Jaune woke up in the back of a moving… something. What that something was, he didn't know. His head was throbbing and his stomach was doing somersaults. He opened his eyes and let the bright light in. For a few seconds, he had to squint, the incoming light was blinding.
¨Good, he's awake¨, a voice said, a few feet away from him. Jaune numbly turned his head and recognized him as the man from the shop, he one who caught him. Jaune struggled, but alas, his hands and feet were tied; he was in the fetal position and it wasn't doing any favors to his back nor his side.
(HA, That rhymes… FOURTH WALL BREAK, FUCK YEAH!- Spartan117qz)
¨We honestly thought that it would be easier to catch you, but you didn't put up much of a fight¨ said a voice behind Jaune. Jaune craned his neck back as far as it could go, trying to get a good look at his captors.
One was big, buff, and rugged, the kind of person Jaune would expect from a bounty hunter. But the one behind him was small and, well, kind of short; built for speed. They make a good team, their skill probably balanced out perfectly.
¨Why am I here? ¨ Jaune asked.
¨We can't exactly let a murder run free, now can we? ¨ said the small one.
¨Besides, you need help. We changed you're bandages, ¨ said the other. Jaune looked down. Part of his lower jacket was cut away (Jaune was mad about that. He liked that jacket) and saw that there was a fresh, new, blinding white bandage, with a bit of crimson leaking through. It no doubt had been opened when Jaune was struggling to get free.
¨Without us, that wound would have got infected and you probably would have died," said the small one in a matter-of-fact tone. Jaune gritted his teeth, he didn't want to owe anything to these two, after all, they were the ones who caught him. But they also were the ones who quite possibly saved his life.
¨Who are you guys? Where are you taking me? ¨ Jaune shouted. The big one shook his head.
¨We're taking you back to Beacon. Someone wants to see you, ¨ he replied. Jaune's eyes grew wide. Ozpin? Surely they couldn't mean Ozpin? At first, Jaune thought he was good, if not a little strict, but still good. But Jaune guessed that he was just trying to do what was best for the school, even if it meant making Jaune's life a living hell.
¨Ozpin? ¨ Jaune asked after a while. The small one laughed.
¨Ding, ding, ding, and-¨ he said.
¨But, why? ¨ Jaune said.
¨Like we said before, we can't just let a murder run free, ¨ the big one answered. It wasn't fair, Jaune was set up, and he knew it. They can't just charge him like that. Actually they probably could, it just meant that they were horrible human beings.
The vehicle came to a shuddering stop, jostling Jaune forward. Jaune got a good look around. It was the same hovercraft that took Jaune to his first day of school. The same one that Jaune got his nickname, Vomit Boy, by Ruby. Jaune missed Ruby so much right now. He wondered if she was okay, how she was doing. She couldn't be hurt, Jaune wouldn't let her.
¨Get up, ¨ said the big one. Jaune tried to obey, but his feet were tied.
¨Um. I can't, ¨ said Jaune.
¨Why not? ¨ He asked.
¨My feet are tied.¨
The smaller one kneeled down, brought out a key from his back pocket and unlocked the shackles from Jaune's ankles. The pressure that Jaune didn't even notice was gone and Jaune signed.
¨No need for that, time to get moving, ¨ said the bigger one, roughly grabbing Jaune's arm, pulling him to his feet, and dragged him out of the open doors and onto the soft, green grass of Beacon. The wind from the hovercraft blew Jaune's hair all over the place as it rose up and left, taking with it, Jaune's only escape. Now, he had to go and face the dangers of whatever was coming. Something that probably had to do with Ozpin.
¨Come on, ¨ said the tall one, his death grip remained.
¨Where are you taking me? ¨ Jaune asked, feeling sort of frantic.
¨I don't think that's any of your business, ¨ said the smaller one. Jaune was really starting to get annoyed with him. Really, did everything that he said have to be sarcastic?
¨How is it none of my business? ¨ Jaune demanded. ¨Seriously, this all involves me! ¨
¨Watch it kid, ¨ was all they said. Jaune signed, blowing a piece of hair out of his face. The sooner he got rid of these two meatheads, the better. Well, at least with them, Jaune knew what to expect. With Ozpin, he didn't. It was as simple as that. They walked up to the front door, each step seemed to take a thousand years, and Jaune wasn't exactly displeased with that. The longer it took for Jaune to meet his fate, the better. Who knew what awaited him behind those doors. The possibilities were endless. They could lock him up, put him to sleep (again), or they could just decide that he was too much trouble and kill him. Yeah, probably the third one.
¨Are they going to kill me? ¨ Jaune asked. The big one threw back his head and laughed.
¨You have to wait and see ¨ he replied. Jaune was really starting to hate this 'wait and see' thing. Was it really that hard to answer his question? But with those two, yes, it probably was a hard question to answer. Normally, Jaune wouldn't be so rude, but these two knuckleheads were leading Jaune to his fate and it was really, really hard not to resent them.
Jaune wanted so hard to break free and run away, with maybe a quick stop to visit Ruby, but he couldn't, no matter how hard he tried. The cut on his side, which was still throbbing, only less so since the bandages were changed, was weakening him, along with the fact he was in cuffs, and probably was given some sort of sleep medication, if those two had any sense at all. Jaune didn't know why he figured that they didn't have any sense; they were just easier to pick on that way.
The small one opened the door and Jaune made one last attempt to escape, yanking his arms and kicking with all of his mind, but the big one hit him over the head, causing Jaune to fall face-first onto the ground, his hands were tied so he couldn't stop himself from slamming his face against the stone floor. As soon as he hit the floor, he got pulled up again, his nose bleeding.
¨Did you have to start bleeding? ¨ the small one asked.
¨It's not exactly like I control the whole thing, ¨ Jaune snarled. That earned a laugh from both of his captors.
¨Really, kid, I hope that they don't kill you. You're actually quite funny, ¨ the big one replied.
¨Wow, thanks, ¨ Jaune replied sarcastically.
¨Anytime.¨
Jaune signed. These to might have been not who he wanted to spend what could possibly be his last hours with, but hey, they weren't the worst either. At the very most, they gave him a bloody nose. Speaking of which, he should probably get that to stop bleeding.
¨Hey, my nose is still bleeding, ¨ Jaune said, sniffing his nose, which was a mistake, because the blood rushed down his throat and it burned. Other peoples blood tasted fine (wow, that sounded bad), but his own, it was kind of gross, all metal. Jaune guessed that's what it was suppose to taste like, but whatever.
¨Oh, right, I guess it is ¨ the big one reached down and before Jaune could stop him, he ripped off another piece of his jacket. Jaune could almost hear himself shouting ¨NO¨ as the ripping sound cut through the air.
¨Here, kid, try this, ¨ he said and handed the torn piece of Jaune's jacket to him. Jaune, after sending the dirtiest look that he could to him, brought up the cloth as much as he could with his hands in cuffs and hoped to stop the bleeding.
Their footsteps rang throughout the empty hall. Jaune was used to the students going in and out of classes, so these empty halls, with only Jaune and the bounty hunters seem quite creepy. Maybe, just maybe, depending on what time it is, or if there was even class going on, Jaune could catch a glimpse of Ruby.
Jaune's wish was completed as they walked past a class with an open door; Jaune caught a view of pitch black hair.
¨Ruby! ¨ Jaune shouted. The girl turned her head, it was indeed Ruby.
¨Jaune, ¨ Ruby said and stood up. Jaune could see most of the class; including the professor turns their attention to Jaune. He could almost hear a few of them whispering, ¨That's the person who killed the girl? ¨ Jaune almost wanted to shout, ¨I didn't mean to, ¨ but he didn't. All of his attention was turned to Ruby. Her big eyes bore into his and Jaune felt his heart quicken. He had to explain to her what happened. How he wasn't able to control himself and got a girl killed.
Jaune swallowed a lump in his throat as his arm almost got yanked out of its socket; they wanted Jaune out of there as fast as they could, before anything started, or before Ruby got there.
¨Couldn't you let me talk to her? ¨ Jaune pleaded. The two gave him a look that was almost understanding. Jaune suddenly wondered if they ever had to leave someone they cared deeply about.
¨Sorry, kid, I really am, ¨ the small one said, shaking his head. All the fight left Jaune and he trudged to the door that led to Ozpin. Jaune's heart was jumping out of his chest, never ever had he been this scared. Even when the villagers were coming to his house. At least then, Jaune wasn't sure what was going to happen, and when it finally happened, Jaune was too worried to get out of there to be scared. Only when he realized had lost his parents, probably for forever, well he was sadder than he had ever been.
The big one opened the door and led Jaune through, the smaller one following behind, one hand on Jaune's back. Jaune got what he meant, that if he tried to run, he would have to go through him first. Jaune wished he wasn't so weak, that he could take them on. He could have gotten out of his if he wasn't so weak.
The small one moved from behind Jaune and knocked on the door.
¨Come in, ¨ Ozpin's voice sounded from across the other side. This wasn't real until now. Jaune was really going to go threw those doors and he was going to meet his fate on the other side.
¨See ya', ¨ the big one said, and started to walk out of the door, taking his death grip with him.
¨Best of luck, ¨ the small one said, giving him a slight smile as he walked up and took off the cuffs. Jaune looked down and rubbed his aching wrists. When he looked up again, they were both gone.
¨You can do this, Jaune, ¨ he whispered to himself. ¨You're just seeing the head master.¨ Jaune knew it was a lie, but it made him feel slightly better, but not much. He would rather be in one of those lecture halls, being bored out of his mind, but next to his team, and stealing glances at Ruby.
Jaune slowly opened the door and saw Ozpin sitting his desk, shuffling threw stacks of paper.
¨Aw, Jaune, I was wondering when you might show up. Please, have a seat, ¨ Ozpin said, looking up at Jaune threw his dark glasses. Jaune took a seat across Ozpin, the same seat he sat when he was here with Cardin; that seemed like forever ago when only a few days have pasted. At least he was pretty sure that it was a few days. Who knew how long Jaune was in that sleep?
Jaune looked up at Ozpin, waiting for him to say something, anything. He was not going to start a conversation with this man.
¨I bet you are wondering why you're here. Am I correct? ¨Jaune leaned forward on his chair and nodded, waiting for the head master to get to his point. Was he going to kill Jaune? ¨As your captors might have told you, the school didn't want some who killed a girl, just to get their food source, I may add, running around the streets. Do you understand? ¨
¨Why did you let me kill her in the first place? After all, you knew about me, ¨ Jaune said, surprised at the bravado in his voice.
¨We had no idea that you would go as far as kill someone, Jaune. We figured that you might hurt someone, but no, never kill. I have to say, I underestimated you Jaune Arc, ¨ Ozpin said, lacing him fingers together. ¨You are stronger that we had ever thought.¨
¨Who's this 'we' you're talking about? ¨ Jaune asked, ignoring the obvious compliment that Ozpin gave him.
¨The other staff members and me, of course. Do you truly think that you are the first student here of your kind? ¨Jaune's eyes grew wide. Never had he ever thought that there could be another kid like him here. Though it did make sense when Jaune thought about all of those sleeping people. Surely a few of them had to be former students at Beacon.
¨Why am I here? Why don't you just kill me? It would be easier that way. You already said I was dangerous, ¨ Jaune replied, his voice cold and expressionless. He would like to pretend that he couldn't care what would happen to him, but that would be a lie. Jaune had come too far to die now. Hopefully Ozpin could see that.
¨No, we couldn't kill you. We are civilized here, ¨ Ozpin said, chuckling shortly afterwards. Jaune felt an enormous weight lifting off his shoulders.
¨Are you going to put me to sleep again? ¨ Jaune asked his eyes wide.
¨No, you woke up. Something nobody has ever, to my knowledge, done before. You are much too valuable to end Jaune, ¨ Ozpin said, a dark undertone was now in his voice. Jaune felt worried. Was could be worse than killing him or putting him to sleep.
¨What are you going to do to me? ¨ Jaune asked, quietly, almost scared to get the answer. Maybe it was better if he didn't know. Things would be easier that way. Ozpin smirked and leaned towards Jaune
¨Well Jaune, here's where things get interesting.¨
New chapter Edited! –Spartan117qz, beta extraordinaire!
Ah, yes, another (I think) cliff hanger. I'm really enjoying having a beta. I hope you guys are not getting tired of those. Anyways, I'm enjoying writing tis story and I really hope that you guys are enjoying it. Let's go on Jaune's crazy adventures together! Yay! Now I think I'm going to go eat toast.
R&R
I finally figured out what that meant, so I really wanted to use it. Tell me what you like, tell me what you don't. I'm all ears.
