Jaune sat in a stark white room, again.
After that disaster at the party Ironwood had called in every aura expert and cutting-edge scientist she knew and trusted and set about finding if Jaune truly did have an aura.
One pistol whip to the head confirmed that.
After that he was detained and swarmed by an endless mob of scientists. Somewhere along the way the secrets had been leaked and Jaune could hear the chattering masses of reporters outside the military base clamoring for more information. Jaune could only grimace in disgust, the way they stepped on eachother just to ask simple questions that Ironwood would never answer.
It would have been funny if it wasn't so pathetic.
He heard the click clack of heels coming down the hall from outside the hospital-like room. Jaune had changed into a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt bearing a worn logo of a shamrock on it, he didn't have a whole lot of time to collect his things before being whisked away. Jaune closed his eyes as the sounds of heels got closer, his parents had been ecstatic when they learned their son had the only aura of a male in history.
Oh yes. The promise of power and wealth had nearly quadrupled over the last week or so, where before his marriage to the Goldmines was a welcome use of him, now Jaune could be the very thing that could send the Arc family straight to the top. I mean, hell, they were already going down in the history books as the only family ever to have born a son that could use aura!
Before the Atlas personnel whisked him back to whatever godforsaken place they were taking him, his father wanted to have a "man-to-man" chat about how important he was now. He found that funny for the sole reason he didn't really consider his father that much of a man, more of a trophy with a cardboard personality than someone he should look up to, and far from the realm of people who could lecture him on his duty.
"Jaune, you have an important role to play now!" his father said proudly, puffing his chest out to seem "Extra" manly.
Tic tic
"You have been chosen by destiny to lead the Arcs into a greater future! So you should be quite compliant with all the requests General Ironwood and her colleagues ask of you, and don't worry we and your sisters have been given permission to see you every once in awhile when time allows." he finished as he put a reassuring hand on Jaune's shoulder.
My god, even when he could be considered the most important male in history all he was good for was serving others and making the family look good. Floyd did not question him when he took several bottles of hard liquor from the kitchen nor did he ask about the dreadful nosebleed Jaune had going for him when he returned.
So here he was now, alone with only Atlas military and scientists to keep him company. That, and the occasional visit from some councilwoman from Atlas, although they stopped those when one of their comments about Jaune's expectations while in Atlas custody made the power nearly go out.
Atleast Ironwood hadn't been lying when she said that his sisters and "parents" could visit from time-to-time. Word spread among the Arc family and their close associates and he got the infrequent visitations. He remembered when Bianca and Coral showed up with a small cupcake for his birthday some 2 or 3 days ago; he had forgotten his birthday was so close. With the preparations for the wedding there was nothing more than a passing comment during breakfast a month ago about the upcoming event, yet, despite himself, he smiled when his sisters showed him a signed birthday card from Sunny, Floyd, a few other servants, and his nephews and nieces who all missed him.
"How have they been treating you?" Coral asked tentatively, she almost winced as the question left her mouth. All she needed to do was take one look at him to figure that out, gaunt and unshaven Jaune did not look exactly the poster-boy for happiness. His clothes were disheveled and his eyes did not reflect that cute warmth from when he was a little boy.
His sisters may have been the only females he didn't completely dislike in the entire world. When they were younger they didn't see Jaune as a tool to get the Arcs further, nor did they see him as inferior to themselves; they only saw him as their clumsy, adorkable brother that any girl would be lucky to have date them, and they had become huntresses to fight for his safety in such a brutal world.
Unfortunately, or fortunately I suppose, they became 7 of the 10 most popular and best huntresses and that meant their schedules were filled to the brim. They still managed to call their favorite brother and attended his graduation from middle school, and eventually highschool, but there were major gaps in communication at times. It was one of the reason the arranged marriage between Jaune and Kim went so smoothly, if their daughters had seen what was happening to Jaune they would have used their influence to put a stop to it and that was something that Jaune's parents could not allow.
"Not good." was all Jaune replied, staring past them to the wall behind them, eyes unfocused and somewhere else. Bianca's hands clenched and unclenched uncomfortably beneath the emotionless metal table. Really, the "visitors" center looked more like an interrogation room with a few metal chairs, a metal table, and a large reflective window that gave unidentified observers full freedom to eavesdrop.
"God Jaune I'm so sorry we weren't there." Bianca tried to apologize but Jaune didn't react, other than a faint tic in his eye. Really, the eldest Arc daughter blamed herself for his precious brother's situation, they weren't there to protect them when he needed them most despite the fact they become huntresses to protect him and people like him.
"I'm tired, so goodbye." was all Jaune said as he stood up and turned to enter through one of the two doors in the depressing room. He had had enough of "family" for a lifetime, what he wanted was for Sunny or Floyd to be here. They understood, they always did.
His parents tried to visit him once. Keyword being tried, when they began to talk about how proud they were and how much publicity the Arcs were getting Jaune accidentally tasered his two guards and his parents were labeled as "stress hazards" and were asked to leave immediately.
"Mr. Arc? It's Dr. Howl." came the soft voice from outside the door. Ah yes, Dr. Howl, the leading scientist in aura experimentation and the head researcher for what was now named "Project Y". She seemed friendly enough he supposed, but it would be a cold day in hell before he trusted her; he could see it well, that maniacal fascination that all the doctors and scientists had when they studied him. Yeah, he wasn't going to drop his guard for a second.
"What." he responded shortly.
She entered wearing her usual Atlesian doctor's uniform that seemed little different from an officer's. Clipboard in hand she addressed him, "Mr. Arc we need to run a few stress tests on your aura levels real quick."
"Go ahead." he replied in the same gruff tone, not even sparing her a glance as he zeroed in on the white walls, it wasn't like he could say no or anything. If she seemed offended or put off by his response she did well not to show it and proceeded to hook his arm up to some monitor machine that would gauge his aura levels.
Pressing a button, the various rubber patches on his arm as well as the black brace began to exert small shocks and pressures that seemed to fluctuate in intensity. Jaune grunted in discomfort and, trying to bridge the cavernous, awkward gap between them, Howl stepped in.
"Good. Good. Your aura levels are truly something extraordinary Mr. Arc. Far beyond that of even some professional huntresses, in fact, we've begun to theorize that perhaps the dormant aura in males is naturally more palpable in size and intensity." Jaune just tuned her stupid ramblings out, every day it was like this: wake up, eat, experiments, experiments, experiments, and finally some wooden words of encouragement and some bleak praise before leaving him to sometimes cry alone in his small dorm.
Ever since becoming a lab rat for these doctors, a lot of experimentation was done on his aura and semblance both in the theoretical and the practical. It was discovered his aura reacted to negative emotions output by Jaune, and used it to draw electrical energy from the surrounding area and, with some of the more angry moments, develop thunderstorms. His semblance was aptly titled "Electronegativity" and many tests were done of its uses and restraints.
"Also you should know, Mr. Arc, that you are being expected to release a press statement later today." Jaune's had snapped to her so fast there was an audible crack in his neck, "Don't worry, we've prepared clothing and a speech, all you need to do is repeat what's on the notecards and you'll do just fine."
Jaune, however, was not fine in the slightest. In fact, one could say he was the farthest thing from fine a person could be. Here he was, abandoned by his parents to the mercy of these scientists as they sat around all day stabbing him with medical instruments and chatting up how awesome their job was. He'd been stuck in his cramped little dorm with nary a window or even any goddamn books for over week as people just shuffled in and out. And now, they wanted him to go release a press statement when he barely knew anything about his aura? He didn't even get the goddamn courtesy to read about the practical effects and fundamentals of aura nor anything with semblances! For all he knew, he could go off at any second like a timebomb without a ticking counter.
The tension was thick and heavy in the room, and Dr. Howl could feel it. Silence reigned in the examination room, save for only the soft wheezing of the machines that surrounded them. Howl tried to make light of the situation considering how downtrodden the boy seemed to be always.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of crowds ha ha he he..." she trailed off as Jaune's head jerked slightly every few seconds.
tic tic tic
0-0-0-0
Later that day...
Jaune stood on stage left, safely behind a curtain as his helper, secretary person or whatever adjusted his tie and looked at him with a smile.
"You're going to be just fine, just remember to read of the notecards." he said, stressing the end as Jaune nodded stiffly. It was just a brief appearance, but he was supposed to be the unveiled hero of the male world, and possibly the key to defeating the Grimm themselves!
Sure. Or, in other words, he would be stood up on that stage and shown off around the world like some carnival freakshow and everyone would just eat it up, Atlas gets the good press and the Arcs become famous.
Yeah. That's about right.
"Good luck champ." you know, for an Atlesian dog, his secretary-guy wasn't half bad. Atleast he had a sense of humor. He shook his head as the curator of the event -some officer or something- announced that Jaune himself was here to make a statement. He also asked that they hold off questions as Dr. Howl would be able to answer them better, couldn't expect the man to answer them now could they? That was Jaune's cue as he strode out across the stage floor to excited cheers and clapping, maybe even a wolf-whistle if he heard correctly. He swallowed another grimace and put on his best plastic smile.
He walked up to the podium where his coveted notecards awaited. He took a second to get situated and looked up into the crowd as he began.
"Hello. My name is Jaune Arc and, yes, I'm the first male in history to be born with an aura. I discovered my gift a little over a week ago at a party my parents were hosting, at this time we're unsure but we also believe they may have found my semblance. Fortunately, General Ironwood was there to keep me safe and provide... M-Moral support as the Atlesian council has been given full custody over my research. I am... grateful for such an opportunity and have been c-counting my blessings as the staff here have provided me with some e-excellent care-"
His face began to tic more and more as he read off these fake lines. Ironwood? Moral support? What were they smoking? He'd rather be hanging from the rafters instead of being trapped in this hellhole.
"*Ahem, excuse me. The research is going well and I have been told that I will be integral t-to the annihilation of the Grimm threat. I'm truly... truly grateful for my family and Ironwood, who h-have helped me through these trying times." Jaune grit his teeth as he audibly choked out the words. His face felt hot and he could feel the rough tugging along his face and eyes, if any of them could fully see his concealed face they would of thought he was about to go postal.
"Y-Yes, there is much to be discov..." he trailed off as he fully took in his surroundings, a sea of eager reporters recording and an armada of cameras from around the globe trained on him. More rich and important folk scattered around along the edges of the stage, the front of the crowd, and in some stands above. Suddenly, almost without any conscious thought, Jaune's face was ripped in a snarl. Canines bared he gripped the edges of the podium before, with a sharp grunt, knocked it over with a howling crack as notecards went flying and reporters backed away with sharp gasps.
Silence reigned in the area as people stood dumbfounded, Jaune looked around and accidentally caught the eye of someone near the back clad in green, well, everything. She quickly turned away to sip from her mug, as if nothing was wrong.
Jaune head tugged roughly, snapping his head to the side and that was his cue to leave, he walked briskly off the stage where the same officer and a small squad of soldiers awaited.
"What was that! Do you know what-" she whispered roughly before being cut off.
"Ironwood, where is she."
"Not now, you need to-"
"Where!" he shouted, the officer looked taken aback before mumbling something about the stands above. He waded went to cut through the small crowd of soldiers as chatter began to return and Atlesian PR representatives tried to reign in the scene, one soldier grabbed his shoulder only to be sent to his ass as Jaune pushed her off.
"Don't you fucking touch me." Jaune hissed venomously, face still running rampant with tics and the like. He walked away stiffly as if he was made of wood as his head still jerked slightly, staff and officials got out of his way as he made for the back entrance to where the higher up stands would be.
He clambered up the metal staircase as he heard the door open behind him, two soldiers tailing him to make sure he didn't try anything but smart enough not to be on his back. He entered through another door marked "VIP ONLY" in big, gold lettering and found himself in a room with a few councilwomen, Ironwood, Winter, and the green woman from before.
"Mr. Arc." Ironwood began before Jaune marched up to her and grabbed her by the front of her pristine uniform.
"Where do you get off acting like some kind of goddamn angel sent from above?!" Jaune demanded as the lights flickered slightly, Winter took notice and her hand came to rest on her saber. Jaune caught the movement and jerked his head to look at her-
"Try it, I dare you." she seemed apprehensive as the two soldiers following him bust down the door, guns aimed and set to stun. With a wave of his hand Ironwood calmed them down and looked at Jaune.
"I understand Mr. Arc, I was against doing this but the council members wanted this press release as soon as possible. They sent me the notice hours before you were informed of it, so I am not to blame." she said, throwing the two councilwomen in the room to the wolves, or rather wolf in this case.
Jaune shoved Ironwood roughly, sending her almost to the ground but luckily Winter caught her superior in time to balance her. The two suited councilwomen backed off slightly as Jaune loomed over to them, a thin coat of white rising off him. The lights flickered and there was the faint sound of electricity sparking from within the walls.
"You did this?" they tried to sputter out some reply and Jaune closed in, a murderous look embedded in his blue eyes.
"Mr. Arc, before you fry our dear council members, may I offer a deal." one again Jaune's had snapped over to the speaker, the green woman from before who stood there nonchalantly sipping her coffee.
"Who are you?" Jaune spat angrily.
"I am Headmaster Olivier Ozpin from Beacon academy. I want to offer you a deal I don't think you'll refuse." Jaune nodded slowly, this woman seemed crafty, and dangerous, not exactly someone to let your guard down around.
"Ironwood and I have been talking along with the council in Vale, and we would like to offer you a place in Beacon Academy." Jaune chewed on that for a moment, there were a few things wrong with it.
"Who said I wanted to become a hunter?"
"Well, that was inevitable. The Atlas Council was going to enroll you in Atlas next year anyway." Jaune turned slowly to look at the two council members, backed into a corner and desperately searching for a way out.
"What I offer, is you come to Beacon under the tutelage of some of the finest huntresses in the world, you stay for 4 years, and, regardless if you graduate, you will be given full autonomy over yourself and your future." she said, taking another sip of coffee.
"You have no right Headmaster! Jaune Arc is in the custody of-" one of the councilwomen began but was cut off as Jaune jutted a finger out at her.
"You shut the hell up." he growled, a singular arc of blue electricity coming from one of the lights and landing on his outstretched finer, blue webs of energy coiling and ebbing out from the point where it struck. The councilwoman returned to where she was before and remained silent after that.
"I have little training in fighting, I doubt I'd make the cut when compared to other, more advanced applicants." he reasoned to Ozpin who nodded her head.
"True, but this year's applicants have already been accepted so that means you must wait until next year to become a full student. In the meantime, I will contact some friends of mine to train you in the art of fighting if you will allow it." Jaune hummed at that, he didn't trust this woman but her offer was certainly better than his current living condition.
Plus, by the time they trained him, if he wanted out there'd be little they could do to stop him.
"Ok Ozpin, I guess I'm interested." He said coyly, Ozpin never really reacted instead just sloshing the coffee in her mug and taking a sip. But what he didn't see was the small smile she had as the mug was raised.
"I'm happy to hear it Mr. Arc."
0-0-0-0
Jaune had calmed down to the point where his little tics were almost invisible motions of the eyes and face, but he was far from what someone would call happy. Headmaster Ozpin was a crafty bitch for sure; she offered him a deal too good to pass up, but also one that placed himself in the subservience of another kingdom albeit in a slightly better position.
He was sat in a cushy leather chair in some sort of VIP room separate from the one they were just in. Ozpin had gone off to "make a call" in her own words, and Ironwood was pacing back and forth heavily while talking some military jargon with someone else over the scroll. Suddenly, the door opened as two familiar figures entered and Jaune fought off both a massive tic and a splitting migraine using the willpower he had built up over the years. His dear mom and dad had finally been let inside after trying to find him for the past hour; he took some pleasure in watching them scurry around from the viewing area in the VIP lounge for the past hour or so. The reason why they were so concerned was fairly simple-
Ironwood had spread the word that the event was being shut down and that she would be releasing a smaller press statement at a later date. From there, it was a simple matter of just informing his "family" and the council.
Neither took it very well.
"Jaune! I am shocked and appalled at this utter lack of respect for Ironwood and her staff." his mother scolded angrily, deep scowl etched into her face. "You were raised better than to throw fits, and what will the Goldmines think when they see this?"
And there it was! The real reason she was upset!
Yes, don't think about how the boy you gave birth to was maybe having a mental breakdown at this overload of stress. No, you need to think about how this will effect your ability to weasel your way into the political power world. Jaune's hand reflexively clenched as the joints cracked softly, it was the only way he could avoid ticcing at the moment and he hoped that it wouldn't become its own thing.
On a normal day Jaune would bow his head and make his apologies, but there was a interesting part of the deal that he made with Ozpin that he slipped in himself:
His parents had fuck-all control over his life anymore.
That meant no marriage, no custody, no say in where he went or what he did, and no chance -other than this one- to see their son on their own terms. Sure he was just being passed off to Ozpin and her shadowy gang of friends, but he could atleast enjoy the moment.
"Honestly mother, I don't really give a shit what Aurelian and Sylvia have to say." the retort stopped his mother dead in his tracks and his father's mouth hung agape as he blinked, trying to see if this was some illusion.
"J-Jaune! How dare you speak to your mother-"
"Mmm, sorry Isabella but, as of the deal made of my own choice over an hour ago, you no longer have any custody over me. Council's orders." Isabella sputtered and tried to formulate a sentence but he cut her off.
"Sorry to say but that little wedding with the Goldmines is off. I'm a semi-free man! Or, atleast, free from you two." he said with the first genuine, serene smile on his face in the long time. He was going to save those expressions to the mental folder to come back again and again; Isabella turned to Ironwood who had finished the call to watch the spectacle before her.
"Yes, the Valechan Council has been given full custody over Jaune under article 14 of the Vale constitution." Isabella shook her head as her dreams of being a big political power-player crashed down around her.
"Yeah, you'd be surprised what the council can legally do when they want. Usually they use it to keep men on the bottom, but this time they used it to screw you two over big time." his smile turned viscous as he went on the attack, hungry for blood.
"So, while I become the first hunstman in history you will all be shoved to the side and forgotten. A fitting end for a couple of parents who valued their child less than they did their greed." he shrugged his shoulders as the intercom in the lounge crackled.
"General Ironwood, Headmaster Ozpin has prepared a transport for Jaune Arc." the voice said in a slightly static voice.
"My cue, I'd say it's been a pleasure but it hasn't." he made for the door and, while his wife was still in reboot mode, Nicholas made for Jaune.
"Jaune! How could you do something like this! We're your parents, I'm your father!" he pleaded desperately.
"Oh please, you're nothing but a knick-knack for Isabella. Tell me, when they think of the Arcs do they think of you or me? No, they don't." Nicholas choked on his words as he whirled around for some kind of support, and found he had none. "So do what you do best and sit there and look pretty while being as quiet as possible."
"H-How- How could you!" he shouted, confusion turning to indignant anger as he came at Jaune.
The moment we've all been waiting for he thought savagely. As his father closed in Jaune ignited his aura and whirled around to deliver a single, devastating haymaker to Nicholas's head. He felt the bones underneath his fist crunch and he smiled maniacally, this was a long time coming and he was going to enjoy it.
Nicholas crumpled to the floor, still alive but in need of a medic. Jaune lazily looked over to Ironwood who just stood there, demeanor never changing saved for a now cocked eyebrow.
"Let's get our stories straight first ok? He came at me and I defended myself right?" Ironwood hesitated slightly.
"Riiiight?" he drawled.
"Yes, right." she grunted before calling in some paramedics.
Jaune left the lounge and made his way to the docks where his bullhead awaited to whisk him off to Beacon Academy. He reached there in record time, eager and excited to get started on becoming his own man! There, near a sleek grey bullhead, stood Headmaster Ozpin alongside her Deputy Headmistress: "The Witch of Storms" Glynda Goodwitch. She looked just like her pictures and such but he hardly cared.
"Headmaster, sorry for the delay a little family time you know?" he asked with a great deal of enthusiasm. Deciding that she didn't want to know what had turned the bitter man she met into such a happy camper she just nodded.
"Yes, some of my associates back at the school have arranged for a wide array of training for yourself before next year begins. Since we are pressed for time your schedule will be compacted so don't expect us to go easy on you." she sipper her mug and continued. "Additionally, I've brought in the expertise of one of my closest associates to train your personally, a dusty old crow."
Jaune smiled victoriously. "I cannot wait Ozpin."
0-0-0-0
Short little authors note this chapter as I explained things in the one before. All chapters after this will be completely original and I know you all will love that! Sorry for this being such a nightmare in how it's coming out, we just need to ride out this storm because after this it's smooth sailing.
To answer some questions: yes, Jaune is becoming a hunstman but only for the reason to gain custody of himself. He honestly does not like the idea of going to an all-female school to fight monsters for obvious reasons. Don't expect out intrepid hero to just merrily go along with whatever they say, nor expect him to get along with his team all that well.
Finally, I kinda want some suggestions on what his weapon should be. I'm not going for his armored-up outfit from the canon RWBY so keep that in mind before you just suggest a sword-and-shield combo. Imagine him in some modified street clothes, maybe something similar to what Qrow would wear. The assumption here is that Crocea Mors would only be passed onto the heir of the family, and in this world where females are dominant, that means Jaune would never get it. So just come up with your best shot and whoever I choose will get a shout out next chapter! Thanks again!
Thanks again and stay cool.
XOXOXO
CoffeyJoe