So, I'm back. Thank goodness.

Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Kegi Springfield

Chapter 54

"We need to talk."

"I wondered when you would come by." Cinder opened the door fully and allowed Jaune inside. "I see you're awake. I take it you've recovered without incident."

"I'm fine. That's not why I'm here, though."

"I didn't expect it was." Cinder crossed her arms and stood before him, making it clear she was still upset and that he wouldn't be invited to sit. That was fine. He didn't feel comfortable doing so either, not with the thoughts rushing around in his head. "Your sister got in contact with me."

"Huh?"

"Lavender," Cinder explained. "She's departed from Vale. She had me take a message for you."

"Where is it?"

"Sadly, I didn't have the time to write it down – mostly because a certain someone had put himself in grave danger for no good reason. The basics are that she apologised for causing you problems, for not being able to control herself, and for letting you down. Since she believes staying here would just put you in more danger she has chosen to leave."

She had…? Damn it. It sounded like she was beating herself up over it. He'd have to see if he couldn't contact her, but that would be difficult given the distance. I never found out why she took Ren, either. I'll have to try and get the answer out of him.

"If she gets in touch again tell her I forgive her," he said.

"I'll pass the message on. Now then, I'm sure you came here for something else. Go on. Speak."

"I lost control."

Cinder's brow rose. "Hm?"

"I lost control of my Grimm side," he said. "I… I don't know how or why but I went wild when I thought Lavender was in danger. I attacked my friends and kept fighting them despite not wanting to. If it had continued then I'd have killed them all."

"What of it?"

"Damn it, Cinder!" Jaune surged forwards to grip her by her shoulders. He shook her. "I need answers! This can't happen again!"

"Are you going to attack me now, as well?" The question was calm, even if it dug deep under his skin. He released her, horrified to have lost control, if only for a second. "That's better," she said. "I've told you before that I don't know everything, Jaune. I'll tell you what I know because it's in my best interests to do so, but you're walking on thin ice as it is." Cinder cocked her head toward Emerald, Mercury, and Neo. "Leave us. My brother and I need to talk."

The three made their way out of the room without complaint, and only once the door was shut once more did Cinder continue. "You say you lost control when you saw Lavender in danger. Were you afraid for her?"

"I… I don't know. I think I must have been but I didn't have a chance to think about it. One second I knew I had to look after her and the next I was shaking off my rage in time to see everyone looking like they'd been through a meat grinder."

"Hm, I see." Cinder's hand came up to stroke her chin and she hummed to herself for a moment. "You realise you're an anomaly, correct? You may be part human but you're not fully so, and what that other part of you is, is far beyond normal. I, on the other hand, am perfectly human. Whatever I say can only be what I've been able to work out. It's not fact."

"At this point I'm desperate," he said. "Even if you can't promise me it's true it'll be better than nothing."

"Very well. From what I can tell you are losing control to your Grimm side as a result of being around negativity for so long. Human negativity, that is. You spent the better part of seventeen years with only Watts, Tyrian and Hazel and I for human company, and we're hardly normal when it comes to that. Our negativity was muted and rarely related to yourself or the Grimm. From that, you have gone to being surrounded by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of human souls. Did you think that would have no effect on you?"

"It didn't when I arrived here," he argued. "I came to the city before Beacon and I didn't have any problems at all."

"And was the city in the midst of panic at that time? I somehow doubt it. It may be that your emotions were overwhelmed by the fear of the people, or it could be that constant exposure has brought the Grimm side of you to the fore. As I said, I don't know for sure."

She was being honest with him, painfully so. Jaune sighed and looked away from her, biting down on his lip as he thought back to when he'd arrived in Beacon. Things had been easier then, and the first time he'd lost control hadn't been until much later. Now, however, he could almost feel the inhuman anger bubbling beneath the surface, and that was with no negativity around him at all. Cinder was calm and most of the people in Beacon weren't prone to panic.

Whatever had happened, it felt like the barrier between his human and Grimm side was weakening. With all the attention from Ozpin, Qrow, and now everyone else looking for him, it could only spell bad things for the future.

What if I lose control again and hurt someone? What if I kill Yang by accident?

The correct thing to do would be to leave. That was the safest option. But he knew he couldn't. He was too much of a coward to leave them all.

"I need to be able to control it."

"That would seem an obvious solution," Cinder agreed. "Sadly, I have no idea how you would go about starting that."

"Big Sis-"

"Don't `Big Sis` me," she snapped. "Do you not think I would offer you help if I knew how? The possibility of you going crazy at any moment hardly helps me with my plans. I would help you with this if I could, Jaune. Do you honestly believe I would not?"

"No, I… I didn't mean to suggest that. I know you would. You've always been there for me."

"I have," she agreed, "yet that seems to be something you've forgotten of late!"

"I haven't forgotten. I've just… been busy." The excuse sounded weak to him and Cinder as well if her raised eyebrow was any indication. "Cin- Big Sis, I'm sorry. I know I said something wrong the last time and made you angry but I didn't mean it. You're important to me."

"Hmph. About time you realised it." She shot him a fierce glare, but he knew how to look deeper and there was a certain self-satisfied edge to it. "You're not off the hook, but I suppose I can try and help you with this if you wish me to."

His spirits soared. "O-Of course. Anything you can do!"

"All I can do is try," she said, "so don't get your hopes up. It strikes me that the best way to deal with your Grimm side would be to try and gain some control over it. We can begin training in the Emerald Forest. That will be the safest location, since if you lose control it won't lead to any incidents."

"You want me to let it out?"

Cinder shrugged. "Sealing it away has hardly worked. If it's going to happen on its own then we might as well test it in a safe environment. Unless you have a different idea?" He had none and his silence made that clear. "Very well. I'll find a time where we can slip away and train a little. If anyone asks you can say we're simply practising for the tournament. Now, was there anything else you wanted to quiz me on, little brother?"

There was. The words caught in his throat, however. Cinder was smiling at him and it felt so long since he'd seen that. He didn't want to ruin it.

"N-No. It's nothing. Thanks, Cinder. I appreciate you trying to help."

She nodded and let him go, never noticing the conflicted expression that spread over his face.

"I thought you were going to ask her whether she was responsible for that Grimm attack," Remy said.

"Another time, Remy. I'll… I'll ask her next time."

He was afraid to find out the answer.

/-/

"Hey, you're up."

Ruby jumped a little at the voice but recognised it and grinned as Yang snuck up behind her. She'd only just been dismissed from the infirmary but true to form her sister was there to catch her before she could escape.

"Yep, and I'm okay to leave. Tsune said so."

"Did she?" Yang gave her a long and searching look but Ruby held it. She was being honest and Yang could check inside if she wanted to. "Hmm, okay. I believe you. What happened anyway? Did they tell you?"

"Tsune said I worked myself to exhaustion and passed out."

"That's it?"

"Yeah…" Ruby trailed off, and she could tell that neither of them was particularly pleased with that excuse. She knew her limits better than anyone. No way would she just pass out like that. She hadn't even taken any real hits.

"You going to ask Uncle Qrow later?"

"Yep."

"Cool. Tell me if he tries to dodge and I'll help corner him." Yang threw an arm around Ruby's shoulder as they both laughed. "How you doing, anyway? No side-effects?"

"I have a headache and I get dizzy when I shake my head." She made to do so for example but Yang's hand caught her hair and her sister glared at her. "Which I won't do," Ruby quickly added. "Heh heh…"

"Don't make me send you back to the infirmary."

"Sis, I'm fine! The doctor said so."

"Ruby, the `doctor` likes sticking needles in people to hear them scream."

Ruby shivered. It was another reason why she was fine; ergo, she wasn't going back there if she could help it. Tsune was scary.

"She told me about the breach," Ruby whispered, hoping to change the subject. It worked.

"Yeah, that thing. Not sure what to think about it, really. I mean, no one was killed but it was still touch and go. Grimm in the city, you know. It's not exactly a good thing. We're lucky Jaune was around to sort it out."

Ruby perked up at the name, and the implication. "He beat back the Grimm by himself!?"

"What?" Yang laughed. "No, no. He…" Yang cut off suddenly and looked around. When she continued her voice was in a whisper and her head was close to Ruby's. "We've been told to keep it quiet, but basically he managed to sense the Grimm coming and warn the civilians away. It's why more people weren't hurt."

"Why are we keeping it secret?" Ruby asked, nonetheless remaining quiet. It sounded important.

"Instructions from Uncle Qrow, Ozpin and from Jaune. Basically it's something about keeping his abilities quiet so no one figures out. Uncle Qrow thinks some factions might want to actually take him out of Beacon to make use of his Semblance, whether he likes it or not…"

The thought was a horrifying one and Ruby gasped, not just at the prospect of losing a close friend but also of anything being done to him against his will. "I'll not tell anyone," she promised.

"Heh. Knew you wouldn't." Yang's voice rose to a more normal level. "Anyway, we were all waiting for you to wake up so we could hang out. Everyone's been put in the know on Jaune's Semblance but we wanted to figure out what was going on with the White Fang, Hentacle, and all the other stuff. You're not too tired, are you?"

"No way! I want to know what's going on too!"

"Alright, but take it easy, okay? I don't want you wearing yourself out. No training for today, okay?"

Yang's expression was so caring, so worried, that Ruby couldn't help but flush and mumble an assent under her breath. "I won't…"

They made their way back to their dorms, though Yang dragged them over to her team's first. Voices could be heard from inside but they went silent as the door clicked open, only resuming again once they saw her.

Pyrrha reached her first, eyes filled with worry – and before Ruby could even think to tell her partner she was okay she was swept up into the taller girl's arms and given a once-over more thorough than even the school doctor had.

"Are you okay?" the redhead gasped. "Did they give you anything for what happened? Did they explain what happened?"

Ruby's head span. "Um. Yes, yes, no. I think."

Pyrrha looked horrified. "You're not okay?"

"I'm fine, I have headache tablets, but no, they didn't tell me anything," she reported, knowing Pyrrha wouldn't give up until she had the full answer. Weiss wouldn't either, for all she pretended she didn't care for them. "I'm okay, guys. I swear."

It felt nice to have everyone looking out for her, though sometimes she wished it could be the other way around and someone else could be the one who had to be pampered like a baby.

"The glorious vanquisher lives!" Nora crowed.

"Glorious vanquisher?"

"One so terrifying that even the mighty Hentacle took flight at the mere sight of her face."

Ooh, that sounded cool. No, wait, was that an insult? Ruby whined to herself as she tried to figure out whether she should be pleased with the moniker or not. She'd always wanted a cool title but a person whose face was so ugly even the Grimm fled for their lives? Not quite what she'd been hoping for.

"Give her some room, for the love of dust," Weiss snapped. "Ruby, sit down. You shouldn't be standing in your condition."

"But I'm-"

"Sit!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Weiss nodded when Ruby was down, sat on the edge of Yang's bed with the blonde beside her. The others had doubled up on beds too, though there was an empty space next to Weiss. Jaune was missing, or late. Before she could ask where he was, the door clicked open.

"Hey, I'm back. Sorry about that."

"About time. Did you speak with Qrow?" Weiss asked.

"I couldn't find him. Someone said he was with the headmaster and they're not to be disturbed or something."

"Hm. That's a shame. We have some good news at least. Ruby is back."

"She is? That's great!"

Jaune's honest excitement made Ruby grin. She turned on the spot to find him. The moment she did, a knife was jammed into her skull. She fell back with a startled scream.

"Argh!"

"Ruby!?" Yang's hands were on her shoulders, trying to see if she was okay. "Ruby, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." Her hands felt about her hair, prodding the skin there. There was no injury, of course, but the feeling… it had been so sharp and sudden. Just the memory of it left her feeling a little nauseous. "I-I guess my headaches are coming back," she whined.

"Lay down and close your eyes," Yang urged, pulling her down so that her head rested in her sister's lap and her feet were up on the mattress. "Close your eyes, sis. Does that feel better?"

Ruby did so, and breathed an immediate sigh of relief when the pain didn't return. It had left immediately in all honesty, but the memory lingered. "Hmm," she moaned when Yang's fingers started stroking her hair. "Nice…"

"Stay like that for a little, Ruby," Weiss said. "You're recovering."

"M'kay."

No complaints there.

"Jaune, are you okay? You froze for a second."

"I-I'm fine. I was just surprised, you know. When Ruby yelled." He sounded worried. For her? Ruby cracked her eyes open and glanced over at him, but clenched them shut again when a wave of dizziness washed over her.

It was followed by a wave of fear. What was going on? Was she sick? She kept her eyes shut, relieved again when that helped alleviate the pain. Not even the medicine she'd been given was helping, though she did feel a little light-headed and spacey.

Weiss let out a long breath. "Okay, if Ruby is not about to collapse, then I suppose we can start. We have a lot to discuss…"

"Do we?" Blake asked. "We know the White Fang just staged an attack on Vale, or tried to. What else is there to question?"

"Why, for one," Weiss said. "What good does attacking Vale do the White Fang? It's not going to make people accept the faunus any more than they already do; it'll do the exact opposite in fact. What's more, why now of all times? The Vytal Festival is coming up. Would it not have been better to strike during that?"

"Maybe they didn't want to cause untold casualties," Ren suggested. "Forcing the festival to cancel would be an effective way to send a message. What do you think, Blake?"

"It's too subtle. I'm not saying they can't be subtle when they need to be, but all this does is shout out that the White Fang is still here. Thing is, everyone knows that. It's not like they've been inactive lately."

"I think the big question is why Hentacle and the Grimm are working with them," Yang said, still running her fingers through Ruby's hair.

Mmmm…

"The `why` from the White Fang's point of view is fairly obvious," Weiss said. "He's exceptionally powerful. Still, I see your point. We've been raised to believe Grimm are unintelligent monsters, but the fact one can communicate with them, and even form an alliance, is proof to the contrary."

"But why? What could the White Fang possibly offer?"

"Negativity?" Nora offered.

Everyone stared at her.

"Well it's a perfect match, isn't it? Grimm want negativity and the White Fang makes loads whenever they attack." The ginger girl grinned and brought her hands together. "Both sides working together for what they want. It's a mutant agreement."

"Mutual," Ren said.

"Same thing."

"Honestly, it's as good an idea as any," Weiss said. "I'm not sure we'll get a better one out of them without capturing one to speak to."

"If they even know anything," Blake added. "Those in command might be the only ones who know the truth. It's common practice to make sure each cell works independently has limited information. Our best bet would be to capture Hentacle."

"Oh yeah, and we've seen how easy that is," Yang drawled. "He only kicked all our asses at once."

"Then we get stronger, and we train harder. We improve our teamwork and go through strategies, and when we're confident we can take him on, we do so."

Jaune shuffled awkwardly. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Wouldn't it be best just to leave him be. I mean, he's only fought back when yo- we attacked him. He hasn't actually tried to hurt any of us."

"Apart from you, of course," Weiss said.

"Well, yeah, but I'm okay. Nothing bad happened."

"It could have, though. That's what is important. Yesterday's attack could have killed hundreds of people and might very well have if not for your Semblance." Weiss must have been nodding to Jaune at that. "Vale won't always be so fortunate. We won't always be so fortunate. I think Blake is right; we need to increase our training and all of us get stronger."

"The Vytal Festival will be a good place for that," Pyrrha said.

"Yeah, and all the transfer students will be coming soon as well," Yang laughed. "That ought to put a few more weapons around. Might make the White Fang and Hentacle back off for a bit."

"That might even be why they made such an attack now," Weiss mused. "Perhaps they knew they wouldn't be able to during the tournament due to the increased security. Rather than be mocked for failing to take advantage of such an event, they strike now when people aren't ready, and ride the wave of that publicity until after the festival."

"Maybe," Blake said. "It sort of makes sense…"

Ruby's attention drifted for a few minutes, eyes still closed and mind slipping off as Yang continued to play with her hair. She woke suddenly with a snort to find Yang shaking her. The room was silent. Oh Gods, had she just started snoring?

"Looks like Ruby is still worn out," Yang laughed. "We can call this short, right?"

"Yes, I suppose so. Take Ruby to our room to get some rest." Weiss tossed over her scroll for Yang to open the door with. "Get some rest, Ruby. You've more than earned it."

Ruby wanted to argue but couldn't find it in herself. She really was exhausted. Her eyes opened as Yang helped her up, and she was relieved to find that apart from a little dizziness when she went from laying down to standing up, there wasn't any pain.

Then again, that wasn't what caused it. She glanced at Jaune once more, sat smiling on the edge of Nora's bed. Her eyes throbbed. She closed them instantly. Three times out of three, and for no one else. Her eyes only hurt when they met Jaune's. As a last experiment she looked at his feet and legs. As expected, she felt nothing.

That didn't do much to make her feel better.

"Come on, sis," Yang whispered. "Bed time."

Ruby didn't resist, nor did she say a word as she was helped out of the room and back to her own. Her thoughts were too muddled; her heart was beating too fast. Something was wrong with her. Something wasn't normal, and it was making it so that she couldn't even look at Jaune without feeling sick to her stomach.

She needed to talk to Uncle Qrow.

/-/

"There's something I don't understand."

"Congratulations. I hear it's the first step on the path to enlightenment. Tell me how it goes."

Qrow paused to give Ozpin a suffering look, not that the old coot noticed or cared. Maybe it had something to do with the paperwork the headmaster was going through, or maybe he was just a little less patient after Ironwood had stormed out of the office, cursing the entire way. Whatever the case it was up to him to deal with the man, since Glynda had taken one look at the stack of paperwork and stormed off with half.

"It's just that something isn't right," he said, ignoring Ozpin's pointed lack of attention. He knew the old man was listening; he always was. "If the kid's power is so damn useful then why would Raven let him out of her sight? She has the Spring Maiden to look after. You'd think some kind of Grimm radar system would be pretty useful."

"Didn't you say yourself that Mr Arc ran away?"

"Yeah, but if Raven really wanted to stop him she would have done. It just doesn't add up."

"Semblances are rarely as simple as you seem to believe, Qrow. You know for a fact they can evolve and change in myriad ways. I believe we've scratched but the surface of Mr Arc's abilities." The headmaster paused. "Speaking of, I suppose I will have to have a word with your niece at some point. You don't suppose she'll forget entirely about what happened with her eyes if I don't mention it, do you?"

Qrow had the grace to feel a little offended on Ruby's behalf. "Ozpin, she's not going to miraculously not notice or not care about the fact she fell into a coma. What do you take her for?"

"She isn't ready to know the truth."

"Then give her the half-truth. Give her something, though. She deserves that much. If you don't, I will. Anyway, enough about Ruby. I want to know what you're hiding about my apparent protégé and nephew."

There had to be something. Qrow didn't believe for a moment that Oz would protect the kid so much for the chance of someone who could sense the Grimm. It was a big deal, sure, but not to the degree the old man was making it out to be. There was something more going on. And damn it if he didn't have a right to know.

"Are you aware of what took place during initiation?" Ozpin finally asked.

"Considering I wasn't here for it, no."

"Mr Arc came upon a rather ancient Deathstalker that had been trapped in a cave since before Beacon. The beast should have been no threat but went wild upon discovering him, chasing him across the Emerald Forest and showing incredible focus on the young man, to the exclusion of all else. Hentacle was also in the forest at that time, searching for Mr Arc."

Qrow winced. Neither of those were good outcomes but the kid was fine, so it couldn't have been too bad. "What's your point?"

"My point is that Mr Arc entered a cave he should have had no interest entering and encountered a Grimm long sealed away. What, I would ask, made him wish to enter the cave in the first place?"

"His Semblance," Qrow realised. "He sensed the Grimm and wanted to have a look. Ballsy."

"That seems possible," Ozpin agreed, nodding. "However, we also have to consider the other things that have happened. Grimm seem unusually interested in him. Hentacle seeks to capture him, and we can construe that Salem wants him brought before her. Ask yourself, Qrow. What use would the Queen of the Grimm have for someone who could only sense Grimm?"

None.

Apart from robbing them of a tool, there was absolutely nothing – and he doubted she'd have cared enough about them having a Grimm radar or not. As a tactical tool it was useful but not exactly game-changing. Most Grimm weren't exactly subtle.

"There are two possibilities, of course," Ozpin continued. "The first is that Mr Arc is a threat to Salem's latest line of Grimm, those which can conceal themselves among humankind."

"You mean Hentacle and that other one Yang fought." Qrow's eyes widened as realisation seeped in. "He could find them! The kid can tell if someone is a real human or a Grimm in disguise!"

"Indeed. There is a tactical reason for Salem to desire him, but we might be jumping to conclusions there. Consider for a moment how the Grimm reacted to him. The Deathstalker hunted him across the forest, Hentacle has tried time and time again to capture him, and there have even been reports of Beowolves attempting to kidnap him."

"You mean kill, right?"

"I do not believe sensing Grimm is the only facet of the young man's Semblance, Qrow. And that may well be the reason Raven was prepared to let him leave her tribe. It might also be the reason he declared his Semblance `dangerous` to utilise in his training with you."

Dangerous? Of course, the kid had said he couldn't use it for fear of hurting them. He'd scoffed at the time and thought it an empty boast, but apparently the kid could actually hold his own against that Cinder girl when he used it.

"I figured it was some kind of kick-ass offensive Semblance but that doesn't make sense if it's sensing Grimm. What's so dangerous about that?"

"Nothing from him to her," Ozpin said. "It's a purely support-based Semblance. That said, if the young man is afraid to use it then it's likely due to there being a good reason. One that we have seen time and time again whenever he is sent out into Grimm-infested territory."

It clicked in an instant.

"They can sense him, too."

The sensing went both ways – or it at least did something that made him light up to the Grimm's senses, maybe just the negativity of knowing there were so many Grimm around, but maybe something else. Whatever the case, if the kid was a beacon for the Grimm then it made sense why he'd keep such a power under wraps.

It also made sense as to why his bitch of a sister would be willing to let him leave the tribe. He'd become stronger at Beacon and the constant risk of Grimm attack for keeping him around would be an issue. But she sent that Cinder chick after him to make sure he'd be okay, sort of like a bodyguard. Damn it. This is complicated.

"Can you now see why I want to keep his abilities secret from our friends on the Council, from even James?" Ozpin asked.

Qrow took a second to imagine what Ironwood would do if he found out the kid was a beacon for the Grimm – or what the Council would demand if they realised his very presence in Vale might be responsible for the recent upsurge in Grimm attacks. They were a paranoid lot and if one life was the price to pay for keeping the Grimm away, they might well accept it. Forget people after him for his use, they'd be lining up to cut his head off, or maybe just launch him into a volcano with the Grimm alongside.

"Fuck me," Qrow breathed.

"My thoughts exactly. Paraphrased, of course."

/-/

Ren closed the book on the table before him with a heavy sigh. His research hadn't been going well, no thanks to the librarian who had somewhat misunderstood his request and provided him books of somewhat dubious use. He glared down at the one before him, which depicted a multi-tentacles monster on the cover, but which contained said monster doing unspeakable things to the rear-ends of men who looked suspiciously like himself.

"This isn't what I meant when I asked for material on tentacle monsters…"

Little wonder the woman had given him such an odd look. She'd been quick to provide, however, along with mentioning that if he needed more she would be happy to show him. He made a mental note to avoid her for the next couple of years, lest his mind be scarred any more than it already was.

This just wasn't working.

"There you are."

Ren hummed and looked up, surprised to see Jaune approaching, and on his own for once. He nodded to the other man, pushing out a seat with one foot so that Jaune could take one opposite him. "Good evening," Ren greeted. "I didn't expect to see you here. How is Ruby?"

"Asleep still, but she's looking a little healthier." Jaune sat down. "I was actually looking for you."

"Oh?" He took the distraction for what it was, pushing the hardcore trash aside. "What for?"

"I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday."

"The Breach?"

"No, before that. When you were captured…"

"Ah." Ren's smile faded. "Technically, that was the night before. I don't recall much of it if that's what you're asking. I already told Weiss and the others that." It wasn't the complete truth, of course. But he wasn't sure anyone would believe the truth.

He wasn't sure he did, either. How could a Grimm feel the way she'd claimed to? Grimm didn't have emotions. But she did spare me, and actions speak louder than words.

Not for the first time since that moment, his lips tingled.

"I don't remember anything," he lied.

"Nothing at all? What about the woman who abducted you?"

"Nothing." Ren hesitated. "Did I say that it was a woman?"

"Y-Yang did," Jaune said. "I think she mentioned that the Hentacle was smaller and more feminine."

"Did she mention anything else?" Ren asked.

"Not really."

Ren breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like no one had actually seen him lip locked with a Grimm. Even if no one would believe it, he had a feeling that would have come back to bite him if they had. Thank goodness for small mercies.

"What are you reading through?" Jaune asked, changing the subject. Ren was only too happy to accommodate him.

"I'm trying to research Grimm. So far it's been a fruitless task."

"Well, I can help. What do you want to know?"

Ren blinked and stared at the man before him, a little confused by the offer. Then again, hadn't Jaune shown that despite his lack of understanding in many cases he was actually a very well-read person? He'd been enough so as to maintain a conversation on Grimm theory with Doctor Oobleck, which meant he might just have the information he was looking for.

But that in asking for it, he might give away why he was interested, and thus put himself in a bad spot. Still, the reward was worth the risk.

"Can Grimm feel emotions?" he asked.

"That's… that's a bit of a tricky one." Jaune sighed and leaned back to think. "Obviously there are a lot of people who say no, and that Grimm are evil and need to be killed, et cetera and all that. Most of that is just propaganda, though. If Grimm were literally mindless then they wouldn't be able to move, let alone fight. If they had no emotions then forming packs and herds would be impossible. You need to have a social instinct for that."

That was true, and a fair point. Many Beowolves hunted in packs and some of the larger Grimm also moved in herds and flocks. Funny how that had never made him consider them as anything other than mindless before. "So, that means they can feel emotion?"

"It depends on what you count as emotion. That's what makes it hard to explain. Does a dog have emotions? Probably, but how many and are they the same emotions people have? That's where it gets complicated."

"I see. You're suggesting that the emotions Grimm feel may not be applicable to human standards. That makes sense, I suppose."

"It's all theory," Jaune said, falling into a voice that was honestly reminiscent of Doctor Oobleck. If anything Jaune seemed inordinately happy to talk about it, and actually seemed pleased Ren was interested in the idea of Grimm having higher thought. "But even if it's theory we still see signs of it. Ursa don't attack one another, which they would do if they were mindless, and if Grimm hunt people because of their negativity then they need to have a mind capable of identifying what that is and following it."

"Couldn't that just be instinct?"

"Maybe, but Grimm don't need to eat people to survive, so instincts don't really make sense."

"What about older Grimm?" Ren asked. "I've heard those can develop intelligence of their own. Would they be capable of emotion?"

"Uh, maybe? I think it would be the same thing as before just them getting smarter. Grimm aren't born with zero intelligence. It's just low intelligence compared to a human. I think the easiest way to imagine it is that truly ancient Grimm just keep getting more and more intelligent, but that it might be at the level of an adult human. Even if the Grimm are taking over most of Remnant, humans are typically smarter."

"And what about Grimm like Hentacle?"

"Ah, well," Jaune laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "They're a new breed, right? I can't really say anything for sure about them."

Ren wasn't prepared to let it go. Jaune was easily the most knowledgeable person he'd ever met on the Grimm, despite his young age. "What do you think, though? We've seen that they can talk with people, that they can act like humans, but are they just acting? Or is it real?"

"I'd like to think it's real."

"You would?"

"Well, yeah. Can you imagine if it was? That means we could communicate with them, and maybe even make peace. Wouldn't that be something worth trying?"

"Some would say no," Ren pointed out.

"And those same people will say the Grimm are evil and they're not," Jaune snarled. "What's the point of being angry at the Grimm when you're literally spending all your time trying to kill them!? Is it even self-defence at that point?"

He was surprised at the other man's passion. Surprised, and if he dared admit it, not quite as against the idea as he should have been. Then again I know full well humans can be just as cruel to their own as the Grimm. Shion was a sign of that. If Grimm could be reasoned with, if they could feel emotion, then perhaps Jaune was right. Perhaps peace was possible. He only hoped the White Fang hadn't beaten them to achieving it.

But neither that nor the other solved his real problem. Ren took a deep breath and let it go, swallowing as he prepared himself.

"Do you think Grimm can fall in love?"

Jaune froze. "Eh?"

"I asked if Grimm could fall in love."

"Eh!?"

Ren sighed. It was as bad as he expected. Well, Jaune had proven to be a trustworthy person, so he drew a deep breath and took the plunge.

"I lied before, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone. I was taken by the female Hentacle and she claimed to have… feelings for me."

Jaune stared at him with wide eyes.

"She kissed me," Ren added.

That got a reaction. Jaune stood, tripped, tangled his feet in the chair, and slammed face-down onto the table, before he slid off and slumped to the floor. Even then, his voice managed to echo from down below, muffled somewhat but no less shocked.

"WHAT!?"

So, some jokingly pointed out that Ruby was OOC last chapter and after reading their points I can only realise they are correct. After all, canon has shown that Ruby will NEVER enquire about her eyes or wonder if anything is wrong with them even after she blast-freezes a dragon or has great big white wings pop out of her face. As such, it's completely OOC for her to even wonder what is wrong with her for something as small as this. She should have just woken up, believed everything she is told, and then never question it again.

Argh, you're right. Damn it.

Still, that's a fair point. I'm afraid Ruby here will be a little more… aware. Or, you know, at least vaguely concerned at the fact she threw herself into a coma.

Next Chapter: 22nd February

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur