3. The New Nightmare
It started with a phonecall, ringing just past eleven. It went unanswered the first time. The scroll rang a second time, rousing the slumbering man in the bed. Jonah Arc struggled to reach his scroll. Slapping a hand on his side table till he felt it on his palm finally. He dragged it to his face, before answering the call groggily.
"Mmhello?"
"Jonah Arc? This is leutenant Donald, Vale Police. Do you remember?" Jonah's eyes snapped open with new awareness.
"Donald? We haven't talked-"
"-For six years. Listen, we found him, we found Jaune."
After the Lieutenant called they left home in under three minutes. The speed they dressed would put a certain Crow to shame. Waking up their oldest, they told her the minimum. Jaune has been found, watch your sisters. They got to the precinct in under 30 minutes.
Jonah Arc was stuck in an everlasting swirl of emotions. His wife Ellen was caught between elation and despair. Her blond hair was frazzled, her hands clammy and shacking. He rubbed her arm , doing his best to soothe his wife.
Their son went missing six years ago, he was five. He'll be eleven now, and nightmares only parents could fathom were flooding back. They remembered that day more than they could ever wish to remember.
The neighborhood had already been in an emotional uproar, Still recovering from the sudden death of The Arcs youngest daughter, Jaune's twin Tina. The Thompson's daughter had gone missing recently. She was only the latest at that time. Fear delved into hysteria as Nancy's body was found. A curious mailman found her just out of sight, Vicious cuts decorating her small body.
It was that particular day, that Jaune went missing, and a neighbor decided to skip town. He was a town Gardener, and he did fantastic work. His work was so good he was always around town, talking to the families. He had the trust of the community, it's love. It was to everyone's horror what was found in his house...
The Arcs and Thompsons moved shortly after. Last Jonah talked to Donald he was on the hunt for the bastard. Now he told them Jaune was alive, They had to see it to believe it. They were asked for DNA samples right off the bat. Now they were waiting in a hallway for SOMEBODY to bring them to their son. When Donald came out to them, little past midnight, Emotions were high.
"Where is he?" Jonah asked, commanded really.
"Jonah-" Donald started, It wasn't the answer Jonah was looking for.
"My son. Where is my SON!?"
"He's here, he's safe. Nothing happened to him. He got out of the fire-"
"FIRE!!?" The mother of seven wailed.
"Jonah goddammit listen!" Donald growled. "We got the bastard, we finally got him." He motioned for the two to follow him. "He was way out, close to Patch. We got a tip, he finally made a mistake. Tried to run, but we cornered him. He tried to burn the house down. Thankfully we got to Jaune before it all came down. He is unharmed."
"Did he... what did he do to Jaune?"
"Physically nothing, no sexual or physical abuse. No evidence at all, he seems well taken care of. I'm sorry for making you wait, we had DNA sample on hand, but I had to be absolutely sure it was him. His mental faculties are in check but you-"
"Is he in that room?"
"Yes, but Jonah wait-"
Jonah didn't Listen, he barged into the patient room. His eyes locked in on a blond boy, sitting on a bed, chatting up a nurse with that natural Arc charm. The boy turned, two pairs of blue eyes met. Jaune smiled at Jonah for the first time in six years. Ellen gasped behind Jonah.
It was Jaune, there was no mistake. Beside being a miniature version of Jonah, he had his mothers blonde hair, cut neatly at the ears. The man felt his feet move, and before he knew it he had his arms around Jaune. Ellen followed, wrapping her arms around the stunned boys waist, her ear pressing to feel his heartbeat. Jaune rubbed his mother's head comfortingly, not liking how sad she was.
"It will be alright." Jaune said.
"Jaune, dear gods, I thought we lost you." Ellen pulled back to look at him.
"It's okay son. We are here now, moms here, and dads here." Jonah said.
The boy didn't quite react, not the way they thought he would. His hands pressed against the man gently. Jonah looked at his son in confusion. Their son had the same look, and Ellen thought they looked so alike for a moment. Than Jaune spoke:
"You're not my dad."
6 years later, Beacon Academy
The night before Initiation
"I can't believe you left me behind today!" Ruby Rose wined to her older sister. Yang rolled her eyes in amusement.
"Rubes come on now. You are here now aren't you? You made it okay."
"No thanks to you, not five minutes after you ditched me some uppity girl started talking down on me, waving dust in my face. Than I sneezed-"
"Well did you say pardon-"
"-Than we blew up." Yang winced.
"Oh. Well you are clearly fine." Ruby has a sour look on her dace. Her day fluctuated between ups and downs.
"Yang someone already dislikes me here. You know I'm not good with people." Ruby fluffs her pillow "It was only luck I met-Jaune!"
"Jaune who?" Yang questioned as Ruby perked up immediately. Yang turned to see a gangly teenager. His hair red with blonde mixed in. He wasn't in his nightwear yet, lightweight leather armor wrapped around his chest. his right arm ended in a simple copper armored glove with bladed knuckles, a indent line went down each finger. The arm had a strange device on the forearm connecting the blades. Copper shinguards offered his legs protection. What stood out the most for her, was the sweater, red and green striped horizontally across the chest. The colors were just a shade darker than the standard colors, only a fashionista or Yang could notice such details. He had Baby blue eyes and an expression that was warm and friendly.
"Hey Rubes, setting camp?" He asks with a wave and a cheeky smile.
She didn't trust him. He carried a dangerous feeling around him. The kind you could feel right under the skin. Once she finished giving the grinner a look over, She spoke.
"Oh yeah? you are?" His eyes focused entirely on Yang's.
"Call me Jaune, short, sweet, rolls off the tongue." He gives a comfy smirk. The ladies love it, at least that is what Jonah said. Jonah said a lot of things.
"You befriended someone after all Rubes." 'And I dont trust him.' Yang could call it overbearing, but something was making her guarded. Not just Jaune per say, something 'around' Jaune. Maybe even something 'within' him.
"To be honest, he befriended me." Ruby
"Don't sell yourself short, well, any shorter." Jaune Gave a compliment, combined with a friendly diss.
"Hey!" Ruby pouted. It gave Jaune a shit eating grin. He made Ruby's face grow redder. Yang felt her temper rise at the too comfortable banter, the overly casual way he regarded them.
"You know I kid." Jaune laughed. "Although for real I jest. You wouldn't believe how rude people could be for just arriving here. Would you believe someone was there at the explosion, and she didn't even help your sister out?
Yang almost winced, okay maybe two bad experiences was enough. She was already regretting leaving her sister to her own devices, if Jaune was an indicator. She was worried about Ruby's friends being interested in her. Now Yang was worried about Ruby's friends being interested in Ruby.
"Well she made friends with you right? Wasn't all bad."
"Seriously though, she could have used a hand."
"Listen Holiday sweater, if I was that worried, I wouldn't let her have come with me. So keep the seasonal life advice to yourself, maybe mind your business yeah?"
"Yang!" Ruby hissed. Her sister was a playful extrovert, but she wasn't a bitch. Not that often anyway. Not to people she just met.
Jaunes face seemed to darken at her jab. His eyes became dead, as though all the warmth left his body. Just as fast he gave a cheerful smile and a clap of his hands.
"Ha! you got me there. I tell you what though, its warm even in winter. Made it myself."
"You can knit?" Ruby asked.
"Not just knit, full blown handyman and craftsman. Made my gear myself."
"Will you three quiet! Some of us want to pass initiation tomorrow." Weiss Schnee called from her spot. Both Jaune and Yang stared at her direction peeved.
"Well, looks like someone will be getting bedbugs." Yang said.
"You're right about that. Goodnight ruby. Yang." Jaune walks off. Ruby turned to Yang with a whisper.
"Yang what was that about? You are not usually so aggressive to people.."
"Tell Junior that."
"Who?"
"Nothing."
As ruby and Yang settled in, they don't see Jaune smile as he walks away.
"Sweet Dreams..."
Yang was cold. Her eyes opened to the ceiling of her home. She was laying on the living room couch, barren of any blankets. The light of day must have been greyed out by cloudy skies, as every color was dulled.
Yang stood upright in a very quiet house. Where was dad? Ruby? Zwei? She looked to the side of the house where the kitchen lay. The figure within froze her where she she stared.
'Mom?' Yang's mother stood in front of the kitchen sink. She was weaponless, her back facing Yang. Yang moved slowly, not believing it, but hoping to relish the moment. As she came ever closer. Her hand reached out.
"Mom? i've missed you so- " The woman disappeared suddenly, like she was never there, as a throaty chuckle echoed. Yang clenched her hands tightly, failing to contain rage. She smashed a fist through the kitchen table. The kitchen darkened as night overtook the homestead.
"Mama where are you." Yang's head snapped up at the sound of her own voice coming from outside. She looked out the window to see herself, so much younger. She pulled the cart behind her carrying little Ruby. Both heading straight to a forest made of death.
Yang threw herself into a run. The door busted open as Yang rushed outside the house. She Immediately followed the old trail outside where She saw little Yang and Ruby. Bolting into the Forests of Patch outside Human controlled territory, She followed her old trek with perfect memory.
Little Yang was calling out again. Yang followed the noise all the way to the source. To her surprise there was no sign of the children. She felt alone, in a place she was all to familiar with. The trees around here seem to enlarge and expand ever so slightly.
"A little girl who ran from home, trying to find the home that left. It was her choice after all." The voice is condescending, Raspy. The end of each sentence seems to have a sound like metal dragging.
Yang looked down to see her weapons missing, her body small again and dressed as she was that day.
"Who's out there, go away!"
"What are you going to do when your sister dies following your fairy tale?"
"Fuck off!" Yang roared as hard as her little lungs could.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Its hearing Ruby's whine that snaps her head away from the voice. She runs toward the infant cries to come across a small clearing of grass. On the other side an infant cradle lies, the cries emitting from it. Perched atop the cradle is a raven. It's head watches her sideways, one eye focused on her, pale blue and bloodshot.
She crosses the clearing, the sound of unknown predators rising in volume. The closure she gets, the more noisy they become. As she reaches the cradle the baby is still crying, hidden by cloth.
She looks up, and her mother is just beyond the treeline. Her mask glows red against the encroaching dark. Her hand rests on the sword, like the old picture of her dads team she had seen several times before. She seems to just watch her, the cradle raven doing the same. The raven itself seemed to be smiling, if birds can do such a thing, Yang didn't. She reaches for the cloth and peels it off. It makes a sick, wet sound as she pulls it back. She wants to throw up.
It's burnt and black, the body already looking like it was picked through by animals. Black feathers litter around the 'thing', nesting it like a dark halo. The limbs are teared off unevenly, like a pack fought over scraps. But it is the eyes. The dead, silver, eyes that look up at the sky. That is what breaks her composure, if she had any left. The cries return, but this time it emits from the raven, who appears to be laughing at the sight, instead of the baby like cries it emits. Yang screams at the bird.
"Yang." All sound stops. The predators in the forest, the 'crying' raven. Even the trees and her own breath seem muted. She looks down at the baby corpse below. It is unchanged. Yet it says:
"I can't believe you left me."
The small torso shakes, before an arm bursts out, coated in a blackish tar. It wraps its long metallic fingers around Yang's head, knife like claws digging into her scalp. The palm tastes like burnt skin and ash. Yang needs to scream.
She can't breathe.
Blake's senses picked up the whimpers from across the room. She didn't pick up everything because someone had a bad dream. It often took a very bad dream, especially one this far, to gain her attention.
When sleep didn't return, she rose to get a drink. She hoped some water would help her. She considered waking the shaking blonde as she past, ultimately felt it was better to let her work through it. They were going to be Huntsmen, they can handle a few bad dreams.
As she walked, red seemed to bleed through the wide glass panes of Beacons halls. She read once that this phenomena would occur because of forever falls forest. Something about orbital alignment...it was too early to fixate on. For a moment she heard the tapping of shoes, very familiar shoes. Her hair raised for a moment, wondering if Adam found her already. The sound than quieted as the footsteps moved away, and she shook herself out of it. She grabbed a disposable cup and filled it with cool water.
It was a few minutes later, that she was regarding herself in the bathroom mirror. She wondered if she could truly move on here, or if the white fang would shadow her every moment of her life. It would be one thing for her to forget, but would he? Her mentor, her friend, her...
The thought of him made her teary. She could see in the reflection her expression. It was the same as that day, in Forever Falls. When she severed the train cars connection, and watched as her past disappeared from her view. She left the bathroom feeling worse than when she entered. If someone she trusted was here, she might have told him that she missed him. She might even admit that she wanted to see him again.
"So this is where you have been." She froze on a step. Her blood ran cold and her heart was beating faster. His mask seemed to glow in the shadow, yet as he stepped into the light he seemed to absorb the red light around him.
Adam Taurus found her. He is in Beacon, and he found her.
"You know, I am disappointed. I thought, 'Maybe Blake just needs more time'. I thought, that you would come back. Instead you are going to school." He chuckles at it, but Blake knows its a forced action. The red pattern on his mask seems to pulse with life. His face looks off to the glass outside, but she knows his attention is on her.
"Adam, how did you.. why?" how did you get in, she wanted to ask, she should have asked. Yet instead, she ends with 'why'.
She knows damn well why. Adam tilts his head towards her.
"I missed you." He said. She didn't expect that to be said first, in such a way. Of all the things as well. She told herself to be stronger than this, yet he broke through her barriers, her built up walls the moment he showed up. Her tears were flowing openly.
"Adam, I... I just couldn't. We changed, you changed." He was close to her suddenly. The proximity shocking her into silence. She could smell him again, like morning grass, but the grass was burning.
"I didn't change at all. Matter of fact: You never wore your bow to bed" He said, the air around him was hot. It made a sweat drop from her face down her chest. A rumbling sound went off in the distance. Adam ignored it.
"You changed Blake. Instead of fighting for your brethren, You would train to suppress them? Alongside a Schnee no less."
A sudden burst colored the hall orange for a brief moment. Blake looked outward to see an orange glow rising from afar. Even if she didn't spot the smoke, Blake knew a fire, no, an explosion when she saw it.
"Looks like Ilia and the boys are done with the transports." Adam says indifferently.
"Adam, what have you done?!" Blake exclaims horrified.
"Nothing, compared to what I have planned for you." He says.
Adam starts moving towards her as Blake backpedals toward the bathroom. She can hear the screams and yells come closer as White Fang swarm the school. She's barely in the bathroom door before Adam drives a palm into her stomach. Blake is sent into the wall. Adam uses his foot to casually shut the door, sealing them both in. The screams from Beacon were smothered only slightly.
"Don't worry darling, the faunus will have a chance to come to our side. Everyone else, well, that really is your fault isn't it?"
"Adam please stop, they didn't ask for this." Blake begged. In an instant Adam pressed against her, snarling like a rabid dog. Pinning Blake between him and the bathroom counter, his touch felt like fire. She looked away from him and to her shock he dragged his tongue from her chest to her exposed neck. His breath was smoky as he snarled out a humourless chuckle.
"Didn't ask for this? Didn't ask for this?! Did I ask for this Blake, did any of us really ask for this?!" His right hand held her adjacent arm in a grip. His fingers dug in like they were knives.
"To be used like slave labor?! to have to kill to get our respect?! We didn't ask for this war, they wanted it. We didn't ask for Schnee to brand us, or did you forget." His left hand reaches up and pulls his mask off. Blake is still looking away. "look at me Blake, look at me Bitch."
She looks back at him. The seared imprint of the SDC logo glares back at her. His damaged eye drips blood like tears. His expression furious.
"Did I ask for them to brand me Blake?" The SDC logo glows alight, as though it was freshly made.
"I was starving, worked in the mines like a slave!" The damaged skin around the brand spreads like a cancer. It crawls down his neck under his clothes.
"They made me an example. Did. I. Ask?" Damaged skin consumed half of his face, smoke began to emit from his mouth openly like an exhaust.
"I am going to burn mankind's foundation down. You are too weak alone. The Schnee girl is going to be made an example, and so will you!"
He lets go of her arm. She feels the shredded skin bleed, but has little time to ponder. As Adam let go of her, he drew Wilt, the burning metal slashed straight across her neck. She felt heat, and then weightless for a moment as she fell. Her head hit the sink with a thud. Her body followed.
Ruby felt oddly tight waking up. She was having the most arousing dream of Cookies and hot chocolate. She opened her eyes to a blonde curtain. Yang's breathe was breezing off the top of Ruby's head, tickling her hairs forward and back. Look who is so clingy after a single night.
Yang did this on and off, but the last time was a while back. She was also holding her tighter than usual. The arms held her in a gentle yet almost vice grip around her torso. The back of Ruby's head was pressed against Yang's dirty pillows. Like a teddy to a child, or Zwei to a Ruby, more often than not.
Ruby loved it when Yang was affectionate, but it was morning. People were waking up, It was initiation after all- Oh gosh. Initiation, Yang needs to wake up now. First Ruby had to work up her voice.
"Yang, wakey wakey its morning." Yang let go a second after. Ruby took the opportunity to rise and stretch. Looking down, she expected a snoring Yang, not a Yang who seemed quite frazzled.
"You are okay." Her older sister said. Ruby. just gave a thoughtful frown to her sister before smiling.
"Of course I am, I've done sleepovers Yang." Ruby says. Yang's violet eyes look at her, her bangs making her face unreadable. Her hand reaches up to Ruby, Pushing black-red hair behind an ear before resting on her little sister's face. Ruby reddens at the display. "Come on Yang, we gotta get up for initiation."
"That's right, lets go." Yang releases her sister. The pair get up and head to the bathroom to freshen up a bit. As they brush their teeth, Blake enters the Bathroom. Ruby notices the girls pained...almost panicked expression. She rubs her arm like with an almost addict-like fervancy. She releases a small cough, Ruby is almost worried the girl is sick. Than she notices the marks around her neck. She almost Gasps before looking away, regaining her composure. Deciding to talk to Yang about it later, The Girl resume their morning routine, before they got together for initiation.
Yang claimed the day before today, she was going to let Ruby handle things herself. Letting the chick fly the coop, so to speak. She was doing the exact, and I mean, the exact opposite in present time. The Headmaster laid the rules down, eye contact with another makes you partners for four years. Four years.
It wasn't going to happen, because Yang wasn't leaving it to chance. The idea of Ruby being separate from her right now, and the idea of her being with a stranger for four years. Or worse, with Jaune, oh hell no.
Yang's eyes followed Ruby the entire time, keeping mindful of others and their position. Yang, the brawler among them, quite possibly had the most dead set replication of a huntsmen mindset. Aside from a few of course. When they launched, Yang shadowed Ruby's trajectory. Using her gauntlets to keep herself airborne, she ended up sending a one into another, white and black smash into each other.
She landed in a roll, Before quickly uncurling into a run.
It was a short amount of time before she reunited with Ruby. Well, she collided, on purpose actually. Running through Emerald forest she caught sight of Ruby and pounced without a second thought. Pretending her tackle was an accident she flipped her sister over to look in her eyes. No one else in the area yet. Partners, mission accomplished. Ruby groaned under her.
"Ruby, you okay?" She barely kept her expression collected. Inside she felt absolutely accomplished.
"Peachy, a mountain lioness tackled me. Can I get up?" Ruby dusts off her leggings once she gets up. Looking around She asks Yang. "Have you seen anyone else?"
"Nope, ran into you first, by accident." Yang did just mean to find her first, after all. Not tackle her into the forest floor. The sisters decided to move along to find the so called relics. It was the slicing of leaves that caught their attention later. The girl drew their weapons, ready to fight.
A gauntlet with finger knives diced through. Jaune combed through before stopping in a huff. Spotting the sisters he gave a friendly wave as Ruby rushed over. Ruby spotted two new faces behind Jaune. A bubbly pink clad redhead and a quiet dark haired boy in green.
"Ruby nice to see you! Have you or your sister seen any Ursa around? Nora was telling me about this neat trick-"
"I haven't seen much yet. But me and Yang are partnered up now. Yang, Jaune made it too!" The girl was focused on Jaunes hand. The finger blades were long knives attached to a glove. A blade for each finger, the design was simple yet menacing. Yang spoke up at Ruby's comment.
"Yeah hurray." Jaune noticed her gaze and shifted his fingers in a precise motion. The knives retracted, sliding backwards over the knuckles, returning it to the bladed knuckles like appearance from before. Yang could only see the retracted claw rest over his hand. The blades feeling familiar, drawing an ill feeling from her. He noticed, and only had a friendly smile to offer her, and that irritated her to no end.
"Lets work together, we can find you a partner Jaune." Ruby said, condemning Yang to a whole day of hanging out with Jaune. But she could deal with that another day. These forests had Grimm, and they had to watch out. They headed out keeping an ear open between small talk.
If she was going after her mom one day, she will make sure Ruby was ready. If she wanted to follow when that day comes she could. If she didn't...that was fine, she would still be ready. If it came down between Ruby and her mom... she'd pick Ruby.
Everytime.
It was a roar from a nearby cave that grabbed their attention. The Huntsman-in training mobilized.
Weiss was not sure how she came to be in this situation. Holding this girl when she should be out finding a relic. But they were partners now. But that may not last.
The stupid Blonde threw her off course as she narrowly dodged the twit bouldering through the air. She had to prioritize quickly 'how' she was landing and not 'where' she was landing.
She felt herself collide with another as she made it into the treeline. She shook off the landing and looked where the other crashed. Her plan was to find Pyrrha, and unfortunately that was completely derailed. Now she was most likely to partner with this person. It was not ideal at all, she wanted to be sure that the other person was okay. It would not sit well on the her as a huntress.
The dark haired girl was laid out on her back. Weiss made her way to the girl and put a hand on her neck. Noticing she was breathing fine, she carefully shook the girl to get her attention. Why was there bruising around her neck?
"Hey, are you okay?" Eyelids fluttered as Gold met Ice blue. Never before had Weiss seen someone self destruct so fast. The girl propelled herself from Weiss in a gasped horror.
"Nonono, god. why. nononono-" The girl was caught between whimpering and screaming. "WHY BROTHER GOD, why a SCHNEE."
"Hey look calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. Why are you even-" It was than that she realized the bow on her head was loose, and revealing a cat ear.
In a single moment everything became clear to Weiss the girls reaction. Her family, it had a legacy, it carried fame... and infamy. No shortage of the infamy come from her fathers business practices. Weiss and her sister worked harder to be more than their names. This girl, a faunus, is now her partner for four years.
She suddenly remembered the girl from yesterday. She was calm than, now? Poor girl was having a break down. She pulled the crying faunus in close, and just let her cry.
How the hell could she get out of this?
"Pyrrha, nice move seeing you bring that cave ceiling down on the Deathstalker."
"It wasn't that big a deal. Really." Pyrrha blushed At the reddish blonde scouting beside her up front. Ren and Nora kept up behind the two, while Ruby and Yang covered the rear.
Just a moment ago they were running from an ancient Deathstalker. It had Pyrrha pinned in the cave, Jaune and the others quickly located her and distracted the old beast, allowing her escape. Pyrrha covered their exit. She brought the cave ceiling down on her way out right behind the others.
The Deathstalker may only be buried alive, but it was buried too deeply underground to worry about. It would need to dig itself out, which would take far longer than they would be out there.
"I really like your sweater Jaune." Pyrrha brought it up awkwardly.
"Thank you! It's something I cherish."
"He made it himself!" Ruby interjected. "He made his other gear too."
"If it's okay to ask, why a sweater, and not armor of some kind?" A warm look adorned his face. A smile that spoke of a fond memory.
"Truth be told, It was a gift for my dad." A slight grimace marred his smile. "Now I wear it for him."
It was an all too common reality. Huntsman, more often than not, carried on legacies for those no longer present. It made Jaune all the relatable for most.
Yang, who's emotions were already on a downward path, took a straight dive into both empathy and guilt. She insulted a boy's dead parent. She might as well be a bully that would insult Ruby for wearing her red hood. A gift from her-their mother. Jaune, however, did not skip a beat as he redirected the conversation.
"So you are a champion from Mistral, was it?" Jaune asked, megawatt smile in full force. The Spartan responded graciously as she could.
."Y-yeah."
"That's pretty cool. I learned through some arena fighting myself. Nothing big league though."
"You seem pretty capable, you learn from your family?"
"Not exactly, family didn't have a huntsman for generations. All they had was an antique blade. Father really wasn't keen on it either. However I did learn how to make and modify equipment from my dad. Hence, the retractable gardening tool on my hand. Fighting I learned from alternate methods, not unlike the primary combat schools." Jaune turned his head toward the not-together together pair behind them: The bubbly redhead and the stoic young man.
"What about you two. Trained by family, mentors?" Ren's eyes seemed to strain at the word family, Nora's own smile dimming just a tad.
"Nora and I have trained since we were very young."
"We go faaar back." Norah interjects. "We are gonna go on grand adventures to faraway lands. And i'll rescue princesses, or Ren, from a castle. Than, I will become Queen of my castle."
"What's you're goal once you become a huntsman Jaune?" Ren inquired, hoping to derail Nora's train of thought.
"I am probably going to head to far settlements. Try to retake what we've lost, Shion or Kuroyuri." That caused another hitch in the conversation. Before anyone had time to properly respond, a Nevermore scream echoed. The sound of others fighting drew Jaune to action.
"Come on Huntsman. Lets mobilize."
"Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, Ruby Rose. You are now Team Songbird(SBYR), led by Weiss Schnee."
She couldn't believe it. She was actually made leader. Weiss exhaled as it was announced. She didn't feel like she even did much. Once Blake regained her composure the two had a dreadfully quiet walk. They had made it to the temple before hearing the boom, an explosion in the mountain.
The explosion set off an ancient Nevermore, of enormous size. It's wingspan so massive it could smack down bullheads. It headed straight for the temple they were in. That is when Jaune and the others located the temple, as the nevermore came in hot. Jaune delegated Ruby and Yang over to her, and the rest came naturally. They defeated the Nevermore of course, though it cost them the temple. The Valkyrie of course had taken all the relics by complete accident. She found them during the fight and wanted them. Jaune called them neat...neat.
"-Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, Lie Ren. You are now Team Juniper(JNPR). Led by Jaune-"
She just had to deal with her team. Her team, made up of a doofus, a blonde battering ram, and a faunus. It wouldn't be Ruby and Yang being the problem. She was certain she could handle that pair.
Blake, her 'partner', on the other hand, was probably going to be the issue. The problem wasn't race, Not to Weiss actually. It was Weiss's family name, and what that name meant to faunus. The name Blake screamed in horror. The name other Faunus scream, because of her father. The name that will make her keep an eye open tonight. She knows who her family is, and She knows what they've done. Four years, with a Faunus that hates her family. Fuck.
She made her way over to her new teammates. The sisters were talking to Jaune. She could hear Yang making an apology, something about sweaters.
'Man what a day'. Jaune laid on his bed after a fresh wash. The newly christened Team Juniper walked "home" together in tandem. He had fun with everybody, in spite of the dangers. Weiss and her group did good working together for the first time. They disappeared earlier after the ceremony. Probably crashed early if anything.
"Today was so fun, I can't wait till tomorrow fearless leader!" Nora was still giddy about the nevermore takedown.
"Absolutely, you guys were great today." Jaune praised. Nora slid under her covers and shut off her light... before turning it back on. She looked at Jaune.
"Jaune?" Nora asked
"Yes Nora?" Jaune responded.
"Did you mean what you said earlier? About the outer settlements? Do you really wanna take them back?" Jaune had but a thoughtful moment, before answering, Without pause.
"Yep, me and dad traveled around the settlements in between kingdoms. It can be harsh out there. They need all the help they can get, and I wanna help."
"Hmm, thanks Jaune. Good to know. Gnight!" With that being said the Queen of the castle pulled the covers over and conked out immediately. Then when she believed Jaune couldn't hear her she slowly evened her breathing out, thoughts lulling her to slumber. Ren and Pyrrha bid him goodnight as well. Ren, unlike Nora, actually fell to slumber immediately. Pyrrha was settling and followed suit. The lights went out one by one, until Juniper rests in darkness.
Within the black of the room, Jaune entered a calm focus. Tonight was not a night for crafting. He would not be needed for such. He noticed their reactions earlier in the forest, when he mentioned outer settlements. Nora's skip slipped just a tad, but it did. Ren's breathing quieting suddenly. Small things, not too much to go on, but Jaune was taught these things.
Their bond is special. The Dreamscape they share is linked, by what, he will find out. Tonight that will do in Jaune's favor. They might have good dreams, they might have bad. But it might tell Jaune what he needs to know.
He is not going to worry about Pyrrha. He got her pegged down the moment he met her. A lonely girl who wants a friend, Jaune can be a friend. So can Ren and Nora. he'll worry about the details later, but tonight its about Ren and Nora.
Jaune enters the Dreamscape in a moment. Like breathing. Literally a breathe and he was there. It was definitely a memory, something both of them shared. He felt them both here. He smelled blood and smoke. Screams and cries were mixed together in a chorus of agony.
Village...Grimm.
It already makes sense. He has his gear equipped as he looks around. People are screaming, dying. Sky Demons are snatching people off the streets as Beowolves break into homes. Smoke and fire are spreading. Jaune gets himself moving. None of these people mattered, only two did.
Lie Ren hid under the house structure with the girl, Nora, trying to become as small as possible. Both tried to stay calm as the Grimm were killing everyone. They tore apart homes doing whatever they could, reaching whoever they could. They killed Mother, that thing killed Father. If the Grimm found them under the house, they were dead.
Screams lessened as the sound of horse trotting gained Ren's attention. He held the girl close, hoping his power would work. His eyes followed the abominations feet as it drags a long arm across the village floor. The thing that killed his mother, his father, it's here, hunting. It stops suddenly, as Ren realizes his semblance is no longer activated.
Panic returns as a deformed stretched limb swings into the house. The Abominations fingers grab ahold of The house, and begin to slowly lift it off its foundation. Nora is screaming and Ren can only watch in returning terror. As he started to see the demented horse head, the Nuckelavee paused in its motion. It's horse head tilted up a bit, and Ren's eyes suddenly lock on to a pair of legs walking around the house perimeter. Slate grey pants covered by Copper shinguards. He couldn't see the man's face, or most of his torso. What he did spot was the copper armored glove, 4 blades adorning the knuckles.
"So this is what haunts them. You have held domain here for a while... Haven't you done enough to them?" A man's voice, so familiar. The Nuckelavee was paused in its motion, still having the house partially lifted. It almost seemed..confused by the man, as though he wasn't suppose to be here.
"You don't get to hurt them anymore." The voice speaks in absolute. The four blades on the mans knuckles slide down, one for each finger, all at once. Ren hears the blades lock in as the Grimm Releases it's horrifying screech.
It drops the house as it charges the man. Ren forces Nora and himself to the floor as low as possible. They can only see the legs of the figure move for a brief moment before they clash. Man and Grimm disappear from sight. The noise is thunderous throughout the battle, as Ren can only hear the sounds of his Village as it is decimated by the fight.
Suddenly the village is quiet again. Quiet footsteps move in Ren and Nora's direction. The steps grow louder until they see a returning pair of legs. They stop right at the edge of the house, a clawed glove slips under the house. The figure crouches down, to look at the frightened children.
"Its okay guys, I'm here." Jaune says to Ren. He looks at Nora, moving his arm in a 'come hither' motion. "It's just a bad dream, its done now."
Jaune steps away from the underside for a moment. Ren wasn't sure about this, but Jaune seemed nice.
'How do I know his name?'
Ren and Nora slowly crawled out from the underside. Each second was tingling with anxiety for the Nuckelavee to return. For Jaune to suddenly be gone. When they came up, Jaune stood there waiting for them. The air was dead, but peaceful, and the sun was peaking over the treeline. Jaune sank to his knees., and spread his arms toward them.
Nora broke first, Running into her saviour's arms. Ren was more hesitant, cautious in his approach. Yet Jaune simply pulled the boy in once he was close enough. Jaune's sweater was comfy, and smelled a bit like smoke, but not unpleasantly. Nora had her face buried in his chest, the smell must remind her of home. Jaune lifts the two up to his chest, and Ren looks over Jaune's shoulder as he walks toward the village exit. The sunlight bathes the village in light and warmth.
"Everything will be okay." Ren looks over Jaun's shoulder. The images is a first for him.
The Nuckelavee was laying atop some house rubble. It's flesh was flayed open and part. Chunks of body were completely missing. The horse legs were diced. The 'man's arms removed from the torso, laid haphazardly away from the corpse.
"You are all my children now."
Jaune awoke the next morning feeling satisfied. He felt closer to his new teammates than ever before. He was there to peak at their souls when laid bare. They could be trusted, he could trust them. They were good people, loyal people.
He was making breakfast As Ren awoke. Immediately he looked at his Team leader, who was making fresh pancakes in the kitchen section. Jaune turned to him, giving him a warm smile. It was disturbingly similar in the dream, exact, he was afraid to admit. Jaune gave him a trusting look, and turned around.
He was grabbing plates as Ren rose from bed. He took a seat at the table, he watched Jaune intently.
"Jaune?"
"Hey Ren." Jaune poured himself orange juice.
"Can I trust you?...Can we trust you?" He paused in setting breakfast, looking at Ren.
"Of course Ren, I'd kill for you." He spoke without hesitation.
"You say it, do you mean it? One can dream it, but what of the real world?"
"They made us a team, that makes us all bonded, brothers in arms." Jaune kept his eyes to Ren the whole time.
"Reality is the true test, you know this. It may not be so easy in the long run."
"Ren, I know we are just starting started, but I think that we can be so much more with time. I...don't have much in this world. The people I care for are mostly dead. This is a real opportunity for family."
It was a long minute. Ren than called to Nora, who was pretending to be asleep.
"Nora, get up. Pancakes." Nora jumped out of bed at that, and Jaune had to laugh.
Jaune understood Ren's doubts. He hopes they will trust him enough to tell him themselves what happened. It was just a dream. There was a real fight to be had with the horse freak. They'll kill it together, and it will be glorious.
Several weeks later
"Are you kidding me? She broke the lock again? tst tst. Naughty girl." Jaune leans over the lunch table to Nora. "You gotta stop that, the team needs to be in tip top shape, I can't have you crashing before team exercise."
"But Jaune-Jaunnne." Nora pouted. Jaune kept the sweets locked up after learning the limit(or lack of) of her metabolism early on. It worked, partially, usually Nora made it a week. Ren was optimistic, he gave her eleven minutes. To be fair, that was the first time. She has done a lot better since.
"No buts. especially no butts but mine or Ren's." Jaune says with a smirk. Seeing Nora get all red cheeked. They love each other, even if they don't realize it. His dad would say it was sickeningly cute. Very few people intertwine in dreams on the level they did. It took... it took something, dad was always a bit of a bastard explaining it. Sometimes you don't even know the person, it's how you met! Jaune's inner thoughts were flushed with the sound of prey crying for help:
"Ow stop that!"
"They are real after all!"
Jaune rolled his head in Team CRDL's direction. They were surrounding a meek looking student, a Girl with chocolate curtains of hair. She was slim built, and her eyes told if pain and frustration. Jaune let out a sigh.
"Fuckin CRDL. At it again." He stated bluntly. They were clear cut bullies, the last kind of people you want protecting you. They were amusing at first, Jaune had to admit. He snickered and laughed at some of their 'jokes'. That itself earned him a glare from yang, and some others on occasion. But even now, he was not sure what was more annoying. Warrior's in training playing middle school bully, or the fact the rest of these 'warriors' just take it. Like this cute little rabbit. His eyes watched the scene unfold, an inquisitive look adorning his face.
"Who is the first year? I haven't seen her in any classes." Jaune asks.
"That is Velvet Scarlatina, a second year." It is Yang who answers. She got her groove back pretty recently. It was much better than how she started the year. She did seem to cling to her sister some nights, From what Ruby would tell him.
"Second yea-wait." He turned back to his table, eyes meeting. "She is a second year?" Jaune looked very agitated suddenly. As he watched the scene. He looked as though someone just called his mother a slur. Yang was the first to address this.
"First time I've seen you so peeved for a while"
"A second year. She should be curb stomping them!" Jaune seethed. He looked back at her. 'Do something! Kung fu this bitch!
'"They will just move on to someone else. probably another Faunus." Blake interjected, her eyes slightly sunken, her cat ears twitched openly. Poor girl hasn't quite recovered from her experience either.
"And that makes it okay?" Jaune looked her in the eyes. His piercing gaze made Blake shrink.
"One, this reflects poorly on all of us, its a goddamn disgrace. Two, If they move unto another, they better stand up for themselves, Faunus or no. That's just bull" Jaune stood grabbing his tray. "Three, frankly this just pisses me off, if she won't do anything about it I will."
Resolution in his eyes, He dumps the one or two contents left into a nearby bin. He was beelining towards CRDL. Yang and Nora watched with unhidden anticipation, as everyone else dreaded what was coming.
"Hey Cardin." Cardin turned to feel the lunch tray smack him straight across. The force knocking him out cold. Jaune turned to the Remaining teammates.
"Take him to the nurse, before I make your fuckin faces pretty too." Jaune spoke with a chilling rasp to his voice. He turns sharply to Velvet as she tenderly touches her rabbit ears. Without another word he grabs Velvet's wrist in a gentle but firm grip. He pulls her out of the cafeteria, who's occupants were not sure if a kidnapping just occured. Yang failed to contain laughter at the humiliated Team CRDL as Nora, looking down at Cardin, said loudly, to everyone.
"Jaune-Jaune broke the guys nose!"
It is three long hallways and an abandoned classroom we find Jaune and Velvet. Jaune has her back against the wall. His right hand pressed against the wall beside her face. They were paused there for a moment. Just looking at each other. She wasn't sure what to expect. Neither did he, as he found the words to say. though his dads advice for women came to mind
'Wanna suck face?...Dammit dad, those are terrible pick up lines for girls'
"What is your deal?" He actually asks."You are a second year, you should of had your foot up his ass. Hell why haven't you trounced me yet? I dragged you along for about three minutes. How long have you 'dealt' with this? And I don't just mean Cardin." He was exasperated. The girl was meek, yet she had the nerve to looked more upset at him. Him, for god's sake.
"It wouldn't have stopped anything. If its not them its someone else. If its not me it will be someone else." That wasn't a good answer. No no no, that will not do for Jaune. He Narrowed his eyes at her.
"Don't give me that, everyone here has to stand on their own two feet. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here to train to fight monsters. You are a huntress, not a civilian, act like it."
She glares at him now. Those chocolate pools are now steaming hot chocolate. 'Get feisty with me. I don't mind.' He thought.'rut like animals, shall we?'
"I won't drop to their level." He stepped closer to her.
"And what if they drop even further? What is your limit? How far do they get to play with your body. Yank you by your ears, your hair, your arms next?" Velvet felt anger pulse." Does your team watch? or do they even bother?" The prey bares her fangs.
"How dare you... don't speak about my team Like that. it's my problem. Not theirs." Velvet told them so. They offered, right away, well Coco said so first, Fox seemed ready to go and Yatanushi would follow simply if his team was going. He would protect them, Teams stick together. Which is why they trusted her to handle it.
"Nice way of handling it. I know you can fight, abstaining is setting a poor example, for you, me, everyone." He gave her a look. "If you don't handle it for good, I will." She was Feeling the urge to strangle him, for making this situation more than it needs to be.
"So what, you are just going to beat them up whenever they bully a student?"
"No." He said "Everyone else is on their own. They can take care of themselves."I am not playing nanny' His expression is softer now, than it was moments ago.
"If they go after you again I will have Nora break their legs, or worse." His left hand is caressing her chin now. "Because I cannot and will not tolerate a bunch of dogs terrorizing a pretty rabbit."
His left hand rests on her reddening cheek as he says this. He moves fast, resting his lips to her lips, and then her forehead. His pace was steady and patient. Like a man parting his wife goodbye, before heading work.. He hold his place there for a moment,
Suddenly he removes himself from her, quick and casually, leaving her in the barren classroom. She stared at window stunned. The hot anger washed away to hot eared confusion.
Jaune, of course, was in trouble. After leaving Velvet he went to class and sat down like nothing was wrong. five minutes into Port's tall tale was when Glynda came to retrieve him. He played nice and cooperated with the teacher. The walk was quiet to Ozpin's office.
A shame, he liked Mr. Port's stories. The man had a quality of storytelling, once you got over the fact he was talking about and to himself most of the time. When you saw the tall tales for the lessons they taught, he was amazed others didn't catch on.
But he had to face the consequences. Whatever form they took. He did smash a tray into another students face, after all. Everyone saw, everyone heard. Of course there was also whatever happened to his Rabbit after their talk. He was sure she was fine, maybe stunned at his confession. He was still contemplating it himself.
The elevator ride was quiet as well. Goodwitch seemed to appreciate the peace. He was tempted to ask her if she liked Jazz, just to see how she would react. She had the perfect naughty teacher look. She took it so seriously, He wondered if she would dish out corporeal punishment. He wouldn't mind. Say what you want, crops are kinky. She had to be self aware. He wandered if her and Ozpin-
The elevator opened, unveiling The wide spacious office. Ozpin did not betray his neutral expression.
"Hello Jaune, how are you today?
"I am doing alright sir."Jaune greets casually. Fuzzy bunny ears in the back of his mind. "What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping we could talk about what occured today at Lunch. You hit Mr. Winchester across the face with a tray?"
"Yes sir, knocked him out cold." Childs play really.
"May I ask why you did it? It sounded like the incident didn't involve you." Jaune decided to Answer honestly and directly. Rip the band-aid off, so to speak.
"Sir, I involved myself sir. Team Cardinal was acting unacceptably. Velvet Scarlatina was their victim. My problem sir, was that Ms. Scarlatina is a huntress. She should have defended herself. They both made poor examples, I took it upon myself to correct it." Ozpin took a moment to take in Jaune's answer.
"I see. You understand you assaulted a student outside class. Injured him? His nose was Broken." Jaune did not attempt to fake regret.
"We are fighting an ongoing war against the dark, if he can't handle it he should leave. What is my punishment sir?" He had Remorse, but he would take punishment. Get it over with, everybody can move along.
"Detention with Goodwitch Tomorrow, after school, and saturday. We are huntsman, and your misbehavior is childs play in the long run."
'That we can absolutely agree on' Jaune had much bigger plans. He needed to carry on, he needed to become a licensed huntsman. He needed to-
"However, I would like to talk with you, regarding other matters" Shit, fuck, shit.
"Like what?"
"Going to Beacon under a false name." Jaune was silent. "Arcs may tend to be blonde, but there is always the black sheep." Jaune grimaced at the family name. Figures that Ozpin would confront him about it. His bad on getting a reason to get called in to the office. Hitting Winchester felt good though, but now he had to deal with this shit...shit.
"What does hair have to do with it sir? And I'm not black haired." 'Nor am I a sheep. although, I think I'm getting into rabbits' Jaune wanted to be dismissed, he wanted out. It was Rabbit Season, and he wanted to hunt, in more ways than one.
"They are you're biological family." Ozpin persisted.
"Genetics. You're point? They aren't Huntsmen. I am going to be."
"They have reported you missing for a couple of years now. You left about two years ago, Jonah called the School, told me You wanted to be a huntsman, said you might try to enter."
"To summarise, you were kidnapped and went missing for six years. Six years after that You came to my school under a false name." Jaune was exhaled as he crossed his arms.
"Yeah...he didn't like the idea, I would be the first huntsman in generations. Doesn't appreciate my skills"
"Taught to you by whom?"
"My dad, when he was around. He taught me what he could, the rest by traveling."
"I know when you are referring to 'dad', you do not mean your father. Jonah Arc?" Jaune controlled his breathing tightly. Not releasing a single emotion. Fear, surprise, or rage. Not one emotion. Jaune finally spoke.
"People...assume it was a terrible experience, always. But the reality is really quite different. I was his son, not one of his victims. He did not lay a hand on me, he taught me so much. Skills of the trade."
"What were these skills?"
"Skills that are useful to every huntsman."
"Truly?"
"Tracking, gardening, hunting, survival, skinning, tool maintenance, flaying. Do you know there's a girl here, and she uses a Scythe three times her size?"
"Mr. Arc-"
"My name...is Jaune Krueger." he says. "It says so on the application you approved. The people you are talking about, we grew distant long ago. They want a son that never existed." He is done talking about Arc. It means little to him. Dad's work, what dad taught him about the world, that was more important.. "Are we done here sir? If there is nothing else to discuss." The pause was silent. Ozpin could hold him here, kick him out now that he has been outed. Return him to his family, well, he could try.
"...Yes Mr. Krueger, you are free to leave." Ozpin wouldn't get anywhere with Jaune like this. He knew there was more to this, but for now it was done. The boy told him more than he expected, but nothing to go on. Jaune gave a courteous nod.
"Thank you sir." Jaune had a Rabbit to chase, he entered the elevator. Once the door shut and he was several floors down, Ozpin sighed aloud.
"Of all the names you could have gone under, Jaune, why his?"
That night, Velvet laid in her bed, exhausted but awake. She was frustrated, emotionally, mentally,se...physically. On a usual night some of these frustrations would be a result of CRDL, mainly annoying. Now, they were buried under the current that was Jaune.
He was one of the only people, sans Coco to pull her aside. He was the first to do so in public like that. Than he pulled them to a room to verbally roast her, and her team. He was the very first to approach her with such gall.
Team Caffeine, in spite of popular belief, did not tolerate Bullies. Matter of fact it was Velvet herself that told them to let her handle it. Bullies came and went, she dealt with them all her life.
Yet Jaune pushed her buttons, moreso than anyone she dealt with. He came to her aid, yet she felt her anger boil as he laid into her team.
Than he came in close, and he kissed her.
She could only stand there in shock, breathing in that smoky smell from that comfortable looking sweater. He looked at her for a hard second before He was gone. Looking back at the conversation in hindsight, it made her flustered. Jaune all but outright said he was attracted to her, and he didn't have to. His eyes spoke more than anything else.
With CRDL, his eyes looked manic, insane. In the classroom he looked at her with hunger. She remembered the look her pa would give to mama. After he kissed her and her brain rebooted, she connected the dots.
Now her thoughts were bothered with Jaune more than any other bully in her life. She felt- why is there light in her eyes? If Coco is pulling some prank...
There is no prank, she is not even in her dorm. Instead the sun is shining up in the bright blue sky. She looks around, the place she is in seems to be in the Gardens of Beacon. Yet Beacon was not here.
"Glad you came little rabbit." She turns to the voice. Jaune is walking to her, his expression easy. He is dressed in his uniform, the jacket gone, leaving his sweater. She looks down at herself, and squeals. She is still wearing her nightgown, pale pink and barely to her knees. It was a gift from Coco!
"Come now, you're dreaming, no need to be modest." He sits down with her on the picnic blanket. He pulls out a pinkish colored apple, offering it to her "Would you like to try a candy apple? It's as good as it looks."
She takes a bite out of the Apple. Its heavenly, crunchy with a sweetness that shouldn't exist naturally. She can't help but moan.
"I'm glad you like it. Personally I think you would taste better." Jaune says. Velvet sputters before looking away, face reddening.Jaune chuckles at her as The breeze tickles her hair. Jaune watches her with warmth, a frown adorned his face as he suddenly asked. "Does it bother you?" still with that warmth, yet a cool mirth edged it.
"W-what?" She felt a chill crawl up her spine,exciting her, yet rooting her to to the spot like she was prey.
"That I am attracted to you?" He truly doesn't hold back. Velvet had to give him that. She still couldn't quite believe what she was seeing? dreaming? believing?
"No-what-you are not actually saying that." Of course she could see his body say it for him. The predatory look in his eyes. It could be lust,hunger. Maybe both.
"Do I have to? I kissed you, that is a pretty good indicator. I am friendly, but I do not just kiss people." He did that today, and her brain had just ceased to function. She nearly missed class on her brain-freeze. He had such gall, to go from verbally roasting her, than twisting it into expressing care and attraction, calling her beautiful.
"I, I am a faunus, y-you'd want an animal?" Velvet turns away from him. She feels an arm wrap around her, pulling her to his chest. She got His face is pressed into the nape of her neck as he breathes in deeply. She was using his lap as a seat, his body leaning back like a lazy lawn chair.
"You are one of the most beautiful girls I've seen. In my opinion, the rabbit ears work in your favor. Something just set me off, I meant it when I said I wouldn't do that for anybody." He's rubbing her shoulders now. "Why let others torment you? They should be wrestling for your affection." His proximity is dangerously close, but she doesn't resist him."Tell me to stop, I will, just say no." She doesn't want him to, she leans into him, not really helping herself. He gives a hungry growl "I'm serious. I can barely contain myself, who knows what ill do..."
Velvet looks off to the side, she notices a man tending to the garden. He's crouched over, so its hard to see him. His figure dark in the shade, she can make out a fedora.
"Who is that?"
"He won't bother us. Besides this is about you."
Suddenly, a hands is sliding along her left side, reaching around, cupping her in his hand. She gasps at his touch, falling into a feeling of ecstacy.
"Tell me to stop." He starts to slow down
"Don't...you...dare." She gasps, reaching up and grabbing his hand making him continue the motions. His right hand grazes her stomach, reaching downward.
The moment he makes contact, she sucked in a deep breathe to yell in pleasure.His left hand now catches her chin, he silences her with his tongue. His hand moves back to her chest.
It could have been five minutes or five hours. Jaune's fingers were like precise instruments, unlocking her. It was ecstacy when Velvet felt the release. She was left limp in his arms panting.
"How's that for a wet dream?" Jaune says, chuckling. he pressed a kiss unto the gasping woman's neck. She was looking at him in a haze.
"You're a dream aren't you? There is no way you were...serious..."
"This could be reality, do you want it to be? Come find me tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch, dinner? I probably wouldn't care. Just find me. Talk to me. I guarantee you its worth it. You are worth it. Sorry about the mess."
The bliss came to a sudden stop as she suddenly felt awake, her body riding her high from the dream. Now she was bed, not uncomfortable but missing Jaune. Moving her legs she felt a wet sticky feeling and groaned. Stupid sarcastic dream boy
Jaune didn't see Velvet at breakfast. Nor did he see her at lunch. The day went by like others. He would need to be in detention soon. He started getting concerned during dinner, well, visibly concerned. He wandered if he came on too strong.
It wasn't a big deal, he could move on, sure. Its not like he broke a lot of personal rules. Except he did, hey, dad did the same thing too occasionally. Dad always said be ready to break your own rules sometime.
She could just be a fancy. Ignore the Rabbit ears Jaune, I dare you, I double dog dare you. Don't think of that soft looking hair. Ignore the sounds she'd make under you.
'Wow this is quite mind consuming actually.'
"Jaune Krueger" Her voice was like sweet chocolate, even if she had a hint of anger in her voice. Turning to face her, his composure was challenge at the sight of her. Her cheeks were red again, the need to do something erratic rising exponentially inside him.
"Velvet, what's up."
"I think you know."
"This about yesterday?"
"Did you mean it?"
"Every word." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Prove it." He raised his brow
Than suddenly she grabbed his face, her lips pressed to his. Everyone at dinner watched wide eyed as Jaune put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer. When the two separated, Jaune had an important question. One that could change their lives forever.
"Can I take you to dinner, after I do my time?" Velvet was red faced with the question. She nodded, Jaune spun her around. The others surrounding them in surprise and congratulating.
Some of us take can take lessons or advice from a dream. Sometimes you don't take to lessons well. For some, that would be a damn shame.
Because sometimes, there's no lesson. You just need to be punished
Several weeks later
Forever Falls Forest
Cardin Winchester and his boys were loading up their jars of sap, intent sinister. They bided their time for weeks, Cardin wanted to do something special for Jauneboy.
The son of a bitch knocked him out with a tray, and broke his goddamn nose. It healed, but Cardin's pride was hurt. As was his teams. The bastard had yet to face him in Combat Class.
This field trip was just what he was looking for. He wanted to humiliate the fucker, make him Fight Cardin in the ring. He'll teach him a lesson
He looked over to the fucker now. Grabbing sap with that redhead weirdo. Jaune was laughing as Nora drank from the tap directly. He saw his chance. He readied his throw.
As he launched the throw, They boys felt an eerie feeling of deja vu. Like they've done this before. The glass shatters, it lands, but not on their target. Ruby screams, Jaune is by the girl's side immediately.
"Gods, Ruby, We need medical attention. This girl has been gut up by glass. She is covered in Sap. I think she is having a reaction."
'Wait, I didn't mean-'
There was not enough time. The howls alerted them first to the sudden Grimm present. Team CRDL was unfortunately hit first. The sap attracting Ursa, Sky Lark Only had a moment before Ursa jaws Clamped down on him from behind. Engulfing his head, he only had time to scream as fangs punctured his chest, his arms unable to gran his weapon.
Cardin and the others thought to fight the beast, but as Sky was Bit down on three more appeared, then six, then dozens seem to flood the forest. Cardin Could hear the other teams open fire. He watched Sky in horror, too surrounded by Grimm to do anything.
"Evacuate to the bullheads!" Cardin his remaining team fled, leaving Sky's body to be devoured by Ursa.
"What the fuck man. What the fuck?!"
"Sky is dead man, this whole thing is fucked."
As they arrived to where bullheads should be, the field was barren. There was no indication of them even being there, it was quiet, so quiet.
"Where is everyone else? We were suppose to meet here." Cardin thought aloud.
"Wait a minute.. haven't we-"Russel started
"Maybe we went the wrong way." Dove inferred
"How could we have?" Cardin responded.
Than they heard the raspy chuckle. They first see him in the treeline. The fog obscures the exact details, But they all can see the fedora. Its Cardin that calls the man out.
"Hey, where are the Bullheads!?" The figure doesn't answer. "Quit fuckin around!" The fog that surrounded them seem to raise higher, before Cardin realized it was smoke. It obscured their vision, the team tried to stay together.
Than Dove screamed. Cardin could barely make out what was happening him. Some invisible force was... pulling, something out of him. The fog made him look raised on strings like a puppet. But those weren't strings... The boy was suddenly sent running in one direction, against his will. Cardin and Russel tried to follow but he was too quick.
Suddenly the smoke dissipated into fog, But they were no longer in Forever Falls. Now it seemed to be some suburban area. The buildings were lightless and derelict.
'Where are we?' Cardin questioned. Russel looked over to a street sign.
"Elm Street"
"What the fucks an Elm Street?!"
"Cardin this is all wrong, but I think I know why."
"What are you saying Russ?"
"Forever Falls man! The field trip, hitting red hood-"
"That was an accident-"
"That already happened!"
A body smashes into the car beside them from above. It's Dove, what remains. His tendons are pulled from his arms and legs, dangling like puppet strings. Dove's mouth is opening, as though to say something, before dying where he lay.
Than they hear the breathy chuckle again. The man is back, appearing from the dark end of the street. He walks slow, his arms spread like an eagle in mock greeting. Cardin can barely make out the striped sweater and clawed right hand. He raises his mace.
"You son of a bitch, fight like a man!"
The man's arms start to elongate. Stretching far beyond any human or faunus limits. The man's right hand grazes the wall like a claw, sparks flying off from the old stone. Cardin finally makes a connection.
'Jauneboy?'
Than the man disappears as he walks through the shadow beyond the moonlight. As though blinked out of existence. The pair is confused. Than Russel is screaming, his body hitting the wall hard. Cardin can't see anyone , he doesn't know what's wrong.
Then 4 blades sprout from within Russel's chest. Blood is spouting from his mouth as his eyes widen in horror. His chest cavity forcibly opens as the Demon claws his way out.
Cardin, just runs. He has lost all pretense of confidence. He needs to leave, escape. This is a bad dream, and he needs to wake up. He storms into a abandoned building.
He can hear the laughter in the distance. Cardin does not know what kind of building this was suppose to be. He knows is in some type of boiler room.
The Furnace suddenly started with a roar. The whole area lights up. Tubes and pipes are scattered and stretched along the walls. The light glows a sinister red on the aged metal. The furnace than opens, and the Demon steps out. A black figure covered in blazing flames.
Cardin is to the wall, his weapon gone, his team, dead. The flames suddenly die out. The figure is shrouded for a moment. It should be a burnt man, but Cardin makes out the outline, and that goddamn sweater.
"Is that you Jauneboy? what the fuck have you done?"
'Jaune' seems to smile before a similar throaty chuckle emerges from his mouth.
"I warned you Cardin, don't fuck with me. You were doing so good too... And than you went after Ruby. tsk tsk. Naughty."
"It was just sap! that is all it was suppose to be! I was aiming for you!"
"A trip to medical proved otherwise didn't it? Don't worry Cardin, we are going to take care of everything."
As Jaune steps into the reddish light, Cardin's stomach curls. Half of Jaune's face seems to be his.The other half, the left side just past his nose was burned and damaged, the side of the mouth a sneer, muscle tendons exposed. It looked as though someone elses face was grafted to Jaune's. The burns seemed to trail down his neck. Jaune stepped closer, the shadows wiggled and enlarged as Ursa formed into existence.
"Please god." Cardin whimpers. Jaune takes a clawed finger and drags it down the side of his face, cutting his good side open. Two voices spoke as one.
"This is god."
"Put it down as a training accident. Clean out the room. Get their belongings together to be shipped home."
"Yes sir, but, do we tell the parents the truth?"
"That they somehow died in their dorm room? In their sleep? The truth will give them only grief and absolutely no closure. For now, we stay quiet." Ozpin shuffled through his old records.
"Sir...do you need to revisit some fairy tales?"
"Even farther, honest, old world mythology." Ozpin pulled out a book he hadn't in some time. The book saw far less use than the fairy tales ever did. This one could be considered an artifact, it was so ancient. "Glynda, I don't think I ever talked to you about the Dreamscape."
"Dreamscape?"
"To summarize, there is more than one way to manipulate the soul. Grimm ravage our physical bodies. Our minds are another story. There was an ancient sect...Dream Warriors."
6 years ago
'That' Night
Jaune heard the door slam open before shutting just as hard. He knew something was wrong, dad was cool and collected most of the time. Now he frantically locked every bolt in.
"Dad?"
"Jaune, listen." Dad was breathing hard. Sweat went down his brow, trailing down his angular nose. A hand clutched his side, where a dark spot grew bigger. "Do you have your traveling backpack ready?"
"Always, but dad-"
"Kreuger!! Come out here you sick bastard!" A molotov breaks through the window. Jaune is protected from possible danger as his dad covers him.
"I see Donald holds a grudge, hehe ah" Dad winced at his side again. " Lets get to the other room. Quick."
Jaune helped his dad into the next room, at the center of the house. He shuts the door as more firebombs are thrown into the house. Dreamcatchers were meticulously place around the walls. Painted markings trail down from dreamcatchers to the Rune engraved into the center of the floor.
His dad slumped to the center. Blood offered from the wound. The rune glowed red, the light trailed up into the markings on the wall. The dreamcatchers centers became swirling portals, as creatures swam out into existence.
They moved in the air like aquatic serpents, made entirely of bone. Their heads like skulls. Bright red dots emitting from pitch black eye holes. They swayed in the air, looking down at father and son.
"Frederick. You are dying."
"I am aware of that!"
"You have yet to meet your end of the bargain. The Witch and Wizard still have the advantage."
"They are too involved with their own war to notice us! not till its too late."
"You could be saved, if you use the child."
"Out of the question, he is my legacy!"
"We need a host, you agreed."
"We...Take me as your servant, Jaune can host you, I have trained him, taught him what you taught me. The agreement was for a servant and host. I can still honor the agreement"
"Very well, act now, you don't have long."
"Listen son, we don't have time, they are going to find us. You will be fine, but I can't follow you."
"Dad...no"
"Jaune, I have done terrible things, and I don't regret them. The one thing I did. The one thing that was actually good, was taking you under my wing. They will tell you I did horrible things. They will try to say I did the same to you. You know the truth, and that is all that matters."
The fire was getting closer to them.
"I told you before, I could show you power? You didn't have to lose anyone again like your sister again. You could decide between life and death. This is it, this is what I have trained you for."
Jaune, who held his pack to his chest, pulled out a cloth made of red and green stripes.
"I made this for you, for your birthday." Fred Krueger had many faces he showed to people. As twisted as he was, the face he showed to Jaune, was of genuine love and warmth.
"My favorite colors too. I love it Jaune, wear it for me proudly." The smoke was starting to enter the room at an alarming rate. "I love you Jaune, do not cry, you can always find me in the Dreamscape."
"Promise?"
"On my soul." Fred Krueger pulled his son close, wrapping his arms around Jaune, before reciting the ancient vow. The Dream Demons turned into bright lights as they wormed into Kruegers body. Twisted lights enveloped the two as the room was finally engulfed in flames.
When the fire cleared, Lt. Donald had the local authorities search the debris. He felt Righteous vengeance when they found the charred skeleton. Than both fear and relief flood his body, as Jaune Arc was retrieved, unharmed, from the skeleton, it's arms wrapped tightly around the child.
'aune? Jaune." Jaune Krueger snapped out of his daze. He looked at Velvet, who held roses in her hand. "Are you okay? You were just staring at the fireplace for a while."
They were at a super-mart in Vale. A sort-of get all you need and want in one trip(At ridiculously cheap prices). Jaune pulled himself back to the present.
"I'm okay love. I was just thinking of my dad, the last day I saw him anyway." Velvet wrapped an arm around his bicep, giving a comforting squeeze.
"You cared about him a lot didn't you?" Jaune was quiet, staring at the artificial fireplace. He responded however.
"Everyone I know thinks of him as this boogeyman. Someone to hate and fear. Maybe that was the truth, but to me, he was dad. I am here because of him, and I'll always love him for that."
"It's okay to miss him. My mom told me that we carry them within us, wherever we go."
'You are more right than you know. God I could violate you in this stupid store. Dad will probably just tell me to pick an isle and go for it' Jaune himself heard a throaty chuckle at that.
"Too true, so, roses?" She seemed to grow an embarrassed red.
"Too cheeky for a get-well gift?" Jaune smiled.
"I think she'd get a kick out of it Sweet Rabbit." She blushed heavily at the nickname, she always does.
"I can't believe the girl was allergic to sap. How did no one know?"
"Apparently she didn't even know. Brand new discovery, I was more concerned about the glass that cut her. Her aura wasn't active, sap seeped into her bloodstream, made it much worse than it would of been."
"Pyrrha told me a bit. You were livid, almost killed CRDL yourself." 'Only because Pyrrha's semblance held me back. Damn metal manipulation. I am thankful though. I got to bond with dad through mutual torment. I wonder how Ozpin will try to keep it quiet. It was risky move to pull so soon, but no one fucks with my family.'
"I was, still am, but Ruby is okay. That is what matters." Jaune had to play it smart from here on out. Once news of CRDL spreads people are going to worry. He was already in the Wizards court, and the Witch was always moving her pieces. He had to play the long game. For now he was just a student,
"Jaune, we are in public..." Oh dear, he was holding her close again.
"And?"
"People are watching." Jaune made eye contact with said audience, and gripped Velvet's ass.
"They can either shut up and watch or stay away, I am not ashamed of my rabbit." She made a small squeaky sound as he nibbled on a bunny ear. "Say, how do you feel about a picnic? I hear Beacon has beautiful Gardens."
Author note: Thank you to everyone who is following and reading so far. I hope this has been a fun ride so far, because it's far from over.
IMPORTANT: Either this sunday or next week, a special QA chapter will be posted. It will include a "Deleted Scene" to give it actual writing content. It will be removed later and replaced with a real chapter when "that" is ready. QA Chapters will probably be archived in "some form"I intend to answer some questions regarding Jaune Who? and where it is going. I want to get feedback from this chapter first. If you have questions, I will try to answer them without spilling too much beans.
Again thank you guys for taking time out of your day to read my story. Your feedback means a lot to me.