A/N: Wow, a little later than usual, but... still on Thursday. Hope everyone who doesn't like Cardin blackmailing will enjoy this chapter ^-^
'Nyways, Onwards!
Jaune wheezed a breath out as he dropped the last few jars of tree sap at the feet of Cardin. The four members of CRDL laughed at the poor Jaune, who was pretty sure that he was allergic to the sap.
Cardin walked over to Jaune and patted him roughly on the back, causing Jaune to stumble a bit and wince in pain.
"Thanks for getting all of that for us Jauney boy!" Cardin said, leaning over to pick one of the jars up. He held it to the light to examine the sap and continued to talk.
"Now, you may be wondering why we got you to get seven jars of sap, while there are only five of us." Cardin said, trying to build up suspense. Jaune looked Cardin straight in the eyes.
"Not really." Jaune deadpanned. Cardin felt a brief wave of annoyance at how lackadaisical Jaune's tone of voice was, but cleared the emotion with the thought of what was going to occur.
"Well, even so Jauney boy. Come with us." Cardin said, leading Jaune back to the main group of students.
Cardin gestured Jaune to kneel down next to some bushes, Cardin himself laying down as well. Jaune tiredly settled next to Cardin, making sure that he wasn't too close in hopes of not getting infected with Cardin's assholeness.
Cardin parted the bushes slightly to reveal both Jaune's team as well as Ruby's. Jaune was starting to piece together what Cardin might have planned, and he wasn't sure he liked where this was going.
"What're you going to do Cardin?" Jaune asked quietly. Cardin chuckled maliciously.
"Payback."
Cardin snapped his fingers at Dove, who pulled out the box of Rapier Wasps that Jaune had collected the other day. Cardin turned back to Jaune with a grin and pointed to Pyrrha and Blake.
"You see those two girls there? I want you to throw the sap at them." Cardin said simply. Jaune raised an eyebrow at the command.
"Why? I mean, they haven't really done anything to deserve this." Jaune said. Cardin scowled briefly, angry that Jaune didn't start throwing the jars immediately.
"The girl with the bow decided to get in the way of our friendly bantering. That's obviously very rude of her to do, so we have to teach her a lesson." Cardin said, dripping with sarcastic anger. Okay. Jaune could understand Cardin's reasoning in a twisted way.
"What about Pyrrha?" Jaune asked. He didn't spend very much time getting to know Pyrrha, even if she was his partner, but she doesn't seem like the type of girl to mess with Cardin in any way. Cardin snorted angrily at the question.
"What—does it matter? I told you to throw the jars, so throw them!" Cardin said angrily. Jaune kept an eyebrow raised. Now that was a defensive answer if there was one. Jaune turned his attention to the two girls.
Pyrrha was laughing and collecting sap with Ruby and Weiss, the three of them talking about dust-knows-what girls talk about when they're in a Grimm infested forest. Blake on the other hand, was filling the last of her jars, eyeing Yang in amusement as Yang hopped around excitedly and generally made terrible puns.
Jaune wasn't here to make any friends. In fact, how hard would it be to throw the two jars at them and make sure that Cardin would keep his secret? Jaune grabbed the two jars out of Cardin's hands, looking at each one individually.
How hard could it be?
But…
Jaune glanced at Pyrrha. She didn't really deserve this. She's been nothing but good to Jaune, even when he acted distant, almost to the point of hostile. The only negative emotion that he got from Pyrrha was frustration, and only because Jaune wasn't trusting in her as a partner. Jaune stared at the jar in the right hand. If he threw the jar, there would be no attempts at creating a closer relationship than what they had.
And Blake. Blake was… a friend. She was the one who got through to him when the others couldn't. She was quiet, but insightful. And she knew about alchemy, the one thing that Jaune was genuinely interested in, but couldn't talk to anybody because no one was supposed to know about it. She had secrets that she was trying to hide, and for the life of him, Jaune couldn't help but know more about her.
It didn't hurt that she liked a lot of the same books that he did.
So no. Jaune wouldn't do something like this. Jaune closed his eyes and sighed in resignation, his logical side, cultivated by years of studying a highly technical science, berated him for choosing the hard way out, a way that could potentially ruin many people's lives if the information went out to the wrong people.
The brighter, more hopeful side of him cheered, glad that for once, Jaune was focusing on something other than himself.
Cardin was smiling, having heard the resigned sigh that Jaune had let loose, and thinking that Jaune was actually going to throw the jars at the girls.
He was only half right.
"You know what Cardin?" Jaune said quietly, causing Cardin to pause in his mind the cruel soundtrack that he was playing. Jaune turned around with fire in his eyes, his lips set in a straight line.
"I think I've had enough of you." Jaune said, before flinging both jars at Cardin. Both jars shattered against Cardin's breastplate, but one of the jars had hit higher than the other, and some of the sap was flung into Cardin's eyes, causing him to cry out in pain. Cardin stumbled back, cursing angrily at Jaune while the other three of his teammates spread out into a loose circle, ready to show Jaune what a great idea that was.
Jaune looked at the three of them with an amused smile. He spread his arms out in a façade of confusion.
"What's wrong guys? I have bad aim. And look on the bright side. At least the sap covers up all of that wasted testosterone that makes the girls avoid him." Jaune raised a hand, tapping his chin. "Or is that just 'cause Cardin's an ass?"
The three of them snarled, jumping at Jaune in preparation to beat Jaune into a pulp.
Jaune raised his arms in preparation to dish out as much damage as possible. Jaune might have been good, but he wasn't good enough to fight three guys that were around the same level as him and come out unscathed.
However, there was someone who could.
Springing out of the bushes, Pyrrha thrusted Miló into the chest of Russel, knocking him back. With another step forward, she bashed her shield against Sky, causing him to fly back as well. Dove jumped at the first sight of Pyrrha, ready to attack her while she was off guard.
A black ribbon snaked around his wrist and pulled him towards Blake, who simply slammed the hilt of Gambol Shroud across his forehead, knocking him out cold.
Jaune turned to look at the two of them.
"How did you know I was here?" Jaune asked. Pyrrha shrugged and pointed to Blake, who answered his question.
"I heard you and Cardin speaking. I thought you might have needed some help, so I told Pyrrha what was happening and we decided to rescue our damsel in distress." Blake said wryly, smiling a little.
Jaune rolled his eyes and huffed out an indignant breath, crossing his arms.
"Please. I'm a badass in distress, thank you very much." Blake quirked an eyebrow at Jaune. Pyrrha watched the two of them interact, frowning a little at the display of closeness they were showing.
Jaune was her partner.
"Why didn't you tell us that Cardin was bullying you?" Pyrrha asked. Jaune made a complicated expression, but before he could answer, Cardin stood up again, blinking furiously to try and get the sap out of his eyes.
"You," Cardin seethed out, "are dead Jauney boy." Cardin fumbled around his hips and pulled out his mace before Jaune rolled his eyes again and transmutated the ground beside Cardin, propelling him deeper into the forest.
Jaune turned his attention back to Pyrrha.
"I…" Jaune wasn't really sure what to say. All he knew was that she deserved more from Jaune than what he was giving. "I'm sorry." Jaune said lamely, deciding to start with that.
Pyrrha smiled gently at him.
"Apology accepted Jaune. On one condition." Pyrrha added. Jaune nodded, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to try and make amends with her. She raised a finger up, "You must try and get to know us better, and let us know you better. And you must also remember that no matter what happens," Pyrrha dropped her arm down, "we are your friends, and we are here for you."
Jaune smiled at that. Maybe. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have friends after all.
What's the harm?
A scream echoed behind the Jaune, and he spun around. Taking a few quick steps, the trees branched out to reveal Cardin, with sap still covering him, swinging his mace frantically at several Ursai who were approaching him.
Jaune could see that Cardin was having trouble seeing, and pulled out Crocea Mors to help him before hesitating. A second went by as Jaune thought carefully to himself. If Cardin died from this, there wouldn't be any harm of him telling everybody about Jaune's secret would there?
There's also the fact that Jaune wouldn't have to worry about Cardin pestering him every single day and making the already strained relationship with his teammates.
And going from Jaune's past experiences, as well as watching Cardin bully Velvet, Jaune was sure a few other people would benefit from his death.
In that moment Jaune's grip on his sword loosened just a slight, his body relaxing from the jump that he was going to do.
Cardin stumbled and fell, his mace falling away from him. He screamed in terror as the Ursa reared up on its hind legs, ready to snap his head off with a swipe of the paws.
A loud clang rang out as the Ursa was met with Akúo. Pyrrha grunted in pain, trying to keep the heavy pressure from crushing Cardin, as well as herself. Blake flew forward as well, fending off the other Ursai that were approaching.
Jaune berated himself and drew out his sword again.
What kind of Huntsman was he, to leave someone defenseless and just watch him die?
Well, technically, Jaune wasn't a hunter but…
What kind of human would Jaune be if he just let Cardin die like that?
For once, the logic that pervades his mind sickened him.
Jaune rushed forwards and impaled a nearby Ursa, continuing along the circle with Blake and Pyrrha, making sure that there was a wide circle around Cardin. The numbers kept increasing though, and even the three of them were having trouble fighting off the horde as well as protect Cardin, who was slowing trying to wipe the sticky substance out of his eyes.
One of the Ursa finally broke ranks and rushed towards Cardin. Blake, Pyrrha, and Jaune were all too far away to help Cardin at this point.
In a desperate ploy, Jaune punched the Ursa he was fighting with in the jaw, propelling it backwards a few steps. Using those precious seconds, Jaune clapped his hands together and placed them on the ground of the forest, creating massive spikes to erupt and impale the Ursa.
Once again, Jaune clapped and concentrated every thought in his body to focus on the next transmutation. This was something that he had never done before. Once again Jaune placed his hands on the ground, and in doing so, created the largest transmutation he had ever attempted to do.
Tree limbs stretched out to grab and tangle as many of the Ursai limbs as possible. The ground cracked and went loose like sand, causing many of the Grimm to stumble and unable to find a firm surface to grasp. The air that surrounded the clearing turned into a flammable gas, while the air around Jaune, Cardin, Pyrrha, and Blake was completely vacated of oxygen, leaving the four of them briefly breathless. Jaune's head cracked open with unbelievable pain at this point.
Jaune sunk to his knees, groaning at the pain, barely able to think. He had no control over his body at this point, which meant that striking and creating a spark would be just as hard for Jaune as flapping his arms and flying.
Luckily, all that was needed was a tiny spark, and Pyrrha provided that when she blocked the claws of another Ursa.
The whole forest was lit in flames, searing every Ursa around them into charcoal, while the four of them were protected—barely—from the inferno because of the lack of flammable fuel around them, as well as because of their aura's, which pretty much shattered into pieces trying to protect them from facing the same fate as the Ursai.
When the fire abated, Jaune was left kneeling in a clearing of blackened trees, many leveled down and toppled to the ground, surrounded by dead, dying, or disintegrating Grimm. Blake and Pyrrha stood there a little awestruck, as well as heaving large breaths to make up for the lack of oxygen a few seconds before.
Cardin, on the other hand, was dumbfounded at the display of sheer power that Jaune had demonstrated. Jaune rose slowly, trying to ward away the buzzing pain surrounding his head, hurting everywhere, yet feeling as though it was collecting towards the back of his mind.
Finally, Jaune straightened up to his full height, and looked down at Cardin with calm and analytical eyes.
Cardin sat there shaking, his expression fearful. Jaune's eyes showed no emotion, and he looked as if he wouldn't have wasted another thought on killing the pathetic mess in front of him at that moment.
Cardin couldn't really be at blame for the warm, wet feeling that was trailing down his thighs and collected underneath him.
The moment was broken when Professor Goodwitch appeared.
"What is going on here?" She demanded angrily, casting a glance around at the destruction that centered around her students.
Jaune looked away from Cardin, breaking the illusion of an imposing figure as he grinned tiredly at her.
"I blew up the forest." He said simply. Goodwitch's lips tightened into a thin line, and you could almost see veins popping out of her forehead.
"Do you have an appropriate reason for this… rashness, Mr. Arc?" She gritted out.
Jaune opened his mouth and closed it, thinking for a second. Then Jaune shrugged.
"We were surrounded by Ursai, and it was the only way that I could think of that would get all of us out." He replied. It would have been a very reasonable response too, if Jaune hadn't added, "And I thought it would look so cool."
Professor Goodwitch sighed, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose as she warded away her headache, as well as her urge to murder the young man. After all, Ozpin still needed him.
"Just… please get back to your groups and get ready to depart." Professor Goodwitch said in a defeated tone, spinning on her heels to leave the four of them alone again, swishing her crop to tear _RDL out of the trees and off of the ground, unceremoniously dropping them afterwards.
Jaune sheathed Crocea Mors and looked down at Cardin, who still sat there frozen.
"Cardin?" Jaune said softly, yet firmly. Cardin jumped at the tone of voice, raising his head a little to meet Jaune in the eyes. He almost whimpered seeing Jaune's eyes again, as deadly as they were before.
"Never cross me."
And with that, Jaune turned and left the clearing, leaving both Pyrrha and Blake running behind him.
They slowly caught up to him, Blake grabbing his shoulder.
"Hey." Blake said softly. Jaune stopped moving, but didn't turn around. He knew what kind of face he had on just a minute ago.
It was the same face he had on six years ago after he killed his grandfather. Pyrrha also approached close to the side, expression curious and concerned, but not really daring to touch Jaune.
"Are you alright Jaune?" She asked. Jaune paused and thought about what just happened, as well as what Blake was talking about the other night. Jaune nodded.
"Yes." Jaune turned around to face Pyrrha. "Can you please tell Ren and Nora to stay in our room for tonight? I need to talk to you guys about something." Jaune took a deep breath in. "It's about my semblance." Blake's eyes widened in surprise before Jaune turned to her as well.
"Could you bring your team over too?" Jaune asked awkwardly. Blake tried to wrap her head around the request. Wasn't it supposed to be a close secret? Blake opened her mouth to ask him his reasoning before Jaune gave a weary smile that stopped her short.
"I think I'm done with hiding from my… friends." Jaune said. Blake closed her mouth, stunned at the admission, which made her think about her own secrets.
Maybe… maybe it wouldn't be so bad for them both to admit this?
Blake instead gave a soft smile and a nod of her head, which made Jaune grin and turn around, marching back towards Beacon.