Here we go again. Long chapter. Maybe I should have cut it in half.
Also my update schedule can be pretty random, apologies.
It was raining. The sky was grey.
Everyone was dressed in black.
"Today, we acknowledge a really… terrible… loss." Ozpin's voice resonated in the main hall.
His face was pained. Everyone was silent.
"An exceptionally hard-working student. Infinitely talented.
Let this be a reminder that Grimm should not be taken lightly.
Remember, Weiss Schnee.
A talented, promising young woman.
Therefore, I think you all have the right to know what exactly happened to her. How she truly died.
You see… Weiss Schnee was left to die.
By none other than her assigned partner, Blake Belladonna!"
"N-no!" Blake gasped in horror. "I-I never wanted this!"
A familiar man with red hair and a white mask on his face turned to her, smirking proudly.
"Good work, Blake, my darling. I knew I could count on you..."
Blake gasped and snapped her eyes open.
"Haa…! Haaa…" She panted, covered in sweat, her eyes darting around the dorm in the darkness.
The three others were sleeping. In a panic, Blake reached out to the bed next to her, unraveling the covers and sheets.
"Ngh…! Gh…" Weiss Schnee groaned in her sleep, clearly troubled.
"…"
Blake sighed, her heart hammering in her chest. Weiss Schnee was there, she was safe in her bed.
Right… A nightmare… Just a nightmare.
"…"
Blake put the cover back on the heiress, who was still shifting positions in her fitful sleep.
"…"
"Ngh…! D-die…" The heiress groaned in her sleep, clenching her sheets in her tiny fists, "N-no…! He…lp… Win...ter."
"…"
Hearing these scared, inaudible mumbles, Blake buried her face in her pillow.
Ugh... I thought I had left this behind... What am I doing?
The morning after.
"DRIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
"Gaaah!" Jaune snapped his eyes open and screamed at the high pitched noise piercing his ears.
Crack!
The bed he had been sleeping on suddenly broke apart, slumping to the ground.
"Wha-, Jaune! I'm sorry!"
Jaune blinked as he looked up to a fully dressed Ruby.
"I broke the bed…" Jaune mumbled bashfully.
"Already breaking things first thing in the morning?" Weiss' voice commented. "This has to set a record. You better stay away from my things!"
"I'm sorry…"
"It's all right, Jaune!" Ruby smiled kindly, grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet.
"Thanks, Ruby." Jaune smiled despite the rough waking up.
"I really shouldn't have woken you up like that." Ruby scratched her head awkwardly, looking at the remnants of the bed that had been basically dismantled. "Now your bed is all messed up. Sorry!"
"It's not your fault," Jaune assured.
"You apologize to him?" Weiss huffed. "What about me!"
"You didn't break your bed so it's fine!" Ruby waved it away.
"It is not fine! I swear, Ruby, if you wake me up like this one more time, I'll freeze you in a block of ice!"
"You wouldn't do that~"
"I would do so much more than-"
Weiss suddenly paused in the middle of her sentence, as the door of the bathroom opened.
Blake stepped into the room, fully dressed.
Weiss instantly went silent.
"Hi, Blake!" Ruby grinned.
"Hi." Blake smiled back at Ruby.
"Hi… Blake…" Jaune blushed, waving his hand shyly.
He still didn't know this girl very well. No matter what, Jaune was still very shy around girls.
"…"
Weiss stormed into the bathroom.
"…What's with the stripped down bed?" Blake asked, not paying Weiss any mind.
"Jaune broke it cause I startled him when I woke him up," Ruby explained.
"S-sorry…"
"It's fine. It's your bed, not mine." Blake shrugged.
"O-okay…" Jaune nodded, looking down.
"Cheer up, Jaune!" Ruby pat him on the shoulder, "Today marks the start of a series of wonderful events!" She twirled around him cutely, "And once everyone is ready, I propose we reallocate our space in this room!"
"You're right…!" Jaune's eyes brightened. "I'll just have to ask Miss Goodwitch to fix the bed!"
"Um, I'm not sure she's gonna help us…" Ruby mused.
After a moment, Weiss came out of the bathroom.
She was drying her white, shiny hair with a towel, making it flutter wildly and gracefully as the last drops of water ran through her hair and made it all the more beautiful.
Jaune blushed red as he stared at the beautiful Weiss stepping into the room.
He was going to have this sight every morning? With three girls? No way! This was too much, his heart was going to burst!
"What?" Weiss huffed, sending him a glare.
"N-nothing!" Jaune gasped and hurried into the bathroom after her.
"Tch, boys." Weiss groaned, rolling her eyes.
Jaune heard Ruby giggle just before he closed the door.
"Ugh..." Jaune sighed, leaning his back on the door and sliding down to the ground.
This was bad… Was it going to be like this every day?
Impossible! Sharing a bedroom and a bathroom with the cute Ruby, the elegant Weiss and the beautiful Blake was going to drive him crazy! He was definitely going to make a fool out of himself, and very soon, he just knew it!
"…And if it happens… I'm gonna break something… For sure." Jaune mumbled.
If he got too excited, his semblance would go out of control. It was a certainty.
"…"
Therefore, Jaune took the time to calm down for a bit before using the shower.
It wouldn't do to just break everything on his first day…
Fortunately, once he calmed down, he was able to shower properly without breaking anything.
Once he dressed up, Jaune took a deep breath and opened the door.
Crack!
The door's handle broke.
"…"
Jaune sighed, and dropped the handle to the ground.
It looked like it was going to be inevitable for him to break some things.
"What was that?" Weiss' voice called from outside. "What is this gauche doing! He broke the handle!"
Naturally, the handle on the other side got broken too, as the two parts were connected.
"Jaune! Are you okay?" Ruby's voice called.
"I'm fine…" Jaune sighed and tried to open the door.
There was no handle anymore, and the door was still locked…
"U-um… Crap." Jaune panicked. How was he going to get out of the bathroom?
Well, the answer was simple. It wasn't like it hadn't happened to him before.
Jaune applied the palm of his hand onto the lock.
Crack!
The lock broke down, letting the door open on its own.
"This… This can't be happening." Weiss glared at him with wide eyes, furious. "You broke the door?! How are we going to shower in peace, knowing that you can creep up on us at any time now!"
"Sorry." Jaune simply said. "But I couldn't just stay locked in the bathroom…"
He was used to it. Just let the storm pass, easy, Jaune was used to it.
"Sorry isn't good enough!" Weiss shouted, making him wince at the volume of her voice. Did Miss Crappert die and reincarnated in Weiss' body? The more he spent time around Weiss, the more it seemed plausible. "You're a calamity! You will-"
"Could you stop shouting first thing in the morning?" Blake asked, cutting her.
This rendered Weiss silent instantly.
Damn... What was going on between these two?
"J-Jaune!" Ruby grinned awkwardly, filling up the silence. "D-don't worry about it! The furniture in this dorm must be very old to fall down so easily!"
"I don't think that's the case..." Jaune sighed.
She seemed relieved to see him here.
With this atmosphere, Jaune could understand why. Weiss was glaring at Blake, and Blake was reading a book, ignoring Weiss.
"Sorry I took a bit long to shower, Ruby." Jaune smiled at Ruby, whose cheerful grin was contagious.
"It's fine!" She cheered, clearly trying her best to lighten them up. She sure was strong, if it was Jaune, he wouldn't be able to speak up in this tense atmosphere. "Now we can begin our first order of business this morning! Which is... Decorating!"
Decorating? With what? Jaune had no belongings.
"…You're right. We still have to unpack." Blake noted.
"Let's do it!" Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
The three girls started decorating the room, while Jaune could only stand there and watch.
"What about you, Jaune?" Ruby asked. "Come on, you gotta have something, right?"
"N-no… I have nothing." He replied, a bit embarrassed.
"Uuu..." Ruby pouted as she pulled out her things, looking at him sadly.
Don't look at me like that, please...
Watching the others, Jaune noticed Blake putting some books on the shelf.
Actually, no, that wasn't true! He did have something. He had some books!
Smiling happily, Jaune took out his five precious books and carefully placed them on the shelf.
Somehow, it felt like just by putting his books there, he had earned a little place in this room, like he had made a small part of the room his.
Even if it was nothing compared to the mountain of books brought by the three other girls... Jeez, these girls sure liked to read. From classical literature to glossaries and encyclopedias, to comics and mangas... and...
His eyes trailed on a particular title.
"Hm, what's this?" Jaune squinted his eyes, leaning forward. "Ninjas of… Love…?"
"It's nothing." Blake suddenly appeared behind him, a scary expression on her face. "I misplaced it."
She grabbed it from his hands and put it back in her bag.
"Mis... misplaced?" Jaune tilted his head to the side, confused. "But, um... Isn't a book's place on the shelf?"
"No." Blake's eyes narrowed into slits, staring into his soul. Scary... "Not this one."
"Wh-why?" Jaune asked.
"…" Blake paused for a moment, apparently thinking. "Because… My books already take too much place on the shelf. I have to leave some space for you all."
"Oh…" Jaune blinked. This girl was surprisingly thoughtful. "Th-that's kind of you…" Jaune gave her a smile. "Thanks…"
"You're welcome," Blake nodded and hurriedly walked away with her book.
This was weird… Wasn't this girl antagonizing Weiss? Then why was she so considerate? Hmmm… Maybe Jaune had misread the situation?
Or perhaps she was only after Weiss...?
Minutes later.
"This doesn't look good," Ruby said.
"Really? What gave you that idea?" Weiss rolled her eyes.
"…" Blake was frowning as well.
"Y-you all have… so much stuff." Jaune gaped.
Three-quarters of the room was filled with the girls' belongings, and then there was Jaune's side, where there was nothing but a dismantled bed and white sheets.
"…"
"I know! Let's ditch the beds, and turn them into bunk-beds!" Ruby suggested, waving her arms widely.
"That's a terrible idea," Weiss scoffed.
"I agree…" Jaune nodded.
Jaune didn't want to have a bed fall on his face, thank you very much.
"Whaaat!" Ruby whined, "But having bunk beds would save a lot of space!"
"Um… You can place your things on my side if you're missing some space." Jaune offered.
"But I can't just steal your space! And the bunk beds are way cooler!" Ruby crossed her arms and pouted. "We definitely need bunk beds to increase our cool factor!"
"That's not an argument, Ruby." Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Well, it's still better than just saying it's a terrible idea." Blake pointed out.
"…"
"E-er..." Ruby hesitated, glancing between the two apprehensively, sensing the conflict between the two girls.
Jaune gathered his courage and spoke up. "Ho-how about… we decide later, and go to class?"
"Classes? Laaaame!" Ruby called.
"It is about time we go to class." Weiss scoffed. "Any later and we would have been late!"
"A-all right, then…" Ruby laughed awkwardly, "T-t-t-to to class!"
Later
"Monsters! Deeeemons… Prowlers of the night. Yes, the creatures of Grimm have many names…" Professor Port was explaining while Ruby was snoring next to Jaune. "But I, merely refer to them as prey."
Jaune focused on the lesson as he tried to take some notes.
He was at his third pen already, having broken two others before. He still had a good dozen to go through, so it should be okay to last a few days.
He had to be very focused. Jaune wasn't used to write, so he was slow at taking notes. Plus, his semblance might strike at any time to break his pen, or worse, rip up his notes.
So he had to take every sheet he wrote on one by one, so that he didn't rip up all of his notes if his semblance decided to strike.
"Pssst, Jaune!"
"Hm?" Jaune raised his head towards Ruby, who had apparently woken up.
"Look!" She grinned, showing him a picture of… professor Port?
"Pffft!" Jaune sniggered along with Ruby and Yang, who was sat just behind them.
Crack!
Jaune's pen broke, making him drop his smile instantly.
Sometimes, something as simple as laughing could trigger his semblance.
"…Haa." Jaune sighed quietly and grabbed another pen from his pencil case.
All right… Let's focus on taking notes properly.
Suddenly, something bumped on the back of his neck.
"…?"
Jaune frowned and took a look at whatever had fallen on him.
A paper plane.
"…"
Jaune unfolded it. There was a message written in it.
'You fake. Go back to being a civilian.'
"…"
Crack!
His semblance ripped up the paper.
Taking a deep breath, Jaune looked back behind him.
There was that orange haired guy who had bumped into him the day before initiation, smirking down at him.
"…"
It looked like Jaune had found his first bully. It really hadn't taken long.
The guy was already making a ball of paper, smirking down at him while his friends snickered.
Jaune turned back towards the professor. So even at the great Beacon, there were people like this. Not surprising, but still.
A ball of paper bumped onto Jaune's neck again.
Ugh...
Jaune ignored it and tried to focus on the lesson.
But another ball of paper bumped onto the back of his head.
And another again...
And another.
"Grr..." Jaune growled lowly. He was starting to get frustrated.
Usually, Jaune always sat in the back of the class, to avoid such annoyances, but now he had to sit with his team.
"Jaune," Ruby called him. "Are you okay? These guys are jerks, let's tell the teacher!"
"The teacher won't do anything, Ruby." Jaune sighed, a bit mortified that his friend Ruby had already found out what was happening. "Teachers are useless in these situations."
"Then let's engage them in a battle of papers!" She suggested ferociously.
"N-no, you don't have to do this, it would only get you in trouble." Jaune shook his head, giving her a smile, "I'm fine."
Another ball of paper bumped on his neck and fell right into the back of his collar.
"Oooh! Plus three points." He heard the guy chuckle.
Crack!
The pen in Jaune's hand shattered, and the chair he was sitting on suddenly broke, making Jaune fall down, causing a racket in the middle of the class.
"J-Jaune!" Ruby gasped.
"Mr. Arc!" Professor Port exclaimed as the majority of the class laughed at his expense. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, sir." Jaune sighed, standing up. He caught the orange-haired guy snicker in the back of the class.
With this, Jaune had now become the public laughing-stock. It didn't take much, really.
Jaune sighed under his breath.
Eh. He wasn't angry. He was used to this, this was simply his everyday life.
"Um… I-I need another chair." Jaune requested, embarrassed.
"Of course, of course!" The professor nodded. Had he been warned of his semblance? "Hmm…" The man caressed his mustache, "How about you demonstrate the point I was explaining earlier?"
"P-pardon…?" Jaune widened his eyes in panic. What had the teacher been saying again? Jaune hadn't listened, he'd been distracted…
"Do you believe you have what it takes to slay this beast?" The teacher asked, waving to a cage.
The cage shook, the beast inside it growling in displeasure.
If it's a Beowolf, I should be okay…
"U-um, yes…" Jaune answered apprehensively.
"Then come down, and face your enemy!"
"…" Jaune left his table, passing by Ruby, who patted his arm.
"You can do it, Jaune!" She gave him a warm grin. "I believe in you, one touch and it's dead! One touch man!"
"One touch man," Jaune nodded and smiled back.
Aaah, no matter what, if Ruby smiled at him, then Jaune could smile too. There was something about her smile that was familiar, that made him nostalgic, for some reason.
The smile on her face made him more relaxed, so Jaune was able to step on the stage in front of the cage and stood there awkwardly.
"Mr. Arc. Your weapon!" The teacher called.
"...I... I don't have a weapon," Jaune mumbled.
The class snickered.
"No weapon? Preposterous! What about your fighting outfit?"
"U-um…" Jaune blushed bright red. "I… I-I don't have a fighting outfit, either…"
The class laughed again.
"Pfft!"
"Hah, where is this guy coming from?"
"What a clown."
"I feel bad for him…"
"They accept people like him in this school?"
"This dunce…" Jaune heard Weiss groan under her breath.
Hearing her specific voice agree with the others hurt more than he cared to admit.
"…"
Ugh. Can't this teacher hurry up already? I want to go back to his seat as soon as possible...
"Represent teeeeeam Rainbow!" Ruby cheered over the other voices, causing his heart to lighten up.
"Fight well." Even Blake called him.
He may have misjudged her after all! It seemed that she really was a kind person.
"Very well, then, Mr. Arc… Are you ready?"
"Y-yes."
"Then… Fight!"
With that, the professor opened the cage's door, freeing the beast.
It wasn't a Beowolf.
Jaune widened his eyes. Instead, it was a large boar-like creature!
And it was now charging at him!
Jaune panicked. If this thing-
The beast was on him already, dashing at him and lunging his tusks forward.
Jaune staggered back, trying to dodge, but the tusks hit him on the waist, throwing him backward.
Crack!
At the same time, his semblance naturally lashed out.
The tusks broke apart, splitting in two, making the Grimm roar in pain.
At the same time, Jaune landed on his butt.
Crack!
Naturally, his semblance attacked the floor and cracked the ground. If Jaune was in danger, the semblance would attack anything.
The boar roared angrily, and jumped forward, spinning its body along its spine and rolling towards him.
"…!"
Jaune widened his eyes and slammed the floor with his hand, channeling his semblance.
Crack!
Booooom!
The whole floor of the stage shattered, making the Grimm lose balance and fall on its side. Even the teacher on the side staggered for a moment.
Jaune had acquired experience from his first fight in Initiation! Now, he knew that Grimm were prompt to lose balance just like humans, so he was going to use that trick quite often against them.
Make them fall by shattering the ground, and strike when they are trying to restore their balance!
As the Grimm was confused and tried to stand up on its cloven-feet, Jaune threw his body forward and applied his palm onto the monster's side.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The Grimm's remaining tusks shattered, along with its teeth and its weird, bone-like mask on its face. Its flesh twisted on itself, splattering black blood everywhere and breaking the entirety of its skeleton. And finally, the most gruesome, its eyeballs blew up as well.
"E-eew…" Jaune grimaced, getting some black blood on his face.
"Ahaaa! Bravo, bravo! What an unconventional match!"
Match? More like a blood bath.
Jaune stood up panting, trying his best to calm down. These brutal fights would take a while to get used to. He would have to close his heart to it. These were just monsters.
Meanwhile, the class had started muttering between each other. Everyone was staring at him. Probably because he had basically broken the whole stage.
It made Jaune freeze in embarrassment.
"Yeeaaah! Good fight, Jaune!" Ruby cheered him up as usual.
"..." Jaune smiled and relaxed. Ruby sure was the best at making people feel better!
"Hohoo! Bravo! It appears we are in presence of a true Huntsman in training! You destabilized this Boarbatusk by shattering the ground, quite an effective strategy against a large variety of Grimm! However, my boy, you need to work on your movements, as they were quite sloppy…"
Jaune didn't really listen.
He stared at the orange-haired guy who was currently grimacing with his friends.
Jaune hadn't accepted this fight for nothing, after all. He had a goal in mind.
You see? This what is going to happen if you start a fight with me. So please don't start a fight… I don't want to injure people.
Jaune had demonstrated his power to scare the potential bullies away. If these bullies started brutalizing him for some reason, then Jaune was worried he was going to hurt one of them by mistake and send them to the hospital, resulting in his expulsion from the school.
"And I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today." The teacher declared, "Thank you for your participation, Mr. Arc! I will call Miss Goodwitch to clean up, do not worry…"
"Thanks, professor Port." Jaune bowed his head gratefully.
"Be sure to cover the assigned readings! And remember, stay vigilant."
"Ugh… What a joke." Weiss groaned and stomped outside.
"…?"
Outside class.
"I hate this team!" Weiss proclaimed as Jaune, Ruby, and Blake were following after her.
"W-weiss! What's wrong with you?" Ruby asked, distressed. "Why are you being-"
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?" Weiss scoffed and pointed a finger at Jaune. "This… this clown just made a fool out of himself in front of the whole class! No weapon? No fighting outfit? What do you mean?! This is an academy for Huntsmen! And then, he shattered the whole stage just for one Grimm! Way to make our team look bad!"
"I-I'm sure nobody thought that…" Ruby tried to reassure her, only for Weiss to cut her.
"No, I heard it! Everyone is mocking him already. Pathetic." This made Jaune shrink on himself. "And you, Ruby, you kept acting like a child during the whole lesson! All you've been is a nuisance!"
"Wha-?" Ruby blinked in surprise and scoffed. "What did I do?!"
"Nothing! Nothing to earn yourself your position! Why would Ozpin make you the leader of this team is beyond my comprehension! You have no care for your teammates, waking them up by blowing a whistle in their ears, distracting them during lessons - when you're not sleeping through them - and you're not even aware of our timetable either!"
"B-but it's the first day…" Ruby said defensively, "It's supposed to be exciting… I just wanted us to be friends!"
"And then, you!" Weiss, on a rampage, turned to Blake, who narrowed her eyes. "You… You! You are! You are…" Weiss struggled to find the right word. "N-n-nasty!" She finally spat and stormed off.
"What? What did Blake do?" Ruby protested weakly.
"…Something happened during their Initiation." Jaune revealed, eyeing Blake, whose eyes zeroed on him, making him shift awkwardly. "I… I-I don't know what happened, but, um, I think you did something to upset her, Blake…"
"…"
"Blake?" Ruby called with a stern expression on her face. "Answer him, please. This is for the good of the team!"
Blake sighed, looking away from them. "No, um… Well, I'll admit I did something bad…"
"Then you just have to apologize!" Ruby's eyes widened as she grinned, having finally found the solution.
"…" Blake stiffened.
It's not that simple. Jaune knew.
His bullies had never apologized to him, ever.
They always made up excuses, out of pride.
They don't want to appear weak to their victim, they want to maintain their social position of bully, their position of domination over the victim.
Was the same thing happening here? Jaune didn't know the details.
"I do feel bad, but…" Blake sighed, shaking her head. "…I'm sorry, but there's no way I can apologize when she's acting like such a spoiled child."
On these words, Blake turned away and left them.
"Oh nooo…" Ruby lamented, grabbing her head in her hands. "What are we gonna do, Jaune? The team is falling apart!"
And it's not even my fault. Jaune thought, feeling oddly good about the current situation. This has to be a first.
"Well, um…" Jaune scratched his head hesitantly, "Blake said…that she wouldn't apologize as long as Weiss is acting like a child. But… doesn't that mean that, if we can get Weiss to act more mature, then Blake wouldn't mind apologizing… Right?"
Ruby's eyes widened, and she grabbed his hand. "You genius! Genius!" She exclaimed, waving his hand in the air excitedly. "I'm gonna talk to Weiss right now!"
"W-wait!"
Ruby paused and turned her head back to him.
Ruby's smile had cheered Jaune up before, so he was going to return the favor to his friend. He had to support her, too!
"E-er…" Jaune hesitated, "Um, I think… I think Weiss is too harsh on you…! I think you're doing a great job, Ruby, don't listen to her! Personally, I... I trust you."
Ruby smiled sincerely, her cheeks turning pink under the praise. "Th-thanks, Jaune… It's nice to know that someone believes in me." She seemed moved by his words. "It means a lot…!"
And then she bolted away, probably going to find Weiss.
With Yang.
"I wonder… Why isn't Ruby's team here?" Yang mused, chewing on her food.
She had seen the whole fight, of course.
She was a bit worried for Ruby, but at the same time, it wasn't her team, so it wasn't really her business.
If Ruby needed to talk, Yang would be there to offer some advice, but she didn't want to come off as the overprotective sister, so she was going to let her solve things on her own. This was an opportunity for her to grow up.
Still, Yang couldn't help but worry a little bit...
"Are you okay, Yang?" Her partner asked.
"I'm good, Pyrrha! Just worried for my little sis. I just can't help it, sorry…"
"No, please don't be." Pyrrha shook her head. "Family is important… I hear Weiss wasn't happy with your sister's team… I can try to talk to her if you want me to?" Pyrrha offered.
Yang sighed. This girl was really too wholesome for Yang. There had to be a flaw somewhere in her character.
"No…" Yang shook her head. "For now, I think we need to let her experience things on her own."
"Hm. Weiss can be a lot to deal with." Pyrrha nodded.
"After Jaune blew up the whole stage for just one Grimm, I guess I can understand where she's coming from."
"What do you mean?" Nora gasped. "It was awesome!"
Nora Valkyrie, of course, would find any amount of destructive power awesome.
"Did you see how the Grimm died!" Nora continued, "That was so metal!"
"It was a rough fight. He had no technique." Ren commented, "Speaking of the devil… He's over there."
"Ah?"
Team Pyrene turned their eyes towards the direction Ren pointed at.
Sure enough, Jaune Arc was there, looking around the cafeteria hesitantly, carrying his meal tray.
It was lunchtime, and none of his teammates were going to eat with him…? Not even Ruby?
What's up with that…?
Suddenly someone bumped into him, making him drop his meal tray. The food splattered on the ground and on his shoes.
"What a waste of good food…!" Nora commented, revolted.
The guy who had bumped into him, an orange-haired guy in armor, merely laughed it off and walked away with his team. What a jerk…
Jaune stood there for a moment, people snickering around him. He had a pretty good poker face, Yang had to give it to him.
"So… He's going to just stand there and take it?" Yang frowned.
After a moment, one of Beacon's staff came to him, and Jaune started to help her clean up the scene...
This was… Ugh. Such a wimp was Ruby's partner? Fight back, goddammit!
"Atrocious… I can't stand people like him." Pyrrha said.
"H-huh?" Yang blinked in surprise.
"Winchester," She specified.
"Oh. That's his name?"
"Yes, Cardin Winchester." Pyrrha suddenly stood up. "Jaune!" Pyrrha called, "Over here! Come eat with us."
Jaune turned his eyes to them.
And then turned away, and continued to clean as if he didn't hear them.
"Did… Did he just ignore you?" Yang gaped.
"I'm sure he didn't…" Pyrrha laughed awkwardly, sitting back down.
"It sure looked like it t, me." Nora wondered.
With Jaune.
Talking with a team full of strangers, right after they saw him embarrass himself by splattering his meal tray on the ground?
Nope, not happening. Let's ignore them and find a quiet place to eat.
With Yang.
"I don't like him." Yang decided grumpily. Back when they had all slept in the ballroom, he had avoided her, too.
"Let's not judge things from too far away…" Pyrrha advised patiently.
"Uhuh..." Yang groaned, not convinced.
"Yes, we may be missing something." Ren nodded along.
"Sorry, guys." Yang sighed, "I just have a bad temper, so I'm a bit of a bitch sometimes, you'll have to get used to it." She grinned, "It even defines my semblance!"
"Oh?"
"I get stronger the more I get beat up," Yang explained, "But I also get more... Yangry~!"
"Uuuuugh..." Nora and Ren groaned in their plate while Pyrrha chuckled.
"It's fine, Yang. No one is perfect." Pyrrha smiled understandingly, "How about we try some meditation later if you're having problems dealing with your temper and semblance?"
"E-eh…?" Yang winced. T-too wholesome. Pyrrha was really too wholesome. "Meditation is a bit..." Yang hesitated. "I, uh, I don't really want to..."
"Oh." Pyrrha leaned back, disappointed. She looked down at her plate, all sad.
Aaargh! Don't make such a face! You're appealing to my big sister instincts! And you have red hair too, this is the worst!
"Well… How about this!" Yang grinned, bumping Pyrrha's shoulder in friendly banter. "I'll go do some meditation with you, but you'll have to accompany me to a club in Vale! Get you to relax a bit!"
And see the real you. Find some flaws in your perfect armor!
"W-well…" Pyrrha hesitated, unsure. "I'm not quite sure..."
"We'll go with you!" Nora exclaimed, forcibly raising Ren's hand.
"Only if we also go to their meditation," Ren stated.
"Eeeeh…" Nora scrunched up her nose, unhappy.
Ahah, this guy was taking a page off Pyrrha's book.
Trading parties with meditation to force his partner to practice.
"Come on, Nora!" Yang grinned, offering her a hand. "You win some you lose some. Gotta sacrifice something to get these two to party!"
"You're right, blondie!" Nora grinned widely, grasping Yang's hand as if they were arm wrestling. "But then… then we'll have to get them drunk to make it worthwhile!"
Oooh, Yang liked this girl~!
"Oh dear," Pyrrha giggled awkwardly.
As the leader, she was a bit concerned, and she exchanged a worried glance with Ren, who had visibly paled, and already regretted his decision.
With Weiss
I hate this team…
Weiss gritted her teeth as she stomped her ways through the corridors.
A child who's done nothing to earn her position,
A gauche who clearly didn't have any previous training or equipment,
And the worst of all, a girl who had apparently decided to hate Weiss just because of her family name!
What a joke! Who made the teams? Ozpin wasn't right in his head! There had to be some kind of mistake!
"Miss Goodwitch!" Weiss called as soon as her eyes spotted the deputy-headmistress.
"Miss Schnee." The professor paused, adjusting her glasses as she looked down at her. "How can I help you?"
Weiss was the heiress of the SDC. Surely they wouldn't mind changing up the teams for her. She could still fix this.
"Well, um… I actually had a couple of questions."
"I am all ears."
"I think…" Weiss took a deep breath. "Is it possible to change the teams?"
"…"
Miss Goodwitch closed her scroll, sighing.
"Every year, someone asks me this question, Miss Schnee. And every year, the answer is the same. The person you have met with in Initiation will be your partner for the next four years, and then the two pairs making up the team are based on the relics you have retrieved."
"But… This doesn't make any sense!
"Ruby did nothing but act like a child all day long! Why did you choose her as a leader, even though I proved to be so much better than her during Initiation? She only killed a few Beowolves, while I faced an army of them.
"And her partner, Arc! How could he be allowed in this school, who is famously known for only accepting the best of the best? No equipment! No weapon! No training. And he broke his bed this morning, as well as the bathroom's door… and my and Pyrrha's locker… He even crashed a Bullhead onto the school! He is too dangerous!
"And… My partner. We don't get on at all! Keeping us in the same team would be highly detrimental. Surely you can't afford to waste all my potential in a team like this?"
Miss Goodwitch raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her rant.
"You forgot someone."
"Pardon?" Weiss frowned.
"Yourself. A girl who has been spending all her life getting what she wants, and who is judging her teammates poorly even though she hasn't known them for longer than a couple of days."
"Th-that's not…!" Weiss hesitated. "T-true…"
"You seem unsure." Miss Goodwitch observed and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing, observing Weiss from above her glasses. "Very well, I will answer your questions regardless.
"First, Miss Rose.
"She may not have killed as many Grimms as you did, but she helped Mr. Arc progress and encouraged him, despite having seen his poor physical abilities first-hand. Are you saying you would have been a better person than her in such a situation? Yet, you are shaming him for his abilities, even though, as he is your teammate, you should be defending him. Miss Rose immediately understood that her partner needed support and encouragements. That is why she was made leader, and you were not, Miss Schnee, despite all your 'private lessons' in leadership."
Weiss reared back, her heart clenching itself under the harsh criticism.
"Then, Mr. Arc." Miss Goodwitch continued mercilessly.
"He is a special case. Normally we would not allow people like him into the school. I will say one thing, however.
"Mr. Arc may be weak physically. But, during Initiation, had it been him facing this 'army of Grimm' as you said, instead of yourself, Miss Schnee, I guarantee he would have dispatched them faster than you ever could, and walk away uninjured, unlike you.
"Do not underestimate him. He has received both my and Ozpin's recommendation for a good reason. Whether you trust the process, and our judgment, is up to you, but we will not change our decision."
"Arc?" Weiss gaped, unable to wrap her head around the concept of such a gauche being stronger than her. "No way… He would easily get overrun by such a swarm. How could he even hope to survive, when even an exceptional student such as I needed help?"
"How about you ask him, and learn more about him, instead of assuming everything at first glance?" Miss Goodwitch suggested harshly, making Weiss wince embarrassingly.
Weiss looked down, once again mortified. Her? Assuming?
But she was the heiress of the SDC! Of course, people had to prove themselves to her, not the reverse…
…
…Right…?
"I suggest you take a step back and have a good look at yourself, Miss Schnee." Miss Goodwitch advised, "You are on equal grounds with every other student here."
…
Could it be that… I'm actually an awful person?
Weiss' heart clenched itself. She had let the convenience of the Schnee name's power blind her sight. That was so humiliating.
I should have realized when I lost my fight against those Grimm. I am weak... and the real world isn't a kind place that is going to bow to my demands.
No wonder Blake was looking down on her. Weiss had been acting like she owned the place...
Ugh... Weiss started feeling ashamed. She hated herself. Memories of her unreasonable demands at the Schnee manor flashed in her mind, and Weiss suddenly found herself cringing at the memories.
"Your teammates are students just like you, and you will be living with them for the next four years." Miss Goodwitch continued, "Do you want to continue belittling them, or do you want to be the better person and offer your hand to them?"
"That's…"
Better person?
Weiss perked up at the mention of the word.
Of course, she would be the better person.
She would be the best person! Hah! She was Weiss Schnee after all!
But… I still don't feel confident around Blake. Weiss thought bitterly. I need to get rid of that feeling.
But how?
"Have I answered your questions, Miss Schnee?" Miss Goodwitch asked.
"W-well… Yes." Weiss blushed embarrassingly. How humiliating, having her flaws analyzed so easily by a teacher. "Th-Thank you for your... honesty."
"You are welcome." Miss Goodwitch said and started walking away. She paused just before leaving the corridor.
"Oh, and Miss Schnee. Make no mistake. Mr. Arc IS a special case, do not compare yourself to him, it would not be fair to either of you.
"Most students would have trouble dealing with so many Grimm at once. For what it's worth, your fight in Initiation impressed me."
"R-really?" Weiss' eyes lit up, her heart warming up.
"Yes. That was quite the display of power and versatility, especially the way you used Gravity Dust." Miss Goodwitch smiled at her. "Don't be too hard on yourself, technically you are still one of our best students. Just be sure to become the best teammate one could ask for, as well."
On these words, Glynda Goodwitch walked away.
"O-one of the best teammate… one could ask for." Weiss repeated, blushing and dreaming of more praises.
If that was really her only flaw… then she was glad she had realized it now. Weiss was going to work hard to overcome it!
I can change. Weiss thought, filled with determination. I realize it now. I was too used to my previous way of life… But I'll become even better!
"Weiss!" A voice called.
Ruby.
Perfect timing!
"Oh, I finally found you! I searched for you everywhere!" The girl stopped in front of her and panted. "Listen, Weiss! I'm sorry I acted poorly, but I promise, from now on, I'll try my best so you can see me as a proper leader!"
"…Ruby…"
Weiss sighed.
"Thank you. I'll try to be a good teammate, as well." She nodded understandingly. "We are all here to learn."
Ruby gaped at her.
"Huh? That was easier than I thought!" Ruby grinned in relief. "Why are you so kind all of a sudden?"
Weiss took a deep breath, puffing her chest and putting her pride aside.
"I realized I was not the best person I could be. I am trying to change, Ruby, so… you better be appreciative of the new, better me that I am going to become!" Weiss huffed, pointing an angry finger at Ruby.
"Ahaha," Ruby laughed happily, "That's wonderful! I'll try to change too, and be better!"
"Very good." Weiss crossed her arms. "The same goes for the other two!"
"Huh?"
"We are not the only ones who need to change. I may not be perfect, but neither are the rest of you! We all need to adapt! Arc, in particular, needs to study and train! Very badly!"
"U-um… His name is Jaune, you know."
"And I won't stand Blake's attitude anymore, either! We will make her change her views on me!" Weiss continued, ignoring Ruby. "Make her understand that I am not just a family name!"
"But how?" Ruby asked.
"Well…"
Weiss sighed.
"I don't know… Even though I am saying that, I don't feel like I can convince her." Weiss admitted grumpily.
In the end, Weiss' confidence had still been shaken up. Blake was constantly looking down on her, and Weiss couldn't really say anything, since Blake did technically save her life… It was so frustrating!
"How about you just kick her butt?" Ruby suggested.
"Ruby! That's just barbaric. I can't just…" Weiss' voice faded.
Wait… Actually?
Weiss considered the idea.
Either I win and I settle the score with her, and she has to listen to me… or I lose and she will look down on me even harder. A risky gambit.
Weiss' expression slowly shifted into a smirk. "I like it…!"
"Huh?"
"I'll get my weapon, and prepare myself! We will engage in a duel!"
"W-wait, Weiss! I was joking! I was joking!"
"You stay out of this, Ruby." Weiss requested. "If I beat her, she'll stop acting so nasty and she'll listen to me!"
And I'll get to let off some steam, too.
"I-I'm really not sure that's how it's going to happen, Weiss! But… I'll cheer for you!"
With Jaune.
"How was your day, Jaune?"
"The lessons were nice…" Jaune smiled at Miss Goodwitch, "But my team is a bit… upset."
"Yes, I have noticed, Jaune. Do not worry, in time, you will learn to know each other." She stepped aside, holding the door open for him, "Come in."
Jaune stepped in her office, the professor closing the door behind him.
"What about you, madam?" Jaune asked.
"Lots of work as usual." Miss Goodwitch smiled, "I answered some of Miss Schnee's questions as well, a bit earlier."
"A-ah?" Jaune's eyes widened. "Did you tell her…"
"No, I did not tell her about your semblance, Jaune. I only offered some criticism. Sit down here."
Jaune sighed in relief sat down in the middle of the room.
"I, um... I broke some things today..."
"Yes, I've already checked. I've taken care of it." Miss Goodwitch said, "The way your bed broke down and got dismantled without a single crack was quite interesting."
"R-really! You already... Thank you very much." Jaune bowed his head gratefully.
"It is nothing, I am used to it." She waved it away. "More importantly, have you read the books I have given you?" She asked.
"A little…"
"Good. We will not waste time on theory, you will have to read during your own time."
"Okay."
"For you to have the best scholarship possible, and start participating in Combat classes, we're going to need to get your semblance under control first."
"Combat classes?" Jaune frowned.
"Yes, the class I teach. I mostly monitor students sparring with each other until they fall at 15% Aura, and I give them advice and ideas on how to improve themselves after."
"Sparring…?" Jaune hesitated, not liking the idea at all. "But, I thought I only had to kill Grimm…"
Jaune had accepted going to Beacon, but actually, he hadn't really looked into the different disciplines they taught. He had had no idea he would be fighting against other people, that was how ignorant Jaune was of the world of Huntsmen.
"…As a Huntsman, you will have to deal with criminals too," Miss Goodwitch explained, "So you have to practice fighting against other people."
"But that's impossible for me!" Jaune protested. "I can't fight other people, it's too dangerous… for them! Do-"
"Right now, yes." Miss Goodwitch cut him, "Once you have more control over your semblance, however, you will have to spar with your classmates."
"More control…" Jaune mumbled.
…Did Miss Goodwitch really know what she was talking about?
More control. It wasn't that easy! His semblance seemed like it had a mind of its own sometimes, there was no way he could control that.
But… Well, she was the great Miss Goodwitch after all. Let's trust her.
"Okay…" Jaune slowly nodded reluctantly, despite disliking the idea of fighting with his classmates.
Fighting with Jaune was really dangerous. He hoped Miss Goodwitch understood that.
"Do you know how we are going to get it under control?" Miss Goodwitch asked.
"Meditation." Jaune assumed.
"Indeed."
With Miss Goodwitch.
"Let's focus on being mindful first." Miss Goodwitch began, "Finding that point where you are completely aware of the now."
"..."
"Doing this in the future, you will want to find a time where you will not be disturbed."
"..."
"Whatever thoughts come and go in your mind at the moment, simply observe them, as if from a distance. Now, notice your breathing, especially the still points between your breath."
Jaune started slowing down his breathing.
He's a natural. Glynda realized. Or... No. He's already breathing perfectly. Not stressing, either. Completely relaxed.
He was already used to it.
"Jaune... Did you try meditating before?" Glynda asked.
"...Yes..." Jaune breathed quietly.
"When?"
"Ever since I turned eight. There was a Huntress... She taught me. I've been doing it regularly."
"...How often...?"
"Once a week. Sometimes twice."
"..."
Glynda's heart sunk.
This often? If he's already been doing it for so long, and his semblance was still so wild, then...
It may be that... his semblance really is uncontrollable...?
No, no. She shouldn't think that way. Perhaps it was Jaune that has been doing it wrong...
"... You will be doing it every day from now on." Miss Goodwitch decided.
"Every day?"
"Yes. On your own time. It doesn't need to be for a long period of time, fifteen minutes are enough."
"O-okay..." Jaune frowned, his eyes still closed.
"Since you have already meditated, I will come up with another training method next week."
"..."
"You will learn how to control your semblance, Jaune. I promise you."
"..."
Jaune stayed quiet.
"..."
From his silence, Glynda couldn't help but feel like he had already given up on their training sessions and lost a bit of his faith in her expertise.
With Blake.
"…What?"
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Blake sighed and closed her book.
"If you want to get beat up so bad, I suppose I can humor you."
"Wait! This isn't a simple fight." Weiss stopped her, "If I win, you will listen to me, and you will stop judging me by my family name!"
"Yeah, Blake, how could you!" Ruby pouted cutely, "Imagine if you were in Weiss' place! Poor Weiss!" Ruby sniffed and grabbed Weiss in her arms. "It's okay now Weiss!"
"Hmph!" Weiss merely crossed her arms and glared at Blake, ignoring Ruby's hug.
Hmm…? Blake narrowed her eyes as she watched them. These two were a lot closer than before. Did they come to an understanding?
Blake put her book aside, and slowly stood up, dominating the two little girls by her sheer height. "…What if I win?"
"If you win…" Weiss frowned, standing defiantly against her, trying her best to match Blake's height. "U-um…"
"If I win, you will have to change your attitude towards Faunus." Blake declared, leaning forward.
Hearing this, Weiss narrowed her eyes. "Hah!" She laughed. "Very well! It's not like you have a chance anyway!"
"Hah!" Ruby giggled as well, and the two of them exchanged a knowing smirk.
"…"
Blake frowned. What was this? Why were these two snickering like they knew something she didn't? Was there something she was missing?
Well. It didn't matter.
"To the gym's sparring stadium?" Blake assumed, unsheathing Gambol Shroud to check the blade. It was perfectly clean, ready to be used.
"Perfect," Weiss smirked eagerly.
"I'll be the witness of the match!" Ruby declared eagerly, "Ah, and I'll call Jaune over, too!"
With Jaune.
"Thanks, Miss Goodwitch." Jaune bowed his head once they had finished the meditation.
"Before you go."
Jaune froze, his hand already on the door's handle.
"Y-yes?"
"Jaune… Have you told your team the specifics of your semblance, and how untrained you are?" Miss Goodwitch asked.
"…Er… No… Though I've already broken a few things."
"Tell them."
Jaune's eyes widened. "But, um…"
"It's for their safety." She explained. "All your foster families were informed of your destructive potential. The same is required for your team, with whom you will live for four years."
"W-well, that's true," Jaune admitted.
However… With the current state of the team, he couldn't tell them yet. Not before they solve their different!
"I will give you three days."
"Wh-what?"
"After that, I will have to tell them myself."
"B-but-!"
"That is not negotiable, Jaune." Miss Goodwitch stated. Her eyes were stern, unwavering.
"…Okay…" Jaune eventually accepted.
Miss Goodwtich sure was strict... Jaune had already so many things to do.
"Also… Take this."
She grabbed something on her table and handed it to him.
Jaune frowned. "What's this? This is heavy…"
"It's a ball of pure Atlesian DUSTeel."
Jaune raised the metallic sphere in his hand, examining closely. It was about as large as a big marble. Dusteel? What was that? "This must be precious, right? It's better if I don't have it..."
"It is a catalyst." Miss Goodwitch explained. "If you lose control of your power, take it in your hands, and try to focus your Aura in it."
"Focus my Aura?"
"Something we're going to learn very soon." Miss Goodwitch said. "The catalyst should absorb the destructive power and diffuse it. No matter what, it won't break. It can resist huge destructive forces, as it is made from the hardest material on Remnant."
"Really…" Jaune gaped. "That's amazing. Thanks, Miss Goodwitch!"
"You're welcome. You may leave now."
"See you tomorrow!" Jaune grinned, closed the door and walked away.
"…"
As he walked, Jaune took out the Atlesian Dusteel again, looking at it curiously.
"…"
He made sure to move on some dirt and channeled his semblance.
Crack!
Boom!
The sphere exploded violently.
"Aaaaouch! My hand!" Jaune winced, widening his eyes.
Jaune shook his pained hand, a white halo surging through his arm and making it shine.
Several pieces of the metallic sphere dropped off his hand and scattered on the ground around him.
"..." Jaune paused and stared at the remnants of the so-called Dusteel catalyst.
Th-this! What the heck, this thing didn't work at all!
"Dammit!" Jaune cursed, pouting. "I knew it wouldn't work..."
Dzzzt!
"Hmm? My scroll..."
Jaune had been given a scroll.
He was very careful with it, and basically never touched it unless he really had to.
His semblance interacted weirdly with scrolls. Sometimes, it straight up broke them in two, other times, the scroll just ceased to function.
Jaune raised his scroll and read the message from Ruby.
Come to the gym right now, there's an epic fight between Blake and Weiss!
"Huh..."
Later.
"The gym... Should be here." Jaune mused, standing in front of a large building.
Stepping forward, Jaune opened the door and entered the building.
The sound of clashing metals and explosions came to his ears.
"J-jaune!" Ruby called him over. "You're late!"
"S-sorry," Jaune apologized, gaping at the stadium. "What... What is this?"
"Weiss and Blake are fighting," Ruby said.
Jaune stared at the two girls dashing at each other and exchanging a flurry of blows with their swords clashing loudly.
"...So fast." Jaune gaped.
"Eh. I can go faster." Ruby boasted.
"Why are they fighting...?"
"They both want the other to change," Ruby explained. "And you know what's funny?"
"No..."
"If Blake wins, she's going to ask Weiss to view Faunus in a better light, something like that."
"That seems good..."
"Except!" Ruby grinned widely, raising her index in the air, "Weiss had already planned to change her ways regardless of the outcome!"
"Huh?" Jaune blinked. "So... Blake is basically fighting for nothing?"
"Yep."
"Pffft." Jaune chuckled along with Ruby, watching the fight.
Weiss: 43%
Blake: 32%
"Weiss is winning..." Jaune smiled, happy for her.
"She's just spamming her dust," Ruby said.
Booom!
A large wave of fire washed all over the stadium. Blake threw her sword like a grapple to the ceiling and maintained herself above the raging fire.
Meanwhile, Weiss made some Glyphs and sent some kind of Aura missiles towards Blake.
Blake started grappling around below the ceiling like Tarzan, twirling her body to dodge the shots mid-air. Sometimes the direction of her momentum suddenly changed direction and left a shadow clone behind her. She was untouchable, and even tried to fire a few shots at Weiss.
It impacted a spherical shield of blue light, which completely protected Weiss.
"Hard-light dust," Ruby mumbled. "Weiss is so good with dust... It's amazing."
Weiss raised her sword, channeling dust once again, making it glow red.
"Again..."
Boooom!
Another torrent of fire emerged of her sword.
Ah! Jaune suddenly understood. These large area-of-effect attacks were a lot harder to dodge for Blake, who usually escaped all the other attacks. That was why Weiss kept repeating the same attack, it was the only thing that was sure to damage Blake.
So if this continued, Blake was probably going to lose.
Which was why, she decided to dash and close in for melee combat.
Weiss flexed her legs, her rapier starting to glow blue.
Blake raised her sword and brought it, seeing the wide opening as Weiss had drawn her sword back.
The attack bounced off the blue shield that Weiss had materialized once again.
As Blake staggered back, this left her wide open to Weiss, who had been preparing her attack.
She dashed and thrust her rapier forward repeatedly, hitting Blake multiple times, before ending the combo with a powerful burst of ice, launching Blake to the other side of the stadium.
She violently impacted against the wall, and dropped down to the ground.
"Oof." Ruby commented.
With Blake.
"Ugh..." Blake struggled to get up.
A foot stomped on her chest, maintaining her down.
"I win," Weiss panted, her rapier under Blake's chin.
"…Fine." She admitted grumpily, grimacing. "...Tch. It's easy... with so much dust to throw around."
How many dust vials had she used? Ten? This hadn't been a fair fight at all.
"Hmph. About as easy as saving me from one Ursa after watching me take care of all the other Grimm." Weiss groaned and even offered her hand to help Blake stand up. "A win is a win. Now, we are even."
Blake's ears twitched, and she looked away, feeling bad. "Right... Fair point." She accepted her hand. "…Weiss…"
"I know why you did what you did in Initiation, Blake," Weiss said, helping her up. "You believe everything the media, or the White Fang, say about the Schnee family. I am used to such things."
"…" Blake looked away, ashamed.
The memory of the fitful heiress' sleep, having a nightmare, flashed in Blake's mind, as well as Blake's own nightmare.
"You were not completely wrong," Weiss admitted reluctantly. "For example, I am aware that I'm sometimes overly cautious around Faunus. But… I can change my habits!" Weiss pointed an accusatory finger at Blake, "And you could have talked with me, instead of belittling me!"
"..."
Blake had left the White Fang precisely because she didn't like the violence.
And yet, she fell right back into it as soon as she had heard a racist comment coming out of a Schnee's mouth.
The White Fang should be about dialogue. That was what Blake wanted.
So Blake should have talked to Weiss, instead of antagonizing her... What a hypocrite she had been.
"...Yes…" Blake admitted, looking down. "I shouldn't have judged you so harshly. I let my perception of the SDC blind me… and I forgot that you are actually a person who can change. Someone I can talk to and convince. I'm sorry."
Usually, talking to the SDC was like talking to a wall. That company just did not want to change, no matter how many demonstrations and protests the White Fang did.
But Weiss was different.
The heiress smiled victoriously as if Blake fell right into her trap. "I forgive you, Blake!"
"…What?" Blake blinked confusedly, "Just like that?"
"In normal circumstances, I would not tolerate such attitude, but… you did.. save me, in the end." Weiss recognized reluctantly. "And if we are going to be living together for the next four years, then I am willing to let bygones be bygones."
Blake widened her eyes. Who could have known that Weiss Schnee could be so understanding?
As she was learning more about her partner, Blake felt all the more terrible about her previous behavior. Weiss Schnee could be the great change that the SDC needed so much, and yet, Blake had let her past White Fang activities blind her.
Truly, she was ashamed. Maybe Adam had had more influence on her than she realized?
No… Blake shook her head. Adam was not here to mess with her head. This was her fault entirely.
"I know!" Ruby exclaimed suddenly, appearing between them. "Let's forget it all!"
"Forget?" Jaune had followed her.
"Yeah! Let's forget we know each other…" Ruby suggested with a wise nod, "And let's pretend we meet for the first time!"
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, we never did properly present ourselves to each other." Weiss mused.
"Right? We must do these things properly!" Ruby nodded enthusiastically. "But first, let's go back to the dorms so you two get a shower!" Ruby giggled happily. "You're covered in sweat!"
"Wh-what? It's natural!" Weiss flushed as if she'd been insulted.
Later, at the dorms.
"Now that everyone is clean!" Ruby proclaimed to the three of them, who were sat in a circle. "Let the new introductions...BEGIN! Who's first?"
"I shall begin," Weiss smirked proudly.
"My name is Weiss Schnee, the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. I am an expert at swordsmanship using a rapier, and I am proficient with various dust types. I enjoy studying and yearn to better myself, in order to succeed to my father and change the reputation of the Schnee name for the better."
"Okay! But we need other stuff!" Ruby stated. And the little girl was actually taking notes! How cute. "Favorite food!" Ruby asked.
"Um… Parfait au chocolat." Weiss answered, with a guilty blush. "I also enjoy a few sepcial brands of coffee…"
"Hobbies!"
"Enjoying classical music and visiting art museums. I also used to sing and play the piano."
"Something you dislike, now!"
"I dislike... entitled people who think they know me based on reputation alone," Weiss smirked, causing Blake to cough awkwardly.
Oh god... This was going to stick to her, Blake just knew it.
"Um… What about your Semblance!" Ruby questioned, which made Jaune gulp apprehensively for some reason.
"I can summon a variety of Glyphs," Weiss answered. "The effects of said Glyphs depend on my state of mind and the dust I use."
"…Er… Well, I guess that's enough for now!" Ruby nodded, finishing her notes and starting a new page. "Thank you for going first, Weiss! Next! Blake!"
Blake's ears twitched. It was her turn, huh...
All right...
Okay... Let's do this.
"My name is Blake Belladonna. And… I am…"
Blake reached to her hair and unfolded her bow.
"…A Faunus." She revealed.
"Oooooh!" Ruby and Jaune gaped at her cat ears, making her blush in embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Weiss had widened her eyes in surprise. "That makes sense..." She mumbled under her breath.
"I want to become a Huntress to make a difference in the world," Blake continued, trying to sound confident under the stares of the three humans. "As I believe there are too much wrong and injustice at work in the world."
Without her bow, she felt completely nude now, for some reason. She felt vulnerable.
She forced herself to continue talking, fidgetting awkwardly.
"For food… I like tuna.
"As for hobbies… I enjoy reading good literature.
"Something I hate… That would be racism and injustice in general."
"Ironic," Weiss commented bitterly, making Blake wince. "Sorry… Please continue."
"Finally, my semblance is creating shadow clones. I can use dust to enhance their effects."
"I usually hide my bow, to keep my Faunus heritage a secret, as I believe the society in Vale is much too discriminatory of my kind," Blake explained and put her bow back on her ears.
"Stop," Weiss demanded, making Blake freeze like a cat caught red-handed.
"What? I need to hide my identity." Blake frowned.
"Hide? Do I hide my identity?" Weiss replied.
"That's not the same thing-"
"No." Weiss shook her head, "I know it must not be easy to be a Faunus, but I also experience my fair share of discrimination, just because I am famous for being the SDC heiress."
"But-"
"No buts! You started this!" Weiss snapped, making Blake shrink on herself. "If we want to start over, we have to be honest with ourselves! And I, for one, believe that a Schnee and a Faunus becoming partners would send a wonderful message to the world!"
"But people will talk…" Blake pointed out. She couldn't help but be uncomfortable at the idea. "The humans that were on your side, Weiss, will now hate you for having a Faunus as a friend. The Faunus that were on my side, as well, will now hate me for having a Schnee as a partner. And what about your family? We will have twice more enemies!"
"Or twice more friends!" Ruby replied vehemently.
"And if people disagree, then we will just face them," Weiss stated. "We will tell them off!"
"And stand strong and united!" Ruby added. "We will be the best, most awesome team! Right, Jaune?"
"…"
Jaune shifted awkwardly under the three girls' stares. "Right... Um... I-it would be a shame to hide these cat ears..."
"E-eh?" Ruby gasped, blushing. "What the... That's not the point you goof!"
"Who do you think you are, you playboy!" Weiss slapped his arm, making Jaune turn into a stuttering mess.
The scene made Blake laugh.
It just came out of her mouth, very naturally.
The three turned their eyes on her, and Blake immediately regretted letting herself laugh, as Weiss' expression turned even more victorious.
"Well, Blake? Are you going to leave me alone in the spotlight?" Weiss grinned, offering her hand. "Or are you going to step up, stop hiding, and stand beside me?"
Blake closed her eyes, a little smile gracing her face.
Blake realized it now. Weiss was an incredibly strong young woman, with unparalleled courage.
Now, Blake felt a surge of admiration towards this rich girl who she had once despised. Now, that rich girl was inspiring her to leave the darkness, and step up into the light.
Still… For now, I'll keep my terrible past as a member of the White Fang a secret. For both our sakes.
But… This partnership, coming from Weiss Schnee…?
This is something I want to believe in.
"…"
With a conscious effort of willpower, Blake dropped her bow, her cat-ears twitching shyly.
She still felt exposed, her heart heavy and apprehensive, but...
"Weiss… You're amazing." Blake smiled and shook Weiss' hand, a little emotional.
"I know," Weiss smirked arrogantly, very satisfied at herself.
"Awww!" Ruby teared up. "I want a hug! Can I have a hug?"
"No." Weiss replied coldly.
"Don't care!" Ruby jumped on them and hugged them both anyway.
"Ugh! Ruby, get off! Don't touch me!" Weiss protested.
"Nope!" Ruby grinned. "As the leader of this team, I have to give you all lots of love!"
"That's not what a leader does!"
"It is!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
Meanwhile, Blake laughed at the banter.
It felt like her heart had been relieved of an immense burden.
Now that she was free of hatred, and Weiss Schnee had offered her a hand, it was like a whole new world had opened up in front of her. Blake was grateful.
It was a new perspective. Was this going to work out? If Blake had refused Weiss' offer, she knew, that she would have thought about it all the time, wondering if she had made the wrong decision.
So Blake would try it. And keep moving forward without any regrets, having tried everything she could.
With Jaune.
I knew it. Jaune thought as he observed the black-haired girl smiling genuinely. Blake really is a kind person.
Jaune was relieved that the conflict between Blake and Weiss had been resolved already.
This kind of situation, you needed to deal with it quickly, otherwise, it could have escalated into a toxic relationship where neither of them could forgive the other.
"O-okay! Next! Is…" Ruby turned to Jaune, who gulped. "Me!"
Phew. Not Jaune's turn yet.
"My name is Ruby Rose! I want to be a Huntress cause I want to help people! And cause I want to fight monsters, and it's so romantic and epic and everything!
"I love cookies and milk and strawberries!
"My semblance is bursting into red petals super fast!
"And my hobbies are playing games, designing weapons, and maintaining my scythe Crescent Rose! Ah, I also read some Shojo Manga sometimes!"
"Your dislikes?" Weiss asked.
"Grimm, of course!" Ruby proclaimed, raising her fist. "We need to kill them all!"
D-damn.
"What else, other than Grimm?" Blake asked.
"Something not related to being a Huntress," Jaune suggested.
"Eh? Er..." Ruby scratched her head for a moment. "I guess... I don't like crowds too much... parties..." She grimaced awkwardly, "Where I am forced to interact and be social with new people that I've never met."
"M-me too!" Jaune gaped. "I never liked them! Every time, it feels like people are just showing off. Or it feels like... Like I'm taking some kind of-"
"-some kind of exam!" Ruby finished his sentence for him.
"Exactly!" Jaune nodded. "Like my social skills are being examined... Or-"
"Or judged and compared to other people!" Ruby finished his sentence again.
"Yes! W-wow, you really get it...!" Jaune gaped at her.
"Well, yeah! I'm socially awkward too, you know!" Ruby grinned widely and raised her hand, "Now we can be awkward together!"
Jaune laughed and gave her a high-five. Finally, someone who gets it!
"Or maybe you can cease to be awkward. Both of you." Weiss suggested.
Jaune and Ruby stared at her, before glancing at each other.
They grinned.
"Nah!"
"Nah!"
"...Oh my god." Weiss sighed. "Blake... We'll have to whip these two into shape, make them grow out of their shell. We cannot have a leader that can't interact with strangers properly."
"E-eh?" Ruby gasped.
"I suppose we'll have to." Blake smiled.
"J-jaune!" Ruby suddenly grabbed onto him.
"G-gah?!" Jaune could only freeze at the sudden contact.
"Help me, Jaune! We must protect our social awkwardness from these two socially able girls!"
"Absolutely not." Weiss cut in before Jaune could say anything. "You will have to change just like us! In fact, it's your turn," She said, pointing a finger at Jaune. "So hurry up and give us a good, organized presentation."
"In fifty words or less," Blake added with a teasing smile.
"Wh-what?" Jaune blinked confusedly.
"Bah, don't listen to them, Jaune! They're trolling us." Ruby winked. "Just wing it, don't worry about it!"
"R-right..." Jaune nodded hesitantly.
Crap, it was already his turn, huh... He had seen it coming from a mile away, but still.
He didn't like talking about himself. It made him too nervous.
But after the what Weiss and Blake had gone through… They had both come to an agreement, by putting their respective views aside. It was something Jaune could admire.
Hence, how could he back out now?
It was the perfect opportunity, all things considered.
"…Okay. My... My name is Jaune Arc.
"I am completely untrained. I didn't go to combat school or anything. Physically, I am… weaker… than your average civilian."
A heavy silence fell on the room.
No one was surprised by that statement, Jaune realized.
They had all seen through him.
Was it really that obvious? His heart sunk in his chest.
"My body is weak. I don't even know basic self-defense. I am not particularly smart either… and I don't have a weapon.
"Yet… Miss Goodwitch and Ozpin invited me into Beacon."
Jaune paused.
He hesitated.
Did he really want to do this?
If he told them, they were going to instantly hate him, right?
'You have three days. After that, I will tell them myself.'
Crap. Jaune had no choice.
"Why?" Weiss asked as the silence stretched, eager to know. "Why did they invite you into Beacon?"
"Tell us, Jaune." Blake nodded, curious. "We're not going to judge."
"B-because…"
Crap. Why couldn't the words come out of his mouth?
Something grabbed his hand.
It was Ruby. She had grabbed his hand.
"Because…"
"Becauuuuse…?" Ruby repeated patiently.
"Because… of… Because of my semblance!" Jaune raised his voice all of a sudden.
"Because of this semblance that breaks everything I touch!
"Every single day I break something! It's so exhausting!
"Like a curse following me like the plague, destroying my surroundings, everywhere I go!
"I can't even hold anything without being scared that I break it!"
…
...
...
Jaune had snapped.
He continued to talk and talk and talk.
He couldn't stop! He didn't know why.
His lips kept moving on their own, the words flowing out like a river having broken a dam.
He kept talking about his whole life, all of a sudden, vomiting the story of his life all at once.
It was like his heart was spewing some toxic pus.
Painful. Yet, for some reason, he couldn't stop. Something was being released out of his soul.
As he kept talking, Jaune wondered if all this time, he had just wanted someone to hear this.
Just someone, to listen to his complaints.
Like that white-cloaked Huntress did so many years ago. That time seemed so far-off now.
Was it something that easy, he wondered?
"…"
While his three teammates had looked a little surprised at his outburst at first, now they listened quietly.
Not cutting in to express agreement, just… silently listening.
"…"
Once Jaune finished talking about his semblance and his story, he was slightly panting.
Aaah, it's done, it's done.
There's no going back now.
Jaune leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted. His body felt drained.
"…What about your hobbies?" Ruby asked innocently.
"Huh?"
"Your hobbies, dummy! You forgot your hobbies."
"And your favorite food," Blake added.
"And your dislikes." Weiss nodded along.
This… Did they not care?
No, they had clearly been listening…
"…" Jaune opened his mouth, only for him to close it, not trusting his voice.
"…Well? Tell us!" Ruby demanded.
"I-I…" Jaune gulped. "B-but…"
"Your hobbies, Jaune," Ruby repeated patiently.
"Ho…Hobbies…?" Jaune repeated slowly, trying to wrap his mind on the situation.
Huh?
Hobbies? Who cared about his hobbies? Jaune had no hobbies.
Rather, aren't you going to be angry to have such a useless teammate or something?
"No? What about your favorite food?" Ruby asked.
"…Favorite...Er… Milk." Jaune managed to say quietly.
"And your dislikes?" Blake asked.
"Um… Breaking things I don't own, and... bullies." He mumbled.
"There you go." Weiss nodded approvingly.
"That wasn't so hard, now, was it!" Ruby grinned at him.
Jaune took a moment to stare at the innocent, cute Ruby.
What was this girl talking about? This had been the hardest thing Jaune had ever done in his life…
"Now, let's do another team hug!" Ruby declared, opening her arms wide.
"No way, Ruby!" Weiss immediately dodged her. "We already did one."
"You didn't hug back, so it doesn't count!"
"…"
So they are okay with it...
Jaune stared at Ruby chasing after Weiss until Blake eventually trapped the heiress in her arms.
"B-Blaaake! Y-you! I knew it, you're not...on my... side...!"
"This is for your own good, Weiss," Blake replied.
"N-noo, hyaaaaaa!" Weiss screamed as she was getting immobilized.
"Now, come here, Jaune! Quick!" Ruby called, struggling against the heiress who was trying to get free from their arms. "Jaune! Jaune?"
"..."
This is nice...
The scene was warming Jaune's heart.
However, he didn't let himself hope too much.
This nice, deceiving scene, he had seen it multiple times, with his many foster families.
It was nice and cheery like that at first. It never lasted very long, though.
"…"
Carefully, Jaune allowed himself to smile and moved closer to them.
I wonder… I hope this time, it lasts more than five months.
A/N: Thanks for reading.
Please note that I am originally French, so there's always going to be some mistakes here and there.
Also, I realize I should 'show and not tell' but that's exactly what I suck at. It just feels more natural for me to write this way, even though it's not subtle at all. Anyway, I'm not gonna let myself get too worked up about it.
See you next time.