Three months passed since Initiation, and things was mostly good for RWBY and JNPR. Weiss and Ruby were on friendly terms, even if the heiress still had her snob moments from time to time. Yang was happy that her little sister was making friends of her own, without her interference, but the two teams made a close group anyway. Despite their contrasting personalities, they all become friends, and spend much of their free time together and helping each other.
"Go big bro!" Ruby shouted from the bleachers as Jaune was once again fighting Cardin Winchester in combat class, and once again he had an advantage over him.
"Make him regret… EVERYTHING!" Nora shouted in support, waving a gig 'hand' with JNPR written on it.
"If you keep yelling you will distract him!" Weiss chastised the two girls, which stared at the heiress, at each other and then resumed shouting. The white haired girl sighed and got back to watch the fight.
Jaune was thrown away by a kick from Cardin, that smirked sure of his victory as he rushed with his mace over his head ready to deliver the final blow. But when he finally got in range he found Jaune pointing the tip of his sword at the bully's throat while his shield was ready to deflect the mace. Cardin stopped at that moment and was too shocked to react.
"Enough!" Glynda said and the two boys moved away from each other. "Mr. Winchester, you lost this battle. While your Aura levels is still above 15%, if you have hit Mr. Arc's sword, it would have dropped below that, and depending on the strength of the impact, gravely hurt you. Keeping an eye on your Aura levels and acting accordingly is key in any battle."
"Wait... wouldn't Jaune boy here being disqualified for using a deadly attack?" Cardin questioned, clearly displease with the result.
"If Mr. Arc moved his sword to attack you, yes. But he held his ground and you was the one walking on his sword, too eager to give, as you say, the final blow, that you only noticed it when was almost too late. Mr. Arc waited for you, and if you have dodged the blade, he could easily attack your legs while protecting himself with his shield. While your strategy during battles improved, you still let your over confidence get the best of you when you think you are in advantage." Glynda concluded talking with Cardin and turned to Jaune. "Mr. Arc, your form and skill improved, even when fighting an adversary that by now knows of your abilities. There is still some hesitation when attacking, but that can be fixed. I also recommend you to work your strength. Not too much, of course, to not lose your agility, but that would make your attacks more efficient and end a battle sooner. You both are dismissed."
Jaune walked away, keeping the distance from Cardin, which growled at him. It was their third time sparring, and the blonde's third victory. While Winchester and his team tried to use the knight to get closer to the girls, they all dismissed them (some like Weiss and Yang made sure to be as humiliating as possible) and somehow they blamed Jaune. The boy was just happy to not have to pretend he liked them. Soon he sat with his group of friends, receiving pats on the back from Nora and Yang (and both hurt him more than Cardin could).
"Unfortunately we don't have time for another match, so I'm ending class here. There are many videos of fights from previous Vytal tournaments from last years, and I greatly suggest all of you to watch some of them. It will show you many ways to improve. Class dismissed."
They all got up and walked to the showers, except Jaune. He didn't tell anyone but team CRDL has been pestering him whenever he's alone, and since he didn't want to involve others or get in any fights, he rushed to his dorm room to take a quick shower and change into his uniform, since they had his most hated class in the afternoon, History of Remnant with Prof… Doctor Oobleck. Jaune not only had little knowledge of world's history that didn't involve an Arc, he couldn't get anything from the fast speech pattern the man put in his discourse. So once he finished changing he opened the door and…
"Are they doing something against you?" Yang asked as she stood at his door, already in her uniform, staring worriedly at her fellow blonde.
"Just being assholes, for now. Come on, let's go have lunch." Jaune prompted as he walked, Yang by his side, very close to him. "And you'll promise me you won't do anything. I don't want you to get in trouble. If needs come to be, I know how to defend myself."
"Jauney, I'll hurt them if they hurt you, no matter what you say. We're friends, and I don't like you're trying to bear all of this alone." She affirmed, and Jaune smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer.
"I'm not that small kid that got beaten up and needed you to save my ass from some jerks. I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not involve anyone on my problems." He affirmed, and she felt happy being like this, and blushed slightly.
"Friends help each other. Don't hesitate to ask me." She affirmed, finally moving away from him, but giving him a welcoming smile. "With anything."
Jaune gave her a friendly smiled back and they joined the group, talking happily with each other, mostly because Nora told the wildest dream she ever had, and Ren kept correcting her as she goes. Most already learned to tune out her babbling, but Yang was really interested in her tale. Pyrrha and Jaune talked about their training, Blake ignored them all for her book, Weiss and Ruby traded small talk and…
"Hey!"
They turned to see team CRDL surrounding the second year girl, Velvet, and mocking her Faunus features. The group gave a disgusted stare at the four boys, and some surveyed to see if any staff member was nearby. Unfortunately Beacon was a huge place, and the staff was not enough to be everywhere. That was how Cardin and his gang could harass several students unchecked.
"It must be hard to be a Faunus." Yang lamented for the poor girl, which was now having her ears pulled by Cardin.
"This behavior from them is inexcusable." Pyrrha added and an angry tone rare for her.
"Don't worry, big bro will do something." Ruby stated proudly and they finally noticed Jaune walking towards the group. The blonde arrived and pulled Cardin's hands off Velvet, and with a hand on her shoulder started walking her towards his table.
"Hey, what the hell you think you're doing!" Cardin shouted, getting up and holding Jaune by his collar.
"Getting my friend away from you, Winchester." Jaune answered and slapped his hand away, but team CRDL surrounded them, making Velvet try to hid to the knight's back.
"Ha! Of course you would call this animal your friend!"
"She's a person. If there's animals here, it's the four oh so tough guys that need to gang up to harass one girl. But then, you clearly can only deal with easy targets." Jaune answered, and Cardin made a movement to punch him.
"What's happening here?" He stopped as Glynda approached the group, and team CRDL moved away from Jaune and Velvet. They learned earlier that NO ONE messed with Glynda Goodwitch.
"Nothing, Ms. Goodwitch. Right, Jaune boy?" Cardin said in a menacing tone. The blonde stared at Velvet, whose eyes begged him to not say anything. He sighed and nodded in agreement with Cardin.
"Just taking my friend to our table." Jaune spoke, and the teacher clear didn't believe them, bt couldn't do much if they refused to talk to her.
"Do so, Mr. Arc. And you, Mr. Winchester, don't think I'm unknowing of your behavior. While no formal complaints were made, be aware we're keeping an eye on you and your team." She finished and stood there until Jaune took Velvet to his table and team CRDL returned to theirs in silence. Thankfully for many students she didn't left the mess hall and stood nearby a pillar near the door, taking notes.
"T-thanks…" Velvet finally said to Jaune as she joined the table with her tray.
"Hey, if you want, you can always sit with any of us." Yang offered with a smile, that the bunny girl returned shyly.
"You should make a formal complain, you know?" Pyrrha suggested, but Velvet shook her head.
"I know how it works. I do that, the anti-Faunus students will gang up on me, and if they can't touch me, they move to another student less likely to defend themselves." She explained her logicin a small voice.
"Then all Faunus should unite against this bullying." Blake suggested; her voice more emotional than usual.
"And that would quickly escalate in an 'us versus them' situation, like what happened with the White Fang." Velvet justified, and clearly that hit Blake as she made a sad face.
"It doesn't mean we can't do something." They turned to see Jaune talking. "We can make this table, at least, a place people can come without fear, and hang with people that want them around. Let jerks like Cardin rot together."
"That… sounds nice." Blake admitted in surprise at that solution.
"Great, now our table will become a charity project." Weiss complained.
"You can always hang out with them." Yang said as she pointed at team CRDL burping loudly and laughing.
"Actually… I think this is a great idea…" She admitted as she made a disgusted face at the boys.
…
Beacon had mandatory classes, like Grimm studies and Combat class, but also optional classes that gave you credit towards graduation. History class was one of those, and you could take it at any of the four years you spent at Beacon. That was why second and first years shared the same classes sometimes. Teams RWBY and JNPR decided to take all the same classes, except leadership class that was mandatory to team leaders on the first year.
Jaune hated History class, because he simple couldn't follow the fast pace and overwhelming amount of data that Dr. Oobleck liked to deliver. Sometimes he wondered if he was really drinking coffee or rocket fuel, considering the tireless speed he imprinted in his speech.
"This is prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution, more popularly known as the Faunus War!" He started, simply teleporting from one place to another, and everyone wondered if his Semblance was speed. "Humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing Faunus population in Menagerie." He affirmed as he pointed at the map before teleporting once again. "Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day! Now! Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?"
Velvet shyly raised her hands with other students, and Jaune felt surprised on how many where like her. Prejudice against Faunus was something very rare on his homeland, and while he knew that wasn't the case outside, he always heard Vale was a better place for the Faunus than the other Kingdoms. He surely didn't felt like it was the case.
"Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence!" He kept talking, only stopping to drink whatever it was in his mug. "I mean, I mean, I mean just look at what happened to White Fang! Now, which one of you young scallions can tell me what many theorize to be the turning point in the third year of the War?" he turned to the heiress that raise her hand "Yes?"
"The battle at Fort Castle!" Weiss said proudly.
"Precisely! And, who can tell me the advantage the Faunus had over General Lagune's forces?"
While he waited for someone to offer themselves to answer, Oobleck missed Carding tossing a paper ball at Jaune, who was distracted reading something else on his book as he couldn't focus on that class at all.
"Hey!" He shouted without paying attention, causing Oobleck to dart to his face.
"Mr. Arc! Finally contributing to class! This is excellent! Excellent! What is the answer?"
"Uhhhh... The answer... The advantage... of the Faunus..." He looks behind the teacher's focused face at Pyrrha, who coughs and motions to her lips as she gives him the answer. "...had over that guy's stuff..." he observe her gestures and course the fact he was awful with mimic games. "Uhh... eyes?"
Everyone started laughing while Jaune wanted to disappear. He really hated that class, and the fact Cardin was making a ruckus didn't help his mood.
"Very funny, Mr. Arc, although not really that far from the actual answer! Cardin! Perhaps you would care to share your thoughts on the subject!" The professor turned to the lousy student.
"Well, I know it's a lot easier to train an animal than a soldier." He answered, missing the disapproving glare from almost everyone on the class and the teacher.
"You're not the most open-minded of individuals, are you, Cardin?" Pyrrha complained to him, making the boy growl back at her.
"What? You got a problem?"
"No, I have the answer! It's night vision. Many Faunus are known to have nearly-perfect sight in the dark." Oobleck nodded in agreement, making Cardin growls even louder. It was clear he didn't like to have his frail ego hit.
"General Lagune was inexperienced, and made the mistake of trying to ambush the Faunus in their sleep. His massive army was outmatched, and the general was captured." Blake added. "Perhaps if he'd paid attention in class, he wouldn't have been remembered as such a failure." She commented, and Cardin moved like he wanted to attack her, but Oobleck stopped him.
"Mr. Winchester! Please take your seat." Jaune made the mistake of laugh at Cardin's misfortune. "You and Mr. Arc can both see me after class for additional readings." Oobleck added and Jaune lamented more the fact he was to stay with Cardin than anything else.
Everyone left after Oobleck's ended his class, and he made both Jaune and Cardin seat on the front, and while Jaune at least seemed to regret his actions, the other boy clearly found that an inconvenience to his life. Oobleck stared at both boys and sipped his coffee.
"You two have been struggling in my class since day one! Now, I don't know if it's a lack of interest, or just your stubborn nature, but whatever it is..." He drinks more of his… 'coffee'? "It stops now! You've worked hard to gain entrance to this school, and we only accept the best of the best, so I expect you to act like it. History is important, gentlemen! If you can't learn from it... you're destined to repeat it. Pages fifty-one to ninety-one! I want an essay on my desk by next class! Now! Run along."
With that, he disappears to Jaune's pleasure as the boy also took no time before leaving. But Cardin decides to discount his anger on him and as soon as they are out of the door he pushes Jaune down and leaves laughing like he did something worth praise.
"You know, I really will break his legs." Pyrrha threatened as she helped Jaune up. The boy sighed and patted his clothes.
"Let him be. Someday his comeuppance will come hard. I can feel it in my old bones." Jaune said and Pyrrha giggled a little.
"What are you, an old sailor?" She questioned and Jaune laughed a little.
"It was my second option if I didn't get here. Someday I'll tell you about sailing with Capt. Tenryuu. I think she really wanted to be a pirate, considering all the boats we boarded just for fun... But I do think I might need help with this class…" Jaune admitted to himself.
"I can help with this." They turned to see Yang and Blake coming, the brunette being the one talking. "I'm quite good at History, and if you promise to pay attention, I can give you some pointers."
"Wow, thanks Blake, that is really nice of you." Jaune stated with a smile.
"Consider it a thank you." She stated and Jaune tilted his head in confusion. "For helping Velvet."
"Oh… I just did what any decent person should. I don't think it's worth being thanked for." Jaune said as he scratched the back of his head. Blake stared at his face for a split second before smirking.
"It would be nice if everyone was like you, Jaune. But I think rewarding good deeds is needed." She answered before Yang grabbing him and pulling him with her.
"Hey!" he complained as the other girls followed them.
"Now, for my part, I'll help you get a few more muscles, lady killer. Don't worry, I won't break you, but you might suffer a little tomorrow." Yang stated as Jaune whined.
Unbeknownst to them Cardin and his team observed from a corner. The big boy growled to himself as he saw the blonde knight surrounded again by the most beautiful girls at Beacon, and he hated him for that. Blake completely ignored Cardin's existence, Yang would dismiss him in the mist humiliating way possible and Pyrrha was too polite to use bad words, but the ones she choose hurt his frail ego. He was tired of that, and it was time to show them to not mess with him.
"Russell, do you still now how to trap rapier wasps?"
…
The next few days went well for teams RWBY and JNPR. Cardin and his team went quiet, and the group felt like peaceful times were ahead of them. Jaune suffered a bit with Yang's training regimen and Blake's quite forceful way of teaching (at least she didn't spoke as fast as Oobleck, but she kind of turned into Glynda Goodwitch when teaching) and Pyrrha's spar sessions. He was then eager for the field trip they were going to do that day, despite the trip being done in the bullheads. He almost wanted to be tossed from the cliff.
"If he vomits here, I'm going to kill him." Weiss growled at the boy as he was very green at the moment.
"Don't worry; I can hold it back, snow angel…" Jaune said, with very little conviction. Weiss' left eye twitched at the nickname that Jaune for some reason insisted in using for her, and she was sure he did it out of spite.
"And we are here. Yer all jump out of my ship cause I have a date with my lady!" Cid, the bullhead pilot, yelled and the door opening. Jaune was the first to walk out… only to realize they were a few meters from the ground. He ended up landing into a bush, to Weiss pleasure.
"Are you OK?" A concerned Ruby asked as the rest jumped out.
"I'm fine. Actually, I like here. It's soft and comfy. Tell me it's not poisonous, and I might just stay here for the rest of the day." Jaune said as his stomach relaxed.
"While I'd love to do the same…" Pyrrha said as she helped him up, giving him a glass recipient. "We need to join everyone else for this assignment."
Jaune groaned but walked with the rest of them till they meet Ms. Goodwitch. While the class was supposed to be Ms. Peach's Survival class, they never met her in person, being tasked many readings and assignments through messages on the black board. Now they found themselves in Forever Fall, a beautiful place but still Grimm infested.
"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so." The blonde teacher stated as all of them reunited. "Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here by 4 o'clock. Have fun!" She said as she walked away.
"Does she mean 'have fun' literally or she was just being polite?" Ruby asked the group.
"Knowing her, she was just being polite… which doesn't mean we can't have fun anyway!" Yang celebrated, being supported by Nora.
"Let's have 'fun' after we finish this assignment. Besides, she's right, there must be Grimm lurking around." Weiss stated and the group walked to a group of trees.
Things were going well enough, even if Nora drank most of the sap they were collecting and they had to keep Ruby of doing the same. There was laughing and chatting, until they heard Pyrrha yelping and turned to see her. There was broken glass near her and the girl's back was covered in sap.
"Pyr, what happened?" Jaune was the first to rush to her.
"I don't know… I was collecting sap when I felt something on my back. My Aura protected me from damage, but there's this sticky stuff on me."
"It's sap." Jaune said as he used his finger to get some and smell it.
"Nora…" Ren turned to his partner, which was sipping sap again.
"Wasn't me, I prefer to drink it. Yummy!" Nora stated as she licked her lips, her mouth smeared with the sap.
"If not her, who…" Ruby started when another flask hit Jaune's shoulder. "Hey!"
"It came from that hill…" Blake warned them as they drew their weapons. Her bow started twitching. "I'm hearing something… A buzz sound…"
"I'm not hearing…" Weiss started when they heard the buzzing getting louder.
"Wasps!" Pyrrha shouted.
The group saw the huge rapier wasps approaching, going directly to Jaune and Pyrrha, and started flailing their weapons around with different degrees of inefficacy. Nora's hammer was completely useless against the thumb-sized and agile targets, as it was Weiss' rapier. Ren and Blake had better look with their fast weapons, while Jaune and Pyrrha used more their shields to bash and smash the wasps than their blades. Yang was having slight better luck as she punched the creatures, but Ruby oversized weapon was ineffective.
"Ouch!" Ruby yelled as she was hit by one of the wasps. "That… can't be... good…" She kneeled and started panting as the wasp's poison started to close her air ways.
"Ruby!" Yang rushed to try to sway the wasps away from her sister.
"Damn it!" Jaune noticed and came to rescue the girl too. "Yang, in my belt there's a first aid kit, it have an epinephrine syringe! Just shot it on her leg!"
…
Cardin and his team were laughing out as they saw the group fending off for themselves, and he didn't seem to care that Ruby was on the ground.
"Quickly, give me another jar!" He asked as he waved his hand to his teammates.
"I think that's enough…" Dove said as he held the last jar of sap. "We need this to finish the assignment, and I think that girl is in trouble…"
"Shut up! They all will pay for what they done to me! Besides, she will be fine! It's just a harmless prank!" Cardin growled and tried to grab the flask, but Dove held it back.
"Cardin, we had our laughs, and we had our revenge, we should stop."
"I'm team leader and I will tell when we stop!" Cardin tried to grab the jar, but Dove hold it, and they battled for a while for it before Dove's hands slipped and Cardin simple fall on his back, right on top of the rest of the flasks. The Jar on his hand also broke, but he was mostly unharmed, just covered in sap. He got up and grabbed Dove by his collar. "Look what you have done! Luckily the wasps are down there with the dweebs!"
"Calm down you two. We better get away from here before someone gets us…" Sky's voice was cut when they heard roaring. "What was that…"
…
"Done!" Pyrrha said and panted as she and Jaune smashed the last wasps together with their shields. "How's Ruby?"
"I had better days..." the petite redhead answered with a weak voice, but at least she was breathing better. "Why do you have that syringe?"
"I'm allergic to this stuff." Jaune said pointing to the sap. "I took a pill beforehand but I always carry one of those just in case." He affirmed as he took the empty syringe in his hand.
"Thanks, Jauney. But whoever did this… I'll end their sad existence." Yang growled as she held Ruby on her lap. The rest was about to say something when they heard roaring and screaming, and soon team CRDL minus Cardin run down the hill. Jaune and Pyrrha stopped Russell and held him by his shoulders.
"I knew it." Pyrrha started.
"Ursa!" Russell shouted as he tried to escape their grasp. "It took Cardin!"
"Crap!" Jaune said as they released Russell. "We need to help him!"
"Do we now?" Weiss stated as she, like everyone else, already knew who was responsible for the wasps.
"I know he's an ass, but we're Hunters, our job is to defeat Grimm and protect people. Weiss, Blake, find Goodwitch. Yang, Ren, Nora, protect Ruby. She clearly can't walk or fight yet. Pyr and I will take care of the Ursa!" Jaune ordered and run followed by his partner.
…
Cardin was being tossed around by the two Ursa Majors that took him by surprise. His bad luck kept going as his weapon was now resting near a rock behind the Ursas and he had no way to protect himself. And his team simple ran away instead of helping him. Of course he couldn't associate his assholery with that and he swore to teach them a lesson.
If the mighty Ursa wanting to devour him allowed such.
He closed his eyes as one of the Ursa raised its paw and prepared to separate his head from his body. But such action didn't come and he opened his eyes to see the Ursa's arm falling down on the ground as Jaune held his sword and put himself between the two, using his shield to block the other arm.
The Grimm the knight attacked rushed against him, and Jaune rolled to the side avoiding the attack, while stabbing the Ursa. The creature howled and shook Jaune off it, trying to use its size and strength to his advantage. Jaune was faster though, and slashed the Ursa several times, forcing it to open up his guard. The blonde knight proceeded to cut the other arm off before finishing by decapitating the monster. He took a moment to recover his breath and seek for his partner.
He turned to see that Pyrrha defeated the other Ursa, standing on its back as she removed her spear from its skull. They smiled at each other before meeting in the mid of the clearance and patting each other in celebration.
"I thought you would ride him like Nora." Jaune commented as they sheathed their weapons.
"I considered it, but then you killed yours, quite impressively by the way, and now we can't make them fight." She added and both laughed loud as the stress left their bodies and minds. That was when they noticed Cardin still on the ground, and Jaune helped him up.
"Hey, Jaune… thanks for the saving…" An unusual humble Cardin spoke to them, and Jaune simple grabbed him by his collar, the blonde's face contorting in a rare expression of displease.
"Touch my friends again and you will wish I left you for the Ursa." The knight stated as he left, Pyrrha following him and sparing just a small glare to signalized she would back her partner's threat.
"Well… that didn't end well…" Cardin lamented with a defeated sigh.
"Oh, we are not finished yet, Mr. Winchester." He didn't need to turn around to know a very angry Ms. Goodwitch was in the field and with her his teammates.
…
"I'm fine!" Ruby protested as Yang kept her sister's head on her lap, with her legs resting on Jaune's. They were returning to Beacon in the bullhead, and while Ruby was indeed fine, her sister and friends decided to be careful.
"It'll be the doctor back at the med bay that will decide that." Weiss affirmed in a tone that clearly didn't have an opening for discussion.
"Weiss cream is right, Rubes. Better be safe than sorry." Yang added, and Ruby pouted like a puppy that was denied a treat.
"Do as they say and I'll find you some cookies later." Jaune offered, and the petite redhead smiled brightly.
"You're the best, big bro. Thanks, for helping back there." She said with a smile and Jaune patted her leg.
"Yeah, thank you…but you should have let the Ursa transform Cardin in Cardon't." Yang said her eyes glowing red. "When I put my hands on him I'll shove his head on his ass."
"That does sound painful." Weiss agreed with an emotionless nod.
"Let Ms. Goodwitch deal with him. He's not worth our time." Jaune stated and Yang glared at him.
"Ruby could've died! You should…" She protested, and only calmed down when she felt Jaune's hand on hers.
"I'm not going to let someone die out of revenge, Yang, nor I'll let my friend get in trouble because of it. We're here to protect people, and it's not our place to decide who lives and who dies." He stated and she sighed, knowing he was right. "But as I said to him, if he does something like this again, I probably will let you and Nora have a… talk, with him." He added and the two girls smiled evilly at each other.
"If you guys need, I know some people who knows how to break kneecaps with spoons." Cid, the bullhead pilot offered, and they all stared at him. "What? Not good enough? I know a guy who knows nine different ways to make a boy sing like a girl if that is more your alley."
"Thanks, Cid?" Jaune finally said and all of the sudden the trip became very quiet.
…
"I swear I should just put you four into a bullhead and sent you back to your homes with letters to your families explained why you aren't fit for Beacon!" Ms. Goodwitch talked to team CRDL in their room. The four boys stared down at the ground. "This is not a normal school and that wasn't a simple prank! Rapier wasps! The most deadly wasps in Remnant! Ms. Rose could've died from their sting! Thankfully Mr. Arc was prepared for such eventuality! If she had died, you wouldn't be simple expelled! You would be in jail! What you have to say for yourselves?"
A long moment of silence.
"Sorry?" Russell said in a small voice breaking the silence.
"Sorry… You all should be. And this is not the first time you all show lack of empathy to your fellow students, aggressive behavior and overall disregard to the rules. You might think that because you never were caught in the act that we didn't know about the bullying, the prejudice and the questionable pranks and jokes you pulled against your colleagues. So, give me a reason to not expel you all right now!" Glynda demanded, slapping her riding crop against the table, making them jump in their seats.
"I have a debt to pay." Cardin stated plainly.
"A debt?"
"Jaune saved my life. I can go back home without paying it back." He affirmed, this time looking at the professor.
"And why should I give you a second chance, Mr. Winchester, one that I think you might not deserve?"
"I'll change. My team will too. We'll prove we can be Huntsmen like him." Cardin stated and Ms. Goodwitch nodded for a moment.
"For now, you and your team are confined to your room. I'll revise this situation with the staff and your punishment will be decided." She finished and left the room. As she walked the corridor she met Ozpin and his omnipresent mug. "Are you sure about this?"
"I believe Mr. Winchester deserves a second chance, and we shouldn't deny him that. We do need people with his skills in the front, and besides…" he sipped on his mug. "We're educators, and that includes teaching our students how to better themselves as people. And it was him who took the first step, after all."
"Very well. I'll give those boys three months of detention and ground them on campus, some sensibility courses and a permanent warning that next time it will be expulsion." She agreed if reluctantly. "But if team RWBY asks me, I'll tell them it was your idea." She left with a smirk as Ozpin almost chocked on his beverage.
…
"I'm fine!" Ruby protested with a pout while she was tucked in the bed by Yang.
"Doctor Verd said you need to rest and as your partner I'll make sure you do!" Weiss declared as she forced Ruby on Jaune's bed again. By Nora's suggestion they would have that sleepover on JNPR's room, so while Ruby used one bed they put the mattresses around the floor.
"This… will be my first sleepover…" Pyrrha admitted with a delighted smile.
"We'll make sure it will be the best!" Nora said as she jumped on the mattresses.
"I'll go find some movies." Ren offered.
"Jauney and I will grab some food. Popcorn, chocolate…" Yang started.
"Cookies!" Ruby demanded.
"And strawberries." Jaune said with a smile. Ruby raised her fist in a victorious pose and the three teenagers left the room. Ren got to the library to find some silly movies for them to see while Yang and Jaune where going to the kitchen to provide food and beverage.
But as soon as they were alone in one of the corridors Yang grabbed Jaune and put him in a tight hug. He was confused but hugged her back, her face hidden on the crook of his neck, and he gently caressed her hair. They stood like this for a few minutes in silence when Jaune decided to discover what the problem was.
"Ruby's fine." He said in a soothing voice.
"I know, thanks to you." She said in a meek voice, her face still hidden on his neck. "But this is the second time I almost lost Ruby and someone else needed to save her…"
"Hey, it's not your fault! If anything it was Cardin's. And Ruby is fine, no point torturing yourself." He spoke again, still stroking her hair. She seemingly calmed down at that.
"You know, I usually would have punched anyone touching my hair without my permission."
"Oh… er… sorry?" He said as he moved his hand to her back.
"You're lucky I like you." She said and perked up suddenly, staring up and smiling at him. He smiled back and caressed her hair again. "I'm really glad you're here."
"Me too… I mean, that you're here too!" He corrected, prompting her to laugh. "I'd be lost if I didn't had you here."
"Oh. Well, maybe I deserve a little reward?" She spoke softly and Jaune blushed a little. She leaned a little forward but groaned as her scroll started playing. She grabbed it to see it was Ruby. "Hey sis… Yeah… Grape soda? Sure… No, I won't bring back fish to the room Blake! It gets smelly! Are you part cat? You could've fooled me! OK. They want grape soda."
"What's with Blake and fish?" Jaune questioned as they started walking again.
"Dunno… So... Let's race! Loser carries everything!" She yelled as she was already racing, forcing Jaune to race after her.
OMAKE
Ten years ago at the apartment of one Orimura Chifuyu we find the owner of said apartment cracking open a beer and drinking with her old friend Admiral Tenryu while discussing old times.
"I still can't believe you got away with that." Chifuyu commented with a smirk as she took another swig of beer.
"Well we were both of equal rank during those military exercises so there wasn't much old Ironboots could do about it." Tenryu cackled.
"So how did you do it?" Chifuyu asked.
"Before I delivered the box to him disguised with a uniform I 'borrowed' I spring loaded the box to go off when it was opened."
"You never mentioned what you put in it." Chifuyu noted, before she realized. "You were waiting for me to ask."
"Yup." Tenryu took another swig of beer. "As to your question, the box was loaded with a hundred and forty jars worth of mayonnaise."
"Ok, I'll bite, how'd you get him to open it?"
"Easy, I looked over his schedule and looked for when he was supposed get a delivery of provisions then I 'appropriated' them and set my trap." Tenryu explained with a smirk.
Chifuyu burst out laughing and tried to put her beer down on the coffee table. As she did she slipped forward but managed to catch herself.
"Alright, I think you've had one too many." Tenryu stated.
"I'm not as think as you drunk I am. See I'll prove it." Chifuyu slurred standing up on the couch a bit tipsy closing her eyes as if trying to listen for something.
"What are you..." Tenryu was cut off by Chifuyu holding a hand up to silence her.
A few moments passed and the woman glanced in one direction, quick as lightning she reached out with her hand snatched something, this something yelped as she lifted it into view and held it tight to her.
There in her grasp was seven-year-old Jaune Arc, her nephew whom Chifuyu was babysitting due to his parents having to take care of business and being unable to bring him along.
"It's way past your bedtime...*hic* runt. What are you doing up?" Chifuyu asked drunkenly looking at the clock and seeing it was exactly midnight.
"T-there's a monster under my bed." Jaune sniffed holding a stuffed dog toy that his eldest sister had gotten him for his birthday.
"A monster?" Chifuyu raised an eyebrow at her nephew. "Come on, there are no monsters in this apartment."
"Yeah, they're all afraid of your auntie." Tenryu put in trying to help.
"I looked before I ran, I swear it's there." Jaune sniffled unintentionally giving Chifuyu a look possessed by a certain speedy girl he had yet to meet.
"Alright, I'll go look for this monster." Chifuyu caved. "But if I can't find anything you have to promise to go back to bed ok?"
"I promise." Jaune vowed perking up.
"Alright, monsters, here I come." Chifuyu cracked her knuckles and wandered off down the hallway into Jaune's room.
A couple of seconds passed in silence before the apartment began to shake, bangs crashes and a girlish cry of pain came from the hallway before falling silent again.
Chifuyu returned dragging someone by the collar. The intruder had purple eyes, long purple pink hair that extended to her hips, a pair of robotic rabbit ears on her head and was wearing a frilly maid-like blue and white dress.
"Here, I found your monster." Chifuyu stated holding up the one and only Tabane Shinonono, who had several lumps on her head and looked dizzy.
"Auntie Tabane?" Jaune spoke the name of his father and Auntie's friend who had a habit of popping up whenever she wished.
Tabane Shinonono was a world renowned genius scientist rarely seen in public anymore. She was famous for the creation of the CCT as well as the Knight, and Paladin series of robots used by the Atlas Military, originally intended to be used against the Grimm. There were also rumors of her working on a synthetic that could produce aura but that was all speculation.
"Ja-Kun-Glagh!" Tabane cried attempting to leap and hug the little boy, only to be stopped by Chifuyu's iron grip around her collar.
"Tabane, what were you doing underneath my nephew's bed?" Chifuyu asked with rising annoyance.
"Well I heard Ja-kun wanted to be a Hunter when he grew up. So I wanted to take his measurements so I could project his growth rate and when he's ready I'd have a super awesome energy sword and power armor for him to use, so he could slay Grimm and bad guys!" Tabane explained with a mad scientist smile on her face.
"That does sound cool." Tenryu commented sipping.
"I knew you'd see things my way Ten-chan." Tabane cheered before Chifuyu smacked her on the head." Ow, so mean."
"The last time you tried making something like that it blew Ichika up." Chifuyu reminded her "And now you want to test something like that on my nephew?"
"Nononono, it won't be for years and besides I'm improving the designs all the time, no unwanted explosions I swear." Tabane pleaded, but Chifuyu was having none of it as she dragged Tabane over to the window and opened it.
"We're thirty stories up, I wonder if monsters under the bed can survive a fall out of the window from that high?" Chifuyu heaved Tabane up and began pushing her towards the window.
"Hold on Chi-chan, do you really want Ja-kun to see his precious auntie fall to her death?" Tabane yelled out trying to save herself.
The strongest huntress on Remnant paused and looked at her nephew who was indeed watching the scene. Reluctantly she dropped Tabane and walked over to him.
"Come on little man, you promised you'd go back to bed." Chifuyu sighed.
"O-ok, bye Auntie Tabane, bye Ms. Tenryu." Jaune waved goodbye as he was lead back to his room.
"He'll make a great hunter one day." Tenryu sighed drinking more beer.
"With the sword I'm gonna give him he'll be a legend." Tabane cheered as they waited for Chifuyu to return...and waited...and waited.
Becoming curious the two went to Jaune's room to see what was taking so long.
"Awwww that's adorable." Tabane said quietly looking into the room.
When Tenryu got there she saw Chifuyu lying on the bed with Jaune who had fallen asleep, with his arms around his Auntie's waist. The Admiral couldn't resist and pulled out her scroll to take a picture of the adorable scene. It was then that Chifuyu opened her eyes and mouthed 'don't you dare' at her friend. Tenryu naturally ignored her and took the picture anyway.
Tabane promptly joined in taking out her own scroll and began taking pictures even as Chifuyu mouthed threats at the both of them. They knew she couldn't move without disturbing Jaune and so did she. So she contented herself with vowing to take revenge on the two who were holding in their laughter.