Chapter One: The Average Morning of A Not-So-Average Man
Jaune Arc woke up to the sound of sobbing.
He sat upright, squinting slightly as his eyes tried to adjust to the dark. The only light came from a yellow-tinged window to his left, sending moonbeams into his room. Said moonbeams illuminated a square of the light-gray comforter on his twin bed, making it harder to see everything else.
He went to stand, the bed's metal frame creaking under his weight as the old, carpeted floor did the same. Beige walls covered in decades worth of stains greeted him, starkly contrasting the nearly brand new dresser and end-table to his right.
He trailed his right hand along the wall, fumbling around for a light switch. When he flicked it, the room was bathed in a fluorescent white from the fan above, showing a few stains on the carpet as well. Really need to clean that one day.
Jaune looked to the currently closed, wooden door next to him, the sobbing coming from the other side. He quickly pulled it open, frowning as he saw a small, blonde-haired girl staring up at him. Her eyes shined a brilliant blue, a little pink blanket clutched between her tiny hands. She was clad in a similar onesie, with the image of Pumpkin Pete on the front of it.
He got on one knee, gently placing a hand on the child's shoulder. "Nightmare?"
She nodded.
Jaune lifted the little girl into his arms, gently patting her back. "Don't worry, Rogue. I'm right here. No mean old grimm is gonna gobble you up on my watch."
Rogue sniffed a few times, her voice high-pitched and cracking slightly. "It wasn't a grimm. There's a monster in my closet!"
Jaune frowned, closing the door to his room and staring at the dark expanse of their home. Most of it was as rundown as his room, with a dark-brown couch with several holes in the cushion the only thing he could see in the lighting.
He ignored it for the moment, walking across the hall and into Rogue's room. It looked a bit better, the walls given a fresh, light-pink coat of paint. There was a small bed in the center, a little toybox at its foot. Scattered around said toybox were countless small objects—ones Jaune took extra special care not to step on.
He sat on the side of Rogue's bed, the light-green and pink comforter softer than even his own. He gently laid her on the pillow, tucking her in before turning to stare at her closet door. "A monster in your closet, huh?"
She nodded, covering her nose with the covers.
Jaune stood, walking toward the closet and quickly pulling it open. Sure enough, within he only saw shirts, overalls—and other clothes of Rogue's. He turned back, a faint smile on his face as he saw Rogue slowly coming out from the covers. "Looks like it's gone now."
He walked over to her, sitting on the edge of her bed before reaching beneath it. Sure enough, after feeling around for a moment, he pulled up a small teddy bear. "Well, just in case it comes back, you better keep Mr. Snuffles up with you."
Rogue pouted. "What if he isn't enough?"
Jaune looked at the teddy bear. "September."
A faint, white light illuminated the room as two, armor-covered hands reached out from Jaune's shoulders. He handed the teddy bear to them, Rogue watching in amazement as their white glow spread to the teddy bear.
Jaune, meanwhile, closed his eyes, his hands reaching up and melding with the armored ones as he began to work. Let's see, what to add? Bravery, obviously…reliability would be another good thing. Better stop there, I'd rather not tire myself out too much.
He opened his eyes, placing the small teddy bear into a sitting position next to Rogue. Then, to Rogue's wonder-filled eyes, it stood up, marching across her bed before coming to a halt on her thighs, saluting her.
Jaune smiled, gently ruffling Rogue's hair. "Rogue, meet Colonel Cuddles."
Rogue reached forward, pulling her now slightly better-looking bear into a hug. Sure enough, the bear hugged back. Rogue let out a little squeal of joy. "He's perfect! I love him, I love him, I love him!"
Jaune gave her a warm smile, patting her back. "And he loves you. Now," he leaned forward, sweeping back her hair and pecking her forehead. "I think it's time we both get some sleep."
Rogue smiled for a moment, only for her expression to turn into confusion. "But…who will protect you?"
Jaune gave her a faint smirk. "You let me worry about that. Now, it's time for bed."
He stood, walking to her door before freezing in the frame. He turned around, seeing Rogue staring at him with expectant eyes. He chuckled. "Oh! I almost forgot."
He held his hands into the shape of a heart, September's hands doing the same as they emerged from his shoulders. "I love you."
Rogue mimicked the gesture. "I love you, too, daddy."
Jaune turned away, closing the door behind him and walking back into his room. He shut off the light, sitting on his bed when something on his nightstand caught his eye.
He reached over, turning on the lamp to reveal a small, framed photo. He pulled it over to him, a frown crossing his features as he saw its contents. Eleven, smiling faces stared back at him, his own near the center and Rogue held in the arms of his eldest sister—with a mountain of a man leaning on her shoulder.
He shut off the light, pulling his covers back on and letting his mind drift once more.
…
The next time Jaune woke up, it was because of a tapping on his window.
He opened his eyes, turning to his left to see an odd, yet familiar, sight. Just beyond his window was a fire escape, which was almost definitely what the figure was standing on.
Said figure was a young woman with white, pink, and brown colored hair. At the moment she was clad in what looked to be a light-pink nightgown, a little pink and white parasol swung around her shoulders. Currently resting on the end of that parasol, however, was what looked to be a small chameleon—a long, pink stripe down its otherwise brown scales.
Jaune sighed, lifting himself out of bed and walking to his closet. He didn't bother turning around as he picked out his clothes. "I know that's an illusion, Neo. You're already here somewhere."
Sure enough, when he turned around, she was sitting on the bed.
He gave her a nod before walking to his door, pulling it open before turning back. "I'll make you and Rogue breakfast in a minute—but no using Witness to frighten her."
Neo nodded, eyes both flashing white.
Jaune walked down the hall, disappearing into a nearby bathroom.
The second Jaune left, Neo hopped up and walked into the room across. Her eyes instantly focused on the young Arc—still sleeping and nuzzling against Colonel Cuddles. A part of her found the image adorable—a little girl sleeping with a toy held a certain appeal to her.
Though, another part saw it as an easy way to mess with her and Jaune alike.
She stepped carefully across the ground, hopping onto the edge of her bed and rising to her full height (which, to be fair, wasn't much). She held her parasol forward, letting Witness hop onto the blankets and slowly make its way forward.
When it flicked its tongue toward Rogue, a white arm shot out from her teddy bear.
Neo froze, eyes wide as Witness flew back toward her, a figure emerging from the teddy bear into the room. It appeared to be a large, armored figure with two yellow crescents over its chest. Its face looked like an older Jaune's, with long, black hair instead of his blond locks. Its eyes were white orbs as it held up its arms, gauntlets clanking together.
When it spoke, it was Jaune's voice.
"I said no using Witness to scare Rogue, Neo."
Neo's eyes both turned brown, a confused expression on her face as she gestured to September.
September crossed its arms, mimicking its user's mannerisms. "I don't just have to summon September from my body. It can come from any infused object, too. Just like how you can make Witness from Parasol."
Neo slowly nodded, letting Witness jump back into Parasol—which she promptly gestured to.
"Well duh I knew Parasol was your actual stand. The first time I hit Witness nothing happened to you."
Neo nodded a few times, a shiver running down her spine as she recalled the first time she'd used Parasol's illusion-making properties on Jaune. One of the many reasons she chose to back down when presented with an annoyed September, walking into the living room and laying on the couch.
It was about ten minutes later when Jaune walked out, clad in his work clothes. He wore a black t-shirt and a pair of khaki pants beneath, yellow and black sneakers already on his feet. His hair was brushed back a bit, eyes flicking to her the moment he walked in. "Do you have literally any impulse control?"
Neo held out her left hand, making a see-saw motion.
Jaune sighed, running a hand down his face before walking past her—heading into a rather small kitchen. It had a grand total of six cupboards, a granite countertop next to a stove that Jaune was fairly certain was about three years from being declared 'environmentally unsafe' by safety inspectors.
He ignored the cupboards, grabbing out eight eggs from the nearby fridge—which somehow looked less safe than the oven. He grabbed a frying pan from one of the cupboards, cracking the eggs into it before closing the fridge back.
When he turned to check on Neo, he saw her sitting on the back of the couch, legs crossed and Parasol over her shoulder as always. Jaune stared at her for a moment, face tinting pink. "You'd better be wearing underwear."
Neo nodded, tapping the edge of her gown with a smirk.
"I'll take your word for it."
Neo stared at Jaune's back as he worked, seemingly getting lost in what he was doing—despite the fact he was only making scrambled eggs. She saw his hands glowing a faint white as he moved, September's hands moving just a split second faster than Jaune's as he infused the food he was making.
When the eggs were finished, he set the pan off the burner, getting out three plastic plates from the cupboard next to the fridge. He took a step back, turning around to find both Neo and Rogue sitting on the couch. He gave the little girl a smile before loading a small portion of the eggs onto her plate. "Should've figured the smell would wake you up."
"Yep!"
Jaune divided the rest of the eggs evenly between him and Neo. Despite his fellow stand user's small size, the girl could eat. He wasn't sure where all the calories she ate went, but Neo could pack away almost as much food as he could.
The three sat back on the couch, Neo melting back and relaxing for the first time since she arrived. Waves of rejuvenating energy and warmth pulsed through her with each bite, letting her relax almost better than she could in her own home. Not only that, but it certainly helped the little 'reminders' from last night.
As soon as they started healing, Jaune turned to her. "You could've mentioned the bruises—I would've made it stronger."
Neo shook her head, downing the rest of her eggs before sliding back on the couch, exposing most of her thighs. Jaune didn't look away this time, frowning at her right thigh. Or, more specifically, a rapidly healing bruise on her right thigh. "How'd you get that one? Land crotch-first on a fence?"
Neo's face tinted pink as she closed her legs, pulling her gown over it.
Jaune's eyes widened. "Wait, really?"
Neo begrudgingly nodded.
Jaune chuckled, slowly shaking his head as he took another bite. "What's the matter, little miss acrobat? Losing your touch?"
If literally anyone else had said that to Neo, she'd have stabbed them.
Multiple times.
To Jaune? She only smirked.
Jaune's eyes widened as Neo sprang up from her place, spinning around the couch and nearly sending him forward—wrapping her thighs around his neck. She leaned forward, hands tangled in his hair as she smirked at him, her left eye flashing pink.
Sure enough, the Arc's face was bright red, his mind grinding to a halt as he stared at the upside-down Neo. Though, after a few moments, his mind and heart returned to normal. He gave Neo a faint glare, along with an embarrassed smile. "Fair enough…mind getting off of me?"
Neo complied surprisingly easily, laying her legs over the top of the couch and letting her head lean upside-down off the cushion. Considering how it was almost impossible not to see her, Jaune could indeed confirm that she was wearing underwear: pink ones with little white kittens on them.
For a moment, he considered making a joke about them.
Though, he decided insulting someone that could probably beat the crap out of him wasn't the best idea.
The three ate in relative silence, Jaune absently turning on the old TV in front of them to the news. Pretty much what he expected—a lot of bad news about crime and a whole lot more nothing. Neo remained in her place even as Jaune took the plates to the trashcan and forks to the sink.
He turned to Rogue, smiling as she held her hands toward him—making little grabbing motions. Jaune obliged, lifting her into his arms before walking back towards the bathroom. "You know, one day I won't be around to do this for you."
Rogue nuzzled against his shoulder. "I hope that day never comes."
Jaune sighed, frowning while Rogue couldn't see him. "It will."
He walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Within was a rather simple interior—white tiled flooring and walls much like the rest of the place. Just to the right of the door was a bathtub/shower, the curtain currently pulled back and the basin still wet from Jaune's shower.
Directly across from the shower was a sink, which Jaune placed Rogue on as he started running her bath. Meanwhile, she gently scratched at her hair, frowning as she tugged at the slick, blonde strands. "Why does it always feel so dirty in the morning?"
Jaune answered without looking up: "Because your head makes oils at night, sweetie."
"How do I turn them off?"
Jaune chuckled, turning around and grabbing her. She held up her arms as he pulled off her nightgown, doing the same to her underwear before walking her back to the bath, laying her in.
He started washing her hair first, having September shut off the water when it reached her neck. She simply sat there, content to be bathed by both Jaune and September as their hands moved in unison—infusing her body with healing and durability as always.
The reason became apparent when Jaune started washing her back.
Covering Rogue's back were scars. Old wounds faded slightly as Jaune infused durability and strength into her little body. Yet despite his best efforts—despite how much he could help, he could never get rid of them. They'd always come back the next morning, an eternal reminder of her plight.
He finished bathing her just as he always did, dressing her shortly afterward. Today, she was clad in a little red sweater, hidden beneath her overalls. Jaune pulled her hair into a single braid, lifting her back onto the sink as he pulled on her little pink sneakers.
Though, when he went to tie them, she held out a hand. "Daddy, wait! Let me try!"
Jaune nodded, holding his hands back.
After about three minutes of repeated attempts, her tongue stuck out the side of her mouth all the while, Rogue finally stood. Her left shoe was somewhat decently tied, pulled into a pair of large, bunny-ear loops that looked like they'd actually be fine. Though, her right was pulled into a pair of loops that dragged the floor—and would likely come undone after one step.
Jaune smiled, clapping anyway. "Good job! That's even better than last time!"
He reached down, correcting her laces. "You'll get it next time, sweetie. Don't worry."
…
Stand Name: Parasol
Stand User: Neopolitan
Stats:
Power: C
Speed: D
Range: B
Persistence: B
Precision: D
Potential: C