/==/ Chapter Six /==/
The next couple of days flew by in the mornings and then dragged by in the evenings, which was when Jaune's team was assisting with her backlog of assignments. It felt good to be back, to be with her team and friends, even though in the back of her mind the fear of her lies being found out was constantly surfacing during the brief periods that she was alone with her thoughts.
She had another session with Doctor Peach, though it was more of a check up than anything else. Warned to be careful, but medically cleared to finally take part in Combat Class spars, Jaune was relieved, and depressed. It would take the focus off her, of being skipped over, but she was not looking forward to being knocked about, proving her lack of skill and training. It was another item adding to her paranoia about all her lies being found out.
Of course during this time she continued to text chat with Coco. She used the reality that video call functions were garbage in Ansel, and got the fashionista to reluctantly agree to just keeping all of their communications to chat for now. The quickly developing late night routine caught Nora's attention, and her curiosity to the point she just had to ask her fearless leader what was going on.
"Jaune-Jaune?"
"Yes, Nora, what's up?"
"Who are you chatting with? Is it a GIRL? Maybe a BOY?" Nora just straight out asked, with a playful grin on her face.
Jaune coughed, stammered, and shot Nora a glare.
"It IS a girl!" Nora cheerfully exclaimed, her smile growing wider. "Is she cute, of course she's cute… is she here at Beacon? When will we get to meet her? Is she pregnant? When's the wedding? Are Ren and I invited? Can I be Auntie Nora?"
"Ah… um…" Jaune was at a loss at how to respond to the barrage of questions from her bubbly teammate.
"Now you shouldn't hide things from your teammates, fearless leader," Nora closed, draping her arm over Jaune's shoulders, which prompted Jaune to hide the screen of her scroll. "We can't protect you from gold digging cradle robbers if you keep things like booty calls secret from us."
"She is not a gold digger, and there have been NO booty calls!" Jaune replied in shock, "We just met!"
"You can never be too careful, Jaune-Jaune." Nora responded completely unfazed by Jaune's reaction. "Sexual predators come in all shapes, sizes and ages."
"She is NOT a sexual predator!" Jaune countered "She's sweet, smart, pretty, strong, and she protec…"
"She what?" Nora spun Jaune about and grabbed her by the shoulders. "She did what, now Jaune?"
"Nothing. Nothing. Just for…"
"Nope." Nora cut Jaune off, while also popping the P.
"Please?"
"Jaune, spill it."
"There's nothing to spill."
"Jaune."
"Nora."
"Jaune-Jaune."
"Nora-Nora?"
"That doesn't really work with my name does it?"
"Not really."
"What were we talking about?"
"When you'll meet the girl I'm chatting with." Jaune informed his bubbly teammate, purposefully guiding the conversation away from her almost slip-up. Immediately, she mentally had to kick herself, she probably could have guided the conversation away from Coco entirely because of how easily distracted Nora could be.
"That's right. So?"
"I don't know?" Jaune offered only to receive a look from Nora, a questioning one with the addition of a 'Not stopping until we do' one, causing Jaune to quickly add, "We just started chatting, we're not even sure if we will be more than just friends."
"Do YOU really expect me to believe that, when You've been glued to your scroll at all hours?" Nora asked.
"Ah… yes?"
"Nope. You have a week, or I'll get Ren and Pyrrha to hold you down while I go through your scroll." Nora threatened, causing Jaune to go white. There was more on her scroll than just her conversation with Coco. Things that her team couldn't see.
"She's not in Vale." Jaune shot back in response. "I'll ask when she's coming back, and we can do it then?"
"Okay, that sounds fair."
/=/
Ren was growing more concerned about Jaune. The leader of JNPR was being more overly cautious and evasive than ever before. It was like he was trying to weigh his answers, as if he was making a conscious effort to keep things, for the lack of a better term, straight. In response Ren started to pay even closer attention to each detail Jaune used when he answered a question or just spoke in general. Add in Jaune's nervous ticks, and Ren was starting to really wonder if Jaune was hiding something from them. If he was, Ren assumed it was something deeply personal, as the possible lies always stemmed around Jaune's personal life, family, and non-school related activities.
Ren wanted to pursue the issue with Jaune, but getting him alone was becoming increasingly difficult. Jaune had caught up on his school work, so the chance to speak in private with Jaune had slipped by. Ren would have to create a reason to be alone with his leader, teammate and friend. Maybe he could offer to help him train, improve his stamina and general conditioning. Jaune was not bulky like many of the students, he was more lithe like Ren. Which meant, at least to Ren, that Jaune would benefit more from his style of general body conditioning over a heavy weight program. Ren was also acutely aware that Jaune would need assistance in basic strength, i.e. Nora, and his weapon skills, which would have to be done by Pyrrha, considering Jaune's choice of weapon. There was going to be a partial team meeting in the near future.
It was after the final meal of the day, as Ren sat on his bed, pretending to meduitate, while watching his team leader, who was sitting on his own bed, back against the headboard, typing away on his scroll. Nora had confided in Ren and Pyrrha her thoughts on Jaune's recent increase in scroll usage, and Ren agreed with her theory, though he was hesitant to push the issue. If Jaune was in a relationship, that was really none of his business. No Ren was concerned about Jaune's evasive behaviour, and if whatever Jaune was hiding was a detriment to the team. Ren was comfortable with his team, at peace even. After years of wandering, it felt good to belong.
So that night before falling asleep himself, Ren resolved to speak with Nora and Pyrrha about reaching out to Jaune and offering their assistance in his training. He knew it was a good idea. Helping Jaune get stronger and more proficient also strengthened JNPR. The only downside Ren could see was Jaune baulking at their offer.
/=/
Jaune was a nervous wreck, a million different ominous scenarios running through her mind. She was on edge considering Nora's threat about going through her scroll, but also because of a message she received from Ren, while she had been at the library returning some of the books she had borrowed, The message had been a simple one. It just asked Jaune to return to the dorm room, for a team meeting. Jaune was positive somehow, in some way her team had found her out. That everything her Aunt had arranged was going to blow up in her face.
In fact her anxiety had her so distracted that she didn't notice the looming forms of Cardin and his team taking up the whole corridor as they themselves were making their way to the library. Despite Cardin's attitude, and that of his team, and the entire school's less than positive opinion of his skills; Cardin was solidly built, like a brick shithouse. Jaune unfortunately was not, so of course the result of their collision was very reminiscent of the end of their spars. Cardin stood tall, while Jaune was on her ass.
"Well, well if it's not the bitch boy." Cardin sneered as the rest of team CRDL chuckled at the insult. "Me and the guys were wondering where you were hiding."
Jaune said nothing in response and just proceeded to gather herself together to rise to her feet. She gasped in shock when Cardin's foot was suddenly pressed against the centre of her chest forcing her back down, to end up flat on her back on the cold tiled floor. She reached up grabbing him round the ankle with both her hands in an attempt to remove his foot. Cardin however had other ideas, and leaned forward, with just enough pressure to force the air out of her lungs
"Now now Jauney-boy." Cardin spoke with a decidedly cruel grin on his face as the other members of CRDL moved about to surround Jaune's prone form. "No need to rush off. We have some catching up to do."
Jaune squirmed in discomfort at the pressure on her chest, and audibly gasped when the weight on her chest was lifted, only to ashamedly squeak in surprise when Russel and Dove grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her feet. Jaune knew she was in trouble. She was in no way prepared to deal with Cardin let alone his whole team, by herself. She pulled against the grip of Russel and Dove, in a vain attempt to get free. Sky's fist connecting with her gut caused her gag and vomit, earning her a quartet of disgusted looks.
Her arms were released and she dropped to her knees gasping and coughing, trying to get air back into her lungs. As Cardin grabbed Sky by the shoulder and gave him a shove to the side.
"What the fuck Sky?" Cardin snarled.
"This pansy-assed bitch-boy loser looks like the slut that got me in trouble." Sky spat back in response to the question of his team leader.
"Do you know what his team or RWBY is going to do to us if they see a mark on him?" Russel rhetorically asked.
"Shit man, how hard did you hit him?" Dove asked as he crouched down looking over Jaune with some concern on his features.
"I just gave him a taste of what the whore should get." Sky snarled.
"You have issues. Serious issues dude" Dove commented as he rose to his feet. "We should get out of here Cardin before someone comes by and sees us like this."
"What about him?" Russel asked, "If he talks."
"He won't." Cardin replied as he gave Sky another shove, forcing him back a couple of steps. "We are going to have a talk when we get back to the room."
Jaune was barely paying any attention to CRDL's conversation. She was solely focused on getting her breathing back under control and preventing herself from vomiting was only until she felt a slap to the back of her head did she become aware that Cardin was crouching before her. There was no compassion in his eyes, just straight disdain.
"I'll have a talk to Sky about his actions, that should square us for this little misunderstanding. Right Jauney-boy?" Cardin's face was still decorated with an utter look of contempt. "This will just be water under the bridge. That sound fair?"
Jaune wanted to complain. She wanted to tell the bully before her to piss off, but she knew she couldn't. She lacked not only the strength but the skills to back up her words. It was just another event that underlined the truth. She wasn't supposed to be at Beacon. She should be back in Ansel, perfecting her skills in either dancing, or business management. She wanted to be with the rest of her family. To be free of the stress and lies.
"Hey, asshats!" The voice that was calling out and addressing the members of team CRDL, caused Jaune to stiffen. "What do you think you are doing?!"
Cardin slowly stood and turned to face the owner of a voice he knew fairly well. Coco stood at the end of the hall, Velvet beside her. Cardin's eyes narrowed. He didn't need this. Pushing a confrontation with Coco was bad news, when you consider his actions against her faunus teammate. The remainder of CRDL moved, closing in on their team leader. It was a tactic to try and intimidate the pair of second years, by showing that they were outnumbered, however this was not the same scenario.
It failed spectacularly when Fox and Yats, the two remaining members of CFVY, walked about the corner and moved to flank their teammates. CRDL knew the odds they faced. Them versus a full on second year team, let alone one of the stronger ones, was not in their favour. CRDL backed away from the still kneeling form of Jaune as CFVY moved forward.
"Coco asked you a question." Yats pointed out, as he moved his impressive and intimidating form ahead of Coco and Velvet. Fox echoed his movement, while saying nothing.
"We were just having a friendly little chat with Jauney-boy here." Cardin replied, his voice thick with contempt. "Ain't that right Jauney-boy?"
"Doubtful." Coco retorted before Jaune could say a word. "What I think is happening is that a team of jag-offs are playing at being big men."
"What would you know, you lezzy whore!" Sky snapped, stepping forward, rage in his voice and his eyes. It was only Dove and Russel grabbing him and pulling him back that kept him from starting a fight they wouldn't win.
"Loud words from a guy that tries to hurt women," Coco snarled back, "Should I curb stomp you again so you get the message that 'No' means 'No'?"
Jaune didn't know what to do. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, threatening to burst out of her chest. The last thing she wanted was a fight to break out over her, yet she was too terrified of doing anything that could lead to her being outed that she remained silent. She chided herself on being so weak, of always needing to be rescued. It was twice now that Coco had saved her.
"Sky enough." Cardin snapped, "Let's go guys, if they want this loser so bad let them have him."
With that CFVY watched as CRDL backed away and then moved off. Fox and Yats moved past the kneeling form of Jaune, putting their bodies between CRDL and the rest of their team as Velvet and Coco approached Jaune. Concern etched upon their faces.
Coco was at a loss, as she looked over the possibly hurt first year. There was just something about his face that reminded her of the angel she almost had a coffee date with. Add, in his name, which she was sure she heard correctly as 'Jaune', was making her mind jump to absurd conclusions. She pushed those thoughts aside, pointing out to those thoughts that no amount of baggy clothes could hide such generous godly curves. There was no way that the Jaune Arc she wanted to know better, was pretending to be the figure kneeling before her.
Velvet was confused. Like most faunus she had slightly more perceptive senses. Hearing obviously, but also her sense of smell, and as she approached the obviously roughed up young man she was getting mixed messages. Her eyes were telling her that before her was a young man, but her nose was catching the distinctive scent of a female, a female she was not familiar with. She made a note in her mind to check herself out when she returned to the dorm. It wouldn't be the first time that a cold was messing with her sense of smell. Then she saw the narrowing eyes of Coco, as her team leader helped the young man up by his right hand.
Reaching out with her left hand Coco assisted the first year back to his feet, paying special attention to the puddle of vomit on the floor before him. It was as she released her grip that she noticed the ink upon his right wrist. A very distinctive tattoo, one she had only seen once before. A dancing Golden Rose.
Jaune saw the look Coco gave her right wrist and stiffened. She knew what the beautiful second year, the young woman she wanted to get to know better, had seen. The terror of being found out blossomed in her chest, her heart rate spiking even further. She had only one option that she could see.
"Thank you." She stammered out as she ducked her head and bolted off down the hall in the direction that CFVY had come from.
"Wait!" Coco called out after the retreating blonde, but she was obviously ignored. He was gone before she could move to follow.
"Coco?" Velvet asked, a little concerned at her teammate's reactions. Did Coco know him?
/=/
Jaune wasn't going to risk being followed, and she instantly once out of sight of team CFVY, took a corner away from her team dorm and ducked into a janitorial closet. Locking the door and then backing away until her back touched the far wall of the cramped little room. All the strength of her body fled her, and using the wall she slid to the floor. She started to shake, as she pulled her legs up to her chest. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, as she fumbled to pull her scroll from her pocket. It took her four tries to activate the call feature. Two rings was all it took for it to be answered.
"Jaune?" The voice of her aunt answered. "Jaune are you okay? What's wrong sweet-heart?"
"Help." Was all the terrified young woman could get out before sobs powered by depression took over. She dropped her still active scroll to the tiled floor and buried her face into her thighs as she hugged her legs to her chest.
/=/
"Jaune, where are you?" Glynda asked. The only response she received was the sound of crying. Her heart tore at the sound, and without a thought she activated the tracking function of her scroll. "I'm coming baby, I'm coming."
Glynda was between classes, which was the only reason why she had been able to answer the call as soon as it came in. Standing up from her desk, she rushed for the door, and almost ran down the team of third years that were entering her classroom.
"Professor?" The leader of the quartet asked in confusion.
"Class is cancelled." Glynda replied as she moved past the team and after a glance down at her scroll, rushed off.