Read this if you want... go ahead.
Do it!
Confidence...
That's what Jaune needed in the face of the worst punishment imaginable. The determination to continue his impossible task waned, and even a selfish part of him wished that he threw Blake under the Bullhead when he had the chance. That way this would be her problem to deal with not his. He knew it was an awful thing to want for someone else.
But it was within the compounds of his mind. No one had to know.
With a sigh, he set the pen down to rub his aching wrist. Dad had told him to have confidence - which Jaune interpreted to having the courage to do what most could not. His punishment was unmistakably something most wouldn't even dream of having to do. In fact, he very well doubted that his father had the resolve to face this punishment.
The floating pen found its way back in Jaune's hand. It was not by his will, of course. But he continued, nonetheless.
I am deeply sorry for all the trouble I caused. As Jaune continued his trial, his mind began to ache from the visual inducement of the increasing number of black marks on the white parchment. It didn't help that the steady rhythm of the heart monitor beside him kept beating his head with each audible beep.
At least Blake was safe from this hell.
My actions are inexcusable, and I know that there are many things I have to do to right the wrongs I have committed. And yet another apology that would fall upon deaf ears. Honestly, no one could be blamed for ignoring his words when there are arguably other more important things to do? The apology of a hunter-in-training probably meant little to Vale's council.
With a sigh, he leaned his chin against his hand. All he needed right now was confidence. That was what would get him through his punishment. Just be confident in what he was doing, and he can move on, and hopefully forget about everything that went wrong in his life.
He let out another sigh. The odds of his inner monologue motivating him was as likely as Ruby or Nora giving up sugar.
Life of an Arc is a difficult one indeed. The things I have done can not be forgiven with words alone, but I hope that it can be a start. Why can't words be enough? Already, Jaune had reached just under a thousand different ways of apologizing. But there was still over nine thousand iterations left. Another breath of air escaped him. It was incredible what a man can do when the incarnate of evil was nearby.
"I hate myself for what I did..." he droned, as the black ink from his pen copied his words to violate the vanilla page on his portable stand.
"Try using more advanced vocabulary." The masculine voice next to him offered. He glanced to his left, seeing the most private member of his team sitting beside him as he read a rather thick leather book.
The sad thing is, Jaune forgot that his teammate even was here. But could he be blamed for Ren's quiet nature? Having him in the same room was sadly the equivalent of a small rock with a straight line as a mouth. The point is, there were no conversations in either situation.
Also, what great advice Ren. Thanks for being so specific.
"What, like despise?" he asked, hoping that it was satisfactory. To his credit, Ren seemed to have given it a fair chance, as his eyes glanced away from the pages of his book for the pile of papers on the small makeshift table on the blond's lap. Pink eyes then looked to his leader.
"Loathe would be a better choice." Oh, how lucky he was that Ren didn't have class right now. Apparently Professor Port was babysitting for someone. Strange, but Ren was the one who told him, so it had to be true. In the end, what mattered was that his friend was here for him. Because honestly, Jaune didn't think he could do this with only her in the room. He feigned ignorance of the rhythmic sequence of audible cracks her riding crop made from hitting her desk.
Just pretend that she isn't even here. Jaune said his thanks and went back to writing while his quiet friend continued reading.
Seeing his reserved friend read reminded him of Blake. On most days, the faunus member of the sister team would silently read while everyone else would chat. But for those instances when the conversation included her, she would only give short responses. Ren was the same way, even with Nora. He would reply with only a few words to get his point across, and go back to being a spectator. It was for those reasons that Jaune can't help but think that his two friends are alike. If it wasn't for his bubbly teammate, he had half a mind to expect his two quiet friends to start dating. There wasn't any reason that stuck out why it wouldn't work out.
Now that he was comparing the two, it made Jaune realize just how little he knew about Ren. He couldn't help but frown from the conclusion. With Blake, it was understandable, as they weren't on the same team, so there hadn't been a reason to get to know her at first. But Ren was different. They were on the same team, and yet Jaune only knew a few things about him.
Ren liked to read - the book in his hands was the only evidence he could base that on. Something else that everyone knew about him was that he had the best control of his aura in their year. The only quirk Ren had that Jaune knew of was that he was generally stoic. The only times the blonde ever noticed a change in his expression was when he was talking with Nora. She was probably the only person he cared about at Beacon.
Have I failed as a leader? Jaune didn't want to leave things the way they were. He knew more about Blake than his teammate, and that can't stand. Maybe things needed to change.
"You're crumbling the paper," Ren said flatly.
"Oh, crap!" Jaune exclaimed as he set the crumpled paper down. With his calloused hand, he gently smooths out the paper to remove any major folds or creases. At the very least he tries to make the page more presentable for its future reader.
I couldn't be mad if he did hate that I was chosen to be leader.
He remembered the firm grasp Ren had on his shoulder from last night - it was as if he was afraid that letting go would mean losing him.
Why was he an idiot? It made him feel sick to think his friend didn't care about the team. While Jaune didn't doubt that his friend would pay special attention to Nora, there shouldn't be any doubts about Ren's character.
Jaune didn't deserve his team - they deserved someone who could bring them to their full potential. But they were stuck with a liar who shouldn't have gotten in. Which is why I need to get better for their sake, Regardless of how he got here, he was going to make the most of the chance he got. That was a promise.
With a quick glance, he noticed his teammate's focus was on the story. Jaune didn't know why, but his blue eyes started trailing the book's smooth brown leather to its undamaged pages. Unlike the paper he squeezed, there wasn't a sign of creasing. Eventually, the beautiful gold lettering of the title caught his interest. One Good Turn Deserves Another. Jaune read. An interesting title, he supposed, and judging by the pristine condition his teammate had it in, he could tell that it was good enough for Ren to preserve. That or he bought it recently.
It certainly looks expensive.
"Shouldn't you be concentrated on writing your apology letter?" Ren asked with a raised brow, as his lips turn upward.
"I hate you." Ren rolled his eyes. These kinds of moments with him were too far and in-between. It almost helped him forget about his worries from earlier.
"Use more advanced vocabulary," he repeated, not seeming to care about Jaune's best impression of Glynda Goodwitch. The glare probably felt like a gentle ocean breeze in comparison to the chilly blizzard of death that Goodwitch's horrifying stare could do.
"I loathe you." he would use his friend's teachings against him!
"Better." he congratulated, with a smirk.
"Mister Arc..." when he heard that voice, Jaune's mind immediately threw Ren's entire existence in a trash can, burning it in the process. Even the book and its title were forgotten. Right now, the hospitalized Knight had a job to do. One that couldn't wait any longer. He wrote faster than he ever thought imaginable, all so that more punishments won't stack on top of the current ones.
After all. When Glynda Goodwitch was sitting behind a desk that she took with her from God knows where one does not just slack off.
"You can relax and see your doctor once you write ten thousand words." Jaune didn't need to look up from the white parchment to know that the evil witch was glaring at him. He's experienced a woman's ire enough times to know when one was growing irritated with his presence. Also, why did he have to finish a stupid apology letter before seeing his doctor?! Wouldn't a medical checkup take precedence over a stupid apology letter?
He made sure to keep his voice low when he looked to his companion. "I might finish faster if she weren't such a hard ass."
"Faster Mister Arc, I do not have all day," she commanded.
"Hard worker! That's what I meant to say, I swear!" As expected the blonde gave him another one of her infamous glares. No! Referring to that look as a simple glare didn't give it the injustice that it unfortunately deserves! What Jaune was experiencing was something outside the realm of normality. Which was saying something when he was living the life of a huntsman now.
That stare was something that only a select few had. It was a gaze reserved for the chosen few of the female population of Remnant. Few had to experience its poison... but it was a poison that was inflicted upon Jaune a long time ago. To make a tragic tale even more depressing, it was by his mother. Juniper Arc, whose violet eyes acted as poison darts.
Many would tell sorry souls that it gets better with time. That through sheer force of will, one can become immune to the eyes of evil incarnate. His father quickly dashed those rumors saying that it was a load of garbage. To understand the futility of trying to battle a woman's glare, one has to realize that the progress of time never ceases, while a man's life was limited. Those eyes of evil that Miss Goodwitch and others command is like time itself. Eternal, and never ceasing. So for someone to say that it gets better with time, is the biggest liar on the face of Remnant.
It never gets better with time. As time was never on his side to begin with.
He turned to Ren, hoping for some words of wisdom.
The man he called brother had a small smile as he put small plugs inside his ears.
You traitor...
It had taken twenty-four hours.
Twenty-four hours after the incident at the docks for Blake to realize that she had no way of repaying Jaune.
Throughout the entire day, Blake had been thinking of anything to repay her savor for all he did for her. As a start to paying her debt, she had written a second set of notes from Professor Oobleck's lecture so Jaune wouldn't be behind on his studies.
She would have done the same for Port's class, but apparently, the man was babysitting, so class was canceled. Odd...
The implications of Port taking care of a child aside, Blake invested her mind on Jaune, who was most likely in the middle of his punishment.
Even if she wrote notes for all the days he missed class, would that be enough? In the faunus' eyes, no it wasn't. She realized that it sounded so childish to worry over something as trivial as a gift. Blake usually wouldn't overthink such things, but someone saving her out of selfless reasons wasn't a typical scenario for her. There had only been one other person who had ever defended her. But back then, she had never stressed over repaying the favor with a gift.
Because with Adam, his only wish was for them to keep fighting together, and to always look out for one another. He believed that risking himself for her was to be expected and that it should be the same vice versa. That was back then when she had once thought she had found someone she... was it love? To be honest, she didn't know. But she knew that what her former friend and mentor became was someone she didn't want to have any kind of relation with.
Jaune was different. She hadn't been friends with him for years like she had been with Adam. And yet he did things for her that few would ever consider doing for a friend.
Paying for her ticket to leave Beacon, risking his life in a fight that he shouldn't have taken part of and taking the blame for her mistakes. Blake doubted that Ozpin believed the blond's confession, as Jaune was the type of guy to wear his emotions on his sleeves. Even if lying was something he excelled at - the headmaster seemed like the sort of man who could identify lies before they were even said. So it came as a surprise when he accepted the confession without any questions asked.
Blake still had a perfect image in her mind of the look of astonishment on his face when he received his punishment. She was certain that the goofy knight was the happiest he had felt that night.
/-/
"I thought you were going to expel her!" Jaune exclaimed. The relieved smile he had was almost childish in the sense that he was only getting away with a slap on the wrist.
But Blake found that she wanted to mimic the action.
"Miss Belladonna will still be punished. But," he added, stopping her and Jaune from saying anything with his raised hand. "From what I have gathered, it is Miss Belladonna that brought you to Vale. And with what you have told me, you are the one that decided to engage the White Fang." when he leaned forward, she could see a hint of a smile. "The way I see it, you are both responsible for what has happened, so your separate repercussions will not be as strict.
Blake can't believe it.
"I can't believe it." Jaune's soft voice echoed her thoughts, as he smiled like a small boy who just received the one birthday gift he had wanted for months.
"Mister Arc," She and Jaune looked to their headmaster, who had a smile as well, albeit much smaller. But it couldn't be denied that for the first time since their arrival at Beacon; the green-clad professor showed something that they had never seen from him before. Pride. "I am proud to have an institution that teaches individuals such as yourself. For you to take the punishment in Miss Belladonna's stead, is proof to me, to your peers and to the staff at Beacon that your admission here was not a mistake."
Those words were all she needed, to know that Ozpin was aware of the truth. Whatever purpose there was to his decision to accept the lie was a mystery that she wasn't sure she'd ever solve. But Blake agreed with the headmaster, and she wanted to tell Jaune that she appreciated what he did for her.
But when she saw fresh tears trailing down his cheeks, she found that her mind couldn't think of anything to say. Because what reason was there for him to cry? So Blake didn't ask any questions, but instead, went to grab something to wipe away the tears in her friend's eyes. That is until she heard his quiet snickers. Before she could even process why, his voice erupted into uproarious laughter, making him look so silly as he expressed the joy he was unmistakably feeling. Usually, she would have rolled her eyes at such an expression. But that smile of his must have had some sort of magic that spread happiness.
As silly as it sounded, she couldn't help but believe that. Because Blake found herself grinning as well, and she didn't care that she joined Jaune's laughter, nor did it matter to her if the headmaster found their expressions to be humorous.
All that mattered to her was that Jaune wasn't going to lose his dream because of her.
Tonight would be a memory that she would cherish forever.
"I hope that the two of you have learned something from this night and that the next time you find yourselves in a similar situation, you will not make the same mistake as last time." When Ozpin's stern gaze met hers, she couldn't help but fidget in her seat. Whatever her punishment would be, it must be worse than Jaune's. The mentioned blonde didn't seem to notice, as he still kept grinning away as if he wasn't injured.
"Mister Arc..." a voice seethed. It didn't take anyone in the room long to know whose voice that belonged to.
Standing there with her arms crossed, was Glynda Goodwitch. Highlighted in a purple hue were dozens of white papers that seemed to float like magic carpets. It would have been an entertaining scene if it wasn't for the glare.
And it was directed at Jaune.
Blake could feel his anxiety. That, or she was scared.
Knowing how terrifying Miss Goodwitch was. Probably both.
/-/
He risked so much for her. Even though Ozpin was lenient, it still didn't change that fact.
What on Remnant could she do for him? She didn't have any lien to give. Besides, giving Jaune money as a way of thanking him for saving her life seemed inconsiderate. In fact, it would be the same as placing a price on his life. A life he was willing to sacrifice for her.
So because she was so stumped on what to do, Blake did the unthinkable. "Yang, I would appreciate it if you could take this moderately seriously." she went to her partner for advice. The realization of her mistake became more and more apparent as the blonde's loud voice echoed through the narrow halls no doubt waking everyone on their floor.
No matter how many times it can be iterated. Blake could not stress enough how terrible a mistake it was to go to Yang for advice. The only thing worse than her partner would have been to go to Pyrrha.
The redhead misunderstanding Blake's intention was not something on her priority list. Then again, perhaps it would have been better to go to Pyrrha. Blake could have explained her reason for wanting to help Jaune, and while she may have her doubts at the start, Blake was confident that a bit of convincing is all it would take to dash any confusion.
But instead, she thought it would be a good idea to go to her partner for advice.
"I can't breath!" she held her stomach as she continued to lose oxygen from her obnoxious laughter.
What a mistake that had been.
"Yang, this is serious. And what is even funny about this?" could her partner just take this matter seriously? All the courage in the world was barely enough to get Blake to approach Yang in the first place.
"Stop whining kit-cat!" The strong force of Yang's arm pulled her in, causing their cheeks to squish together. Blake could feel the girl's smile. And that served to prove the validity of her earlier assessment. "We'll think of something together."
"I doubt that." she said, as Yang thankfully separated from her.
With a hand resting on her chest, she gasped feigning shock. "Blake, why must you have such little faith in me? When it comes to the heart, I take these matters very seriously." Yang... "I'll help you win the heart of our resident knight."
So that was why she was laughing. Why am I not surprised? That was Yang alright. Teasing her about romance when it had nothing to do with the situation. She did not pine for Jaune nor would she ever for that matter. But even though her intention was not to start a relationship with Jaune, she dreaded what might happen if Pyrrha heard that from Yang. No doubt the redhead would see her as a love rival.
Blake was content with the love lives of the characters in her stories.
"He isn't my type," Blake admitted. He was a friend who saved her life and risked getting expelled to keep her away from trouble. For that, she would value him as a good friend - despite knowing next to nothing about him. But that didn't mean she would approach him in any romantic manner. She just didn't see him in that light. Correction, she couldn't. To put it bluntly, Jaune was a socially awkward man-child who couldn't notice Pyrrha's affections if she were a charging Goliath. "I just want to repay him." That's all there was to it. Because even though he was never obligated to help her, he still risked his life.
Blake felt indebted to him, but it begged the question. How to repay him? She already planned on taking notes for him during the days he would be absent. Since the damage to his skin was severe, he would probably need to stay in bed for a month or so until his aura healed him. Unfortunately for him, that meant he'd be stuck getting treated during their two-week break from school.
Taking notes for him wasn't nearly enough. There had to be more that she could do and Blake would spend however much time she needed to figure it out.
"You just don't know how." Yang surmised while opening the door to their room. She moved out of the way to let Blake enter first, which she did with a nod. Sitting on her neatly made bed, she noticed the absence of her other two teammates. They were most likely in the library studying with Weiss more likely acting as a tutor for their young leader than studying. When she heard the door shut, she turned to see Yang lean back against the wall with crossed arms.
"So any suggestions?" she asked, hoping for that Yang would offer sound advice.
"You could always sneak in and give him a good time." And of course; the blonde had that typical smile of hers while wiggling her eyebrows.
"Yang..." she warned, not particularly enjoying her partner's flirtatious nature at the moment.
"I'm only kidding, jeez," Yang said with a roll of her eyes. "Does it really matter, though? I think he'll be okay with anything you do. Personally, I can't imagine Vomit Boy caring about some debt you think you owe him." As her smile softened, she continued. "You mentioned that you were going to write notes for the classes he was going to miss, right? I think that's good enough payment for him."
"That's not enough, and you know it."
"And why's that?" Yang groaned,
"Jaune's life is priceless." She was somehow able to repress a blush from that. Not because of any feelings for him, but because how embarrassing that sounded. Yang only raised a brow, probably curious at her choice of words, but didn't say a thing. "A person's life is priceless," she explained, hoping it would stop Yang from misinterpreting her. What she said about his life was the truth, but she believed the same thing about her team, and the members of JNPR. "Each moment lived - every action taken can never be taken back. And Jaune readily abandoned caution to the wind to save me." There is such little time in one's life. Every second is more precious than any amount of lien.
Because after death, there is nothing else.
"Giving him some notes is not an equivalent exchange for what he did for me," Blake said with finality. She wouldn't hear another word from Yang, not unless it was an honest suggestion.
Right now, she needed her partner's help. If Yang couldn't offer it, then maybe she was better off going to someone else. I don't care who I go to, just as long as I figure out the best way to thank him.
Yang closed her eyes, a small smile appearing. "So much work for a simple thank you," That was because he deserved the effort. "You are a stubborn one," her partner said as if it were the answer to a question. With a sigh, she pushed her body off the wall, taking a few steps toward their bunk bed. With a jump, she landed on the top bed, causing a violent shake that made the faunus nervously eye the books that supported the top bed.
If Blake didn't know any better, she would have assumed that Yang was trying to kill her.
She forced the fear of a collapsing bed to the back of her mind, to patiently wait for Yang to offer her first good advice of the day hopefully. What a great prospect that would be. It was only after a few fleeting moments of silence that Blake heard another sigh from Yang. It was the familiar sound of her giving up on a homework assignment.
How helpful, Yang.
"You could just try asking him." she suggested.
And what an awful suggestion it was.
"I can't just ask him."
"Why not?"
"I-" No matter how badly she wanted to explain why it was a bad idea to ask him. Blake found herself at a loss for what to say. Why couldn't she just ask him? Was it the possibility that he might want help getting a date with Weiss? She wouldn't do that to her teammate, no matter how many times Jaune may save her life. Or worse, would he try to force a date out of her? Not that I ever would. Dating is the last thing on my mind.
Those were good enough reasons to give, yet why hadn't she explained that?
"You can't think of a legitimate reason, can you." Yang had said it as a fact, rather than a question. Blake wanted to deny it, as she did have reasons for her decision. But for whatever reason, she didn't state it.
Was it because she didn't even believe that Jaune would do the things she thought he would? Or maybe, she was afraid of confronting him without having anything to thank him with? How absurd it was, but she couldn't find a reason to deny it. She was beginning to hate blondes even more. Why was it that they had to make things so complicated?
"Personally..." Yang's voice came out softly. "I think you just worrying about him is enough for our resident knight." How can that be? No matter how she looked at it, Blake couldn't make any sense of her partner's logic.
Why couldn't someone just give her the answers she needed?
"Why is this so difficult?" she whispered.
Yang must have heard the simple question, given the giggle she heard above her. "Sometimes, you have to face your problems head on." The Xiao Long way of doing things was not something Blake could achieve. Unlike Yang, who always charges in head first without a care about the consequences, Blake needed to think of the results of her actions and determine if it would lead to the best possible outcome.
If the chances of her actions causing more problems were even remotely high, then she would give up on the plan entirely.
In that regard, many would consider her to be a coward. Yang was her complete opposite, fearless against anything as far as she could tell. Whether there was an army of Grimm or an army of hormonal boys, she would never hesitate to spring into action.
Yang was amazing like that.
"I'm not like you. Facing my problems the way you do is impossible for someone like me."
They didn't say anything else after that. Blake didn't hear another sound save for her quiet breathing, and she knew for a fact that it wasn't because her partner fell asleep from boredom. If that were the case, she would have heard Yang's loud and infuriating snoring.
So many hours of sleep lost because of her.
"You're going to become a huntress Blake." her voice was so thick with amusement that she could practically see the girl's wide smirk. "If you're afraid of confronting a boy when it has nothing to do with hormones, then how are you going to deal with criminals and Grimm?" Her grinning upside down face appeared, her golden mane letting gravity drag it down like a hanging curtain. "Trust me, Blake. See Jaune tomorrow, and I guarantee you that he'll be happy with just a visit. You might even find yourself wanting to know more about him."
"Not my type, remember?" Blake said with a smirk.
"You know what I mean." she rolled her eyes but still had her smile. "So are you gonna do it?"
Visit Jaune empty handed save for a set of notes? It sounded like an awful plan if she had, to be honest. How could a simple visit be enough to express her gratitude?
But she also suggested getting to know him. Blake didn't know many things about Jaune, but she was determined to be his friend. So, maybe if she just took the time being with him, and formed a stronger friendship with him, that would be enough to convey her gratitude. Of course, there was the chance he might misinterpret her actions as an interest romantically.
But it's the best thing to do. Blake sighed, as she let her tired body collapse on the bed. More like the only thing I can do.
"I'll go see him tomorrow." she relented, getting a thumbs up from Yang in the process, right before she fell to the floor face first.
Why do all blondes give her so many problems?
"Remember to have one of your teammates wash your back every day so that bacteria doesn't enter the broken skin." A man's voice said as if listing an item on a grocery list. Jaune nodded, despite only paying half attention to the the doctor sitting next to him. Yes, he knew that valuable information about his treatment was being given to him, so he needed to listen. If he wanted to get well sooner rather than later, then he had to take his recovery seriously.
But why did the man have to sound so bored about it? Unlike other doctors that Jaune had met, he didn't exude any care or kindness. It was as if being here drained his life.
Was this guy really the head of Beacon's medical team?
"Do try to pay attention." Came the man's flat voice. At first glance, he assumed that his doctor was all business. As long as the patient is taken care of, then enthusiasm was irrelevant, right? But as he kept talking, the suspicion that he lacked any empathy for his patients was becoming more and more believable.
Why do I have such awful luck? He allowed gravity to let his head collapse to his hands.
"I don't want to be here either, but Glynda insisted that I tell you all this." Was that sadness he heard? Well, when Miss Goodwitch forces something, then the task will be done. Jaune felt a cold shiver down his spine despite the unbearable heat in the room that could melt furniture. He could feel the sweaty gown hugging his body as if it were his nonexistent girlfriend being intimate with him- which begs the question.
"Sir, why is it so hot in here?" It felt like a hot summer day in Vale that only a scoop of ice cream and the cool water from the ocean could help against this torture.
"Why were you stupid enough to get a third degree burn on your back?"
"... carry on." He accepted, matching his doctor's gaze. It was as he started paying full attention that he made out the additional features the man possessed.
The medical professional was tall and lanky, which sadly reminded Jaune of his physique at the start of the semester. Long red hair tipped with blonde in a ponytail framed his pale face. He was a faunus too, but he wouldn't have been able to tell from afar. Because unlike the bookworm, he didn't have a set of ears - nor did he have a tail like Sun. What made him realize his doctor's heritage, was when looking into his seemingly dead gold eyes that many faunus were known to have. His eyes had split pupils, that were admittedly kind of cool. But the most striking feature he had was the dark bags under his eyes that only someone who hasn't slept in weeks could have.
"Sir, if you're exhausted, we can schedule this another time." There was a twitch in his tired eye, but Jaune chalked it up as just his imagination. "I mean, if the doctor isn't feeling well, then no one is going to get better."
"Kid..."
"Yes, sir?"
"The more you keep talking, the more fuel you add on your funeral pyre."
O...kay...
So maybe the eye twitching wasn't his imagination. Good to know!
When the seemingly exhausted doctor stood, he took in the details of the man's uniform for the first time. He wore a white dress shirt worn under a buttoned black vest. Sewn where his heart was, the vest displayed the symbol of a small red ember. Jaune didn't know why, but when looking at the emblem, it made him think of a dying flame that the wind could easily blow away.
He ignored the sewn flame a moment later, for anything else. The red fabric around his doctor's neck caught his attention soon after. He realized that it was supposed to be a tie. Now, Jaune didn't know if it was for fashion's sake or just because he was too lazy, but he didn't even try to tie it.
Was every staff member at Beacon weird?
"From your silence, I guess I can continue now." Hearing a flame flicker to life Jaune's eyes were glued to the metal lighter the doctor's black gloved hand held. Like his vest, there was the symbol of a flame on his glove. However, this time the fire icon was vibrant, and brightly colored with a mix of orange and yellow.
The small fire from the lighter lit the white cigarette in his mouth before Jaune could question him. Okay, since when was smoking around a patient the professional thing to do? How did this guy ever become a doctor?! "You gawking at me isn't going to make the cigarette go away so deal with it."
Oh, come on!
"Look, kid, I'm getting real tired of your face so let's get a move on." The doctor with questionable credibility pocketed his lighter. When he took his first drag, the man deprived of sleep held a vanilla folder in his gloveless hand. It didn't take a genius to know what was inside the folder. "Open it. It's better if you have an image for what I'm about to ask you." The folder found it's way on his lap a second later.
As instructed, Jaune opened the file to see a photo of him smiling, and below that was a collection of text. Most of it was about his height, weight, and medical history. Jaune skipped half of the information until he read the report of his injury. As he was told, he has a third-degree burn on his back, but other than that he didn't have any other significant injuries. Just a few bruises from Torchwick.
When he finished reading the report, a name caught his attention. Not much of a surprise, but the one who did the diagnostic was the man standing beside him. The name- Doctor Ryu Arima was written in bold lettering. At least he knows the name of his caretaker - okay more like his forced babysitter.
When Jaune turned to the next page, his stomach felt as if he was on a fast moving bullhead flown by a lunatic. That description didn't give the disgusted feeling in his belly enough credit. Looking at the damaged back would have been revolting enough if he didn't know that it was a picture of him. It felt weird to know that his backside looked like a butchered pig.
It was a good thing that Torchwick wasn't on the streets anymore.
"Nasty thing isn't it." Doctor Arima's drowsy voice murmured. "Well, now that I have your complete attention we can cut to the chase." With a deep breath, he finished the other half of his cigarette and threw it in the ashtray next to him.
Then he lit another one.
"If it weren't for your aura, you'd have suffered even more damage. I'd gamble the possibility of a fourth-degree burn." Well, at least it wasn't that, then. "Don't look so relieved, Mister Arc. Your injury isn't something that should be taken lightly."
"Sorry, Doctor Arima."
"Just call me Ryu." he sounded bored.
"Yes, sir." Ryu rolled his eyes - so being formal with him seemed to annoy him too. Then again, what didn't bother him at this point?
"While you shouldn't take your recovery lightly, I can't help but admit to being impressed with your aura. Turn the page." With a nod, he looked at the second image.
What the-
"I had that same idiotic expression of astonishment that you have. In a single day, your aura already healed thirty percent of the damage on your back." Ryu took his seat next to Jaune again. The percentage didn't mean too much to him, but the image of his scabbed back left him speechless. On the first day his skin looked like it would take months to heal, yet today it looked leagues better. Admittedly, it was still an ugly sight that he wouldn't show is friends, but his recovery was incredible.
Jaune's small victory abruptly ended when Ryu roughly slapped his recovering back!
"Argh! What the hell!?" God, it might as well have been Yang who did that. For someone who looked so lanky, he could really pack a punch. He glared at Ryu's only gloved hand, the culprit. God, was his right hand made of metal?
"Good. So you can feel pain." Of course, he can feel pain!
It was when Jaune began to gently rub his aching back that Doctor Ari- Ryu finished his second cigarette. Not a moment later and he took out another one. Blake with her books and now Ryu with his cigarettes. For a doctor, there was no question that he wasn't the paragon of health. Jaune was tempted to comment on that but stopped himself from doing so. I get the feeling that I'd just annoy him even more than I already have.
"So why did you hit me?"
Ryu didn't answer at first. He seemed annoyed by the inquiry, and there was a chance that he would have ignored his patient to keep smoking. But with a sigh, he took one drag and crushed it prematurely in the black ashtray.
"A lot of people have this misconception that a third-degree burn is the most painful of the burn categories. In truth, most victims can't feel any pain."
But that doesn't make any sense. The first time Torchwick's attack hit him, he had experienced the worst pain in his life, and he refused to believe that it was a figment of his imagination.
The feeling of his skin boiling from the heated dust was something he could never make up.
"You don't look convinced." Jaune didn't say anything, earning him a sigh from the doctor. "The damage a third-degree burn causes spreads throughout every layer of skin. The flames eventually breach your body, to damage the nerves which will make the pain go numb."
"Then why did I feel pain when you hit me?"
"Your question has a stupidly simple answer that is complicated in nature." Ryu sighed, and despite how annoyed his words were made out to be, the man himself seemed bored as ever. "You have your freakishly high amounts of aura to thank."
"Well, my partner did say that I have a lot of aura."
"And isn't that the understatement of the year." The man frowned and leaned forward. "That last attack you took from Torchwick, not only burned your back but should have destroyed the nerves in your spine. But just now, you felt my strike."
"So my aura healed my nerves," He concluded, but still, he did not know what the point of this conversation was.
"Unless you have a semblance that's healing is potent enough to create new nerves, that is impossible. No, your aura didn't generate new nerves, but shielded them." He paused, taking a deep breath as if there was still a cigarette in his mouth. "If you were anyone else, then you would never have been able to walk again."
"I-" What could he say to that? If not for his aura, then his dream of ever becoming a Huntsman would have ended. He almost lost his dream because he saved Bla- No!
Jaune punched himself in the face, feeling the aura that hugged his skin dull the pain. He started probing the back of his mouth with his tongue, the taste of iron almost made him scrunch his face in disgust. But the thought of blaming Blake for his injury was far more disgusting than the taste of his blood. Hearing Ryu let out a curse, saying something about stupid kids, Jaune looked to him. "I won't even ask what that was about, and nor do I care. Anyway, how much about aura do you know?"
Remembering the explanation that Pyrrha gave him during initiation. "It's the manifestation of our soul." Ryu was silent, probably waiting for him to continue. It was a nice gesture, but one that Jaune didn't need since there wasn't much else he knew about it. "It's also like a force field." his answer didn't come out as confident as it did the last time he said that.
Jaune forced out a laugh, only to choke on it when he saw Ryu's dead eyes begin to twitch again.
Ryu sighed, "I suppose that answers my question. Well, to start with yes. Aura is as you've said the manifestation of the soul. Hunters utilize it in a variety of different ways. From improved defense," he frowned before continuing. "or as you said creates a 'force field' that shields our skin. There's also the improved healing factor, which your aura seems to take that to the extreme. With some individuals, aura also boosts their strength and speed depending on their control. Though there are only a few hunters who have taken the time to master their aura to that extent."
"Why is that?"
"Does spending a decade only to scratch the surface of its potential sound rewarding to you?"
Well, when he puts it like that...
Ryu sighed, taking a brief glance at the ashtray. "Most people would have ended up like this ash after taking a hit from Roman's weapon. The cane uses superheated purified dust. It may just look like your average explosive projectile-"
Average!?
"-but trust me. I've personally seen similar cases and even Huntsman worth a damn can't afford to get hit by an attack like that. Death by flames is a nasty thing." For the first time, those eyes of his held a glimpse of emotion that wasn't apathy. It was a flash of anger, but it happened so fast that he almost missed it.
It didn't take long for Ryu to take out his fourth cigarette since they started talking.
"Runt, I want to know what went through your head when you protected Miss Belladonna. Don't leave out any details."
Doing as his doctor wanted, he thought back to that night. He remembered Torchwick aiming at his friend with a grin, the sensation of how scared he was for Blake came next. Next, he remembered how his legs were burning as he ran to her, and more importantly how much faster he was. All he knew at that moment was that he needed to reach her before it was too late- "When I was running to Blake, I wanted to be fast enough to get to her in time."
Then he remembered the warmth of Blake's body as he held her. It happened in an instant, but he could remember his next thought so clearly. The only thing that mattered at the time was using his back as a shield for Blake. "All I kept thinking as I held her, was using my back as a shield."
"Interesting..." Despite the meaning of the word, Ryu didn't seem all that impressed. Though, Jaune could just chalk that up to him being an emotionally scarce person. "Your aura reacted to what you wanted. You wanted to be faster, so your aura responded, by increasing the strength of the muscles in your legs. You wanted to use your back as a shield, so your aura directed the flow to a single point to protect Blake and your back. It's as if your soul was fulfilling your wishes, while also doing everything it can to keep you safe."
"My aura did that on its own?"
"Of course not. Aura may passively protect our skin, but it can't do anything complex. It's a mystery to me how you were able to control your aura like that despite being so early in your career. To direct the flow of aura as you did takes years of practice. Like I said before, our aura surrounds the skin like armor. For the few who dedicate their time in mastering their aura, it takes a few years to do what you did." he yawned. "I guess you were born lucky."
"I certainly don't feel lucky." Jaune sighed, "I may have been able to use some higher level technique, but that doesn't mean I can do it again. I was just running on adrenaline."
"At least you're a good meat shield." the small flame from the lighter started burning the rolled up tobacco.
"Was that really necessary?"
"I'm just stating something you've already done," he said, referring to the faunus on team RWBY. Ryu stood up ignoring the questioning look from him. "I'll be taking my leave. If you need anything, don't call me. While you're alone, you can sit and think about your stupidity, and how you can remedy that." He waved a goodbye with his gloved hand.
That bastard.
But it got him thinking. There was still a lot he needed to do to get better. At the current rate, his training was going, he'd be lucky to be at Pyrrha's level by his third year at Beacon. There just had to be a way for him to improve faster. While patience was a virtue, last night at the docks was a wake-up call for him. He never wanted to feel so helpless again. To only be useful as a human shield for his friends.
But how could he improve faster? Unlike everyone else, he didn't have a semblance to work with, nor did he have any special skills.
When there is a will, there is a way. Jaune had a lot of time to contemplate his options, and he would use that time wisely. So what could he do to get strong enough in a short amount of time? He was getting much better using his weapon, and while he wasn't anywhere near perfect, he could hold his own against Cardin now. I still haven't beaten him yet, but it's a start.
Other than what he has already improved, there wasn't anything worthwhile that came to mind.
Pyrrha told him that he shouldn't expect to be at her level in such a short amount of time. Deep down he found that unfair despite how childish it was. The night she told him that, he accepted it as a fact. Today was different. Before, he felt that he had all the time in the world to get better.
"You really are just a naive kid chasing after a foolish dream…" Torchwick growled.
If his sheets were someone's neck, then they'd die of suffocation. Time wasn't on his side anymore. If someone like Torchwick threatened to hurt his friends, then he had to be ready to fight. Like he said months ago, he wasn't going to be the lovable idiot, stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives.
There had to be something that could give him an edge. Right now, all he had was a large reserve of aura, but he didn't know how to use it. A huge waste to be honest. If Jaune could learn to use his aura then, he'd get-!
That's it! "Why am I so stupid?!"
It had been so obvious now that he thought about it. Pyrrha even told him a few nights ago that learning to utilize his aura would help him improve. Ryu was even talking about how unusual his affinity with aura was! "But that begs the question. How am I going to learn to use my aura as quickly as possible?" Pyrrha was a great teacher, but he needed someone who had an in-depth knowledge of the subject. He couldn't go to one of the professors. Their schedules were way too packed for them to take the time to help one student.
That left his peers, "But who has the control of aura in my yea-" He didn't get to finish his question because his scroll sounded. It was a catchy tune that he heard a couple of weeks ago, which he liked enough to buy. Seeing the name of his caller, he answered. "Ren? What's up?"
"Nora and I were wondering if you wanted anything to eat." came the voice from the other end. "I'd offer late night pancakes but..."
"Nora,"
"Nora," He sounded so tired that Jaune could imagine his tired expression. "Is there anything in particular you want?"
"Nah, it's fine. Thanks for the offer Ren, but I'm not hungry." It was a nice gesture, but he needed to think of someone who could teach him to use aura.
It was when the aura specialist on his team hung up, that Jaune realized the answer to his question. It was also the moment when he deduced that his stupidity must be getting worse. How is it that he can be so blind to the answer that is right in front of him?
Jaune went through his contact, scrolling to contacts whose names started with the letter R. His thumb pressed down on the screen, his scroll trying to connect with the contact of his choice. It only took a second for the call to go through. He supposed it was to be expected, as they had just talked to one another. That or he was eager to speak with the blonde.
"Hey, we need to talk about something. Can you meet me in the shower room tomorrow?" Someone did need to wash his back, so he might as well kill two Nevermores with one stone by having Ren do it.
When the adorable voice on the other line started to sputter a reply, Jaune's face must have been redder than the poor girl's cloak.
"Ruby!" Oh God, he hoped Yang doesn't hear about this. "I am so sorry! The call was meant for Ren, I swear."
Her voice became even louder, causing his ear to ring.
"No, I am not gay. Ren and I aren't like that."
Another barrage of cute squealing later and Jaune was tempted to jump in a fire.
"Ruby, I promise that I am not dating anyone." Why did it even matter if he was? Honestly, even if she's only fifteen the girl can be so confusing. "I'm sorry about the call. Goodnight Ruby."
Okay, let's try that again.
So dear Roman has been captured." The beautiful woman who sat on the leather couch watched the swirling red liquid in her glass. Her eyes following the wine's slender legs that drip down the side of the transparent glass. She took a moment to glance up at her green-haired charge, waiting for the girl's report.
"Yes, ma'am. We believe students from Beacon captured him."
So Ozpin does have pawns in his school. It didn't surprise her in the least. But still, for children to best Roman. How interesting, yet infuriating that was.
"Was anything salvaged from the operation?" She guided the drink to her small nose, letting the aroma enlighten her of its contents. The smell of oak was the first thing she recognized, telling her that her drink must have been stored in wooden barrels to age properly. Another sniff and she could spot the fruitiness, or more precisely the ripe grapes. There was a hint of honey as well; that seemed to invite her to taste the fine wine.
"The only thing we were able to retrieve, was Roman's weapon." It seems the self-proclaimed master thief always did find a way to fail. They even had to secure the fool's weapon for him.
"I see." A sip is all she took as she allowed the liquid to move around her tongue. It tasted dry, due to the oak she identified before. A moment later and she could taste those perfectly aged grapes, black cherries and of course that small trace of honey. Admittedly, this was rather a delightful experience for the tongue.
But Cinder Fall had better.
"I assume you stopped Neo from intervening?"
"We did, as we believed her presence should still be kept hidden." Came Emerald's quick response. It was the best option of course. And for that, she would commend them both. Cinder glanced at her second charge, seeing the young mercenary leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, while their previously mentioned little companion sat on a table next to him.
Cinder took yet another small sip, allowing her a moment to enjoy the sweet wine, before addressing her two subordinates. "You did well, the both of you."
"But what about Torchwick?"
Mercury for the first time had spoken. He tilted his head towards Neo, who was eyeing a vial of grounded dust. Around the seated girl were various crystals of the energy propellant, each with different effects that could prove destructive depending on the user. From a novice, one could make ammunition or cause easy to detonate explosives. Handled by a master... well that was truly unique. By grinding a single crystal, a single Huntsman could harness a significant amount of power be it fire, ice or even the weather itself. Not to the extent of a Maiden, but that didn't mean the mastery over dust wasn't dangerous.
"As much as I hate the guy, we need him," The message he gave was clear. Without Torchwick, stealing dust would become increasingly challenging, but more importantly, they would lose Neo. Of course, Cinder already knew that fact. Roman still had an important role that she couldn't trust the White Fang to do alone. Unreliable he might seem, in truth he was a clever man molded by experience with an uncaring disregard for those who got in his way.
Cinder regarded the girl again, seeing her play with the dangerous crystals as if everyone around her didn't exist. Roman posed a significant threat on his own, but the small girl was even more dangerous than the man she follows. Physical illusions, tremendous skill, and intelligent too. Skills that Cinder would need for the coming days.
But the girl was loyal only to Roman. She did not know why the two thieves were so dependent on one another. Whether it was out of love, or mutual benefits was a mystery even to her.
Either way. If she wanted Neo, then Roman was needed... which meant that resources needed to be used to reclaim her stolen pawn. However, her options on what to use were limited. Utilizing White Fang grunts wouldn't be nearly enough. Cinder didn't doubt Ozpin's influence on Roman's security. A likely scenario was that a teacher from Beacon was there as an extra means of protection.
Even worse, Qrow Branwen might be there. Even she would find it difficult to face a man such as him. He was more than just a nuisance, but a well-positioned knight wielded by Ozpin.
Untrained animals would do little against a skilled Huntsman such as he.
"Should Mercury and I attempt to break him out?"
How amusing it was to hear the distaste Emerald had from her own suggestion.
"No, the two of you are to do nothing. Ozpin has most likely entrusted Roman's stay with one of his allies." Before she took another taste of her wine, Cinder glanced at Neo. "That also applies to you. As skilled as you may be, I doubt you will be able to defeat a Huntsman without revealing your identity." Despite the pouting, she nodded, placing the crystal down before she mimicked Mercury by crossing her arms.
At least the girl knew to obey. After all, Roman's life was in her hands, so the girl wouldn't think to betray her.
"The White Fang will be tasked with Roman's rescue." There was only one other person who was skilled enough to break Roman out of his cell. "I will convince Adam to lead the operation," the infamous high ranking member of the White Fang was the only one who could be trusted with this delicate matter. Cinder was willing to wager that his skill was almost on par with her own if she did not have the power of the fall maiden.
He fit all the criteria needed. Adam was skilled enough to complete the task, and his identity need not be hidden.
But persuading him to take part of such an operation would be difficult. With Roman's blatant racism towards the faunus, she wouldn't put it past Adam to argue the thief's insignificance.
But she would take the time to convince him otherwise. She needed more dust, and more importantly the little helper he had.
"If they fail, we'll lose a lot of manpower." Mercury brought up an excellent point. What if they did fail? What if Adam could not escape with his life? There was a simple solution. Cinder would influence whoever took his place, but that would take time that could have been used for more important matters. After all, managing silly animals did not compare to acquiring forged transcripts, and Haven uniforms to get into Beacon.
Perhaps it would be best for her to oversee Roman's escape personally. Call it paranoia, but she only dealt in absolutes. If she and Adam were to work together, then retrieving Roman was a certainty. Not only that, but she could ensure that Adam's life would be spared.
How bothersome you've proven to be, Roman.
Once she found a way to take him back. She would need to have words with him.
For children to best him. That was unacceptable.
After pouring another glass, she found it tempting to toast to the hopes that Roman was suffering.
Roman was suffering.
When he was removed from his cell to talk with hunters, he didn't expect his sanity to be compromised! Whoever developed this torture he was being subjected to was a sick person who deserved what was coming to them! No, this wasn't something a person could create. Only a monster could think of something so awful!
"And then, with my sheer will, and tremendous strength I lifted the Goliath," the disgusting pig of a man emphasized his claim by flexing his imaginary muscles. "I thankfully saved the fair maiden, and threw the colossal Grimm at the pack of Beowolves that threatened the woman's younger sister!" the fat fool continued. Roman allowed his head to fall on the table for the tenth time this night. "The Goliath's weight crushed my prey easily. Then, with a jump, I swung my ax down on the beast's exposed stomach!"
When will this end?!
When a flask was slid to him, Roman took it eagerly, noting that it was the fifth one he shared with his hero. He looked towards the man who had to suffer with him, toasting to him before he inhaled noisily, scrunching his nose before throwing caution to the wind and taking a swig.
He hacked a little, before giving the flask back to his new friend, thanking him with a silent nod. The old drunk had done the same before his red eyes slipped from Roman to the obese simpleton that was supposed to be his companion.
"It cried out only once before it died from my strike! After my victory, the two siblings thanked me for my services. "
Cinder was probably enjoying wine as she laughed at his misery.
"You wouldn't believe how demanding the two sisters were that they repay me for saving them. Know what I mean?" the fat man wiggled his mustache like a disgusting worm groveling in the dirt.
"Oh, I can imagine." Roman knew that his voice oozed sarcasm.
He noticed his black-haired friend made to take another drink, only to panic when he realized the flask was empty. With a shake, to see if it was just his imagination, he slammed his head on the table.
Roman knew that his tears were going to ruin his eyeliner... but he didn't care.
"Ah, so you must be a ladies man like me! Fantastic! Perhaps we can share stories of our conquests." This idiot couldn't notice sarcasm if it were the CCT falling on him. "I remember the first female who fell for my charms." The first chance he gets. Roman would have Neo kill this man. "Her name was Pinkie, and she was a huntress who wished to defend the world from evil."
Roman would make sure he dies.
"For whatever reason, she used a party cannon as her weapon."
He'll have Neo make sure it was slow and painful.
"As silly as it was for combat, it was excellent for parties!"
Maybe Roman will take a crack at torturing the paragon of obesity.
"Although, she did have the stare. Those eyes of evil incarnate that act as poison darts to the soul!" For the first time, the fat man shuddered. "I pity anyone who has to face the smoldering gaze of a woman."
For once Roman agreed with the man. But only this one time.
"Hey, what's your name anyway?" Roman asked the drunk. After sharing nearly half of his alcohol, he had to know the man's name. Perhaps when he finally escaped, he could convince the guy to go drinking with him sometime.
"Bran Ravenwen." he rasped, as his red eyes looked at his emptied flask in despair. Roman couldn't blame the man. Even after going through five drinks they couldn't numb the emotional pain from the man's gallant tales of his youth.
"We're in this together." he grasped the sad drunk's shoulder.
Thankfully, Bran nodded dumbly, signifying the beginning of their alliance.
AN: No omake this time. Or perhaps you can consider the ending to be one. Either way, it doesn't matter to me.
IMPORTANT INFO 1: On to important business. I'm about to do something that Coeur himself did a long time ago. Similar to what he did with One Good Turn Deserves Another, I am going to have a poll on my profile that let's you guys choose how this story goes. Now, what is it that you are voting for?
Well, you have two options.
If you noticed, a two week break before the second semester of Beacon was mentioned. I have an original story line planned that happens throughout this two week break that will allow Jaune and Blake to become closer as friends. I feel that this is better since in volume 2 I don't think there will be enough interactions for them to grow closer. Now, once this original story finishes, we will then transition over to volume 2.
The second choice is for us to go straight to volume 2, with only a few chapters dedicated to the break. Three chapters would be dedicated to Jaune and Blake becoming closer friends; however I believe that it would come out rushed.
Either way, I want you guys to decide.
IMPORTANT INFO 2: I have a few stories planned, and I'd like to tell you guys about it. Now, none of these are going to be seen for a while, but I thought showing you guys what I have planned for the future would be nice. I'll give a short synopsis for the three that I've thought of so far. Tell me what you guys think, 'kay? Also, changes might be made, so what you see now may change drastically.
Story 1: "You were me! But I am not you!" - (Jaune x ?)
Fate was cruel, as it always was to Jaune. His friends fell one after the other until he was all that remained. Then he too fell, laying on the snow painted by his blood. But as if it was a just a nightmare, he woke up to see Beacon Academy intact. But even stranger was that he had no control of his body as the events of the past were being replayed before him.
So if you didn't understand the synopsis, (don't worry I think I could have done a better job with it), I'll explain the premise. So a lot of the time, when I see a Jaune returning to the past story it always follows the same formula. Jaune has to become a badass. Then he uses his prior knowledge of the past to his advantage. Angst about lost friends (Which is fine!). Being a badass with a huge harem to his name (or just a relationship with Pyrrha.) More angst. More ass kicking dished out by Jaune. YOU GET THE POINT!
In my opinion, I think Coeur did the best with that type of story, but I think I can add a spin on the time travel fic that you guys will find interesting. So in this story, Jaune from the future doesn't have a physical body but is with the present day Jaune in his soul. The purpose of this, is to have future Jaune be a sort of mentor for current Jaune throughout the canon. Trust me, if what I described as even piqued your interest by just a small amount, I think you will enjoy this story.
Story 2: Weapons Forged With Intimacy - (Jaune x Yang)
If there was one thing Jaune Arc was good at, it was making weapons. A forge wasn't needed. He didn't need a hammer to strike the metal. Hell! The kind of weapons he makes doesn't even require any ingots. The only two things he needs, are the soul and... well there comes the tricky part. "I need you to kiss me."
In this story, Jaune has a powerful semblance unlike any other. However, he doesn't fight with it, as his purpose isn't to use weapons, but create them. You might be wondering, what is so special about the weapons he makes? Well, by kissing someone, he and the recipient share their feelings and memories which will allow Jaune to create the ultimate weapon for that person. I know, it sounds silly, and most of you would expect this to be a harem story. But it won't be, and I will go into great detail on how his semblance works in the story. But to start, he uses his aura to project the weapon after kissing the eventual wielder. Not to worry, this will not be a harem. There will be a love triangle, but I am not going to ruin this story by trying to have every female character fall in love with Jaune because of a kiss.
Story 3: At Arm's Reach - (Jaune x Ruby)
Ever since he was a little boy, Jaune wanted to be a hero. But for whatever reason, his dad would never teach him. It was after being rejected for the thirtieth time that he decided to train in the woods alone. He was going to show his dad how awesome he could be by himself! Funny thing is... he came back home with a missing arm. Well, at least the old man with red eyes saved him.
This is primarily a romance story, between Jaune and Ruby. In this fic, Jaune has a robot arm. I would go in detail, but I want to keep it as a surprise, though I am sure that most of you will figure out how these two will get close. Then again, maybe not as I didn't give much away. Eh, whatever.
Tell me what you think of these ideas, and remember to vote in the polls.
Later~