AN: The end is near! The final chapter of Game on is comming out soon! In this one the stage is finally set! Jaune has to beat Pyrrha, that's all ther is. He makes peace with his demons in the bluntest way possible. He knows what he has to do and is after a roguh start onto the final run of this season!
"Give it up!" Raven shouted ducking back her arm flying up as she barely blocked a crimson sword strike from the man Adam. Raven grunted her arm trembling with the force of the attack that sent ripples down her side. Raven winced backing up as Adam's sword flashed back in mid-air. The red blade darting in and out striking like a viper.
"Never!" Adam yelled rage in his voice his legs sprinting across the forest floor, a low peal coming from his lips as he whistled. His sword obeying his orders as it launched forwards. Striking at the maiden who dared come to defy him. Wilt slashed down like a giant red scalpel, the blade moving at impossibly fast speeds that any other women would have been ripped into pieces long before now. But Raven Branwen was not just any other women she was a maiden. And that made her troublesome to say the absolute least.
Orange fire glowed from her core and flames burned from her eyes. Her entire body was encased in a rippling field of lightning that was shielding her from his attacks. Every time Adam moved his blade the shield flexed, gathering and gaining power as it blocked his attacks with contemptuous ease. Or that's what it looked like, Raven was not having such an easy time preventing Adam's attacks as he thought.
"He's strong." Raven thought her arms cracking! Her bones bending under the sheer kinetic force of the impacts of Adam's sword. Raven ground her teeth jumping back, Adam's sword rose and fell with a speed that was all but impossible for the naked eye to track let alone react to. Raven was forced to stay on the defensive, it was taking all her effort just to block Adam's attacks let alone not get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of strikes he could send her way!
"How can he even focus!?" Raven hissed as she ducked a blade nearly taking off her head, the red sword shot past her at blurring speed before righting itself mid-air reversing its trajectory and slashing back at her. Raven jumped over the blade neatly avoiding the sword as it turned in mid-air only to come back for another pass.
"Do you ever stop!?" Raven shouted her eyes burning as lighting came down around her forming a barrier of pure energy as Adam paused.
'Not when I have an enemy to kill." He growled in a dangerous tone as Raven ground her teeth. "I do not want to kill you, Adam."
"You want to take my left arm. You will excuse me if I don't acquiesce to your demand." "It's your fault! You attacked my daughter!"
"Only after she attacked me! I gave her every! Opportunity to stand down! I told her that if she did nothing, she would be spared and put out of harm's way! But did she listen to me? No! She did not, and now she pays the price for that!"
Adam snarled rage bubbling out from his voice as-
"Adam! She is a child! A child! You can not hold her to the same standards as an adult!"
"And why not?! She made her own choice! She chose to attack me! I did not tell her to!"
"You are a terrorist!"
"I am a freedom fighter!"
"You are a monster! You kill and butcher people all the time! For nothing but your own personal gain!"
"Do not seek to lecture me Branwen! You know nothing of what I am like!"
"I know everything! You were the son of a privileged diplomat-
"Privilege? Do not dare speak to me of privilege woman! It is all you have ever known! Your life is nothing but a privilege!"
"What!? How dare you! I have had to fight to get what I want in my life!"
"Fight? Since when have you fought Raven? You abandoned your tribe years ago! You settled down! You became a mother! When was the last time you ever struggled for anything!?" Adam snarled his sword lashing out attacking Raven from five angels at once. Raven jumped back her sword deflecting two of the attacks the others deflected by her aura as she sneered.
"I had to fight! To get where I am today! I fought tooth and nail to be where I am Adam!"
"Did you? Did you fight and struggle when you got magic from Opal? Or did you fight when you acquired the maiden powers? Speaking of them Raven what happened to the last spring maiden Raven? How did you know her well enough for her to give you her powers?"
"I... you don't know what you are talking about!"
"Oh? Did I hit a cord? Is mommy of the year worried about her family figuring out she is a murderer?" Adam asked a cruel grin on his lips as Raven growled.
"Shut you tongue male!" Raven shouted, her eyes flashing dangerously and her barrier of lighting breaking at once. Shards of energy shooting out as she forced the maiden powers in the world around her. Adam began to call his sword as Raven formed a ball of lighting in her hand shooting it out at Adam who barely dodged out of the way. Saving his life and prevent his immolation in the process.
"So there it is, it finally comes out, male. You women are all the same you know that?" Adam said spitting on the ground his voice laced with hatred and malice. His body shaking with rage as Raven paused. Adam Taurus was a male, but he was the most deadly person on Remnant herself included she needed to watch her tone if she ever wanted to see Yang Ruby, or Tai again.
"Adam, I-
"Shut up! Shut up! What do you know of struggle?! What do you know of oppression? You are a woman and better than that a human! When have you had to struggle because of what you were born as?!"
"When I was in the tribe-
"A tribe you left! With no consequences, I might add. You abandoned your whole family! Your way of life on a whim and nothing happened to you for it!"
"I left my family!"
"A family you hated! You know what I did to leave my family Raven? You know what I had to do to earn my freedom?"
"You killed. You are a murderer Adam."
" I took what was mine! My freedom! This is my life, and I will not let another tell me how to live it!"
"So you killed your family!? The ones who raised and gave birth to you!? What kind of an excuse is that?!"
"The excuse of one who is not making them! I did what I did to be free. Tell me Raven do you know what it is like to be a slave?" "I...'
"Do you know what it was like to see your cousins, friends sold off to go to live in Palaces by mothers that did not want sons? Do you know what it was like when your own parent told you that you were to be sold off?"
"I... Adam-
"No. No, you don't. So don't you dare! Come here and talk to me of privilege when your whole life you have had it!" Adam's sword blurred up faster than Raven thought possible hitting her own and cracking! Her arm, her bone snapped by the sheer pressure of the attack forcing her back as-
"You have never know struggle! Never known fear! Never had to tell your own family with all honesty! That is is better to commit suicide then it is to wake up the next day! Never had to watch! Your brother slit his throat rather than wake up!"
"I didn't!" Raven hissed as Adam's sword blurred out of reality moving at impossible speeds as rapid strikes hit her knees in rapid succession forcing her back and off balance-
"You didn't have to ask yourself if you should have kids and fear for the future based on what they are born as! Even if you have a male, he is at least a human one. If you were a faunus? You might even terminate the child before it was born. And I would not fault you for doing so." Adam hissed as Raven growled. "I would never do that!"
"You say that now but you don't know!"
"I do!"
"You know nothing!" Adam raged his whistle became an ear piercing peal that made Raven cry out his sword blurred up in a red rage striking her own as crack! Raven cried her arm snapped! Her bone splitting in two as Adams impact broke it. The sheer kinetic force breaking her arm making her scream in pain.
"You know nothing of pain! Nothing of suffering! Nothing of hating yourself for the simple fact of being born! So do not come to me! Raven Branwen with your privileged agenda of pathetic revenge of a brat that was acting out of place in a damn school for huntresses!" Adam snarled his blade striking back hitting Raven dead in the chest. She screamed her aura popping and shattering.
"DIE!" Adam yelled as the sword came around only for Raven to wearily open a red portal and jump in right before the killing blow could land and end her for good.
"Peh! Woman. Always show their true colors when the chips are down." Adam hissed calling back his sword sheeting it as the maiden Raven turned tail and ran. "Cowards one and all." Adam hissed before spitting again turning around and walking away.
Pyrrha was worried, no she was terrified. After the awful incident with Yang, Jaune and Ren still had not contacted them! She and Nora had looked everywhere! After taking Yang to the infirmary for her arm! Her arm was gone...
The doctors said it was shattered in the process and could not be reattached. Yang would need a prosthetic one if she wanted to continue being a huntress.
The only good news that night was that upon their return both Jaune and Ren were safe in their own beds. Whitley in a sleeping bag and the room still as a morgue.
"Thank the goddess." Pyrrha had whispered as she saw her love asleep curled up in a tight ball. Blankets covering his head like some type of porcupine.
"I'll wake him in the morning," Pyrrha said going to her own bed as even Nora gave Ren some space. The two woman nodding slowly as they went to their own beds and went to sleep.
The morning came soon. Pyrrha awoke to her room, the sound of running water filled her ears.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked as her partner was nowhere to be seen. Jaune was probably taking a shower.
Ren was fast asleep, still snoring the tip on his two sizes two sizeable green nightcaps sticking out of his bed was the only indication to his presence. Nora was waking to. The girl not settled with the lack of her friend and boyfriend and Whitley was knocked out and dead to the world. Save for some sleep mumbling of dust and bottom lines.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked again as she heard the water abruptly stop. Jaune had stopped taking his shower, and Pyrrha decided to confront no that was the wrong word. Jaune had done nothing wrong so she would just ask him what happened to him. And why he was off galavanting while recovering from the attack on the CCT with a still injured Ren. As she got up, Ren yawned stretching out of bed, cracking his back as his magenta eyes flew open.
"Morning team!" Ren yawned as-
"Ren. Last night."
"Morning Nora. Love you." Ren said as Nora froze she usually melted at the words love you from Ren but not now. She was up half dressed, both her and Pyrrha showered the night before, so none needed to do so this morning.
"Ren where were you last night?"
"Me? I was with Jaune. We went up and about Vale. Why?"
"Did you see what happened?"
"What happened?"
"There was an attack on a military base."
"Oh? That is not good."
"No, it is not now Ren you and Jaune where-
The door to the shower opened as-
"Jaune!" Pyrrha said before gasping, Her hands flew to her mouth as she saw him. Jaune, her perfect Jaune looked at her with blood red eyes sniffled arms shaking as it looked like no it was a fact that Jaune had not only been crying, but he had been wailing...
"Jaune?! Jaune?! What happened!?" Pyrrha shouted as Jaune sniffled his hand shaking as-
"Nothing Pyrrha."
"Jaune that is not true!"
"Pyrrha I'm ok."
"Do not lie to me! I can't stand liars!"
"I'm not lying I'm just... I'm just down..." Jaune said his have low and cold as death as he sighed.
"Jaune?"
"Back to sleep Whitley. Today is going to be rough." Jaune said as he sighed.
"Jaune! What's wrong? What happened?"
"Nothing Pyr, I'm fine," Jaune said as he got dressed. He had dressed in his best clothing. His custom Beacon outfit designed by Coco clung to his body like a second skin as she rubbed his head.
"Jaune you are not fine! You look awful!"
"She's right, you look like hell." The voice said as Jaune sighed. He knew it was true he looked like hot shit. To put it lightly. One look in the mirror would reveal all that and more. Jaune's eyes were bright red, with clear signs of crying that had started last night and lasted well into the morning.
Jaune had hoped, against hope that a long night of crying into his pillow would have cleaned him up but that did not happen. It only kept him up all night and made him tired, the long dark bags under his eyes gave away his lack of sleep, and the downtrodden downright depressing look on his face that made Jaune appear like someone had kicked his puppy to death and burned down his house all while he watched was plastered on it.
And to be fair the face fit, and Jaune might not have had a puppy, but that hadn't stopped life from kicking, beating and taking everything he ever wanted. It hadn't even given life the good grace to pause. Jaune was broken, in mind body and spirit.
Life had been wearing him down like water on a rock. It had been steadily chipping away and chipping away at his soul for the entirety of his post-toddler life and now? Now Jaune wasn't sure he wanted to keep doing this... He didn't want to keep doing this. Not being a hunter, not Beacon he didn't even know if he even wanted to keep getting up anymore. "Pyrrha I'm fine."
"Jaune! You are not fine! Tell me what is wrong with you now!" Pyrrha yelled her voice filled with anger, her hands clamping down on his shoulder gripping so hard it caused him to wince in pain as-
Fear. Shock. Doubt. Came from Pyrrha, she was not angry she was downright terrified. She felt like she had caused Jaune's problems and while she was not perfect in any fashion, she was at worst a symptom and at best another gut punch from the world. Hell, at least she didn't try to put him in the ground. Yet. "Pyrrha... can you just drop this? Please?"
"NO! You are my partner! I won't drop it when something is clearly wrong! Tell me what happened! Please! You can trust me!" Pyrrha said her voice breaking kindness falling from her face as-
"She's a good woman Jaune. Don't let the past cloud your future."
"She's better than she was."
"Don't let the past end your future. The past is done you can't change it."
"Don't I know."
"Pyrrha, please... I'll tell you later ok? Just.. just not now alright?"
Pyrrha froze her face scrunched up as frustration came from her very core.
"If you say so. Do you promise to tell me when you are able?"
"Yes. But I need a bit of time."
"Ok... but please tell me what's wrong when you are able. I'm your partner. I care for you. I always have, even... even when I haven't acted like it." Pyrrha said as shame bleed from her as-
"I know Pyrrha. And I will tell you, all of you later on though. I promise."
"Jaune!?" Anxiety. Flooded the hallway as Jaune felt a slew of other powerful negative emotions flood him as team RWBY or what was left. The RWB came out of the dorm. All three set's of the eye's zeroed in on Jaune as the girls froze.
"What happened to you!?" Ruby asked rushing up her best friends tear steak face, downtrodden appearance and general look of dread sent feat into her hear as she gripped his arm.
"Jaune?! What happened?" Ruby asked before-
A pair of strong hands clamped down on Jaune's arm as Blake appeared. Her arms yanked Jaune from Ruby's grip earning a frightened eep! From the reaper, as Blake pulled Jaune away, her amber eyes glared into his very soul as-
"What happened?" Blake's words were simple but filled with indignation. Her gaze locked on and pierced him as her will forced itself on him.
"Nothing Blake-
"Don't lie to me! What happened? Who did this? Was it her?" Blake asked head twisting to Pyrrha's who glared at the faunus no longer in hiding as she balled her fists.
"How dare you!"
"I know your type, Nikos. You are the kinds to solve problems with your hands rather than words and not in a good way." Blake practically growled as she flashed her fangs at Pyrrha.
"I did no such thing! Jaune!"
"She didn't do this Blake. Not all of it at least."
Fury.
"So you did do something!"
"Jaune?! What did I do!? I don't know-
"She didn't do much Blake don't be mad."
"Jaune?! I can't be happy! If she hurt you tell me! I-
"Blake. She did hurt me but. She's not the first, and in reality, she's easily one of the better ones."
"Jaune I don't care how lesser she is. She hurt you, now tell me what-
"And you've never hurt me?" Jaune asked cocking his head wincing at the hurt look on Blake's eyes as pain came from her core.
"That is not fair Jaune. She didn't mean anything."
"I'm not feeling that fair." Jaune thought as Blake paused her amber eyes widening to the point of dinner plates. Fear. Panic. Pain. Flooded from her mind as she took a step back.
"I.. what did I do?"
"What did she do Jaune? Tell her?"
"Does it matter what you did?"
"Jaune..."
"Yes, it does! If I did something wrong and I didn't mean to, I want to know what it was!"
"I... it doesn't matter."
"Like hell, it doesn't!" Anger.
"Jaune she's angry."
"I know that."
"Blake... I can't talk about it now."
"Is it because of them?" Blake said blatantly selling out every other girl with the sole exception of Nora around her and-
"It's not them Blake."
"It surely is not!"
"Blake?"
"Why would you even suggest me?!"
"Blake. I saw Pyrrha yesterday she did nothing-
"Then why is my mate like this?!" She shouted making Jaune blush for a moment before sighing.
"It's not them Blake it's me."
"Jaune? What does that mean?"
"It means... I don't know what I'm doing."
"Jaune?"
"I... I don't know what's stopped me from putting down my weapons and walking into the Emerald forest alone."
"That's a court-martial son."
"Jaune. I don't like that tone. Stop saying things-
"I don't like my life, Blake. But I can't change that. Now come on let's eat. I don't feel like starving. Again."
Jaune was not going a good breakfast.
"Jaune you should eat something. Here! Have some of my toast! I don't need it!" Pyrrha said smiling warmly even as pure panic flooded from her. "I'm not hungry Pyr," Jaune said looking at his empty plat his gaze sullen, and his shoulders dropped.
"You do know that, saying that will only make them want to help you more correct?" The man asked as Jaune sighed.
"I know." Jaune's thought proved true as-
"Jaune if you do not eat how will you stay awake in class?" Nora asked taking the initiative to help her friend. Jaune and her were not romantic a rare thing for him and a woman so Nora believed she could break the ice with him.
"I sit by Ren, I'll have no trouble staying up."
"He's got a point there!"
"Ren!"
"Sorry."
"Jaune, please! I have extra food. Take it, take it all." Pyrrha added weakness in her tone she needed to do something, Jaune was hurt, and he was her partner. Nothing would harm him so long as-
"I'm fine."
"No, you are not!" Blake hissed her eyes filled with anger, panic, and fear. She was rapidly signaling to Jaune to read her thoughts. Jaune ignored her and stared at his empty plate.
"Jaune... I don't like this..." Ruby said her voice low and timid, her fists balled up under the table. Ruby did not like this not one bit. Jaune looked... he looked terrible. His face was sunken and worn out. Like leather that had been left out in the sun and pulled. His voice was broken, coming out in shattered tire pieces and he sounded like he was going to pass out!
His eyes were red from crying, and there were deep dark circles under them. Something terrible happened to Jaune last night, Ruby hoped! That he was sad because of Yang. She knew she was, but that was not the case. Jaune and Ren had no idea what happened to Yang, so that was off the table. "Those eyes." Ruby thought pleadingly Jaune's eyes were easily the worst part. Before they were bright! Like the vast ocean reflecting bright sunlight! Now they were hollow.
Gone was the spark, the brightness now they were dull and shallow. It was like his will to live had been yanked out of his body. His soul dragged out beaten and left to wither in the sun, and she hated it. She hated seeing her friend in pain. She didn't care if they were dating or not. Jaune was her friend, and if he was in pain then she was in pain, and she would be damned if she let him stay like this!
"Jaune-
"Ruby. Everyone let it go. It's time for class ok?" Jaune asked a tires sight the life left his mouth, his words rang hollow and bitter. There was no flash of life no wry quips, not even sarcasm just the low sharp tone of someone who was defeated and had just lost the will to live. "Jaune...are you ok?" Ren finally asked staring his brother in the eyes as-
"No Ren. No, I am not ok. I have not been for a very long time, and now I'm finally realizing that and no Blake. Before you ask there is nothing you can do."
"But-
"I know you just want to help and I'm sorry... about earlier... I've just got a lot on my mind right now, and I need some space. A lot of space."
"I... ok I'll give you space. Don't take too long. Please."
"I'll try," Jaune said as he stood up.
"Ok let's get to class," Jaune said as he and his friends began to walk.
The class did not go well. Not at all. Jaune did not hear a word Port said and even the teacher as energetic as she was seemed to notice Jaune's behavior.
"Mister Arc! How about you come down to fight a Beowulf! You look like you need your blood pumping!" "Sure. Why not?" Jaune asked slowly painful slowly getting up dragging his feet along the floor as he picked up his sword and dropped his shield.
"No shield eh lad? Bold! I like that in a man!" The woman said laughing raucously as-
"Don't need it if I die I'll say thank you to the Grimm," Jaune said as Port's smile fell.
"I... what?"
"Open the door. Let's get this over with."
"As you wish..."
The woman said as she unleashed the Grimm a Beowulf as it charged...
The fight was over in a minute. Jaune got hurt, no shield allowed the Grimm to get in several good hits in. His aura was in the fifties, the room was a mess, and he was covered in Grimm blood.
"Good Show! Good... show..." Port said the fire falling from her grey eyes Jaune was a mess. His fight was sloppy and lazy. He moved like walking through molasses, his body barely reacted. He let the Grimm attack him. He let the fangs sink into his aura, there was a time when the monster had its jaws around his neck so long Port would have been forced to act! But Jaune killed the beast and lived.
"Good show lad! A bit close at the end but you pulled it off!" Port said laughing a bit nervously as Jaune sighed and shook his head.
"Unfortunately. I wish it got my neck. I gave it the shot." Jaune said sighing as Por's voice caught in her mouth-
ANGER. Blake shot up in her set as did Ruby? Fist balled and eyes glaring daggers at him as-
"Jaune... is something wrong? Something you want to talk about?'
"No mam."
"Jaune... you do have therapy later on today. I can call Oobleck and have her rush this for you if you want... I think you need this." Port said leaning over as the man nodded. "Take her offer Jaune. You can not live like this."
"I.. fine..."
"Excellent! Good show! Now I'll have her rush to see you! Go to her after class ok?"
"Yes, mam."
"Mister Arc! A... a pleasure to see you..." Oobleck said as Jaune sat info of her looking... looking goddess awful.
"Thanks, mam... good to see you too," Jaune said in a hoarse voice as-
"Jaune is there anything you wish to talk about? Please tell me." Oobleck said leaning forward as-
"Actually doctor... I think I need to talk to you."
Jaune said as tears? Began forming in his eyes his voice croaked, and he sniffled it was an angry, pitiful sound and made Oobleck wince.
"Ok, Jaune go on, tell me whatever you want. This is a safe place and any, and everything you say here will remain in these walls of this I guarantee you..."
Oobleck was not expecting this. "I didn't do it! I never did anything!" The tired, angry, desperate voice of Jaune Vesparax shouted as the therapist flinched. She had not expected this... Jaune's therapy sessions were few and far between, but they were mostly the same. Jaune gave one-word answers whenever possible said as little as humanly possible and giving Oobleck the bare minimum to deal with.
Whether this was out of mistrust or just a general disagreement to his presence in therapy the doctor never knew but know? That old calm, collected bored Jaune was gone a thing of the past replaced by this...
Tired, blood red eyes looked back to her, tears streaking down his face as he had his hands up to his eyes.
The boy had done a one-eighty personality wise. No longer was Jaune pulling his hands to his chest now he was bawling. He literally spent the first half hour in her office crying. Not soft tears bawling, he looked ready to collapse. His strength seemed all but gone to him, and the boy was well, for lack of a better word broken. His spirit appeared damaged and-
"Jaune, you do know that what happened to you is not your fault right? You did nothing wrong-
"Then why!? Why did she hit me!?" "I... Your mother is a complicated woman Jaune. And while her actions are irrevocably reproachable, you should not think she acted out of pure malice. She was grieving, do not let the actions of one person blind you to the kindness and generosity of the majority.'
"But it's not just her doctor... even in Beacon."
"Even in Beacon? Jaune has anyone abused you in Beacon? You can tell me here and face no consequences do know that." Oobleck asked her voice firm and sharp, her green eyes latching onto Jaune as he gulped. "I..."
"Jaune. Please. I am your teacher, and I would like to think of us as friends if you are threatened tell me, and I will do all in my power to alleviate you for your troubles." Oobleck said a glare in her eyes as-
"Doctor, do you think I'm real?" Jaune caught Oobleck off footed as she froze.
"What? Do I think you are real?" Oobleck as she swore she did not hear Jaune right.
"Do you think I am real? Do you think of me as a person? With my own will and dreams? Ambitions and goals?" Jaune asked his voice neutral and calm.
"Of course you are! You are as human as anyone else, why are you asking me this? Has someone suggested otherwise?" "Yes. Everyone."
"Everyone? How is that possible?"
"Because people do not see me as a person, doctor they see me as a tool."
"Jaune that is not true."
"Is it? From the first day of my life, I was a tool. I had no autonomy. MY life was decided, my future laid out and if I went out again it, I would be beaten for my troubles."
"Jaune you were not beaten in Beacon you know that right?"
"Not physically but it is clear to me that none of my friends see me as a person. I'm a tool.'
"That is simply not true Jaune."
"Look at this!" Jaune hissed pulling down his collar where Yang's s symbol sill branded onto Jaune's neck glared at her.
"Can you explain this? Or this?" Jaune asked opening his top button shower the top of the heart that Velvet had branded into his chest.
"I never asked for this doctor. I never asked for them to make my flesh."
"Jaune! You should feel honored! The brand is here to protect you!"
"From what the palace? I don't want to have to choose between a sex slave and jail time."
"And you won't. Jaune if you have problems with your team discuss them! Don't let them fester and fizzle!"
"I don't have a problem with them, doctor, they have a problem with me," Jaune said growling as he balled up his fists.
"The world has a problem with me! Every time! Every time I try! I try to be good it gets worse! Every time I try to make my life a little better I am literally! Beaten half to death for my troubles!"
"Jaune life is not fair."
"You think I of all people do not know that?! My mother and over half my siblings made a sort of debating me to near death when I could barely understand why."
"People are cruel Jaune. And while I make excuses for them do not think that your friends are the same."
"Oh? Yang wants a quick fuck. Weiss sees me as a house husband. Coco and Vel scare the hell out of me. And... I don't want to do this doctor."
"What Jaune? What is the this you are talking about?"
"Living doctor. I don't want to live like this! Like I'm a damn animal waiting not to be used!"
"Jaune your friends don't think like that!"
"Not now they don't but in the end? The ends justify the means doctor you know this."
"Jaune that is not true. Your friends love you."
"Do they doctor? Cause now I am questioning it fully."
"Yes! They do care for you Jaune! Look at them, and you can see it!"
"If they care for me doctor they do not have a good way of showing it."
"Jaune. Look at them. I'm not saying that they or anyone is perfect. In truth, no one is and to even suggest such a thing is ridiculous and incredibly arrogant of the one doing it. No one is perfect, but they do all treasure your friendship."
"I-
"Look at Ren Jaune. Do you think he does not consider you his best friend?"
"Ren doesn't count mam.'
"Is it because he is a man?"
"Yes."
"So you have an issue with women?"
"No. Just in my life they seem to be the ones to cause me all my pain."
"Jaune-
"A man never beat me as a kid. A man never branded my flesh. A man never tried to force themselves or their children on me."
"The world... the world is not perfect Jaune."
"Are you defending them?"
"No. All I am saying is that you need to look deeper than what you are."
"What does that mean?"
"Think about it. Ruby. She never harmed you on purpose did she?"
"Ruby's different..."
"How? She's a woman. She's never intentionally harmed you now has she?"
"No... but-
"But?"
"She's young."
"Do you believe that she will harm you?" "She might."
"Everyone might harm you Jaune."
"She's different, but she's still a woman."
"Jaune if you let hatred consume you, you will sacrifice your future. One way or another Jaune."
"One. One woman doctor. Every law has an exception."
"But is it only one? Blake, Miss Belladonna and you are close. Has she ever done something to you without your consent?"
"She did punch me in my gut give me one black eye all because she was an ex-terrorist."
"Don't split hairs Jaune."
"Just saying."
"Mister Arc?"
"Vesparax, but no... Blake does care about me."
"And not just her, Coco, Miss Adel and you are also rather... intimate, and I cannot fathom her doing something to harm you. I do believe that she has in fact gone through great lengths not to harm you instead."
"She-
"And what of Miss Fall? Surely you are not going to call her wrong are you?"
Jaune's eye's lit up. A spark of something appearing behind them that Oobleck pounced on.
"She loves you Jaune. I can see it in her eyes. The way they light up when you are in her vision. They way you take her breath away when you walk into a room. She cares very deeply for you."
"Doctor-
"And Vernal was it? She was like your second mom from what I can gather. She was clearly a caregiver of you Jaune and-
"And she's dead," Jaune said his voice once again brittle Oobleck winced. Bringing up Vernal was a mistake. Jaune's eyes lost any shine that they had as he looked down to the floor. "That is a tragedy, but you can not let her death stop your future. You loved her Jaune. She loved you. Is that not proof that some women are good, and that you were and are loved?" "Five. Five of the women that I've got to know have been good. The rest? Have shot, stabbed, beaten or attempted to force themselves on me."
"Jaune-
"And before you say look at the bigger picture most of the planet are women. So I know that I am more likely to meet a woman than a man. By that logic most of the people that will be harmful to me are women, you could say men were just as bad, but I will just meet less of them."
"Yes! That is what you should think Jaune! All people have the capability for good and evil! Do not let one's gender define your opinion of them! Think of it that is what you are attempting to not have done to you!"
"By that same logic, five doctor. Five women have not been awful to me. Out of hundreds? Maybe a thousand that I've met? That's not a good picture."
"No it is not, and they are wrong! But their actions are not determined by their gender. Society may influence-
"Allow and encourage bad behaviors."
"I did not say it was perfect."
"You don't hate it."
"I don't like it!"
"Have you tried to change it?"
"What?"
"Have you tried to change the laws? Have you done anything to bring equality to the world?"
"I do not harm or judge others based on gender."
"So you are complicit." "Do not twist my words Jaune. The world is not so simple as if one woman or one man can just change it." "Roman thinks he can. He saw injustice, and he did something about it." Jaune's words had an immediate impact. Oobleck froze her hands gripping her desk as her eyes became narrow slits. "Roman is not a regular man Jaune. He-
"He is not afraid to change the world, he is not a coward doctor."
"He is a fool! A hopeless romantic fool whose belief in justice is so strong that he let it twist him into believing that punishing those who are wrong is justified without courts or public trials!"
"He tried to help men."
"He killed a lot of people... he...
"He?"
'He is special to me Jaune... I can not give you an unbiased opinion, but he is a fool. A terrible, horrible kind fool. But he is mine..." Oobleck said a ghost of a smile on her thin lips as she looked down at her desk with a forlorn expression. "Jaune-
"Mam my issue is not with women."
"Good I was-
"My issue is with life."
"So is mine you know?" the woman said trying to force a smile as-
"I don't want to be here anymore."
"In Beacon?"
"No. In general, I'm tired doctor..."
"Jaune what does that mean?"
"It means I'm thinking about putting down my weapons and walking into the emerald forest."
"Jaune. Are you contemplating suicide?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, it matters Jaune! I am a psychologist! If you are contemplating suicide, then I have to do something. I must tell Opal, and I will put you into protective custody and place you on suicide watch."
"Then I am not considering it." Jaune deadpanned his voice already back to its uneven broken tone that hurt her ears.
"Jaune... I do not claim to know what it is like to want to end my life. I find life an amazing journey full of people and experience."
"You are also a woman."
"Regardless! You do not want life to end Jaune. You only have one."
'And it's been a shitty one doctor."
"Does that matter? How bad is your life really?"
"From the start? Family beat me within an inch of my life. Burned down my house almost killing the first woman to ever care for me. Ran away hurt her, joined a tribe of bandits. Killed many, many people. Got the second women and the second man to care for me killed. Ran away lied, stole and killed my way to Beacon."
"Spent the majority of my time starving, bleeding to death and one foot on the grave the other on a landmine. Get to Beacon, where my luck only got worse. My partner had a strange fetish for pain and liked to take it out on me on the rough. I still have the bruises."
"Two of my so-called friends literally branded me, permanently scarring my body with their symbols like I was cattle."
"That protects you from being sold to a palace Jaune."
"The fact that I have to be worried about being sold is an argument for another day. Then I am shot, beaten, and spend my time in Beacon having three! Positive relationships with women are shocking in a good way. But it only reinforces they are a minority an exception to the rule, not the rule itself."
"What about Miss Schnee? Has she truly harmed you?"
"She has not interacted with me long enough to have the chance."
"That is flawed reasoning at best."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Fine. What do you think doctor? Am I overreacting?"
"No. You are hurt. Humans get hurt, they remember what hurts them, and they try to avoid that in the future. I won't, I can't hold that against you."
"Thank you."
"You do not want to be harmed again, and you do not deserve to be. You deserve to live the life you want to without others causing you undue harm. But you must not give in! Do not let others bring you down!"
"Doctor... I've spent all my life fighting... and now? Now I don't know if I want to keep fighting."
"That was not what I would call our best show."
The man said as Jaune rolled his eyes. He was right, Jaune knew it he knew it and well anyone who saw them in there would say the same thing. He was a mess... in more ways than one. His body was fine, but his spirit? That was broken.
"Jaune. You can not let despair win over us. You are a man! You are a damn soldier! You don't get to just walk away!"
"A soldier? What am I fighting for?"
" Yourself. The only thing a man can fight for Jaune." The man said glaring down at Jaune, stormcloud like eyes glaring as Jaune sighed.
"But why? What's the end game here? What happens if I become a hunter? What do I get?"
"I do not think I am the best one to answer that for you Jaune."
"What? You are in my fucking head! Who else can I ask to do this for me?!" Jaune shouted as the man let out a low chuckle and pointed behind him.
"I think she will be the best person to speak to." The man said as Jaune turned as a pair of silver eyes locked on him.
"Oh, you gotta be kidding me." Jaune groaned a blur of red appeared, as Ruby sprinted up to him.
"Good luck."
"You are a dick you know that?" Jaune asked his advisor as he merely sighed.
"Maybe but my job is to get men back in line. To puff out your chest and to put your best foot forward."
"Are you going to walk with me this time?"
"Jaune I've walked more battlefield s than anyone on this planet, but I will never leave your side."
"What happened!? You can tell me... if you want to..." Ruby said her legs kicking off the ledge of Beacon's roof. Jaune sighed Ruby had after some resistance from him dragged him off to the roof for a talk. "I... nothing happened-
"Don't lie! Don't lie to me Jaune! You are my best friends, and I don't like it when you lie to me!" Ruby shouted as Anger bled from her soul.
Jaune sighed, he knew Ruby was not going to take this lying down and if he didn't deal with her one on one, then he would have to deal with more than one.
"You want to know what's wrong?"
"Yes!"
"I'm... I don't have the fight, Ruby."
"Don't have the fight?"
"I... have you ever felt like a rock in a stream?"
" A rock in a stream? No, why?"
"Because that's what I feel like I am Ruby. A rock in a stream. I feel like every day I'm being whittled down... taken apart piece by piece."
"Piece by piece?"
"I feel as if my life has only gotten worse. I feel like every time I do something! Anything it comes crashing down. I don't get any better Ruby."
"That's not true. You've gotten a lot better Jaune. I've seen it, when you first came here you looked like you were ready to die! You were so introverted and like a wallflower. Now? Now you have friends, now you have people who care about you! How is that not an improvement?" Ruby asked her silver eyes full of hope and care. Her hand fell onto Jaune's and squeezed.
"You matter Jaune."
"I think I love you."
"You are important."
"I don't like seeing you hurt."
"I think you just need to look at life better!"
"Why don't you just talk? Even if not to me Blake, Pyrrha or Ren? They might help you."
"Ruby..."
"Yes?"
"Tell me. I won't be mad. Just talk."
"I..."
"You?"
"Do you ever want to not?"
"Not? Not what? Not eat cookies? Never!" Ruby said a false smile on her lips as her hand gripping Jaune's. Their fingers intertwining as-
"Please don't say you want to harm yourself. I promised Blake and Pyrrha that I would tell them if you did."
"Have you ever thought what am I doing?"
"All the time."
"Have you felt like nothing you did matters."
"Every day since I got here."
"Do you see a future?" Jaune asked finally getting to the crux of his problem.
"A future?"
"Yeah. Do you see yourself after Beacon? What do you think you are going to do when you graduate?"
"Yeah! Of course, I do!"
"What do you see yourself doing?'
"I see myself becoming a great huntress! The best one to ever exist! You?"
"I... I Don't see a future for me, Ruby." Jaune said his face falling as-
Concern.
"Why not? Don't you want to be a hunter?"
"I do! I do but sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"Sometimes I wonder what that gets me?"
"It gets you your dream right?"
"It would be what's the point? What do I get for this? If I do get out of Beacon. If I do graduate then what?"
"You become a hunter?"
"And then what?"
"I... you hunt Grimm? With your friends and team?"
"I... I don't want to do that."
"Oh..."
"I don't see the point anymore."
"You don't see the point in helping people?" Ruby asked instantly regretting that question as a flash of something came on Jaune face. His face twisted and his smile curled as she felt a wave of resentment from him.
"I don't know what I'm going to do after this Ruby. You... you and your team you have people waiting for you. You have people you trust me? I'm just going to be a hunter. I'm going to fight Grimm save people I've never met and probably die before I hit thirty. Where everything I've ever done will be forgotten." "That's not necessarily true. Some hunters live long lives. And death is always apart of this if you are not ready to die this is really not the place for you."
"I'm ready to die. Trust me, it's just I don't know what I'm fighting for."
"For me?" Ruby asked her silver eyes blinking with admiration as Jaune sighed.
"For you? That's not the worst thing I can fight for." Jaune admitted a thin smile on his face as Ruby nodded.
"Thanks! I think I am rather worth it."
"Don't push it."
"Sorry."
"It's not you Ruby it's... have you ever asked why? Why help the world?"
"Because the world needs help? What other reason is there?"
"What if you don't want to help the world?"
"Why wouldn't you want to?"
"Because the world has not helped me." Jaune almost hissed and-
"That's not a reason." Ruby's response was quick, it flashed out and caught Jaune off guard as he paused.
"What?"
"Just because the world is wrong is no reason to forsake it-
"Ruby-
"People are mean Jaune. That's a fact, that is no reason not to help them in danger."
"You don't know what-
"You were beaten, hurt, starved and practically kicked out of your home. You are my best friend Jaune don't think I don't know you."
"But then-
"How can I say you should help the world when it was cruel to you without reason?"
"Yes!"
"Because you have to."
"I have to?"
"Yes. You chose to be a hunter Jaune. You chose to pick this life. No one forced you to do it. You wanted to be here. With us, with me." Ruby said her fingers interlacing with his as-
"Ruby-
"I know it's not fair. I know that it's not just, but you can't sacrifice the world for a few people."
"It was-
"More than a few? Yeah, I get that, but there are more people in the world Jaune. Do you think they are all bad?"
"No-
"Do you think that everyone in Beacon is bad?"
"No, but-
"Then think about this. If a town is under attack by Grimm. And there are going to be overrun. What would you do? Would you let the town die if there was just one bad person in it?"
"No! I-
"What if there was more than one? What if only two were good people and the rest were bad?"
"I would save them, the town. I wouldn't let them die."
"I know your life is hard, and I know you might not see a future but if you want I'd like to be a part of it... a bigger part than what you think..." Ruby said her cheeks heating up as-
"Are you asking me out?"
"What?! If you want me to! I mean we are kind of dating! Even if you are with others which is fine! Fine! My dad has two wives, and he's great! So I'm fine with you having another girl or three...Hehehe." Ruby trailed off as Jaune sighed looking at the hot vale sun as he rubbed his hair.
"It's just... I feel like the drive that pushed me is not there. Like I don't know why I'm here."
"You are here to save people."
"I came here to prove my family wrong Ruby."
"And you did! You are doing that every day!"
"But... they don't care... they kicked me out of my family. I came her to spite those who don't give a damn about me. And now? Now I guess I'm just lost." "Well you might be lost, but you don't have to be lost alone. I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere ok? So don't start saying things like you want to wander in the forest ok?"
"I... fine-
"And don't! Do stupid shit like you did in the classroom! That Grimm almost killed you!" Ruby yelled, actually yelled making Jaune wince-
"I-
"You idiot! Do you know how that made us feel?! Blake was furious, I was furious! I'm already having issues with Yang in the hospital I don't need wondering if my best friend is going to kill himself if I take my eyes off him for a single moment!" Ruby shouted her cheeks puffed hand, and her free fist baled the other clenching Jaune's fist so tightly he thought it would break. Anger. Came from her tiny frame as she glared death into his eyes making Jaune wince-
"ok-
"Promise!"
"Promise?"
"Promise me! As my best friend that you won't try to kill yourself!"
"I won't try."
"That you won't kill yourself or let yourself die! Promise!"
"Or what?"
"Or I'll break your legs and make you!" Ruby shouted as for a moment Jaune thought she was actually going to break his legs.
"Fine. I agree."
"Good! Now come on we should go see my sister. I think she wants to see you."
Yang was having a bad day.
"Fuck me!" The girl hissed slamming her hand, her only hand down into the bed. Her eyes scrunched up in anger as Yang growled.
"My arm!? My goddess damned arm! Who the fuck does that punk think he is?! I'm going to kill him!" Yang yelled fire burning form her eyes as she punched her bed. Her balance was off, and she nearly toppled over the side.
"Fuck me!" Yang hissed barely able to say on her cot, her arm latched onto the side rail to keep her stead.
"Fuck! Easy Yang, calm down. Calm down."
"Yes, Yang calm down. Maybe if you did that you would not be in this situation right now." "Raven?!" Yang yelled her head snapping to the left as she saw her, her mom limping into the room and-
"Mommy!?" Yang yelped as her limping mother barely walked into the infirmary. Raven limped inside clutching a limp hanging arm that looked like it was almost cut off.
"Mom!? What happened to you!?"
"I went after the man who cut off my daughters arm."
"And you killed him right?! He's dead? He's not coming back for me-
"No Yang he's very much alive and I... I need a doctor." Raven said as she fell to her knees, grunting in pain as blood came from her mouth.
"Nurse!"
"Stop."
"Oh fuck me." Jaune thought as he stopped in mid-step.
"I told you we should have walked with Ruby to see Yang."
"I-
"Vesparax!"
"Oh, fucking fuck."
"Hey, Coco." Jaune winced as a worried fashionista who was worse than an angry one honestly stalked up to him.
"Oh boy."
"I told you to just face Yang. That was going to be much easier than this." The man said as the angry brunette stomped over.
"She's going to kill me."
"I doubt it, but she will knock some sense into you."
"Figuratively or literally?"
"Both."
"Great."
"Vesparax!" "Coco-
"What the hell happened to you!?"
Worry.
"She's worried?"
"She cares about you. Surprise."
"Would you-
"Jaune! What happened?" Coco asked bending down to look him dead in his eyes. Her gloved hand reaching out cupping his cheek as she cupped his face forward. Looking down at him with naked worry.
"I had a rough night Coco."
"I can fucking see that! Was it your partner? Did-
"No. It was not her, not this time."
"Poor word choice."
"Not this time? I swear-
"Coco! Just... I just had a rough night ok? I'm fine."
"The hell you are. You look like hot shit!"
"Thanks."
"No, I take that back. You look like hot shit in one of my outfits. That is literally impossible, and you are pissing me off!"
"I-
"You are getting some fucking food, and we are talking about this."
"Coco-
"Now." She said her tone brokered no argument as-
"I told you."
"I know."
"Type A personality. And you are type B."
Coco was not happy. As stated by the fact that even if Jaune was parked in her lap, she had since made no motions to reach below his belt. "Eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"I don't care," Coco said and the to emphasize the point shoved a sausage in his mouth and made him chew.
"Chew it," Coco growled as Jane rolled his blood red eyes.
"Swallow it. Swallow it all." Coco growled as Jaune complied gulping down her sausage as he sighed.
"Do you like shoving things in my mouth, or is that just me?"
"I like it when cute boys swallow what I put in their mouths. Now, what's wrong you look like hell in my damn clothing line. Are you ok?"
"I. No."
"What's wrong? You can tell me." Coco said, and in a horrifying moment of truth, Jaune realized that he trusted her. "
Is it so wrong to trust others?"
"In our life yes."
"Well get used to doing it because she's not letting us go for a while."
"Did something happen?"
"Yes."
"Don't keep me waiting. What's wrong?"
"Life."
"Don't be a dick."
"I'm not. Life has not been great you know?"
"My sister is obsessed with putting your mom in jail for the rest of her life. I know more about your family than anyone but you so yeah. I know your family with the possible except your sister is a bitch."
"Caitlin is my big sister. She's important."
"Every bad batch has a good seed."
"I... I can't argue with you.'
"Good. Don't. Arguing with me is not a thing you will win just so you know." Coco said her hand gripping Jaune arms at his elbows as Jaune sighed.
"I just got overwhelmed, Coco. I thought life was pointless and was considering-
"Suicide by Grimm."
"I... how did you know?"
"One. Ruby. Two Blake."
"Blake told you?"
"No. She told Velvet looking for you. She was, she is worried sick. You need to find her and set things right asap."
"I will."
"And you are going to cut this shit about suicide. I've dealt with that shit enough in my life, and I don't want to deal with it from you ok?"
"I-
"That was not a question Jaune. That was a demand. You are going to drop this suicide talk like Velvet drops in a social space, or I'm going to drop it for you." Coco said glaring down to Jaune as-
"Please. You couldn't take your hands off me if you tried let alone drop me."
"There's the smile."
"Don't think too highly of yourself Vesparax. There is a line of boys looking for me to get in their pants."
"Says the girl who's only had two lovers," Jaune said as Coco winced a blush? Appearing on her face as she began to panic.
"What!? Who told you that?! Velvet! I'm going to kill her!"
"You told me that actually," Jaune said as Coco paused.
"What? I never told you that. I wouldn't tell the guy I'm dating how many boys I've been with. How the hell did you know?"
"If I tell you to promise not to be mad?"
"As long as you didn't' creep in my room and steal my diary yes."
"You have a dairy?"
"I! Mean no!"
"She's lying."
"Is it pink."
"No!"
"It's brown."
"Definitely brown."
"So brown?"
"I! I'm not talking about my dairy! I'm talking about how you know that! Now tell me!"
"Promise not to be mad Coco?"
"As long as you didn't go in my room and look in my stuff yes."
"Ok, I can read your mind."
"Ok Jaune if you have to lie-
"No. I'm not lying it's my semblance," Jaune said as Coco paused her cocoa yes widening to the size of dinner plates as her mouth fell open. "No way."
"Yes, way."
"No fucking way!"
"Yes, fucking way."
"Prove it!" Coco said folding her arms as-
Soft. Jaune pressed his lips to Coco's as her eye widened and-
"What the hell is he doing!? He's lucky he's cute, he thinks he can read my mind! I'm going to fuck him till his dick breaks for even considering suicide! I-
"What the hell is he doing!? He's lucky he's cute, he thinks he can read my mind! I'm going to fuck him until his dick breaks for even considering suicide!" Coco's mouth fell open her designer shades falling down as she gagged.
"You no fucking way," Coco said as Jaune focused tossing a lasso on her.
"There is no way."
"There is no way."
"He can't be!"
"He can't be."
"How are you doing that?!"
"My semblance, I told you that," Jaune smirked as Coco's mouth fell open as incredulity fell out of her mouth.
"What?! How!? How did you-
"Skin to skin contact. If you touch my skin with yours, I'm in your head." "So if we held hands-
"Or kissed, or touched, or you fucked me one a bullhead I was in your head as well as inside of you," Jaune said making Coco stuttered as she struggled to come to terms with the situation that was currently unfolding in front of her. "You! You've been reading my mind this whole time!?"
"I can't help it. If I touch skin, I just hear. I can't turn it off it just happens!"
"Why didn't tell me!?"
"I was often... busy... you don't like to give me time to take before you take my pants off you know?" "I! How!? What do you know about me!?"
"That you are honestly one of the kindest most caring and gentle people I have ever known. And will put my happiness and well being over your own time and time again to make sure that I am comfortable."
"You care about me enough to want me to be happy with whoever I choose. Even if that person is not you. You want to be that person you and Vel, but you are more than willing to let me go if there is a better option available."
"YOU! I'm not-
"You. Coco Adel despite any and all appearances are a big softie. Your heart is as delicate as your fashion sense. You get hurt easy and don't let others that close. You took a risk with me, and I thank you."
"Don't get cocky! You-
"You are cute when you blush," Jaune said planting a kiss on her lips as Coco mewled and melted on the spot.
"Well, you handled that well enough."
"Thanks."
"I told you that honesty was all you needed." The man said as Jaune sighed.
"How long are you going to rub that in my face?"
"A bit longer now look out our friend is coming." The man said as Jaune looked up and-
"Cardin!?" Jaune balked as he saw his friend, dressed in his gender bent clothes but-
"H-Hi Jaune... how are you?" The broken voice of Cardin Winchester said as-
"Cardin!? What happened!? Your eye!" Jaune yelled his friend's eye black, and purple swelled up to the point of near blindness. His body moved slowly like it was in great pain as he gave Jaune a weak smile.
"I'm fine Jaune nothing happened to me."
Resignation. Defeat. Pain.
"Nothing happened to you!? You look like shit!"
Fear.
"I fell on my door."
"You what?! Cardin-
"Carlisha! There you are! Sorry to keep you waiting girl!" A teen with a mohawk Jaune remembered as being called Dove? Asked putting her arm over Cardin as-
"Oh, Jaune! Thanks for keeping our little girl here company! But I'll be taking her off your hands k?" The girl asked a sickly sweet smile on her face as-
TERROR.
"Jaune."
"Dove can I talk to Carlisha for a moment-
"Nope! We got to go now! See yah! Say by Carlisha." Dove hissed as-
"B-bye Jaune! I'll... I'll see you later." Cardin said as Dove dragged him away. "Jaune did you see that?"
"See yes, like no. That was not ok."
"He was terrified. We have to look into this."
"I know but-
Ding! Jaune's scroll rang as he looked down.
"Jaune Arc, please report to Vytal arena floor. Your match is up."
"Goddammit!"
"Who are we fighting?"
"Arslan? Who the hell is that?" Jaune asked as-
"I don't know, but before we fight her, I suggest we suit up."
"You mean?"
"We have not used them all year, might as well use them this time. You never knew when we might get a chance again."
"I don't like laying out hand early."
"Neither do I but we need to win this thing or else what Roman said."
"We need to talk to Cinder."
"That too, but for now? Let's suit up."
"So what goes where?" The man asked as Jaune opened his bag. Luckily Whitley was knocked out on a bed, and he did not have to wake him yet. As he pulled out his bad Jaune sighed as he knew it was time. The time had come for him to stop feeling bad, stop acting like the world owed him anything it did not. And for him to finally stop letting others walk over him.
The best way to do this was with force. "Wind, Lightning, and Fire," Jaune said as he removes three small grey discs from his bag. His discs to be exact. The rare semi-legal weapons that Vernal had designed all those years ago and where all that was left of her memory. Jaune was hesitant to use these before mainly because A he didn't know when he could get more dust on him. B he had no idea how legal his weapons really were. And C he did not want to reveal his tricks so soon in case he needed them later on.
"So what goes where?"
"The wind disc goes to my armor. It can defend me against attacks." Jaune said as the man nodded. He took a quick gasp of air as he placed the disc to his chest plate. The reforged armor thanks to Cinder was back to almost new conditions. As he did, he felt a gust of wind appear and wrap around him like a smooth blanket as the protective field kicked in. The field would repel attacks to an extent, and it made sense to put it on his armor where it would protect his body.
"And for our weapons?"
"Lighting disc to the hatchet. Fire to the knife."
"Good. I like that idea.' The man said as Jaune applied the discs the weapons shimmer causing Whitley to stir in the process. "Don't wake him."
"I won't."
"Be careful."
"I am," Jaune said a bit tensely as he sighed looking at the other disc.
"Are we going to using those?"
"On what?"
"I suggest we put ice on Crocea Mors."
"No. I don't' want to use that so soon."
"Then how about ice on the shield?"
"That... that's a good idea." Jaune said as he applied the final disc to his shield as it began to glow a light icy blue. Icy whips left the shield as a low chill filled the air. "NR!" Whitley groaned still wrapped up in his bed.
"Well let him rest. He needs it."
"He's skinny."
"Far too skinny."
"He's young," Jaune said as he sighed. He needs to go the time was now. Roman told him not to bare his fangs but honestly? With the fall potentially canceled he had no reason not to. "Are we taking the gun?"
"I am."
"What ammunition?"
"Incendiary."
"Excellent. Let's show the Arslan what we are made of."
"Yes. Let's."
"Jaune Vesparax!" Port yelled as Jaune walked into the open Vytal arena. A roar from the crowd greeted him as he walked onto a thankfully plain arena floor.
"What the hell happened to you!?" Jaune's opponent said as he sighed.
"Is it that obvious?" Jaune asked the tall, dark-skinned girl in red robes and a melee stance.
"Hell yeah! What the hell happened man?" Arslan asked blonde hair shaking a look of genuine worry in her eyes.
"Long night contemplating suicide."
"What?!"
"It happens to the best of us," Jaune said as the woman balked her cerulean eyes just like his going wide as-
"BEGIN!" Port said as Jaune wasted no time. He gave Arsalan credit she tried. Bang! His rifle fired taking her in the head, she was still too shocked at his appearance to notice him draw the weapon. The incendiary rounds hit her square in the face even if aura blocked the resulting explosion did not leave her standing.
"AHH!" She screamed as fire covered her face her hair catching light as Jaune fired again. He unloaded half his magazine into her catching the girl on fire making her scream.
"OHO! Jaune is off to a great start!"
"Incendiary munitions!? Where did he get those! They are not made in Vale or Atlas!"
"Does it matter Doctor he's winning!" Port yelled as Jaune grinned. The teen fell back before screaming, slamming her fists together before smashing down on the ground.
"She's pissed." The man said as Jaune lost his footing. Arslan sent out a shockwave on the ground knocking him back as she lunged forward. The girl still half-blinded rushed forward her fists out as she almost gutted him. Jaune rolled into the punch taking his knife and stabbing her into the throat.
Arslan gagged! The blade sparking as soon as it made contact with her neck. The girl's flesh split as flames spread across her throat as she stumbled forward.
"Oho!? Fire based weaponry!? That is what I am talking about!" "Fire-based? How? Is that a semblance? How is the flame coming out of the sword!?" Oobleck asked as the girl stumbled Jaune raised his rifle firing ten more times Arslan's aura dropped into the deep orange as she spun like a viper.
"Look out!" The man yelled as the girl actually landed a punch. Jaune winced in pain his body became engulfed in a green blast of wind pressure as his disc deflected the damage his aura down by twenty as a fist slammed into his knees bringing him down to one knee.
"ASSHOLE!" Arslan yelled raising a fist to Jaune as-
"Block!" The man yelled as Jaune did just that, he raised his arm as his shield popped out. Arslan's fist slammed into the shield as a wave of ice flew out.
The girl let out a shriek as her arm was literally frozen solid. The girl's eyes still half blind widen in fear as Jaune got up drawing his pistol shooting her five times in the head and knocking her back as a loud buzzer rang.
"Winner! Jaune Vesparax! Another victory for Vale!" Port yelled as the crowd roared.
"Almost perfect you know?"
"Almost Jaune, almost. You need to do better you almost looked sloppy."
"Neo, you can look at me you know? Neo? Neo come on." Roman said looking at his best friend who had after a brief and wild hug had refused to look at him since. Stand a silent guard at the infirmary door as Roman sighed. Neo had refused to look at him. The small woman standing five feet away precisely. The maximum distance she could be while still being in an effective protection range.
She could respond to danger, but she was not looking him in the eye. She blamed herself for what happened, and Roman was not having any luck in changing her mind on that matter. "Neo. Neo. NEO!" Roman shouted from his cot the woman sniffled making soft sobbing sounds as he sighed.
"Fine. Be like that. I would kill for some water-
Roman didn't finish his words, a glass of water in his mouth as Neo bleary tear streaked eyes no longer looked flawless and predatory as-
Touching Neo was always a risky proposition. Neo was a creature of habit, and if you touched her without permission, you were likely to lose that limb. "Neo stop! You did nothing wrong ok?!" Roman asked pulling the struggling woman who could if she felt so entitled to snap his arm in two with barely a gesture.
"NO! No, I messed up!" Neo signed as-
"Neo. It was not your fault! Neo-
"Home."
"What?"
"Home. You give me a home. A place a purpose. And I protect you that's our deal."
"Neo-
"And I failed! I failed to protect you! I-
"No don't think like that we all make mistakes about this you know?"
"Not me, I don't get to make mistakes Roman. Least of all when they involve you." Neo sighed as she actually pulled away and left the room.
"Oh fuck me I-
"I will talk to her." A voice that burned sid as Cinder came in with a small tray with a glass of water and two slices of meat on it.
"Cinder?"
"Eat Roman. Our plans have been... disrupted. Eat well I must make amends and talk to a damn dumb bull."
"Jaune! You were so cool!"
"Thanks, Whitley."
"I mean it! You kicked her ass!"
"Whitley! Language!"
"Sorry, Pyrrha..."
"He's eighteen, not ten Pyr. He can curse if he wants.'
"Jaune! That's a bad habit!"
"It's fine," Jaune said his partner who was less terrified of his mental state though still nowhere close enough to start an argument backed off with a heavy sigh. The Spartan dressed in her pink nightgown rolled her eyes after a quick glance decided not to speak as she got into her bed.
"Night Jaune... about tomorrow..."
"I hope I see you there," Jaune said with a grin. He was in the running for Vytal finals actually. So far he needed to beat a girl called Ciel? For the match then if he won and Pyrrha would, he would soon fight Pyrrha herself...
"You can beat her. Both of them."
"I know."
"Get some rest we will need it." The man said as Jaune nodded as he bid Ren who was hell-bent to know how he made his weapon go elemental he was almost as bad as Ruby. Almost. He bid Nora and him goodnight as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Sleep did not come for Jaune as-
THUD!
"OW!" Jaune yelped he hit something solid, his eyes fluttered open as he looked down to a swirling mass of white as he saw a floor that was not a floor under him as-
"No way, it can't-
"THERE YOU ARE!" A far, far too familiar voice said as Jaune spun around she was there.
Standing at barely over four teal pink eyes, the burned purple hellfire, silver hair, purple tail, and cowboy boots was Mink.
"Mink!? What are you doing here?!"
"What am I doing here?! Where have you been!? Do you know how long-
Mink paused sniffing the air as-
"Fleshbag you smell like death?"
"What?"
"You smell like death!"
"I showered-
"No, you fool like death! Death! Like a Grim... reaper..." Mink paused her eyes going wide as she shook her head.
"No way," Mink said legs shaking as-
"Yes, way Mink! I found the grim reaper! And they are on my side!"
"You idiot! Do you think they are helping you!?" Mink shouted with rage in her voice as-
"They are doing a better job than you! They hacked your gamer-
"They WHAT!?" Mink shouted flames jetting out from her eyes as she began to sweat.
"No, no, no, no, no, no! That can't be! They can't-
"They did Mink. I don't need your help anymore."
"Jaune, please! We can work this out! I-
"No. I'm with the Grim Reaper now. I don't need you, Mink."
"I... FUCK ME! Fuck you! I don't need your help flesh bag! If you and he want to be fucking buddies go ahead! See what I care!"
"I will! And it's a she! Not he!" Jaune said as-
'What did you just say?"
"I said she! Is helping me and-
"Wait. Wait! PAUSE! You said she is helping you? Not he?"
"Yes, why?"
"I.. what is your reapers name?" Mink asked eyes blinking rapidly as-
"Bella-
"Bella?! You mean Belladrux Cardinal!? Is that who you are working with!?"
"Yes, who? what's the matter with-
"OH MY GOD! I can't! I fucking can't!" Mink said as she began to laugh, long, arduous sounds filled the walls that were not walls with manic glee.
"Mink? What are you-
"Bella! Fucking Belladrux Cardinal?! How?! How did that happen!? No way!? Of all the fucking things to work with you picked her! Are you insane!?"
"No! She's my friend-
"Friend!? A grim reaper is not your friend Jaune!"
"She's more than you!"
"I'm not your friend! I'm your contract holder! Oh my god, I love this! I can't wait to go see her!"
"See her?"
"Oh yeah Jaune me and you are going to pay Bella a visit!"
Belladrux Cardinal was not having a good day. First of all, Jaune was late! For some reason that was strange enough and now-
"MY REALM!" The reaper shouted as the walls to her ram split open, purple lightning followed by a million gibbering voices came into her realm as two figures slammed into the grassy hills one mortal one, not as the walls closed themselves up as-
"OH! Bella!"
"That Voice? MinK!? IS that you!?"
"Bella! We need to TALK!"
"Mink!?" Bella shouted her eyes blinking owlishly as Mink!? The minor demon who Bella had come to know in some ways and come to dislike in ways that she did not even begin to have the articulation ability to describe.
"Bella!"
"Jaune!?" Bella shouted as Jaune?! Her human came with the demon it tow as-
"Bella-
"Mink! Get out of my Realm!" The reaper yelled her eyes suddenly glowing a deep blood red as Mink gulped.
"Hey! Hey! Don't be like that! We are all friends here!"
"Friends!? You are a parasite! You leach of the life of other creatures! GET OUT!" Bella shouted as Mink sighed.
"See what I have to deal with?"
"Bella! I could use some help!"
"Help? Look, kid, I'm here to help you! Bella is using you-
"AH!" Mink squealed as black hands!? Shot up from the floor latching onto her sides and forcing her down. Holding her on the grass as Bella snapped her fingers.
The demon was forced down into the grass, her tiny body squirming as Jaune paused.
"Bella!? You can overpower her?'
"Of course Jaune. I am a grim reaper! She is just a demon. A lowly crossroads demon at that." Bella snarled stalking over to the downed thing as she snapped her fingers a massive scythe appeared from behind her. The large blade made Ruby's look like a scalpel in comparison. Bella's scythe looked impossibly large in her tiny hands and glittered in the odd sunlight as she began to walk forward to the downed demon.
"Bella? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to end the threat Jaune. I'm going to kill her." Bella said as Mink began to scream, a black hand clamped on her mouth as Bella started to swing her scythe.
"Kill her? Is that necessary?" Jaune asked some feeling of guilt coming from inside of him. Jaune was no fan of Mink. Not that he should be, Mink had caused him so many problems in his life her death should be a relief, should.
As the reaper walked up swinging her scythe with a master precision, moving up to the downed demon. Jaune felt a pang of guilt. He was no fan of executions. Not even to his enemies. But this was one that needed to happen.
"Just look away." Jaune thought turning away from Mink as-
"Jaune! Cardin! Ask Bella about Cardin!" Mink suddenly shouted breaking out of her gag as-
"What? Cardin?"
"NO! Shut up demon! Jaune don't listen to her-
"Ask her about Pyrrha! And Cardin! Ask MPHH!" Mink was muffled by Bella's black hands as she sighed.
"Pathetic last words of a deadly parasite," Bella said raising her scythe as-
"Jaune! She's lying to you! She's using you! Don't let her!"
"I'm not using him!"
"Mink she's helping me! She hacked the gamer! She changed stats-
"NO, she didn't'! She didn't' change anything! Jaune as your contractor! Bella can not do that! She can not change anyone skills! Look! I'm telling the truth my chest!"
"You chest? Demon what are you-
"Her chest... Mink can't lie to me." Jaune said eyes opening as Bella paused a flinch coming in her back as-
"Jaune you know demons lie-
"No! Not on this! She can't lie to me about the Gamer! We have a deal! A contract! Mink! Can you change someone's stats?"
"NO! Not without you doing something! You can't just hack them!"
Mink said as to Jaune's horror to green x appeared on her chest?! She was telling the truth?
"Jaune do not listen! I-
"Bella. Can you change stats?"
"I can!"
"She can't!"
"Silence! I'll kill you here and now!" She said raising her scythe as-
Jaune blocked her standing in front of Mink in a T pose. Protecting the demon as-
"Jaune!?"
"Mink! Tell me here and now what is Bella hiding?"
"She's a grim reaper! She can't alter stats! If she said she changed any stats, she's lying!"
"Jaune!"
"But Pyrrha changed! I saw it!"
"Yes she did, but her stats are still there!"
"Then why is she acting so different?!"
"Because she was not getting rid of them she was just altering them!" Mink said as Jaune froze. "What?"
"She can't get rid of a trait! She just swaps them out! You think she got rid of Pyrrha's traits!? Hell no! She swapped them with someone else! You can't get rid of traits Jaune! She gave them to someone else!"
"That means-
"Fucking Cardin! He's been getting fucking raped and beaten by his teammates all night! Because of her!" Mink shouted her chest showed no green X as-
"Bella? Is that true?"
"I! Fuck me. Yes! It's true! I swapped Pyrrha's more fucking terrifying traits with Cardin's teammates. Yes, he's being beaten and raped at night. Yes, he hates it but fuck him right?"
"What!? Bella!? That's a person!"
"So what!? He's an asshole in almost every! Other fucking universe! Why do you care?"
"He's being beaten and raped! I don't want to be beaten and raped!"
"And you are not! He is! Isn't that good?"
"NO!"
"But you are fine right?"
"Bella... he's being raped? Is... is that true?"
"It's him or you Jaune! Life is not pretty! You have to break some eggs to make an omelet! Do you want to be raped or do you want Cardin to be? Because you can't save both of you!" "I can! Even if I couldn't Mink! I would never let someone get raped. That's... that's not ok... Not now not ever."
"I know that! Don't tell me! Tell the fucking grim reaper!"
"Shut up demon!"
"Bella. I came to you as a desperate man. You saved my friend's life. And I owe you. But I don't want to have to make someone get raped." "Jaune. You are sweet and-
"What!? She saved your friend's life!? Bella! You can't!" Mink shouted as Bella froze.
"What the hell? She can't save a life?"
"No way! Jaune she's a grim reaper! She cant' save a life! That goes against her rule! If she did... holy shit! Bella!? You broke the oath!?"
"What!? No! I didn't do that!"
"The oath? What's that?"
"Jaune! Did Bella save your friends lives!?"
"She did but-
"Oh my god! Bella, you can be killed for that!"
"I know, and they can disassemble you for what you did"
"Disassemble her for what?"
"She's a demon Jaune! She is a weak daemon! She is not supposed to make a gamer! The fact that she did is suspect, but she didn't make her gamer right!"
"Didn't make it right?"
"Yes! Have you noticed any bugs? Stats displayed wrong or not matching?"
"Yes, I thought that was just a bug in the gamer-
"That's the issue! There can be no bugs! You either do a gamer right, or you don't do it!"
"I'm so confused."
"She's messed up!"
"She is lying to you!"
"Did not!"
"Are not!"
"QUIET! Both of you! Now both of you tell me exactly what happened and start at the beginning."
"I don't believe this," Jaune said shaking his head, both women held their faces down. Bella hiding her crimson eyes behind her black-red hair. And Mink still face down in the grass not looking up. Both of them refusing to meet his eyes. "So let me get this straight. You. Mink, you made a buggy Gamer?"
"Yes.. yes I did."
"And if the other daemons find out you did you could be killed?"
"Disassembled, but that's worse."
"Ok... and you Bella."
"Yes?"
"You lied to me to get me to work with you instead of Mink."
"I didn't lie! I just... altered the truth?"
"Bella..."
"Sorry."
"You are also a reaper that can't kill? Seriously? Isn't that what you do? Kill people?"
"That's what I said! A grim reaper that can't kill!? What kind of sense does that make!?"
"Hey!"
"None at all but that is beside the point. You are a demon that can not code either. Both of your asses are on the line here from where I'm standing." Jaune said as the girls looked away not meeting his eyes as he sighed. "Why don't you want to kill people Bella?"
"It's that I don't want to!"
"Then what is it?"
"I can't!"
"Can't or won't?"
"Both! I know the cycle is important life and death and all that stuff! But when I look at a mortal, I just can't! They are so precious! I can't bring myself to kill them! That's why..."
"That is why you brought me. So I could kill for you? You want me to do your dirty work?"
"I! Yes..."
"Dammit. I thought I could trust you!"
"You can! I never lied! That much!" " A lie is a lie Bel. But that's not the problem. What did Mink mean when my friends are slotted to die?"
"Heh! Tell him, Bel!"
"Mink." Jaune shot her a warning glare as he gulped.
"Sorry."
"Bella?"
"They are going to die! All of them! Well, not all but half! Half of all your friends have to die in four years!"
"Why?"
"It's part of the universe! The fall happens Pyrrha has to die!"
"Pyrrha?! Why?"
"It's destiny! If you don't kill Pyrrha Jaune, then a full half of your friends will die at a minimum!"
"I... that can't be."
"It isn't'!"
"Mink? Something you want to add?"
"Yes! They don't have to die! Strictly speaking, that is."
"Strictly speaking? The hell does that mean?"
"It means that their deaths are not hard locked Jaune. They are supposed to die for balance."
"Balance?"
"If they live there will be countless deaths in the future. A small number of people will die so a far greater number will live. Doesn't that make sense?"
"Yes it does, but I will not let my friends die."
"But! The future!"
"I do not owe the future anything. I or he owes his friends. I will save them consequences be damned."
"Hell yeah, Jaune! Kick ass!"
"But! We, all three of us need to make a deal here and now."
"A deal?"
"A deal?! Let me get my soul paper."
"Not that kind of deal! Mutual agreement. Mink. You don't care if I win or lose the gamer right?"
"I want you to die but no. I'm good either way."
"So my success or failure is not a problem for you?"
"Nope. Not at all!"
"Good. Bella. You just want me to kill right?"
"I have quotas... if you could do that, I would be much appreciated."
"Ok. Here is what we. All of us are going to do. I'm going to win the gamer. To do that I need help. Bella you will keep me safe, and in return, I will kill people for you."
"Ok! I can do that!"
"Mink."
"Yes?"
"You will tell me all that you know about the gamer. In's and outs. Leave nothing out."
"And why-
"Bella still has her scythe."
"And I do not like you."
"Ok! Ok! Testy aren't we?"
"You will show me optimal load outs and skills to win. No more tricks. And both of you! Will not hamper the other! We all stand something to lose her by fighting but! We have nothing to lose by working together. We have everything to gain! If we can put aside our differences, we can all make it out of this ok? Can we all agree to that?"
"I can... if not a bit reluctantly speaking."
"Sure. Why not? I'm not gonna be in more trouble for helping you. I'm in."
"Good. We are all in agreement. I win the gamer. I kill for Bella you and Mink don't kill each other, and we all walk away happy correct?"
"Fine."
"Got it!"
"Good. Now Bella can you please let Mink up? I think she needs to go back to her home?"
"Fine!"
"Yeah get me up, Bella!" Mink sneered as Bella sighed walking over to Mink and yanking. Back on her tail pulling it with full force making the thing moan?
Jaune paused a low throaty moan left Mink's mouth as she squirmed uncomfortably in her bonds.
"Hey! Haaa- hands off the tail!" Mink said face blushing as Bella snapped her fingers and her hands disappeared. "Mink get up," Bella said as the demoness growled at her.
"Fucking reapers. Think you are so much better than us because you are official!" Mink said using air quotes. Bella sighed walking away from her as-
"Don't let her get to you Jaune. She's not that great." Bella said as Jaune paused.
"She's not that great?"
"She is the literal bottom tier of the demons Jaune. The social pariah that is only getting the time of day because she has a gamer. Something that she should not have!"
"Hey! I try..."
"I fucking know that. You try and screw it up for hard working reapers like myself! And my grandfather!"
"Grandfather?"
"Her grandfather is the real grim reaper. The big bad! The first one! That's why she's allowed to be so terrible and not get fired!"
"Your grandfather is death? Like death?"
"He sure is!"
"Grimm reapers have kids?"
"They do, why?"
"I... I find it weird that the things proposed with killing and apparently cannot save lives reproduce."
"That's what we say! And they think they are so mighty!"
"Hey! We need to keep the balance! And when things like you keep mucking it up, we need to make more!"
"BS!"
"It's not!"
"Stop! All of you, just calm down. I need to go back to Vale. About Vytal-
"Don't worry I got that," Mink said waving her hand at Jaune.
"Mink..."
"I'll make Ciel slip up. She won't even get to fight you."
"Ok, that means I only fight Pyrrha."
"And you will beat her. I'll make sure."
"Ok. Bella anything we don't know?"
"Not that I am aware of. If anything abnormal happens, I'll let you both know." She said glaring at Mink who nodded.
"Good. Now is there anything about the Gamer that I should know before I leave?" "Mink?"
"Well... I got nothing for you."
"Mink..."
"I don't! The Gamer is going right along! As long as you don't die you are good. And I have nothing to gain by betraying you, or at least I can't think of anything that I will gain."
"What about Dagon?"
"She thinks you are lost to the empyrean. I'll keep her like that.
"Ok. Bella?"
"On my end? Nothing. You are fine."
"Is he? Jaune you ok with Cardin getting..."
"Raped every night? Not at all. But... Bella is right... I can't legitimately save him at this moment. I'll beat the season first then I'll work with it. To switch their traits would just send them to someone else spreading the problem."
"I thought you would save your friend no matter the cost?"
"Life is not so fair Mink."
"Why do you care? You are a demon! And a shitty one at that." Bella spat as Mink growl purple energy flowing into her hands.
"Hey! Take that back! I'm not shitty!"
"Oh really? Jaune you do know Mink is a lust demon right?"
"From the seventh realm of pleasure?"
"She is! She the embodiment of lust and pleasure is somehow still a virgin." Jaune almost spat.
"What!?"
"Bella! You said you would never tell anyone that! You promised!"
"And you said that you would stop bursting into my damn realm!"
"That's not fair!"
"What? You being the only! Demon to not have the confidence to fuck or the fact that you are literally one step from being disassembled on a good day?"
"You don't get it! I work hard! Every damn day to be good! But it never works out for me!"
"Because you are weak!"
"So what!? I'm weak, but I won't always be that way!"
"You said that there thousand years ago! Look at you! Still weak! Still groveling! And still a parasite!"
"I have a gamer!"
"A bad one! You will be killed the moment this is found out!"
"If!"
"If? Jaune would have to either win, or you would have to be the luckiest demon in history for that to work out."
"Mink. Bella. Calm. Down."
"She keeps insulting me!"
"I-
"Enough! Be calm. I want you both to get along. Bella do not antagonize her."
"Fine!"
"Mink.." Jaune paused, he was unsure of what to do. For the first time in a long time, he saw Mink scared. Like she was vulnerable... like she was not an all-powerful demon, she was evil yes cruel, but she was oddly human...
"Jaune. If you ever see someone in need of help you have to help them." His mother's words rang into his ear as Jaune did something he thought impossible.
"Mink... I know this may sound strange but don't give up."
"What?"
"I mean... don't quit. You want respect right?"
"More than anything."
"You want to feel like you belong like you are not just a waste of space right?'
"I do, that's all I ever want."
"So don't quit. I know... I know what it feels like to be worthless. To have others look down on you. To try your hardest time and time again and fail every time. But you can't give up. Not now. Don't stop trying and you can be the best demon there ever was."
"I.. you really think that?"
"No, I know that. Never give up, keep working and you can, no you will succeed." Jaune said through gritted teeth as Mink paused. Her unique purple eyes locking onto Jaune as she paused.
"I... thank you Jaune. I'll remember that."
"Yeah! Yeah! Be sappy later on! Jaune get moving!"
Bella her attitude now a bit pissed off said as Jaune sighed.
"Don't worry Mink just work hard. You'll be better soon. And you might even get a date." Jaune said as Mink paused again cocked her head and grinned.
"Don't pity me, mortal, I might be experienced, but I will steal your breath away," Mink said as Jaune frowned. Mink... she looked like a child. He was not into kids and-
"Is my physical form displeasing? I can change it you know?" Mink said as she snapped her hands. Instantly she was changed. She stood taller easily at Jaunes height, her body tall and muscular. She had grown over double her height and changed... Her chest was massive, almost at Yangs level and her body had a perfect symmetry so balanced and maintained that it was impossible to describe as anything but lustful, wide hips, perfect mocha colored skin as-
"Don't get any funny ideas, Mortal. You have tried to break me before, not even a bull faunus version of you can do that you know? Not that they have not tried to." Mink teased as-
"OK! No dream for you tonight Jaune, keep your tail out of my face demon. Since Mink brought you here so she can send you home."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah you are good and hell I'll buy you a day." Mink offered as Jaune squinted.
"An extra day?"
"Some uppity mortal fucked with my hold over you. That's why your boy is hot shit right now. She broke an emotional seal that I put in you by secret."
"I thought you got rid of that shit Bella!"
"I missed one!?"
"Either way! It's gone, and your boy has a lot of pent-up trauma to deal with. So to compensate, I can make the Vytal festival be delayed a day."
"How can you do that?"
"You'll just have to find out my friend."
Love was not a natural emotion for Jaune to process.
"Neo!" Jaune shouted as his shuddered, the woman lover, friend, confidant of him was not in a good mood recently. Mainly due to Roman's injury and needed some release. Release she took out on Jaune by fucking him three ways from sundown. Neo had a lot of tension in her, and she made sure to take I out on Jaune's abused crotch, and face again, again, and again.
"Are you feeling ok!?" Jaune asked his voice heavy and panting as he fought to stay conscious. Neo had been determined to take out an entire life of frustration on Jaune, and she had not been gentle.
"Are you ok?" The man who had the good grace to not look at Jaune being ridden into the afterlife, the boy groaned.
"I can't feel my dick."
"That means I did my job well." Neo thought as she fell on his chest and cuddling. Jaune groaned Neo was light, but still, his pelvis had seen better days and her inhuman tightness that clenched him length like an industrial vice was not helping in the slightest. "Neo, have you ever tried talking-
"Shhh. No talking just let me fuck you ok?" Neo thought her head cuddled into Jaunes neck as he sighed.
She should actually talk to Roman. Not just let him be. Roman was her boss and Jaune's friend, he deserved her to be at his side. Or friend was a loose word but still. Roman was... helpful? Sometimes? And antagonistic if downright hostile at others?
"Why am I worried about him?"
"Anyone you shed blood with will be your brother." The man said as Jaune rolled his eyes before a thought popped into his head. "Neo can I ask you a question?"
"Only if it is a good one."
"Why did you never try to mark me?" Jaune asked as Neo perked up her multi-colored eyes that stole his breath blinked in curiosity as she giggled.
"You never asked, and it is in bad taste to mark an unwilling male. Plus you have enough marks as is." She said pointing to the fire symbol on his neck and the odd heart on his chest.
"Do you have a marker? I'm curious?"
"Sure do!" Neo said as she reached behind her couch? As she pulled out what could only be called a large stamp. Like the one, you used to file papers.
"That's it?"
"Yup! It has a special kind of ink that never runs out! Once I stamp you with this, your body will forever say Property of Neopolitan!"
"Is that all it can say? Or can you change the letters?" Jaune asked cocking his head at the strange device as Neo nodded.
"I can change the letters to whatever I want. Why?"
"I was just wondering," Jaune said as-
"Jaune... what are you planning?' The man asked as he saw a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Jaune's blue eyes shot wide, with a fire that had only recently as the day before left him entirely. Jaune was back in the world of the living. He was back in the fight and-
"Jaune." The man asked while Jaune grinned. "What are you suggesting?" Neo asked the distraction from her failure of Roman ignored as Jaune began to whisper into her heart.
"Oh? Do you want to take me? I normally don't let men get to be in charge but for you? I'll make an exception." Neo thought as Jaune grinned and said something into her ear.
"Jaune, I know that look. Men get it when they are about to make a terrible decision." Neo got up, the removal of her sex from Jaune's let a messy plop! Fill the air, Jaune groaned his freed bruised member still stood at attention the benefit of aura and Neo's pills that she kept for emergencies in full effect.
The small woman bounded forward going over to a long brown table, winking at Jaune before bending over, spreading her recently used sex that bubbled with fresh hot discharge. Neo pulled her sex apart showing off her still perfect pink folds as hot ropes of white release hit her carpet.
"Come and get me, tiger." Neo signed as she giggled. The boy she was going to make hers stood up, eying her perfect heart shaped posterior hung in the air as she swung it enticingly at him. Jaune rose up walking over to her running a hand over her perfect rear end. Noticing how just how soft it was. He took both hands and sunk them into the perfect marshmallowy cheeks of his love. Neo winked at him as Jaune gulped.
"So I can fuck you however I want?"
"Do you best Jaune. Let's see what you can do." Neo thought as Jaune looked down at her winking sex inviting him inside, where she would milk him drink. His dick still covered in her juices begged him not to do it. It was already bruised enough, another journey into her vice like honeypot would not end well for him. "Jaune..." The man asked as his blue eyes narrowed onto her rear, he spread her cheeks as he glared down at her puckered starfish, a thought spread into his mind as Jaune grinned.
"As you say," Jaune said as it one smooth motion he pulled his hips back and-
Neo screamed. That was the only word the man could use to describe. The small woman who had used his charge for stress relief. No matter how much emotion she wormed into him let out a literal shout from her mute voice.
Jaune in his wisdom had decided to not use common sense he jammed his cock into the mute's puckered starfish making her moan. Jaune felt the woman shake, her small form shuddering like a live wire was placed inside on her.
"Jaune!? What are you doing!?" Neo thought her head turning around tears in her eyes as she began to shake. "I'm fucking you just like you asked me to," Jaune said as he pulled back a hand and whack! Jaune spanked Neo making her already impossibly tight another hole clenched down like a press. Neo let out a long moan before Jaune yanked his cock half form her as making her give enough silent yelp!
Before he slammed it back inside of her.
Smack!
"Jaune! Wrong hole!" Neo thought her legs shaking and buckling as Jaune began to really fuck her.
"This will not end well." The man said as Jaune began to thrust.
Jaune had no idea what he was talking about this was going great!
Smack! Smack! The massive hard smacking sounds of flesh on flesh filled the air as Jaune slammed his cock into Neo's until very recently virgin ass.
The mute woman was a mess. Her voice let out a short high pitched squeal as she came again and again. Her body was wracked with so many orgasms that Jaune had long since stopped hearing coherent thoughts from her allowing him to focus on ruining her back door.
Neo squealed her body shaking and shuddering her hole clamping down on Jaune as he clapped her ass. Whack! Jaune spanked Neo for the at least tenth time that day. Both of her once perfect milky cheeks were now the color of Ruby's cape. Neo moaned tossing her hips back into his own unconsciously, his hand mauling her soft cheeks as he fucked her.
Smack! Smack! The rough smacking sounds filled the air as Jaune ruined her! "Neo!" Jaune hissed as he came. His dick throbbed as moaned, one last orgasm filled the woman body before her legs already shaking lost the power in them and she collapsed face first on the floor. Jaune's cock yanked out of her ruined starfish that popped! Fresh seed spilling out as Neo hit the floor a drooling fucked stupid mess and-
"Jaune whatever you are thinking rethink it. NOW." The man said as Jaune grinned.
"I don't think so."
"Jaune what are you doing?" The man asked as Jaune still naked walked over to the couch where he picked up Neo's stamp.
"Jaune... what are you doing with that?"
"Oh, just a little payback."
"Jaune revenge is never the answer." The man said as Jaune hummed standing over Neo's prone fucked senseless form adjusting the letters on the stamp.
"Jaune that stamp in permanent. Whatever you are about to do it will not be undone."
"Good. That's the plan." Jaune said as he finished his adjustments. "There we go."
"Jaune don't-
"Too late," Jaune said as he slammed his stamp down.
Cachink! The stamp made firm contact with Neo's pulp peach making her stir in her temporary knocked out form. Jaune plunged the stamp onto her ass sinking into her flesh as the man sighed.
"Oh dear, this won't end well." He said as Jaune with great effort removed the stamp from Neo's once flawless perfect peach now read Property Of Jaune Arc.
"Not Vesparax?"
"Wouldn't fit."
"The limit's of technology."
"Right?" Jaune asked as he got dressed.
Later on, as Jaune walked out of Neo's apartment, he had a bad feeling about today. As it dawned on him that he just fucked Neo into a coma. Stole a virginity from her without asking and left her ass with a permanent stamp marking her as his property...
Jaune sighed once the boy had a tutor session with Glynda, Oobleck recommended that he see her tonight to help with paperwork. Something about her being good with boys? Jaune shrugged cracking his hands before shuddering a cold wave of fear came over him as he suddenly had a feeling that he had made a terrible, horrible, irrevocable mistake, that was going to bit him in the ass in more ways than one
Whitley Schnee was liking Vale. "Another one!"
The boy slurred as he sat on the bar of a popular bar. The young Schnee genuinely loved the outside world as the bartender a woman in her forties nodded.
"Coming right up!"
"Thank you! hic!" Whitley hicked as she grinned. He loved alcohol! He could see what Qrow drank it so much! It made you warm, on the inside and full of confidence! Whitley was also wondering why Weiss, Winter, and when she was still around his mother warned him about women? They were so nice! Every since Whitley left to investigate Vale the day before Vytal's finale every woman he met was so lovely to him! They bought him drinks! They paid for his food!? Was this just Vale or were women just naturally generous?
"Here you go, kid! Cocktail!" The barwoman said as Whitley frowned, a tall green drink in a crystal gall loomed in front of him.
"I didn't order this," Whitley said his voice light and fluffy just like his sister's hair! Oh, he liked his sister's hair! He hoped she got her rapier back he gave it to Ren...
"It's from the women over there. I think she wants you to come over." The woman said with a wink as Whitley turned in his seat. As Whitley, inebriated eyes roamed the bar ignoring the day drinkers he saw her. Whitley felt his heartthrob! In his chest. There in front of him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And he meant the word woman.
She was mature, older than Winter easily in her early thirties. Her skin was dark like fresh dirt and had a healthy tan to it. Her hair was pitch black like his sister's friend Blake. Her eyes a cocky yellow. She was dressed in luxurious, loose red robes that did nothing at all to hide her perfect body. '
This was a grown adult, not the teens he was engaged to, his mouth fell as he looked at the perfect, in his mind figure that reeked of equal parts beauty and grace, but what caught his attention was her ears. She had six earrings on. Large one set on each pair of ears. Oh! This woman as a faunus. A cat of some kind and-
Waved? She cupped her hand forward her black dagger-like claws enticing him to come hither as Whitley blushed.
"Is she talking to me?"
"I think she wants you to come over." The barwoman said as Whitley gulped.
"You think so?"
"The way she is eyeing you down? I know so. Good luck kid!" She laughed as the boy gulped and nodded. Finishing his beer that he was too young to order and picking up his cocktail before making slow, shaky steps to the faunus beauty. After an impossible amount of time, Whitley made it to her where she scooted over to let him in.
"Sit please." Her voice was creamy like a spring breeze and made Whitley's heart flutter. Her accent was as exotic as her look, and Whitley could not place it for the life of him! Mistrali? Vacuo?
"Hello there hic! I am-
"You are Whitley Schnee. I know who you are, and you are adorable." The woman said running a clawed hand down his arm making his cheeks heat up.
"Mam!? I didn't know your name and-
"My, my how rude of me. I don't want to upset my little Schnee now do I?" the woman purred making Whitley flush as he tried to look as small as possible as he began to feel like a mouse caught by a tiger.
"Your little Schnee!?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you who I am boy? My name is Sienna Khan. Now let's talk."
"Sieena? I know that name."
"Of course you do now down to more important ideas. Can I buy you another drink?"
"Glynda..." The irritated voice of Opal said as her second flushed.
"I'm sorry! Sorry!"
"The room is a mess."
"There is syrup on the ceiling."
"Your room is usually better than this."
"I had a lot to drink!"
"I can tell," Opal said as she eyed the many empty wine bottles that littered the floor. Glynda's room was a mess. A rare sight no doubt. Glynda's personal quarters were usually spick and span without a crumb around them but now? Now it looked like Pretoria had had another Grimm fight in it. The walls were covered in sticky brown syrup, the stove was filled with running pancake batter. There were footprints on the walls, the floor, and even the ceiling!? The floor was littered with empty wine bottles that explained the groan from Glynda as she rubbed her head. The smell of hard wine and burned bread filled the air making Opal gag as-
"Good lord! You must have drunk the Beacon cellar dry! Good show Glynda! I knew you had some spirit in you!"
"Pretoria, please-
"Is someone here?" Oobleck asked as the sound of a flushing toilet filled the teachers' ears. Today was a staff meeting and the exception of Roman and Neo both in their own quarters in the school, Roman who was looking a bit wane and Neo not leaving his side all of Beacon's somewhat limited staff was here in one small room that looked terrible.
"Not that I know."
"An intruder? Good show! Let's give them what for-
Port froze mid-speech as a blonde boy in a towel walked out and-
"Miss Goodwitch?"
"Jaune!?"
"Mister Arc!?"
They screamed as Jaune stood half-naked in a towel and Opal grinned.
AN: There we go! The second to last chapter before the hiatus! Mink Jaune and Bella are allies. Jaune has got his groove back! Neo is stamped. That might have been a bad decision tbh. Raven is down, Yang lost her arm. And now the end... The next Chapter has Cinder carefully explain her plan to Jaune. And Jaune has to make a choice. Cinder or Beacon? And well. He makes the best choice possible. Until next time! Lovestruck! And before that? Omake.
Demonomicon. Entry one Mink. Mink is like all demons a being made up of energy that can have a malleable physical form. Mink like all demons can shapeshift at will but must have her tail free at all times. Mink's tail like that of all demons is a complete erogenous zone and if pulled or subject to any outside stimuli will cause a debilitating pleasured reaction. Most demon's have hard tails to prevetn this but since Mink is a weak demon her tail is soft and malleable...
Stat change. Jaune Arc. Trait gained Cocky. You are now more prone to take risks and be agressive in social situations.
Omake. Darkest Remnant part 23 Calm
"AHHH!" Jaune screamed as a blade fell. The sound so squelching flesh filled the air as metal met flesh. There was a terrible sound of torn matter before a scream filled the air. A terrible unearthly scream entered the air shaking Oscar to the core as the final node fell. Jaune panted sighing his body bloody and exhausted. His legendary armor dented and torn caked in flesh and guts.
The final hours of the day were torture. Jaune, Pyrrha, Wat's and Ruby had descended into the bowels of the Darkest Dungeon. Looking for the locust Beacon. Once they found that the final battle could begin in earnest.
"Jaune!?"
"Ruby! I'm fine! I'm ok!" Jaune said falling on his knee, the wet squishing sound of flesh being pressed entered Oscar's ears as Jaune fell into the murk like intestine like growths on the floor. The glittering portal that looked like the night sky shone by him as Ruby rushed to his side. Sliding down with a rack of bandages.
"I got you! Just hold on!"
"I will, thanks."
"No problem!"
"Pyrrha? is she-
"She's fine. Wat's is working on her right now. She took a nasty hit from that node."
"I know, I should have-
"You did nothing wrong Jaune. You save her, you saved all of us you know?'
"I... I know... Oscar!"
"Yes!?"
"Are you ok!?"
"Are we?"
"Alive! For now."
"Good! Now that we are all on the up and up let's get the hell out of here. I do not like being almost killed you know?" Wats said a wounded Pyrrha on his side as the Occultist carried the Hellion.
"Hello, Again Oscar."
"Hello Pyrrha, Now everyone! Let's go, this hell has had us for too long."
