Jaune stood at the edge of the beach, staring out across the vast body of water and wondering just how far out it kept going. He had seen the endless waves from the tiny window of a bullhead, but that didn't compare to the view he had now.
If only he could enjoy the ocean for its beautiful sights, rather than getting frustrated at it for being the massive obstacle to his plan that it was.
You forgot we were on an island? Whitback sounded a bit confused and Jaune frowned slightly.
"No, I didn't forget we were on an island…" He crossed his arms and started pacing back and forth on the beach. Of course he didn't forget he was on an island, what kind of idiot would forget that?
… You forgot we can't swim?
"..." His frown deepened but he remained silent. How could he forget something he had never known? He had planned on making his way to the city of Vale while searching for people that might need help, but he couldn't really do that without first making his way off the island
If you want to get across, our options are limited. As it stands now, we would have to contact James for assistance. Whitback was blunt in its analysis. They didn't have access to a bullhead, and their body composition was far too dense for swimming. They would sink like a rock.
"But we failed… We were barely allowed outside before, how often do you think he'll let us out now?" Jaune didn't like to complain since James had been so kind to them but… Aside from a handful of missions, he never really let them outside. It was too dangerous, the risk too high. If Jaune lost control in the city, there was no telling how much damage he could cause.
He understood all that, but that didn't stop him from feeling more like a caged animal than an actual person. It was… far from comforting, knowing he was looked at as a monster to be contained.
As often as you wish. Your Grande Protector guarantees your freedom, none shall hold us captive. Whitback left no room for argument, and Jaune held no doubt that the grimm would do everything in its power to ensure his freedom. It would find a way outside, with or without James' permission.
"What if he doesn't let us? Will you fight him?" That wasn't what Jaune wanted. James had shown him nothing but kindness, and Whitback just wanted to protect him. The last thing he wanted was either of them to get hurt. "No, I won't watch the two people I care about tear each other apart."
How are you so sure James will even attempt to lock us up? He knows what we're capable of and he has shown that he does want to protect mankind. Why not try making a deal to continue fighting for him while also working on our goal of protecting people?
"Besides not knowing how he'll react to this failure? Well, you heard what that faunus, Blake, had said… Thinking back on it made his stomach churn. How the Faunus were forced into mines to work for people who saw them as nothing but disposable tools. Forced to risk their lives just to feed their children.
"It's like, for some reason, the faunus are excluded from mankind." Jaune had trouble believing they could be treated as badly as that girl said, but she looked so heartbroken. Could she really have been lying? No, that couldn't be the case. Whitback had learned all it could about the Faunus through their memories; it would never let Jaune make a decision based on a lie.
You would fight to defend the ones that took so much from you? Why? Jaune could feel Whitback's confusion. Hell, he didn't really understand it himself. Why was he defending them? Why bother helping the Faunus when one of them had killed his entire family?
It had to be the same reason that faunus girl, Blake, was still breathing now.
"Would you say we deserve to die? Just because of what other Grimm have done?" No, he couldn't accept that. He had made mistakes, there was no denying that. But was he guilty of the near extinction that the Grimm as a race were responsible for?
"Hmm, I suppose no one should pay for the crimes of another." The actions of one man had cost Jaune his entire family. It was a disgusting act that he wouldn't be able to leave unpunished.
But what he had done, how he retaliated…
How many Faunus had he killed? How many would never be able to go home to their families, because he had chosen to punish them for the crimes of a deadman?
To confirm, you wish to protect both human and faunus life? Whitback's voice sounded neutral, with a hint of curiosity. And you're not sure that's Ironwood's goal?.
"Exactly." Jaune replied with a smile, relieved it wasn't against the idea.
"James is nice, but he's too paranoid. I don't think he'd let us do what we need to do. He'll prioritize his people above any others." The constant lessons of caution the man had drilled into him were enough to prove that.
"Do you think we can get off this island without his help?" They couldn't do much good in such a quiet place. That town already had Ruby fighting for it and Jaune was almost positive finding him in such a small area would be far too easy for James.
Whitback was silent for a moment before responding with a seemingly random question. Are you happy with the changes I've made to your body?
Jaune wasn't expecting the question but immediately replied with nonchalant "Yea, of course."
Whitback had made him so much stronger and faster. He was even able to see in the dark, and that was excluding what it did to protect him with its own body. There were downsides, that much should have been obvious. But none really came to his mind.
Whitback had been his friend when he most needed it, that's all that mattered to him.
"Why do you ask?"
The changes I've made are more akin to modifications, rather than a full transformation. Whitback tried to explain, though Jaune wasn't sure what that meant.
Back when we were first introduced I had only made some minor changes, but at that time I could feel your discomfort whenever you looked upon those changes. Because of that reprehension you showed, I've done everything I can to preserve as much of your human body as possible.
Jaune wasn't sure how he felt about that. Should he be happy he still had a "mostly" human body? Did he even care at this point? It had been so long since he felt that fear back at Jacques' lab that he had all but forgotten it. Had Whitback been thinking about it the whole time?
But, to get off this island, we have two main options I can think of. Either we risk being found by Ironwood and try sneaking aboard a bullhead. Jaune frowned, the thought of facing the man now after everything made his stomach churn nervously.
James already disliked letting him outside for fear of exposing his grimm nature. Now that he had failed to keep it under wraps, there was no telling when he would be let out again. Or even if he would be let out again…
Or, I can strip your body of the last of its humanity. I can change the composition of every bit of your remaining flesh, allowing you to survive the depths of the ocean without trouble.
Jaune scratched the back of his head, unsure what to make of his choices. If he was being honest, he didn't really know what Whitback meant by "stripping the body of humanity". But he did know that the idea wasn't nearly as scary as the thought of facing James.
"Will that make me act differently? What do you mean "my humanity"?" He asked, trying to wrap his mind around what it meant. He was already thought of as an inhuman monster by anyone who saw too many of his features. Even Ironwood had flinched from him for the first few months, and Winter still avoided his eyes like they might turn her to stone.
Your neural pathways, or your "mind", have already been incorporated into my body. It's how I first experienced your memories, and how I communicate with you so easily. What I'm suggesting won't change how you think, only your flesh.
"I don't understand, my skin already looks different from other people." Wasn't his body already changed? Was that what it meant by modifications versus a full transformation?
All I have done is replace your blood with my body to augment your physical strength. My color gives your veins a blackened appearance, but it also allows me to modify and repair any damage done to your body. I haven't absorbed and completely recreated your body from scratch, as I am now suggesting.
Jaune knew he should be thinking very carefully, Whitback was Grimm after all and James had made it clear that the Grimm were the true enemy of humans and faunus alike. Whitback hadn't even tried to defend the accusation, it knew the Grimm constantly threatened to destroy all civilizations.
There was only one problem he had with that theory.
Whitback had only ever acted to protect Jaune and itself. It had never once gone out of its way to cause needless harm or suffering. Even if it got carried away with its protectiveness, it still just wanted to live and learn alongside Jaune.
"I trust you." He answered honestly with a smile, satisfied with Whitback's explanation. "Now, what do you need me to do to get off this island?"
…Thank you. It responded a bit oddly. While it was impossible to tell, Jaune was sure he could hear it smiling.
First things first, we need to go fishing.
\-/
Ozpin's office was a clockwork marvel to stand within, the spinning gears both above and below giving a distinct feeling of grandeur. Ozpin himself sat calmly at his desk with a tired looking Qrow to his left side. While Winter waited outside, James stood in front of the duo with his arms linked behind his back. A slight frown was his only notable expression.
"I do not regret taking the child under my protection. He was far too dangerous to leave alone." James' voice was unapologetic, sure of his actions and intentions. Qrow had already explained the situation, relaying what James had told him about the hybrid during their bullhead ride to beacon.
"Of course you don't, how many White Fang did he kill for you?" Qrow had been nothing but hostile, seeing no sense in keeping the hybrid a secret from Ozpin. "Did you ever think that maybe you shouldn't force a child to commit genocide on your behalf!?"
"I never forced anyone! Jaune was the one who wanted to fight the White Fang and the grimm inside him would have helped him achieve that with or without me!" James shot back with a glare, not willing to take Qrow's verbal assault silently.
"At least while in my custody I could direct the damage he caused, limit it even. White Fang disappearing caused far less panic than a human like grimm ripping them apart in public!"
"Enough!" Ozpin raised his voice only enough to be heard clearly, silencing Qrow with a side glance before turning his attention back to Ironwood. "I am not questioning your morals, James. I may not agree with your actions but I do believe you made them to protect innocent lives."
"I am just trying to understand why you kept it a secret from us." James couldn't sense any anger in Oz's voice and felt a touch of relief. At least he hadn't angered one of the few people he actually considered a friend.
"I am sorry, Ozpin. I admit, if given the choice, I would have prefered it if you had never found out about Jaune. You see, I fully believed that you would seek the grimm's immediate destruction." Ozpin raised an eyebrow to the statement, confusion written on his face.
"You don't believe it should be?" Most who knew him would argue that James had always been the more aggressive member of their group. What possible reason could he have for seeking to protect a grimm?
"You're usually the first to display the might of mankind. Why is this grimm different? aside from inhabiting a human host." As sad as it would be, one child's life was not worth risking the entirety of their civilization.
"Because it has shown none of the uncontrollable violence most Grimm exhibit. Both physically and verbally, it has shown no resentment towards mankind, at worst being indifferent towards human suffering."
"The only time it has been observed acting with malice is when its host is in danger or, much like other grimm, when there is too much negativity in the air. But even in those rare situations Jaune has proven, with some effort and practice, he can maintain cohesion.
Ozpin scratched at his chin thoughtfully. "You believe it would fight for mankind?" The conclusion was easy enough to arrive at. Using an enemy's weapon against them was an incredibly valuable strategy they had employed a few times in the past. Just never on such a level, with such a being as this.
"I see your point, but are you not worried about creating a second Salem? A "King" of grimm, if you will." Ozpin had revealed the Queen of Grimm's existence to James long ago. He must have seen the similarities when he saw what Qrow described as a "Grimm-eyed human with blackened veins and deathly white skin.".
"I considered that possibility and had plans to eliminate him if he showed even a hint of treachery, but none of those plans have been needed. His actions, while sometimes overly apathetic, were never the actions of a violent psychopath. Honestly, I believe them to be more comparable to the actions of a child lashing out at those who hurt him."
"Is that why he ran off against your orders? Because he's just a child lashing out?"
James didn't know how to respond to that. This was the first instance of flat out disobedience Jaune had ever committed, and better yet he wasn't even sure if it was Jaune who disobeyed. Whitback had said the boy was unconscious before Qrow had distracted him. The next thing he knew, Whitback had ignored his order and disappeared into the forest.
"I did not expect him to ignore my orders, but the circumstances had already placed a tremendous amount of stress on Jaune and, in turn, on the grimm." James tried to defend, still unable to see Jaune as someone capable of treachery.
"Something else was going on. There had to be a reason Jaune refused to return, it doesn't make sense otherwise."
Ozpin let out a sigh, unsure what to make of the whole situation. On the one hand, Jaune was a creature of Grimm, a race of beings that have shown nothing but hostility to humanity. On the other hand, according to James, he has shown himself to be both capable and willing to help others.
Should they rid themselves of this threat? despite the advantage having such an ally and weapon would bring?
"Qrow, you mentioned that your niece had spoken with Jaune, correct? I'm curious what she had to say about him."
"She did, but…" the black haired man hesitated, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden question. "She's still a kid, ya know? She's not able to tell if someone is manipulating her."
"Jaune wouldn't lie like that." James fixed the man with a glare. "Over half a decade and I've never once caught him lying."
"Keyword being "caught". Who knows what he's been hiding from you."
"Do you really think I would be that careless?! He's been under constant watch, he wouldn't have the chance to do anything even if he wanted."
"Unless that's what he wanted you to think."
"That's enough." Ozpin stopped the argument before it could continue. "Qrow, I take it your niece had nothing bad to say about the boy?"
"Yea, you could say that…" A frown appeared on the Huntsman, peaking both Ozpin and James' interest.
"She, uh-" He scratched at his chin, his frown looking more like a pout by the second. "She asked if I could help her find him." He let out a long, tired sigh. "She's worried about him."
Ozpin couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. "Ah, of course the little rose would worry. So much like her mother she is." It was rare to find someone so skilled, who also had such a kind heart. No one could deny that the death of Summer Rose was a tragedy.
"Very well then," He made his decision with a nod. "I believe Jaune has given us enough reason to allow him a bit of free reign. Waiting to see what he will do with his newfound freedom, I believe, will be our best chance to learn of his true intentions."
"That being said," He moved to clarify. "Qrow, your job will be to watch and ensure he doesn't get into too much trouble. Intervene if people are in danger, otherwise leave him be."
"And should he ever become too much for Qrow to handle," He turned his attention to James. "I trust you have something planned in the event of such a scenario?" James frowned, but nodded nonetheless.
"I realize we can't afford to be careless. Weapons meant to combat such a unique physiology have been created and will continue to be refined." No matter his feelings on the matter, he was the General of a nation. Lacking contingency's for worst case scenarios was simply not an option.
"Then I believe that concludes our business" Ozpin grabbed his coffee mug from the desk and took a sip. "Let us hope that before long, we'll have a new ally." An ally with abilities like they've never seen before.
How will this shake the game, he wondered.
\-/
It had been quite the night for James. First Jaune had failed his mission, which on its own wasn't a big deal, but getting caught by Qrow had complicated things.
However, as bad as those mistakes were, ignoring orders and a possible betrayal were the real problem. Now plans he had no intention of using had to be prepared, ensuring sleep would quickly become a prized commodity.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking." Winter's voice brought James back to the bullhead they both sat within. "Why aren't we hunting for Jaune and the grimm? If they've betrayed us, wouldn't they be a far bigger threat than any average grimm?" She was confused how they could just fly back to Atlas without securing such a great threat to humanity's security.
Winter wasn't a part of Ozpin's group and as such James couldn't tell her anything about their meeting. But she was already privy to Whitback's existence; he couldn't remain silent unless he wanted to risk breeding mistrust and dissent.
"You're correct, Whitback is a far bigger threat than any grimm we have ever faced." He had seen much of what it was capable of, he wouldn't deny this new grimm the threat level it deserved.
"But Jaune is not some malicious criminal, I doubt he could kill even the worst of the White Fang without Whitback helping him. He's too gentle a soul." Something that was far too rare in this world.
"The fact that he does kill, doesn't that prove how much the grimm controls him? What if what we think is Jaune is really just the grimm using Jaune's memories to trick us?" That very same question gave James uncountable stress-filled hours.
What if Jaune was killed at Jacques' facility and the grimm was just waiting for the perfect moment to do the most damage possible to the humans the rest of its kind slaughtered so carelessly.
"That's exactly why we have weapons specifically made for Whitback's unique physiology. There is simply no way to prove with 100% certainty where its allegiance lay." James crossed his arms with a frown.
"That being said, after spending such a long time with him, I can't see Jaune as anything other than human." He practically raised the child for the past six years. If the grimm had already taken full control, it was doing a damn good job of hiding it.
"Even then, should we not be attempting to find him? He could still be a risk with too much negativity." The thought of Jaune and Whitback losing control in a crowded area was not a pleasant one. The loss of life on its own would be tragic, but the fear it would bring could draw far larger problems.
"Someone is already handling it." He didn't like it, but he knew Qrow was the best man for the job. A rude, scruffy drunkard he might be, but that drunkard was still the best Huntsman he ever met. If anyone could keep Jaune out of trouble, it would be him.
"All we need to do is prepare the appropriate countermeasures."
"With all due respect sir, you don't look very happy about that." Winter was always preceptive, though not usually so forward. James would allow it though, since they were the only ones in the bullhead's cabin.
"I am not." He admitted with a sigh. He always had trouble leaving problems to other people. It wasn't that he didn't trust Ozpin or even Qrow for that matter. He trusted both of them more than he did his own government. He just didn't trust problems not explode in people's faces.
"Keep an ear out in Vale, make a note of any rumors that have to do with new kinds of grimm and report them to me." If he couldn't help find Jaune, he would at least keep track of the public's knowledge of him.
Maybe he could notice panic rising before it had the chance to turn into something worse.
"Of course sir, I'll get in touch with some of our contacts in Vale."
\~/
Bit of a short, "in-between" chapter. Mostly explaining what Jaune is planning, how Oz's group are reacting to this new Grimm, and how James is seeing this possible betrayal. Kind of feel like this one is a bit exposition heavy but also felt like it was still necessary. If I explained anything poorly (or just straight up f'ed something up) please lemme know! depending on what the error is, I'll either fix it right away, or learn from it to hopefully keep it from happening in the future. Hope ya'll enjoy and please have a wonderful morning/night.
