TW for attempted rape. I'll put a warning before the scene.
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Crimewave
Chapter I
The ride up to Ozpin's office was almost insultingly slow. The empty metal box felt immaterial, like outside those meticulously polished sliver doors was a liminal space he endlessly traveled through. Waiting, counting the ticks of the exposed clockwork above his head until he expired from old age or dehydration.
Jaune wondered if that was a preferable alternative to what he was about to face.
His left hand ghosted over where the pommel of Crocea Mors should have been, hooked to the leather belt of his combat outfit. Goodwitch had disarmed him the moment they stepped off of the Airship onto the grounds of Beacon Academy. The look in her eye had all but confirmed the anxiety that plagued him on the return trip. Funny how exposed he felt without the weight he had once lamented.
Cardin had ratted. Even after everything Jaune had done for him. Weeks of being his pincushion. Forced to put off his team and friends for their inane errands and constant abuse. Then he had gone so far as to save the walking thumb's life, even after Cardin threatened to destroy his. Jaune couldn't help but wonder if he'd be here, in this Brother's damn elevator crawling towards his damnation, if he'd just walked away and left Cardin to his fate.
Jaune's fist tightened as he banished those thoughts. The twisted rope of anger, guilt, and misery in his chest coiled tighter around his neck. Cardin would have never been in a position to do that if Jaune hadn't said anything to Pyrrha that night. If his damn insecurities hadn't driven him to seek her pity. Better yet, if he'd never forged those transcripts maybe his team would have a leader that valued them. Maybe Pyrrha would have a partner she could rely on to have the basic self-respect to know when to ask for help.
Jaune's shoulders deflated as the fury left his body. This whole ordeal was Jaune's making, it was time to reap what he had sowed.
Finally, a shrill chime filled the elevator and the doors slid open. Any relief Jaune felt was dashed violently as he took in the scene before him.
Ozpin sat at his broad desk flanked by Goodwitch. He stared forward at Jaune, the lower half of his face hidden behind folded hands. Yet, curiously, Jaune noted no anger. Even Goodwitch, who he expected to be all baleful glares, only looked at Jaune with an indecipherable sternness in her green eyes.
Jaune shuffled into the room with his head hung, coming to stand about ten feet from the Headmaster.
Silence stretched for an uncomfortable amount of time. Blue eyes watched his sneakers while brown ones pierced so deeply it was like his skin was being peeled away.
Eventually, Ozpin spoke. "Take a seat if you'd please, Mister Arc."
There were two plush-looking chairs arranged in front of Ozpin's desk that Jaune stood between. He gave each a glance. They had tall sides that looked like they swallowed those who sat in them.
"I-I think I'll stand, sir."
"Very well. Then we shall begin," Ozpin said, unfolding his hands and giving Glynda a look. The blonde woman stepped forward and tossed a stack of papers onto the Headmaster's desk, momentum caused them to fan out.
His transcripts.
Any doubt this was a social call was swiftly stamped out. Fear and regret and shame roiled in his stomach as Miss Goodwitch stepped back to her previous position, pointedly staring past him.
"I'm sure you can guess why we are here."
Jaune said nothing. He kept his eyes downward, cutting as unassuming a figure as he possibly could.
Ozpin sighed and stood. His dress shoes clicked across the marble floor as he moved to stand facing the large floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the back of his office.
"I'm also sure you know what I must do, now that this information has become public knowledge."
Tears welled up in his blue eyes despite Jaune's best efforts to fight them. His dad would be so proud right now. His only son stole the family heirloom and cheated his way into an academy others spent their whole life training for. And now that he'd been found out he had the gall to cry like a child. Maybe that's what he was – just a child playing dress-up.
Ozpin took his heavy silence as confirmation. "I want you to know, Mister Arc, that I did my best to fight for you."
That got Jaune to look up. He only saw the back of the Headmaster's green suit jacket but Jaune could've sworn he saw something akin to irritation flash across Miss Goodwitch's features.
"Sir?" Jaune could only croak.
Ozpin turned and offered a sullen yet warm smile. "Don't look so surprised, Jaune. What you did in the past does not change the present. And presently you are as valued a pupil at this academy as any other."
Jaune began to shake. How could he say that? Jaune was at the bottom of his class in every practical sense and middling in academics. His team was falling apart around him because of his lack of spine. Everything Jaune had endeavored to do except saving the bully that was currently ruining his life had ended in spectacular failure. His presence here was a slap in the face to Beacon's prestige.
"I-I don't think I've done anything to deserve your praise, sir." Jaune summarized.
"That's nonsense Mister Arc. You arrived at this academy as nothing more than a civilian with a sword, if you don't mind me saying," Jaune couldn't argue. He'd never even heard of Aura before Pyrrha explained it to him amid a Grimm-infested forest. "And yet what do you do? Not only do you survive initiation, but you manage to get to the point of taking down an Ursa Major – on your own, mind you – within half a semester of your durance here."
Ozpin strolled back to his desk. "Now, I take pride in the quality of our teaching staff here at Beacon Academy, and as much as I'd love to say your meteoric progress is a testament to that – it would be a lie. Even Glynda has to agree, that was entirely you." Ozpin punctuated his point with a stab of his cane as he circled around his desk to approach Jaune.
"It was your resolve," Stab, "Your effort," Stab, "And your willingness to help someone even when it was clear you would lose so much for it," Stab. This time it struck Jaune lightly in the chest. Ozpin held it there as he stared long into Jaune's eyes with warmth the young man felt he did not deserve. "While I believe everyone has the capacity to change – you are proof of that – I would sooner enroll a hundred of you than a single man of Mister Winchester's stature. In fact, if it was up to me, it would be Belegar's son in this office right now. Not you."
Jaune could only stare. He felt a confusing mix of self-deprecation and gratification at Ozpin's words. This was supposed to be a tongue lashing for the ages where he was thrown out onto the street and branded a criminal. Instead, the Headmaster was here praising him.
"I appreciate it, sir, I really do but," Jaune couldn't meet Ozpin's eyes for his next words, "Isn't it up to you, though?"
The smile on Ozpin's face faded and his cane lowered. "If only it were that easy, then much of the problems of this school would be relics of the past."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Lien, Mister Arc. Lien makes our world turn, even this Academy falls victim to such an inevitable truth. As much as I have tried to prevent it."
Jaune couldn't help but bristle at that. "You're saying Cardin's dad is paying you to expel me?"
Miss Goodwitch's riding crop smacked against the desk with a sudden *thwack* causing Jaune to nearly leap from his skin.
"Be mindful of your tone, boy, and who you make accusations against."
There was the Goodwitch fury, Jaune almost forgot she had it what with how passive she had been up until this point. Jaune felt frost creep up his spine as her emerald eyes gleamed like a hawk observing a rodent.
"I-I'm sorry Miss, I didn't mean it like-"
"Relax Glynda, I could have phrased my statement better," Ozpin dismissed her anger with a wave of his cane, "I'm afraid, Mister Arc, It's a trifle more complicated. See, dear old Belegar sits on the Valean Council. And while Beacon enjoys a certain special political status, it is still the council that oversees our affairs. As I said, you would not be here should this information have remained private. Even had it leaked naturally, nothing would have come of it. The fact of the matter remains that you publicly embarrassed his son," Ozpin sighed carried decades of frustration, "and Winchester pride is such a fickle thing."
"And he controls the entire Council?"
"Well not all of it. But enough to ensure that life at Beacon could become exceedingly difficult, worse if he garnered more support. The Winchester fortune has a way of becoming gift wrapped yachts and private upstate manor houses."
"But that's bribery, right? How can he get away with that."
Ozpin laughed and Jaune couldn't help but feel like he'd missed the joke. "Because he is not the only one. Mister Arc, you will soon learn that humanity's greatest skill is hypocrisy. To those with Lien to spare, the law is naught but an ephemeral suggestion at best, and a tool for great personal enrichment at worst. "
That couldn't be right. Sure there were bound to be crooked people, that was just statistics, but to suggest that their system was disregarded so flagrantly – by the people charged with safeguarding it no less – it was just too much. Ozpin must have been mistaken. Either way, Jaune supposed, it did not change his fate.
"So, this is it then?" Jaune said, a gaping pit of dread settling in his chest.
Ozpin smiled sadly. "In regard to your time at Beacon Academy? Yes. Belegar wanted you in chains on royal forgery charges, but I managed to negotiate the Council down to an expulsion on the stipulation you are to be blacklisted from attending any Huntsman Academy in the future."
Nausea rolled over Jaune. Ozpins office spun as the weight of his words clobbered the young man like Cardin's mace.
Barred from ever finishing his training. He would never become a Huntsman, never stand beside his team again. He would forever be nothing but a civilian. The thought of returning to Ansel and hanging Crocea back above the mantle felt like needles pricking the back of his eyes. Voices of his family invaded his head.
"It's okay, Jaune. You did your best."
"Being a Huntsman just wasn't for you baby bro."
"You should have listened to me Jaune. Maybe then none of this charade would have occurred in the first place."
His eyelids screwed shut as the storm of admonishments and condescending pity rolled over him.
"I understand sir." His voice came out barely above a whisper.
Weak.
Weak, weak, weak, weak, weak. That is all Jaune Arc was.
And now, that is all he would ever be.
A heavy breath broke Jaune from his thoughts. Ozpin leaned against the front of his desk and observed Jaune. Where the Arc expected pity, he only found a look of abyssal complexity.
"You must understand, Jaune, that these academies. They are nothing more than repositories. They contain the accumulated experience of generations of Hunters, yes, but there is nothing truly exceptional or unique about the information here. All we do here is offer structure to experience, guidance through chaos. I dare say, nothing you would have done or learned in four years here could not be replicated or even exceeded in a quarter of the time spent out there," Ozpin gestured towards the windows.
"Please, do not ever be convinced that you need us to be great. What makes greatness boils simply down to the strength of spirit."
Ozpin's brown eyes gleamed.
"And I dare say, Jaune, yours burns brightest of all ."
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The trudge back through Beacon Academy was an arduous one.
Jaune had entered the Headmaster's tower the well-to-do goof of Beacon's first year class and left the public face of villainy. Everywhere he went it was as if the Arc had been touched by the plagued. People parted, crowds stopped to stare, and the whispers – Oum the whispers. They were everywhere and all encompassing. They followed him even as he entered the mercifully depopulated first year dorms.
"That's him," They said. "He's the fraud who cheated his way into Beacon."
"I always thought he was off."
"I know! I heard he shit his pants during initiation because he'd never even seen a Grimm before."
Jaune grimaced. Really, Cardin?
"Well obviously the only reason he made it this far is because Nikos is carrying him on her back. Geez, I wonder if he's blackmailing her or something. There's no way a champion like her is happy being stuck with dead weight like him."
Each comment was a fresh stab into his heart. The fury that had gathered within him was crushed beneath the weight of his despair. Most of them were right. The only reason he made it this far was Pyrrha and look at how he had gone and treated her. Ozpin assured him as he left his team would be well taken care of, Jaune could only hope that was true.
He came upon the door to Team JNPR's dorm much too soon. Fresh anxiety pressed down on his chest like an anvil, forcing him to take shallower and shallower breaths as his heart stung with the effort of simply pumping blood across his body.
A thousand scenarios flashed through his head. A great deal of them involved shouting, some hitting, and most ended in the pathetic feeling of their disappointment. Would they abandon him? Tell him to go eat shit and never speak to them again? Jaune began backing away from the door. He could not do this. He could not look his team in the eye and tell them how much of a fraud he was. He'd rather be remembered as a coward than face their hatred.
Just as his legs tensed to take him running down the hallway, the door to his former team's room opened with a soft *click*. Shame filled him for ever considering leaving them.
Nora's head of vibrant pink hair peeked from around the door. It looked disheveled and muted, however, matching the paleness that had taken to her skin and the sullen expression marring her usually upbeat features. Fresh tear streaks painted her cheeks, and her turquoise eyes were ringed with puffy red skin.
"Jaune-Jaune?" She said, blearily.
Jaune offered a pathetic smile. "Hey Nora."
The hammer wielder stared at him for a second, as if disbelieving of his presence, before shuffling out into the hallway and gathering her leader – former leader – into the gentlest embrace Jaune imagined her capable of.
"I thought you already left." She mumbled into his hoodie.
A bolt of hurt robbed him of breath. Moisture gathered in his eyes as his throat tightened. "What? N-no, Nora hey," Jaune hooked Nora's chin and angled it upwards. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. "I would never leave you guys like that. Not without saying goodbye."
A smile ghosted her lips. "I know. Renny said the same thing but I just- you know…"
He restrained a grimace at the memory of hurt looks from across the cafeteria. Yeah, Jaune knew.
Shuffling emanated from inside the room. "Nora?" Pyrrha called weakly. "Who is it?"
With a final reassuring look, Nora disentangled herself from Jaune, but kept a firm grip on Jaune's hand. The door was pushed open revealing the other half of JNPR huddled on Jaune's bed looking as miserable as he felt.
Upon seeing him Pyrrha all but leapt to her feet. "Jaune! Gods, after Miss Goodwitch took you we thought you were- I mean- what happened?"
Embers of hope still endured within Pyrrha's emerald eyes. Ren had not moved from where he sat on the edge of the bed, head angled down and staring blankly at the floor.
Jaune didn't answer as he was pulled into his dorm by Nora for perhaps the final time. He kept his eyes down even as he passed his partner who still anticipated his answer anxiously.
"Jaune?" She croaked as he settled across from Ren.
It hurt, Brothers it hurt. To hear the slight inflections in Pyrrha's breathing as they sat in silence. He heard it hitch as she realized that this wasn't some misunderstanding. That Cardin had tattled. That Beacon wouldn't protect him. That this was it.
"No…no they can't- just like…?" Pyrrha eventually said, hugging her own arms tightly.
It was too much. The crushing atmosphere, the pain and sorrow of his friends, his own grief of losing any opportunity of achieving his own dreams. A cascade of failures within his own heart led to tears pouring freely down his face.
"I'm sorry." Jaune panted, his chest contracting with stress and anxiety. Every breath was a fresh stab in his already aching heart. The Arc dully noted the mattress flex on either side of him. His arms moved as someone took both his hands in their own. The sensations felt muted, distant. All Jaune could process was the torturous thought that this would all be over in just a few hours. Suddenly, the weeks he spent pissing away time as Cardin's crony felt like an eternity.
"I'm so sorry. I-I failed you guys as a leader. I should never have let Cardin…"
"Shhh, Jaune. It's okay." The voice was masculine and came accompanied by a gentle increase in the pressure around his hands. "You're here now, that's what matters."
"I saw you in the Forever Fall," Pyrrha whispered into his ear, her head laid upon his right shoulder as she clutched onto his arm. "You stood up for us – protected us. Even though you knew this would happen." A sniffle. "You didn't fail any of us."
Jaune could only shake his head. "I'm a fraud, Pyrrha. I lied my way into Beacon. I don't deserve this – You. I don't deserve to sit here and call you my team."
He suppressed a yelp as pain shot up his left arm. Nora had pinched him, hard. He could barely see her through tear-clouded vision but the indignation burning in her turquoise eyes was clear.
"Lies and slander aren't tolerated under this roof." She said.
"I-it's not- I'm not lying, my transcripts are-"
"Inconsequential," Ren interrupted, his cadence cool and even. "Did your transcripts get you past Initiation? Did they do your classwork? Attend combat class for you?" Ren's pink eyes bored into him like pink-tinged daggers. They were full of frustration and deep-set anger. Yet, Jaune felt, not an ounce was directed at him.
"Did they kill that Ursa Major?"
Jaune's breath hitched as Ren's voice mixed with Ozpin's. It was overwhelming, the affection, the support. Even after all he'd done, they sat beside him unwavering. They had cried for him, gotten angry for him. The Headmaster himself had gone to bat for him in front of the Council. He deserved none of it and yet, like the selfish piece of shit he was, he latched onto it like a life preserver in the middle of an ocean.
It occurred to Jaune as his final wall broke and all the repressed emotions came cascading out in thick, ugly tears, that they were right. He was acting just as he had on the rooftop with Pyrrha, attempting to validate his insecurities by convincing himself he was as pathetic as he thought he was. Like an attention-starved child, he subconsciously sought the positive affirmation and gratification that he could never give himself. That he consciously convinced himself he was not worth.
But, if that was true, if he really wasn't worth the air he breathed, why was he here, surrounded by much better people who loved him? Who were hurt he was leaving, despite committing a literal felony for his position? If he was worthy of that then…
Perhaps he should consider sparing some for himself.
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It was alarming how fast time slipped away when you were with people you loved.
When Jaune finally checked the time, hours had passed since he left the Headmaster's office. In that time, Team JNPR had cried and hugged and reconciled until their voices were hoarse and heads spinning from the dehydration.
No matter how badly Jaune wanted to stay there, tangled amongst his best friends reminiscing on his short yet eventful time as their Leader, his destiny awaited. Miss Goodwitch had given him a scant few hours to sort his affairs and meet her at the airship dock. From there he would be taken to Vale and folded back into civilian life.
Jaune knew there were other options that didn't involve working his youth away in Ansel. Law enforcement often gave good offers to Academy drop-outs due to their Aura and training. Even Jaune, despite his short tenure, was lightyears above the average civilian. There was also the possibility of freelance mercenary work. In Vale, one did not require a license to practice Hunting, but the scope of jobs was usually reduced to the legally dubious and incredibly deadly variety.
There was also the option of Shade. Headmaster Ozpin had not so subtly hinted that while Jaune Arc was blacklisted from all Huntsmen Academies, the record-keeping in Vacuo really was quite dreadful. An enterprising individual could enter their labyrinth of convoluted systems and corrupt officials and come out as someone completely different.
Either way, Jaune would need something short-term to build a cash reserve. Whether that would be for a decent Valean flat, travel back to Ansel, or an airship to Vacuo, Jaune supposed he had some time to figure that out.
But as the rest of JNPR helped him pack and reminisced on the multitude of memories made in this cramped dorm, a welcome visitor in the form of Ruby Rose dropped by. Her team had experienced a more negative reaction to the news than his own, which Jaune supposed was warranted. He had never been close with them like he had Ruby but couldn't say their rejection didn't sting.
Ruby being the one most staunchly against his expulsion more than made up for it regardless.
"Its-Its just such bullcrap!" Ruby squeaked indignantly, sitting cross-legged on his bed while he packed his rucksack. Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha had gone to the cafeteria to grab them some late lunch on account of public places being an 'uncomfortable' place for him right now.
"Careful or Yang is gonna wash your mouth out with soap young lady," Jaune said with a slight smirk.
Ruby folded her arms and puffed her cheeks adorably. "I grew up with an alcoholic uncle, I can say much worse but Weiss gets all prissy and stuff. Says swearing is 'uncouth' or some other made-up word."
"Technically every word is made up."
"That's what I said!" She threw her arms up in the air. "That's beside the point, what I'm saying is they let a pig like Cardin stay but throw you out over what? A piece of paper?"
"I committed a royal crime, Ruby. The Council wanted me arrested."
"Well it's stupid and so are they. Rules are meant to be broken anyway, that's what Uncle Qrow says."
Jaune quirked an eyebrow. "Isn't that the alcoholic?"
Her bright silver eyes fell to the side. "… maybe…"
Jaune couldn't help his chuckle as he ruffled her raven hair. It felt good, being able to put the anxiety of his future behind and just talk with his first – and best, don't tell Nora – friend in Beacon. There was a certain understanding that they shared as outcasts – him for being a weakling and her for being younger than the rest – that the others couldn't top.
"It's just that Cardin has been such a huge jerk all day. He's walking around like the savior of Remnant and saying super mean stuff about you! Grrr, I wanna just," She balled her fists and threw a punch. "Break his freakn jaw."
"My hero," Jaune mock swooned.
"I'm serious!" She said. "When jerks like that get big heads, they think they're invincible. It happened all the time back in Signal, a bully would get a lucky break and then act like he owned the school. Yang says 'the most dangerous thing in the world is a tiny dick with a big ego.'" She recited, arms crossed and posture straight like a teacher giving a lecture.
Jaune paused and gave her a glance, did she just…?
Ruby must've noticed his look, "I was reciting a quote, so it doesn't count. Besides I'm fifteen not four, I can say bad words."
"Oh really? Then you can say fuck right now?"
Ruby blanched. "I-I-I- Pfft, yeah I mean I can but like, y'know…" She stared at him, mouth working in circles, and she scrambled for an excuse. "That's a stupid question! I-It's like meeting a painter and demanding they paint you a picture right there. Cursing is a fine art!" She upturned her nose and presented her best Weiss impression. "A knave like you wouldn't understand."
Jaune rolled his eyes. "Of course, how dare I rush your genius." He quipped. As his team returned with Lunch and they continued their banter, however, the younger girls words stuck with him.
Cardin was an insufferable narcissist from the day they met. He had the balls to harass a second year despite his position as one of the weakest of his year. Now, having successfully blackmailed and ousted Jaune and his ego being stroked by the entire school for it, what does he think he can get away with now?
The thoughts plagued him even as JNPR plus Ruby exited his former dorm for the last time. He gazed upon the flat wood, memories of his team flitting across his vision. Would Cardin target them next? Make it his personal vision to destroy everything Jaune loved? His position as Belegar Winchester's son made him virtually untouchable, Ozpin had good as admitted as such. How many other people would suffer under the weight of one man?
Jaune's pace slowed to a stop, they were almost out of the first-year dorms. He could see the courtyard through the glass doors. Just follow the main path to the docks and it was over. All of this would be behind him. Cardin would be someone else's problem and he could move on. Ruby promised to stay in contact with him. His team promised they would come to Vale and meet with him every weekend he remained in the city. Jaune could leave Beacon Academy with everything…
Everything but his pride.
"Hey- crap, guys I think I left my scroll in the dorm." Jaune said, patting down his jeans for the device he damn well knew was in his hoodie pocket.
His friends shared a quick look. "Oh, okay, we can go back with you?" Ruby offered, his former team voicing their agreement shortly after.
Jaune had already turned, quickly striding back into the building. "No, I got it! You guys go on ahead, I'll be right there!" He called back with a dismissive wave of his hand. The map of dorms blurred by him. He didn't need it.
He'd been to Team CRDL's dorm enough to know the route by heart.
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No one was home.
Jaune expected as much, it was late in the school day and classes had just gotten out. After weeks spent following them around like a lost puppy, he knew their schedule like clockwork. Dove, Sky, and Lark all had electives than ran later. Cardin, however, would have just left Miss Peach's Dust 1301 and be making his way back to the dorms to change and head to the gym. Which meant Jaune had just under 5 minutes to prepare.
Thanking Coral for teaching her ten-year-old brother how to lockpick, Jaune made quick work of the alarmingly flimsy handle lock with a paperclip and bobby pin. ¾ of the lock industry was more about selling the aesthetic of security rather than any actual function. Something Jaune had learned after four distinct brands of locks couldn't keep Coral out of her father's liquor cabinet.
Making sure the coast was clear, Jaune slipped into the darkened room. The first thing to assault Jaune was the smell. It was the rankest variety of BO the Arc had ever experienced. The curtains were drawn causing only faint rays from the late afternoon sun to illuminate CRDL's dorm, but Jaune could still glean the absolute state of it.
Clothes – unwashed by the smell of it – and garbage formed a boundary layer over the floor. Half-eaten takeout containers cluttered the bedside tables and the beds themselves looked to have never been made once. Jaune could imagine the look on his mother's face and the verbal beatdown that would ensue.
Jaune set his bag down in a relatively clear part of the floor and took a seat at the foot of Cardin's bed. It was dead center, directly in front of the door. Jaune felt the drama appropriate. He briefly took stock of the room, seeing the posters of half-nude swimsuit models – because of course – and considered searching the room for blackmail. Jaune dismissed the idea, because while he was sure there were drugs stashed somewhere, what with the faint accent of skunk to the fetid miasma that filled the room, he would not sink to their level.
Jaune was here to show Cardin that his ploy did not work. That despite his best efforts Jaune was not broken and if so much as a hair on his team's head was harmed, he'd do anything to bring Cardin down with him.
The specifics of how exactly to make that clear escaped Jaune. And as the seconds ticked by, so too did his resolve. Would simple words work? What if things got physical? Would Jaune be able to beat some sense into him? Jaune supposed if they got into a fight not much could happen, he was already expelled after all.
Anxiety settled within him as the initial burst of confidence finally bled away. Maybe he got too far ahead of himself here. Say what you want about his character, the fact still remained that Cardin was an ox of a man. Perhaps locking himself in a room with him then proceeding to antagonize the egoist with a history of physical violence wasn't the smartest play.
As Jaune stooped to grab his bag, however, the decision was taken out of his hands.
Footsteps and voices approached the door. Two sets. Jaune cursed quietly, had he miscalculated? Cardin Jaune could maybe handle on his own, but another member of CRDL? It would be a beatdown not in his favor.
As there was fumbling at the door, Jaune kicked his bag under Cardin's bed and dove into the closet set on the left side of the room. One door slid shut just as the other swung open.
"I'll be a few minutes, come on in and wait." The voice was male and full of dime-store bravado. That was Cardin alright.
"O-Okay…" Female, timid. Not another member of CRDL.
Through a thin crack where the sliding doors of the closet met, Jaune could see a figure of short stature enter the room. She had pale magenta hair and big yellow eyes. Jaune vaguely recognized her, a fellow first year – Marion. He couldn't remember the team though. She hugged herself protectively as she stepped into the dorm, her fair features scrunching slightly as the smell hit her.
Cardin shadowed her in, closing the door by backing up against it. From his parallel position Jaune watched through narrowed eyes as Cardin discreetly locked the door. An odd thing to do for a supposedly short visit.
Jaune dismissed it. Cardin was paranoid is all.
"Sorry for the mess, Dove is a pig," Cardin said as he came up behind her and pushed her towards Cardin's bed, Jaune didn't miss the way Marion flinched as his large hands came down on her shoulders. "Go on, sit. Don't worry, unlike Dove, I clean the cum out of my sheets." He said with a wink. Marion giggled woodenly as disgust shivered down Jaune's spine. Gross.
Such feelings were quickly overwhelmed by sheer panic as Cardin approached the closet.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck
At the last second, the human sack of shit veered right to where a large dresser sat against the wall and began rummaging through one of the drawers. Jaune would have sagged with relief if he wasn't scared stiff.
"So have you heard the news?" Cardin said, now out of Jaune's limited view.
Marion, curled into herself, observing the room with clear disgust. "I-I don't think so, no."
Cardin whooped loudly. "Oh man! I thought the whole school knew at this point. You're gonna love it, you know that cowardly blond piece of shit?"
"Oh, y-you mean Jaune?"
"Tch, I mean yeah but don't say that degenerate's name. You'll summon him like a disease."
Wow, really fucking mature Cardin.
Marion shied away slightly. She was really on edge. "S-Sorry."
"Yeah whatever. Well, anyway, turns out he conned his way into Beacon. Bribed a bunch of teachers and forged is transcripts. Real scummy shit, right?"
"Yeah…"
Jaune scowled. Was it not enough to just get him expelled? He had to slander him further too?
"I was the one to report it to the teachers, you know. I knew something was up with him. I mean Beacon is a school for the strongest on Remnant, even if they do let those mutts in. I cornered him in the Forever Fall about it and he tried to kill me, can you believe that shit!?" Marion shook her head. "Well, he did. I beat him easily, of course, even defended him while the Grimm attacked. I know I should have left the freak to be eaten, but that's just not how Huntsmen do things."
Cardin seemed to find what he was looking for as he finished his story. Holding a blue folder and coming to stand before Marion who refused to meet his eyes.
Jaune, at this point, was shaking with anger. Where did this inbred fucker get off? He was pissing his pants with fear the second that Ursa came out of the woods. Without Jaune, Cardin would be a bloody smear on the forest floor, and this is how he repays him!?
Jaune closed his eyes. Calm thoughts, Calm.
"That's really b-brave of you," Marion mumbled.
"I k-know." Cardin mocked with a laugh as she curled into herself further. "You know, you'd be much hotter if you dropped this meek and mild act. It's a real turn-off."
"Can w-we just go already?"
Cardin tilted his head as he looked down at her. Jaune couldn't see his face but the greasy smirk on his face wasn't hard to imagine.
"What's the matter, is my abode not good enough for you, princess?"
Marion cowered under his gaze. "No! No, I just- I have other classes today that's a-all."
Cardin scoffed. "Tch. Really? See, I checked your schedule, you lying bitch. You don't have shit for the rest of the day."
Marion full body flinched as the folder landed on the bed next to her.
"I get it, you only fuck mutts, is that it? What's the matter, you need fur to get off? There are plenty of Grimm out in the emerald forest for you, fucking freak."
Marion withered under his verbal assault. "Please," She whimpered. "I just w-wanna go home."
"Oh I bet you do. You know, a little birdy told me your whore mother works for my family," Marion froze. "Ain't that a coincidence?"
"y-you wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't what?" He said with a wolf's grin. "It's just so unfortunate these days. So many people and not enough jobs. And the rising price of living?" He tutted. "I hear it's getting real rough out there."
"P-Please, what do you want? I've done nothing to you."
Cardin gripped her by the scalp and ripped her head upwards. Wide yellow eyes looked upon Cardin in terror. Jaune's body burned and shivered at the same time as his heart raced harder than a Beowulf to its last meal. Surely Cardin wouldn't- he's a prick but he won't-
Surely…?
TW In Effect
"I don't know if you've heard, but I just rid this school of a freak and I'm looking to celebrate. Now, you're a bit…" He leered at her chest, "malnourished, for my taste. But that pretty face of yours is just begging to bounce on my dick."
At that moment, everyone in the room knew that he would.
Jaune frantically searched for something to help in this situation but the only thing in this closet was stupid fucking- wait. Shifting a cluster of hoodies aside, there propped up in the corner was a skateboard.
Marion screamed and cried as she tried to pry his hands from her hair, but his grip was resolute.
"What's the matter? Do you really want your mom to be out on the streets? The freaks out there will do a lot worse to her than I'm about to do to you."
Marion's wild eyes pulled together in perfect clarity for but a moment. Grabbing both of her hands onto his wrist she put her entire bodyweight into a single, powerful kick between Cardin's legs. The larger boy roared in agony. Victory quickly morphed into terror as his other hand came through to grip her by the throat and slam her into the bed. The frame creaked dangerously as Cardin climbed on top of her, hand still around her throat, and began tearing at the shirt of her uniform.
"You fucking slut!" Cardin roared, either ignoring or enjoying the sounds of pain and asphyxiation from the girl beneath him. "I'm gonna fuck you so hard you'll never even think about that diseased stray again!"
TW End
The sickening sound of snapping bone and tearing ligaments whipped through the room like lightning as Jaune caved Cardin's knee in with a kick. Cardin, completely unaware of his presence, hadn't had the time to slam his aura into place.
Not waiting for the disgusting piece of shit to finish his roar of agony, Jaune reared back and swung the skateboard with all his might into the side of his head, making sure the metal scaffolding that held the wheels on collided first. This time, Cardin had the sense to bring his aura up. However, it did little to mitigate the blunt force of the impact, sending the huntsmen in training sprawling.
Jaune vaguely registered Marion's screaming past the ringing in his ears, but Jaune paid her no mind. Red clouded his vision as the Arc moved to stand over the man who tried to take everything from him.
Cardin dizzy and bedraggled from shock, looked up at him through a haze. "A-Arc? Wha-"
The skateboard came down.
Poor aura control let the first hit through, cracking Cardin across the cheek and splitting it open. Aura came up after that as he tried to bring his arms up to block but Jaune stomped on his left hand hard enough to crack bone. Instead, all Cardin could do was scream.
With each successive hit, memories of his humiliation at Cardin's hand flashed across his vision. This pathetic asshole. It wasn't enough to ruin his team. It wasn't enough to ruin his reputation. It wasn't enough to get him expelled from Beacon. It wasn't enough to just be fucking satisfied with ruining Jaune's life! No, Jaune knew now that Cardin fucking Winchester would never, ever, be satisfied. He would rape and abuse and deflect the blame until he was dead and gone. Hiding behind his families reputation and power. That a man like him could be called a Huntsman filled him with disgust. He'd put an end to that fantasy right here and now.
"That's ENOUGH!"
The skateboard in his hands froze on the backswing. He struggled for a few seconds, attempting to wrestle it from whoever's grip and hit the prick again, but then the mist subsided, and he saw what he had done.
At some point, Cardin's aura had broken. That was the only thought Jaune could muster as he gazed down at his former classmate's broken and brutalized face. If it wasn't for the shock of brown hair, he'd be unrecognizable. Blood coated his face, the flesh swollen and split and gushing the stuff. His teeth were knocked in and jaw set at an off angle.
Cardin wetly gurgled, likely choking on his blood or swollen tongue.
In an instant, Miss Goodwitch's semblance hauled the Arc off of Cardin's barely breathing form. His arms were bound behind his back and body forced into the filth-encrusted carpet by an invisible weight. Somewhere at the edge of his senses someone gasped the word 'doctor' and sprinted down the hallway.
A shape rushed to Cardin's side. Ren?
"He's alive, barely," the Mistralian added under his breath. Pink eyes turned to him, desperate for answers. "Jaune?"
Had one word ever carried so much emotion? Confusion, fear, anger, disappointment, It was dizzying Jaune's already cloudy thoughts. '
Had he just…? Why would he…
No, no he was here for something, what-, "Mmrn!" He panted into the carpet. Miss Goodwitch was kind enough to lift him into an upright position, floating a couple of inches off of the ground.
"What?" She barked, voice biting as a Solitian winter.
"Marion!" He repeated, nodding towards the girl on the bed. She had pressed herself against the headboard, knees hugged to her chest. Jaune had to suppress the grimace as she flinched under his gaze, "I-I came to confront Cardin about being expelled- J-just to talk, honest!" He added at the Huntress' tightening gaze. "But he brought her, so I hid. He started getting aggressive then pinned her to the bed, so I just acted."
"I think you did more than 'act' Jaune-Jaune…" Nora said softly. The sound drew his attention to the doorway where Nora and Ruby stood. Nora looked at him sadly while Ruby hadn't even noticed him. Her wide, shining silver eyes were firmly locked on the smattering of meat that was Cardin's face.
"Is this true?" Goodwitch bit out, her gaze turned to Marion. The girl stared at Cardin then looked to Goodwitch with her terrified yellow eyes.
"I-I…" She began, then paused. She looked to Cardin again and stared for what felt like hours but was a scant few seconds. The wild fear in her eyes bled away to dull panic. Jaune knew Cardin's threats against her mother were replaying in her head.
"M-Marion, don't let him intimidate-"
"Shut up!" Miss Goodwitch's riding crop pointed towards Jaune threateningly. He shut his jaw in fear but gave Marion the most pleading look he could muster as red-hot panic filled his chest. Maybe, if she looked at him, it would have worked.
"Are his words truth?" The Huntress repeated.
Reluctance replaced panic, then desperation, then, finally, resignation. For a second time today, Jaune Arc could only watch, a helpless passenger, as his life was ended.
Her gaze broke from Cardin and settled on the center of the bed before her.
"No, he's… He's lying."
》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《
Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in. Starting a new project instead of finishing the old one are we? I figure Fallen Knight has waited to be finished for over 5 years at this point, it can wait for a little longer.
Anyway – Hi, how are ya. Welcome to Crimewave. I know it doesn't seem like it now but this is actually a partial Payday crossover if you can believe it. I say 'partial' because the only thing I'm borrowing is the name and a handful of heists. Most everything else will be from RWBY or original design.
The idea for this fic has had a pretty storied past. It began as a BNHA story when I was looking for a way to utilize Dabi outside of an LoV-centric story. I couldn't really justify many of my ideas, however, and the narrative got super goofy as a result. So I scrapped a bunch of it then rolled a Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift-esque Yakuza fic that would have a lot of car-based heisting. Well, the same problem kind of befell that one, and its scope went way beyond the 'street racers do petty crime' type deal I envisioned.
A lot of the aesthetics and ideas instead got folded over to a Bladerunner/SCP type deal that I actually still plan on writing once I finish Fallen Knight. I want to try my hand at super character-driven psychological writing, of which I'm going to trial run here. So don't expect something like the Payday source material. I'm gonna do my best to keep it as grounded and believable as I can while making sure it tells a much different story than Jaune's Fall From Grace. Of course we'll still have fun, this is fucking Payday, I mean come on, but just don't expect us to be committing genocide and robbing the fucking moon.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. Gonna try to put out a new chapter weekly but don't hold me to that.
