Ultimate Weapon Chapter 5:
Arc: Weapon X
When Jaune awoke for this day, to say he was surprised was…an understatement. After the discussion he had with his teammates the other night he had come to realize two things. One…he didn't feel any better…and two while revealing everything had the intended effect of easing his time at Beacon (less people to be wary of) it had the unintended effect of making his teammates rather curious about him. Better the people that knew than someone obsessed with finding his secret or something.
God he sounded like a comic hero or something.
Say what you would about his methods but in the end Jaune created some trust in his team. Small, but ever growing. Now he had to learn to live with them. The first step towards that goal…was therapy apparently.
Jaune's morning was slow and boring but even so he found himself across Ozpin once more, three days ahead of their next appointment. It was odd receiving the message so early in the morning but Jaune head out. Now that he didn't have to worry about his teammates finding his unusual amount of 'therapy'
"So why am I here?" asked Jaune.
Ozpin smiled as he avoided the question.
"I sense your mind is lighten. I'm happy you've become accustomed to your surroundings, at least more so than yesterday."
Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"you knew?"
"That you were thinking of leaving? You were projecting quite loudly from the city Jaune."
Jaune's eyes rose.
"How far can you project?" asked Jaune.
Ozpin smiled.
"If I concentrate? Probably the whole kingdom."
Jaune whistled. That amount of raw power made him wary, incredibly so, but Ozpin had yet to give him any reason to distrust him. From what little Jaune knew about telepaths was that raw power of that magnitude was impossible for ordinary folk. But with a biology focused on telepathy that may not have been an issue. Still though it must not have been easy for Ozpin.
Jaune sighed as he rolled his neck. His metal bones were a weight on his body, one that required constant stretching and popping. His body had gotten more accustomed to the weight but it would be a while yet before he was back to his natural levels of flexibility and dexterity.
"…Jaune are you listening to me?"
Jaune looked to Ozpin and focused. Ozpin sighed as he realized that Jaune was not exactly paying attention. What a shocker.
"I said your family has arrived in Vale. They're on their way now."
Jaune's heart might as well have stopped. He shut down as he the thoughts raced through his head. This..this was too fast. Seeing his family again was too much, the guilt, the anger, the angst…Jaune stopped as he closed his eyes. Last night was an eye opening experience for him.
No. Jaune did not mysteriously develop an immense bond with his teammates. What was eye opening was just how easy it was to distance himself. He revealed his secret to his teammates for the sole reason that it was just simpler to do so. In Jaune's experience it was ridiculous to think that he would get away with keeping to himself his entire time at Beacon. It just wouldn't happen. Eventually his secret, how ever much of it, would leak out and questions would be raised. He cut off the head of that particular snake and did away with the whole situation itself.
Yet, even as he revealed his secret to his teammates…he still felt separate from them. They were not friends like Junior. The man knew everything and they had bonded over time and became friends. What Jaune did was simply throw a bone at his teammates simply for convenience…something he did feel guilty about to a degree. But that wasn't something he could fix in mere moments. That was a situation that took time.
No what Jaune learned was just how easy it was for him to run away. He stood up and faced his anxiety with his team, complete strangers, and yet with his own family…
In the end his relationship with his team, while hallow and empty, was preferable to the meeting up with his family, because in the end he ran away. It was that simple. The logic of a ten-year old drove him away from home when he hurt his sister. He kept running and running through the wilderness. Everything that happened was his own fault, all stemming from the fact that he ran away from his problems, rather than facing them like a man. His father had taught him better than that…his mother taught even further.
Was this…was this shame he felt? Was that the reason he never sought his family out? Shame for the fact that he couldn't stand up…and rather sulked away?
"It is, as it will always be Jaune, a concoction of different emotions."
Jaune looked at Opzin and narrowed his eyes.
"Get out of my head."
Opzin winced as he glared at Jaune.
"Stop mentally yelling into my skull and I won't."
Jaune grimaced. That had to be the one annoying thing about these sessions. Jaune could never think, nor trust his own thoughts around Ozpin. He trusted the man, barely. Trust was earned…not just given. While Ozpin had certainly earned his trust…it was a fragile thing at the moment. However, on the other hand Jaune had yet to stop yelling in his mind. It was a defensive technique Rose taught him when the White Fang brought their dick of a Telepath Quentin Quire. Dude was an ass. (Read at Bottom).
"Jaune I must again apologize for my error" said Ozpin, resparking Jaune's attention "within the moment, I contacted Joan before you were ready, as such you're facing this reunion before you are comfortable. As much as I am sorry regarding the matter, it is also happening with or without our consent at this point."
Jaune grimaced again. God damn Ozpin and his logic. He was right. This was happening. Jaune's mother was a famous hunstmen. She would find him if he ran so close to her proximity. She was probably already on her way. From what Jaune remembered she was an early riser. Jaune sighed as he buried his face into his hands. Scratching at what he remembered his family was probably already in the Kingdom.
"Dammit! I want to stop feeling like this" muttered Jaune.
Ozpin nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
"I understand that Jaune, however you must remember that regardless of how you feel about this situation, it has come time to face it."
Jaune shrugged. He knew that was true. It was time for him to face the one person he ever dreaded meeting again…
His sister mary. His oldest sibling was fifteen at the time. She was scolding him harshly for taking her stuff and playing with them. Jaune played with her toys and games, cause she shared a similar interest in adventure and action that he did…it flashed back to him quickly and forcibly.
-Eight Years Ago Within Jaune's memories-
"Jaune for the last time stop taking my pop figurines! They're collectibles not toys and you're ruining their market value by taking them out of the packaging!"
Jaune growled at his sister, a growl akin to a dog. His sister felt nervous but pushed on.
"Enough Jaune! Seriously its time you learned to stop taking what isn't yours!"
Jaune growled as he stepped away from his sister. She stood a solid 6'2 even at her young age. Her body already blossoming into that of a vibrant and full woman. Her blond hair, dyed with black streaks, flowed around her head in a bun. She was wearing her usual jacket and jeans combo. She grabbed Jaune by the wrist and as always was surprised at the strength her youngest sibling carried. But even so the difference in their age, mixed with their size, and her active aura made Mary's job of dragging Jaune to their parents all the easier.
Jaune kept trying to pull away from his sister. He clutched his tiny fists in hopes that he might gather strength to tear away from her grip. Yet…in his young age Jaune forgot the dangers of his hands…and what lied within them. With a crunch his bone claws, small but still deadly, tore through his fists. Unknown to Jaune at the time was the fact that his sister had just finished sparring with their mother insuring her aura was weaker than it should be. His sister's height as she dragged him had angled his hand towards her wrist, a place with little muscle to protect it thereby increasing the damage dealt. In such a place her aura was too weak to fully deflect it.
The blood that flew from her wrist did nothing to distract Jaune as he heard her scream…a bloody echoed tore through his mind as he looked at his sister. She clutched her wrist, her aura minimizing the damage and stopping the bleeding. It was deep enough to scar, turning into three long white lines down the underside of her arm, but thankfully her aura had prevented too much blood from being lost and was able to quickly heal the wound, forgoing protection for the more pragmatic option for survival. To Jaune's eyes she looked at him with a maddening fear.
As she ran off to get her parents for helping Jaune (Who's blood that was covering him she had yet to realize was all her own) but to Jaune…she ran away from him…terrified and justifiably so. To the mind of a ten year-old Jaune thought his life was over. Again and again he was reminded of the fact that he could not play roughly with children. He had become so mindful while outside, a fact that he knew made his parents proud and sad. Yet at home he forgot all about that, thinking he was in a safe place and with no need for restraints.
-End-
As his child form stared at the blood on his hands, Jaune noticed that he was within his own mind, Ozpin at his side staring at the events.
"We must really get you to practice with your mental defenses" said Ozpin "while it's not overly cumbersome, I do find it repetitive having to drag you out from your memories."
Jaune scowled.
"Can't you just leave?"
Ozpin smiled.
"I could, but we are in session and forcibly exiting out of your mind without you being aware of it can have consequences. Besides I thought you preferred this method for our sessions? If you're uncomfortable with this method, we can return to the usual form of therapy."
Jaune sighed. Ozpin learned a lot from this memory. Ozpin immediately noticed from Mary's expression that her eyes were not afraid for herself, but Jaune. He could tell by the way her body language reached forward for her brother, but backed off immediately. It was in the way she completely disregarded her own injury, which had already stopped bleeding, and was focused on the task. No…she was afraid for Jaune…not of him. But how could a ten year old, even with his enhanced senses notice such a thing? Fear was fear, no matter who it was directed at and Jaune's unwillingness to analyze the memory, which was brought into much clearer clarity thanks to Ozpin's telepathic abilities, only obscured this truth.
This event would explain why Jaune seemed to have no qualms about people's opinions of him and yet seemed to have an aversion to people fearing him. It wasn't the fear that was the problem, it was the memory associated with it.
While that and being experimented on by the damn white fang certainly didn't help. Ozpin placed his mental avatar's hand on Jaune's shoulder. Jaune's eyes opened as he stared at Ozpin.
"Come. While it is true that our sessions would end faster through this method, I know you're still uncomfortable with this. As such I believe it may be for the best to refraining this from happening. You have a strong mind Jaune. I've happened to be caught off guard by the sheer strength of it."
Jaune smirked.
"So what I have telepathy?"
Ozpin turned serious.
"Not even remotely."
Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"That was quick" he muttered.
"There is a difference between a strong mind and a telepathic one. In your case Jaune your strong mind is simply a by product of your will. You are not a weak man, it is difficult to twist you into someone else, that is why the White Fang's attempts at mind alteration failed and why I can become trapped into your memories when we're linked."
Jaune smiled.
"So I'm immune to mind control."
Ozpin tried to keep the grimace from his face, but Jaune noticed it.
"I".
"Is there a way to control me" demanded Jaune.
Ozpin sighed.
"Yes. If they were able to wipe your memories, remove your sense of self, than it would be possible, even easy, to bend you to whatever whim they wished permanently. I can place mental barriers in your mind to prevent this from happening without permission…I will warn you it may have some side effects and will not protect against temporary control."
Jaune grimaced.
"I want this weakness removed."
Ozpin sighed. Again Jaune's animalistic mind was attempting to remove a weakness that simply was not removable. The mind was the most fragile part of the human body and psyche. While Ozpin's defenses could hold against any attack, they were not indestructible.
As he set the defenses in Ozpin breathed a sigh of relief. Jaune's own defenses regarding mental attacks was smart. By screaming in his mind his thoughts and feelings it caused any Telepath attempting to read his mind excruciating pain, almost like putting your ear right next to a speaker at full blast. However…that was usually only effective against weak minded Telepaths. In Ozpin's case he was annoyed by it at most. But his annoyance did not deter is will in ensuring Jaune was adequately protected.
Telepath's were rare in terms of semblance, as such Ozpin didn't feel the need to protect his students in the same way he was protecting Jaune. Jaune however was going up against the White Fang, a group who has proven by Jaune's admission to have a Telepath amongst their ranks. As such Opzin would shield Jaune only for the possibility that the White Fang was not yet done with him….
He sighed as he watched Jaune's eyes scrunch shut in pain. But he did his work quickly and Jaune's thoughts became silent to him.
"How do you feel?" asked Ozpin.
Jaune sighed.
"I feel fine."
Ozpin than took a sip of his coffee as he stared at Jaune.
"Alright than, tell me how you feel about your parents and siblings arriving today."
Jaune shrugged.
"I feel fine."
"…."
"…."
"….Jaune…I was literally in your mind not three seconds ago. Try again."
Jaune gave a small grimace but relented.
"I feel…I feel like I'm drowning. I don't know what to think or how I should react. I want to be happy…but I'm also afraid? I just don't like feeling this way."
Ozpin nodded.
"I can see why."
Jaune's eyes immediately demanded an explanation.
"In simple terms Jaune you've never dealt with situations like an average individual. Now that's not to say that's is a bad thing, just means that this scenario is one you're not accustomed to. As such you cannot fight your way through this, there's no person to take out to solve the issue at hand. The feeling that you are feeling, is anxiety Jaune. You're anxious to meet our family again, constantly wondering who they will react because you do not know them anymore. If I would venture to guess, it may possibly be a pack mentality. You've been alone for so long but now your family has come to see you. It can be conflicting, especially since your mind functions differently than our own."
Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Opzin tilted his head in confusion.
"You mean to tell me no one has bothered to study your mentality?"
Jaune shook his head.
"Would you like to hear what I have so far? It may assist you in resolving your anxiety."
Jaune nodded. This should be interesting.
"You are aggressive by nature, but not necessarily angry. You have an instinctual sense of things and people. As such you display both introvert and extrovert tendencies. You excel both alone and in a group. As such you can easily switch between soldier and leadership roles with ease. Luke, while an excellent physician, was also naïve when he thought a prison was a good place to diagnosis your personality. You were in solitary confinement for three years. He associated your indifference to your situation with an extreme aversion to people, rather than a sense of safety from being closed off from the world. In essence he misdiagnosed your personality, and treated you in accordance to his assumption. I found it odd that you were so talkative for someone who, according to Luke, was an extreme introvert, hence why I've decided to redo your psyche profile."
Jaune felt a little better hearing this. It seemed that he wasn't all that bad. Although the dig at Luke wasn't necessary…still though the guy, while good, was kind of presumptuous regarding him.
"However….you are incredibly territorial. Not of actual space but of people. What I witnessed in your memory was an indescribable protectiveness of your family. If I were to hazard a guess that goes to friends as well. As such it is easy for you to fall into jealousy and anger due to a perceived slight against you. Aside from that I have too little information for more indepth analyisis. I'd say your manerisims are more instinctual than others."
"….and what is that?" asked Jaune "Am I human…am I an animal?"
"You are unique" said Ozpin "just like everyone else. You may be different from the standard norms but that doesn't make you any less human. Just means you have a little extra in you is all."
Jaune smiled as he shook his head.
"You're just a bag of cliché's aren't you Oz?"
Ozpin shrugged as he looked at the watch.
"I hate to cut this session short, as we seemed to have gotten a good groove, but I unfortunately have another patient. I suggest getting to the cafeteria and getting something to eat. Also…correct me if I am wrong but as your aura been unlocked?"
Jaune nodded.
"Pyrrha unlocked it for me."
"Are your claws ok?"
Jaune clenched his fist and his claws came out without a problem.
"They're fine."
Ozpin was focusing on his senses and noticed that his aura was not damaged through his claws. A interesting means of study for the future.
"I'll notify Glynda. Would you like to participate in your combat class?"
Jaune had yet to go into any class due to the nature of his auraless situation. Due to the issues regarding the prison no one had yet the free time to get a teacher to unlock Jaune's aura. Now that this situation had been resolved, Jaune could start going to class in earnest.
"I'll notify the teachers. You have combat class and history after your lunch break."
Jaune sighed. Now it was time to actually go to school. Hopefully Rose's education would be enough to keep up with this school. As Jaune exited the bunker like therapy room he was quick to notice through the window of the hospital a car. The hospital of Beacon Academy was built away from the school, as to not disrupt the students, and was place more to the left of the airstrip. This was to ensure that students were able to get medical treatment from injuries incurred during missions as quick as possible. The hospital even had a van that was basically a mobile operating room, dust was used to keep the vehicle stable no matter the speed (within reason). As such there was a window a good 100 yards away from the landing strip for the hospital. Within that line of sight…Jaune saw them. Out they walked, his mother, father, and seven sisters. All of them were here.
He felt tears in his eyes, no matter how stubbornly he wanted them gone, they just wouldn't leave. His family was here. An ache he wasn't even aware of opened in his stomach. He always missed his family. But it was now that he understood just how much…but he wasn't ready yet.
He needed to bring himself back to focus, center himself, and remove all distractions. He'd focus first on getting food, seeing what class was like, and than see his family after school.
To Jaune that seemed like a good plan. But to anyone else…that just seemed like delaying the inevitable. Unbeknownst to Jaune, one of his sisters saw him in the window, her eyesight enhanced due to aura. She looked at the three pale thick lines that ran under her arms and traced them.
-An hour later-
With his enhanced senses Jaune thought finding the cafeteria would be simple, follow the food. Yet, apparently, everyone and their mother decided it was high time to invest in portable bento's for food, which screwed his senses. Seriously almost everyone he came across had their own lunch. As he walked around the small garden in front of Beacon Academy Jaune couldn't help but wonder which entrance led to the cafeteria. But still even though Jaune was looking for the cafeteria he couldn't help but wonder where those bento's were.
He shrugged as he kept walking. Beacon was for all intents and purposes a little town. It was obvious that they would have food options outside the cafeteria.
"Going somewhere?"
Jaune turned and noticed Pyrrha was smiling at him, in her hand was an unopen bento, two of them actually.
"I'm trying to find the Cafeteria" muttered Jaune.
Pyrrha giggled as she handed one of the Bento's to him.
"Did you want one? Nora bought two for her and Ren…and then proceeded to simply order pancakes from the cafeteria anyway. I was on my way to hopefully return them since I can't finish two and you need the whole order for a return."
Jaune pursed his lips. It did smell good. He couldn't deny that. He took one without a word of thanks, but smiled at her. The two of them sat at the fountain. Jaune opened it and noticed it was a sushi bento. God he hated those. He loved sushi but after eating them at the old man's restaurant booth….God there wasn't anything better. He also did noodles and other things like that…he was an odd old man but he never asked questions.
"So the day was good?" asked Pyrrha.
Jaune stared at Pyrrha. His nose and his eyes told him that Pyrrha was curious as to what happened in his therapy session. He didn't blame her bout of curiosity and was thankful for her attempting to reign in it.
"It was fine. Just talked to Ozpin for a bit."
Immediately Jaune felt a tang of guilt. He wasn't close to his teammates but that didn't mean he could just shut them out. They proved they could be trusted but…even so he was still reluctant.
"Oh that's good. Are you almost cleared for class?"
Jaune rose an eyebrow. Odd. Most people he knew were very smooth in their conversations…Pyrrha seemed almost awkward.
"Uh yea I just got cleared this morning. I'll be going to today's combat class and participating."
Pyrrha gave him a bright smile.
"That's great Jaune! I can't wait to see your skills…although do you use a weapon?"
Jaune turned to Pyrrha and stared at her. Her emerald eyes shone with honest curiosity but was quickly losing its allure as she began to babble as she repeatedly said sorry. Jaune let her go on for a bit as he realized that Pyrrha was almost as socially awkward as he was, she just lacked conviction in her words. Jaune interrupted her.
"I don't have a weapon, considering I am one."
Pyrrha stared at Jaune, her face reflected pity as she reached out to him. Yet to Jaune's surprise she reached her hand back, her eyes hardned as she suppressed her pity.
"I don't believe that for a second" said Pyrrha "weapons do not think or feel Jaune."
Jaune smiled as he looked around. No one was around, his nose ensuring that there wasn't a soul anywhere near them. His claws shot out and put them in Pyrrha's face.
"Sorry darlin" said Jaune "but these disagree. All it takes is one lapse of judgement and someone is dead. I was born a weapon, but I'm used to it so don't worry about it."
Pyrrha smirked. ACTUALLY smirked.
"You could never hurt me Jaune."
Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"Really now? I somehow doubt that."
Pyrrha smirked. Jaune felt a small pressure on his entire skeleton. For the briefest of seconds he couldn't move and then he was freed. He stared at Pyrrha his eyes wide.
"I control metal Jaune, your skeleton happens to be metal. As I said you could never hurt me no matter how hard you try. So relax, I want to know my partner and I don't want our entire relationship to be about you keeping your distance."
"….so we're in a relationship now? Damn didn't know you worked so fast."
Pyrrha turned red as she babbled even more. Jaune chuckled as he stared at Pyrrha. She was beautiful, his kind of gal. For most the thought of someone having so much power over you would have pissed them off or scared them off. But for Jaune it was different. The fact that there was someone here who could keep him contained, who could help him control his anger when he couldn't was a god send. It has been almost four years before he had gone into a berserker rage. Four long years with that kind of anger boiling in his mind. Now that there was someone here who could stop him if necessary…it was a good thing….it hit Jaune all at once.
Ozpin getting a new powerful mutant within the span of a few hours, partnering him with the absolute perfect partner that could both enhance his combat and restrain him perfectly, all the while ensuring that he was trust worthy and just so happening to have a physician that he trusted working at Beacon…
Holy shit. Who was he dealing with?
-With Ozpin-
Ozpin overheard all of this in Jaune's mind, him overhearing his name repeatedly by Jaune. He thought he was in trouble and instead overheard his mini monologue.
"…damn I'm good" muttered Ozpin.
Ozpin than realized that he needed to work on his absent minded telepathy.
-Back with Jaune-
While Jaune was lost in the thought of wondering how powerful Ozpin actually was, Pyrrha was blushing a storm as she tried to continue the conversation. She found Jaune to be strangely attractive, although she wasn't a fan of his neck long beard and shaggy long hair. In truth she wanted to know him…that was all. There wasn't anything else really. While inexperienced in actual relationships Pyrrha was well versed in bad and toxic relationships. This was due to a few mishaps regarding people she thought were friends, and were very much something else. Jaune was gruff and seemed a tad aggressive (lady you have no idea) but he seemed like a good man. One worth knowing.
"So" said Pyrrha as she finished her Bento "Would you like to walk with me to the combat room?"
Jaune rose an eyebrow.
"The combat room?"
Pyrrha giggled as they got up and walked to a thrash can. After throwing their garbage out Pyrrha began to lead Jaune through the maze of trees and concrete. She led him down a path on the right side, away from the main entrance of Beacon Academy.
"We call it the danger room. Most of its functions are shut down for first year students but according to our friend Velvet it can create hard light copies of anything in the world in real time, providing excellent training."
Jaune liked the sound of that to be honest. He could go nuts without worry in a room like that. If there was one thing Jaune adored, letting loose was one of them. It's just that letting loose usually meant people died, especially with adamantium coated claws. As they entered a building Jaune noticed that many students eyed Pyrrha after she passed, some vain attempt to not be caught staring. He noticed many men, and even a few women, were eyeing him like garbage. They probably didn't mean for it, but to Jaune they looked at Pyrrha like a thing, like some great object to behold and imagine about.
It wasn't the first time he'd ever seen something like that. He detested it when people did that. He figured Pyrrha did too. As they kept walking Jaune noticed he too was getting looks. Probably due to the fact that even now he was still in his damn prison jumpsuit. He decided not to wear the clothes he got yesterday since his jumpsuit had an auto cleaning feature included in its weave. That and his stupid ass completely forgot to get clothes for his work outs. In fact the only thing that was combat ready was his damn jacket from silver fox, a jacket he wasn't liable to wear anytime soon.
"God damn it" thought Jaune "now I need to go BACK to vale? Jesus you'd think I'd have learned by now."
This wasn't the first time that Jaune forgot stuff, it was a bad habit. Finally after a few halls Jaune found himself in front of a door with a large X on it.
"The hells with the X?" asked Jaune.
Pyrrha smiled.
"This is the tenth version of the danger room since the School was built. The x is a roman numeral."
Jaune nodded, seemed like a funny tradition to have, if it wasn't so damn dumb. Perhaps it was because that was the same roman numeral that was applied to Jaune when he was in the White Fang's care that he behaved like someone shit in his cereal. As he entered the room he noticed that it seemed to be in a colosseum setting, if it was smaller.
"Oh I like this setting" said Pyrrha "reminds me of home."
Jaune rose an eyebrow but stayed silent. Actually speaking about silence the entire room was dead as everyone stared at him.
"….."
Jaune narrowed his eyes at a few people, number one being Cardin. He remembered hearing about how he almost hurt a Fanus by pulling at their appendage. Some bunny girl or something. It was stuff like that, that ruffled his jimmies.
…..
"Oh god I seriously need to lay off the memes" thought Jaune.
Glynda noticed Jaune and gestured him towards the circle of the colosseum.
"Now that Jaune is here, I would like a volunteer for his match list."
Jaune looked at Glynda.
"So its not one round a person?"
Glynda shook her head.
"Combat class is equal part lecture and combat. In some cases students are capable of fighting numerous numbers of their classmates, as such should you still be in the green after a match you're free to request another."
Ah, now he understood. So after a match she basically tore apart all their weaknesses and mistakes, ensuring that everyone learns from the fight, regardless of who goes. Kind of weak but considering that this class had a danger room, there was probably more detail in the later portion of the class.
Jaune rolled his neck and tried to limber up before his fight.
"I pick Cardin" said Jaune.
Glynda rose an eyebrow.
"You cannot simply choose an opponent. But why him?"
"Cause he's an ass."
Glynda narrowed her eyes at his language but after the incident with Velvet, Cardin was not her favorite person either. Cardin was smirking until he heard Glynda agree.
"I'll allow this. Cardin you have ten minutes, get ready."
Cardin was surprised but relented. He has been waiting to show that douche up. No one ignores Cardin.
Lol this was going to be hilarious.
Jaune took off the upper part of his jumpsuit, letting his upper half hang around his waist. His white muscle shirt was fresh and clean, but had a wear to it that came only from time. Jaune sighed as he looked at his clothes. Today would have been a good day to try the jacket…except he didn't actually buy anything else aside from the jacket. His forgetful nature always bites him in the ass. He cracked his neck and started to stretch his limbs. He noticed Cardin come in several minutes later, a swagger to his step. Jaune himself grunted, wondering where his self-confidence came from.
He ignored the signs and the blaring go from Glynda, he focused on Cardin. The man charged, his mace dragging across the floor. Probably some form of intimidation. Jaune didn't pay attention to his body, it was angled to swing the mace, not to strike at Jaune.
He dodged the first blow, swaying to the right. He let a quick left straight strike Cardin in the nose. Cardin's head jerked back but his body remained focused on Jaune, Cardin using his momentum to swing his mace at jaune as he staggered back.
Jaune nodded. Seemed like Cardin wasn't all talk, he had skill. Whether that was in general or just skill in being hit Jaune didn't know. But regardless Jaune pressed on. He noticed right away that Cardin's balance was slightly skewed, probably due to the extra weight his mace was placing on his left side, and advantage to be used.
However, Jaune wasn't looking to end this. He needed context. First, strength. Jaune's bones were metallic. For most people that meant Jaune's punches held far more weight and impact than anyone elses. Yet, it also had another advantage. In this case Jaune didn't have to worry about dislocation, only bruising in some instances. Jaune caught Cardin's mace mid swing and held onto it. Jaune was quick to notice the lack of pain in his hand. Yet, in his side view that his little blotch of green, his aura meter, had gone down. It seemed that even though Jaune could heal from every injury his aura still tried to protect him. Interesting, but annoying in this case. Jaune didn't budge as Cardin tried to take back his mace, yet Jaune's wiggling arm showcased how much a struggle the show was.
Jaune let go of the mace just as Cardin heaved his weight into it, forcing him to stumble back. Jaune rubbed his wrist as he stared at Cardin, studying his movements. Jaune looked at his wrist. It seemed that he was stronger than the norm, yet it wasn't to a ridiculous degree, like it was against the average person.
Cardin's reaction time sucked. That wasn't a question. His intelligence was low, and his movements were stoic and predictable…
This was a waste of time.
Glynda was staring at Jaune with a newfound respect. He wasn't fighting Cardin, he was testing himself. His face never changed emotion, his eyes were constantly on his target. Before this Glynda had a hard time believing Jaune was designed to be a weapon.
Her fears have long since abated and she tried her best to quell any paranoia.
Cardin roared as he charged forward. Jaune positioned his body sideways. He struck Cardin across the face with his right fist. Not all of his strength was used, but it was enough to force Cardin's body forward. Jaune's knee his Cardin in the stomach, all his weight and strength poured into the blow. Cardin's armour lessened the blow but the boy still had the wind knocked out of him. Jaune than flipped him over with his foot, sending Cardin to the floor. Than without warning Jaune straddled Cardin…and proceeded to bash him in the face repeatedly. Even Glynda was shocked at the savagery of his movements, but was scared her was the fact that Jaune's face remained blank.
Even as Cardin begged him to stop Jaune kept beating him in the face, until his aura went red. The loud beep made Jaune get off the blubbering mess of Cardin. But before he did he grabbed Cardin by the ear, pulling hard.
"AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGH!"
Due to his low aura Cardin felt the pain more than he should have. Jaune than leaned in and smiled.
"Would you look at that" said Jaune "they are real."
Cardin's eyes widened as Jaune let him go. He looked at Jaune's aura and noticed that only a single percentage had been taken off. A single percent. He lost….
Badly.
The room was silent as Jaune rolled his neck. He stayed on the field and looked at Glynda.
"I'm ready for another."
Glynda sighed.
"Was the beating really necessary?"
All eyes turned to Ruby. She seemed to shrink a little at all the attention but her question was valid. Jaune rose an eyebrow but ignored her. He didn't need to answer it and honestly if that was "Savage" than they didn't know the meaning of the word. It was efficient, nothing more. Besides why answer a question that didn't need an answer. Jaune sighed as he closed his eyes and focused his breathing. Ruby pouted as she was ignored, promting Glynda to interfere before the girl spoke out of turn.
Again.
"While it could have been less…brutal shall we put it, it's a common tactic in tournament settings."
Jaune's eyebrow rose in surprise at Glynda's answer, along with Ruby and a few others, all seemed shocked at the relevation.
"Contrary to belief's Mrs. Rose, the tournament setting is not a simple show between combatants. The goal is to deplete the aura of your opponent in the fastest method possible. Mr. Arc restrained his opponents movements and beat him as quickly as he could in the face, rather than on the body. His aura would be taken at a far faster pace due to the location of the injury. If Mr. Arc had a bladed weapon, the neck would be even better. For now I have nothing to complain about regarding your physical abilities Mr. Arc, but expect a more in depth analysis when I've seen more of your skill."
Jaune shrugged.
"Fine by me. I'm ready."
Glynda smiled. She clicked the randomizer but quickly noticed that it seemed to zero in on Ruby Rose, interesting.
"Miss Rose, are you ready?"
Ruby nodded. She was used to this, although she couldn't help but feel confident about this battle. Jaune was a close range fighter, who didn't seem all that quick, meanwhile her speed and rifle would keep her distance in this fight. Pyrrha and Yang were quick to notice her confidence. Yang began to hype up her sister, whereas Pyrrha was the opposite.
"I hope Ruby is prepared" muttered Pyrrha.
Yang snorted.
"Oh come on, Cardin is chump change compared to us, anyone could have taken him down."
"I don't neccesarily agree with demeaning his skill like that but I don't think Ruby's ever faced someone like Jaune" said Ren.
"Oh? What's up?" asked Yang.
Blake shivered as she scooted away from the conversation. Weiss however, was right into.
"Yes, tell us Ren."
Ren grimaced. But it was Pyrrha that answered.
"Jaune doesn't care at all what is considered etiquette in combat. You just watched it with Cardin, he beat him into the ground, literally. He'll do the same to Ruby if he gets a hold of her. To be honest it's a good attitude to have in tournament setting."
Yang seemed to wilt at that.
"But come on, he wouldn't do that I mean….she's Ruby!"
Pyrrha grimaced.
"That's the problem. Ruby is used to people engaging her with weapons and restraint. Jaune won't be using either of those. He'll be charging Ruby again and again until he gets her. From what I've seen Jaune isn't a simple bruiser. He thinks, he's analytical. Any weakness Ruby has he will use without restraint. Yang, let Ruby know to keep her guard up."
Yang shrugged.
"she'll be fine, are you sure you're not overestimating your partner…cause I mean its CARDIN….although it was pretty funny what he did with the ear thing…didn't that happen before he was here though?"
What no one knew was that it wasn't the last time Cardin did that little joke. Jaune happened to over heard people discussing it, and it just irked Jaune the wrong way. However, he was also of the mind that the bunny girl should have solved her own problems. Doesn't mean that Jaune wouldn't curbstomp Cardin whenever he got the chance. As Ruby got down to the floor she caressed her Crescent Rose. She was always more confident with it in her hands. She grinned as she turned it into a rifle, ready for battle.
Glynda narrowed her eyes. Good, it was time to see how Jaune reacted to long range. She knew well of Ruby's strengths, and her weaknesses. It was Jaune that was the mystery to her.
"Begin!"
To the shock of the room, Jaune launched himself forward with a jump, closing in at a rapid pace. Ruby didn't falter however, instead she fired a single bullet and sped away, keeping her distance. Unknown to Ruby was Jaune's constant momentum. The bullet was heavy and of a high caliber, but due to aura and his own metallic weight it wouldn't be able to stagger him like it would ordinary aura users. At least not until his aura was empty. However, Jaune himself was highly annoyed.
"God damn it" he muttered "A speedster."
This wasn't the first time he dealt with these individuals. He noticed that Ruby had no experience maintaining her speed, good. But that didn't' make it any easier.
BANG!
Jaune's head jerked back as he received a headshot from Ruby's weapon, now a sniper. And heavier caliber too.
Ruby was surprised when Jaune just looked at her, no worse for wear…almost like he was used to being shot. Jaune kept his calm expression. She was accurate and fast. Quick reflexes too. He looked at his aura and noticed that it was still green. His metallic bones were assisting in his aura in taking less damage, but that didn't mean there wasn't going to be a problem down the road. He turned to Ruby and noticed her loading another high caliber bullet.
"I see" thought Jaune "She's using a single high caliber bullet rather than normal magazines. It takes longer to reload but the extra power would work in her favor."
Jaune was beginning to see why ruby was the leader of her team. She may have been young but she was a quick thinker and analyzer. There was however, one issue that he came across. Experience. Ruby was now zooming across the room and taking pot shots…but that was it. Perhaps for the more average warrior in this year, this tactic would be a tad more effective, keeping her enemy on guard but Jaune has dealt with speedsters before, even became buddies with one afterwords. Quicksilver may have been a dick, but he was a man who knew the full extent of his abilities. Ruby was not one of them. It was obvious that she had spent more time on her weapon than her semblance. She had to stop to propel herself forward, rather than a constant movement. The amount of work to bring her semblance up to that level was too long for Ruby, instead she took a faster root. It was working, for Jaune had to admit whatever flexibility she lacked she more than made up for with using the momentum of her rifle.
However, she had yet to attack him. Keeping her distance. Such defense was fine but Jaune was getting used to her speed. He couldn't catch her but he was beginning to se-
What the hell?
Jaune narrowed his eyes and noticed that all this time he was focusing on Ruby's main body, he completely forgot about the long ass cape that was billowing behind her. Why the hell was it so long? Suddenly Ruby dashed forward, using Jaune's confusion to land a rather hurtful blow. Jaune's aura went down a decent chunk, now just under the green. Yet, he stayed watching the cape. She went around keeping her distance, doing the same tactic over and over again, waiting for an opportunity to strike at him with her blade. This was another weakness of Ruby's. So long as it worked she didn't seem to care about alternating her tactics.
Jaune narrowed his eyes. Her confident smile irked him. He was a proud man, any victory over him would never be easy, Jaune would make sure of that. Without warned Jaune side-stepped Ruby. That was the limit of his ability to cope with her speed. But his hand reached out to grab the long cloth. Near the end of the cloth Jaune grabbed and pulled with all his strength. It tore with a loud ripping sound, causing Yang's eyes to widen. Ruby was chocked by her own cloak and for a brief moment was suspended in the air right in front of Jaune. Jaune had already reared his fist back, and drove it into her stomach. The size of Jaune's fist to Ruby's small body ensured a brutal amount of aura had been taken, for both Ruby's stomach and one of her kidneys were hit.
He put all his weight behind this blow, and the impact he had on her stomach caused the ground to break under his fist. Ruby's aura shot straight to yellow. Due to both her diminutive size, lack of body conditioning, and lack of focus regarding aura training, Ruby had a weaker aura than most. She seemed dazed…but Jaune wasn't a cruel man and Ruby wasn't Cardin. He looked to the left of Ruby's dazed form and noticed her sniper in a scythe form. He lifted it up. It was heavier than he expected. Than he drove it into the floor. The danger room sparked as Ruby's blade tore through the floor, but the hard light illusion didn't break. Jaune cracked his neck and turned to face Ruby…
"…."
Jaune rose an eyebrow as he watched ruby cradle her cape.
"…"
She seemed overly depressed for a piece of cloth….any minute now she would stand and fight…..
…..
….
"Hello" stated Jaune.
Ruby continued to stare at the ground, her hands trembling slighty at the torn cloth. Her mother's memento torn in her hands. Jaune scowled. Seriously? This is why children shouldn't be elevated early. Skill wasn't the problem it was maturity and mentality. It was obvious Ruby had yet to achieve either at this stage of her education. Jaune looked at her aura and noticed it was yellow already. A strong hit should end this. Jaune stalked forward, stomping his way to Ruby. She looked up, only to meet Jaune's boot. She was sent spiraling away as Jaune just scoffed.
"End this already. Or I will" said Jaune. He didn't want to fight someone that was so out of it.
Glynda sighed.
"Winner. Jaune Arc."
Ruby's aura had yet to reach red but Jaune had a point.
The way Ruby was acting was understandable to Glynda. Summer was her friend once upon a time. But sadly the Grimm didn;'t care and Glynda wasn't going to award that kind of behavior.
"Jaune once again I must commend your mentality. You strike hard and fast in the weakest point of your opponent. Commendable in tournament settings and efficent for the Grimm. However, I must also state how your…brutality can be unnecessary would advise possible alternative."
Jaune rolled his eyes. He did have cleaner alternative. It was a claw to the head. Nice and clean.
Jaune rolled his neck. Damn it his body was so rigid outside of combat. However, thanks to Rose's medicine Jaune noticed his limbs were loosening up, his body becoming more accustomed to the metal. It was a long ways off but hopefully Jaune would finally be freed of this metallic strain. He doubted it but he hoped. He noticed Ruby finally start to get up. He turned to her scythe and ripped it from the ground. Honestly that was a waste of time. He shouldn't have done that.
He tossed it to Ruby, her scythe clattering on the floor. She seemed to get a little angry at his blatant disrespect towards her weapon and cloak. Yet, Jaune couldn't find it in himself to care that much. Anyone that was willing to ignore their oppone t in the middle of a fight deserved to get their ass kicked. Jaune learned that the hard way.
Still, her eyes tore at his heart.
"Miss Rose. I advise that for the next time you pay attention to your opponent and not get distracted by something as simple as torn cloth."
Ruby opened her mouth to retort but Glynda's glare killed any argument.
Yang comforted her sister as she arrived up. they were talking about someone named summer. Jaune looke at his high yellow aura. He than noticed Pyrrha looking at him. To Jaune's surprise she smiled and waved. Ren was stoic while Nora was cheering away. Hmm…it seemed his team wasn't against him after such a display.
"Are you up for a third round?"
Jaune simply nodded. His conversed with his team simply because he needed to. Team RWBY was their friend and had grown on Jaune as well. He talked when he wanted to, that was it. It annoye Jaune while he was in the prison that Luke kept trying to diagnosis him as something. Thankfully Ozpin put it into better words but he stil didn't get it. Jaune was sociable, when he wanted to be. Jaune was anti-social, when he wanted to be. He went with how he felt in that moment. There was no inner working to his personality. He was simply a beast and a man all rolled into one. In essence his instincts regarding people played a part in how he interacted with them. If he instinctively knew they were good he gave them his time. If he felt negatively of them than he didn't bother. It was for that reason that he ignored Cardin. The guy was just a waste of time, nothing else. It was also for this reason that Jaune didn't bother with Blake. He felt nothing but vengeance and apathy for her. He truly didn't know what to do or think. Perhaps it was something he could bring up to Ren. The guy seemed to have a solid head on his shoulders, and seemed to be filled with sagely advice. He had bitchin tea to.
Jaune finally snapped back to attention as he noticed Yang making her way to the floor. He kept his face stoic as he watched her. She was angry, yet focused. Finally someone worth a damn. Jaune was getting bored. She glared at him, yet it was his indifference that really irked Yang. She knew that Jaune did nothing wrong. Hell five seconds ago she was literally telling Ruby how stupid she was for loosing focus like that and just sitting there. Yang would have done the same thing. But it was Ruby that was down there. It was Ruby's cloak that just got torn, and Yang was ready to bring the hurt to Jaune.
Glynda was shaking her head as she sighed. She knew, just knew, that allowing volunteers to come forward was a bad idea. Aside from Pyrrha no one had ever faced more than two opponents. Usually at that point Glynda asked for volunteers to fight her. It was a habit she didn't bother fixing mostly because with Pyrrha it was a good detriment to allow the class to continue. To be honest a small part of her was interested in seeing Jaune fight more. It was refreshing to see someone take combat so seriously for once. Even Pyrrha treated Combat as a job. Jaune treated it like it should. A serious fight…if only Jaune didn't come to that sense of combat the way that he did.
Yang was the only one who wanted to fight Jaune, as teammates were not allowed to fight each other in a class setting.
Glydna sighed.
"begin. I'm not payed enough for this" she muttered.
Yang rushed forward. Jaune side steped and was surprised when Yang fired her fist at him. Jaune was blown back as her ember Cecilia fired off shells. Jaune grunted as he slid across the ground. Yang expected some emotion, yet was found wanting when she noticed his face remained blank, his eyes however told her otherwise. Yang faltered as she noticed his eyes were focused entirely on her with an intensity she hadn't seen in anyone…in anyone except Pyrrha.
He was studying her.
Yang scowled. It seemed that Pyrrha was right. Damnit she shouldn't be so reactive. It was something yang was working on. If she kept chargin in than she would just fall into Jaune's hands. She smirked as she realized that she could use that to her advantage. Jaune was already in the yellow and had no knowledge presumably of her semblance. Yang smiled as her eyes glowed red and her hair shone bright.
"….uh…the fuck?" asked Jaune.
Glynda scowled heavily at his languge. Yang punched him in the face for his troubles. Jaune faltered back and yang shook her hand. The metal clang from the collison of her fist and Jaune's face confused her.
"Damn it! What the hell are you made of, metal?"
Jaune smirked as he walked forward. Seemed she wanted to get in close. No idea why though. Jaune struck her across the face…easily. She struck him hard in the stomach, harder than before. Jaune shot a left cross into her face, spinning around to deal and elbow to her cheek for good measure. Yet, she didn't falter at all and just struck him again, her force even greater.
"Dammit" muttered Jaune "not another one."
An extremely rare semblance, the ability to absorb energy. Yang just so happened to have an even rarer variant that allowed her to absorb kinetic energy. That was just great. She was virtually indestructible than. Like living Vibranium and Jaune doubted that she had a limit like the famous metal. He than noticed that while his aura had taken a beating, now at half, Yang's aura was steadily, if rather slowly, declining. He couldn't keep his distance. If he did than Yang would simply turn her semblance off and on to her advantage. He couldn't use his claws and use her arrogance (rightfully earned in this case in Jaune's mind) and stab her…damn this was going to be tough.
Jaune shot forward, surprising Yang. His only option was to attempt to counter her attacks. Jaune noticed that Yang's speed didn't necessarily increase, only the damage she dealt. Which meant that the aura that surrounded her was responsible for dealing the excess damage. It didn't seem to lower with each hit either which meant that she stockpiled the energy for as long as her semblance could remain active.
…..Jaune just wanted to call bullshit.
But even so he kept reflecting Yang's attacks while hitting her back, hoping somehow this drained her faster. It didn't. Every glancing blow became worse and worse. Yang's taunting wasn't helping matters.
"Come on you gotta do better than that if you wanna beat me!" yelled Yang "can you only bully those weaker than you."
Jaune scoffed. Ruby would have been a far more dangerous opponent if she bothered to pay attention and didn't rest on one tactic. If that girl didn't care for flashy battles and focused on truly defeating him Jaune had little doubt he'd win in a tournament setting. Oh he'd be able to kill the girl quite easily, but defeat her before his aura ran out? Impossible. Yang however, would have died eighty times over at this point. Her semblance was the whole reason that Jaune's numerous attacks have yet to bring her aura to zero. It was intense. Each fighter was striking in the face. Yang was quickly noticing that there was something up with Jaune. Her fists even with protection felt like they were punching metal and whenever he landed a blow it felt heavier than she was used to. Meanwhile Jaune was ignoring her beatings like they were nothing. He kept shouldering the beatings and attacking her head on. How much aura did this idiot have to be able to last this long. Yang began to sweat as she noticed that she was reaching her limit. Her hair could only take so much energy before needing to go to level 2.
At that point she'd go nuclear. Dishing out far more damage and in a more rage like manner as her hair reached its limit and began to actively pour more energy into her attacks to compensate. Not a pleasant thing to do to someone on low aura. She needed this to end, now. Yang roared as she poured everything into one hit. She kneed Jaune in the stomach, but was surprised when he didn't reactively double over, instead he hit the ground and tried t shoulder check her. As Yang was hit back, sweat covering her brow, she reared her fist back for a barrage of bullets. Jaune dodged in time by jumping to the right. He lunched forward as Yang lost her momentum and rammed her.
Yang flipped through the air and fired her gauntlets and full power. She flew through the air with a flying knee, striking Jaune in the face, his animal reflexes too slow in this instance to dodge fully. Yang was sweating as she noticed her semblance had been used continuously for far longer than she normally used it. Yang roared, the blood pounding in her head as she punched Jaune in the face, having closed in with another air volley.
Jaune landed on the ground and rolled, ready for Yang's second attack.
"ENOUGH!" yelled Glynda "The winner is Yang."
Yang skidded to a stop and noticed that Jaune's aura was empty, while her was sitting around the upper red. Yang stared at Jaune. She was in wonder as she looked upon the first opponent to almost outlast her. She had never felt the need to use her semblance for so long, only doing so in the thought that Jaune would have fallen quickly. It was due to this thought that Yang had yet to deactivate her semblance during the fight. She laughed as any aggression towards Jaune had been worn out during the fight.
He was good. The fight would have gone on longer if not for the way they went at it. Yang didn't use any of her high caliber shells, mostly because she didn't think she'd ever need them for first year practice. Second Jaune's aura was already half way gone, and Yang's blows grew progressively more powerful as the fight went on. The fact that Jaune kept feeding her semblance was what made the fight even shorter than it might have been.
Glynda sighed.
"Jaune. Well it was commendable that you were able to fight on such a level and against numerous opponents, it appears that you fight with no regard for yourself. While aura can protect the body, I'd advise taking more care towards yourself."
Jaune had to admit Glynda had a point. While he didn't necessarily need to worry about any injury lasting, that wasn't to say that Jaune didn't mind the pain. There was also the fact that aura was now a thing with him and that he would be graded on his performance with said aura.
While the grades themselves were secondary to him, Jaune still felt uneasy. He didn't see any means of defending himself. Why teach a weapon defense? Jaune rolled his neck and looked up. He noticed that Pyrrha was simply smiling at him. She waved and it hit Jaune that he may have the perfect teacher on his hands. If she was nicknamed the invincible girl, than she must know of decent defensive skills.
Questions for later.
Now…now it was time for the hard part. Jaune sighed. While he may not have mean to Jaune left the danger room before class ended. While it was rather presumtious to think his forty five minutes worth of combat was the entire class, he did have important things to do.
"They're here".
That was the indicator Jaune received from Ozpin VIA telepathy. They were probably atalking to Ozpin for a while, only just finishing and ready to see him. Jaune tugged at his collar. Jeez why the hell was it so damn hot?
-With Ozpin, 42 minutes Ago-
Ozpin sat in his chair, drinking his coffee. He sighed as he enjoyed the exquisite taste.
His door than exploded open, slamming into his nice office wall. The wind cast off from the force of its opening cause Ozpin's coffee to splash from his cup and into his face. As his face burned Ozpin wiped the coffee from his face and stared at the door. Even without his mental powers he would have noticed the pure anger coming off of the Arc patriarch.
"Hello David."
"You better, and I swear to God OZPIN, better not be lying right now! Did you find him."
Ozpin blinked as he stared at his coffee. He than looked up at David and sighed.
"Yes I found him. He is currently enrolled in our academy. He is as you described him, although admittedly older."
David sighed as he rubbed his head looking at Ozpin like he was an idiot. Of course his son would be older! His wife Joan rubbed his back. While David was more…emotional one could say, Ozpin sensed the sheer level of anger and annoyance coming off of the rest of the family.
"I am sorry for intruding in such a way Ozpin."
A subtle glare at David drove Joan's displeasure home.
"But you must understand this isn't the first time someone…found Jaune."
Ozpin nodded.
"I am well aware of that. Although I think the claws coming out of your sons hands is a good identifier."
The room went cold as Joan's eyes turned to ice. David looked up in surprise, his eyes watering like a waterfall as the tears rolled down. He turned to his second youngest Julia and the two began to jump up and down in joy.
"Who knows" demanded Joan.
Joy, the second oldest was now jumping with her sister and father.
"Our medical and teacher staff. No one else."
Three out of the seven sisters were now jumping with their father in an absurd group hug.
"How did you figure it out?"
"That Jaune was a mutant? Read his mind."
All six sisters save Mary were now jumping in joy, tears in their eyes
Joan's eyes widened as she stared at Ozpin.
"I'd like to remind you that I'm a mutant as well. Considering we were partners in Beacon's past I thought you'd remember that. So rest assured I won't harm Jaune or sell him to the military. Honestly your anger at this point is hurting my head, not to mention you spilled my coffee. So. If we can keep this civil while I pour myself another brew, that would be appreciated."
Joan sighed as she rubbed her eyes. Tears evident. Her son…HER SON was here. THe siblings were all crying as well while David dropped to his knees looking at the heavens.
"MY BABY BOY HAS BEEN FOUND! OH PAPA IS SO HAPPY!".
Joan sighed as her children joined their father in his ridiculous emotional explosion.
"David honey, please, we're with company."
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!"
Joan rolled her eyes and walked to Opzin as her husband was on all fours crying his eyes out. At this point her daughters were joining him, with Mary rubbing her arm a smile on her face.
"So Opzin I take it Jaune was found in the wilderness by Qrow."
Ozpin cringed a bit.
"Ah….about that…um…can I please ask you all to relieve yourself of all forms of weaponry."
The room went quiet as David closed in on Ozpin, eye to eye, along with Joy and Mary.
"Speak shit stain."
Ozpin's eyes widened. He didn't know David as well as Joan, but for a civilian merchant his eyes were speaking death.
"….well there goes my desk" thought Ozpin. He took a sip as he explained.
"Jaune was…experimented on by the White Fang."
No point in footing around the issue. Might as well drop the nuke. Ozpin felt like said Nuke went off in his head as All their collective rage, sorrow, and pity surged through his skull. Ozpin cringed as he suffered their combined pain.
"….my baby" muttered Joan as her and her entire family seethed in rage "What. Did. They. Do. To. My . Baby."
Ozpin looked down.
"They studied him, drugged him with growth hormones to forcibly grow his body to its full potential, and coated his bones in metal. They wanted a weapon Joan and they succeded. I've been having sessions with Jaune to alleviate him of this mentality. As such I've come to warn-"
Joan was making her way to the door, tears freely flowing as she tried to find her son.
"JOAN."
Ozpin's power echoed through his voice, his eyes glowing as he stared at her. Joan turned to Ozpin and scowled.
"What."
Ozpin sighed.
"Let me finish. Please."
Joan turned to her friend. David was calm again, his face blank as he stared outside.
"He's not the child we knew" said David "I know that. But what exactly happened to him Ozpin that you seem so hesitant to introduce us? If Jaune were here you should have had him in the office already."
Ozpin sighed. A good point if Jaune was eager for the encounter. But Ozpin notified for Jaune's family to meet him in his office before Jaune ended class, to discuss and mitigate as much tension as he could between them.
"Jaune is…filled with contridictions. But most of all he is…fearful? I doubt that is the appropriate word for this…apprehensive is better. Jaune is apprehensive about meeting you all."
Joan looked distraught.
"Why on earth would he believe that!? What did the White Fang do!?"
Ozpin gave a reassuring smile.
"It wasn't anything to do with the White Fang, although they did decrease his sense of worth I will admit."
"Speak Shit Stain."
Ozpin gave David a blank stare. David glared.
"…I would prefer if the uncouth language would cease. Even Jaune doesn't swear as much as you do."
David began to tap his foot in irritation, a couple of his daughters cracking their fists behind him.
"…Oh dear they're like a routine" thought Ozpin "I see now that some of Jaune's eccentricity doesn't come from his mutation."
It appears some of Jaune's violent behavior stemmed from his initial raising and not so much his mutation. Huh. Ozpin took another sip as he continued.
"He is apprehensive of his meeting you because he carries a strong sense of guilt for what happened to your eldest. He believes himself a…monster if you would."
Mary looked down at her scars on her arm and cried for the first time, tears of sorrow. She just knew leaving her brother alone was a mistake. God damn her. Ozpin felt the sorrow and the guilt. It appears Jaune was more like his family than he would first assume.
"I want you to understand that I was…over zealous in my communication with you. By that I mean I contacted you too early. If I had a slight bit more time than Jaune may have been less agitated regarding this matter. As such I want to warn you to simply be slow and to not expect too much."
Joan nodded and let go of the door. She rubbed her hands, an old habit from her hunting days, and reached for her husband. David, the crying man child, gave way to a serious business man as he enclosed his wife in his arms.
"We found him Joan. Be happy with that. He may not be coming home…but he's a part of our lives once more."
Joan smiled as she buried her face deeper into Davids shirt. The man was a child and a bit of an idiot…but she loved him like nothing else. Her father, mother, and her brother and sisters have all passed from the world. The hunt having taken them well before their time. When her son disappeared Joan had almost fallen into depression…but her loving family kept her strong and focused. Now her son had returned to her.
She looked up at the sky and smiled, giving thanks to her fallen family, having prayed to them to protect her son. She separated from David and turned to her children.
April the oldest of all her children at the ripe age of 27. Her auburn hair is a deep contrast in her family but brings out her angelic face and deep blue eyes with shocking effect. Her body is kept in shape and while her aura is active and trained, she is not a huntsmen. She is a teacher in the Arc kingdom/city. Her brilliance is only matched by her kind demeanor. Her husband Jason, a ram Faunus, is the head of the police force in the Arc city. She is pregnant but even so made her way to find her brother. She loves brownies and deeply misses her aunts and uncles, much like the rest of the Arc children.
Mary the twin of April and strongest of her children at age 27. She had a strong build, modest bust, and a serious expression on her face, a contradiction to the black highlights in her hair. Her husband Erebus, a rather stringy but brilliant dust practitioner, was a big help in their attempts to find Jaune. His failure to assist in full still haunts him to this day, having coming to accept the Arcs as a true family. Mary herself carried an immense guilt. In her mind she believed she had "lost" Jaune. She is absolutely obsessed with video games, T.V shows, and Pop figurines. Erebus is a fellow nerd in that regard but ensures Mary doesn't take it too far.
Joy, the second oldest of her children at age 25. With long blonde hair, an immense bust and brilliant ass, she would have found great success as a model. But her vulpine appearance and her envy green eyes hid a vicious mindset. She had married the love of her life Elizabeth early on and was inheriting the Arc business from her father David. She is a brilliant and terrifying business woman who will protect both her business assets and employees from anything. Unlike many corporations in remnant her employees adore working under her company, with her father being an equal choice as well. Her zeal in ensuring her workers good pay and excellent benefits have given rise to a deep loyalty in the company, only surpassed by the admiration they had for her father, although in time that to would fall to Joy's rise in power. She never used her beauty in any way to her rise in power, ensuring even the likes of the Schnee enterprise gave her the respect she deserved. She was also an extreme advocate for equal rights amongst Faunus, as her adoptive daughter Penelope was a tiger Faunus. She hates the white Fang and Elizabeth is a bitchin cook, if anyone wanted to know that.
Julia, Jessica, and Katie the triplets at 23. All three compliment each other well with their identical appearance. With long brown hair and matching amethyst eyes along with their lithe bodies and sparkling personalities, each triplet was a sight to behold and a delight to have in conversation. However, they did everything together…literally everything outside of showers, and certain…activities as we'll call them. They used to date on their own but…well they found it seriously lacking. As odd as it was, even for the free spirited David to understand fully, the three were looking for a boyfriend to…share? Which is why they were single for the time being. All three sisters like the same guy, a young historian by the name of Robert. A nice man, who was unwilling to abide by the…eccentricities of the triplets, believing that this was disrespectful to them. Instead he remains their steadfast and truest friend and was one of the non-Arcs who searched for Jaune with a zeal only found elsewhere within the Arc household. Each triplet specialized in a different trade. Julia was the tailor, Jessica was the armourer (apparently there was a difference), and Katie was the blacksmith. Their skill in all things huntsmen had resulted in them creating another business for their father to run. While the average huntsman knows little of their product, the best of the best only go to them, and for good reason. Their names and fame have increased over time.
Last and not least was Crystal. She was the youngest female in the family at the age of 21. She is a quiet individual and her dyed black hair brings out the blue in her eyes. She has an above average bust, one she hides with great pains, along with a stellar body she keeps in shape for her own enjoyment. Like all the Arcs her aura is active, but she refrains from active duty and instead pursues her desire to be an author. She has an obsession with Pop figurines, an obsession shared with her sister Mary and her brother Jaune. She carried a backpack with all the figurines that she thought Jaune may want.
The discussion with Ozpin included her children for well over thirty minutes. They discussed just what exactly happened to Jaune. Ozpin never went into full detail, believing that Jaune was the on ethat had to tell them, as it was his story to tell and not his own. Joan heard the door open and watched as a young man came in. Her heart stopped as he looked up.
His long Shaggy hair and the bushiest beard she had ever seen may had covered his face…but his eyes and shade of hair was unmistakable. The look of apprehension and recognition also cemented her belief. This was Jaune…her boy. At first she rushed forward, but held back, fully aware of Jaune's history and not wishing to alienate him at all. She looked at him with tears.
"Hello…Jaune…son"
Jaune remained stoic, a trait that he had since childhood rather than due to his circumstances. It was because of his stoic nature that people had a hard time associating Jaune as an emotional person, but Joan knew how driven Jaune could become and if pushed in the right way, how feral and aggressive. But that never made her think any different of her son. Ever. She…she held her arms open a little, in hopes that he would rush in. But she felt a little hurt as he looked at her oddly. She noticed he would quickly glance at his hands.
As she opened her mouth, her daughter Mary rushed forward and crushed Jaune in a hug, tears streaming down her face. Jaune froze and went wide-eyed. Confusion playing havoc in his mind. The scents of his family were so familiar, so overwhelmingly familiar that Jaune was fighting against the child inside and the weapon he had become. Not to say he wasn't over joyed at the thought of his family, but rather that he had a difficult time deciding on what the appropriate course of action was.
Jaune finally noticed that the woman in his arms was only a tad shorter than he was…and had black-highlights.
"Mary" croaked Jaune.
"Odd" thought Jaune "Why is my throat tight?"
His heart hammered in his chest, his lungs crushed into themselves as he couldn't connect the smell of relief and sorrow with the image of fear in his mind.
"Mary…."
Jaune slowly closed his eyes, and wrapped his sister in a hug.
"I'm…I'm…."
Jaune stared at his family…the family he wronged with such an irresponsible and reckless decision, made in the moment and maintained by stupid fear and pride. God…how he missed them. The feelings that were difficult to feel were now pouring out in a raging inferno. His chest was warm with a feeling he had all but forgotten. The feeling of family. Yet it also burned with the heat of self-pity.
"I"
SMACK!
Jaune's head was forced the other way as he stared at Mary in surprise. His sister looked him dead in the eyes, her mascara running down, her eyes red, her breathing heavy.
"You…STUPID. STUPID. STUPID BOY!" yelled Mary as she hit his chest.
"God dammit!" yelled Mary "Why did you go! We missed you…we all missed you!"
That was the flood gate his mother needed to crush him next. Jaune wheezed as his mother literally crushed him in her arms.
"Jo-"
The instant feeling of death he felt at nearly using his mother's name quite literally stopped Jaune's heart. It was only thanks to his healing factor that he actually was alive. Jaune instantly corrected himself.
"Mother" said Jaune "you're crushing me" he wheezed.
"good" said Joan "you deserve it."
As she finally let him go the man child that was his father rushed forward and hugged his legs.
"OH SWEET CHILD PAPA IS SO HAPPY YOU'RE BACK! OH HOW WE MISSED YOU!"
Than without warning he jumped up and upper cut his son into the ceiling, sending him flying into Ozpin's poor desk. Ozpin sighed as he lamented the passing of his favorite Mahogany desk.
"THAT WAS FOR LEAVING!" yelled David "AND HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF!?" asked David as he cradled his aching hand.
Jaune rose from the crumbled desk, memories of his mother hitting his father in jest, their words, their love. His sisters as they….friggen dressed him up. Mary teaching him video games. Joy teaching him how to abuse his vocabulary to get what he wanted. The triplets teaching him the essentials of life, cooking, dancing, and music. His youngest sister teaching him to appreciate the finer things such as plays and novels.
Drip. Drip.
Jaune stared at his hands. The tears falling from his face as he almost curled into himself. He felt his mother embrace him and held him to her chest. A song played from her lips, his old lullaby, one that he played again and again on the guitar in his cell.
"I can hold you in my arms again" sang Joan, no set song now, but rather ending her little melody.
Jaune drew a shuddering breath, his tears already dried. He closed his eyes. His mother's arms igniting a warmth he hadn't felt in years. He placed his hand on his mother.
"Thank you" whispered Jaune.
He rose with deliberate slowness. He gestured to his hands.
"There's…a lot I need to tell you. But I'm here to help Ozpin and to graduate from this academy. I have enemies within the Atlesian Government, The White Fang, Hydra, and The Friends of Humanity."
"Hey fuck those guys!" yelled Joy.
Eveyone looked at and she shrugged with zero shame.
"What!? It's true. Those F.O.H bastards and those White Fang idiots need a kick in the balls!"
Jaune chuckled…and than bursted out laughing. Oh how the hell was he stupid enough to believe his family would fear him? He….lord he was a fool…but his fear wasn't the only reason he stayed away. In fact he had almost returned home numerous times.
"That was the reason you never returned home wasn't it." Asked David.
Jaune nodded. The amount of enemies he has…it only made sense to keep little contact with his family. So long as his enemies believed his family had nothing to do with him, they wouldn't have any reason to target his family….theoretically. It mostly had to do with the fact his sisters and mother were badasses who killed grunts for breakfast. But it was mostly the staying away part that kept his enemies at bay from his family.
"I…I can't express how I feel seeing you all. I've missed you so much that….i can barely believe it. So much time lost…all because of a stupid mistake…but you need to keep your distance" said Jaune "For the safety of your families and yourselves."
"Nope."
Jaune blinked.
"….what?"
"Screw that!" yelled Joy "If those bastards want a piece of you me and Elizabeth will tear em a new one!"
Jaune blinked.
"Hah! Me and Erebus have a good synergy in combat. I doubt the White Fang or the F.O.H have had the time to train enough people to take down us two."
Considering that Mary and Erebus together was the equivalent of a natural disaster Mary's words had weight. Mary "the Grim Reaper" and Erebus "The Pale Horse" were a combo that was actually illegal to work together in a few Kingdoms. Something Jaune was unaware of at this time.
"Sorry brother, but this isn't some sappy, broody, comic book where the main character's life sucks ass because he has to be alone or some shit. We can take care of ourselves and our families thank you very much."
Jaune stared at Mary and cringed at the scar. She noticed Jaune's look and tried to calm him.
"Tis but a scratch" said Mary, quoting her favorite comedian, Monty Pathon.
Jaune smiled but his eyes still carried that guilt.
"It doesn't matter what you believe Hydra-"
"Been there destroyed that" said Joan "Next."
"….What?"
"Who do you think destroyed the original Hydra back in the day?" asked Joan "Me, Ozpin, Steve, and Stark were the ones who stuck it to em in the old days. I'm surprised they're still trying to operate. Is it some green hair man in charge."
"um…no" said Jaune "Some woman."
"Fucker jumped again" muttered Joan.
Jaune rose an eyebrow wanting an explanation.
"Don't worry about it" said Joan "It's a problem for the older generation to take care of. Now that I have that tibit of information, Stark should be able to track the dick…er bitch….er….what's the appropriate term here?" asked Joan.
Her family shrugged.
"Anyway sixty years back me and our team, the Howling Commandos."
Jaune snorted in laughter. Joan rolled her eyes and pointed at Ozpin.
"Wasn't my idea of the name."
Ozpin scowled.
"It was a fantastic name at the time thank you very much."
"Anyway" said Joan "We fought the leader of Hydra, the Red Skull and his little green sidekick Viper. Viper's semblance allows him to "Shed" his current skin and take over the body of another, prolonging his life and youth."
"…What about that Red Skull dude."
"Oh he was taken care of."
"You kicked the poor man in the nuts Joan and than proceeded to shove him on his nuke as it exploded. That's a little more than taken care of" said Ozpin.
Joan rolled her eyes while Jaune's eyes widened.
" Well Steve kept monologuing with him. Someone had to end it…although we never found his body. He could have survived."
"It was a nuke" said Ozpin in a flat tone.
"It was the Red Skull."
"….fair enough" said Ozpin as he sipped his coffee "I'll give you a lien if you turn out to be right."
"You're humor still sucks."
Ozpin shrugged.
"Anway" said Joan "Don't worry about it. The reason you were targeted by Hydra probably has to do with me. Why do you think I trained all of you personally? Point is, we're prepared for the likes of Hydra Jaune. So don't give us an excuse to stay away. We'll be here for a month to make sure you're settled in."
Jaune went to object but again the aura of death his family projected kept him silent.
Ozpin was in the corner silently sipping his coffee.
"This is nice" he thought.
Jaune stared at his hands and let his claws out. The shining metal gleamed in the light as he stared at his mom.
"They made me into a weapon…the Ultimate Weapon…and all of them want me…are you sure you want to handle that."
Joan glared at her son, wlaked with no fear and placed her hands on his shoulders. The rest of his family surrounded, each with equal serious expressions.
"Son…I'd stand against the World for you."
Jaune's eyes widened for the final time that day as he accepted what was before him…his family. They all hugged but Crystal opened her pack. She smiled, her reserved nature keeping her from speaking in this moment. But Jaune's eyes widened as he beheld the figurines.
"Are these…X-Ray and Vav! They stopped selling these a long time ago!"
Like a child Jaune took the box and smiled. Ozpin's eyes widened as he saw Jaune's eyes lit up like a child, reminding Ozpin that the boy was just that…a boy. He took the pack laughing as he looked at each figurine. Mary began a rampant discussion on all the games and shows that Jaune had missed. Suddenly…it was like he never left. The ease of conversation was forced obviously, and they were nowhere near stable…but it was a brilliant start.
-An hour later-
Jaune was in a great mood, although you couldn't see it. His face was blank, a trait he kept from childhood, as he walked through the hallways. He entered his room, his sisters pack on his back. In his pocket was a wad of cash his mother had put in. She kept preaching at him to buy real clothes…and to shave his damn face for the enxt time he saw them. They all were busy in Vale as his mother was on the War path against Atlas. Apparently the maps would be needing some changes when she was done. Each of his siblings too had plans, but each were adamant that Jaune had to spend time with them all…
An arrangement he found he had zero problems keeping. He felt…lighter. But he was still haunted by the things he had seen. He knew that his mother had endless questions for him, about what happened to him. He also knew his father was going to be crying a lot when he told them…and he would. The claws may not have scared his family…but it definitely made them question him. He discovered that part of that was because Ozpin had warned them of his…changes. But not the nature of the metal on his bones.
As he placed the bag on his bed, Jaune turned and noticed that team RWBY's door was opened. On the floor of their room was Ruby's cloak…the one he had torn. So great a mood was Jaune in…that he took it upon himself to fix it for her.
He knew a guy in Vale and he had…things to settle. He also had clothes he needed to buy. His jump suit was actually starting to bug him. Perhaps it was the thought that his mother had to see him in the jumpsuit that bothered him most. His dad was just annoying but that made Jaune love him all the more. It was his father who was the wisest of his family…even if at the same time he was the stupidest of them. How the man was known as a business savant was something Jaune could never figure out. As he took the cloak, Jaune sent a message to Pyrrha, whose scroll was curiously offline. Regardless Jaune set out.
His goal…to fix the reaper's cloak, to stab the shit out of the F.O.H bastards, and to buy some mother firggen clothes!
Not necessarily in that order. Jaune cracked his neck as he made his way out the dorms. He had a place to catch and a crafty tailor to find…
God he needed a life.
End
Quentin Quire was an Omega level Telepath in the X-men series. I brought him in because the guy is a literal nut case. He jumps from decent acts of kindness to starting stupid ass riots out of nowhere (my personal opinion, for those that are a fan of the character my apologies for downplaying his importance, especially since he became one with the phoenix at some point)….just the kind of person that the White Fang would enjoy. Due to the nature of his physiology (he's not a mutant) he won't be nearly as powerful as he was in the original comic. However, as such his skill will be more apparent and will be a bit of trouble for dear Ozpin on a technical level due to his biological restrictions. Mutants will be RARE in this story, as in an actual handful. No mutant V.S Mutant teams here. There's simply no need for it with aura granting superpowers. That alone would stagnate evolution, which I believe is the reason the Faunus exist (likely an evolution started before aura was used, thus aura stopping that evolutionary trait since aura basically makes whoever uses it stronger with addition to superpowers) the White Fang, Hydra, Cinder, and Dickbag Mcgee…oh I mean General Ironwood. In my other story Ironwood is an ally…in this story…While not a villain Ironwood is far from a friend. I'm gonna shit on his worst traits so hard. I want you all to guess who he's been merged with in this story (just like Ozpin's been merged with Xaiver).
With regards to team RWBY's Skill. Be warned that this isn't my other story. These are not clueless people unaware of their weaknesses. In my other story I purposely ensured they were that way, simply so that they would be taught to become aware of their weaknesses, simply so they had a reason to improve beyond the norm. Here they are the absolute top ranked fighters in Beacon Academy's first years. They are well aware of their combat skills and are striving to always improve them.
Jaune's personality: Now I've gotten some flake over this and I have to admit one thing. I hate the fact my story comes out in friggen chapters. I wish it was done in its entirety so that this mistake doesn't happen. In my other story, I was a beginner at fleshing out a personality. I learned from that and decided to portray a different means of fleshing his personality without spending god knows how many chapters on it. A mistaken diagnosis. I mean how accurate is a god damn therapist gonna be on a prisoner in solitary confinement who doesn't trust the authorities in his prison? Obviously he's gonna be anti-social to the Therapist (Luke), HE'S IN PRISON AND SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. As such as Ozpin explained Luke's diagnosis was made based on presumptions and the few facts he had regarding Jaune's arrest and actions in the prison. For those that dislike this story for entirely different reasons, thanks for pointing it out and for giving my story a chance!
Jaune's abilities: No clue as to his semblance, if he'll even have a semblance. Definitely won't be canon semblance. But his weapon will be fun to fool around with.
P.S Hope you like my sassy Ozpin. You'll see more of him in the Future XD
Pairing List: For those of you unaware of the way I do this list, this list only includes those who's relationships will be stable and progressive. They will not break up again and again or whatever drama device other people use. Instead they are in a relationship with ups and downs. But together.
Jaune X Pyrrha. It's totally happening Baby! ARKOS FOR LIFE!
Ozpin x Glynda. They just make sense.
Ren X Nora. Because they are just adorable.
