Here a second part.
Chapter 8: Jaune Xiao-Long 2
Concept: Summer adopts Jaune.
Appearance: None
-Six years later Patch January 3rd-
"~Come on my little knight wake up~" Slowly Jaune begun to stir from his sleep and was greeted by loving silver orbs.
"Mom?" Jaune sat up still half asleep and was greeted by the sight of his mother Summer Rose who smiled at him.
"Your awake, good, I wish your sister woke up as easily… hmm?" Summer noticed a tiny hand clinging to Jaune and moved the blanket, sleeping there was her daughter Ruby curled up by her big brother.
"hehe. Well it would seem lil buds chose your room again." Jaune looked down and saw his Ruby. He wasn't surprised, after all this was a common occurrence, when he and Yang had turned five his dad insisted he sleep separately from Ruby and Yang. So it was decided he'd bunk with their uncle and whenever Qrow was gone he'd have the whole room to himself. However, this left the family with a fun little game.
Ruby had made it a habit to sneak into whoever she wanted to sleep with's bed that night and so far Jaune won with her choosing him almost always three days of the week while she chose Summer and Tai twice and Yang twice. However, with that being said Qrow was the all-time champion since whenever he came home she'd go to him. Jaune smiled and patted his little sister's head.
"Come on Ruby it's time to wake up." Ruby begun to stir and opened her eyes looking to Jaune and Summer who smiled back. Summer begun to leave the room only for Ruby to quickly make her way out of the bed and rush to her mother's leg, Summer looked back to Jaune and smiled.
"Jaune I'm gonna go finish breakfast, can you wake up Yang?" Jaune smiled before leaping out of bed and rushing away, eager to wake up his twin and get a little revenge.
"Yang…" Jaune opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Zwei sleeping near a bundle, Jaune let out a small whistle and the Corgi quickly leaped from the bed to Jaune who hugged him.
"Okay Zwei go say hi to mom and Ruby." The dog quickly barked before leaving to do just that, once he was sure Zwei was out of earshot he turned back to Yang an evil little smile on his face. Advancing Jaune leaned by his twin.
"~Yang. It's time to wake up~" Jaune said that but he knew she wouldn't get up that easily, but Jaune knew the number one way to wake punny twin. Pulling out a pair of scissors Jaune snipped them the noise immediately waking Yang and causing her to punch forward at Jaune.
"Oww." Jaune looked up to see his twin looking down at him angry without thinking he dropped his scissors and raised his hands.
"Jaune… What were you gonna do." Cold sweat ran down the boy's head.
Why do I keep doing this?
"Umm, I just wanted to wake you up." Yang grinned the sight sending a shiver up Jaune's spine.
"Jaune…"
"Yes sister?"
"It's time for your punishment..."
"Uh oh…"
Summer finished making breakfast and begun to lay out the chocolate pancakes and eggs. Looking down to Ruby she saw her waiting calmly until Zwei rushed in following her.
"ZSWHY!" Ruby ran to the corgi a huge smile on the toddler's face, Zwei leapt up and begun to lick the girls face earning a giggle. Not much longer did Summer hear the sound of a girl squealing alongside the noise of rushing feet. From the hall Jaune emerged panicked and aiming for his mom hiding beneath her dress and clinging to her leg for dear life. From the doorway Yang came in her face angry, Summer knew why it was a habit of her son to try to wake Yang the same way every chance he got.
"My little drop of Sunshine, did you find any hair cut off?" Yang looked down and pondered the question before shaking her head.
"I'm sure Jaune was just pulling a little prank." Yang's eyes narrowed before she headed to the table, seeing this Jaune left the safety of his mother's robes slowly making his way to the table remaining cautious of his sister. Jaune looked to his plate and saw their favorite before he looked back to her and noted the tray of cookies in the oven. Looking back to Summer Jaune was curious.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"Are you going on a mission." Summer froze at the boy's question.
"Umm, my Little Knight, how'd you guess that." Jaune tilted his head as he thought about the question.
"Well, you always make our favorites before you go, chocolate pancakes for breakfast for me, hamburger for dinner for Yang and cookies for Ruby for dessert." Summer looked to her son with a smile, she had known he was smart but apparently she could add observant to the list too.
"'sigh' Well yes I'll be heading on a mission tomorrow, since Taiyang has his hand full as a teacher, Qrow will be coming tomorrow morning." The three had mixed feeling on the subject while they would be happy to see uncle Qrow, Summer leaving would be sad. After breakfast the three went with their mom to their favorite spot on Patch, a cliffside that gave a full view to the Ocean. Slowly the four made there way to the beach below smiling Jaune and the others played collecting shells and making sandcastles while Summer waited by the sea watching for any aquatic Grimm.
"Mom look, look." Jaune and the girls stepped forward to Summer presenting a small necklace decorated with shells.
"Oh my, what's this?" Summer examined the necklace noting the long golden hair tangled together to make the makeshift string.
"Is this?" Looking to them Summer noted Yang looking away nervously.
"Yang is this made from your hair?" Yang slowly nodded.
"Yeah, Yang gave me some hair while Ruby and me searched for shells. Oh, and the shiny rock in the middle is the one Ruby found all on her own and I made the necklace."
"Well isn't it nice." Summer looked at the lovely necklace noting the single pearl on it.
"It's a good luck charm." Jaune and the others smiled to her each's face warming her heart. without a moment's hesitation she quickly put on the good luck charm and hugged them before they started to play. After a few hours Summer noted a crow flying towards the island and smiled. Pulling out a lunchbox she called the three to her which they eagerly did.
-Tai's House-
Upon finally getting back the first thing the kids noticed was their uncle on the couch who waved to them.
"Hey squ- Whoa!"
"Uncle Qrow!" Before the man could even finish his sentence, he was tackled by the three kids seeing that Summer giggled. Jaune looked to Qrow his eyes shining.
"Hey uncle did you save the day again." Qrow smiled and ruffled the boy's hair.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Jaune pouted and soon Ruby and Yang followed.
"Fine, fine I'll tell you all about it tomorrow when we go out for breakfast kay squirts?" The three smiled with Jaune being to most excited. Summer knew that her only son absolutely adored Huntsman in his mind they were no different than knights. One day show was positive all her kids would want to be Huntsman, after all when they played the Grimm, Huntsman and Princess they would fight over who got to be which though often then not Jaune was the one playing the damsel in distress.
After Taiyang got back the six them enjoyed a large dinner before Summer led the three to Yang's room since Qrow was back. Summer red them their favorite story of a valiant knight who stood against an army of Grimm with nothing more than his old sword.
"Despite the numbers he fought, because he knew if he didn't the people he loved would be attack." The three stared to the mother amazed at the story.
"Whasn't he scwared?"
"Sis heroes don't get scared." Summer smiled.
"Of course he was my lil bud." Jaune rose a brow confused.
"Really! But isn't he a hero. You can't be brave if you're scared." Summer patted Jaune's head.
"That's wrong my little knight a hero is brave precisely because their scared but stills fights." Jaune looked to his mom his eyes radiating with resolve as he stood up.
"Yeah moms right! I gonna be a hero just like the knight!" Summer froze for a second at his words… she wanted to tell him that knight was his father but, that this story was about the father who gave his life for his only son… it was still too soon though.
"Why yes my little knight I'm sure you will be."
"Yeah me to!" Yang stood up as well turning to Jaune the two smiled, honestly sometimes she forgot they weren't actually twins.
"Yay we'll be the best duo ever even better then mom and Qrow…" Ruby looked to her siblings.
"M-Me to…" The three looked to the youngest in the room with Yang being the first to speak.
"Sis… you still too small to decide that besides you're a scaredy cat…"
"But…" Ruby looked down her eyes tearing up. Before Jaune sat in front of her.
"Okay… we'll just be the best trio instead of duo." Ruby looked up to her brother who wiped her face. But Yang protested.
"But Jaune she's still small and she gets scared a lot."
"So we're small."
"That's not the poin-"
"And besides mom just said didn't she." Jaune looked to his little sister and smiled.
"People are brave because even if their scared they fight… so if Ruby becomes a huntsman to despite being so scared that just makes her the bravest." Summer smiled at her little knight's words. Looking to her big brother Ruby smiled and tackled him trapping him in a hug.
"Okay my little blessings it time to sleep… Ruby are you gonna go to Qrow room?" Ruby looked to her mom before looking back to her siblings and shook her head.
"No… I wanna stay with Jhaune and Yang."
"Oh. But don't you love your uncle Qrow?" Ruby nodded furiously.
"Yeah bhut that's different if we gonna be a twio then whe need to be togeder wite?" Summer smiled and kissed Ruby's forehead.
"Be a good girl okay." Ruby nodded before giving a toothy smile.
"Kay!" She turned to Yang next kissing her head.
"Keep an eye on Ruby okay while I'm gone you're the woman of the house." Yang smirked and gave a thumb up earning ruffle from her. Finally, she turned to her only son
"Jaune keep you sisters safe okay." Jaune nodded.
"I promise." Summer smiled to him kissing his head.
"Then I have nothing to worry about." Waving to the three she exited the room waving to them all the while. With a sigh she prepared, grabbing her twin blades and outfitting herself in hger combat gear before grabbing her supplies and making her way outside.
"So you heading out?" Summer turned to see Tai and Qrow and nodded shooting both a cheerful smile.
"Yep hold down the fort while I'm gone kay." Taiyang stepped up to his wife embracing her.
"Promise you'll be careful okay." Summer leaned into him.
"You worry too much honey, nothing bad gonna happen, how many time do I have to tell you till you believe me."
"Till we're old and gray." Summer looked up to him and smiled before turning to Qrow.
"What?"
"I was just thinking of how Jaune and Ruby are gonna look like you two when their older." Tai blushed before getting angry.
"Qrow that sick their sibl-" The blonde blinked several time upon remembering Jaune's adoption to which Qrow smirked.
"Oh wow Tai you actually forgot for a minute there, didn't you?"
"S-shut up!" Summer begun to laugh.
"Now that you say it they probably will end up looking like us, though Jaune will be a bit taller if Julius is anything to base it on and Ruby's hair will be more black…"
"Yeah even Firecracker will end up looking like my sis but blonde and bearable." The three laughed.
"Yeah between those three it'll be like the next generation of STRQ." Tai and Summer laughed at that before pausing and looking to Qrow who raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You need to have a kid already Qrow." At the words the old huntsman froze over.
"What are you two on about?" Summer grinned manically.
"Come on partner, you need to find yourself a wife already. How about Glynda she's available."
"I have no interest in getting a wife and less in marrying that sadist."
"So… husband I mean I suppose Ironwo-"
"Summer!" Taiyang was rolling on the ground laughing while Qrow blushed like mad.
"Oh, lighten up I was only teasing." Qrow sighed before calming down.
"So you'll be back in two weeks, right?"
"Yeah." After giving the two and hug she made here way to the port.
Hmm, I wonder if when we tell Jaune he'll start looking at lil bud and Sunshine like girls instead of sisters?
Summer chuckled at the thought.
Then again it could always end up like how me and Raven did with Tai, nah.
looking back to the house one more time she noticed the three waving at her through the window. She smiled back at the three and waved back.
"When I get back I'll make all your favorites."
But Summer Rose never came back…
-Three Months Later-
The three siblings looked at the tombstones, despite being surrounded by people they never felt so alone. Ruby wouldn't stop crying, not that Yang or Jaune were holding up much better as they hugged her from both sides. The Headmasters of Beacon and Signal alongside their staff attended, everyone of them looking disheartened. Ozpin was the one to speak.
"The world is a cruel place but also beautiful Summer Rose made this clear as everyday she fought this cruel world while nurturing its beauty. I will never forget her and all she's done for not just Vale but all of Remnant. She was… an excellent Huntress, a splendid woman and an extraordinary mother. Summer rose with every day you lived another live was saved in all my years I can think of no finer example of a Huntress nor do I dare think one will ever appear again." The headmaster may have not shed a tear but a deep sorrow was visible in his eye as if he had to witness a injustice before him. As the people slowly left Jaune and Yang looked to the stone while Ruby cried. Promising she'd be good and begging mom to come back.
"Mom…" Jaune looked to the tombstone and felt a deep pain… but the worst part is that it was somehow familiar…
Even after several days Ruby didn't stop crying while their father seemed totally out of it, worst yet was their uncle Qrow who had kept vanishing. Yang and Jaune never let Ruby out of their sight, the moment they did they would find the toddler trying to go back to her mother's tombstone. Yang would hold Ruby till she fell asleep before passing out herself while Jaune would watch over the two of them till he soon followed. When morning came whichever of the two blondes woke would start making the breakfast of Cereal, toast and fruit. While for lunch and dinner were usually sandwiches of the peanut butter and jelly variety and chips.
One-day Jaune had been playing with Ruby who after months seemed to be finally gaining back a small amount of the light in her eyes. But something else was off… Yang. She had been weird after the three of them had looked through some pictures to find some with mom in them. There was one she refused to show him and ever since she found it she had become strangely quiet and today especially all day she had been fidgeting around looking at the door.
After a few hours Taiyang stepped in from school his expression still lacking any joy however when he saw them he forced a smile.
"Hello kids." Jaune and Ruby rose up to hugged their father but Yang didn't.
"D-dad…" Taiyang looked to his daughter.
"Yes my little dragon?"
"Whose this?" Yang raised a picture up to the man in it was a woman Taiyang was holding from behind. Her stomach was notably swelling she had long black hair and scarlet red eye. But the most notable thing was her resemblance to Yang.
"Raven…" Hearing Taiyang say the name Qrow who was passed out on the couch stirred.
"What'd you say about my sis?" Yang looked to Qrow.
"So she's our aunt... but why are you holding her like mom…and why does she look like… me?" Taiyang turned away from Yang.
"Dad?"
"Yang…"
"Who is she?"
"She's my sister Firecracker…" Yang looked to her uncle suspiciously.
"Why'd you say your sister instead of our aunt?" Qrow seemed to pause at the question.
"Why can't I see a resemblance between me and mom but instead with her… And why was everyone saying thing like her poor daughter at the funeral when she had two and a son? And most of all When they told us… You said why did the women you love always leave!" Tai looked away from his daughter.
"Why dad!" Jaune and Ruby looked to their sister who was clearly in pain.
"Tell me!"
"Yang… Summer was your mother… but she not the one who gave birth to you." The room seemed to go silent at the confession.
"What?..." Yang seemed utterly shocked at the words as she trembled.
"That woman… Raven, she's your birth mother…" Yang stood still for a moment before she bolted outside, Before Taiyang or Qrow could react Jaune chased his sister not even noticing how Ruby was wide eyed and utterly confused. After chasing his twin for what seemed like hours she finally stopped at that oh so familiar cliffside. Seeing his siter standing before their mother shaking as she glared at the tombstone.
"Why…" Yang clenched her fist.
"Why didn't you tell us?!" Jaune watched as his sister shook.
"Why didn't you tell me! Why'd you lie!" Yang fell to her knees before the tombstone clutching her chest as tears ran down her face,
"I wasn't you daughter!... You lied when said I was… Did you lie when you said you loved your children… or were you just talking about Ruby?"
"Tell me mo-… Summer…" Jaune hugged her from behind and Yang froze… he knew how she felt but at the same time he knew better.
"She was our mother Yang." Yang gritted her teeth in frustration.
"No she wasn-"
"Yes, she was!" Yang froze as Jaune yelled turning to his twin she saw his teary eyes and realized he was hurting just as much as her.
"She may not have had us, but she was 'our' mom too, she chose to be… because she wanted us, because she loved us! Just like she loved Ruby!" Yang could feel him tremble and realized it took everything for him to say that without breaking down like herself.
He really is the big brother. Even if only by a few second.
Yang hugged her trembling brother.
"I'm sorry, your right…" the two stayed like that for a while unaware that Qrow was watching them giving them their space… but also fearing what would've have happened if the picture Yang had found and only shown her alone and had learned that the boy she was with wasn't her brother.
Slowly the two made their way back to the house upon entering a scared Ruby ran up to them tackling them with tears in her eyes as she cried.
"Sis" Before Yang could finish she say how utterly terrified Ruby was.
"I-I thought… I thought you were going to vanish too, just like mom…" the two looked down to their little sister and hugged her promising the would never dare.
"Please don't leave me behind… I don't wanna be alone. Please…Please."
"We're not going anywhere okay sis." Yang hugged Ruby with more force.
"Yeah I promise okay Ruby… so please stop crying." Jaune kissed his little sister's head. The three stayed like that till they fell asleep.
-One Month Later-
Things had died down quite a bit, but every once in a while Yang and Jaune would ask about their mother, Tai and Qrow would reluctantly answer but always seemed to look away from Jaune for some reason. After one peculiar day when their father had left to teach and Qrow had passed out again Yang walked up to Jaune tapping his shoulder.
"What's wrong." To his surprise his sister was grinning before showing him the picture of dad and their mom. Pointing at the building behind them.
"You won't believe it, but I asked around about where Raven lives and some people said she stayed at a house in the woods."
"Really?" Yang smiled widened.
"Yep if we go there we can learn more about her." Jaune smiled before his expression dampened.
"But what if Dad and Qrow say no?"
"We won't ask them."
"What." Yang shrugged.
"They'll just say no, they never like talking about mo- Raven… So, they'll probably just its to dangerous… But we can just go right now while everyone's asleep." Jaune pondered that before looking at Ruby.
"But we can't just leave Ruby here she'll get scared."
"We'll just take her in the wagon that way she can come with us."
"I don't know it could be dangerous…" Yang pouted at her big brother.
"Stop being a scaredy cat."
"I'm not a scaredy cat!"
"Uh-huh."
"Na-ah." Both glared at each other before Jaune crossed his arms.
"I said no and since I'm the oldest that settles that." Yang didn't like that stomping off to her room with Ruby in the wagon. Jaune was pretty steamed too, he wasn't a scaredy cat how dare she. He decided to ignore her and sit there with his passed out uncle Qrow and watched TV. After his cartoon ended he decided to get her, so they could make lunch together and hopefully make up. Mom always said siblings shouldn't fight.
"Yang I'm sorry." Upon entering her room Jaune saw she wasn't there and neither was Ruby, a bit panicked he went to his and Qrow's room only to see she wasn't there either and then finally he checked dad's room and while he didn't find her he found something worse, an open door.
No…
Without thinking Jaune readied to run outside before stopping to think and turned around to his Uncle.
"Uncle Qrow! Uncle Qrow!" Slowing opening his eyes Qrow looked to Jaune curiously.
"What's wrong pipsqueak? You look like you've seen a Geist."
"Yang and Ruby are missing!"
"What!" Qrow shot up at that suddenly looking much more focused. Jaune clutched his head as tears begun to form.
"I'm sorry! I told her she couldn't go! I thought she was playing in her room!" Qrow quickly grabbed the boy's shoulders.
"Calm down Pipsqueak tell me what happened."
"Yang wanted to go in the woods, but I didn't I told her no and watched TV but when I went to find her she was gone." Jaune didn't mention Raven's house he was panicking after all so that detail was quickly forgotten.
"Okay Jaune I need you to stay here while I find her okay." Jaune nodded before anything else could be said Qrow rushed out grabbing the case with his weapon. Jaune looked waited for a minute before he realized something.
If Ruby's in a wagon they'll be trails!
Jaune didn't waste a second rushing outside to look, checking the ground and saw a faint tire trail in the leaves that you'd miss if you weren't looking for it. He looked around for his uncle to tell him but couldn't find him not noticing the Qrow in the distance.
"I have to help I'm their big brother!" Jaune begun to make way to the forest before he thought of something.
What if a monsters there?
Jaune quickly shook his head.
"No if a monsters there all the more reason! But I'll need a weapon." Jaune quickly ran in the house to look for one and thought of something.
My Little Knight…
Jaune rushed to the kitchen grabbing a pan top and one of the knifes dad and Qrow told him to never touch before rushing out.
"Hold on sisters' big brothers coming!"
-Abandoned Building-
Yang looked to the old building recognizing it from the picture even if it was a bit dilapidated. It had taken her awhile to get here since she had to tug along Ruby if she had left her with Jaune she probably could've made it in a fourth of the time.
This is it Raven might be here…
I said no and since I'm the oldest that settles that!
Yang shook her head feeling a bit guilty.
"It'll be fine once I find mom Jaune will be happy to, I'll just apologize then." She felt a bit bad for calling him a scaredy cat but it was true. Ruby may have been worse but her brother wasn't much better. She walked up to it and peeked inside.
"Hello… Raven… mom?" What greeted her wasn't the red eyes of her birth mother but the glowing hellish orbs of a Grimm. Seeing them Yang backed away terrified from the building three Beowolves emerged teeth snarling. Yang wanted to run but before she could she remembered something, that Ruby was here. Jaune was right she shouldn't have come but it was too late now.
"Yang!" Hearing the voice Yang turned to see her big brother rush forward in front of her, a knife and pot top in his had making him appear like some kind of bargain sale knight. But she didn't care all she could do was cling to his back.
"Are you okay?" Jaune asked concern in his eyes before he heard the snarl and looked before him seeing the grimm and freezing in place. The beasts felt his fear and where drawn to him, seeing them eyeing him Jaune froze before he felt his back becoming wet. Turning he saw a absolutely terrified Yang and sleeping Ruby.
If I leave or don't do anything they'll be hurt, no we'll be killed.
The largest of the Beowolves howled causing him and Yang to flinch and stirring Ruby from her sleep.
I'm scared! Yang was right!
I'm gonna be a hero just like the knight,
Jaune paused as he remembered what he told mom.
Jaune managed to look to his sisters seeing a terrified Ruby and Yang, seeing that he remembered his favorite story mom would tell him about the heroic knight.
Despite the numbers he fought, because he knew if he didn't the people he loved would be attacked.
Jaune turned back to the Beowolves his legs shaking.
Yang's right I'm a coward… I'm not brave. I'm no hero I'm not even a knight I'm just a scaredy cat.
That's wrong my little knight a hero is brave precisely because their scared but still fight.
In his heart he heard his moms voice and turned to the Grimm and clenched the knife tightly.
I'm scared but…
"Yang… take Ruby and run…" Yang looked to her brother wide eyed.
"What?... Jaune?" Before she could act he stepped forward and took a pose like the heroes on TV.
"I'll stop them… so… you two need to run." Yang watched as her brother shook in fear but stood his ground.
"No… Jaune? You can't…" The terrified boy looked to his two sisters a smile on his face despite the obvious fear and tears running down his cheeks.
"Yes I can, I'm the big brother remember…" Jaune eyes shifted back to the Grimm and focused.
"And you need to do what I say so listen to me now save Ruby and Run!" The Grimm roared making Yang and Ruby fall down, Ruby begun to cry in fear. But despite that their brother didn't falter but instead his shaking stopped, and he looked angry.
"Stop scaring my sisters!" The largest of the Beowolves decided to end it and rushed forward. Leaping at Yang whose fear baited it however before it could reach an odd prick hit it. looking down it saw Jaune stabbing a knife in its ribs, it swung the boy away ripping his clothes in the process.
"JAUNE!" Yang screamed out before once more going silent as the Grimm advanced. Yang covered Ruby with her body and readied herself, The Grimm rose its claw up.
Mom…
The Grimm let out another howl but not to scare them but of pain. Yang opened her eyes and saw Jaune stabbing the Beowolves back, barely piercing the skin.
Grow to be stronger then me and kinder then your mother…
As the words from a man Jaune couldn't remember radiated through his body he pushed all the strength his little body could manage into the knife making it dig deeper. The Beowulf roared out and readied to kill the boy striking him with its claw, but the hit never landed as its hand was cleaved off. Qrow landed enraged and tackled the Grimm into a tree plunging his sword deep in its chest. Turning around another Beowulf leapt at him blocking his view of the third.
Yang looked to her brother and hugged him alongside a panicked Ruby before a growl caught her ear. Turning the three saw the final Beowolves advancing towards them and leapt. Blood filled the air and the sounds of bones snapping rang in Yang's ears.
Jaune keep you sisters safe okay.
He wouldn't break his promise to mom, not ever. As the Beowulf advanced he pushed his sisters away to the ground before turning raising the pot top like a shield. The Beowulf snapped down its jaw, burying its fangs deep into the boy's shoulder and abdomen ignoring the makeshift shield entirely. He felt as his shoulder gave in to the pressure his bones snapping against the force of the Grimm's bite.
"NOOOO!" just as suddenly a bullet erupted from Qrow's weapon slamming into the body of the Grimm. However, it didn't stop the pain making it bite down harder before another bullet struck followed by another. Jaune felt the pressure slighten at that before a fourth bullet pierced its skull and it finally let go and faded. Jaune fell back into the ground his blood forming a thick pool. Turning he saw his sisters both wide eyed and terrified, but alive. He smiled to them.
"Jaune… Jaune!" Yang realizing what was happening rushed forward to her twin panicked alongside Ruby. She knelt by him ignoring the warmth of his blood, Ruby clung to him her eyes filled to the brim with tears and an expression like she was in a living nightmare.
"'pant' Yang… Ruby…You're okay? Thank god…" Both looked down to him seeing his little chest struggle to lift but in his eyes, there was no fear but joy.
"Why… Why!" Jaune looked to Yang who was flustered and more scared then when she saw the Grimm.
"Hehe 'cough' that's an easy one." Jaune rose his hands to Ruby and Yang struggling to pat their heads, Ruby who was clinging to him was easy even with a broken shoulder but Yang he could barely manage to touch her cheek.
"Because I'm… your… big… brot-." Jaune's hand fell coating her cheek and hair with blood.
"JAUNE!" Yang looked to him and saw his bright blue eyes begin to fade.
Yang, Ruby… don't cry… your safe now so you don't need to…
-?-
Jaune opened his eyes and found himself in a wide open field filled to the brim with the prettiest flowers.
"Where am I?" Jaune looked around for Yang and Ruby or even Uncle Qrow but could fine neither.
"Our little Knight." Jaune looked behind him and the sight brought tears to his eyes.
"Mom?" Standing there was Summer who smiled back at him with tears in her eyes.
"MOM!" Jaune ran to her hugging her tightly and her much the same. Summer patted his head and fell to her knees not letting him go.
"I missed you so much mom! We all did!" Jaune looked up to her she didn't speak but placed a hand on his face concern and guilt in her expression.
"What's wrong?" Jaune finally realized she was looking to his shoulder despite nothing being wrong with it. abruptly he remembered and looked back to her a smile on his face.
"I'm fine now." Jaune cheerily declared before a thought struck him.
"Mom did you see I was brave like a hero! See I kept my promise, even if it hurt a litt-." The woman embraced the boy he could feel her tears wetting his shoulder.
"Mom? What's wrong?"
"My little knight, I'm so sorry…" Jaune tilted his head at her words.
"Why are you apologizing… Oh is it because you were late… wait where are Yang and Ruby they'll be happy to see you. So will uncle Qrow and dad."
" …. "
"Huh?"
"Jau.e…Jaune…"
"Is that… Yang?"
"Firecracker move! Come on Pipsqueak! Don't give up! Dammit!"
"Jaune! Jaune! Please don't go!" Jaune looked around him but couldn't find his sisters or Qrow before Summer suddenly hugged him again. Jaune looked up to see her smiling tear-filled face.
"Not yet… my little knight." Summer's embrace tightened around him.
"Please work! Pipsqueak you better wake up! Dammit we can't lose anymore...For it is in passing that we achieve immortality." Jaune felt an odd phantom pressure on his chest. Jaune looked back to Summer.
"Mom I feel funny." Summer's body begun to glow before she begun to speak.
"Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all." Jaune started to feel weird, not bad just kinda… warm. Suddenly he felt a pair of hands touch the center of his back, turning he saw two strangers and yet they felt familiar… A gentle looking woman with long golden hair and bright blue eyes that shined like diamonds and a man that looked oddly like the knight mom talked about with a strong but honest impression and azure orbs that looked unshakable and hair that radiated like sunlight.
"Infinite in distance and unbound by death, we release your soul, and by our shoulder, protect thee." Jaune begun to feel himself fade he quickly tried to turn to his mom but found himself struggling to do so wanting to see the two before him.
"My little Knight." Summer's embrace tightened on him and soon he felt the other two hug him as well. He didn't know why but tears ran down his face.
"We love you, for now and forever."
-Abandoned Building-
Qrow gritted his teeth as he fed the entirety of his aura to Jaune not caring about anything else but saving the kid.
Come on you shitty gods! Just do this one thing for me! Haven't you taken enough!
Just as he felt the last of his aura fade he was surprised to find a surge of it seethe from the boy. He was alive.
"Pipsqueak!" Qrow faced the boy noting how his blood stopped flowing, Slowly the child opened his eyes to see him.
"Uncle Qrow?... What's wrong?" Qrow looked to the boy his entire body trembled as he saw the miracle before him.
"Pi…Jaune!" the old huntsman hugged the boy tightly tears running down his face, as he was thankful his semblance hadn't killed him like he feared it had Summer.
"Jaune…" Jaune turned his head to see his sisters looking to him with dazed expression.
"Hey…" Jaune's eyes closed as he passed out.
-Tai's House-
Opening his eyes Jaune saw the ceiling of Yang's room. Looking to his sides he found Yang and Ruby clinging to either side of him asleep with swelled eyes as if they had been crying.
"What happened?" As the words left his mouth a tray of hot towels fell to the floor, turning he saw Taiyang and Qrow looking to him wide eyed. The two rushed him Tai all but leaping to embrace his son.
"Thank god! Thank god!" Tears ran down the mans face as he hugged Jaune tightly. Finally noticing Ruby and Yang begun to stir upon waking and seeing their brother up they quickly followed their father and uncle hugging Jaune with all their strength. After a while the four finally stopped and a very overjoyed Tai went to get food. While Qrow left to clean the tray and wet towels.
"Jaune, Jaune, Jaune!" Ruby hugged her brother tightly tears in her eyes as she rubbed her face in his side. Jaune smiled down to her.
"What's wrong Ruby?"
"I thought you were leaving us… I thought you were going to mom!" Jaune patted the girls head and smiled to her.
"I can't do that I promised to not leave you behind remember." Ruby looked up to her brother who kissed her forehead. Ruby calmed but refused to let go.
"I'm sorry…" Hearing that Jaune turned to see a very upset Yang.
"I'm Sorry! I'm sorry! ''hic I'm so Sorry! 'hic'" Jaune saw as his twin begun to cry and hugged her.
"I'll listen 'hic' so please don't do that again. 'sniffle" Jaune's hug tightened.
"Thank god, you're okay."
"Why do you care if I'm okay! 'hic' Because I snuck away 'sniffle I got Ruby in danger! 'hic' and you got so hurt!" Jaune's hug tightened.
"Because you're my little sister just like Ruby. Besides it's my job to protect you both remember? Mom said so." Yang hugged her brother with all her might promising to be better and vowing to herself to never be powerless like this ever again.
