It was an odd occurrence to say the least, not impossible just merely rare. After all every so often it occurred. A Faunus born between humans. A sudden mutation, a recessive trait between family members or even to those more estranged theories and records.
But regardless when he was born the Arc Family had it's first Faunus child and only son… Rumors spread throughout the small community. Of his mother having a wonton affair, of they're family being cursed, his father though never gave such rumors any stock. No, Jaune Arc was his son, by right, by choice and by blood, and he'd not hear otherwise.
Many though disagreed with that choice, Ansel had a surprising number of Mistralians among them, and as sad as it was to say stereotypes at least fostered from a sliver of truth. Many had treated him poorly when not in the sight of his family, more had called him a bastard, the child of an affair, or a mutt.
His Faunus trait, a bushy golden dog's tail would be pulled, stepped on and all manners of harassment when his sisters weren't around to dish out punishment to anyone who'd try a thing before them.
Sometimes he'd feel like a burden, like, like it was his fault, but whenever such feelings tugged at his heart his mom would be there. Holding him tight and assuring him otherwise.
"Jaune, you've have nothing to be sorry for."
"But, but if I'd just been born normal then-"
"Hush now, who's to say you're not normal, or that that'd even be better." Her hand would pat his head, her finger's combing through his hair, his tail would always wag when someone petted him. She'd always giggle and do so till he fell asleep. Until that day…
When fire filled Ansel, when the Grimm roared out with people's screams when his mother held his face dirty from soot and ash as she and his family were taken on a bullhead at full capacity.
"Don't worry Sweetie these nice people will take you to us, just trust them okay." She kissed him promising he'd be okay, after all they'd evacuated to Mistral, and cruelly Faunus weren't allowed on the same bullhead as humans. He knew his mom would argue, would've fought them tooth and nail had his sister's not been there, in danger, in need of help. In a village ravaged by the Grimm where every second could cost them they're lives.
So instead she put her faith in the Mistralian Hunter in charge of his and the other Faunus's Bullhead… But, he wasn't a Hunter. He was what he'd later learn was a hired hand to some shady people from Atlas. His mom's face as she said goodbye, her lips against his forehead.
That would be the last memory he had of her…
"Jaune…" His eyes opened, azure looking up, meeting amber orbs. She sat on top of a stone while he laid against it, she smiled lightly towards his waking form, he wished he could do the same but all he could do was met her gaze from beneath his mask.
"Good your awake."
"Sorry, must've fallen asleep…" Blake smiled lightly to him.
"Is my storytelling so boring." As if to emphasize her point she shook her book in hand, a pressed nightshade saving the spot in the book she was at.
"Not boring… Just, peaceful…" His tail wagged slightly, kicking up several leaves upon Forever Fall's grounds, she giggled, a break from the tension she'd been feeling, a welcomed and definitely needed one considering her intentions for today.
Today she'd leave, the Fang, her former life and identity and even Adam, his brother in all but blood.
-0-0-0-
He'd been scared, unsure and confused when they brought him in, men surrounding them not looking at them like people but… But animals.
"Welcome my new friends of the opposite racial persuasion, to your new exciting career under the SDC." He wasn't alone but the only child but he was the youngest by far, maybe that's why he choose to help him out.
"You." He turned meeting eyes with a redheaded boy with bullhorns.
"Come with me."
"Huh? But-" He didn't bother letting him finish pulling him away.
"You don't need to listen to those lies, just follow me." He tilted his head to the bigger kid.
"Are you helping me?"
"I'm just felt like it, that's all" It was a childish logic, but a kind one, he'd always been impressionable and trusting so perhaps it was a blessing he came when he did to aid him. Had he not he wondered how much those cruel adults would've tricked him.
"I'm Jaune, what's your name?" The boy was silent for a few seconds before finally he looked back, two eyes no less blue then his eyes met his gaze.
"…Adam."
-0-0-0-
"Todays the day…" he avoided her gaze.
"Yeah… It is."
"I'm, I'm sorry…" He looked to her, seeing her show her discomfort all too clearly, a faint rub of her arm, her gaze shifting, and finally the way her bow twitched. He, he didn't like that detail at all…
"So… You'll hide your race then?"
"I… At first." It was a lie, he knew her well enough for that, she wanted to run away from it all… And was that really so bad.
"You shouldn't hide your trait, your ears are cute and won't they hurt like that?" He was always one to speak his mind first and then regret whatever embarrassing thoughts leaked out. She blinked sighing, rubbing her ears a faint tinge of pink on her cheeks at the compliment.
"I need to hide who I am, my ears combined with my name would be a dead giveaway." He supposed the excuse at least had some credibility.
"What about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your trait, you'll go like that." She looked to it, his golden tail, nice and fluffy swaying slightly.
"I suppose it would be a lot harder for you." He shook his head, she was sure if he could he'd be smiling derisively, then again if he could do that he wouldn't feel that way in the first place.
"No…" Fingers rose to his mouth then, lightly grazing the bandana tied around it, after all she couldn't seeing him wear the muzzle-like mask he was known for. If she had it her way he'd never wear it again.
"MyTrait isn't what stands out… about me." The words came out naturally enough, at least most did, the lisp of the Ms and Bs though sounded awkward, not that she could fault or would ever dream of it.. Her eyes adopted a level of regret for her inconsideration a measure of sympathy.
"I'm sorry…"
"'Heh' Rubbing it in?" It was one of his joke, one she hated and she looked awkward for all of a second before she noticed his tail wagging. Me, my, mine I'm, any word with M, P, V, F or B… came with difficulty to mouth for him. There was a time that'd bother him but now, well… It still sorta did but not with them at least, with her, she sighed.
"Sometimes just don't notice it, I forget…"
"Thankyou…" Her expression sobered.
"That shouldn't be worth thanking me for, what happened to you shouldn't even have happened." Before he could respond though a third voice spoke.
"Blake, brother, it's time." Turning they were greeted by the sight of Adam, the Bull Faunus stoned faced. Had he bothered to notice the way Jaune's tail drooped perhaps her play might not have played out so cleanly…
-0-0-0-
"Leave him alone." Jaune stared up, his cheek red and swollen, tears in his eyes corners. It was a simple mistake, but a costly one… Fire Dust, he hadn't been looking and struck with his pickaxe, explosions, a good several workers had been hurt. Including the man before him's brother.
"That little bastard caused that accident, Jaegers in the medical ward cause of him!" Adam didn't care though, all but growling out the words.
"So what, you just hit a child your son's age? Several Faunus surrounding them accusing gaze turned on the man.
Maybe in normal society, they would've intervened but all they did was glare, they didn't stop the man when he'd been fed up and tried to grab Jaune. Only Adam did, he yelled, he kicked and clawed and bit all while the man beat him. And seeing that Jaune acted, grabbing a rock and smashing it against his legs and thighs.
Finally, Adam beaten black and blue yelled and head-butted his side, his horns stabbing into the man. He roared throwing him aside before running for it in pain. He rushed dropping the rock to run to the boy.
"Are you okay!" Adam winced holding his side.
"'cough' Why didn't you run?" Jaune didn't even need to think about his next words.
"Because you helped me and, and you looked like you were in trouble." For several seconds the redhead seemed to consider something before speaking.
"….Your name, it was Jaune right?" He nodded earning a small grunt from the beaten bull boy.
"I try to help brats like you, otherwise they don't last long… That's all. Still, you helped me there so, I suppose you helped me to now." A hand was stretched out to him, a simple gesture but none the less Jaune acted helping him up and when Adam stood, when he looked to him he decided then.
"Stay by me Jaune, if you do I'll help you survive here."
-0-0-0-
He followed behind them, not as gracefully, not in a slide down the hill but a bullheaded charge to keep up with them, he leaped with them unto the train, they managed to land on the roof of the trailer but he could only dig his palm into its side. Beowulf a pair of gauntlets and clawed greaves digging into the metal like picks on ice.
It was slow but he climbed up tearing into the metal haul as he did only to find two hands held out over the edge, he took them and Blake and Adam helped him up. A simple nod, A quick slash of Blush was all needed to open the hatch. He fell first, ready for his role knowing they'd be right behind him. The loud thump of metal was a given and no sooner did he explode into light filling the room up and showing more than two dozen knights.
"Knights, a whole squadrons worth!" He moved fist drawn back and striking forward, tearing through its chest, He didn't hesitate to continue his onslaught moving to draw his blade. Old and worn, an heirloom Sienna had gifted him. Tessaiga an old but very sturdy Katana.
He stabbed it forward and easily it pieced the nearest mech's visor frying the circuits beneath, several begun to fire at his exposed back, letting loose a barrage of bullets upon him. But that was fine. Light surged and his aura protected him while simultaneously blinding their scanners.
Two thumps were heard then and no sooner did Adam and Blake rush in and begin their own mechanical genocide. Blush cleaved, Gambol Shroud tore and cut, and he rushed piercing on through with Tessaiga while he stomped down on one knight's leg shattering it with his Beowulf's Greave before grabbing it's neck and crushing it in his grip.
None fought the same, From Blake's nimble but deadly movements, avoiding each strike with the simple grace of a cat to Adam who cut his enemies down and slashed down even the bullets that dare approached him with an unparalleled accuracy.
Then himself, no grace, no unmatched skill, simple but powerful melee, moderate swinging of his blade, and aura to match his crude but overwhelming power. Between the three the Atlas waste of tax dollars were barely a warm-up.
He moved ahead before the two, he had the most aura after all, vanguard was always his role even if they'd complain about him always putting himself at risk.
-0-0-0-
She stared at him, at Jaune who leaned against wall, today Adam had killed someone again… And, and just like before he assured her it was of necessity. But so had Jaune…
The pungent scent of bile filled her nose as Jaune pressed his palm into the wall, the fingers of his gauntlets, of the gift from her father to him dug into the wall as he gripped it. All while tears fell to the floor.
"I… I didn't, he was going to, to kill Deery…" He shook and trembled his tail slumped as Tessaiga laid sheathed, the blade clean of the human's blood it'd drawn. She approached, when she came with them, with Adam, when she left her parents for the Fang it was to make the world better by any means necessary…
But seeing Jaune like this, his aura flaring with his tearing emotions she felt hesitance. But not towards him, towards the boy who she'd met all those years ago and who even till the end was grateful to her parents. She hugged him from behind, her face pressing into the muscles of his trembling back, no words exchanged, no reassurances, after all she'd never taken a life… And somehow she knew if it was up to him she never would.
-0-0-0-
The door came off its hinges, shooting out unto the next empty cart were more knight units charged, Jaune acted first, moving ahead of them to tank.
"Jaune wait!" But he didn't charging between them all, his aura raised as they let loose a volley of gunfire upon him. Adam moved in then while his brother drew the mech's aggression, unleashing his own. Crimson lightning crackled off Blush before he weaved between the squadron of mechs. The faint sound of metal meeting rung before he passed the lot of them a momentary pause less than a second was given before the lot of them exploded from the Moonslice's expended energy.
She didn't hesitate on her part either moving to those opposite of Adam throwing out Gambol Shroud, impaling one's shoulder before pulling herself forward towards it. A moment later and her machine gun let loose filling the bot with bullets. Several others turned on her then, she didn't move letting them gun her down.
And so they did, only for her 'Shadow' to vanish and for them to fire upon one another. Jaune acted as well, his aura enduring the onslaught as he charged those furthest away. He made no attempt to be quiet wanting to be the draw of the three, wanting to endure for them, after all he had the aura for it. He growled as the hairs of his tail stood on end, arms crossed he barreled into the nearest, hands gripping it he pulled and tore it apart.
He dashed to the next one striking with enough force to dent in the metal haul with a palm strike. Fingers curled then on it tearing into the chest cavity before his palm glowed white with his aura. An explosion of light filled the bot making it erupt.
The units nearby moved slamming into him, several bladed arms stabbing into his body, and each one shattering against aura that rendered his reinforced flesh harder than tungsten. The click of Tessaiga was heard before he swung, the old blade screeched against Atlesian metal bisecting it. A new arrival charged and was met with a parry, one swift movement was shone before his sword rounded back cleaving off the bot's head.
Adam nodded approvingly, it was always good to see his brother take his lessons in swordplay to heart. Blake however landed her faint but certain sternness in her gaze as she glared at Jaune.
"You charged in again." He looked down away from her.
"Sorry…" Rolling her eyes she spoke a note of discontent clear in her voice.
"'Sigh' No you're not, just because you can endure it doesn't mean you should." He didn't nod or confirm, she knew he wouldn't, Jaune was always so determined to protect everyone sometimes it verged of obsession but compared to Adam's she supposed it was the preferred coping mechanism. Besides… She wouldn't be scared at Beacon knowing he'd be supporting her. She shook her head, shame filling her.
Stop, you haven't even left the Fang yet, left Adam, knows not the time for that…
"Starlight." She met his gaze, his name for her called, after all not like he could say her name easily given his condition. Regardless at the pet name she looked to him seeing Adam move to the next cart.
"We need to go…" She nodded following him. Entering they saw Adam opening SDC crates, checking to find hundreds of vials of high-class dust in the case and knowing all the others were the same.
"Perfect, you two move to the next car, I'll set the charges." Panic filled her.
"What about the crew members?" He readied to answer but Jaune was quicker pulling an emergency alarm, the intercom rung and he took it turning it on and speaking.
"There's been an accident, a case had volatile Dust, it's triggering the others!" Adam frowned but didn't speak against it as Jaune struck the intercom to make it seem like it'd been caught in the blast from the other end.
"That'll do it, the crew will rush to the cars without Dust, we just need to plant the charges now." Blake sighed relieved while Adam grunted accepting his little brother's plan for what it was.
"Your too soft, they're SDC after all…" Jaune didn't retort him but neither did he look regretful at spare them, Blake felt reassured, after all this was what really made them different. This was why she was able to confide in him.
-0-0-0-
"I can't do it anymore!"
"Starl-" Before he could even say her petname she cut him off, rage, sorrow and anger in her eyes.
"No Jaune, what they did! What Adam Did! There were civilians there!"
"I know… I was there too, I attacked the Airship as well."
"No! You were trying to get the civilians out with the emergency shuttles… You were trying to save people against Adam's orders…"
"I killed several men, saving a few doesn't erase that…" She could see the self derisiou begin to fester, she'd not let it without a fight though.
"No it doesn't but at least you tried to hold back, you only did it to protect the others, Perry's aura shattered after all." He didn't deny her but still she saw the way his eyes became the faintest bit duller, tears still fell, but not as many, his tremble reduced to but a mere trickle of blood as he clenched his fist. She wondered, no she feared the question.
Would Jaune become numb to it all, to taking life, she knew he'd never be like Adam, never smile or take satisfaction like his older brother was starting to. No Jaune merely suffered and would keep on suffering until it broke him… Until he became nothing more than a soulless blade for the White Fang.
"Jaune… I, I've been thinking about something, something important." Some would argue that he was too far gone, that too much blood was on his hands, but to her, he was her only support in this cult of madness she once believed in. The one who acted first so she didn't have to, was it so wrong for her to think he deserved the same redemption she sought.
"I'm leaving the White Fang-" He looked to her surprised but his blade never moved, his fist loosened their deadly grip and it was all too clear to her when she saw it in his eyes… Relief and that was what spurred her forward.
"I want you to come with me."
-0-0-0-
The moment of relief was cut short then however as Blake's ears twitched hearing it above turning they saw it. A giant mech on the ceiling that no sooner fell to the floor. Both brothers began to make their way towards it.
"Stop, we need to get out of here"
Both brothers ignored her, running towards it breaking apart to either side to split its attention between the two letting loose energy balls, one after another, while it focused on them she charged leaping to strike only to be batted away. Greaves liting with Gravity Dust digging into the floor Jaune leaped.
Grabbing Blake and landing he glared the mech's way while Adam begun his assault, slash after slash in rapid succession upon it but the haul was too thick and he fell only to be kicked away. A foot rose above Jaune and Blake and he acted throwing her away before raising his arms up and catching the leg in both hands.
Feet dug into the ground as he held strong, not falling to the Spider mech's weight, Beowulf lit, each piece burning white as he pumped more and more aura into the Gauntlets and Greaves.
"AHHH!" A roar that boomed like thunder was followed with a superb showing of strength as he pushed it off making it stumble. He leaped up clawing unto its body and climbing the giant mech until he was on its chest, pulling back his fist he struck again and again until finally, the metal began to dent. His palm opened as aura gathered on the edges of his clawed Gauntlet making them burn hot white with his soul's light.
The chest gave tearing open but the droid was far from done as the opening gave it the chance needed as it batted the mutt off its form. Falling back Blake moved to catch him bracing his impact just in time to as she saw the droid mech-shift its arms together unto its body forming a colossal cannon. Adam and Blake braced themselves or at least until Jaune moved to cover them both arms crossed as his aura manifested to shield the trio.
"Jaune!" A colossal ball of hot plasma let loose lighting up the room. He exploded white with aura taking the blast head no. Walls behind them gave, shattering, melting and sending debris everywhere but Blake and Adam remained standing as Jaune stood before the pair the floor beneath them solid and flat as opposed to the melted metal outside his barrier.
He fell to a knee heavy breathed and sweat trailing down.
"Jaune!"
"I'll 'Pant' be Fine… 'Exhale'" A hot breath left his maws beneath and so he stood his aura back and quickly restoring more so than most. Adam looked back to him.
"Can you still fight?"
"Of course, auras low though, not enough to Boost Moonslice enough to penetrate it." Adam nodded.
"If we weren't in a vehicle you'd be able to focus more." Jaune grunted.
"No point in thinking about what ifs…" He nodded to his brother's words.
"Then buy me some time to charge up my attack." Nodding Jaune's eyes narrowed as he held Tessaiga at the sheath, a button pressed as the Dust Canister inside ignited, when he drew it, earth and fire Dust mixed within at an intense heat and dangerous pressure. And what was drawn was no longer a thin old blade but a large hunk of raw iron. Claws landed on the blade's ends Beowulf's gauntlet digging into the steel before he pulled it back shredding off the excess metal leaving a nice sharp edge.
"On it, starlight?" She shot him a warning look.
"If you're about to say to pull back you can save your breath." With a huff he turned to the machine and no sooner did they act her leaping towards him landing on the flat of his colossal blade. With a roar he swung out sending her flying towards the Spider Droid. It struck for her only to hit her 'Shadow' she ran up its arm towards its head drawing its attention away from Adam and Jaune.
Its canons turned on her and in any other scenario she might be worried but she felt hot white aura envelope her. She was surprised but didn't cease her actions moving about its body avoiding canon fire when she could but not hesitating to trigger her semblance burning away the extra aura she'd been given.
"Ahh!" With a roar Jaune fell upon it then, slashing down Tessaiga, the large blade ripping clean through its haul much like his claws did, it glared letting loose a blast at point-blank.
"Jaune!" When the smoke cleared a roar erupted as Jaune charged, his top burnt to crisp, his aura in the red and mask gone revealing a horrid disfigured mouth, his lips gone and the flesh where they would be instead brutally burnt leaving only a crude maw of flat teeth on display entirely exposed.
He didn't hesitate to raise the large hunk of steel, what aura remained flowing into the cracking mass of metal reinforcing the Katana in the center.
"Adamite Barrage!" A horizontal was given and the chunk of steel exploded off the aura-infused blade sending the shrapnel flying into the Spider Droid. Piece after piece tearing into and through it. The Droid staggered but Jaune wasn't done as he raised the blade up high.
The aura within Tessaiga mixing with the Wind Dust etched unto the old blade. Winder cycled around it as he depleted his auric reserves.
"Wind Scar!" When he swung down the three cruel Arcs of savage wind and aura surged forward cleaving through a leg and arm entirely and ripping into the circuits of its chest. Light sparked forth before shattering light glass as his aura gave, no sooner did he felt Blake grab him as she shouted.
"Adam!" He nodded, not needing to wait for a blast anymore and swinging Blush out letting loose a wicked red arc of energy it raced towards Blake, cleaving through her and Jaune only for the pair to fade to black not impeding its way leaving it to cleave into the soft circuits of its chest. Abruptly its visor dimmed before it crumbled.
Adam sighed before noticing where Blake manifested, the next car over Jaune in hand she looked up meeting his gaze. A small measure of sympathy still held to him. Somehow he knew and reached out to her only for her to speak.
"Goodbye." Gambol Shroud rose and cleaved into the connector severing it and despite his rush he couldn't catch her. She stared at him as the Bull grew distant.
"It's done Jaune."
"It is, there's no going back for you Blake…" He was still slouched, recovering what little aura and stamina he could.
"We're free." She saw something in that moment, something in his eyes… Loneliness.
"No…" Eyes widened then as she felt it, a strike to her stomach from his elbow, she groaned almost keeling over from the blow but she still had more than enough aura to endure and when he moved it all happened just too fast. The metal thumping under his boots before he charged his newly earned sliver of aura into his Greaves for a final jump.
She reached out then shocked as he landed and rolled on Adam's cart, his gaze turning then, blue meeting her one final time.
You're free…
He struggled to stand only to feel Adam help him up, the redheaded bull looking to her then. Seeing the plead in her eyes, and having one of his own. But in the moment he couldn't be more wrong as that gaze wasn't towards her former lover, her mentor and partner but…
"Jaune…"
Why…
She watched as the person she was closet too shrunk as the distance grew until she could no longer see him at all…
-0-0-0-
He entered the camp solemn like Adam, at least on the surface, however, once he entered his tent he sighed. He moved towards his desk, sure that Blake was under the impression Adam knew everything, unaware Jaune had played innocent, had lied to his brother, and claimed she must've intended him as a bargaining chip for her absolution.
Adam had believed it all too easily, after all… Why wouldn't he trust his brother-in-all-but-blood… He sat, pulling out three sheets of paper. One for Sienna to inform her of their success in the raid to let his benefactor know of the current Fang's position in Vale and suggest strategies on how to advance.
The second to the Belladonnas, after all on that day Blake had left he'd promised he'd protect her, keep her from committing as many sins as he could even if his own hands had to be stained int eh process. The idea of her finally being free of it all, of the acts of terror committed, of the soul-crushing crimes would've brought a smile to his face, if he could smile that is.
But it was the final letter he gave the most attention to, upon it he laid forth everything, his plan, Blake's escape and his remaining in the Fang… What plans they did currently have and who of note was with them. All of this most vital information would be given to the single most powerful man in Vale, to Ozpin.
-0-0-0-
"I see, so you wish to attend as well?" He listened to the man's voice hardly believing it, how'd Blake stumble upon such a contact he didn't know but regardless of the shock of it all and reality of Blake's decision it only gave him hope but not for the same reason as her he was sure.
"No…" He could hear the confusion in the headmaster's voice.
"Excuse me?"
"I have no intentions to attend your school." For a second there was silence, but finally he spoke.
"I see, and yet you've not reported this or miss Belladonna to your group? May I ask why?" He hated dancing around the subject but with someone he didn't know it was sadly needed.
"I think you already know, don't you?" He could swear he could feel the man's knowing smile spreading.
"I might have an inkling, yes, so mister Arc… If I might be so bold, what would your services cost me?"
-0-0-0-
Adam and Sienna had done too much, killed too many, a pardon would be impossible but lesser sentences should they be found of Vale ground. Or diplomatic immunity in Menagerie, that was very much possible… But only if his info proved good enough, if he could set a situation up where at least most all the more violent members of the higher echelon could either be detained or eliminated by Ozpin.
It was funny really, like a cruel joke of sorts, first deceiving Blake, then lying to his brother and now the woman who liberated him and Adam from that hell. Jaune never minded being considered a stereotype and none more than the dog's ever-famous capacity for loyalty.
In order to be loyal to the people he cherished, he would betray them all…
"Jaune."
He turned meeting one of the extremely few people he could trust in the entire camp, nobody liked his presence, only enduring it due to his rank, power and relation to Adam. Worry showed as a palm pressed upon his maw, the Deer girl showing not a hint of hesitance to touch him.
"You haven't applied the medicines again have you?" His tail slumped and Deery recognized the pout in his eyes.
"Too bitter…" He blushed at the pronunciation of the word, at sounding like a drunk or child when he spoke.
"I know it's bitter, but it's good for you, now then do you have the letters?" He exhaled, pulling out the small pieces of paper and presenting them to the Deer Faunus.
"Sorry-" She shook her head though.
"No, it's my choice, I wanted to stay and help instead of running with Tukson."
"Still… It's dangerous."
"I know, but even I have sins Jaune, and you're still here I won't leave because I care about you." He would smile if he could.
"You're a good friend." Deery's Eye Twitched.
"Yeah… Friend…" That's all she could ever be, after all who'd want somebody like him, a freak who couldn't even speak right and looked worse.
How is such a genius such a dense motherfu-
"Here." He presented her the letters, knowing she'd have them sent, nobody realizing that while she delivered Sienna's she'd move the other two into Tukson's hands to send.
"I guess I'll be going then, oh yeah that lady is back, the one in red." Jaune's eyes narrowed.
"The one trying to recruit us?" She nodded and no sooner did he move, taking his mask, the piece looking like a muzzle before he marched out towards the center. He'd protect them, his brother, his friends and Sienna even if he'd only receive their amity in return.
I won't let us be used like animals… I won't let you fall further brother…
He needed to stop this before Adam took that final step, before his brother became no better than the Grimm. He recalled a question Ozpin had given that day the deal was sealed between them.
'And what if you can't save your brother from his hate?
If he couldn't then…
His eyes hardened.
Then he'd stopped him… or die trying.
-0-0-0-
Adam screamed as they did it, the cruel man branding him like cattle all for merely darling to talk-back, to his human betters. Adam screamed and writhed as Jaune watched pinned, they laughed merrily, before rage took the little boy. He acted then.
"Ah Fuck! Little bastard! Let go!" He didn't his teeth burying into the man's hand, drawing blood, before finally pulling back as suddenly his teeth held unto nothing.
"Damn Mutt took a chunk outta me!" A meaty fist met his face then and he was sent flying before it happened, a palm on his head pushing him down before something was shoved in his mouth.
"So you like biting do you you little bastard? Well how about you chew on this!" He felt the heat and knew exactly what it was, his body froze in fear but the man would have none of it.
"Huh? what's this? Hey I thought I said to bite on it, well do it you brat!" He shook his head before the man glared before he looked over to Adam the boy sobbing his face ruined and a cruel smile spread across his face.
"Do it, or I'll have my friend there burn out your friend's other eye." Jaune went wide-eyed before he heard it.
"D-don't, Jaune… Don't do a damn thing these humans say…"
"Well kid? Are you just gonna let us blind your little friend? Choice is yours." His smile grew wider, making it clear he meant every word of what he said. Tears fell as he understood just how serious the cruel man was. And so he followed, a gentle tap of his teeth as he fearfully complied. That was all that was needed for the inferno to take him…