Jaune dove to the side, narrowly avoiding his opponent's weapon as it impacted the ground. Rolling into a kneeling position, he quickly put some distance between himself and his opponent, hoping to buy himself some time to think and come up with a strategy. Unfortunately for him his opponent was quick on their feet despite the rather large and cumbersome size of their weapon. Years of training had no doubt allowed him to heft his mace with ease, carrying it around like it was nothing and swinging it with enough force to cave his chest in were it not for the rather impressive amount of aura Jaune had. Watching his opponent's movements carefully he waited until he brought his mace in for a swing then struck. Using his shield, he smacked the weapon aside, using its own momentum against him before pushing into his guard. Unable to block the counterattack Cardin Winchester took the hit to his chest as well as his aura before he had a chance to react. Unfortunately for him Jaune knew better and in the same moment he attacked he retreated just as quickly, keeping his shield up just beneath his eye line to allow him to see his scroll and aura meter while also keeping an eye on his opponent.
"What's the matter Jauney boy, afraid to fight me like a man?" Cardin chided.
Jaune said nothing, keeping his distance from him as he waited for his next move. It had only taken one poorly anticipated attack to teach him not to underestimate Cardin again. At the beginning of their match Jaune had sized up Cardin, taking into consideration the larger boy's body, armor and weapon. While their attire was somewhat similar, even to the point of both young men having weapons meant for close combat, there were some distinct differences between the two of them. For one thing Cardin's armor was noticeably heavier and covered a great deal more of his body than Jaune's did. The other thing was his weapon was a large mace, meant to be wielded using two hands while Jaune carried a sword and shield, a combination that focused on a balance of offense and defense. All in all, it looked like Jaune would have the advantage of speed over Cardin's focus on power, enabling him to gain some breathing room and carefully pick his opportunities to strike when Cardin showed an opening.
He soon learned how wrong he was.
The one other factor Jaune hadn't taken into account was his training or rather the years of training he'd no doubt undergone to hone his body into being capable of not only wearing his armor and wielding his weapon but moving around swiftly with ease while carrying both. Granted, Jaune had training but a single year spent in the wilds fighting against Grimm and learning what he could from local Huntsmen could only help him so much when compared to someone who'd been training to be a Huntsman since they were a small child. Even Ruby had more experience than he did and she was two years younger than him. Needless to say he'd learned his lesson hard as the moment the match started Cardin charged towards him with more speed than he'd anticipated. While he had managed to dodge at the last moment his hesitation had cost him and his aura meter showed for his lack of foresight. Now he was being more careful, staying on the move and using hit and run tactics to wear Cardin down. It wasn't the most effective or preferable of strategies but it at least ensured Cardin was the one losing aura and not him.
In the background he could hear Nora cheering for him alongside Ruby. Their encouragement was appreciated but he needed to focus on the fight at hand. Already he could see his tactics were working. Aside from Cardin's slowly diminishing aura, he was breathing harder, no doubt feeling the strain of having to always run after an opponent that refused to sit back and take his punishment. That was good as the more of his stamina he wore down the easier it would be for Jaune to escape and counter. He just needed to score a few more hits to land him in the red and the spar would be his.
Once more Cardin began making his way over, holding his mace ready to strike either right, left, or above. Jaune tensed, keeping his eyes on his opponent while maintaining a lose frame that would allow him to evade at a moment's notice. Winchester charged, unwilling to give him the opportunity to run, swinging it to the left as he came for him. Jaune brought his shield up, ready to dive right but realized at the last moment that Cardin had feigned the attack and struck at him from his exposed side. Jaune had just enough time to bring his aura up to bare the brunt of the blow but it was more than he'd expected. Inside the hollow of his mace Cardin had installed a large Dust crystal set to go off at the pull of the trigger. As soon as he'd gained a successful foothold on him he struck, pressing down on the trigger and sending Jaune flying to the side in an explosion of fire.
Jaune rolled along the floor, his lungs burning from the blast and his ears ringing. He was still conscious, his aura having taken most of it, but he wasn't yet sure of the extent of the damage. With his vision swimming he stumbled to his feet, not sure if or when Cardin would follow up with another attack. Instinctively bringing his shield to bare he was startled when he noticed his hands were empty, completely devoid of his ability to defend himself. He immediately assumed he'd lot his grip and they'd skittered off until something else hit him, something far worse than Cardin's mace. The stench of charred flesh. It struck him instantly, causing his heart to begin racing in his chest. No, no, no, no, not here, not now. Of all times for this to happen now was the worst. Already he could feel himself slipping into the nightmare as the screaming began. He tried to force himself to focus, knowing his sword and shield were no doubt still in hand. It did him little good.
Out of nowhere a force struck him in the chest, sending him flying backwards and across the arena. He struck the concrete, skidding across the ground before being brought to an abrupt stop by the barrier. While the attack had been unexpected, Jaune could at least thank Cardin's actions for having jostled him out of his mental breakdown. Unfortunately for him it left him wide open for another attack, one which Cardin was all to happy to take advantage of. Watching the boy close the distance between them, mace held ready to swat him like a fly on the wall, Jaune did the only thing he could to save himself.
"I forfeit," he said loudly.
The mace which Cardin had brought around for another attack halted its trajectory mid-swing, just short of his exposed side. Jaune pushed himself to his feet, listening to the sound of the barrier dropping give way to the murmurs and applause of their piers. Cardin smirked, settling his mace into his shoulders as Miss Goodwitch began her examination of the spare. Jaune took a moment to assess his aura levels and found he was still well within the yellow despite the brunt attacks he'd taken while Cardin was on the cusp of hitting the red. It hadn't mattered, however. He'd lost his concentration and with it the advantage he'd had over Cardin. He hadn't accounted for his Dust crystal, mostly because he hadn't used it for most of the battle. It was a sensible tactic or simply confidence in his abilities. Either way, it had left Jaune disoriented, among other things, and completely unable to fight back.
"Mr. Arc," he heard her say, drawing him away from his thoughts and back to reality. "While you had a shaky start at the beginning you managed to set your own rhythm to the battle and take advantage of several moments to land critical blows to your opponent. Yet, near the end you hesitated."
"I lost focus," he said, knowing his moment of panic and confusion would be brought up. "I was disoriented and unable to focus on the spar."
"Are you sure that's all it was?" she asked.
Her question would no doubt have been taken as prompt for the student to reexamine their fight, to play through the scenario looking for holes they might have prevented had they been more attentive. For Jaune, however, he knew it was something more. Whether it was her overall tone or the sympathetic look in her eyes that tipped him off, it was enough to let him know she knew and that she was gently nudging him towards that same train of thought. She knew, or at least suspected, that the blow caused by the Dust crystal had caused something to break loose. In a way she was offering a helpful hand, gifting him the opportunity to start working towards fixing something which many of the staff would no doubt see as being broken. Unfortunately for them Jaune didn't see it that way.
"Yes, I'm sure," he said, his mouth drawn in a thin line as he looked down at her from his perch on the arena.
"Very well," she replied, turning her attention back to her scroll pad. "Seeing as how we don't have enough time for another match I'll consider letting you all out early," she said, her statement drawing many a hopeful look before adding sternly, "that said, don't expect this to be commonplace. I expect any of you who have further lessons to be on your way to them and for the rest of you to use your time wisely. Dismissed."
No one needed to be told twice as students eagerly, though cautiously, began dispersing from the classroom. The only exceptions were his own team as well as their friends from team RWBY who came down to meet him. Amongst them he could see Pyrrha, a worried look plastered on her face. While the expression should have been flattering it instead elicited a spark of annoyance from him. Pyrrha after all had been the one to bring his condition to the Headmaster's attention, something which he'd still not completely gotten over just yet. Still, he buried this feelings, focusing instead on his friends as they crowded around him.
"Nice try out there, lady killer. You had him on the ropes," Yang complemented.
"Yea, I thought for sure you would win," Ruby added.
"He would have if Cardin hadn't pulled that nasty trick on him," Nora pouted.
"Unfortunately Cardin's tactics, while dirty, are legal," Blake pointed out.
"She's right. I got so focused on the spar I neglected to consider his Dust crystal. That slip up cost me the battle," he admitted.
"Still, it seems odd it would be enough to disorient you to such an extent. Your aura didn't take much damage from it. Are you sure you hesitated?" Weiss asked.
Jaune silently cursed Weiss' observant nature. Naturally, having been trained by the best she would have been taught to take note of such fine details. The fact that she had caught on to his little slip up was annoying though not completely unavoidable.
"I'm just tired. That spar took a lot out of me. I think I'll get changed then go pick up Jade. I did promise to do some training with her and if we can do it before dinner we can work up an appetite."
The others seemed to agree with his train of thought and quickly dispersed with his teammates promising to wait for him outside the locker room. Jaune quickly retreated there, glad to be away from everyone's questions. It was bad enough that Ozpin and Oobleck knew he'd had an episode but the last thing he needed was his friends and teammates finding out. He wasn't sure how they'd all react to the news but he suspected some of them might begin to see and treat him differently. That was the last thing he needed. Being treated like you were broken or fragile, like the slightest jostle could cause you to crack, would be too much for him to tolerate.
"Jaune?"
And yet, time and time again the source of his current problems continued to rear her head at the worst of times.
"Is everything alright?" Pyrrha asked.
"Everything's fine. Why do you ask?"
"You just seem a little tense," Pyrrha said.
Glancing back at his teammate Jaune wasn't at all surprised to see the same expression of worry and concern plastered across her face. At any other time it might have been sweet, almost comforting in an older sibling sort of fashion. However, his perception of her concern for him had been soured somewhat by his interaction with Headmaster Ozpin. While the man had never stated her specifically as the one to bring his little condition to his attention, she'd been the only one amongst his team to witness what had happened to him and the only one who continued to show lingering doubts as to his emotional state. It was taking all he could to not lash out at her, mostly because he couldn't allow his emotions to get the better of him but also because part of him knew that she didn't deserve such treatment.
"I'm fine Pyrrha, really. I'm just a little tired from the spar. I'm going to change, get Jade, and then do some light training with her before calling it a day."
"Are you sure?" she pressed, "because if there's something bothering you- "
"I said I'm fine. Will you just drop it already?" he snapped, raising his voice as his irritation broke forth and cutting Pyrrha off mid-sentence.
She recoiled, obviously unprepared for her partner's outburst. Jaune immediately regretted his actions and acted quickly to try and remedy the situation before it could get any worse.
"Pyrrha, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I'm just tired and… and to be frank the constant questioning of how I'm doing is getting a little annoying. So please, just let me be, just for a moment. I promise once I've had some time to rest and recharge everything will be back to normal."
"O-of course. I'll, um, I'll go wait with the others," she said, quickly excusing herself.
The moment she left Jaune could already feel guilt beginning to pool in his stomach. He honestly hadn't meant to snap at her like that but her constant pestering about the same issue had worn down his patience. He'd have to make it up to her, give her a proper apology once he'd taken some time to refresh himself. For now, he would focus on his sister and keeping his promise to her.
/-/
It had been a long day, one which Jaune was glad was finally over. Having finished up his training with Jade, a quick shower had seen the girl cleaned and racing over to Team RWBY's dorm to have her usual reading session with Blake after dinner. While the little girl had watched her like a hawk not long after she was released from the infirmary, Jade had quickly lost interest in keeping an eye on her older sister figure and instead found her attention wrapped around the story she was currently reading her, no doubt soon to fall asleep in Blake's arms halfway through before being tucked into bed just minutes later.
Confident in the thought that his sister was in good hands, Jaune would take advantage of these moments to slip away from his team and find some solace in being alone. It hadn't been too difficult for him to find one of the several stairways that led to the roof of the school, situated just above the dorms. Being peaceful, quiet, secluded, and showcasing a spectacular view of the city down below it was a perfect place for him to come, unwind and clear his mind. Jaune had actually begun coming up here more often as of late, especially following his conversation with Prof. Oobleck just a few weeks ago. Tonight, however, his mind was replaying the events of the spar in Miss Goodwitch's class and the episode he'd experienced while fighting Cardin. As brutal as it had been he was still capable of thinking back on it with some clarity, enough to realize that his episode had been triggered by his fire crystal going off.
Fire; somehow that revelation didn't surprise him but it stung all the same. It had been fire which had taken his family, stolen them from himself and Jade and left them as nothing more than orphans out in the wilderness with little in the way of a direction or future. It had only been out of a desperation to survive, to see the light of another day that had enabled them both to make it this far. The experience had changed both of them, molded them, robbing them of the chance to be children and instead forcing them to grow up long before they were ready. Well, it hadn't been that dramatic. Jaune had been sixteen at the time, far enough beyond his childhood to begin maturing while Jade, who was still young, at least had the chance to regain some of her childhood before it ended. Still, she wasn't like the other children at the daycare. He could see it and certainly too could Lizzy the caregiver. It was obvious to them both that Jade held herself differently, something that couldn't be avoided given what she'd been made to endure.
Something still troubled him, though. Considering everything that had happened and knowing, or at the very least suspecting, fire to be the catalyst for his episodes, why was it that it had never happened before. The answer almost came to him immediately. His previous episode, not discounting this one, had been triggered by a violent explosion. The incident at the docks, where Roman Torchwick had attempted to kill them by setting off a container of Dust had ended in an explosion of fire and heat. Soon after the memories had flooded their way to the surface. Cardin's attack had been similar though a bit less violent effects. Still, the explosion had been enough to send him spiraling down into that same affair, reliving his family's death once more. Now that he at least had a grasp on what was causing it he needed to figure out how to stop it.
The first thought that came to him was visiting Prof. Oobleck. He might have the answers he sought but just as quickly as that traitorous thought arose he stomped it out. He'd decided soon after leaving his office that he would exercise his ability to voluntarily visit the man by choosing not to visit at all and instead limit his exposure to classes. That left him with the only other option of doing it himself which, given his complete lack of knowledge on the subject of mental trauma, left him at a loss of what to do. He could visit the library, start looking up psychology books regarding that subject. He couldn't bring them back to the dorm room though. While he could use Jade's therapy sessions as an excuse with him attempting to learn more about it for her sake there was still the thought of what he would say to anyone he met in the library who might question him. Jade was fairly well known amongst the student body, both first years and those in the older years as well. For the most part she was beloved by everyone and if he started letting others know that she was undergoing therapy there was no telling what sort of rumors might arise. For her sake, at least, he'd need to keep it quiet.
The other viable option was speaking with his teammates, namely Ren. Shortly after hearing what was happening with Jade he'd disclosed to him regarding the nature of his and Nora's relationship prior to coming to Beacon and the events that had unfolded. To say they put Jaune's own circumstances to shame was an understatement though something that Ren would never hold over him. Needless to say it was a wonder the two had survived, let alone stayed together, and from that had gained a sort of strength that he was envious of. Ren even admitted to being assailed by dreams of the tragic night he'd lost his family, Nora as well, and that he'd turned to meditation as a means of helping him cope. He'd offered to teach both him and Jade something, mostly to help her out, and Jaune had almost agreed on the spot. The only thing holding him back was in fact a person. Of all the people Jaune surrounded himself with, his own partner Pyrrha was the only one amongst them who knew the truth.
Granted, he didn't believe for a moment that the young woman would ever reveal his secret without his consent. She was, if nothing else, one of the most kind and carrying people he'd even met. He was sure if he asked her to take his secret to the grave she'd do it without question but he also believed that, if she felt the need was great enough, she'd reveal it all the same simply to help him. It was this uncertainty that had him moving forward cautiously, knowing or at least believing that if he brought up the subject of learning mediation from Ren one thing might lead to another and before long his secret would be out. From there he could see things falling apart quickly and the more concerned looks she gave him the more irritated he became. No, he had to do this on his own. If not to prove it to himself then to her at least that he was capable of taking care of himself and not being pitied by her. He just hoped she'd lay off until then.
"Jaune, are you up here?"
As if she'd been summoned by simply thinking about her, Jaune heard her call out as she ascended the stairs to the roof. He suppressed the urge to groan, not knowing how loud or how well she might hear it. He avoided looking her way as well, choosing instead to focus on the city down below. The last thing he wanted to see tonight was her concerned expression, showing some perceived weakness within him even if she didn't mean it that way.
"Ah, there you are. I've been looking all over for you."
"I just came up here to get some air and clear my head," he replied, sparing her only a momentary glance, one that allowed him to see where she was but not entirely her face.
"Blake just brought Jade back. She fell asleep as usual though she managed to go a little longer this time before she zonked out."
Jaune chuckled, imagining Jade trying in vain to keep herself awake just so she could hear more of the story. "Never a dull moment. I'll be down soon, just wanted to take the chance to clear my thoughts."
"Alright," she replied.
Silence pervaded them from then on. One moment passed followed by another. Neither of them said anything and while Pyrrha might have found the moment enjoyable, Jaune couldn't' help but feel his paranoia beginning to creep up on him. He found himself desperately wishing she would leave, to turn and go back to their dorm if only to give him a few moment's respite. He'd come up here to get away from everything, herself included, and while he didn't harbor any negative feelings towards his partner, he couldn't help but wish she'd leave him be. After a while he finally decided it would be best if he left instead, taking advantage of the silence to return to their dorms and use the excuse of a shower or checking up on Jade to ensure he could avoid her until he retired to bed. Unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough to act.
"Jaune, can I ask you something?"
Fuck he immediately cursed in his mind. Without having said it, without even hinting at it, he already suspected what exactly it was she was about to ask him. He knew he couldn't feign ignorance or attempt to brush it off like he had with everyone else. Pyrrha had been the one to bring the matter to the Headmaster's attention. If he attempted to skirt around the issue or avoid it all together she'd know immediately and would no doubt press her inquiry at another point in time. The best thing he could do was take care of it now, make the explanation short and sweet before moving on from there.
"What's your question?" he asked, his tone even but firm.
"This afternoon, when you were sparring with Cardin, you hesitated towards the end."
"He hit me pretty hard," Jaune said, already finding an excuse coming easily to him. "Unfortunately, I didn't have the same opportunities afforded to others when it came to training so, while some might have been able to recover quickly, I wasn't as fortunate."
"I see," she said, returning to silence at this explanation.
For a moment Jaune thought the matter closed and dared to hope his explanation had been enough to quench her curiosity. Unfortunately, Jaune found himself unable to hold onto that hope. He'd already used a similar explanation to avert Miss Goodwitch's attention as well as his friends but even then Pyrrha had not been so easily swayed. He knew she was contemplating what to say next though he dared to hope she might leave the matter closed and move on.
"It's just," she began, dashing his hopes before they had a chance to take root. "I saw you act somewhat similar at the incident at the docks. Do you remember?"
"I try not to," he answered honestly. "That night wasn't exactly the most pleasant of evenings for any of us."
"Yea," she agreed. "I honestly didn't know if we were going to make it out alright. When Torchwick fired at that container and you got caught up in the explosion, I assumed the worst but you survived."
He could feel her eyes on him now, boring into the side of his skull. He resisted the urge to look over at her, afraid of what he might see. Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't avoid her gaze forever. He would need to get this over with quickly, like pulling off a band aid.
"Pyrrha, please, I understand you're trying to be sympathetic but I'm tired of you beating around the bush. We both know what you're trying to ask me so please just ask."
"O-oh," she replied, a little surprised by his blunt reply. "Alright then. Jaune, given the events at the docks and the strange behavior you showed after the explosion, not to mention what happened to you during your spare with Cardin today, I can't help but wonder if there's something wrong. I know it isn't my place but I'm your partner. If something is bothering, you I want to know. I want to know so I can help you so please tell me what's wrong. Don't push me away. Don't push us away."
Her pleading, because that's what it basically was, was almost enough to coax him into lowering his guard and letting her know the gruesome details of his family's death that had been plaguing him for over a year. The sad part was that almost just wasn't enough but it was enough to push him over the edge to find his irritation forcing its way to the surface.
"Is that why you spoke to the Headmaster about what happened? Is that why you brought it to his attention first before asking me what I wanted?"
"How did you- "
"I didn't," he interjected, at last turning his stern expression her way. "Though I knew all too well that is was your doing simply from how he addressed the situation," he said, noticing the young woman's face begin to pale as she realized what had transpired. "I understand why you did it, I truly do, but what I don't understand is why you would go behind my back without asking me first how I wanted to proceed."
"I didn't realize I had gone behind your back," she argued.
"What did you think you were doing?" he asked, his rising tone causing her to step back in hesitation. "What did you think would happen when you told the Headmaster that a shipment of Dust blowing up in my face had caused me to start acting odd? Did you think he was simply going to brush it off or that he was going to dig deeper?"
"You were doing more than acting odd, Jaune," Pyrrha shot back, attempting to regain some of her confidence but nonetheless hesitating due to the foreign battlefield she now found herself on. "I did what I felt was best for you, for my partner, for my friend."
"And you did it without telling me, without informing me, without taking the time to ask how I might feel about it."
"How could I ask you when you keep pushing us away, pushing me away? I'm supposed to be your partner Jaune but lately all I've felt like is a stranger. There's a distance between us and I don't know how to cross it."
"Maybe it doesn't need to be crossed. Maybe you should have just left well enough alone and let me work out my own problems."
"And how could I do that when I know you're in so much pain. How can I do that when I look into your eyes and I see the conflict within and hear you mumbling in your sleep? Something is bothering, it's eating at you, and I only want to help ease that burden."
"It's my burden to bear, Pyrrha, and no one else's."
"No, not while I'm your partner and not while we're a team. I want to help you Jaune and if that means going to one of the teachers every time I see you acting different then I will until this issue is resolved."
"There's nothing that needs to be resolved because there's nothing to fix."
"Yes there is! Please Jaune, just tell me what's going on with you."
"You wouldn't understand," he said, turning his back to her.
"Then help me to understand. Help me to understand what it is you're going through. Please Jaune, don't lock me out. Let me help you."
There was silence for the longest time after she spoke. Jaune's gaze remained firmly on the view before him as he refused to turn around and face her. As time ticked by she was afraid he wouldn't answer her and would instead remain silent, hoping that she would eventually give up and leave him alone. She wouldn't, couldn't. She was his partner after all and even if her actions irritated or angered him, she would do what she must to help him. He was the first real friend she'd made since coming here to Beacon, after all. The one person who truly didn't care about her fame and had simply seen her as Pyrrha. She took a step forward, reaching out her had to touch his shoulder when he didn't answer.
"Jaune?"
"How could you understand?' he finally spoke, his voice eerily calm.
"What?"
"How could you possibly hope to understand my pain when all you've ever known is how to be admired and adored by thousands of people?"
"Jaune, I don't- "
"You have no idea how much I hate myself," he said, ignoring her completely. "How much I despise how weak I was, how utterly incapable of saving anyone's life but my own."
"What do you mean?"
He turned to face her, the face that gazed back at her contradicting the calm façade she'd imagined him having while he spoke. A dark shadow had settled over his eyes and while she could see his pupils filled with loathing and anger, Pyrrha couldn't sense any of it being directed at her which could only mean it was being directed inwards.
"The night my family died, the night the fire claimed everyone I cared about. You want to know how I was one of the only person to survive? It's because I was too much of a coward to stay behind and help them," he seethed.
"Jaune- "she tried to console him but he was completely oblivious to the world around.
He took a step forward, causing her to step back out of instinct as he poured out his feeling. "I prioritized my own safety over the lives of my family. Every one of them, trapped inside, and I could do nothing but watch as our home burned and collapsed down around them. Everyone, from my parents to my sisters and even my nephew Adrien who was just barely two years old. I could have done something, should have done something, but I didn't.
And then, by some miracle, I found I wasn't the only one. I found Jade, still alive and unscathed, standing outside her home while her mother was taken from her. I don't how it happened but the simple fact that she was alive was proof enough that I had a chance at redemption. Where I failed to help even one member of my family I could at least be there for her and possibly even make up for my own failings just a little."
"Jaune, I don't think- "she tried again but he'd long since stopped listening to her.
"And then, when I start to think like I might actually make it, like I might actually succeed, that damned explosion at the docks knocks me to the ground and forces me to remember. It forced me to endure reliving that damning moment when I couldn't push myself to save my family. It forced me to remember their screams, the images of them burning, and that horrid smell."
Pyrrha was at a loss for words, realizing now just how much suffering he must have been made to endure and had tried and failed to suppress. As much as she hated to admit it he'd been right. Everything he'd been made to witness, everything he'd been made to endure, was nothing she could ever hope to sympathize with let alone understand.
"And to make matters worse you went and told the Headmaster," he said, rounding on her as he took notice of her presence for the first time. She immediately wished he'd continued to ignore her but now his ire was turned on her and she had nowhere to escape to. "Do you have any idea how I felt to be called into the Headmaster's office only to find out that someone had taken it upon themselves to inform him of my issues? Do you know how much I hated to have not only him but Professor Oobleck as well look at me with those pitying eyes, like I was incapable of handling this on my own? I managed to survive, to kill Grimm and make my way into Beacon all while caring for another person. I don't need help, Pyrrha. I don't need anyone's help and I damn well don't want their pity so don't go out of your way to do me any favors because you're not. I've done just fine on my own and I'll be damned before I let anyone force their self-righteous charity on me!"
Jaune's face was inches from Pyrrha's now, allowing her to see just how angry he'd become. All her words of comfort and protest had quickly died and dried up in her throat as he went on his tirade, unleashing what must have been months of pent-up rage aimed inwards looking for release and she'd unwittingly volunteered to be the manner in which it finally escaped.
"Just go back to the dorm Pyrrha. I'll be back soon enough," he said in a voice raspy, his throat no doubt sore from the constant arguing.
Pyrrha didn't say anything. She couldn't find the words nor the will to speak. She simply nodded and silently disappeared back down the stairs, leaving Jaune to his thoughts.
/-/
Ren's scroll vibrated in his hand, signaling a new message had been sent. Keeping it concealed beneath the desk, he glanced down and saw it was from Yang. Glancing over, he saw the brawler leaning back in her seat, pretending to listen to Prof. Port's exaggerated tale while stealthily texting him underneath the desk. Knowing the Professor he would be too engrossed in his own story to notice anything and he quickly unlocked his scroll to see what she'd sent him.
"So what's going on with Jaune and P-money?"
Having read the message Ren took a moment to glance at his team leader and teammate. While both of them would usually be seated alongside him and Nora, both had chosen to take different seats and in completely different rows. While this wouldn't have caused too much alarm it had quickly become apparent that something was wrong, especially when they did it in every class and at meals, going on for a week now. To make matters worse their attempts to try and divulge what had happened to cause this rift had been stonewalled by the pair with Jaune insisting that they'd just had a disagreement and that they needed time to adjust while Pyrrha silently agreed, unable to offer anything and even avoiding looking at Jaune, let alone acknowledging his presence even when in their dorm room. It was impossible for them to ignore but sadly neither of the two was willing to give them anything to go off of.
"I wish I knew. All they'll tell us is that they had a disagreement and now they're avoiding each other. Our attempts to talk to them about it and maybe help them fix the problem have been unsuccessful."
He sent the message, watching until he noticed Yang glance down. She took a few seconds to read it before quickly typing out a reply and sending it his way.
"Maybe I could give it a shot. Challenge Jaune to a spar. Fighting has a way of loosening people's lips."
"Nora already tried that but Jaune shot her down. He told her he had to help Jade work on her fighting form."
"So he pulled out the little sister card? Dang, that's a cheap move. Alright, I'll talk with the others later and see if we can't come up with some other ideas."
"I'll let Nora know. Between the six of us we should be able to get through to them somehow. If all else fails we'll simply have to get the teachers involved."
"Not sure they'll appreciate that."
"They won't but it'll be our last resort. Besides, I'd rather they were angry at us for involving a teacher rather than allow this to go on and potentially get worse."
"Fair point."
Their conversation concluded he watched as Yang typed out another message on her scroll. There was a momentary pause before the other members of team subtly took out their own scrolls to look at the message. Each member gave their own form of agreement, signaling to Ren that they were on board. Pleased, he made a mental note to take Nora aside and inform her of the plan. While he knew she'd be more than supportive, she'd also be overeager and potentially blurt it out in front of Jaune and Pyrrha. Better to keep things quiet so they didn't find out and put a stop to things before they could try and help.
/-/
Jaune twirled the pen in his hand, barely listening at all the constant drone of Professor Port's lecture, or story time as most would call it. His mind was on other things, specially the argument he'd had on the roof with Pyrrha and the fallout that had erupted as a result. None of that could be blamed on her, rather just the perceptiveness of their teammates. For the past week Ren and Nora had made several fruitless attempts to ascertain how and why the partners had suddenly decided to stop speaking with one another, avoid each other and otherwise ignore the other's existence completely. To her credit Pyrrha defected their attempts as well as she could and Jaune had opted to simply tell them it was just a small fight and that they needed time to cool their heads. Neither Ren nor Nora had looked convinced and he didn't doubt them.
Truth be told Jaune did feel guilty about how he'd acted. Despite his irritation with how she'd told Ozpin without his prior knowledge or consent, she'd hadn't deserved the shouting match that had ensued wherein he'd taken out all of his frustration on her. He knew he needed to apologize at the very least but, with how she was currently avoiding him, any attempts to try and corner her in private would undoubtedly go avoided. He could try and send her a scroll message, using it as a means of setting up a time when they could meet and he could apologize but that was assuming she wouldn't ignore it all together. There was also the matter of Ren and Nora who would immediately sense the change in mood and no doubt press harder to find out just what had caused the rift between them. It was aggravating to think about and something he'd have to focus on later.
The moment the bell rang, giving rise to a wave of relieved sighs as the class was dismissed from the ordeal of enduring yet another exaggerated Huntsman tale courtesy of Port, Jaune rose along with everyone else to leave. He hung back for just a few minutes, giving his team time to gain some distance while also allowing himself the opportunity to think of a plan of attack for Pyrrha's apology. He'd need to do it soon. If he dragged his feet any longer his team was liable to corner them and try forcing the truth out of them, a prospect he didn't want to see made a reality. As he made his way from the classroom and towards the cafeteria he heard a few other bodies making their way towards him. Before he could glance back to see who it was, one of them slung their arm over his shoulder, bringing him close in a strong embrace. It took him only one guess to know who it was and his already sour mood worsened as a result.
"Hello, Jauney-boy, got a minute?"
"Not really in the mood to tolerate your company Cardin so why don't you and your team take your business elsewhere?"
"Are you sure about that? And here I thought you'd be interested to know I'm here to offer you my services in helping you deal with your issues."
Cardin's words had the intended affect as Jaune stopped in his tracks, his eyes snapping up to the brawny redhead.
"What?"
"You should be careful about which rooftops you and your partner have an argument on. You never know who might be listening," he said with a smirk.
Embarrassment mixed with irritation rose to the surface as Jaune realized that his secluded spot must have been right above team CRDL's dorm room window. He wasn't sure how much of their fight he'd overhead but it was obvious from what he'd said that Cardin had heard several key items he'd wanted to keep to himself and what's more the bastard had waited nearly an entire week to confront him about it.
He made no complaints, however, as he allowed Cardin to lead him through the halls towards an empty classroom. They walked inside wherein he and Cardin marched to the front while the rest of his team stayed near the door to act as lookouts for anyone, be they student or teacher, who came to investigate.
"You know, Jauney boy, I always thought you a bit twitchy," Cardin spoke, "Something about you was off. Something about you just wasn't right. You were too focused. Sure, you have a goal but everyone does. Pretty much everyone who comes here has the same goal; becoming a huntsman. You, though, you're obsessed with it. You're like a dog eyeing a big juicy steak and you're determined to get it by any means necessary. Honestly, I'd be impressed if I weren't so mortified.
Then, one evening, I just happened to be sitting at my dorm room window and low and behold I hear a couple people fighting up on the roof. What caught my attention was how familiar those voices were and once I realized who it was I couldn't help myself listening in and boy am I glad I did. To think, little Jauney boy Arc, is doing all of this because he feels guilty for surviving when his family didn't. Add to the fact that you tot around that little faunus bitch simply as a means of assuaging your guilt and, well, it's no wonder you'd think people might start to put some distance between you and them."
Jaune stayed silent, listening intently to Cardin ramble on while silently thinking of a means of escaping. While Cardin's teammates had the door covered that still left several windows unguarded. Granted they were on the second floor but his aura would prevent most of the damage from the fall, especially if he managed to land in a tree, further breaking his descent. The only problem at the moment was his lack of weaponry or anything that might be useful in breaking open a window. While he was faster than Cardin, even without his armor, he'd still lose precious seconds attempting to open a window, seconds that would give Cardin and his teammates the opportunity they needed to recapture him. He could dial in his locker, not only giving him access to his weapon but also providing a distraction. The only problem there was the damages that would ensue and that would no doubt land him in serious hot water with the school regardless of the circumstances surrounding it crashing through the classroom ceiling. At best he would need to use an aura infused fist, hope it worked enough to smash open the window, and then leap out to safety.
His attention was drawn back to Cardin the moment he mentioned Jade and in an unflattering fashion as well. His fists clenched against his jacket, something that went unnoticed by Cardin who was more engrossed in his own monologue to even register Jaune's rising distain and disgust with the bully. Despite his claims to Pyrrha, his emotions had gotten the better of him the night they had their fight and he had allowed them to dictate his overall thought process throughout. True, he had seen Jade as a means of redeeming himself but in no way, shape, or form did he see her as a tool. She'd been a member of their family, even before they'd lost all of theirs, and he'd not once seen her as anything less since. In fact, ever since striking out on the road with her he'd found his emotional bond deepening with the girl. She was his family, his only remaining family, and he was willing to go to whatever lengths he needed to ensure she had a bright, happy future laying in wait for her. That said, one such obstacle now stood in his path, gazing back at him with an expression that said he expected an answer to a question he'd no doubt missed.
"I'm sorry, I zoned out for a moment. To be honest I found you so boring I'm surprised I didn't fall asleep on my feet. I mean, your little speech here was so dull I actually found myself longing to sit and listen to another one of Port's tales just so I had something at least mildly entertaining to listen to."
Jaune's comment had done the trick, setting the bully off as he took three large strides before grasping the scruff of his jacket and hauling him back up against the desks. Jaune didn't struggle, instead pressing his hands against the wood to prevent Cardin from gaining a power advantage and keeping his eyes firmly locked on his. For a moment he thought he might lose control, lashing out at him and giving him an opportunity to escape. Instead he calmed down and, surprisingly, let him go before taking a few steps back.
"Here's the deal, Arc. My boys and I, we know you're little secret, and we're willing to keep it under wraps. In return, you're going to do a few favors for us. In other words, you'll be our errand boy, eagerly awaiting our beck and call for whatever needs we might have."
"For how long?" Jaune asked.
"For however long we need you or until we decide its too much of a hassle to keep your secret which means you'll need to appease us to ensure we don't lose interest," he said, his teammates chuckling along with him.
"I see," Jaune said, maintaining silence for a moment to make them think he was considering their offer. "And what makes you think I'm going to agree to this at all?"
Cardin's smirk quickly died, replaced with a sneer as he moved closer to tower over Jaune as he spoke. "Do you not understand the situation? All four of us know you're secret, Arc. All we have to do is let slip just how fucked up you really are and let the Beacon rumor mill run its course. I give it a good hour before the whole school knows how much of a freak you are."
"Seven," Jaune said.
"What?"
"There are seven people who no my secret, no four," he clarified.
"What the fuck are you on about?"
"It's just like I said, seven people know my secret. You four, as you obviously stated, but you're also forgetting Pyrrha which makes five."
"And who are the other two?"
"Well, Professor Oobleck for one," he said, watching with no hidden satisfaction as Cardin's face dipped in a frown, "and Headmaster Ozpin, though you would already know that had you been listening to our whole argument, not to mention any other facility members he might have informed."
The look on Cardin's face was enough to tell Jaune that he'd gained the upper hand. Cardin had walked into this believing he was in control. He assumed Pyrrha was one of the only people who knew and, with him eavesdropping, himself along with his team once he'd relayed the information to them. The fact that he hadn't known the Headmaster had been informed as well meant he hadn't heard the entire conversation, a key factor that Jaune was willing to exploit now that he knew.
"You never knew that the Headmaster was the first to figure out what was going on. Pyrrha had been suspicious but Ozpin was the first to realize and extend a helpful hand. That's how he steered me towards Professor Oobleck. You see, the thing about Beacon is it has certain procedures in place for people who have specific issues like me. As it was explained to me students here, especially some of the older years, have on occasion witnessed some pretty messed up shit while operating in the field. It's part and parcel with being a Huntsman. Odds are we're going to see some pretty messed up shit out there and its best we prepare ourselves now.
Knowing all that Beacon set up some therapy sessions for students to take as a means of helping them heal and cope with what they've witnessed. You see, Beacon doesn't just discard us simply because we've been forced to see things that messed us up in the head. They consider us an asset and as such they're less willing to toss us aside at the first sign of a crack when they have the budget to help us heal and repair ourselves, subsequently helping to prepare us for what's to come.
So, while I'll admit you really thought this through, which to be honest I'm sure would have impressed Oobleck had he been here to listen in, it doesn't mean shit. You start spreading that and Beacon, most notably Ozpin, will come down hard on all four of you. I may end up being see as broken by the rest of the student body but I'll at least have the support of the staff and Ozpin who'll no doubt make a formal speech explaining everything. From there, if you're all lucky enough to escape his wrath, you'll have made yourselves public enemies as every team, especially the older ones, who've had experiences similar to my own, will start going out of their way to take you aside and let you know just how disappointed they are in you. And if you think they won't know because Ozpin wouldn't put targets on your heads, rest assured I'll be happy to do that for him.
So, what's it going to be Cardin? You going to go through with your plan or are we just going to forget this ever happened? Hmm?"
Cardin looked to be seething as he glared down at Jaune. He hadn't expected him to simply walk away from this, let alone challenge him, but he'd been placed in a tight spot. Granted, most of what he'd threatened him with had been guess work but he wasn't at all skeptical about Ozpin dropping the hammer on Cardin and his team, especially once Miss Goodwitch found out. From there he knew it would only be a matter of time before some other people came forward, offering to help him with his own issues. While he didn't like the thought as being seen as broken their alliance would prove useful in keeping Cardin and his lot in line for the remainder of his years at Beacon.
When Cardin didn't answer Jaune walked away, satisfied to noticed he didn't react at all or try to stop him in the slightest. He climbed the stairs of the classroom, looked each of his teammates in the eye, and smirked as he unlocked the door to let himself out, leaving team CRDL to seethe with rage as their prey walked away victorious.
/-/
"So is no one going to address the Goliath in the room?" Yang asked the members of their table.
Their teams were sitting at their usual table, eating their dinner as per usual. What had also become something of a habit was Jaune joining them a few minutes later, his subtle attempt to put some distance between himself and his teammates without them noticing. Unfortunately they had and it was made even more apparent by the fact that he'd sat himself and Jade a few seats away. While it was obvious the little girl was curious and even concerned about the distance (children being more aware of the world around them than people gave them credit for) she nonetheless deferred to her brother's judgment, silently eating her dinner while he kept his eyes firmly on his plate. To make matters worse Pyrrha had even placed herself at the opposite end of the table ensuring her team, along with the extra seats, would be firmly between herself and Jaune.
To say that you could cut the tension in the air with a butter knife would have been the understatement of the century.
"Whatever do you mean Yang?" Pyrrha asked, her attempts to avoid the obvious only serving to annoy the blonde brawler.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the fact that you and Jaune are obviously avoiding each other but won't tell us why or the fact that he's purposely trailing behind us to avoid answering our questions or more recently that he showed up for dinner later than usual," she rattled off.
"He had to pick up Jade, it's part of his usual routine," Pyrrha replied.
"Yea, I know that and I also know it doesn't take him over half an hour to go grab her and make his way to the cafeteria. Not only that but Cardin and his goons walked in not long after him. I don't know about you but that's rather suspect to me."
"It could simply be coincidence," she pointed out.
"Maybe," Yang allowed, "but something is defiantly off with you two and we're not going to simply sit back and ignore it."
"I told you before we had a fight and we're working through it. You just need to let things run their course."
Yang glanced over at Ren, exchanging a look between them before emulating the same with the others. With how things had been going it was obvious that allowing their fight to run its course was the worst possible decision they could make. Through their messaging in class they'd come up with a plan to draw both Jaune and Pyrrha into their dorm rooms before sitting them down for an impromptu intervention. They didn't doubt they'd be irritated with their actions, Jaune especially if his mood as of late was anything to go by, but they were done ignoring a problem that was steadily growing worse and it was time they addressed the issue before it got out of hand.
The deathly silence of their table that followed was quickly interrupted by the sound of clattering ceramics. Every eye was drawn to Jaune, stunned looks adorning their faces as they saw what had happened. A large chunk of meat, slathered in what appeared to be brown gravy, stuck to the back of his head. It took a moment for the blond to register what had happened before removing the offending chunk of food and whipping the gravy off with his napkin. A quick glance around was all it took to realize who had thrown the food, more so because they didn't care that they had been caught. A few tables away team CRDL sat chuckling amongst themselves with Cardin whipping his hands off of the gravy that had once covered his food.
Jaune glared at them but otherwise paid them little mind, turning his attention back to his food. Jade was less willing to ignore the problem, sending his friends a pleading look that would have been all Yang needed to pound Cardin's face into the pavement if not for what came next. A soup bowl filled with more brown gravy sailed across the cafeteria. It looked like its intended target was Jaune and would undoubtedly cover him from head to foot in the meaty sauce. Unfortunately its trajectory suggested it had been sent flying with too much force, ensuring it would sail over his head and smash into whomever was sitting in front of him.
Audible gasps could be heard throughout the cafeteria. Several people, mainly those who were sitting at their table, struggled to leap out of their seats in time to intercept. The moment it cleared Jaune's head the blonde sensed something moving and looked up in time to see a bowl heading straight for his sister's wide eyed face. In a flash of panic and reflexes he intercepted the object in the only way he knew how. An audible smash of porcelain along with the splat of gravy as it splashed across the floor could be heard in the silence that followed. Jaune and Jade exchanged looks of shock, the former's being one that wondered how he had missed noticing the bowl earlier while the latter's expression was something more akin surprise and relief at having narrowly escaped becoming intimate with a soup bowl. Silence reigned once more except for the unmistakable chuckles of those responsible.
Innumerable sets of eyes turned to glare at Cardin and his team but they didn't seem to notice, too engrossed in their own entertainment to care what other people thought. While the rest of the student body was content to sit and complain about their behavior, especially when Jade was nearly harmed as a result, only one person was enraged enough to leap from their seat and confront the bullies head on.
Jaune strode across the cafeteria, making a spot-on "Yang when she's pissed off" impression that was only lacking her long golden locks. Cardin noticed him immediately but thought little of the approaching blonde, assuming he was simply coming to tell him off. That proved to be a mistake as Jaune grabbed the front of his jacket, ripped him from his seat, and pinned him to the back wall all in one move. His movements had been too quick for his team to react and almost immediately the mood in the cafeteria changed. A crowd quickly gathered with many people starting to raise their voices, encouraging the two to start fighting. Cardin's teammates stood to the side, conflicted on whether they should come to his aid or simply let him fight his own battle so he didn't appear weak. Teams RWBY and JNPR struggled to get to the front, eager to pull Jaune off Cardin before he did something he couldn't take back.
"ENOUGH!"
The roar, for that's what it sounded like, came from the most unlikely of sources. People looked around, expecting to see a teacher, most notably Goodwitch, striding forward with her crop at the ready to bring the students to heel. Instead the sound had come from Jaune, catching everyone off guard, Cardin included. He was seething with anger, his eyes locked onto Cardin and boring into him with such intensity that a small trickle of sweat slid down the side of his face as a result. Rather than start pummeling his face Jaune instead lowered him gently to the ground, appearing to have come to his senses. He had, in a manor, though it certainly wasn't to brush this off and move on.
"I'm done with you, Cardin. I've tolerated your actions up till now mostly because they've been directed at me and only me. Had that remained the case I would have ignored it but you've gone too far this time. You nearly smashed a bowl into my sister's face and worse yet you've seem to have forgotten what happened the last time you targeted her. Whatever your racist views, whatever reasons you may have for picking on people you see as weaker or beneath you, it ends now," he instructed.
"So what are you going to do about it?" Cardin challenged.
Everyone's eyes were locked onto Jaune, wondering what he might do in response. Most assumed he would either throw a punch, initiating a fight that would go on until either he or Cardin folded or one of the teachers came to break it up. Others instead suspected he'd simply fold, his anger simply burning hot and bright but with no real threat behind it. Few would have guessed what he did next, however.
"End of the week, right after classes, meet me in the sparring room. Same rules as Miss Goodwitch's class. We fight until our aura enters the red. I win you leave everyone alone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, period. You win, you get what you wanted, with the understanding that you'll leave my sister and friends out of it. Agreed?"
Cardin's smirk grew wider, apparently pleased with the terms and he nodded his approval. Soon after Jaune released him before departing with the crowd parting to let him pass. In his wake excited chatter filled the room as people began gossiping about the upcoming fight. Only his friends could look on with horrified looks, wondering just what in the name of the Brothers he'd just done.
At last the much awaited update right after the holidays. Had some trouble finding time to write this. I started on it at some point then put it off when I came back from visiting family to find a whole heap of work waiting for me. Most of my time was spent catching up.
I've been building up to this moment and, honestly, I fleshed it out more than I'd expected. I had originally planned for the spar to be in this chapter but, with how much I wrote I decided to instead move it into the next. It will certainly be a shift change for Jaune, especially with what will happen. Obviously I won't spoil anything though I doubt anyone will guess exactly what's about to happen in the next chapter.
Took me some time to think of how to get Jaune to go after Cardin in a manner that was believable. Both in the show and in the story currently I always found Jaune to be more the type of person to take punishment from the bullies but put his foot down with it gets redirected at his friends. Knowing that, I knew it needed to be directed at Jade somehow without it being completely intentional thus the soup bowl missing Jaune and instead nearly hitting Jade.
Lastly, I know there are people reading this who don't see my depiction of Jaune as very believable. I understand your complaints and respect them. That said, this is my story and this is how I picture him in this scenario so, while I understand where you're coming from it won't change what I have planned for his overall character development. Given everything he's had to endure and the emotional trauma he's been put through, I find this version to be more believable than the lovable dork from the show who (as far as we know) still has all of his family intact and came from a very supportive one at that.