Jaune Arc remembered the previous night, the endless waves of Grimm Crocea Mors had felled. Cardin had been at his back, the fellow team leader decimating his own portion of the battlefield. They'd carried on for hours, until they should have been buried in black corpses and red eyes.
But eventually, the larger teen had begun to flag. As soon as Cardin took the first major hit from an Ursa, Jaune had stopped holding back.
While keeping a little something in reserve had been good for letting his new ally keep up with his Grimm-count, he needed to make up for the sudden defecit in firepower.
He'd held the 360 degrees of the circle he mentally drew around the crouching youth, removing heads and limbs when they dared cross the sacrosanct line. His shield had held off Monty only knew how many blows, his armour pieces employed as last-resort deflectors.
It had only taken two minutes for CFVY to arrive and bail them out, but the combat intensity had been high enough to bring Jaune's fatigue to the same level as Cardin's. With final instructions to take them back to their respective dorms, the blonde had passed out for the umpteenth time in recent memory.
That led him to the present moment.
He was lying in his bed, armour and Crocea Mors still with him. Thankfully his aura had taken care of whatever aches sleeping with his equipment would have caused...
But there was every chance that even his God-given 'gift' of nearly unlimited aura reserves might not be enough to heal the wounds this morning might incur.
Upon waking, he had felt a warm presence lying beside him. He had naturally assumed that it was Nora, having had one of her night-time wanders around the dorm. Thus, he had turned on to his side to ask her politely if she would go and bother Ren instead...
It wasn't Nora.
Instead, Jaune found himself face to face with Pyrrha, who had apparently fallen asleep on his bed sometime during the night. Her face was literally centimetres from his own, and he could feel her soft breathing on his face.
If he moved, there was every chance that she would wake up. Jaune's tactical mind had helpfully charted what it believed were her possible responses.
A. Wake up, realise she is in very close proximity to her team leader. Decide said team leader is a pervert/creeper, kill team leader.
B. Wake up, reveal that she intended to fall asleep next to him. Also reveal that this decision was so that she would know when he woke up, so she could kill said team leader for passing out yet again.
His brain was apparently being neither productive nor encouraging this morning.
Thus, Jaune was left with the time until he needed to breathe out in which to make his decision. He ran through all the ways this situation could be solved without bloodshed...and found the one most suited to him.
The plan was to explode into motion, propelling himself off the bed and onto the floor. Then, deploy Crocea Mors and shield-charge through the JNPR door. Once free, run like hell until sufficient distance existed between him and his partner.
No injury, some confusion, massive loss of pride. Most of Jaune's plans in a nutshell.
However, the saying 'no plan survives first contact with the enemy' existed for a reason. That reason was, apparently, for Jaune to remember it clearly when his entire plan fell apart before it even got off the ground. Or off the bed.
The 'explosion of motion' which had formed the basis of his escape attempt was, as it turned out, a mistake. Because he was next to Pyrrha freaking Nikos, and even in her sleep her reaction times made computers feel inferior.
As soon as he tried to catapult himself away, his partner's semi-conscious mind decided that it didn't want to lose its hot water bottle of the past several hours, and implemented counter measures. These counter measures took the form of the red-haired warrior pinning the object to the bed via the application of her full body weight.
Which is to say, she jumped on him.
Normally, having a rather tall and muscular seventeen year old woman fall on you would be a cause for an expulsion of air and a curse word. However, Jaune wasn't the only person who had fallen asleep in his armour.
Having gone from her combat class to spending most of the previous night in RWBY's dorm, and then promptly fallen asleep stroking blonde hair, Jaune's partner hadn't yet changed out of her battle-dress. This became apparent when the combined weight of Pyrrha Nikos and quite a substantial mass of high-quality armour piledrivered the blonde in an attempt to stop him from moving.
This was, needless to say, not conducive to Jaune's plan.
All the air which had been in his lungs was immediately forfeit, and he felt the impact even through his aura. The sound of two armoured surfaces colliding also echoed out through the room, immediately waking Ren, Nora (who was in fact asleep in Pyrrha's bed) and, of course, Pyrrha herself.
Thus, when NPR awoke, they were met with the sight of Jaune's partner apparently attempting to crush her leader. Said leader was frantically trying to breathe, move or, indeed, do anything other than flail wildly.
Now awake, the red-haired warrior came to the realisation that she was lying across her leader. She also came to the realisation that he was dying of asphyxiation, and immediately attempted to get off him.
This was, unfortunately, not the best course of action. Because in attempting to place her hands on either side of her leader's head in order to push away from him, Pyrrha forgot to take one thing into account.
Jaune's head was hanging over the edge of the bed.
The blonde and his red-haired partner both fell off the bed, the sudden unbalancing causing another cacophonous impact. Thankfully, this let Jaune breathe again, and he began taking in massive gulps of air while his partner tried to understand what had just happened.
Ren watched on in complete silence. Sleepy eyes took stock of the situation, from the hyperventilating leader on the floor to his partner, who was beginning to turn as red as her hair. Turning to look at Nora, the martial artist found that his partner was taking pictures with her scroll.
Sighing in the manner of someone who has just been woken up at six o'clock in the morning by a group of idiots, Ren went back to sleep. No counseling services before seven AM. You got this Jaune.
Pyrrha was spared the need to ask herself any questions by her certain knowledge that she was the most embarrassed woman in Beacon.
The hours spent with Weiss, Yang and Nora had been...enlightening, as to many aspects of 'The Game' as the blonde liked to call it. The red-haired warrior felt like she had survived some rite of passage...the arcane secrets of the universe laid bare before her.
It had, of course, been exhausting – which was probably why she had been bold enough to stroke Jaune's hair in the first place. It was definitely the reason she had fallen asleep whilst doing so, and thus definitely the reason for her current predicament.
The object of her affections was currently lying somewhere behind her, taking in great lungfulls of air in an attempt to re-oxygenate his brain. That had apparently been brought on by her...jumping on him in her sleep.
Head buried in her hands, Pyrrha could feel the blush on her face radiating through her gloves. What kind of...more-than-friend...falls asleep in her crush's bed and then jumps on him when he tries to leave?! Oh Monty, what must he think...
A digital beep emanated from the corner of the room, and the red-haired warrior looked up sharply to discover her team mate brandishing a scroll and a massive grin. The idea of those images being in anybody's possession, even Nora's, instantly overrode Pyrrha's embarrassment. Extending a hand, she pulled on the metal in the device with every ounce of power her semblance could conjure.
The scroll flew out of Nora's hands and into Jaune's partner's, where the screen was immediately turned to face the red-faced warrior. Faced with the pictures before her, which had captured the looks on both their faces while the partners fell to the floor, turned up the heat emanating from Pyrrha's blush several degrees.
Fingers moving like lightning, she deleted every single one, even as her fellow red-head cried in agony. "No, Pyrrha! They're so cute! Don't do it!" Her pleading just ensured that the warrior made doubly sure that every trace of the incident had been eradicated, panting slightly as the last image was deleted.
Slumping, the ace of Beacon's first year let out a massive sigh of relief. They were safe...they were safe...
Looking down showed that her partner was apparently pulling himself back together, enough oxygen having reached his brain to re-establish control. Setting herself into a perfectly calm sitting position, the red-haired warrior conjured the most brilliant smile she could manage and turned it in his direction.
Oh Monty, how was she going to play this off?
Oh Monty, how am I going to play this off? Jaune asked himself, finally having enough air in his lungs to form coherent thoughts.
Getting himself into a sitting position, he surveyed his team. Ren had apparently gone back to sleep, his well-documented disbelief in times before seven AM once again in practise. Nora was lying face-down on Pyrrha's bed, one hand draped over the edge in the red-haired warrior's direction. She seemed to be sobbing quietly.
As for his partner...she was sitting in much the same way as he was, with the single fakest smile he had ever seen on her stuck in place. Dear Monty, that must hurt... he thought to himself, the distorted expression seeming to employ more facial muscles than should ever need to be conscripted in a time of peace.
Clearing his throat, he decided that as team leader he ought to establish some control over the situation. "So. Since it is currently..." he checked the clock, "six in the morning, I am going to go back to bed. I am then going to wake up in an hour, and whether or not I remember what just happen will be entirely based on what I hear at that time."
Standing up, the blonde very deliberately unbuckled his armour and weapon, leaving them at the foot of his bed. He then moved over to his partner, offering her a hand. The painful smile finally leaving her face to be replaced by more genuine embarrassment, the red-haired warrior took hold of the appendage and got to her own feet.
The blonde then moved just as deliberately over to his bed, which he lay down. He then promptly passed out again.
Pyrrha watched her leader's chest rising and falling for a few moments, before heading into the nearby walk-in wardrobe. Removing her battle-dress in favour of a simple pyjama outfit, the warrior made her way back to her own bed and imitated her leader.
One Hour Later
Despite the drama of earlier in that morning, Nora still roused her team promptly at seven. After all, she could mourn the passing of such incredibly cute photos later...for now, pancakes were her priority.
As Ren found himself pulled kicking and screaming into the world of the waking, Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other from across the room. Rising from her bed, the red-haired warrior made her way across the floor to her partner, Yang's words echoing in her mind.
"Jaune might have confessed to you, but it sounds like that happened after he got a real push. So, Pyrrha, if you want to get more out of him, you need to be that push."
It was just like combat training – she who controls the momentum of the battle controls the outcome. I must ensure that the momentum remains with me – that way, I can force him to react.
Jaune watched his partner approach nervously. The look in her eyes now was terrifyingly similar to the one she wore during sparring.
"Jaune...I think we should talk about what happened this morning." Oooh yes, definitely terrified now.
"Pyrrha, I swear to Monty I didn't mean for that to hap-"
"Jaune." Pyrrha's tone cut the end off his panicked ramblings like Crescent Rose taking the head off a Beowolf.
"This morning was not your fault. In fact, it wasn't anybody's fault – because that makes it sound like something wrong happened. You already showed me that you like me...so I'm just returning the favour."
This eloquent and completely fabricated line was a bastardised version of one Blake had given the warrior earlier that morning. She just hoped that it would be enough...
The blonde in front of her remained completely still for a moment. Then, he nodded to himself, as he too rose from his bed. "I understand. If that is the case, then I completely misinterpreted your gesture. Sorry, Pyrrha."
Holy Monty that actually worked. "Don't be, Jaune. We're both new to this...it was never going to be smooth sailing all the way." Of course, I wasn't supposed to end up in your bed within three days of you confessing either...Yang must never know of this.
Nodding again, the blonde started moving for the bathroom he shared with Ren. "Indeed...I suppose this means I have to go up a level." The red-haired warrior remained in place, staring at the now closed door separating her leader from the rest of the team.
Go up a level? Wait...is he treating this like a game too? The mental image of Yang and Jaune sitting opposite one another on a chess board, their various friends taking the roles of the pieces, spontaneously appeared in her mind.
I get the distinct feeling that I'm caught in a crossfire...
Come eight in the morning, JNPR were making their way across the courtyard to the dining hall. Once they reached the doors, their leader unexpectedly halted.
Turning around, the blonde planted himself facing the dormitory, an inscrutable look on his face. "Jaune? Why are we waiting here?" his partner asked, voicing the question on Ren and Nora's lips.
"Wait for it..." he replied, holding his stance. Arms crossed, face set in stone, legs apart.
Standard confrontational body language...Jaune's expecting some kind of challenge. Understanding that did not, unfortunately, give Ren any idea of what form that challenge would take.
"Arc!"
That, of course, did.
Cardin Winchester was striding across the courtyard, his face just as resolute as Jaune's. The rest of CRDL followed behind him, looking just as confused as JNPR.
When the hulking figure finally reached them, the two leaders stood almost toe-to-toe. They glared at each other with the kind of intensity known to generate electrical currents, tension rising around them like a tangible pressure.
None of the other six people gathered around had any idea of what was going on...but one person did. Making his way across the courtyard, Yatsuhashi Daichi cut an imposing figure. Larger even than Cardin, his sheer presence commanded respect.
Reaching the two leaders, he pulled a scroll from a pocket and regarded the information there. "I will now declare the number of Grimm each of the contestants killed during the two hours for which the contest was valid."
"Cardin Winchester, you slew a total of one hundred and seventy three Grimm." Nearby first year students looked at the giant in shock. It easy to forget that, just because he wasn't the most skilled combatant in his year, the youth was a Huntsman in training. His combat ability was more than enough to handle himself, even in a gauntlet like the previous night.
"Jaune Arc, you slew a total of two hundred and thirty-four Grimm. However, as sixty one of those Grimm were slain after Winchester was deemed unable to continue, they are discounted. Thus, you slew one hundred and seventy three valid Grimm."
Taking a few steps back, the giant declared what listeners had already worked out. "Cardin Winchester, Jaune Arc, you are at a draw. Thus, your dispute is to be settled with both parties receiving their stated reward." His piece said, the warrior remained in order to enforce the exchange of rewards.
JNPR and CRDL had finally realised what was going on. CRDL, who had been told about Cardin's late-night activities, were anxiously waiting to see what the two had demanded of each other. JNPR had put the pieces together quickly, and while Pyrrha quietly swore to herself that her battered knight was going to be even more battered come that evening, they also waited with baited breath.
The two leaders continued to glare at each other, tension crackling around them. Then, as one, they took a single step back...and presented their hands to each other. Each grasped the other firmly, and they spoke simultaneously.
"Jaune Arc, I admit that you are the better warrior."
"Cardin Winchester, I admit that you are the better warrior."
Both groups stood in stunned silence, not quite processing what had just occurred. Then, the stony gazes that the two leaders had been holding for so long devolved into massive grins.
"See you around, Cardin?" The auburn haired giant nodded, letting go of the blonde's hand.
"Yeah, Jaune. Till next time."
And with that, both turned around and entered the dining hall, leaving six extremely confused team mates and one giant swordsman. A moment later the spell was broken, and five pairs of feet immediately chased their respective leaders in the pursuit of information.
One, however, stayed put. Ren turned his gaze on the stoic giant who still hadn't left his spot. "Those two...when did they plan this?"
Returning the gaze, the similarly-featured swordsman's poker face never wavered. "If those two had in fact concocted some plan or another, and if they had then embroiled my team in a scheme the likes of which I have never seen? It would have had to happen in the early hours of the morning."
With his revelation complete, Yatsuhashi finally turned around to make his way back to the dorm. "Now go eat, Ren. I'm whacked."
Shaking his head at the retreating back, JNPR's resident martial artist turned back to the dining hall and moved inside. He identified his team by the two flailing red-heads currently standing over a blonde teen. Jaune's grin was visible from the doors.
Moving further inside, Ren collected some breakfast before taking it to JNPR's usual spot. Taking his seat across the table from Jaune, the dark haired youth coughed into his hand. His partner immediately broke off her attempts to threaten/bribe information out of the blonde, focussing on the massive pile of pancakes Ren had collected alongside his own food.
Pyrrha also seemed to realise that she was gesticulating wildly in the middle of a crowded hall, and took her own seat next to Jaune. With things once again approaching normalcy, Ren pointed his fork at the blonde across the table.
"Jaune, I'm not going to say that you pulling off a plan to convert Cardin Winchester to our side is a bad thing. I just want you to know that I'm getting pretty tired of being left out of the loop, and I would dearly appreciate being given a little more information to work with."
Ren felt that his leader as suitably chastised with this, and so he returned to eating his breakfast. The blonde nodded, first to himself and then to his breakfast companions. "You are, of course, correct Ren. Suffice it to say that I seriously misjudged Cardin Winchester, and that CRDL should be counted as a potential resource in the future instead of an obstacle."
The martial artist nodded, having expected something like that. "I did wonder what was going on with all those strange looks." Jaune nodded as well, continuing to munch on his breakfast.
"But anyway guys, today marks a change in the way we do things. You'll have to wait until after classes, but we're all gathering in the dorm after dinner." His cryptic comments drove his partner and Ren's to new heights of curiosity and infuriation, but Ren himself understood. He can't say why – not here. It's related to his purpose.
Classes could not end soon enough today.
With a full day of classes and dinner under their belts, JNPR returned to their dorm room. "Okay, RWBY won't be done for a while yet. That means we have time until Pyrrha has to go over to them...and that means I can unveil this."
Reaching a hand under his bed, the blonde took hold of a note book which was concealed there. Pulling it out, he began unfolding the front page – it was actually a massive sheet, many times folded and hole-punched to fit inside the notebook's ring-binding.
At its full expansion, it was a sketched map of Vale and its environs. Locations were marked with dates and icons, and Mountain Glenn was circled several times.
Ren stared at it, as did Pyrrha and Nora. "Jaune...is this what I think it is?" The blonde nodded.
"This is everything I can remember. All the dust heists, all the major events, all the locations I know about from my days exploring the city which might be useful." The information presented here was cobbled together from memories and logical deduction, painting an image of almost unmatched criminal enterprise. It was a wealth of foreknowledge, and worth its weight in gold.
Jaune uncapped a pen, squatting down beside his team mates as the map was spread out over the floor. Placing the pen's head on the docks, he looked up at his team.
"We have two months until the best shot we'll get at stopping Torchwick early presents itself. Let's get to work."
Author's Note
Here we go, then. I felt like it had been a while since there was a 'Jaune-esque' moment, and so I created the first half of this chapter.
From this point on, we have (according to my mental timeline) two months until the events of Black and White. What will happen over the space of that time? Will it be enough for the team to stop Torchwick? How will Jaune and Pyrrha's relationship develop in the meantime? Can they survive the manipulative powers of the fiercesome Xiao-Long dating service?!
Time will tell!
I hope you enjoyed reading this even partially as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any comments or criticism, please leave a review and I'll be sure to get back to you. Enjoy your day!