Jaune's Accidents

Chapter 6: Dancing in the Moonlight

After the embarrassment that was the club visit, Jaune swore to himself that he would never worry about relationships again. From now on, he was going to work on being a huntsman, even if he was the least competent one, he would work hard, he would grow strong.

Unfortunately for him, and just one more station in the series of the misfortunate life of one Jaune Arc, Beacon decided that they should host a dance night. Even worse, they left Coco in charge.

It didn't take very long for her to turn the cafeteria into a copy of the club from yesterday. She even got the same DJ and bouncer.

This time, however, there was even more peer pressure for him to follow along. Coco once again gave him clothes, and even Pyrrha seemed kind of excited to do something 'normal' as she called it. He wasn't sure what kind of life someone like her lived, but she sounded like a very sad person.

To his question about why she had so many clothes that probably didn't fit her, she just said she liked their looks even if she didn't wear them.

Coco had a lot of money to spare.

Having a school event like this also meant people asking around for dates. And once again, Jaune was turned off from the prospect of having anything to do with the girls in his year. And Coco was too intense for him.

Of course, this time he was left with the option of asking Ruby to go with him as a friend. Only as a friend.

Unfortuantely for him, she was late. So when the music was loud and Ozpin was showing off his sick dance moves, unaware that cane physics shouldn't work like this, Jaune was sitting in the corner and staring at Pyrrha, who was spending more time fending off possible suitors than actually dancing. Minutes later, Pyrrha was dragged onto the dance floor by Nora.

Ren sat next to him, staring at Jaune intensely. "Want to dance?"

Jaune shook his head a bit too quickly and Ren looked genuinely hurt.

Rather than wallow in self-pity for much longer, Jaune decided that he could simply go to his room and sleep until the party is over. Just when he was about to stand up, there was a girl.

He didn't know how Coco managed to open up the roof of the building to let the moonlight in, but the girl with two differently colored eyes was bathing in it like a goddess. The white glow that surrounded her made her stand out to him, and Jaune felt his heartbeat increase steadily. When she began walking towards him, it was ready to burst out of his chest.

There was this strange elegance to her. She said nothing, her lips didn't even part in a smile, and her bright silver hair swung around with every step she took. When she stood in front of him, she lifted her hand, as if inviting him to a dance.

Jaune grabbed it and let her drag him off.

When the next song started, they were dancing. Worried about how much he would fuck up now, he kept it slow, until she picked up the pace.

Her hair was reflecting the stars in the sky, creating a brilliant pattern that fanned out when she spun around, her leg almost impacting with his neck. Jaune wasn't aware what kind of dance this was, but he caught her leg, and spun her around before putting it down. From the way the crowd went 'ohhh' he assumed he did something right.

Then she became even faster. She spun around, the glint of silver over her feet and legs visible to everyone else as knives was simply more endearing to Jaune. As if her every move was accented like a shooting star, white lines followed her movements in the dark room, trying to touch him. He jumped back and forth, left and right, keeping up with her rhythm. By now, the entire crowd had parted.

From an outsider's perspective, it was rather obvious that this person was trying to hurt him. Ozpin especially was interested in the sight, and moved to get himself a drink to watch.

She got even faster, and when she suddenly jumped up, ready to axe kick him the face, he caught both of her legs between his hands and spun her around, letting her spin through the air land on her feet.

To Jaune it looked like she bowed to him, so he bowed in return, missing the two throwing knives that went over his head.

When he looked up again, she was gone.

That was how Jaune lost his first love.

When everyone was staring in awe at the display, Jaune went back to his seat with slumped shoulders. When the next song started, Ruby finally arrived. When the crowd gathered around Jaune, she rushed over to him, worried that he was being bullied again.

"Those moves were so sick," someone said. Jaune looked up, the glimmer of hope in his eyes. "That was so intense!"

"You think so?" Jaune asked, laughing nervously. "I didn't really practice anything-"

"You didn't?! That looked so crazy!" an upperclassman said. "You both were like lightning!"

Because they were so sparkling? Jaune smiled. When Ruby appeared, his smile widened.

"What happened?" Ruby asked.

"I met this amazing girl," Jaune said. "Had a dance with her. But she's gone now."

"Oh," Ruby said. "That's too bad. Does she go to school here too?"

"I've never seen her before," Jaune said, sighing. Ruby patted him on the back.

"Well, I'm here now, sorry for being late," Ruby said. "But Yang left a mess behind and I had to clean some of it up."

The mess was a bunch of guys that didn't like to hear 'no'. When Ruby and Jaune left for the dance stage, the crowd was still talking.

"A dance," someone said. "It really was just a dance to him."

"He's too strong," someone else muttered. "Do you think he takes apprentices?"

Blake was staring at the letter she received earlier. When the white fang symbol was the first thing she saw, she wanted to throw it away and run. Run wherever Adam couldn't find her. But some sick curiosity settled in her stomach and she read it nonetheless.

Dearest Blake,

I wish I could've understood why you left properly. Why you broke from us and left me this miserable. But now, I understand.

You knew, didn't you? That Jaune Arc was starting at Beacon that year.

The grandson of the Pendragon. Half of the White Fang already vanished without a trace, gone into hiding when his name turned up.

Blake twitched.

She remembered something. Something important.

She remembered that she overheard Jaune once talking about his grandfather, whom he called a hero. If she… if she wasn't mistaken, and Adam was right, then Jaune's 'hero' of a grandfather was a ten thousand class mass murderer whose crimes were only forgiven due to the circumstances of the war.

And if she wasn't mistaken, then Jaune also said that he wanted to be a hero just like his grandfather. Her blood turned to ice in her veins. The average-looking, if incredibly powerful classmate, was a dangerous beast. He came to Beacon, of all places, where the Faunus population is low, but still a sign of cooperation.

Jaune Arc wasn't like his grandfather. Arthur Arc was a monster. There was no forethought, no elegance. He didn't discriminate. Jaune Arc was worse. He chooses his targets. He knew where to hit so it would hurt more. If Arthur was a monster, Jaune will be a Nevermore to Arthur's Beowulf.

Once again, she had the reflex to run away and leave everything behind.

From the looks of it, and the attempted assassination just last night, Jaune obviously had other plans.

Maybe, she was right where she had to be to be safe from his wrath.

Maybe, it was the White Fang that was his target.

A small hope bubbled up in her, with a hefty amount of fear included. If he could defeat the corrupt White Fang, there was hope for the Faunus and Human cooperation.

If he murdered them all, there wouldn't be many Faunus who stand against the discrimination anymore.

With a shaking hand, Blake ripped the letter apart, not reading the rest of it.

Here, she decided. She was here to stay, even if it meant working with Jaune Arc.

Ruby seemed to have some sway over him. She would have to ask her to introduce them.

Neo was out of breath when she arrived back at the base. Torchwick sat there, throwing a ball against a wall when she came in, and stopped when he caught sight of her.

"Is it done?"

Neo shook her head, holding her chest and heaving, bent over.

"He's… that good?"

Neo nodded.

"Fuck."