Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY if I did, [INSERT SOMETHING I WOULD'VE DONE]
A/N: It been months since that first chapter or was that a prologue? and I am not sorry for not updating.
Also, I did get a few interesting pairings but it is still undecided, need more research and brainstorming
Chapter 2: What defines a Hero?
Heroes...
"He can't be a huntsman." His mother stated factly.
...are how the name 'Arc' is defined
"He could still be trained, he could learn to fight." His father reasoned
Heroes are Guardians, Saviors, Protectors
"We already tried! And you've seen how that ended!" She snapped. "A disaster!"
"But this is what he wants, we need to support him." He held her hand and squeezed it softly, reassuring her.
But what defines a Hero then?
"I don't know..." She bit her lips and mumbled, uncertain. "You know that while he has a large aura reserve, he had never shown an aptitude for combat and not to mention his... constitution."
"The doctor said he could recover—"
"Could, a possibility not a fact."
What makes a Hero, a Hero?
"Faith, my love... have faith. He would recover from his illness."
"...Even if he does, how long would that take? Years? Decades? By then he would be too far behind."
The power to protect?
"Not necessarily, he is an Arc, and Arcs persevere, right?" He chuckled, a wry smile gracing his rugged features as he brought his wife into his loving arms and gently embraced her.
"...at what cost, his safety?" She quietly mumbled in her husband's chest.
"Would you rather have his dreams broken, you know how much he had yearned for this." He calmly pointed out.
"Better his dreams than his body! Would you have the heart to send our beloved son— our only son— to the dangers of the world without the ability to properly protect himself?"
What then if a man without power wishes to become a Hero?
"He would learn—"
"—No he won't! As much as I hate to admit it, he lacks the strength and talent. He is so frail that even walking exhausts him. He would never be a competent huntsman. He would need to grow out of the dream, he will never achieve!"
Then he would learn to struggle
"Love..." The man began.
"Please, dear...I just want to protect him, I don't want to lose my baby boy... please..." She looked at him in the eyes with her own watering in a plea for him to accept.
Yet, in the end...
"I-I..." His voice trembled at the sight of his wife's desperate gaze.
"If you love him, as much as I do, then please... help me protect him..."She pleaded.
Could he still be a Hero?
"Of course." He relented.
The husband and wife embraced each other as cerulean eyes retreated back to the shadows
"It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things."
"Stand!"
Why...?
"Ready... Fire!"
Bang!
Jaune flinched as the sound of gunshots echoed in his ears. The Huntsmen hoisted their weapon in the air.
He bit his lips, It was a Grimm incursion on a nearby town, he heard. Not that large but because to the lack of available combat-ready personnel and the element of surprise— a mistake on the sentry's part— it became a serious threat.
Eventually, they breached the perimeter and engage the few combat capable men in close combat. In the end, the situation grew so dire that even retired Huntsmen was called in to help... Even his mother...
He watched as the casket descended...
According to others, she saved a child...
Shielded him from the poisonous spit of a Viper... and suffered for it.
Vipers were flying monstrosities, one of the most venomous of Grimms. The Grimm itself is said to be composed of poison itself. Their spit is able to kill normal huntsman given enough time, without treatment that is. However, his mother is not a normal huntsman... but even so, she is still human...
...All his life
...He firmly believed that his mother was the strongest and is invincible...
He remembered his mother's words.
"Don't worry love, mama's invincible!" She smiled down at him
Her last words to him.
Then his mind wandered to his family, all they did for him.
A notebook rested in his lap, drawn in it was the familiar figure of the lion that once had been his savior.
"If I call... would you answer again?" Jaune asked softly, fingers gently tracing the mane of the lion.
The eyes of the lion shone blue, it may have been a trick of the light but Jaune nonetheless smiled as he wiped his tears.
"I want to protect you too... all of you..."
~ 6 Years later ~
Roman torchwick, Master thief extraordinaire wasn't having a good day.
It started off with a hungry midget... flipping him out of his bed, demanding tribute... at 4AM...
Then he met his best employer ever, of all time... that was enough to sour his day...
He was still mourning for the bowler hat she burned at their first meeting. Someday... someday...
And then he was forced to work with the most incompetent, imbecilic, idiotic underlings he had the most misfortune of meeting...
But then it was almost worth seeing Junior's precious club explode just as he left...
Almost.
Seriously, those imbeciles screams 'mooks' with the way they dress the same in that ungodly unfashionable suit of theirs. And they all even look generic and so alike that he doubts even Junior can distinguish them.
What's worse is that at the first night they were beaten by a little girl... wow... just wow...
He was so getting a refund from Junior.
"Hey!" The little girl called out.
He sighed in exasperation, "persistent..."
Oh, what would I give to have Neo here?
...ice cream probably, tons of it...
Then the heard the sound of the bullhead which just rose from the side of the building.
Wow, perfect timing...
He climbed that transport as Ruby watched, eyes widened.
He blinked at her, seriously? She could've shot him in the back just now, not that she would be able to hit him but... she didn't even try?
He shook his head, the girl is still green probably her first real fight if it can be called that.
"Suck this, Red!" He tossed out a red crystal, landing on the ground near Ruby
"Huh?" Ruby muttered as she stared blankly at the pretty red crystal
*Bang*
Before she knew it the crystal was shot, resulting in an explosion.
Or it would've been if not for an odd bird which swooped in and snatched the crystal just before the round hit.
Roman stared blankly at the place the crystal was in then he turned his gaze to the bird which was now circling the building, mocking him with the red crystal in its beak...
He sighed as he closed his eyes... Oh my Oum... why are you so cruel to me...
He then loaded his explosive dust in his trusty weapon and fired at the girl who just refuses to die
*BOOM*
Only for an ethereal purple circle to block off the explosion and thus red lives again...
Wonderful...
He balefully glared at the huntress who popped up from out of nowhere before he, once again, sighed deeply.
"I don't understand... where do you guys come from?!" He screamed
He walked to the pilot's seat where his boss regarded him coldly.
"I'll handle this shit—" he gestured to the steering stick? Steering lever? Whatever shit they call that. "you handle that shit." He pointed at the huntress who was making the bullhead shake so much.
He was coldly glared at before she moves to confront the huntress. He was getting burned later
Not that he cared, evident by his eye-roll.
Next time bring Neo, no matter how many Ice cream she demands.
He heard a storm that crackled above the ship. He ignored that as he closed his eyes, why couldn't his life be simpler?
And then freaking crystals rained from above. He ignored that too.
A crystal was now embedded mere inches from his head gleaming in the night and he swears to Oum it was mocking him too. He also ignored that though his tightened grip and gritted teeth.
He glanced at the side only to see and incoming spear of sharp shards...
He sighed...
Such a bad day...
A/N: I know I haven't updated for so long that others forgot about the fic, but I am just... really lazy.
Also, still can't decide pairings and don't really want to poll it
Oh, and virtual cookies to whoever noticed what I did on the first part, I personally liked that and think it's quite neat
Lastly, please review, even if you are disappointed. but please no flames. Feel free to PM me for suggestions