Residuum
Blood 1.1
ii
He wasn't sure what to make of it. Using a semblance required the use of aura, there was no going around that. He had never seen anyone turn Grimm like that, he wasn't even aware if semblances were capable of directly interacting with Grimm in any fashion.
"Hey," Qrow spoke up, capturing the boy's attention, "What's your name, kid?"
The teen looked at Qrow with an unreadable expression on his face. Qrow waited for him to answer for a moment but there was no response forthcoming. Sighing as he realized the boy wasn't going to take any initiative, Qrow decided to take the first step.
"I'm Qrow," he said, pointing at himself before pointing at the boy who still didn't answer.
"Qrow, you, Qrow, you?" he said, alternating between pointing at himself and the kid, "How 'bout it?"
The boy kept his silent vigil, completely unwilling to dignify the Huntsman with a response. Qrow could understand where he was coming from. The Wilds were a dangerous place and trusting another person was something done at one's own peril more often than not. Living without barriers between people and the Grimm was already dangerous without the added dangers of the idiocy of people.
"Alright, I get it," Qrow said, "You don't gotta tell me anything. But… you look like you've been on your own for a while. Everybody should have someone to rely on."
It looked like the truth Qrow admitted. The kid had almost got the drop on him, even managing to steal his flask. Qrow had been distracted since he was inspecting the impossibly blue-eyed Grimm, but even then it meant that the kid had a lot of experience ambushing people in the Wilds. It was probably how he survived, attacking others and stealing their food.
It also meant that the kid grew up here, most likely alone. To be able to move so silently that a Huntsman as experienced as Qrow didn't know he was there… this was the kid's home. It had to be nothing short of a miracle like those stories that Summer always used to love, a young child with the ability to turn Grimm surviving on his own in the Wilds.
The boy reached up and took off his hood, also made of Grimm fur, revealing his sun-kissed hair. He obviously hadn't had a cut in a long time, his golden locks falling to just below his shoulders. He was a pretty child Qrow couldn't help but think, the hair made him look more feminine than before.
"Jaune."
Qrow blinked as he considered what the blond had just said.
"Gesundheit?"
"They called me that… I think," Jaune replied, sounding unsure, "I don't remember too much but… that's my name."
"Jaune, huh?" Qrow said, rubbing his chin appreciatively before eyeing his yellow hair and grinning, "Fitting."
The kid looked so unsure, so wary that Qrow knew he would have to handle this carefully, despite how much he wanted to just jump in and ask questions. The kid had mentioned a 'they', meaning someone had known him and named him, probably family. Ozpin was so much better suited for this.
"So," Qrow said, holding up his flask, "Want some more?"
He chuckled when Jaune grimaced.
"No? More for me I guess," Qrow said, drinking some more. Jaune watched him with slight awe.
"It tastes bad," Jaune said, his nose wrinkling, "How do you drink that?"
"A man's drink," Qrow replied, letting out a refreshed sigh, "You'll appreciate it one day."
As Qrow tucked away his trusty flask, he eyed the kid, noticing the blond had let down his guard a little bit.
"So, you seem like you know these parts," Qrow said, "How long you been here for?"
Jaune paused, considering Qrow's question. If it truly had been a long time, Qrow could understand his hesitation. Calendars were probably a rare commodity if you were on your own in the Wilds.
"Years," Jaune replied evenly, "I counted… maybe ninety full moons?"
Qrow let out a whistle as he did the math in his head. That was close to eight years, and the kid looked young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. Maybe around his niece's age?
"Anyone else with you?" Qrow asked carefully, "Don't tell me you've been by yourself for that long?"
Jaune shook his head.
"My Vespers scared people away," Jaune said, his voice having the slightest tinge of sadness, "They either attacked or ran away."
"Your what?"
"My… oh, my Grimm, I guess," Jaune said, shrugging and pointing at the Beowolf and the Ursa. Qrow realized that Jaune had probably called them Vespers, at least the ones he had converted. He certainly hadn't known they were called Grimm.
"Vespers is fine," Qrow said, acceding the name to the blond. He didn't want the kid too much out of his comfort zone.
"So how do you do that?" Qrow asked, "Turn them all… blue-eyed."
He looked back at the Grimm, noticing how even the Ursa sat near Jaune, any intent of attacking or eating them completely gone. Qrow had felt surprised that a single Beowolf could even pin down an Ursa. Beowolves weren't renowned for their strength since they were pack hunters, but they were more agile than Ursa. Knocking it down Qrow could understand, which was already a stretch but to pin it down meant there was something more to Jaune's ability than just turning the Grimm.
"With blood," Jaune replied simply, sounding confused, "Why, can't you do it?"
Qrow gave him a wry look.
"I'm afraid that turning Grimm into loyal lapdogs isn't in my skillset," he replied in good humor, brushing his hair back, "You're still bleeding by the way."
Jaune nodded, eyeing the cut without any wince of pain.
"It should heal in a few days," Jaune replied, to which Qrow raised an eyebrow.
"Not using your aura to heal it?"
"My what?"
Qrow just sighed. Really, he should have given up being surprised by this kid. So what if he didn't know what aura was? He had pet Grimm, that was probably enough protection.
"Never mind," Qrow muttered before holding out his left hand for the kid to shake, "Where are my manners? Good to meet ya, kid."
Jaune hesitated for just a second, but Qrow could see that hunger in his eyes for human contact. He was probably starved for it, to meet another person. Qrow couldn't imagine being alone for eight years. Only monsters would truly enjoy that.
Monsters and Raven that is.
Jaune met Qrow's hand with his own good one and Qrow could see the slightest prickle of tears in his eyes. But the drunk also confirmed another theory of his; the kid's aura hadn't been activated.
That meant Jaune was special. And if Jaune was special, Qrow would definitely have to take him to the only person that knew a lot about special people.
Ozpin.
Notes: This is meant to be a really long fic so you'll notice a slow pace. The chapters are kinda short, but that's why updates are very frequent.
In regards to pairings: while I'm personally partial to Arkos, there won't be any rabid shipping in this fic. There may be some romance, but this isn't really a romance fic.
I appreciate all the reviews! Please leave a comment to let me know what you think. Next update is scheduled for March 7th EST.
knuckz
