Chapter 11: Salt the earth

Contrary to expectations, there's more Summer Antics.

Warning: Graphic themes/topics in this chapter.


He sat on the couch, watching the early-morning television. It was nearly six in the morning and Summer had disappeared into her room after pushing him out, telling him to go do something. They weren't going to train today, he supposed. To breathe hurt and he knew that he had been close to dying. He wasn't afraid. Not many people liked him, and Cinder had told him what happened to his kind.

He caught sight of Yang moving downstairs, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked a little puffy-eyed, as she ran a hand through her hair, looking at him in the darkness. "Morning… Mom and you aren't out exercising?" A yawn came from her lips as she looked at the news, the sound of someone moving upstairs telling of more people waking up… or perhaps Summer.

She'd told him to go downstairs, told him that he should get comfortable, that they'd talk. Yang wasn't supposed to be up, but… Well, it didn't really matter, did it?

"No. She told me to sit here."

His voice was still raspy and scratchy, the feeling in his throat being like it'd been stuffed with iron wool. Yang smiled softly, the lurid pink robe that she wore opened partially to show some of her underwear.

"You're a n-" She stopped mid-sentence, a gasp coming from her mouth.

"Jaune… your throat…"

He turned his gaze to her, to see her eyes looking at his neck. He shrugged. It was as it had been.

"What happened to you?"

Her voice was with little inflexion, save for something that he thought meant sad. It was hard sometimes, judging the emotions of others.

"Did… Did you do that to yourself? Was it something that… It was us, wasn't it?"

She exhaled, looking really sad, the footsteps that sounded, as he saw Summer descend the stairs, her silver eyes looking at him with a look. The long white robe that she wore was fluffy, tied at the waist. There was fear in those eyes, even as he shook his head.

"No. Summer was…"

He wasn't sure what to phrase it as. Was it a nightmare? Was it just him? He occasionally woke up, remembering when Cinder had given him his just rewards.

"She had a bad dream. She didn't recognize me."

The look in Yang's eyes was sympathetic, as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

"She's… She's got those moments. It's not… bad. I'm sorry, Jaune."

Her voice sounded sorry, as her eyes were sad.

"I'm sorry too." Summer said, her voice sounding sad.

"I'm so sorry, Jaune."

Yang was up in a moment, hugging her mother. It was nice to see, Summer stiffening, her posture rigid.

"It's okay mom… I'm not… I'm okay, Ruby is okay, and we're all going to be fine." Summer looked at him with sad eyes. "It wasn't your fault, dad said that there was nothing that you could've done…"

"No, sweetie, I…" The woman floundered, as Yang softly shushed, as if she were the mother. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. I didn't want to, but I… I thought…"

"It's okay… it's okay, mom. Raven wouldn't have wanted you to feel sad." The woman started to cry. He felt bad for her. It was his fault, after all.

"It's… It's going to be fine. I don't hold it against you… what you did. And Jaune doesn't either, right? It was just a mistake. Mistakes happen."

Yang's eyes met his. They were sad and they asked him to confirm. It was his fault. It was all his fault, he knew that. There was a look in Yang's eyes, one of realization.

"No, I never would think that you are wrong, Summer."

She was someone who made sense. She hadn't left permanent marks. That was good. "Mistakes… happen, yes. It was all a mistake, I should-" Yang stiffened, her hands going a bit lower, the hug lasting just a touch longer, Summer starting to look a little restless.

"Mom… Just… take a seat, alright."

Yang's voice was a little shriller, sounding like she was a little emotional.

"It's going to be okay… I'm going to get your pills."

The blonde's hands rubbed over the woman's back, gently pulling the robe a little more closed.

"Sit with Jaune and… relax."

Yang's hands slid into the robe that Summer wore, a click of something audible, and she ducked back swiftly, before her mother could move.

'Oh. That's a Glock. Dad keeps his in the gun safe. Proper safety is important.'

It was a model that he'd seen, as Summer just froze up, her hand going to her side, where he could see a holster. She hadn't been wearing one before, or elsewhere… She looked really really sad now.

"Give it back."

The flat tone sounded a little like the one that he made when he was upset. Yang looked at her mother, her hands wielding it. "Give it back, Yang. I need to… I need to put it away." She was breathing in and out, as the tears dripped down her chin.

"I need to… I need to…"

A giggle, high-pitched and scared. She was feeling really sad, even as Yang aimed at her mother, keeping her there.

"I need to join your mom. You're so big now… I did…"

He got up, wrapping his arms around her and pulled her along, her body coming with him without a protest.

"It's going to be fine, mom… It's just… It's fine. It's okay."

Yang's words didn't seem to have an effect, as he looked at the sad silver eyes that cried, her laughter louder now. He didn't like it. It wasn't Summer.

"Can you… keep her occupied? I'll get her medication and…"

He pulled Summer closer, kissing her. Her body seemed to startle and shock, as he caught sight of the blonde, Summer's arms wrapping around him like as if she were drowning and starving for attention at the same time, her tongue invading his mouth in a kiss.

She didn't let up, kissing him fully on the mouth, even as he struggled to breathe, his aching lungs still not very great, the desperation in Summer's manners enough.

"See? Only retards will ever love a retard… Someone who loves you has to be sick… That's why Ruby likes you... You're both sick in the head."

Summer's body was different. She might need medication, but she wasn't broken like he was. She wasn't a person who just didn't understand, as he felt her hands grope over his chest, touching and squeezing, holding him tightly, perhaps a bit too tightly, as she swayed softly.

"Mom… I've got your medication…"

Yang's voice came from the side, as Summer broke the kiss, the glass of water that Yang held out for her with a pill in hand, Summer looking at it for a moment and then smiling softly.

"I like him."

Her voice was soft, as she smiled.

"He's nice, Raven. You always know that I like the blonde guys most… He'll be better than your dorky brother."

Yang's smile stiffened, as she straightened her shoulders. "That's what we get stuff for, Sum." The accent was heavy, Summer smiling brightly . "Take yer meds, Summer." Summer smiled, a warmer smile, even whilst her face looked grave and sad, her smile still remained.

"Besties!" A sad smile on Yang's face, as she looked at Summer and handed her the pill. Summer smiled at her, before Yang spoke.

"Besties."

The mournful tone of her voice, as Summer took the pill and washed it down. "Now… Let's get you to the bedroom, Summer. Yang'll be awake soon…" The smile on Summer's face was warmer, as she got up.

"Good night, big boy… I'll make sure that you get that threesome Rae promised you after we're back from deployment. Gotta watch out for people who make us all go boom, heh."

It was a sad smile on Yang's face that turned radiant, but fake, when her mother looked at her.

"I'll make something for Yang… Go and rest up, bestie."

The kiss to her cheek made Yang's shoulders quake, her eyes looking sad too. Summer slowly departed, humming a soft tune, and once she had strode up the stairs, Yang turned to him.

"I'm sorry that you had to see that."

Her voice was brittle, as her eyes went up to the stairs, the blonde slumping down on the couch, which creaked below her weight with the additional suddenness of it.

"She's been… better. It's been going so well…"

"It's okay." He said, his eyes looking at the television again. "She's nice."

"She could've… She could've killed you. She's not… She's not okay."

Yang's voice sounded tender, as she sighed explosively.

"She's…" The other teen started, before she trailed off. "She's always been mom, but sometimes she's… she's acting like my mom." He didn't understand fully, but he nodded anyways.

"It's dissociative stress something or the other. It's been going so well thus far, and it was… Oh, this is just such a mess." He laid an arm around her, looking at her with eyes that tried to understand her.

"She's just like me."

A soft smile on his lips. He could understand her, he felt like he could. Summer understood him. She wasn't stupid, nor was she silly. She was just Summer. That's all that mattered to him.

"I wish it was that easy. Sometimes, I just wish I could…"

Yang sighed, leaning forward. "It's not okay, you know? Mom is sick… Ruby doesn't know, and… and I don't think she'd be able to handle it. Blake… yeah… She doesn't know either. Mom is... normal, most of the time."

There was understandable shame in it. He knew that very well. "Nobody likes to talk about people who are weird." Talking hurt a little, but he saw that she would need it. Cinder's words came to his mind, remembering the way that she'd talked before her first punishment of him.

"Who would ever mention you, Jaune? You're just a failure of nature's grand design… Blessed with looks and some talent… But that mind of yours is like a punctured sewer pipe."

"I'm sorry, alright. Blake told me about… her stuff, and… And how she felt about you. You're… You smell good. I smell good." There was a pause, as Yang looked up.

"Do you even know what love is like?"

He smiled, sadly. "I'm not worthy of love." He added. Cinder had said that often enough. Yang's eyes looked at him, as her eyes seemed to look him over.

"You keep saying that, but… I don't believe it."

Her voice was light, as he was pulled closer. "You're a nice guy, Jaune. Sure, not always do we get along perfectly, and my girlfriend's got a mad lust for your dick, but… You're okay. I don't believe any of it."

He knew that he had been bad, and Cinder had said it so. The questions, all of the questions, they wouldn't stop asking questions, doubting him. He was telling the truth, always.

"It's true."

Yang looked at him, her eyes looking a touch teary. "Is it? Do you really think yourself as unworthy of love?" Her voice was soft, and he closed his eyes. She was getting emotional. That wasn't great.

"Do you love me?"

Her face looked pensive for a moment. She had to think about it. That was okay.

"Well, no… But I did think about you for a few times, and it isn't… It isn't out of the question that Blake would want…"

The doubt in the other teen's voice was enough. It confirmed to him that what Cinder had said was true.

"Oh, you're going to never find a woman who would want you, Jaune… No, no… NO! SIT STILL! I AM NOT YET… oh, we'll have to get a napkin… There's blood… Wouldn't want that, Jaune… I'm your friend. Now… let me- there, there… Big boys don't cry… But retards do… There, it's stopped bleeding and… Oh, does the little retard cry? Suck it up, big boy. Touching you makes me sick."

"It's okay." He tried to make it better. Yang gave a sad smile. She wasn't happy.

"You smell. Did you not even shower or something?"

Her eyes looked at him, as she tugged at him. He wondered if he should tell her about the sex. Probably not. It would make her sad again.

"No." It was true. He hadn't showered yet today. Yang smiled, shaking her head.

"Such a silly boy… Ruby can't know that mom nearly…"

Her hand was on her side, patting it, and he wondered whether she was referring to the gun.

"She wouldn't take it well."

He could understand that. Ruby had been delicate, even if she was smarter than he was. Ruby was the best student, in his opinion. She could just smile and do things that he had issues with.

"Does she do that more often?"

Yang shook her head. "Dad and her tried for a few years, but dad moved on. Mom… tried. I saw her outside, just talking to herself, the shotgun resting against the chair." There was a sadness in her voice, as she pulled herself close. "I'm going to hug you, Jaune." She said, announcing her intention.

"It's okay." He said, as he wasn't sure whether something else would be appropriate. He could get a hug, yes. "You're a nice sister to Ruby."

"She talked to me as if I was mom. It was… nice, I suppose. Ruby was still asleep, so… Mom and I just talked. That was the first time that she didn't recognize me. It's not okay, but…" He rubbed over her shoulder to give comfort. That would work, just as it'd worked with Summer.

"Dad's new wife hates me. She might say that she doesn't, but she's jealous and insecure. She treats Ruby as if she's dirty and I just… I don't like that." He smiled softly. That was familiar. He knew that thought well.

"I know that it's silly, but…" A sigh, coming from deep inside her. "But Jaune, I never believed any of it, alright? You were here, and… And… Mom was mad when she heard about it. Like, real mad." He nodded, understanding. She'd be mad too, but his mom had been…

"Maybe it is a mistake? Did you do that, Jaune? Did you do it?"

Not as understanding. He had answered a yes, as it had been the truth. Cinder had said that retards shouldn't lie. She had been his friend, though he didn't think she was a good one. She always smoked. He hated smoke.

"Why would she be mad? I'm just me. Cinder was going to be Ruby's friend too, and I wouldn't want that. So, I didn't go."

Ruby would lose her light. Ruby wasn't as stupid as he was. Cinder had said that it was a good thing too that he was able to take that much, like any dumb brute should. They hadn't believed him. They hadn't believed him and he'd told the truth. He didn't like lying, he didn't like lies.

Yang's eyes turned wide, as her mouth fell open. "What? But…" He nodded.

"I told Summer, since she is Ruby's mom." Yang's eyes looked disturbed, but then…

"But…" He smiled. Yang seemed to understand, just a little.

"It's not important. She left, didn't she?"

He hated her cigarettes. She never stopped to smoke. She never stopped to smoke and she always blew the smoke in his face.

"Spread! There, there… Oh… I'm SORRY… let me give you a re-do!"

"Jaune… Jaune? Please… let go."

He was digging his fingernails in her arm. He shuddered. He wasn't being a nice person.

"Just… stay calm. We don't have to talk about this… No, no, that's not going to be the subject. Say… Did you… Did you like what Blake did with you yesterday?" Her voice was soft, as her eyes looked sympathetic.

He nodded. "She was… nice. It felt good too. She needed it, I think." Yang sighed softly, as she turned her gaze away.

"I almost broke up with her. She told me about… A bad thing." A deep breath, as she seemed to try to gather herself

"A-And what she wants from you. You're… You're solid. Dependable. She makes me happy and… and she wants you to make her happy too." He couldn't imagine it. It must be some trick, as Yang looked at him.

"Jaune, she's… She's been mostly around Faunus, but… She sees a man as more than just… being a bit different."

He could imagine it to be so. Blake was sensible, even if she had to spray the car after he had been in it. It made sense, with her natural urges. "I'm… I'm not okay, but if it makes her happy, I…"

He could see it in her eyes. "It's okay, you deserve her. You deserve happiness." The words had been said more than once in the movies, so they would fit here.

"But… It's not nice for you to be treated like…"

He knew what she meant. It was not something that he could be bothered about. What rights did he have?

"I'm probably going to die alone."

He said it. It was a thought that he had since he'd met Cinder. She certainly said it, when the pain came and she blew the smoke in his face.

"At least I'll be of some use."

The soft sound of her exhaling, as he looked at her sad face.

"Ruby will live her life, happy and safe. As long as I am able to help, it'll be fine."

She just stared at him, her eyes blinking more than a few times, her mouth opening and closing, a sound as if she wanted to say something emerging, as her eyes looked at him.

"I should get something ready for breakfast. Ruby might like to have something nice. Do you want pancakes?" He was better at doing simple stuff. It didn't require much thought.

"Yes… Sure. I'll… I've got to talk with Blake. I need to think and…"

She was sad. He patted her shoulder. She looked up at him. "You're Ruby's friend. You're…" A deep, explosive sigh, as her head lowered once more. "I don't even know anymore."

"It's fine. Acceptance is the first thing before the end comes." It was something that she'd said to him when she comforted him after he'd been weak.

"Oh... There, there... Accepting your place in the order of things is the first thing for retards... Acceptance is always before your end, Jaune... Trust me."

"That's… dark."

He tried to smile but she looked a little sad and afraid. "You're different, but… you know, just go and make some pancakes. I'll bring Blake down and… and we'll have breakfast, if mom's up again as well."

She was right, after all. Yang was going to be better than him. He'd heard that some colleges were already scouting her for something to do with her talent at boxing. Blake would be going to whatever college Yang went to, because she loved her.


He started to work on making some pancake batter, Nora having told him the proper measurements by heart. She'd been nice, even though it had taken some time for her to adjust to him again after the presentation. He hoped that her holiday was going well, that she didn't bother her boyfriend too much.

As he poured the batter into the hot frying pan, he watched it sizzle. The oil had been measured perfectly according to his recollection of the recipe, for the perfect pancake. He felt a hand touch his side, as he smelled the perfume that Summer wore. "Good morning, sweetheart." Her voice was lighter, her eyes looking a little red.

"How's my big strong Marine today, hmm?"

He wanted to say that it was incorrect, but she kissed him suddenly. "Good man… Cooking for the kids…"The look on her face was a little odd as her eyes went to the picture.

"Wait… How old are Yang and Ruby again?"

He gave their ages. Silver eyes widened, as a blank look settled on her face, before they narrowed once more.

"It's… It's okay, I'm just a little silly, darling. I…"

She looked at him as if she was seeing him for the first time, her eyes looking at him. "Oh, Jaune." Her voice was hurt, he could tell. Her eyes were on his neck. He smiled at her, trying to make her happy again. "I'm sorry." She said in a breathless voice, her head turning around, as he tried to make sense of things. "I…"

"It's okay."

He smiled. He liked her. Retards didn't love, they were forbidden to love. He liked her a whole lot. A whole great lot. Retards didn't love, but he supposed that it might be something like that feeling.

"No, it's not. I could have broken your neck, sweetheart. It's easy, I know I…"

She trembled. It wasn't a nice look on her face.

"She was all over me… just… boom. I remember… I remember shouting. I remember screaming."

She trembled once more. Those silver eyes didn't see him. "I remember Qrow telling me to get down, but Raven was splattered all over me. I told her to go, I gave the order and…"

"It's okay." He said once more. It was going to be okay. "It's fine. Sit down, Summer." She looked at him for a time before she sat down, looking at her.

"I did something bad to you."

She said, her voice soft. "Something really bad. But…" A deep exhale, as she looked at him. He became aware that the pancake was burning, as he flipped it.

"I couldn't bring her home."

It was a tone that he'd used himself as well, when Miss Salem had said that she was going to inform the authorities. Cinder had been a friend, but she had been honest with him. Miss Salem had just looked sad, but it was out of her hands now.

"You're here. Ruby loves you. Yang loves you too."

That was obvious. He knew that his mother and father loved him. They would die, though. Everyone had to die, retards just went faster.

"This is for the best… After all…" "Here, press the button. That's it… Now… Rose, Rose… Ruby Rose… There. Now… Time to… Oh, what's your password, Jaune? I'm going to change it…"

It was just numbers. They didn't mean anything. Not to him, at least. Cinder had smiled at him really prettily, as if he'd done something wrong, before she'd blown the smoke in his face. She'd been right. He didn't like the pictures much.

"ve you." He was drawn from his memories as he flipped the pancake, looking at the small stack that was growing on the plate. Summer had said something and was looking at him, smiling at her. "I really don't."

"What?" She sadly smiled at him. He noticed that Yang and Blake were coming down. Yang had a heavier tread than Blake, whilst Ruby and Weiss usually were fairly light.

"I don't deserve someone like you."

Her voice was soft, as her fingers tugged on her robe, the fluffy material parting to reveal a little more skin, her fingers drumming on the table.

Yang looked at her mother, before she pulled the gun from her fluffy pink robe, handing it to her. "You shouldn't leave this laying out of the safe, mom." A smile that was fake was on her lips, as Summer looked at it, a tension on her body as she looked at the weapon, before she pulled it to her, the gun put into the holster in her coat.

"I must've forgotten… Ah, I was going to practice today."

She smiled, but he saw the indecision in her eyes. She was a little lost, but that was okay. She was still a better person. She was a mom and she was nice.

"What… What happened to your neck?"

Blake said, her voice unnerved. She was looking at him, her eyes directed to his neck, or so he would imaging.

"Mom thought he was an intruder."

Yang said, though she didn't meet her girlfriend's eyes, or look at her. "Instinct kicked in." There was a soft touch of sadness to her voice.

"It wasn't very nice."

He liked to breathe, but Summer didn't look so very good. Her hand was rubbing over the table, still trembling a little. "I'm okay."

"I'm sorry, sweetie." Summer said, her voice soft. Blake made a sympathetic sound.

"I'm sorry too, Jaune. I'll try to… stop."

The look on her face was like Summer's. Sadness. He didn't like that she was sad.

"Sit down. Have a pancake. Do you want me to make you one with banana?" Blake looked at him, about to say something but failing at it.

"How can you be so… normal?"

He almost laughed. He wasn't normal. This was just god's punishment for being born wrong. "I sucked your dick! I was about to fuck you but-" Yang turned around sharply. He thought he saw tears in her eyes. That wasn't good.

"Oh shit, I didn't mean it like that, Yang! Yang, please-"

The door slammed shut, as Yang fled. Summer looked at Blake with a look that was dangerous in its intensity. Cinder had looked like that too, when he'd bled.

"This is so wrong. This is so wr-"

He moved, before the motion could be completed. His hand was on her arm, keeping her hand away from the weapon. He didn't want anyone to hurt.

"Go after her, cat. Clean up your mess." Summer's voice was cold, colder than he'd heard it. "Come on, move." Blake's eyes went wide, as Summer's hand tried to reach. She was gone in less than a second. He grabbed the hand and Summer trembled.

"She hurt my baby. Just like I said she would…"

She moaned, laying her head down. He turned his gaze to the frying pan, taking a deep breath as he patted her back. Blake and Yang were gone. He should make some pancakes and hope that they were back before they got cold.

"Good morning, mom!"

Ruby's bright and cheery voice reached a high note as Weiss emerged together with Ruby in the kitchen, Ruby as bright and sunny as the weather outside. Weiss regarded him coolly, as he wondered briefly whether Ruby would sit down before she'd give her mother a hug. Summer looked like she needed it.

He moved back to the frying pan and then started to flip the pancake that was still being prepared, Ruby settling into her seat, drumming her fingers on the table.

"Jaune! I dreamt of you! You and Weiss and me were playing games!"

He didn't respond, having turned to put the finished pancake on the plate. "Here, I'll put some on her plate." Summer was there at his side, easily picking the plate up and placing a pancake in front of Ruby. A smile on the girl's face he could see, as she chirped a happy thank you, whilst Weiss merely gave a huff.

The door opened once more and a morose Yang joined them, out of breath, Blake looking a little sad too. That wasn't good. "I've got one more ready, before the batter is used up." He was sure that they'd like the pancakes. Pancakes made everything better, according to Nora.

'Except me. I'm just the thing that makes everyone worse.'

It was logical. His sisters never could keep up with him. He wasn't on their level, nor did he think they would ever get to his. Who could relate to a retard? At least they were normal, or so Cinder had said. They'd not make sick babies like he would.

"Aww… Look at that… That's pathetic. A real man, strong and proud, would be able to answer the question. Right? Answer me, Jaune. What are you?"

The answer was simple. He wasn't worth love. She kept using the word. It meant what it meant, right? He'd tried to use the internet to find it, but it might not show. That showed just how he was.

"Mispronouncing… No, no… Oh, did that HURT? Here, let me try again. You're just not able to understand… Proper hygiene is important…"

He never liked Cinder's corrections. She'd told him to do it every time he was bad but it hurt. She kept on smoking. He didn't like the smoke. Like she had said, nobody believed a retard.

"It's pronounced as 'Pfannenkuchen' in German, Ruby. Not Pantalkitchen."

Weiss smiled at her girlfriend, before she noticed him looking at her. The angry look that she gave him was noticed, even as Ruby hummed her little tune.

"But it's such a silly word, Weiss! Pantalkitchen is nice! Right Jaune?"

The look increased in strength, as Weiss glared. He didn't like it, but she did that sometimes. He didn't mean to be such a fuck-up, but it was what it was. She'd been nice, before things had happened.

"It's pancakes." He said, not really sure whether he should ape her. "Not Pfannentoot." Weiss' lips pressed thinly together, as he rubbed a hand over Ruby's head. The look that she gave him was not nice, but it hadn't been this fierce before.

"See!? He agrees! Right Jaune? Let's all have fun today!"

He caught Blake and Yang looking at him, as if wondering about something. Blake looked nervous, Yang looked a touch upset still, but they were waiting.

"I've got to do some work around the house, Ruby."

He was sure that there would be something to do. It was all for the benefit of Summer and Ruby and Yang, after all. A good man helped out people, dad had always said.

"Aww, but that's fine! We can go to the movies! Just the five of us, all on a date! We'll be great together."

The hope in her voice was greater than he'd give her credit for, as her silver eyes looked at him, as he glanced at Summer. The woman was looking at him sadly, as he watched her slice the pancake into little slices, pricking a few onto her fork. He sighed, knowing that Summer was a little sad again.

"I've got to go home today, Ruby."

His mom and dad would like to see him again, he hoped. It wasn't too bad, he supposed. Mom was concerned a lot more, whilst dad didn't really think much about things.

"Aww, that's too bad… But I liked the lake! Weiss and I played a lot! We even kissed a bit!"

Weiss flushed, but there was no jibe from Blake or from Yang. Both of them looked rather subdued, he noticed. It must be because he'd made them feel bad. He always made people feel worse whenever he came around. "Do you want to try kissing Weiss and me?"

'No.'

He caught the look in Weiss' eyes, as her mouth fell open. "I'll die before I let a rapist kiss me."

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

"But…"

They hadn't believed him. Cinder had said that they wouldn't and it'd been true. She'd hurt him, but she said that they would know what a reject he was, and they'd put him away where people like him belonged.

"You're a sick boy, Jaune Arc. You might've fooled Ruby, but I know a sick bastard when I see one."

Yang's mouth had fallen open, shock showing on her face, as Ruby looked at her girlfriend, a quizzical look on her face.

"He's not bad, he's Jaune! You'll see, Weiss! He's nice!"

Weiss made a snarling sound, much like a cat. Her blue eyes were angry, as she wrapped an arm around Ruby, looking at him with a look that was not nice.

"Stay away from her, you scum! You Americans may have that whole freedom of Sprache, but I don't trust you around my girlfriend!"

He walked to the door. He wanted to go home. He heard someone scream as something hit the ground. He saw as he turned the doorknob, that Weiss had been floored, Yang shouting something that his ears didn't hear. His gaze met Summer's for a moment and he saw the scared look in her eyes. He moved through the door, the door shutting behind him.

Someone was laughing and his cheeks were wet. Why was someone laughing? Why did it hurt? He never wanted to hurt anyone. Everything hurt. He started to walk down the path. He wanted to go home. He wanted to leave.

He kept hearing the laughter. Why was everyone laughing at him? It'd hurt. It'd hurt so much. It'd all been true, after all.

It was about forty minutes to get back to the city. He didn't want to be here anymore. Someone was laughing and crying. That was getting annoying. His eyes were wet. It wasn't raining. No.

He'd never do anything to hurt anyone. He just wanted to be accepted.

"Goodbye, Jaune… This is where all the defects go…"

A puff of smoke in his face, as her finger brushed below his chin, the simple amusement in her golden eyes as she drew the cigarette up, before pressing it down. He didn't cry out. It was just on the palm. It would fade.

"I'll finally be happy… Just because you will be gone. Nobody is ever going to want a criminal, Jaune…"

She had smiled at him, as she placed her foot down. He'd whimpered, but her heel ground and then she kicked again, a smile on her lips. It hurt less. She hadn't been happy when he'd started to get used to the pain.

"It's a shame, Jaune… Lusting after a woman who simply wanted to help… Oh, nobody will love you. Everyone will hate you… And it'll remain with you forever. Just like you deserve, Jaune... There's a registry for that type of person, Jaune… and you'll be on it. I've got to admire you Americans…"

She had looked pretty as she enjoyed herself, even as her foot slammed down. He'd barely flinched, as the pain was less. It'd grown less, even as the blood came out. Her shoes had been rough. She'd never broken the skin, but it hurt to pee sometimes. The kicks hurt.

"If you want to ruin someone… Oh… Don't worry… I'm sure that your friend Ruby will understand… She's a sweet girl… I want to make her hate you, just to see what face you'll make…"

He felt numb. Ruby would hate him. It was a bad thing that he'd done to Cinder, apparently. They'd asked, they'd said he'd done it. He said that he hadn't, but they'd said he did. Nobody looked at him nicely anymore in school either. Not after the presentation. Ruby still liked him and Nora and Pyrrha had said that it was just not important, because they knew him.

Someone wrapped their arms around him, arresting his trudging. He noticed that it was Blake by virtue of her smaller stature, taking a hold of him.

"Please, stay?"

A pleading tone, as he remembered the word. He smiled softly, stopped. "I'm not bad." He said, Blake giving a soft sound.

"No, you're not bad. Come… Come back with us. Ruby is sad."

That wasn't good. Ruby shouldn't be sad. She was his friend, just as Weiss was his friend, Yang was his friend and Blake was his friend. They should all be happy.

"I don't want to bother you."

He said, even as Blake hugged him tighter. He could see Summer half-way down the path, Yang looking sad… or worried? He didn't quite understand. Why would they be worried about him?

"You're not a bother."

He sighed. He was. He'd made them upset again. He was, according to people, a rapist. They'd tagged his locker with it in bright yellow. His bag had been thrown in a ditch, his books ruined. His sisters hadn't heard of it, mom had forbidden it to be spoken about. He obeyed, because she was his mom.

"I'm always a bother, haven't you heard?"

She must have. Nobody was nice… and no matter how much he tried, it had always been bad. His chest hurt when he saw Summer and he liked her. He thought that he'd liked Weiss.

"No, you're not."

He smiled at her. There hadn't been laughter since she'd hugged him. That was good. He didn't like laughter around him. Cinder laughed when he cried. She'd spoken the truth.

"It's okay." He heard her say and he wondered about it.

He didn't feel okay. Weiss hated him, as she should. Just like Cinder had said that it was. He'd been born wrong and should have been drowned after his defect came out.

It hurt. It hurt much.

Summer hugged him and he felt a little better, as she nosed gently against his cheek. Her breath was warm, as she pulled him and Blake along.

"The pancakes are getting cold, sweetheart…"

It was an escape. He'd take that escape.

He slowly walked up the path, Yang looking at him with her eyes worried. "You were with us, I believe you. There's no way that you could've… Done that. She doesn't know. She was in Germany back then when it happened."

It was an excuse. Weiss knew what he was. Just useless flesh with a warped and twisted mind. What good was he for this world?

He wondered briefly whether Summer would let him borrow her pistol.

It would be what he deserved.

Acceptance before the end.


That was… dark. Writing an autistic perspective isn't easy. There'll be better times coming soon... Things are out in the open now.