October 8th 1998...
Jaune stalked the halls between classes, the day had been typical up to that point and while Weiss didn't take them up on their offer to sit with his group, they had at least been generally cordial when they saw each other in the halls.
Today didn't look like it wouldn't be any different it looked at first. That was until he saw that she her, and she was clearly looking agitated at a larger male student who was holding on to the handle bars of her wheel chair to keep it rolling forward.
"Come on wheels, you don't think you cant do a stunt down the stairs with that thing?" Said the boy that Jaune instantly recognized as Russell Thrush. Russell spoke in a mocking tone. "Hell maybe if you fall you'll legs will work again."
Weiss shouted back "Let go of my chair Russell! I wouldn't date you when my legs worked and I still won't date you now!"
Jaune felt an old feeling build in him, one that he had learned to control with the help of Pyrrha, as he approached his hands clinched into fists.
Russell pushed Weiss towards the stairs "Come on rich bitch, I'm sure that your daddy will be able to pay for another hospital stay right?" Weiss pulled the brake on her chair to stop it and tightly gripped the wheels of her chair to try to keep the larger boy from moving her.
Jaune's pace quickened at the pair as neither student noticed them. By the time Russell turned to face Jaune. Jaune let out a silent berserk howl as he felt the black hate of the world well up in him.
Russell barely had the time to let go of Weiss's chair and mutter a quick "Wha?" Before Jaune Leeped at him and drove his closed fist into his face. Russell went down like a sack of potatoes a good couple feet from Jaune, who's face was contorted into a fury that none at the school had seen it in before.
"Dude what the fuck is your problem!" Russell cried out holding a bloody nose, Jaune didn't have an answer for him, at that moment two people existed in this world, and he wanted to see one of them fall down the stairs.
Jaune grabbed Russell by his shirt and reached back to pound the son of a bitch in the only language these assholes understood when he felt frail arms wrap around his arm stopping him.
"Jaune stop! I'm okay he's not worth catching an expulsion over!" Weiss shouted at Jaune as he was finally aware of the crowd that had gathered around the trio. He heard murmurs of students who were both in awe and fear of Jaune. When he looked back at her he saw she was almost out of her chair holding his arm back.
Russell took the chance to maneuver away and get back to his feet just as the Principal arrived on scene with the PE teacher Mr Ironwood.
"Okay break it up kids, nothing to see here" Mr Ironwood shouted out in the gruff hard tone he was known for. The other students quickly dispersed leaving just Jaune, Weiss and Russell all in a circle.
"Okay so what just happened here? Ms Schnee you start" Principal Ozpin said looking at Weiss.
Weiss explained what had happened, how the larger rocker boy with the green Faux-hawk hair had been harassing her for most of the day and was acting like he was going to push her down the nearby stairs, she also added that wasn't entirely how serious he was and was scared for her safety before Jaune intervened.
"Russell care to dispute?" Ozpin asked the boy who was still holding a hand over a bloody nose.
"Man, I wasn't serious at all, I was having a laugh at her is all!" Russell said "That punk over there was the one who sucker punched me and looked like he was about to take my head off.
Ozpin looked at Jaune with a mix of disappointment and surprise "Mr Arc, I know you have a history of lashing out at bullies but your record had been quite clean in regards to fighting for a good 2 years before now..."
Jaune wrote out a note and handed it to him 'I'm not apologizing, she was scared, and I doubt that shit for brains there can sign, I did what I had to do.'
Ozpin sighed and crumpled the note up shoving it in his pocket before standing between he pair "You know it would be a real damn shame if I had to suspend the pair of you for fighting, it honestly would. So I'm going ask you both to shake hands and walk away like adults or your both going to be taking the rest of the quarter off."
Both Russel and Jaune looked at each other with wide horrified gazes. Weiss spoke up "Sir that's unreasonable! a whole quarter?"
"School guidelines dictate I expel the aggressor in the fight, and honestly considering Jaune threw the first punch that would have to be him Ms Schnee. I would prefer to avoid that for several reasons." Ozpin said in a far sterner tone than most were used to. "But, as the circumstances show that the guidelines are less applicable here, I'm willing to split the difference between the two, unless I see handshakes Now!"
Jaune and Russell shook hands and Jaune slipped him a note simply reading "Leave my friends alone or next time I'll wait till your off campus" A note that Russell would read later and take to heart.
"Very good, now I want the three of you to go to class, your already late." Ozpin said with a chiding tone "Ms Schnee I'll excuse your tardiness, have your teacher reach out to me"
The trio went back their own ways. As Jaune walked he glanced off to the side and saw a familiar face for just a moment As his mind went into shock over the sight he thought "Pyrrha?"
Later on after school Jaune found himself walking Ruby home.
[So heard you got in a fight today?] Ruby signed out
Jaune finger signed out with his good arm [Yeah, not a great idea considering I overextended my shoulder while doing it, I think I'm going to drop a painkiller at home tonight.]
[You really need to stop hurting yourself helping others] Ruby signed out chiding Jaune in the process.
[I know, I know, but I can't let that kind of shit slide] Jaune hand sighed out distracted by a pair of voices behind him loudly talking, he tried to pay more attention until he heard a whistle from them.
The unknown older looking guy said to his friend "They're deaf, they cant here you whistling"
"Well that's good that mean's they can't hear me talking about how much of a fine set of legs that girl has" said a younger looking man walking with him
Ruby got his attention [Hey you okay? did you see what I said?]
Jaune signed back [Didn't catch it, sorry]
[I asked what your plans for the school dance are?] Ruby signed back with a giggle
Jaune started to sign out something when he heard the young guy speak "You hear that, she giggled, I bet she'd be a screamer in the sack"
"Dude she's a kid, your are seriously fucked in the head you know that?" The older man said.
Ruby tapped him on the shoulder [Earth to Jaune]
[Uh sorry, no I didn't have any plans on going to the dance, that's more of a date thing you know?] Jaune signed back
[I guess it would be a bit weird to ask you to go with me then?] Ruby signed back with a grin
Jaune took a second to gather his thoughts when he heard the young son of a bitch speaking again "I'm serious, give me 15 minutes with her and I'll turn her into an opera singer my man!" the young man said with a chuckle
Jaune's patience ran out he help up a finger to signal to ruby to give him a moment before he turned around and guy punched the young pervert with a strong left handed straight punch directly into his stomach. As the guy bucked over he grabbed him by the collar and headbutted him with his full strength sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Aw what the hell is he doing!" The young man shouted out holding his head.
The older man stepped in front of Jaune to block him from his younger friend "Hey, Hey, Chill! My friends is an idiot and he didn't mean anything by it..." Jaune saw the older man was not trying to cause trouble. Jaune still flipped the younger man off and went back to Ruby as they both picked up the pace to get some distance away from the two men. Jaune briefly as they walked away heard the older man said "You really are a fucking moron Tyrian."
[Okay, what the fuck was that all about Jaune?] Ruby signed at him with a look of anger on her face.
[That asshole was making comments i'm not going to repeat about you!] Jaune signed back still pissed off.
Ruby paused for a moment, got an annoyed look on her face and slugged Jaune in the stomach hard enough that he had to put a hand over it in pain.
[My dad is a cop, he made sure I know how to throw a punch, Next time someone cat calls me, let me punch them!] Ruby signed out in annoyance.
Jaune signed out a quick [Message received and understood Ruby] As tried to get the air back in his lungs.
Ruby did get a guilty look on her face and with her finger tips pulled lightly on his shirt to get his attention. Jaune looked up at Ruby who then gave him a big hug for a moment. before leaning back and signing [Thanks for looking out for me though okay?]
As Jaune returned the hug he felt a warmth inside of him that he didn't expect, he looked off into the distance and swore again he saw someone that looked just like Pyrrha, that snapped him out of it and cause his guilt to kick in.
He pulled back and saw a smiling Ruby, but his stomach felt horrid for a few seconds, as she kept walking.
Jaune shook his head and kept walking her almost to her door step without further incident.
As Jaune walked into the door of his home he knocked on a nearby wall to announce that he was home. He heard his mother shout out a quick "Welcome home!" from her bedroom.
Jaune made his way down to the hall to see his mother, not in her normal lounging outfit of sweat pants and an old frayed shirt, but rather she was braiding up her long hair into a bun. she was Also wearing a dark colored dress that went down to her knees.
Jaune signed out a quick [What's the occasion mom?] as he went over to help her braid up her hair. His mother started to apply some light makeup to her face as she answered him "I have a date tonight."
Jaune paused and looked at her in the mirror slightly shocked. Mina laughed "Yeah I know, I'm surprised I said yes to it as well considering it's been... lord almighty twelve years since I went out with a guy?"
After finishing her hair he signed back [Yeah since Dad, is this someone I know?] Jaune's face was one of concern. But he knew his mother could handle herself since she worked as a field inspector for an auto insurance company. Seeing it was mostly a male dominated field, his mom had to have a chip on her shoulder to not be driven out of it.
"Yeah you know him Jaune" his mom smirked as the door bell rang "That's him, say hi and tell him i'll be out in a second."
Jaune shook his head still trying to shake off the shock that his mom was going on a date. He was happy for her of course, she deserves to be happy. As he answered the door he was surprised to say the very least when he saw principal Ozpin standing in his doorway looking far more sharply dressed than he ever did at school, even so far as having his normally long hair slicked back and tied off into a small pony tail.
Jaune tried to reach for his notepad but realized he didn't have it on him, so he just fumbled out a quick wave hello.
"Hey Jaune, I take it Mina is still getting ready?" Ozpin said in a strangely casual tone that threw off Jaune.
Jaune just gave him a thumbs up as he tried to wipe the shocked expression off his face which cause Ozpin to chuckle "Oh no, don't tell me she sprung this on you as a surprise. Sorry big guy, I didn't bring it up at school earlier"
Jaune rallied his emotions and waved it off like it was no big thing, he then tapped on his wrist like it was a watch and held up nine fingers.
Ozpin laughed "Oh that's how it is, okay i'll bring her back by nine on the dot then." At that Moment Mina came into view. "Hi Alan, looking good!" she said with a smile. "Jaune, I had a pizza delivered here, eat as much as you want, just get your homework done and don't burn the house down okay?"
Jaune wore his most polite smile and signed out [Will do, I told him to have you back by nine!]
"A curfew? Really?" Mina laughed as she put a hand on Jaune's shoulder
Jaune looked at Ozpin, pointed at his eyes with two fingers than pointed at him.
"Loud and clear sir." Ozpin said as he and his mother stepped out.
After they both left, and as he heard a car start up he slumped into a wall and started to take panic breathes thinking "Fuck me, my mom is going out with Ozpin!?'
Jaune straightened up and went to the kitchen quietly and nervously chucking to himself. He went ahead and looked in the kitchen. Just as his mother promised there was a box of pizza sitting their waiting for him, he leaned against the counter grabbed a slice of the Pizza and quickly started to eat without even bothering with a plate.
"Mom's going on a date huh? I mean that's fair, if anyone deserves to move on it's mom, she's been alone with just me for the last 12 years... that has to be hard on anyone." Jaune smiled at the thought of his mom being happy. He turned around and started washing his hands in the sink next to him and had a dumb realization "Oh crap I never gave Ruby an answer about that school dance! I should probably go AIM her and let her know i'm free that night."
Jaune stood there for a moment thinking it over, a smile crept on his face thinking about her, and about that warm feeling he felt being around her today.
Then his stomach twisted up "The fuck am I thinking, No, I'm not going to let myself do this!" his stomach churned into knows and he was forced to let nature take it's course as he emptied his stomach into the nearby trash can. As he sat there gasping for breath and holding his now no longer great feeling stomach he felt a sob break free from his throat. He slid down the counter to the floor holding his stomach "No, dad's been gone for 12 years, Pyrrha has only been gone 4 and a half months. she deserves better than this!"
After a few moments on the ground, he dragged himself back to his feet, boxing up the rest of the Pizza and going towards his bedroom. He leaned in front of his desk as it logged on to aim. "I am not doing this." Jaune thought as he mentally struggled with his own thoughts and feeling of guilt. He quickly got pinged into a Group chat when AIM auto logged him in
RBYROSE1: Hey Jaune!
BLONDEBOMBSHELL83: Dude, how you not going to add me on here?
BLACKCAT42: Hey it's Blake in case you can't tell.
Jaune sighed out in annoyance on his end, he just wanted to send a message to Pyrrha's account, not get into a group chat, he figured it would be rude now not to say something
DARKKNIGHTARC: You know you all saw me today, what's up?
BLONDEBOMBSHELL83: Oh we all were just discussing you getting into a fight at school today, trying to figure out how you didn't get expelled is all.
DARKKNIGHTARC: I have a couple idea's how I got out of it.
BLACKCAT42: Is that so?
Jaune paused to think how he can word this out without making his mother sound bad.
DARKKNIGHTARC: Well unless I'm dense as shit and they been doing this for a while. My mom and the Principal are out on their first date right now.
There was a pause, and then a rapid fire barrage of replies from everyone
RBYROSE1: Wait, your mom is on a date with Mr OZPIN!
BLONDEBOMBSHELL83: Dude, are you okay with this?
RBYROSE1: What the crap man, your mom is dating OZPIN
RBYROSE1: LIKE HIPPY-LONG-STOCKING OZPIN
BLACKCAT42: Tell your mom congratulations from me!
Jaune involuntarily chuckled at all the messages he received and smiled.
DARKKNIGHTARC: I will... It's just weird thinking about my mom dating anyone, let alone the principal of our school.
BLONDEBOMBSHELL83: Just try to support your mom as much as you can okay?
A second private window opened from Ruby.
RBYROSE1: Hey, You okay though, your not acting like yourself. Figured we can talk it out one on one?
DARKKNIGHTARC: I guess I have been a bit off as of late.
RBYROSE1: Your not the type to pick fights though dude.
DARKKNIGHTARC: Oh I used to be. Got in fights allot before Junior high. Oh I didn't answer your question about the dance earlier.
RBYROSE1: Yeah?
DARKKNIGHTARC: Don't you get bored at those though, I mean I get the whole vibration thing, but...
RBYROSE1: But your wondering how a deaf girl gets anything out of a school dance?
DARKKNIGHTARC: I feel like an asshole for even asking.
RBYROSE1: But your not asking to be an asshole, I know your not, your not that kind of person.
Jaune's heart fluttered and a smile creeped onto his face.
RBYROSE1: Jaune I would want to go because it's fun, and I can be around my friends. We don't have a whole lot going on in this town you might have noticed.
DARKKNIGHTARC: Yeah I see your point.
RBYROSE1: Um, That being said, I do specificity want to go to it with you... I mean as friends, I know your not looking to date anyone at this point in your life.
Jaune's heart skipped a beat, he almost typed out an instant yes to her but he felt a sharp pain shoot through his stomach as a massive wave of guilt washed over him "Fuck fuck fuck fuck, Why is my body doing this?" Jaune took a second to calm his stomach thinking "Okay, this is fine, it's a friends thing, I'm not betraying Pyrrha by doing this."
However his memories took over for a second.
October 29th 1996...
Jaune stood out side of the detached Gymnasium at his Junior high school as the cool damp air of the late October night flicked off his skin. he had two tickets for this date and a flower to pin on her.
"Okay girls like flowers right, and mom said these should be close to her hair color right?" He thought to himself as he tried to calm the overwhelming feelings that washed over him. His mother was a big help for this night, helping him color coordinate his outfit, as well as that awesome pep talk she gave him before they left.
He stood around for a few minutes before he took a look around and did a double take. Pyrrha walked up towards him in a dress that looked to be the same shade as her hair, which rather than the loose mess of curls that it normally was tied back into a loose pony tail.
Jaune felt his heart skip a beat as she walked over to him, while she was smiling, it was a tempered smile, one that was also hiding nerves.
Jaune wrote out a note 'You look great! how are you feeling'
Jaune could see the darkening of her cheeks as she read the note and pushed her glasses up "honestly a bit nervous" she said as she took his arm and went inside with them. Jaune felt a strange unfamiliar heat overtake him, at that exact moment as the music hit the pair of them the song "Cryin" by Aerosmith Was playing over the speakers as they went in.
Jaune smiled as they noticed Ren and Nora dancing on the floor already. "Lets leave them be okay?" Pyrrha said as she let Jaune lead them to a spot on the dance floor to dance. Jaune pulled her close for a dance, Pyrrha practically turned the same shade as her hair as Jaune took her hand.
As the song played on, Pyrrha seemed to get entranced in the song, Jaune felt a warm feeling on his face as he was surely blushing like mad at the mere act of dancing with her.
Pyrrha did the rather bold act of resting her head on his shoulder as they danced. Jaune fought back against the urge for every single cell in his body to break free from it's housing and scatter to the winds. In an action to slightly distract himself he glanced around and saw Ren and Nora dancing their way towards them discreetly.
As the song start to wind down he heard Pyrrha say into his chest "This a nice song right?"
Jaune just smiled and rubbed her shoulder trying to communicate "yeah" to her.
When the song ended, and several more slow romantic songs past with them simply enjoying the feeling of each others touch against each other. She lifted her head up to show the slight glistening of tears in her eyes. there arms slid down each other until they were holding hands. Pyrrha said not doing a great job maintaining eye contact "You could have brought anyone you know..."
Jaune shook his head as they stepped off the dance to talk for a bit, Jaune shook his head and pointed at her.
"Why me though, I'm not really that pretty. I'm not event that smart, I don't have any talent for drawing like you do, I can't even sign."
Jaune smiled and shook his head he took his hand and pressed it against his nose before flicking it away.
Pyrrha thought about it for a second. "You don't care?"
Jaune pointed at her, holding his finger to her chest just below her neck. She looked at him, with wide eyes as he then pointed at himself before he finally held his left hand out with his palm facing his chest and made a soft motion like he karate chopped his left hand with his right hand before he held both lands in front of him with his finger tips pointing at her. [You and me are partners]
Pyrrha just looked at him with a hint of understanding "Partners? is that what you tried to say
Jaune waved his hand like he tried to say "Kinda" he thought about it again before looking at her.
"Jaune this is what I mean, I know your trying to tell me something, but you deserve someone that understands you!" Pyrrha sighed out.
Jaune fished out his Notepad and started writing 'It's not like we couldn't help you learn to sign you know.' As she read that note he wrote out another one 'Look I don't mind this one bit until then, you are worth it.'
Pyrrha looked down with a faint blush "I'm worth it huh? I'm not used to anyone saying that to me..."
Jaune smiled and blushed a bit handing her another note. 'I guess I can teach you an easy one to remember right now.'
Jaune then pointed at himself, crossed both arms in front of his chest like an X, and with a slight bit of hesitation he then pointed at Pyrrha.
Pyrrha looked down wiping her nose "I... uh, know what that one means."
Jaune just smiled and shrugged, Pyrrha wiped her eyes with a smile on her face as well as she close the distance. Pyrrha not able to find the words points at herself, folds her arms in front of her chest like and X. and then as her hand shook like a leaf in the wind, pointed at Jaune. and held her hands out in front of her "I don't think I'm worth you Jaune, but i'll try to be."
Jaune reached and took her hands, he looked in her eyes, he would be later told that she had the most brilliant green eyes anyone has ever seen. He could get lost in those eyes so easily. and even though they only knew each other for less than two months, he felt right with her in his arms.
She got up on her tip toes as he leaned forward to kiss her for the first time. At first they awkwardly bumped noses. Then they couldn't quite line up. Then her glasses got in the way. That's when the nervous embarrassed giggles from the both began until their lips touched. Once that happened, for Jaune and Pyrrha the world shrank down to the size of two people. The second kiss wasn't so bad either, neither was the several more after as the pulled each other close.
It wasn't until they heard someone clear their throat and saw Nora and Ren standing nearby watching them was the world nice enough to expand out to allow other people to exist in it again.
Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other blushing then back at Ren and Nora, Ren just gave a thumbs up, Nora shouted "It's about time!"
The four of them talked for a bit before they returned to the dance. Jaune and Pyrrha refused to let go of each others hands the rest of the night.
Back in the present day...
Jaune didn't realize he was crying until he wiped his eyes. He didn't know how long he had been staring at the screen just lost in his memories like he had. He looked at his computer and thankfully it only looked to have only been about a minute or so. His stomach had settled dramatically and he checked to see if Ruby typed anything again. she didn't but was typing in the group chat.
DARKKNIGHTARC: So is any one else coming with us? Blake? Yang?
RBYROSE1: Yang has a date, some guy that dyes his hair blue. Blake is politely declining.
DARKKNIGHTARC: So it'll be just you and me then?
RBYROSE1: Your not going to let me go by myself are you, I know your not that big of a dick.
DARKKNIGHTARC: So you do think I'm a dick?
RBYROSE1: Help me Jaune Arc, your my only hope
Jaune laughed silently out loud and with his stomach calm he goes for a slice of pizza, A minute later he comes back and eats as he types
DARKKNIGHTARC: Read my screen name, I'm more of a Dark Vader guy.
RBYROSE1: Holy shit it's "Darth" Vader.
DARKKNIGHTARC: Same thing?
RBYROSE1: No, Not the same thing and stop changing the subject.
Jaune looked down at his sketchbook and thought. "Just as friends... I guess that's okay right?"
DARKKNIGHTARC: Okay Sure, I'm game then.
RBYROSE1: Good because the dance is on the 15th.
Jaune almost choked on his Pizza and went from casually leaning back in his seat to shooting forward typing rapidly.
DARKKNIGHTARC: We have a WEEK, As in one week!
RBYROSE1: Uh yeah did you not see the flyers around school
DARKKNIGHTARC: I saw flyers but I thought that was for bake sales or some nonsense.
RBYROSE1: Your mom is dating the principal and you can't even be bothered to read the flyers?
DARKKNIGHTARC: First off, it's one date, when you say it like that it sounds like it's their fourth or fifth date.
RBYROSE1: Okay...
DARKKNIGHTARC: Second, Those flyers don't stand out at all.
RBYROSE1: Dude the flyers are neon orange!
DARKKNIGHTARC: Ruby I'm colorblind, the fuck is orange?
RBYROSE1: Right, how did I forget that, sorry
DARKKNIGHTARC: It almost never comes up.
RBYROSE1: I mean I have a dress I could wear
DARKKNIGHTARC: I have a suit
RBYROSE1: Then were good!
Jaune relaxed back into his seat, as he typed he heard a car pull up, he saw it was 8:45 pm
DARKKNIGHTARC: Sounds like mom's back.
RBYROSE1: Are they early?
DARKKNIGHTARC: Yeah a bit, I'm going to make sure my mom and the principal are not making out in the car or something.
RBYROSE1: Take pictures.
Jaune got up and walked to the living room with his pizza slice and glanced out the window
He did see Ozpin and his mother chatting it up outside, while he couldn't hear what they were saying, he did see them lean in for a chaste kiss.
Jaune slipped back into his room with his pizza in his mouth and replied to Ruby
DARKKNIGHTARC: Looks like the date went well.
RBYROSE1: Aww
DARKKNIGHTARC: Yeah... I'm going to log off and go grill her about it
RBYROSE1: Have fun, make sure she knows about next Friday.
DARKKNIGHTARC: Will do, good night Ruby!
Jaune logged off and stepped away from his computer, as he took a step away from his desk he felt his stomach churn a bit. Jaune shook it off and walked out of the room to meet his mom at the door.
So this chapter got away from me, I was not expecting it to break five thousand words. Honestly, the ARKOS first kiss was one I wanted to do in this story for a while, because it kinda will help me set up the kind of relationship that Jaune and Pyrrha had when she was still alive in this story.
A few tricks that I hope came through clear is when I took a step back, and rather than use the [text] I used the entire story to date. I actually described the hand motions that Jaune was using to sign out based on real American sign language signs for words used. Also, I won't lie that I didn't enjoy writing the sheer amount of awkwardness between the two at the dance, that was kind of fun.
Furthermore, I think I can stake my flag down on the title of "first fic to Ship Jaune's mother to Ozpin" as well. but his mother is kinda OC so I don't think that counts at all.
Another thing I want to mention is the call back from how Ruby asked Jaune to a dance versus how Jaune asked Pyrrha to a dance, I love doing call backs to past events, and the Jaune's comment on Pyrrha's eyes was another call back.
What I'm trying to say is I have a fun god damn time with this chapter, I really did. Which is why it went longer than most, and I hope you all have a fun time reading it as well, see you all next chapter.
