Residuum
Blood 1.2
iii
"Brats all settled in?"
"They're restless but I believe all of them are in bed," Glynda said, "It's the same every year. Nobody goes into initiation without some sort of worries. What have you discovered about Jaune?"
Qrow and Ozpin didn't say anything immediately, exchanging silent looks.
"Ozpin doesn't know what he is," Qrow told her, "Apparently there really is a first time for everything."
"It has become important that we find out who he really is," Ozpin said, taking a sip from his mug, "We don't know if Jaune is unique or if the ability lies within the blood of his family."
"So I'll be taking a trip to Mistral to see what I can find," Qrow said, "He was in the Wilds near there when I found him so chances are his family lived there. But I also got my previous mission to take care of. We're still no closer to finding the people that attacked Autumn."
"Surely it shouldn't be too hard to find his family?" she questioned, "I'm sure we can find some sort of old news report about missing children."
"If he was even reported," he replied, "We don't know what his family was like. I'm sure we'd like it if it was all sunshine and rainbows but what if finding them makes things worse?"
"What do you mean, Qrow?" Glynda asked, her voice slightly raised, "You think his parents… threw him away?"
"He barely remembers what happened," the younger Huntsman replied, "But what I got was that mommy and daddy were at the very least neglectful, letting their kids play alone in places full of Grimm. He said his sisters were teasing him. Was that just kids being kids or something more?"
"So, what, he was abused before he was taken by the Grimm?" the blonde argued back, "Don't you think you're jumping at shadows here?"
"I'm not saying anything," Qrow responded, "I'm considering different possibilities, not just jumping in head first. He's not some random estranged Wildling, not anymore. This needs extensive investigation, not tearful emotions and puppies."
"I'm afraid Qrow is correct," Ozpin cut in, "This matter requires covertness and delicacy. We must tread very lightly here."
"He deserves to know, Ozpin," the Huntress shot back fiercely, "We shouldn't keep knowledge about his family from him just because they might have abused him. He should at least be informed."
"And let's say he wants to meet them and they decide to take him away," Ozpin said calmly, "If they say they want him home and he wants to go. Can we really let him leave?"
"What- what do you mean?" Glynda asked, sounding astonished, "We can't keep him here against his will!"
"You said it yourself: he's valuable. If the kid turns out to be the solution against the Grimm; no, even if he's just the first step to finding out what they are or how to really beat them, then we need him here," Qrow said. Glynda paused at the thought. She didn't like it, but they did have a point.
She clenched her fists, thinking of the conversation she just had with the blond. As much as he acted like Qrow, she could see that Jaune was an earnest person. He had been so alone and all he desired was companionship. He wanted friends, family.
"He's already struggling," she said, "Nobody bothered to befriend him at all and he was ready to give up, resigned that he was somehow doomed to be alone. I had to convince him to keep trying. Despite all that false bravado he's picked up from you, he just… he's…"
"You've been compromised," Qrow interrupted, narrowing his eyes. Glynda wasn't sure she heard him right.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You actually let him get to you," Qrow said, smirking, "You heard his sob story, a little boy all alone with the Grimm, and it wedged open your heart."
"Qrow…" Glynda warned dangerously but the man wasn't deterred.
"Where's that famed aloofness, Glynda?" he teased, "Your maternal instincts kicking in?"
Glynda angrily grit her teeth not necessarily because the man was annoying (he was), but because there was some truth to his words. Glynda didn't have children of her own and she was very much married to her job. Her students were enough trouble for her. The pity she felt for Jaune, as much as he might not appreciate being pitied, had awakened old feelings in her that she had closed off for so long.
"No need to get your panties in a twist. It's… good," Qrow said.
"What?"
"The kid doesn't need indifference, he needs people that he can trust," Qrow explained, "People that can actually show him that they care. I can teach him to be a better fighter, but I can't give him that."
Glynda felt her ire diminish, slightly surprised at the man's insight. The three fell into a comfortable silence and Glynda thought about what they would do next. They were caught up in so many things, and as Qrow's apprentice not to mention because of his abilities, she knew Jaune would inevitably be involved as well.
"You're kinda quiet there, Oz," Qrow mentioned. Ozpin finished off his coffee, setting down the mug. He did look very preoccupied with something. Glynda could only imagine what was going through his head.
"I'm thinking," Ozpin said, quietly.
"Heh, don't tell me you're gonna fall to pieces," the red-eyed man said, chuckling at the thought, "It's been a long time since you've come across something you have no clue about, is it?"
"Qrow!" Glynda admonished, but Ozpin chuckled.
"I suppose you're right," he said, "At my age, I'd forgotten that life always finds a way to surprise you."
"You're not that old, Ozpin," the other man said, "Don't go killing yourself off."
Ozpin just smiled knowingly, not bothering to respond to the man's teasing.
"When will you be leaving for Mistral?"
"I think I'll stick around for my idiot apprentice's initiation," he said, leaning back in his chair, looking at the ceiling, "I'm also curious about what Ruby or Yang will do when they see him with Reaper."
"Speaking of your apprentice," Glynda spoke up again, "You couldn't get him some extra clothes?"
Qrow just waved her away uncaringly.
"Hey, at least I got him something. You should've seen him when I first found him," Qrow responded, "Wrapped from head to toe in Grimm fur. Kid even took my cape."
Notes: A little lower on word count, but this also sets the tone for the other characters and provides some background info. Still, as per the RWBY subreddit, it's fanfiction Friday (though I doubt this fic will be mentioned :( )!
People have pointed out a few 'plot holes', regarding Ruby not noticing her uncle's weapon or Glynda knowing Jaune's mother. To point out, if you check out scene i of Blood 1.2, you'll see that Jaune has stored his weapon away in his locker as he was talking to Glynda. Thus, when he and Ruby meet, he doesn't have it on him. As far as Glynda knowing his mother, she only mentioned that Chloe was an old friend. There's no basis for thinking they were good friends or they've kept in touch etc..., and if Glynda really did know about her friend's missing/dead child, I think it would be a clear giveaway when a blond kid is found in the area her friend's son went missing, and for some reason has the same name. It's obviously not the case. Give me some credit here.
Thanks for the reviews! Next update scheduled for March 12th EST.
knuckz
