Jaune Arc was feeling exhausted from doing his chores today. The task for today was to help with clearing an area of trees and plants. His village had reached max population which meant that they had to build an extension, one that required an area clear of obstructions.
They had been divided into three teams, one that clears the area, one that takes what they clear away and one that protects them from Grimm.
It was the latter group he wanted to be with, he was actually the most enthusiastic when it comes to volunteering for it when it came up but his father denied him that. Since his dad was the leader of the village defences, he couldn't do anything about it.
The reasons he were given about not being ready or not having combat experience he understood but it's hard when he isn' allowed to. Every time he asked he would receive a no or to wait until he's older.
He couldn't ask anyone else with ever single that he asks telling him to ask his dad.
He thought that by joining the defence team he might get a chance to prove himself in a way that could convince his dad. How hard could it even be to defeat a Grimm?
In the end, he signed up for the team that would be clearing the are, at least they would be getting some tools to clear the area. If one was to squint, a machete could be a heroic weapon and he could pretend he was smiting some great enemy as he cut down a bush.
He had started to miss what he did back in Vale.
Alec hasn't called him even once since he left and after over a month of waiting, he was starting to lose hope. It wouldn't be the first time someone he thought of as a friend was just acting friendly.
With these depressing thoughts, he continued his work cutting down bushes and cutting down small trees. It was at an especially tough tree that his scroll rang.
His scroll ringing wouldn't have been bad in any other situations but it ringing so suddenly when he was concentrating on his task made him jump out of surprise. The action causing him a great amount of pain as he cut his hand. He put down his machete on the bush to inspect the injury.
It luckily wasn't a great cut and he would only need some bandage. As he was inspecting his wound he took his scroll to see who he should blame for his injury.
When he saw who was calling, his excitement couldn't be contained as he answered with the pain in his hand entirely forgotten.
"Hey Alec, how have you been?" He didn't look any different since the last time that Jaune saw him.
Alec didn't say anything, his silence curbing Jaunes enthusiasm. He looked worried and Jaune wondered if he had another fight with Tom. When they talked, Alec would only talk about how frustrating it got when they worked together.
When Alec finally started to talk when the silence was bordering on awkward, it was with his own question.
"I hope that this isn't a bad time? You look very busy with what I'm seeing." The question confused him since he wasn't doing anything.
It was when he looked behind himself that he noticed what he might be looking at. With the way he was holding his scroll, the camera could pick on the multiple people behind him that were still working. It also reminded him that he can't talk for too long unless he wants someone to come over and scold him for slacking.
"Its nothing special, I was just..." What was it that they said again? "Removing some obstructions to make room for expansion."
He picked up his machete and showed it off to him. "I've been hard at work all morning, I was cutting down one that was really tough when you called."
He doesn't know what he expected for Alec to say in response but it certainly wasn't what he was about to say.
"I see...That one must have been strong to be able to challenge you." The serious expression he had as he said this made what Alec said even more confusing.
What does that even mean? Was he supposed to say something to in response or just nod along?
He nods to what he thinks was supposed to be a question and hopes that works as a response. He quickly changes the topic when Alec doesn't say anything more.
"Can I ask why you called? I'm of course glad that you called, but is it possible to call you up later?"
"Of course! Call me when you're done." And with that, he disconnected the call.
This meant he had to get back to work now, which he was about to when he heard a voice from behind him.
"Jaune Arc, what are you doing? If you want-," For some reason the voice, one he easily recognized as belonging to one of his sisters, stopped speaking. The reason she stopped becoming obvious when she turned me around and took his injured hand to inspect it. The pain coming back now that he was no longer distracted.
She looked at it for some time before taking out a rag and tying it around his hand.
"You should probably go home now." She said it with a finality that was hard to argue against, but he tried anyway.
"But-."
"I know you promised dad, but I know he will understand if you had to go home early because of an injury. We're almost done anyway." She gestured around them, letting him see that apart from a few big trees that the area was cleared.
She continued. "And Saphron has been practically begging me to find a way to let her have some time with her favourite brother."
The retort came automatically with a hint of laughter behind it. "I'm her only brother."
"Doesn't change anything." She started pushing him in the direction towards the village gates. "Now get out of here, and bring the machete with you. Some of your blood got onto it and cleaning that is your responsibility."
It's only because of what she said that he noticed the blood that was on it. The machete that Jaune was waiving in front of Alec, no wonder he looked at him like that.
As he walked back towards the village he hoped it wouldn't cause any misunderstandings.
Alec Meadows was once again filled with complicated feelings.
His call to Jaune was to notify him about suspicious activity that involved them. A gang known as the Crimson Claw have been asking about them in a manner that suggested that they thought of them as a threat.
Before he met Jaune he would have been worried, probably thinking of a way to leave the city. But thanks to Jaune's help they now have better gear and a new hideout that they can use in case they find the first one.
That was the information he was gonna give Jaune in the call. Jaune's wide smile and a bloodied weapon made him forget that. His talk of removing 'obstructions' to make room for expansion made him worry for an entirely different reason.
What he said sounded like doublespeak for removing another gang and the way some of those people in the background were digging holes, he can easily guess how.
Why can't he just have a break for once?