AN: Here we go! Another chapter of Reverse! This one get's rough! Raven has her own agenda that doomsaying demons might have elaborated on and she is rough on Jaune! I hope you like it cause here we go!
"Get moving.' Raven said walking into her tent tossing a lump of blonde hair out in front of her that thudded on the ground groaning once.
"Boss? You sure about this?" A man with chipped teeth asked as Raven snarled.
"Yes, I am sure. Now leave us, bring me Vernal so I can brief her on her new responsibilities."
"Yes, Raven!" The man with a chipped tooth said as Raven nodded, the flap to their tent slapping open as she sighed this was not what she would call an easy day. It was bad enough she was doomsaying about the literal end of times. Raven would be the first to say that she was not one for doomsday.
The future belonged to those with the power to shape it today. Not the raves and rantings of madmen and broken shells. But when said mad men were not men or women or even human but a literal demon from another world, who spent weeks showing you visions apocalyptic visions of the future where not only you but your tribe and allies died time and time again? Well, you would learn to listen.
"Boss?" The tent flap flapped open a gust of chilly air blew in Vernal stepping inside the seventeen-year-old second to Raven was in a bad mood as she was famed for. Her piercing yellow eyes locked onto Raven her half-shaved head shone in the dull tent firelight, her eyes roamed the room before settling on the softly moving blonde lump on the side as she nodded.
"Raven."
"Vernal. Sit down." Raven ordered as the girl nodded her fur boots tapped lightly on the tent floor, her body wrapped in the skinned pelts of animals that she had slain on her own.
"Yes man. What's the deal with the kid?' Vernal said giving Jaune a disapproving look. The girl did not think much of outsiders or well anyone who could not beat her in a fight. While she saw sword and shield on him, she did not know how well this boy could fight, and until she saw him in the pit, she would hold her judgment.
"Vernal when the boy wakes up you will be assigned."
"Assigned mam? What does that mean?"
"It means he will become your responsibility," Raven said her crimson eyes narrowing as Vernal cocked her head blinking owlishly wonder what her leader mentor pseudo parent really meant...
When Jaune woke up, he was not doing well.
"Jaune!" The voice of his adopted moth Summer shouted in his ears, the harsh guts of frigid sharp Atlas air blasted him right in the face. His sword and shield clamped tightly in his hands. He was sprinting, full speed the interior of the bullhead blurred by him as he ran.
Jaune heard his family scream his name as he burst out of it. The boy ran out of the interior to see a glaring triple set of beady yellow eyes, the Deathstalker that threatened his family had reared up, and Jaune had leaped out of the bullhead to destroy it.
His mind was narrowed, and his vision made into a tunnel. He didn't care what happened to him. He didn't care if he lived or died. The only thing that mattered was that this monster would not harm his family and he would be damned before it took another step.
His blood pulsed and he lout out a scream of defiance as his legs bent his fingers tightened and he jumped out of the evac bullhead screaming an incoherent warcry as he leaped into the waiting pincers of the monster.
"AH!" Jaune screamed bolting up the bullhead interior and the pincers of the Grimm no longer in his vision.
"Sumer!" Jaune shouted as he saw brown? He saw brown themed walls of what looked like a tent, he was in some kind of them? With mounds and mounds of furs, maps and other items tossed around.
The sound of the frigid Atlas wind was gone and-
"Who are you?" Jaune asked his gaze settled on the two women in front of him. Or one woman and one teenager. The woman was tall, very much so well over six feet with eyes that shone like fresh blood. She looked... she looked like Yang really.
She looked like an older, taller stronger Yang with much more muscle mass, a long red sword and a scowl that could flay meat. The girl was older than Yang by a few years, wrapped in a series of thick brown furs compared to the red armor of the woman, she had sickly yellow eyes that made Jaune feel queasy just looking at, and she regarded him with a scowl like he was dirt.
"Well, it looks like you are up." The woman said a slight grin on her face, she almost smiled at Jaune as she took a step forward. Jaune froze this woman was dangerous he felt the power from the woman, and his legs trembled. He wanted to run to flee to get the hell out of there and back to his-
Summer!? Where is she?! Where am I? Jaune thought as he knew he was in trouble, alone separated from his family his second one in an unknown location with two dangerous women he needed to plan his actions carefully-
Never give up! Never surrender! Summer's words entered his head as he gulped.
Jaune stepped forward. He took a step towards Raven as she paused, a tension broke in the room as Jaune saw the woman smiled a true spile of her face that looked a dead mirror of Yangs.
"You step forward? Even when you know you are outmatched?" The woman asked regarding him curiously like she was fishing for an answer.
"Where else would I step?" Jaune asked cautiously as the woman nodded a firm smirk on her face as the girl scoffed.
"So he's ballsy, that doesn't make him strong just brave. He's probably still weak as shit." The girl dismissed Jaune making him glare at her. She did not like him and result, Jaune found himself not liking her and-
'My name is Raven Branwen Jaune." The woman said her voice was calm but sharp. It was like she was gently pressing a knife to his jugular and he gulped in response.
"Branwen? Like Qrow?"
"Yes... my brother and me are not on speaking terms, but he is family, unfortunately," Raven said rolling her eyes in an exaggerated motion as Jaune gulped.
"So if you are Uncle Qrow's sister does that make you my aunt?" Jaune asked hoping to gain some family similarity with his aunt? It was not the smart move as a quick scowl appeared on her face.
'Do not think us so close boy, you are my prisoner." Raven snapped making Jaune flinch, but he planted his feet. He had a feeling that Raven wanted him to be strong. Even when he was scared shitless, he kept his feet planted. Raven noticed this she saw him, she knew he was afraid of her, and she knew he was choosing to stand in front of her she liked this.
"You are mine Jaune. I saved your life in Atlas, and as such you are mine to do with as I please."
"What?!"
"You heard me, boy," Raven added some steel in that that made Jaune visibly flinch but his feet stayed planted.
"Why?"
"I saved you. You would have died without my intervention. Your life is mine to do with as I wish."
"And what do you wish?"
"Simple. Vernal."
"Yes, mam?"
"From this moment onward Jaune is your responsibility. You are to train with him every day, teach him how to fight like a Branwen." Vernal choked her body jerked, and her eyes widened in an expression of horror as it looked like she had just been insulted.
"What?! Why!?"
"Do you mean to question me?" Raven asked her hand falling ever so closer to her sword as Vernal quickly shook her head.
"N-no, mam!" Vernal quickly stuttered as Raven nodded.
"Good. Vernal Jaune is your responsibility. You are responsible for his training, feeding and his shelter. If anything happens to him, that is your responsibility, and his actions will be your fault."
"What?!" Vernal looked indignant and for a moment looked ready to fight.
"You heard me Vernal. Jaune will be a fully fledged part of our tribe. You are responsible for his food, water, and shelter. You will teach him our ways and teach him our values. His success or his failure will be reflective of you and you alone."
"I! Yes mam," Vernal said finally resigning herself to whatever fate was being tossed to her. She ground her teeth and nodded her head as Raven went on.
"You will be the one to train him as well. I will supervise your training, but you will be the main one responsible. Know this both of you. As a Branwen, you are expected to live fight and die. If you are strong you will live if you are weak you will die as such you training will reflect that, Vernal!"
"Yes, mam!"
"Jaune!"
"Yes!?"
"You two will fight every day, Vernal you will attempt to beat Jaune half to death every day."
"I will?"
"She will?!"
"I thought you wanted to keep him alive?"
"I do but if he can not fight he is of no good to me. Jaune you will also try to beat Vernal half to death every day."
"I refuse!"
"You don't have a choice, I don't think Vernal will hold back."
"Trust me I won't," Vernal said her teeth flashed, her hands flashed up as Jaune saw twin wickedly curved gauntlets on her wrists. They looked wicked and cruelly sharpened, and Jaune saw what looked suspiciously like weapon barrels sticking out from the trident like gauntlets.
Do they shoot? Jaune though years of Ruby weapon tinkering playing in his mind as he looked at her weapon.
"You see Jaune? She will not hesitate to beat you half to death. If you do not want that I suggest you learn to fight back."
"But I don't want to hurt her! I don't want to have to fight!"
"That makes one of us," Vernal added sharply some kind of thin smile played over her face as Jaune felt the sadistic grin on her lips.
"Good. Now for both of you, know this. I expect one of you to be beaten half to death at the end of the day. If one of you is not half dead, I will personally make sure that both of you are do I make myself clear?" Raven said her eyes boring holes into both teens as they shared a collective gulp as they backed down.
Both teens refused to meet Raven's glare in a rare act of submission that Raven allowed. It was one thing to be too weak to look her in the eye, it was an entirely different story to challenge Raven when she was mad.
That was foolishness, while some may say it was cowardice Raven defined cowardice as running away from a task because it was difficult when you could reasonably complete it. She did not think backing down from pointless or in this case potentially suicidal fights was cowardice.
Raven might award bravery, but she did not reward foolhardiness. She needed men that would come back to her living and breathing. If all her tribe died in some vainglorious charge into enemy gunfire for Grimm claws what would be left of the tribe itself? She needed living men, not dead heroes. The dead never helped anyone.
"Um, mam?"
"Yes Vernal, what is it? You may speak your mind for now." Raven said as Vernal sighed some of her earlier hesitation gone as she took a deep breath.
"I know I am responsible for him but where will Jaune sleep? Our camp is low enough on space as it is, shall I take him to go make a new tent?" The girl asked practically as ever Raven like her adaptive mind it was why she took her in the first place.
One of the reasons at least, not count sociopathy, lack of caring for others and a fight to the death mentality that even made Raven balk at times.
"Your tent has a bag correct?"
"Yes, Mam."
"And did you not say it was getting too big?" Vernal's eyes widened as she began to tremble.
"Yes, mam."
"Good. Then he will sleep with you for the time being problem solved now get to bed. You two have a long day ahead of you tomorrow and for the foreseeable future so I would suggest getting some rest Oum knows you will need it."
"AH!" A scream was heard along with the heavy thud! Of metal meeting flesh, there was a flash of aura before it fell and collapsed. The metal carried on pressed on by equal parts fury and resentment as metal hit bare flesh.
A scream was heard loud and sharp as the sound of metal slicing flesh filled the air, a fist tensed as hot blood splattered out and a boy fell.
Fist!
"AH!" Jaune screamed his left cheek split open, blood flew everywhere as Vernal's gauntlets sliced open his face. The boy yelped as he planted his feet he swung his blade out wildly nearly ticking Verna' in the face.
She frowned driving a punch into his chest. The boy's eyes bulbed his pale skin covered in his own blood. Jaune was lifted off of the ground as he choked.
Vernal took the time to remove her blood-stained gauntlet ignoring Jaune's cries of pain before she backhanded her charge. A meaty whack! Was hear as Jaune's face exploded into more blood. She winced as Jaune was knocked flat the boy screaming as his bloodied buried form writhed on the ground.
The hot summer sun burned into her back she had almost worked up a sweat.
"Not good enough!" Vernal hissed wiping some of Jaune's blood on her furs before letting out a sigh. She yanked Jaunes face up half of it torn open in a gapping weeping wound. Half of his cheek hung off his face like sliced ham, his quivering form was pathetic to look at so Vernal did what she did best she hit.
Whack! Her gauntlet slammed right into Jaunes face as metal met flesh as his face began to break. Raven and told Vernal that if Jaune was not half dead at the end of every day, then they both would be so she rained down punches on Jaune ignoring his harsh cries of pain as his face exploded.
"How did he do?" Raven asked looking down as Vernal dropped a half comatose Jaune on the floor. Thud! The boy thudded on the ground in a puddle of blood.
He curled up instinctively both of his eyes a deep purple, half his face was torn open in a messy weeping wound. The boy coughed choking up blood as he spat on the floor.
"Better than yesterday. It took me an extra two minutes to beat his ass. So he's getting better.' Vernal admitted before Jaune groaned.
"Help-
"Shut up!" Vernal sad kicking Jaune right in his chest. The boy gagged a full force kick slammed into his chest. He whimpered in pain as Raven nodded.
"Good. Keep up his training, I want him up to Branwen standard sooner than later." Raven admitted as Vernal sighed.
"I'll get on it. He is getting better, he's got the potential to be great, but it's going to take a lot to yank it out. Good thing he had some training beforehand or I might have just killed him." Vernal casually admitted making Raven nod.
"It was Summer that trained him. Despite how limited it may have been, he was trained by an almost competent huntress. I'd expect this."
Raven admitted as Vernal sighed.
"Well, I'll take him back now."
"Good. Make sure to make him strong. I want him to be stronger I need him to be strong. Do whatever it takes to make him strong even if you have to beat it out of him."
"Oh don't worry I intend to," Vernal said yanking Jaune up making him cry out in pain his broken, beaten face still weeping as she began to drag him out and into the camp.
"Be still!" Vernal hissed as she pressed a damp cloth to Jaune's face, she sat by his side in their much to her chagrin shared tent, Raven had made the two teens share a tent, and that meant sharing a bed-
"It hurts!" Jaune whined as Vernal took the blood-stained cloth fro his face. Wringing it out in a buck of crimson water as she put it on the clump of another similarly stained towel.
"Quit complaining! If you want to not be beaten half to death, then get better at fighting. You have no one to blame but yourself." She spat as she sighed.
Jaune's wounds were already in the process of healing. He had so much aura and the fact that it regenerated the way it did? Jaune could get beat half to death every day and wake up near fine the next. Well, that was not entirely true Vernal needed to place her attacks well.
She was ordered not to kill Jaune but put the fear of death in him. And she did come close to dying in many, many times in the half year Jaune had been brought into their camp he was steadily improving.
The first time the fought he was defeated in thirty seconds, brought to his knees and had his face subsequently beaten in.
His face crumpled on her gauntlets as she knocked half his teeth free from his mouth before slamming his face in and out of the ground.
After than Jaune learned how to fight back or try to fight back.
He had gotten better in increments of a few seconds, then a half minute and now? Jaune could last a total of seven minutes before being eventually beaten into a bloody pulp.
"You didn't have to beat me half to death!"
"I could have killed you." She said bluntly not caring for his complaints. He was already mostly healed. Jaune's cheeks had recovered his body had been permanently scarred by their spars.
His right cheek had a liter bolt of lighting tore into it. The result of her metallic blade meeting his flesh time and time again.
"You didn't have to be so rough!"
"Jaune the world is not a kind place. You either kill, or you are killed. Be lucky I'm ordered not to kill you, or you would be dead!" Vernal spat Jaune was frustratingly naive as he always was. Thinking that people could be bargained or reasoned with. The world was shit and people were worse. You either fucked them over or you got fucked none of the middle ground bullshit that he was fond of talking about.
Friendship? Trust? Bullshit! You could only trust yourself and those rare pieces of shit that you could look behind their shittier parts and trust to watch your back while you fucked over the rest of the shittier parts of humanity.
"Jaune cut the sap, you got your ass kicked again and if you don't want it to happen tomorrow be prepared to beat my ass instead."
"But I don't want to fight you! You are my friend Vernal!"
"Why the fuck do you think that? When have I ever been your friend?"
"Since we first me! We live together, you feed me, help he train-
"Jaune. I am your owner. You are my responsibility. We are not friends.'
"I think of you as my friend Vernal." Jaune's eyes were sharp and cold as the sea. The kind of eyes that a man determined had as Vernal sighed.
She knew Jaune was as stubborn as Raven in most matters while Raven was a heartless pragmatist Jaune was a stubborn, naive bastard that needed a good beat down.
"Jaune. We are not friends. At best? We might be called partners, I train you, you get better, and Raven does not kill both of us. Do I make myself clear?"
"You are my friend Vernal. I won't let you forget that. I trust you."
"I! Fuck me why did I get the stubborn one?" Vernal moaned as Jaune rolled over, tired and wanting to sleep for once. If only to get her stubborn roommate to stop talking.
"Can we go to bed?"
"Fine. Move over and no cuddling! I hate that shit."
"But I can't help it! You are soft!" Vernal blushed. She! Vernal second in command of Raven fucking Branwen blushed like a fuckin child in a shitty romantic flick.
"Shut up!" Vernal hissed sliding into their blood smeared sleeping bag. Vernal had her back to Jaune as-
"Turn!"
"Ok!" Jaune turned his back to hers to minimize his sleep cuddling as Vernal rolled on her eyes and went to sleep.
"GEH!" Vernal let out a grunt Jaune had somehow blocked her attack using his shield to prevent her gauntlets as he bent his legs. Taking the blow as an infuriatingly smug smile split his face.
"Hah! I blocked you!" Jaune said smiling ear to ear as Vernal rolled her eyes.
"Watch your feet!" She hissed kicking out and slamming a foot to his kneecap. Jaune screamed, winced but did not fall. His legs buckled but held he kept his balance and form. He gritted his teeth and punch with his sword hand punching her dead in her nose. Vernal's head snapped back her back forcing itself back at an awkward angle making he aura activate a-
"Hah! I got you!" Jaune said smiling wildly at finally getting a hit on his mentor-
'Don't brag!" Vernal attacked like a viper, two lighting fast fist struck his chest making him gag. His aura flared as twin gauntlets stuck him one after the other. Vernal linked her fingers before yanking up with them.
Smacking Jaune in the bottom of his jaw, he yelped his aura flaring as she lifted him in the air in a double uppercut.
"Never let go of an advantage! If you can hit them fucking do it!" Vernal sneered a hand snaking out grabbing Jaune by the back of his hair pulling his face down impacting it with a rising knee.
Jaune screamed his aura broken, and blood flew from his nose. SHe broke it with her kneed before slamming his face on the floor, Jaune to his credit pushed up before a boot connected to his nose. His hands shot out gripping Vernal by the boots, using her own force to pull her down with him.
Vernal was honestly surprised by his move she didn't plant her feet or roll os she fell with him landing flat on her back.
"Oof!" She gasped not expecting to be staring up at the sky or a wall of metal next. Whack! Jaune slammed his shield into her face making her help the fourteen-year-old mounted his three years older mentor whacking her with his shield, raising and lowering it like a hammer.
Whack! Whack! Clang! Vernal punched out knocking his shield clear from his hands, disarming him-
Thud! He punched her clean and hard across the jaw causing her to spit in his broken, bleeding face his lips a twisted, mangled mess of red curled up in a fierce snarl. She raised a foot kicking him squared in her gut he bucked whimpered cried but kept up the attack.
Fists raining down on her face as Venr hissed. She wrapped her legs around his back locking him in place she blocked his next punch, but the other landed cleanly on her face knocking it aside.
Her vision began to swing as she lifted herself up. Pulling herself up with her legs knocking Jaune off balance before slamming! Their heads together in a brutal headbutt whack! Jaune cried blood flew from their nose as she knocked him off balance. Her aura protected her head broke his naked one.
Jaune fell back as Veral began raining done gauntlet punched on his face. Metal cut flesh blood flew from the wounds as-
"Stop!" Raven yelled as Vernal froze a blade on his emaciated face, Jaune's cheeks looked like pounded meat.
Blood flew from them his eyes so painfully bruised and swelled that he could barely see as-
"That's more than enough. Vernal off." Raven said the joy in her voice as Vernal nodded she pulled Jaune off the dirt as Raven smiled
"Both of you that was amazing. Jaune. You went down fighting failure or not that is how you fight. That's how you become strong."
Jaune could barely speak blood flew from his mouth as three teeth dropped out of them.
"Dammit. Get the doc we need to fix his teeth." Jaune gave a slurred response as Raven waved a hand.
"You lost them in a fight, that is no shame. Vernal?"
"Yes, mam?
"You got surprised. Jaune could have beaten you there."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Your near loss means you trained him well good job.' Vernal beamed at the praised her face lighting up at the notion of it.
"Thank you! Mam!"
"You are welcome now before you go on and take Jaune for healing I hope you know that the point of this tribe is to grow strong."
"Yes, mam I know that more than ever."
"Good. Now that you are aware you know I am training Jaune to become strong."
"I know this mam." Why do you think I'm training him? Vernal thought as Raven spoke.
"As such, I have come to call you two the strongest of the youngest members do you contest this?"
Contest being the strongest? Fuck that Raven might strike her down for that.
"Hell no, and if any one of those others shits wants a shot at me to let them try! I'll send them back with a few broken bones!"
"So you do claim to be the strongest of the young?" Raven asked a devious smile on her face as Vernal felt a shudder of fear run down her spine. Raven was scheming something and-
"Good and you did say Jaune has potential?"
"He does, I mean it may not be obvious, and he may not look like it especially now," Vernal said holding up the barely conscious blonde boy whose face looked like she had bashed it with a cheese grater. Blood flew from his lips and cheeks his head swaying dangerously covering her left shoulder with his blood and spit as she rolled her eyes.
"So he is the one you expect to be the strongest?"
"Give him a few years and yeah he'll be one of the best. Not as good as me but an easy second. I'll make sure that he does personally."
"Good. Then as such, you will have no objection to birthing his children."
"Of course not if it-
"WHAT!?" Vernal nearly gagged her face twisting into a shocked smile as-
"You heard me you will birth his many children," Raven said like it was the single most ordinary fucking thing as Vernal choked.
"I! What?! Why!?"
"Simple. Strength breeds strength. If you are the strongest youth and he the second, then it is only natural that you will have his children."
"Hold on now! I didn't say he was-
"You just did."
"I know but-
"Did you lie to me Vernal?"
"NO! I would never lie Raven but-
"Then that is the end of discussion. Jaune when you beat Vernal five times in a row she will have your children for you. If she refused, I will make her. Is that understood?" Jaune groaned once as Raven nodded.
Raven was having a good day. No, she was having a good two years.
"DIE!" Vernal said her gauntlets going suspiciously close to Jaune's crotch. The boy jumped back defending his future children as he yelped.
"Vernal! Look out!"
"Shut up! Just stay still!" She said as the two dueled in the mid-summer heat and Raven did mean they dueled. This was a fight, not a one-sided beat down. Jaune blocked parried, ducked and retaliate with all the force and ferocity that she would expect of a Branwen.
Ting! His sword clashed with her gauntlets, as Jaune spun on his side, his shield collapsing into his arm allowed him to punch her in the face. Vernal took the hit eating it before stomping on his foot. Jaune winced in pain before she headbutted him crack! As she hit him, Jaune stood his ground not giving in.
He shuffled his feet before lurching forward twisting his shield down reversing his attack nearly cutting her furs apart. Raven nodded as Veral slid into him gripping his fists and flipping him over slamming him on his back.
"AHH!" Jaune cried out as Vernal slammed a boot to his neck. Slamming her foot down and cutting off his air flow. Jaune gripped the dirt before tossing a wave of it in her face.
"My eyes!" She yelled their hands flying up her foot almost letting up as Jaune took his collapsed shield putting it between her legs as it expanded.
Vernal yelled the move took her off balance as she felt Jaune rolled out of her pin taking his sword down hard on her back as she barely blocked it. His hit forced her to the ground making him pin her to the dirt. He forced his blade to her throat his steel well maintained by the over two years of Jaune's stay.
Raven had kept and trained the boy well. He was looking less and less like scared and kidnapped civilian child and more like a real man. His face while not as handsome as it had once been mainly due to it now sporting numerous scars due to being turned into swiss cheese on a nearly daily basis now had several jagged injuries on it.
The most pronounced the scars a crimson lightning bolt on his left cheeks that ran down the entirety of his face. The other side a twisted mess of cuts and scraped that had it look like he was dragged on a rack of knives. The fact that his face still held a boyish charm on it was a plus. Not many people can still look childish with a face that has been torn to hell and back. Raven thought though remember that anyone outside of the tribe that saw Jaune without his shirt off might just scream.
His chest and lower body were far worse than his upper. While Vernal and been one of the only to spar with him she was not the only one. Other bandits, some Grimm and even Raven herself had tested his grit. He did well as well as he could be expected, but Jaune had seen the inside of his own stomach more than most would like.
"AHH!" Jaune hissed as Veral took one hand and began to pound his sides. Landing a series of betrayal attacks on his kidney. Jaune winced but weathered the attack gritting his teeth and forcing his blade down onto her neck.
Metal met flesh as aura flared in defiance. Vernal doubled her attacks on his side her gauntlet slamming into his side as he grimaced. The old civilian t-shirt he wore when first coming was beyond gone. The old adage of if you replace every part of a boat is it still the same boat applied here. Jaune's shirt was ripped tattered and torn so much that almost none of the original remained.
What he wore now was a mess of brown and orange leather and fur stitched together using an amateurs skill with an annoying bunny logo on it as-
"AH!" Jaune yelped. Vernal attacks broke his aura her metal driving in and puncturing his kidneys. Jaune screamed in pain but still persisted Vernal did the same showing him no mercy jamming his sides with her blade as blood and sinew were torn free form him as-
"Enough!" Raven shouted seeing that Jaune might actually die if Vernal persisted the two rolled off each other as Jaune whimpered before betting his tong and forcing himself up.
He no longer asked Vernal for assistance to stand after a loss a good trait.
"Both of you have done well. I am proud." Raven said as both bruised teens one looking a bit roughed up the other literally dying in his mentor and despite her rebukes and claims to the contrary, his friendly nature was rubbing off on Vernal slowly.
"You have all done well. Vernal Jaune is looking like he was born here. You have done in two years what I thought might be impossible Vernal."
"Thank you, mam!"
"Do not thank me thank yourself you are his personal trainer the glory belongs to you."
"Mam!"
"Jaune!"
"Yes! Mam!" Jaune hissed blood in his lips one hand holding his side his aura flaring up. He would still need stitches by Vernal. She had been by his side long enough that she had picked up the basics of medical work along with more complicated techniques to keep her charge alive.
"You did better today than you ever have before. I am proud to have you here."
"Thank you! Mam! You saved my life before I only wish to repay you!" Jaune said winching in paid as Raven saw a flash of worry on Vernal's face it lasted less than a second, but Raven smirked. Someone is more attuned to her charge than she lets on. Good for you I hope you make strong children together.
"Now don't say I do things for free. Both of you will test your skills soon."
"Mam?"
"We are going to Atlas Vernal. I need to make sure of both of your convictions."
"Vernal is loyal as am I! Mam." Jaune added as Raven smirked.
"I do not doubt your loyalty Jaune. Only your conviction."
"Mam?"
"I need to know that you have what it takes to get the job done. By any means necessary."
"Mam? What do you mean?"
"You will both see tomorrow. Until then? Get some rest and try not to bleed on anything else. This camp is looking like a butcher's table."
"Stay still!" Vernal hissed as she finished stitching up Jaune's side.
"Sorry! It hurts!"
"I don't care!" Vernal hissed as she finished her patchwork stitch job. Jaune's side would have a nasty scar but when his whole lower body looked like it have been scraped with knives who was she to care? She did most of the scars herself, and she was damned proud of them too.
"Now get up we have to get some lunch," Verna said looking away as Jaune's broad back that she had personally trained in her own steel made her flush.
Stupid hormones! So what he's a guy? So what if he is sexy as fuck? I'm not fucking the blonde fucker till he beats me five times no matter what Raven says! Vernal though blushing brightly as Jaune put on his abomination of a top as the two went to go get lunch.
Meat was on the menu today hell it was never off the menu. Meat made you hearty gave you strength to live and it tasted fucking good so it was on the menu.
"Eat up," Vernal said plopping two dripping dear steaks in front of Jaune. The meat sizzled and popped! Cooked rare as all meat worth its weight was.
"Thanks!" Jaune said sitting across their tent licking his lips.
"Eat fast, or I will make you eat," Verna said already devouring half on one of her steaks as Jaune sighed.
"You know my mom. Summer told me to enjoy my food."
"You mom? Why the hell do you still talk about her? You think you are going to see them again?" Vernal asked tearing up her meat devouring it like a wild animal as Jaune nodded.
"I hoped so. I promised you I would stay here with you after you saved my life-
"And a man never breaks his promise. I know."
"But I still want to see them again you know?" Jaune asked taking a bite out of his meat as Vernal rolled her eyes at him. Her sickly yellow eyes that Jaune now found adorable turned in her head as she swallowed a steak with a loud gulp!
"You would like Summer you know?"
"I doubt it. I don't like anyone."
"You like me."
"I tolerate you, it's not an easy job.'
"Hey, that's not nice."
"I'm not nice."
"Yes, you are!"
"Jaune. I have literally murdered people. You have seen me do it.'
"They were bad people!
"We are bad people in case you didn't notice."
"I'm not bad and you are not… that bad."
"Jaune just because you want to be a fucking hunter does not make you good. It makes you fucking delusional!"
"It does not! I am going to be a hunter Vernal you can come with me! We can go to Beacon!"
"Me in Beacon? As if, no one likes me enough to let me sleep in a dorm anyway."
"I like you," Jaune asked placing his hand on her own intertwining their fingers as Vernal blushed wildly before-
Whack!
She punched him dead in the side of his jaw, Jaune blocked the attack of course even recovering from a fatal injury Jaune was still a Branwen and more importantly, he was her student even if he was a putz. A sexy, buff, muscular, strong stud. That Vernal may or may not have thought of in their shared bed as her hands slipped between her legs-
"Idiot!" She hissed making Jaune frown.
"What did I do?"
"You exist!"
"How is that my fault?!"
"You say too much!?"
"What that I like you?" Vernal felt her heart flutter and a blush... She hated that word with a passion as she growled.
"Shut up!"
"Why!?"
"Shut up and eat your meat!"
"But I am-
"Eat your meat or I will make you eat mine!"
"You want me to eat you?"
"Only in I'm on top-
A blood vessel popped in her head as she stamped his foot.
"Idiot!"
"Vernal!?"
"I'm going to train stay here!"
"But-
"I said stay!"
"Yes, Mam!" Jaune said as Verna stuttered off a bright look on her face as a bandit passed the outside of her tent and sighed.
"Roughy day Jaune?"
"Women Mark I swear. One second she wants me to taste her meat the next hse angry about me."
"Funny. Usually doing that to a woman makes her less angry."
"What? Eating her food?"
"Eating her Jaune. You have to eat her out."
"Out? Why would I bite Vernal?"
"You have much to learn about women..."
This is the day. Raven thought as she planned out the attack on Schnee manner. The demon or as it was known as called Mink had been specific instances vision of her future more importantly of her death. She died according to the demon every time because Jaune could not make the hard choice. He was unable to make a critical decision when time demanded it. He chose to risk losing everyone rather than killing somebody or leaving one behind.
He needed to learn the value of sacrifice, he needed to learn what it meant to have to lose something to gain everything. That was a lesson she would teach him within half a day.
The target was Schnee manner. The goal was Jacques. Raven had this planned out for over a year. Two years of brutal training of Jaune had gotten him to the point where not only was he strong enough much stronger than any hunter in training his age.
Well maybe not Vernal or Raven when she was his age. But he might put up a fight to Qrow especially how lax he has become.
"Pathetic." Raven drawled sighing as she looked at a mess of maps on her small wooden table. A steaming cup of tea was next to her side as she sighed.
"You will learn the meaning of sacrifice soon Jaune. I did not train you with vernal for two years for nothing. You will learn what it means to sacrifice others to save many more." Raven said as this test would be two-fold. Vernal was not as cold as she appeared. Vernal had a torch for Jaune, a youthful affection that was only natural. When you ate, slept, trained, and lived almost every second of your life with someone, you tended to develop feelings for them.
"That explains Tai-
Raven stamped down those feelings ignoring the loss of her first lover-
Her first partner as she shook her head, she made her choice then she would not look back on it now. The past was the past, and no force on Remnant could change that.
"What's done is done," Raven said as she looked at her maps. Soon Vernal would be faced with a choice. Jaune or the tribe. She would need to watch her as much as she did not want to admit it Vernal was human and she was victim to the weak things caused emotions.
Vernal was not one to admit her emotions let alone talk about them. Her affections clouded her judgment and made her irrational when it came to Jaune she would need to be tested to see if she could make the hard decisions if pressed.
"She will be challenged just as he. They both need to be tested, their mettle has been strong before, but this will be the final test." Raven said as she put her maps together.
The plan was simple, through great effort and pain Raven had been able to acquire an Atlas bullhead. And the head of the SDC along with his young son would be speaking at a gala of sorts. All the wealthy socialites would be there, and she could see if Jaune had it in him to kill other humans.
Sure he killed Grimm, and he harmed and injured other members of the tribe, but he never killed anyone before. He would need to be put into the heat of battle to see if he had what it took to kill another.
"If Vernal is in danger then he will," Raven said as she drew a line with her finger. The bullhead would take them to Atlas. From there they would attack fast and harsh. She would storm the area take several hostages and make Jaune choose.
She would tell him the Fang paid them to kill everyone here. But! If he could kill one, just one of the civilians the rest would all be let go. This was not a choice he would want to make. He would struggle and be pushed, but he would make the right decision there was no choice.
The bullhead was not a hard ride. Six hours in flight and now they were approaching the target it was time to move.
"We are making decent time, is everyone ready?" Raven asked her assorted men and women as they neared the drop site.
'Since this new can anyone tell me the plan? Or do I need to repeat it?"
"No mam."
"Excellent than Vernal, what is the plan?"
"Simple. We go in a steal from some rich people then leave."
"Fair enough. "
"Who are we stealing from?" Jaune asked sharpening his sword as Raven scoffed.
"Does that matter?"
"No. I was just curious."
"Well to sate your curiosity, we are stealing from some of the richest and most morally bankrupt people on the face of Remnant. Literal slavers and people who do things in the safety of mansions that would make me blanch. Don't feel bad about stealing from the Jaune. They deserve far worse."
"I see."
"Don't worry, it will be over with soon enough," Vernal said putting a hand on his shoulder. Raven noticed the gesture of affection but said nothing of it, soon the test would come and soon she would see if she saved her life or wasted two years…
"Everybody put your hands up," Raven said with a grin the people or the parasites that fed on the blood of others called the elite were terrified of her. Rightfully so in fact, Raven had stormed the building from a back entrance, her men took out the guards along the way, and Jaune had much to her enjoyment killed without hesitation. Slicing the throat of one man quickly and fact that he was threatening Vernal surely had nothing to do with it not at all.
"I don't know who the hell you are, but you will pay for this woman!" A snide, condescending voice said as Raven turned to see a man in a pure white suit, hair the color of snow and crustal blue eyes glaring at her. Jacques Schnee glared death at Raven even without a weapon and Vernal holding a gauntlet to his neck he spat defiance Raven liked that in a man too bad he was going to die.
"I don't think I will do that Schnee."
"I will see you all hung!"
"You will not do much after your death," Raven said, and as much she wanted to scorn him Jacques took the threat of his death with a blunt face.
"Kill me if you wish, my company will survive.'
"Just be quiet and have your men pay the ransom." Vernal spat as the man honestly looked offended.
"I will not negotiate with terrorists!"
"Good thing, as you can see!" Raven said holding out her arms to the terrified gala inhabitants the room was already tense as hell. The dead rotting bodies of the guards or what passed as guards lay bleeding out their corpses still warm as the men herded the audience forward. Raven saw a thumbs up one of the men had gotten a news camera working and they were now broadcasting live to the world.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of Atlas! I am Raven Branwen of the Branwen tribe, and I have been paid to come here and kill every last one of you.' There was a mute gasp and panic from the civilians as-
"You will die terrorist!"
"Thank you, Mister Schnee! Your words are as encouraging as always. Now there is good news and bad news. The good news is the people offering to pay me have defaulted on their loan. That means I have no reason to kill any of you." Raven said as they almost! Looked ready to burst into tears of joy-
"But I am not one to waste an opportunity. Jaune."
Raven asked as the boy who was until now off camera walked forward his face set like stone as halfway across the world in a small house in Patch Summer Rose shot up in her face caught in a mixture of, joy, fear and terror at her son was.
"Jaune you have done well up till now, but I must ask you. Do you believe in yourself?"
"Mam?"
"I once asked you what your goal was in life. You told me it was to save people, is that still your goal?"
"Yes. I want to be a hunter.'
"A bandit as a hunter? That will never happen!"
Whack!
"Shut it old man, but you are right. Jaune I thought we talked about this? You can't be a bandit and a hunter that's ridiculous."
"Jaune," Raven demanded stealing his attention as he fixed his leader a stern gaze.
"I want to save people, mam."
"Good. You wish to save lives, tell me do you have what it takes to save lives? Are you strong enough to save people?"
"You trained me to be strong mam. I know I am."
"If I told you I was going to kill everyone in this room what would you do?" Raven saw Jaune's face widen in fear his jaw fell open and-
"But the buyer reneged!"
"Stay out of this Vernal! Jaune, what would you do?"
"I.. I would do nothing mam. I can't beat you in a fight."
"Good you are smart at least. Then tell me what if I told you, that you could save them all?"
Jaune's eyes lit up as he instantly replied.
"I would save them!"
"What if I said you could save all but one?"
"All but one?"
"Jaune at one point in time or another all of these people have slighted or offended me in some manner. Whether hiring guards that have killed our people. Or insulting us on TV. I do not let that stand so while I am here I am going to clean house." Raven said clicking her sword open as Jaune winced.
"Mam please, they are civilians here."
"And you wish to save them?"
"Yes."
"Will you save them?"
"If you can give me the opportunity to do so and I do not betray Vernal, you or the tribe."
"Vernal, me or the tribe? Your loyalty seems skewed Jaune. I am the tribe worry about betraying me above all others. Now here is what I will do. Jaune you once told me you would never kill a downed man?"
"There is no sport in that mam. If they surrender or are incapacitated why kill?"
"Then know this. I will kill everyone in this room but one before the night is over. Unless you right here kill him.' Raven said pointing at Jacques as both Jaune he and Vernal froze. Looks of horror their face s as-
"Raven! You can't!"
"Using my first name Jaune? What happened to mam?"
"Mam! I know he might be bad, but he's captured!"
"His guards have killed our people Jaune. He deserves to die."
"The guards do! They killed our people!"
"He hired them to do so. He is just as guilty."
"We raid people mam! You said all life has a right to live! And if they defend themselves who are we to judge them?!"
"Boy? Are you defending me?"
"I don't know you, but I don't like executions!" Jaune hissed at the man in white who had a genuinely shocked look on his face.
"Then make a choice. You said you would save lives now here is the chance. As a reward for your loyalty, I offer you a choice. Kill one man or let dozens more die. None of these people are innocent Jaune. There is blood on every single one of their hands so make a choice. Kill one or let them all die."
"I won't kill him, Mam! He-
"Bring me, somebody!" Raven shouted as screams were heard as the men dragged a skinny man in a blue suit up. He had black hair blue eyes and skin as pale as snow and the frame of a coat wire. Raven hated him already.
"Please! I am the head of Schnee electronics! I can pay you!"
"Jaune last chance."
"Raven. Please-
Fisht!
"AIEEE!" Raven sliced off his legs. No aura to protect him the man collapsed on the floor screaming. "My leg! Oh god! My leg! You bitch!" His words were, silenced when Raven took an arm the man doubled his screams blood flying everywhere as screams emerged from the hostage the camera zoom in on the bleeding dying man's twitching body-
"Raven!"
"One last chance."
"I can't! Please!" Jaune said tears in his eyes as Raven sighed.
"So be it." She took the man's head off in a quick display his body went still blood erupted like a fountain form his head as Raven kicked the body away.
"More," Raven said the evening went on.
Four more died quickly. Raven made a habit of removing all the limbs from them before decapitating them.
Jaune screamed begged but did not attack her. He was loyal but just soft. He could not make the hard decisions. Come on Jaune! It's only one life! Raven thought killing the woman without a second thought, her head flew free from her body her green eyes in shock at her own demised. Her head landed next of all the others as she kicked her body away.
The crows was a muttering begging mess begging in money tears threatening to call down the wrath of Atlas or pay them all the Lien in the world Raven wanted none of it.
"Next." She said tiredly already as-
"NO!" Jacques yelled rage in his voice as Raven looked down and cocked her head. A boy was brought to her not a man a boy. He was young a few years younger that Jaune and looked just like-
"Whitley!"
"Father?!"
"Your son?" Raven asked taking her blood-soaked blade and pointing it at the crying shaking boy-
"Boy," Jacques said his eyes locking onto Jaune as he held his glare. The man was still his breathing tight and controlled as he took a deep breath.
"Jaune was it? Is that your name son?"
"I... yes it is, why?" Jaune asked even more tears in his face as Jacques forced a smile on his lips.
"I don't know you boy, but I know people. You don't want this, you don't want any of this. This crazy bitch-
Whap! Vernal knocked him on his head as she smacked him with her gauntlet.
"Don't talk about the boss like that." The disquieted child said her limbs shaking as the man growled.
"She kills innocent people!"
"None of you are innocent, spare me, Schnee."
"She is threatening my son. Jaune. I do not know if you have siblings-
"I... I do... I have ten sisters."
"Ten? Your parents must have been busy."
"I... what do you want sir?"
"Jaune. I can see your eyes. In my business, you need to know people. The eyes are the windows to the soul. You are a good man, I know that please kill me."
"Father!"
"Quiet son!"
"But-
"Silence! Jaune, please do not make me watch my own child die. I do not I can not live with that. Please kill me."
"Jaune he is offering himself."
"I! Sir you don't have to die-
"To save my son? I am not a good father but what man would I be if I let a child of mine die before my very eyes?"
"I...
"Jaune he wants to die-
"I can kill him-
"You will do nothing Vernal! This is his choice and his alone! Jaune you have your options. Kill one or sacrifice dozens." Raven said glaring death into Jaune her crimson eyes boring holes into Jaune as he froze.
"I..."
"You don't have to gut me, boy! Just take my neck. That will be enough."
"I don't want to kill you! I want to save-
"Jaune. You can not save everyone. That is a fact. You cannot save every man woman or child. You are going to be a hunter yes?"
"I want to be one, more than everything."
"Than you have to know sometimes, some people will die. That is life, you can not save everyone, and sometimes you must let someone die. Please. Kill me with some kind of grace. Don't let me live with my son's corpse in my mind."
"Raven, please-
"Ten seconds."
"Raven!"
"Nine."
"Jaune!"
"I! I'll do it! I'll kill him!" Jaune shouted tears streaming down his face as he wailed. Raven nodded sheathing her blade as she nodded.
"Make this quick."
"I..."
"Raven was it?"
"What do you want Schnee?"
"May I say goodbye to my son?"
"You may, I see no reason to deny that last gift."
"Whitley..."
"Father..."
"I have not been a good father to you, I know this and I do not apologize."
"Typical." Ravne sneered as the man glared.
"I will not apologize for my life a Schnee never apologizes they do better. I can no longer do that. I.. I have so many things I want to tell you. But I do not have the time. When I am gone, Winter will inherit the company. I wanted it to be you, but you are not old enough."
"Father I don't want-
"You will need to be strong for your sister's son. Do not let them suffer alone."
"I don't want-
"Just... be the man you want to be. Don't let anyone else lead your life and please. Do not blame Jaune for this, the bitch of leader-
Whap!
"What did I say?!"
"He is not responsible for what happens. Jaune? Will you do the honors?"
"I don't want to."
"I know that Jaune but in life sometimes we do things we do not want to do. Now, please. Make this quick." He said leaning his head back exposing his neck to Jaune. Jaune gulped his blade rising up to his neck as Juane shuddered. His sword shaking in his hand as he began to quake.
"I don't want to kill you."
"That makes two of us.' The man said with a small smile.
"If I could-
"You can't."
"If there was any other way."
"You would do it now be quick. I want to die with some dignity." Jacques said as Jaune yelled taking his blade and slitting his throat.
"Father! NO!" Whitley yelled as Jaune slit his throat he fell back choking sickening gagging noises filled the air as he drowned on his own blood.
Raven smiled a broad and wide grin on her lips as she did it. She got Jaune to make the hard choice.
He chose to save the majority at the cost of one, he could make the hard choices.
"Vernal. Jaune we are leaving." Ravne said the boy ran to his dying father and wailed he was not the only one to break as Jaune almost dropped his sword the boy crying for the world as the Branwen's left.
"Lien?" Vernal asked her hard shaking rage anger, and something else unknown and hot in her veins shook as Raven nodded. She had dropped them off Jaune and Vernal on the outskirts of Vale. Both the teen's hok Jaune had spent the whole trip back crying.
"Yes. This attack as put us in the crosshairs of the world. You two lay low until then make a life in Vale until I call you and I will call. Make a home and life in Vale. You will survive." Raven said before tearing open a portal and leaving them.
Vernal stood dumbstruck Jaune was a crying whimpering mess she had a hundred thousand lien to her name, and for once she was alone...
No Raven, no tribe just her and Jaune...
"Vernal? What are we going to do?" Jaune asked tears in his face as-
"We are going to survive. Now let's go, I heard there is a thriving underworld in Vale let's make some acquaintances and show them how a Branwen runs things." Verna said as Jaune nodded weakly as the two shaky teens made their way to the city walking towards the lights of Vale as they walked into the city and away from the tribe...
AN: There it is! Raven proved a point! Jaune is almost broken! The world knows he's alive! A MAJOR diversion happened with Jacques death! And the story goes on! Next time Jaune is in Beacon and well... he met some friends along the way! Until next time! Branwen is next!
