Hello again! A bit late but really that's just on me. So I have some news... I started college. Yup, no need to know that but I'm saying it anyway. So if my procrastination wasn't killing my work ethic then having other work will! damn I am just the worst... Regardless another chapter and more potential bad writing. enjoy!
Chapter 5: Second Chances, New Starts (Ruby, Jaune)
Silence held the normally chaotic dorm room as RWBY awoke the next morning. Normally they head to class and listen to Profes-er Doctor Oobleck speed teach history, but a secondary free day was given due to the events the previous one still held on to the younger student body. Ruby being one of them, as she sat confused and hurt over Xreos' actions. Why… A question that kept her up that night, trying to justify her supposed friend's treatment towards her sister. Said sister, groaning a bit, getting up with an ice pack towards her stomach. Decent size bruises formed during the night.
Ruby gazes up a bit, checking to see if her older and protective sibling had any trouble getting up. Meanwhile, her other teammates/friends roused from their sleep as well.
"So did anyone else have trouble sleeping?" Blake asked mid-stretch, making the bookworm resemble her prominent fannus heritage.
"Ugh… sides still hurt like a bit-bench, other than that, been better" Yang said, wincing as she moved the ice pack a bit to fix her shirt.
"Well then, maybe next time we listen to reason before we start attacking "professionals" Weiss coldly stated.
Yang scowled at the heiress, getting up and claiming the bathroom first all the while. Ruby watched from her bed at the interaction, smiling a bit before thinking about the prior day again.
"So do we want to join this course?" the Fannus asked as they continued to sit in bed.
"Hah, like some thug could teach us better than beacon's staff." Weiss stated irritated at the thought.
"I for one rather not take lessons from a raging prick!" Yang shouted from the bathroom.
"Well, I think it might be a good experience."
"What!?"
"Yeah." Blake began, shifting to look at their resident ice queen in the eyes. "Sure, it was ruthless but that is what real fights are. They involve "Cheap" tactics and cruel methods, learning how to deal with them could help in the long run…" Blake gazed sadly, a fact that Ruby filed away to ask about when the ex-fang member was ready.
"Hmm… you're not wrong, but still… I don't trust this "Xreos". I've seen more sympathetic trainers at the atlas military."
"He's not a bad guy!"
Ruby gazed a bit wondering who spoke out, before realizing it was herself as her friends looked at her to explain. Swallowing, she did.
"He saved me, remember? If he was bad, then he'd left me for dead right!?"
"Ruby!"
"That's just it though! He didn't, he saved me, and also was friendly towards me when I saw him again at beacon."
She paused to take a breath and to see if they had anything to add, when it was clear they didn't, she continued.
"Sure, I'm not naive enough to believe it might have been a huntsman thing to go help others but getting close and being friends was genuine!"
"It could be some ploy to trick you."
"Geez Weiss! Not everyone is a spy or terrorist. Ah sorry..." Ruby added and looked at Blake apologetic, who only gave a shrug having been more comfortable and safe with the team due to the events at the docks.
"And… I for one would like to do the course…"
"What!?" Yang yelled as she burst from the bathroom in a towel.
"I m-mean it would help out! Plus, Torchwick is still out there, right? We could use the training to help out!"
"No way! No way in hell! He shot at you Rubes!"
"And he beat you into submission Yang!"
Silence held as Yang gaped at her sister's words. Ruby with tears continued yelling.
"You're strong! Really strong, but you weren't there at the docks! Explosions, a lot of fighting, death! I know that those people probably died due to Penny! I know that it was them versus Blake and Sun getting killed but still! And that was after a majority of it!" She turned towards the Fannus, who nodded glumly.
"It's true, there were some who got caught in the initial explosion…"
"I know that Torchwick was huntsman trained, I fought him after all, and if you can't beat a professional who is on our side…" Ruby slumped in her bed, "Then I don't know how we can beat one who isn't…"
"That is why we are a team! We can do it together; you know gang up on him. Torchwick is just one guy after all!"
"Can we gang up on Uncle Qrow? Dad? Professor Goodwich or even Headmaster Ozpin?"
Yang's silence was telling.
"I'm going to go talk to JNPR, maybe see what they're doing… This is a unanimous decision after all… and you're right. I don't know how I feel about taking a class from someone who hurt my sister." Ruby added as she left to find JNPR, leaving _WBY behind to ponder on her words.
/
/
Jaune Arc was a coward. A coward and a cheat who lied his way into being a huntsman-in-training. He was okay with that. He went on and off life goals like a scroll-starr trying on different brands for views. He wanted to be a professional athlete, so his parents signed him up for Football practice. He quit after a week. He wanted to be a musician, so his father went out and bought a guitar and lessons to learn how to play. That one he hadn't really given up on, but he wasn't trying hard enough, given what reactions Weiss had to say anytime he tried to sing to her. Heck, his affection for Weiss wasn't even really there anymore, he just didn't want to give up again and continue his guide on beginning a failure! Maybe that one I should give up on already, I must seem like a douche or creep to her… Anyways… Jaune knew his faults and despite it, knew he wanted to be a huntsman, and with Pyrrha's training, was getting decently better. By going from absolute garbage to just trash… Yet it was only after Blake and Sun's (along with Ruby and another one of her friends) venture to the docks did Jaune truly know how much he has left to grow.
Another reason why I am such a loser… So, with effort to catch up with the rest of them quickly, he accepted the fact that the new course given may be the toughest thing he's ever done, (You know… other than forging his way into one of the top huntsman and huntress academies in the world…) and was once again proven why he felt he didn't deserve his team as they agreed with little questions asked.
As it stood, they were on their way towards the courtyard again, since that was where "Xreos" said he was going to wait. Why did he tell me a different name if it wasn't real? From his left a curt, but polite interruption banished his thoughts.
"Are you ok Jaune? We don't have to take this course, you know." His humbly kind partner asked.
"Yeah… Just lost in thought. And I do want to go to Pyr…just thought I knew Ste-Xreos you know?"
"Well, Jauney, not everyone is deserving of our fearless leader's amazing company you know? Kind of like people who forgot to grab blueberries for today's breakfast this morning!" Nora added, giving an exaggerated huff and eye roll towards their silent friend, who rolled his eyes in return.
Jaune knew it was the bubbly redhead's way of bringing up the mood whenever he got lost in admittedly, depressing thoughts but was grateful for anyways giving a small chuckle and snort.
"Maybe you should watch over Ren to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Wait now just a-"
"Great Idea! Be prepared Renny for best chief Nora, I'll make sure to grab those elusive berries!"
Jaune and Pyrrha laughed at the totally not together duo's antics before a cheery voice came out next to them.
"Jaune! Pyrrha!"
"What about us!? We chop berries!?"
"Hey Ruby, what's up?" Jaune asked the cloaked reaper, ignoring Nora's protest of obscurity.
"Nothing, just wanted to see what you guys were doing."
Ruby wasn't blind to see the four JNPR members give each other worrying glances before Jaune coughed to explain.
"W-well…" Nice confidence dumbass... " We were going to join the new program."
Ruby gaped a bit at the blond knight's answer before turning sheepish. "You a-are?"
"Yeah… We agreed it would be a great experience and the skills learned would greatly help in the long run…" And the short one considering my lack of skills…
"Y-yeah that sounds about right…"
The atmosphere turned awkward as the two leaders shuffled a bit. Not even Nora or Ren had a clue what to say since it was Ruby who got shot at by their new (potential) teacher. It lasted a bit before Jaune spoke.
"Do you want to come with… I mean in looking to see what he offers… you don't have to. I was just saying since you know…"
Great you made this worse, only you Jaune! Jaune stood even more awkwardly as Ruby gave a complicated look. She shuddered a bit before taking a breath.
"Can I…"
"What was that?"
"C-can I? Come with I mean…"
"Yeah…"
The mood now completely uncomfortable to the point Nora didn't have anything to fix it. JNPR+R made their way towards the courtyard.
After what happened yesterday, and with tensions still being high, Jaune expected to see Xreos sitting stoically or alone, what he and the rest of JNPR+R didn't expect was to see a different team than before running around the yard.
It was a split team of boys and girls, all wearing standard beacon gym uniforms. In front of them was Xreos himself holding a stopwatch watching like a hunter waiting for weakness in its prey.
"Musashi! No breaks of any kind! 100 more laps!"
"Aww come on!"
It was a surreal sight to see after yesterday, and because of this they didn't notice Xreos turning to acknowledge them.
"I said unanimously but that doesn't include other teams as well…"
"eh!?"
With a sigh, Xreos turns towards the group with a slight frown.
"So, decided that the normal route wasn't enough? Or are you here to sit on the sidelines again while the "main crew" do your job for you?"
"Hey now that isn't right to say!" Ruby defended.
"Oh? Last I checked no one from team JNPR was reported to be at the docks…"
"How do you know that…"
"Came with the report given by the headmaster. OI! Just cause I'm not watching doesn't mean I won't know! 100 more laps, Lunberg!" Xreos added towards an electric blue haired girl who was sneaking a walk.
"Damn it!"
"We're here to take the course!" Jaune yelled out. Causing the trainies and Xreos to look towards him
Xreos gave a complicated expression, if Jaune weren't flustered over the violet huntsman's words, he might have noticed guilt and sorrow mixed in, instead, Xreos gave a look towards the rest of JNPR.
"The rest of you in? Remember… one-hundred percent agreement to join. And I will know." He added with a bit of a glowed look in his irises.
Jaune looked back towards his team as they took in their last chance to ditch. What seemed like eternity for him, Pyrrha looked back with a determined nod, followed by Ren and Nora respectively. Releasing a breath, he didn't know he held, Jaune returned it as he answered Xreos.
"Yeah. We're sure."
Xreos only gazed somberly, which confused Jaune, before sighing. "Very well, join the run right now. You have 100 laps to go before we start with the warmups."
"Eh?"
"What you wanted in, you're in, do you need a medal? Fanfare? I said 100 laps starting now so that means now!" Xreos said irritated, his entire demeanor changed drastically as if he took on a new persona. Jaune only gaped for a second before Xreos gave a glare that could make him related to Professor Goodwitch. Maybe it was that image, or perhaps it was Xreos seemingly pulling out his weapon, but Jaune ran like hell followed by his friends before he could research that theory closely.
Before Ruby could follow, Xreos grabbed her by the cloak causing her to squirm. "Not you red… you have to have your entire team to take part, ain't doing classes for one."
"W-what? And let go!"
"I said you can't take part Rose." Xreos repeated while dropping Ruby, ignoring her pouting. "I don't do solo teaching; it ruins dynamics in the long run."
Ruby gazed softly at Xreos' explanation, in which he started subtly flinching unknowingly. She gave a sad stare before turning towards Jaune and the others. The two stood there for a while as the others ran in varying paces, Pyrrha and Nora catching up with the other team, while Jaune was behind with Ren in front slowing down to keep his leader company and to avoid Nora who was currently making ludicrous conversation with a smaller brunette. After a while, Ruby took a breath and gathered some inner courage.
"W-why did you do it…"
"..."
"I-I thought we were friends…"
"..."
"..."
"It wasn't personal, Rose…"
"?"
Ruby heard heavy breaths as she turned to see Xreos struggle to explain.
"I've seen too many die because of childish ideals… I'd rather earn your hatred then see it grow…"
Ruby could only stare confused by the midnight haired teen before he moved towards the now finishing teens. What ideals?
Now this was something. Like more character! yay for Ocs! but for real, a new set added in to fill the body count er I mean interaction and story, gonna be honest, they are definitely side characters, I hope to develop them well though! and to clarify, I should still be uploading the rest of this backlog on time and who knows. It could motivate me to actual write the current ones too... For now, vague words stay vague, choice words were said, and will our noodle finally get mc status!? yes, to the last lol but for the others and past questions find out next time on Cross Fates!
