, almost resonating with itself. Ironwood steeled his nerves, forcing any fear away with sheer willpower, he continued his "interrogation".
"Why did you kill those men?" "Whitback broke down a man to heal a fatal wound to Jaune's heart. The other two were used to make adequate defences in order to make time for Jaune's recovery." Ironwood raised an eyebrow, why was it answering his questions so readily? That single answer spoke volumes of the grimm's abilities, why wouldn't it at least try to hide them?
"So then, Am I talking to Whitback?" The child's face scowled, turning into a pout like any other child. "I already told you it's both of us. didn't you listen?" It glared at him and though it had the face of a child, the black veins and red eyes made for a disturbing picture.
"Of course, I'm just a bit confused. What are you trying to do here?" Ironwood couldn't understand its motives, it was clearly grimm, its origins ensured that. But then, why wasn't it trying to kill them like any other grimm?
"Trying to do…?" It scratched its head, looking upwards thoughtfully. "I wanted to be stronger… wanted to stop the... to stop them from…" Its voice trailed off while it fell to its knees, its inhuman voice thick with very human emotion. James ironwood, military general of atlas, seen as a stone wall devoid of feelings, felt his heart wrench at the sight of a weeping child.
Then, as suddenly as it started, it was over, the child staring blankly at Ironwood once again. "Jaune doesn't want others to suffer like him. Whitback will help Jaune stop the White-fang. Will you help me? or will you get in the way?" Ironwood felt his muscles tense, He couldn't let the subject do anything drastic! Even with the face of a kid, it was still classified as an experimental bioweapon.
"Listen, I would like to help but the issue is far more complicated than a ki-" "No!" A loud bang surprised Ironwood, the grimm having stomped its foot on the ground with enough force to dent the steel underneath. Ironwood couldn't believe it, the thing was pouting again, not attacking or killing anyone. Just pouting. Like a child.
"Very well… I'll help Jaune. But in exchange you will do as I say." He couldn't afford for a fight to break out down here, if it proved problematic it could easily end up in the streets above ground. ironwood figured, best case it was being honest and he could teach it to be a soldier, thought he was seriously doubting that would happen. Worse case, it was lying and he would have to fight it after it got stronger.
That last thought caused his trigger finger to twitch but he didn't raise his hand. The glass between them would block a lot of damage, giving it plenty of time to defend and put another wall up. He shook the thought, without proper intelligence he was at a major disadvantage and could easily end up "broken down" as it so eloquently put it. He would keep an eye on it, but might ultimately have to trust it as much as he disliked the idea.
"deal!" Its voice change slightly, still inhuman but it no longer resonated in Ironwood's ears. "That felt weird…" Jaune muttered, clearly a bit spaced out before turning back to Ironwood. "Whitback doesn't trust you. He wanted to make sure we both could talk at the same time." Jaune offered with a nervous smile, hoping the larger man wasn't angry with him.
"I see." Ironwood said, not fully sure what that meant but deciding against wasting more time. He gave a nod and left the observation room meeting his specialist just on the other side of the door.
"Change of plans, we have a passenger coming back with us. Order two squads to come down and assist with cleanup" He said quietly before turning to the rest of Jacques's guards, the shorter man trotting off quickly.
"Attention employees of the SDC. Due to the illegal experimentation done on humans in this facility, everyone here is required to follow me for questioning." When he noticed a hesitation he cocked his revolver dangerously. "Remember I am a trained huntsmen and you are all war criminals. This is your only shot of leniency."
"Sir! yes sir!" every weapon hit the floor as the men saluted, praying they didn't just get the death sentence. Ironwood was grateful Jacques at least seemed to hire from a military background.
Then he turned to look at the strange substance that blocked the doorway, forced to wait for a child. A child he was sure could to turn him into literal human fucking soup. "I hope your happy Jacques…" he muttered, he would make sure that man paid for this mistake.
This chapter was still difficult but I admit I really enjoy attempting a unique but still "Grimm" personality(hopefully I'm doing alright). At this moment I'm still debating whether Jaune should be raised with ironwood and the Atlas military, or outside the protecting of civilization. I have ideas for both so wont be problem either way it goes. Thanks for reading and have wonderful morning/evening.
Hope I didn't let you down Sm0keyPanda, I thought this made sense considering Jaune's innocence and Whitback's "danger level" but feel free to let me know what you think. As I said earlier, I'm still debating if Jaune truly goes with Ironwood.
Alno