Chapter 8
Jaune Arc found himself was sadly poking at his food, it had been a month since coming to Beacon and things hadn't been going as well as he hoped they'd go, sure he'd made it into Beacon and barely at that but now he had a lot of other problems one of which he was probably going to be talking about soon, if the look his partner was giving him was any indication, currently he was sat in the cafeteria listening to one of Nora's insane stories which Ren made sure to correct, it had apparently happened in a dream which just made Jaune wonder how Ren knew what actually happened in said dream, but as that story ended the conversation he was dreading came up.
''Jaune are you ok?'' Pyrrha asked.
''Huh, oh yeah I'm fine'' Jaune replied ''why do you ask?''
''It's just that you don't seem ok'' said Ruby.
''Guys I'm fine, seriously'' said Jaune before giving a thumbs up ''see'' the others didn't look convinced, except for Weiss who wasn't even paying attention to the conversation, she was occupied looking at something on her Scroll.
''Jaune, we know Cardin's been bullying you since the start of semester'' said Pyrrha.
''What? You mean Cardin Winchester? Nah, he's just playing around, ya know practical jokes'' said Jaune with a shrug.
''Jaune, he's a bully'' stated Ruby fully serious.
''Oh please, name one time he 'bullies' me'' said Jaune doing air quotes.
''Ok, how about the time you passed him in the hall and he knocked your stuff out of your hands'' stated Yang.
''Oh, that was just some teasing'' shrugged Jaune.
''Then what about the time he activated your shield in the doorway?'' Ren asked.
''That, oh that was just… an accident'' Jaune stated.
''Jaune he shoved you into one of the rocket locker and launched you'' stated Pyrrha, this caused the others to all look at him.
''I- I mean… I didn't land far from the school'' said Jaune shrugging.
''Jaune, you know if you have a problem it's alright to tell us, we can help you'' said Pyrrha.
''Oh, I know we'll break his legs!'' Nora cheered.
''Listen guys I'm ok really'' said Jaune but he could see they were all still looking at him with concern ''look can we just talk about something else please?'' Jaune looked around and saw Weiss was still focused on her Scroll ''what are you looking on your Scroll Weiss?''
''Hmm, oh its nothing I'm just looking to see if there's any news about the Reds and Blues'' Weiss explained.
''The Reds and Blues?'' Jaune repeated confused ''who are they? A band?''
Weiss quirked a brow at him, before rolling her eyes and scoffing ''no you dunce, why would I be interested in something like that, here let me show you'' she tapped her scrolls screen a few times before she stretched her scroll out and put it on the table displaying a picture of a group of what appeared to be men in what appeared to be high tech armour, each of them were dressed in different colours and all of them were wielding a gun.
''Wow Ice Queen never took you for a fan of sci-fi'' Yang cracked.
Weiss looked at her and bawked ''that's not what they are!'' She scoffed.
''Yeah, yeah, I know who the Reds and Blues are'' said Yang.
''A lot of people know who they are'' said Blake looking at the image.
''So who are the Reds and Blues?'' Ruby asked.
''They're some kind of militant group who appeared seemingly out of nowhere and have started to fight against the Grimm and the White Fang'' Ren explained ''there are several theories about them, but nothing confirmed''
''Pff, they're probably a bunch of criminals'' Weiss scoffed ''they probably stole that armour from Atlas''
''I dunno Ice Queen, if they were criminals wouldn't they be committing crimes, you know Robbin banks, stealing dust, terrorising innocence, the only times they've been coming up on the news is when they've protected people, they don't sound like criminals to me'' stated Yang.
''Oh please they're just biding they're time'' stated Weiss.
''Biding they're time for what? What are they going to take over a city and expand it into some kind of military state? Do you think they want to be warlords or something? If they wanted to do that why not do it already to the villages they save?'' Yang questioned, to which Weiss looked away and grumbled.
''I agree with Yang, to the sounds of it they're good guys'' said Ruby.
''Oh, I know, I know, I know when we become Hunters we can become buddies, I mean they seem pretty cool and if they're protecting people it would make them kind of like our colleagues, right Renny'' said Nora bouncing in her seat with Ren sat next to her shrugging.
''Hmm, I don't know how I feel about them'' Blake said, she sounded like she was deep in thought ''they've done some good don't get me wrong… but they're are things that make me hesitate about them''
''Hmm'' Pyrrha mused ''I'm not too sure about them either, but it does seem like they're trying to help people in need, so I think I lean more towards the positive, what do you think Jaune?''
Jaune hadn't heard her, he was too focused on the picture or to be specific he was focused on one of the soldiers in the picture the grey soldier, he didn't know why but looking at him felt… different for some reason, Jaune couldn't explain why but he felt some kind of connection looking at the picture.
''Jaune?''
Pyrrha shook Jaune's shoulder which snapped him out of his trance ''hmm, sorry I wasn't listening, what were you saying?'' Jaune asked.
''What do you think of the Reds and Blues?'' Pyrrha asked.
''Well, I don't know, they seem pretty cool I guess'' said Jaune with a shrug before they're attention was drawn to Cardin who was sat behind them pulling on Velvet's ear.
Wash was stood in the armoury looking over the racks of guns, it was the middle of the night and it had been a month since Beacons first semester had started and Wash knew that the day was upon him, tomorrow was the day that the first years would go on the trip to Forever Fall and Wash had something he had to settle there.
After a few minutes of looking Wash found the gun he was looking for a snipe rifle which he equipped to his back next to his battle rifle, along with his pistol which was strapped to his hip, Wash was pretty sure he was ready to go.
''Hey''
Wash jumped when he heard a voice behind him, he quickly turned around to see Tucker.
''Oh, hey Tucker'' said Wash ''what are you doing here?''
''I came here looking for you'' said Tucker ''you've been off, for the past few days and I figured it has something to do with your past self and considering you've got a sniper rifle on your back I'm guessing it does, doesn't it'' Wash gave a deep sigh and nodded ''hey remember what me and Caboose told you, if you need to you can talk to us and its not just us, Doc and the Reds would be more than willing to try and help you too''
''I know Tucker, I know…'' Wash paused to take a deep breath ''but this is something I have to do alone''
''Alright man, I understand…'' said Tucker ''…but you realise I'm going to be following you right? Just in case you need someone to pull your ass out of the fire''
''Heh, alright Tucker if you insist'' said Wash with a shrug.
''How did I get into this?' Jaune thought to himself, currently he was facing down an Alpha Ursa and all to protect Cardin Winchester, the bully who had been tormenting him since he came to Beacon and was currently blackmailing Jaune with the secret that Jaune had faked his way into Beacon and yet despite doing these horrible things Jaune was still willing to try and protect the guy, it wasn't because he wanted Cardin to keep his secret it was because Cardin didn't deserve to die.
Speaking of Cardin not only did he not bring his weapon for some reason, but he had tripped and hit his head on a rock knocking himself out and the rest of Cardin's team had run off scared, so Jaune was literally on his own the Alpha Ursa reared up ready to attack when…
BANG!
A familiar sounding gunshot rang out and the Ursa collapsed to the ground disintegrating the shot had killed it, Jaune started looking around for Ruby because it sounded like the shot came from her weapon, but eventually he saw who it was stood in front of him behind the disintegrating Ursa was one of the Reds and Blues to be specific it was the grey one, or Grey as he was known, looking at him Jaune couldn't help but feel strange like he knew this guy was familiar to him somehow, but he didn't know why.
Grey strode over to him, slinging the sniper rifle he was carrying on his back alongside his other rifle, and slugged Jaune across the face.
-perspective change-
Decking Jaune across the face gave Wash a strange sense of satisfaction, this must be how it feels to go back in time and slap yourself, Tucker was concealed in the treelike, as he promised he wasn't going to get in Wash's way but he was shadowing him incase of trouble, there was a lot of stuff he needed to say to this version of himself and he was going to say it Damnit!
Jaune stumbled back a bit from the punch but recovered, holding his jaw he managed to cry out ''what the heck was that for!''
''You deserved that, in fact you deserve a whole lot more than that!'' Wash spat angrily.
''What?'' Jaune said confused.
''You heard me!'' Wash snarled ''especially with all the crap you've pulled''
''What are you talking about you don't even know me!'' Jaune shouted back.
''I know you better than you think I do!'' Wash shouted ''like I know how you got in here by faking paperwork!'' Jaune's face morphed into a shocked expression ''yeah, I know about that!''
''H-how, how do you know about that?'' Jaune asked shocked.
''The same way I know that you're just a dumbass who picked up a sword and thought you could become a Huntsman, well guess what that's not how it works you fucking idiot!'' Wash shouted.
''I- I know I- I just-'' Jaune sputtered.
''Just what!'' Wash yelled.
''I just wanted to be a hero'' said Jaune sadly.
''Oh, well I'm sure that fixes everything, oh wait it doesn't, it doesn't matter why you did this what matters is you did do it!'' Wash growled ''you know there were many who could have taken your spot in Beacon and those many had trained their whole lives and they did legitimately deserved a spot in the academy your spot and you know how you got that spot, because everyone and I mean everyone carried your worthless ass!'' Wash took a deep breath ''but you know what that could be forgivable it really could, if you were willing to actually trying but you not! You spend all your time doing stupid shit like trying to woo a girl who has shown you nothing but open hostility!'' Jaune was just silent and looking down at his shoes ''and you want to know something else, your gonna get people killed, people who are close to you, people who believe in you even though they really shouldn't and when they get killed its going to be your fault!''
''No one will die…'' Jaune said quietly looking at Wash angrily, it actually took Wash a back slightly ''yeah, a lot of stuff you said is right, but nobody will die, but I won't let anyone die! I can't afford to be a failure, not when I'm their leader and fine maybe I'm not the best, but I can get stronger and I will!''
Wash just glared at Jaune, though Jaune probably couldn't tell since he was wearing a helmet, and Jaune glared back, eventually Wash said ''fine whatever kid, if you want to get strong you can stop letting the Met- I mean… look if you want to get stronger start by not getting pushed around by people'' Wash then began to walk away he was sure Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss were going to reach them soon, as he walked into the tree line Tucker came into view and started to walk next to him ''I'm sorry you had to see that Tucker''
''It's fine but are you ok Wash?'' Tucker asked ''that was your past self and you said a lot of horrible things to him''
''Yeah I'm fine Tucker'' Wash sighed ''I just… I needed to let out about a decade worth of self loathing''
''Ok, well err… lets hope this doesn't go on to bite us in the ass'' Tucker mused.
-perspective change-
Jaune watched as Grey walked away before going over to Cardin and kneeling down to nudge him ''Cardin… Cardin!'' He called, suddenly Cardin jumped up and looked around ''hey, hey don't worry its ok, its ok, are you ok?''
''Y-yeah, but where's that Ursa?'' Cardin asked.
''It's dead'' said Jaune, causing Cardin to look at him amused.
''You killed it!'' Cardin exclaimed, but before Jaune could answer he continued ''that's amazing, that was an Alpha and you killed, wow, I mean pros struggle with Alphas that's amazing man I mean you must be-''
''Shut up and listen, don't you ever mess with my team again understand'' Jaune ordered, helping Cardin up and looking him in the eyes.
''Of course, I promise'' said Cardin solumnly.
Just then Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss burst into the opening weapon ready ''wheres the Grimm?'' Ruby asked.
''It's gone, Jaune killed it all by himself!'' Cardin exclaimed.
''Really?'' Weiss asked skeptically.
''Yeah, I didn't see it but I mean, he's still alive, I'm still alive so he must have either killed it or driven it away and it was an Alpha-''
Jaune started to tune this out, he knew he was basically taking credit for Greys kill, but if it kept Cardin quiet it was necessary and honestly he wasn't in the mood right now to deal with any of this, he just walked past thinking to himself.
Jaune's thinking continued late to the night where he was stood on the roof, the same roof Pyrrha had offered to train him on, just thinking, thinking about what the Grey soldier said to him.
''Jaune'' he was in such deep thought he hadn't noticed Pyrrha walk up to him ''are you alright, you've been out of it since Forever Fall?''
''Yeah, I'm… I'm fine Pyrrha'' said Jaune.
''Are you sure?'' Pyrrha asked.
''Yes'' Jaune said softly, in truth he wasn't sure ''Pyrrha I'm sorry, for what I said, the only reason I've got this far is because you've been carrying my worthless ass''
Pyrrha looked at him shocked ''Jaune that's not-''
''Yes it is and stop trying to make me think I'm better than I am, I got into Beacon, yeah so what, the only reason I got into Beacon is because you, Ren and Nora carried me here, heck I'd even argue Team RWBY did too, I suck and that's the truth'' said Jaune, Pyrrha was taken aback by what he said but before she could say anything Jaune continued ''I'm sorry if I'm being mean here, but what I'm trying to say is, does the offer still stand, you training me?''
Pyrrha smiled ''of course, we can start tomorrow if you want for now Ren just made pancakes and your team has been missing their leader''
''Yeah, that sounds good'' said Jaune following her 'alright Grey I'll give it you, your right, your right about… a lot of things… and honestly your a bit of an asshole, but… thanks to what you said I can improve'
So that's the chapter, I hope you enjoyed it, sorry if the timeline got a little confusing I just didn't want to put "insert time here later" basically this was just to do that Jaune Arc, heh, in volume one in a single chapter, also sorry about the perspective changes I felt like I needed to change the perspective to do certain things and well… sorry if it got confusing.
I hope I did the Wash-Jaune interaction well, I wanted them to meet before the reveal obviously and its not just Jaune I have a list of people I want Wash to meet before the reveal, I hope you didn't mind Wash ranting at Jaune, the idea was suppose to be that Wash has been holding a lot of self resentment for his younger self that he's now letting out, the dynamic I pictured for them is that they don't really like each other much despite the fact that they're the same person just at different points in their lives, so I hope you don't mind that much.