All credit to respective owners.

-YARN

Blake blanked out at the quiet admission.

The words bounced around in her skull as she tried to match Jaune to being a Conduit.

They just didn't mesh.

Conduits practically glowed with the fantastical abilities that they could use, there was always something that set them apart from the norm. They were strong, indomitable, standing tall against the mundane nature of the world against them. Conduits usually shared a connection to their respective powers, but Jaune never had any of those tells that she had seen. He had never been like the people who she knew had powers; he never displayed powers overtly.

Yang liked higher temperature meals and drinks as they seemed to have a pleasurable sensation in relation to her powers. Cardin was… stupidly pig-headed about things, befitting his concrete powers that were enduring and unrelenting.

But Jaune was none of these things; he was normal and just some average person — aside from being one of her best friends — to Blake until just now.

Sure he had punched Cardin hard enough to bust his lip and Blake had been aware he was actually well built, but that was no tell to anyone; people who were much more muscular than Jaune had no special abilities to speak of.

She had expected so many other things.

Money troubles.

Drugs.

Blackmail.

Cardin.

Maybe gambling.

His house in the path of the destruction of the Conduit fight.

Even gang-related issues.

So many things that just didn't fit her image of the blonde that could explain why he was falling apart at the seems. Jaune — for all of his general awkwardness and demure demeanor — had never had any overt problems in regards to how he lived. He never seemed to take unnecessary risks and stayed out of people's way so they wouldn't bother with him. Cardin messed with him but Jaune generally didn't seem the type to make enemies if he didn't have to; he was a gentle and king person who tried his best. He had always been private in regards to his life and while it had been something Blake didn't like, she let it be. Jaune had never seemed to be in trouble until the whole conduit fight that happened and Blake was no fool now that he had admitted what he was. Pieces slid into place as she realized that Jaune was the Conduit wielding light from the recent video and… did that mean Cardin tried to kill him?

That was unacceptable.

"That bastard tried to kill you?!" Blake snarled, the words out before she could modulate her tone.

Jaune flinched as though the words would hurt him before he actually registered what she said and her turned to look at Blake with wide eyes, "What?"

"Cardin tried to take you away from me? That bastard deserves to rot in a jail cell!" Blake howled, not realizing what she said, "Hasn't he hurt you enough? I am going to kill him if I have to! You are not allowed to die!"

Jaune was taken aback as Blake shouted at the world, completely out of his depth, why was she not screaming at him? Shouldn't she be screaming in fear? Shouldn't she be angry at him for hiding what he was? Shouldn't she be disgusted by what was? Why was she not panicking at the very sight of him? Wasn't she supposed to call the DUP or CCS or whatever? What was this reaction?

It wasn't right.

It wasn't something he expected.

"What?" Jaune tried to figure out why Blake was furious at Cardin, "You aren't… you aren't disgusted? You aren't mad?"

Blake turned to him frustration etched into her face, "What do you mean I am not mad? I am furious! Cardin tried to kill you!"

"You don't think I am some sort of monster?!" Jaune shouted, an almost frantic desperation in his voice, "Aren't I a freak?! Why don't you hate me?!"

Blake stilled and another emotion washed over her face as she looked at him carefully.

Disbelief and hurt.

"Jaune." She said quietly, "Why didn't you tell me? Did you honestly think I'd run away from you?"

Jaune mouth open and closed, nothing made sense in his head. Every possible train of thought that ran in his head had either ground to a abrupt halt or leapt off the rails to crash into one of the other trains. Everyone else had left him and threw him away because of his powers. He wasn't supposed to be cared for as a Conduit. It was not possible to be accepted, that had been his one true belief that let him retain his sanity through the torture. It was the one belief that let the world make sense of his pain and allowed him to justify his own treatment in the past. People were fickle and shifted like leaves in the wind. Blake had to leave when he was exposed, then he could make all of his suffering actually sensible. If she left it was because he was a monster that wore a human's skin.

"But… Everyone else did." He whispered brokenly.

Compassion filled Blake's eyes and she understood after so long why he clammed up when it came to his family, "Oh Jaune…"

Jaune trembled as his world was crashing down around him.

He was a monster, right?

He was a freak.

It was the only fact he knew.

If that was wrong, if someone saw a person despite what he was…

He could be loved?

Even though he had powers?

That would — it couldn't — he was —

The stress and confusion was too much, the dam overflowed and crumbled as the waves of emotions surged.

Black spots danced across his vision.

Blake's eyes widened in alarm as he swayed almost drunkenly.

He needed to go —

Hand grasped his shoulders and the world blurred into something between a dream and nightmare.

He couldn't catch his breath and he was gasping for air.

He distantly heard Blake calling his name, voice filled with terror.

The floor rushed up to meet him and for the first time in his life, he could only feel relief as the darkness swallowed him and dragged him into the murky world of unconsciousness.

Cardin watched from the store's glass windows as Jaune collapsed and Blake scrambled to catch him, desperately trying to rouse him as she called his name.

He had only come after Jaune shouted about how he was a freak and she should be scared of him.

Clearly he had told Blake and the bookish girl had taken it without the fear he expected.

Cardin had not been expecting the sheer anger in Blake's tone as she raged.

That was scary.

Which was heart-wrenching in a way.

When Cardin was given his contract to pressure Jaune to suicide, the first thing he checked is if he had any family to turn to. For obvious reasons, his parents weren't going to help him (or at least his mother wasn't as she probably would've been able to stop her husband from hiring someone to kill her son). And there were no other Arc in the city that his extensive resources could find before he launched his campaign against Jaune. The pit in his stomach threatened to swallow him whole at just how much of an utter bastard he had been to the already traumatized Arc. The guy must have come to Empire to escape the family that must have abandoned him only for his father to once again find him and now subject him to torture and attempted murder.

Cardin wanted to help out now that he was aware fo Jaune's true nature, but he knew that his presence would do more harm than good right now. He was the only conduit that openly flaunted his abilities and while authorities had cleared him as he had been on his manor's premises, people still believed it was him. If he showed up now, no doubt Blake would accuse him and he wouldn't be able to clear his name to either her or Jaune.

He gritted his teeth.

No matter what side he was on he really was helpless wasn't he?

That was galling.

Saphron had greeted all of her sister with hugs and general questions about life and how they were doing while Terra patiently waited with Adrian on her hip. Violet was animatedly discussing the video as each of their siblings had been desperate to see if this was what could be the smoking bullet that finally let them meet their brother. Ilios had been impatient and crossly stared at the boarding screens, almost as thought threatening the flight to be on time or early even lest incur her wrath. Sinne bounced in her seat, too anxious to meet her brother after all the lost time; they had been so close as children as she was the closest to his age. Amber had drifted between awake and asleep in her seat as she had been practically unable to sleep as soon as Saphron relayed the news. Coral and Gia had been living together and both had wanted to run off to Empire without the family in their haste — without packing or anything remotely even being close to prepared — but reluctantly waited as everyone decided that they all go together or not at all.

They made for a rather large group as they waited but they honestly didn't care about that, family should never make one feel anything other than comfortable and loved.

Nor did they care for the several men who attempted to flirt with one of the beautiful blond women who waited at the gate. The girls were beautiful but either ignoring the guys or rejecting them outright gave off an air of coldness. They were looking for only one guy and weren't interested in anyone else until he was found and confronted.

There was an uneasy tension among the various women though.

His reaction.

In an ideal world, he would be ecstatic to see them and reunite with happy tears and loving reassurances.

But the world was never ideal and as much as they wanted back the relationship they had with their youngest, it was clear by his vanishing off the face of the earth — until recently — that he thought they abandoned him. That hadn't been their intentions and they loved him just as much as they always did, but he could've taken it in all the wrong ways and he would've been entirely justified in thinking that.

Either way, they needed to see him.

Even if he loved them.

Even if he hated them.

They just needed to see their little brother one last time, the seven sisters needed that closure. If he decided that he never wanted to see them again and they better not come near him ever again, they would respect that decision despite the pain and heartache it would cause them.

Their little brother had been through more than enough pain and they would be damned if they added any more to it if they could help it.

Blake sat by her own bed, Jaune laying on top of it after he had passed out on the floor of the Cafe. Ghira and Kali had heard Blake yelling — and decided not to even try to deal with what sounded like a furious daughter — but had come down until she started crying out Jaune's name in terror. The burly cafe owner nearly knocked the door down when he raced down the stairs and stiffened at the sight of Jaune out cold on the floor and Blake kneeling by him while cradling his head.

"Dad, help him." Blake pleaded voice trembling.

Ghira quickly knelt by the blond and pressed a hand to his forehead, checking his temperature, "What happened?

Blake nibbled on her lip, hesitating for just one moment, "He passed out from stress and anxiety finally overwhelming him."

That technically was the truth.

Ghira gave her a glance and scooped up his employee, "He needs to lay down."

"He can use my room." Blake volunteered, "It's… It's the least I can do for him."

Which led to Blake's current predicament.

She couldn't help it and softly brushed some of the hair out of his eyes, "Jaune… I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard."

"I think you're wrong about that, it may not have been he most kind but it was no doubt the only way to go about it." Someone said.

Blake spun in her seat to see her father leaning against the doorframe, face calm as he observed his daughter, "It takes a selfish man to not let people in. To cry, to show vulnerability? That takes strength and courage. Jaune is not selfish nor is he weak, but to suffer his sorrows in order to keep others from worry? That is foolish. And Jaune's intentions may have been good, but his way to go about it was not. I often forget that Jaune is still so young despite his maturity, he does not yet know how people think and how they feel. Part of it is his past, and part is fear."

"He's…"

"A Conduit?"

Blake wanted to shush him and demand how he knew, but it wasn't like she had been quiet when shouting, "He's going to panic."

Ghira tilted his head in an affirmative motion, "As is expected, he clearly had dealt with too much for something he couldn't control."

Blake turned back to face Jaune, "I just don't know what I can do to help him."

Ghira smiled, appreciating the fact that Blake was worried over how to help Jaune over everything else, "You don't need to do anything other than be yourself. And maybe keep calm when he wakes up, he really doesn't need anymore excitement."

He walked off to his own room and Blake sighed in fond exasperation at her dad, looking at Jaune's face and unconsciously reaching out to run a hand through his hair. A soft smile spread over her face as he instinctively nuzzled his head against her hand. The stress that was still plaguing Jaune seemed to ease and his features smoothed out at the reassuring action. She suddenly caught herself and pulled her hand away from his face, a blush staining her cheeks in embarrassment. Yang's accusation about Blake crushing on Jaune was stuck on reply in her head, refusing to stop as Blake eyes rested on Jaune's face. Blake also groaned when she recalled her earlier slip as she had yelled about Cardin and mumbled something unladylike into her palm as she began to run a hand over her face.

Stupid Yang for insinuating that.

Stupid Jaune for making that too easy.

And stupid Blake for even thinking about it so heavily.

"If you could stop doing this to me Arc, I'd really appreciate it." The raven-haired girl mumbled at the sleeping blond.

Jaune did not open his eyes immediately when he woke up.

He felt marginally more rested and was comfortable enough to try to fall back asleep, he had been pushing himself hard recently. He didn't know why his apartment bed was suddenly much more comfortable, but he didn't care and let it be. He tried to remember how he got into his bed and the events he last recalled hit him with the gentle force of a train hitting power plant.

Oh shit.

His eyes snapped open and he sat up, panic welling in his throat as he took in the unfamiliar room around him. He swiveled his head and his gaze landed on his best friend who was dozing on a chair while he wrestled his emotions down.

He carefully maneuvered himself out of the bed and flushed as he realized he was in Blake's room.

This was awkward.

He stealthily made his way down — knowing Blake and her family lived above the cafe — and was thanking the world and congratulating himself on his stealth as he opened to door to the back office.

His congratulations died violently as Ghira was sitting at his desk, engrossed in some paperwork, looking completely unconcerned with the world.

Crap.

What should he do? Should he run? Go back? Stay still and hope Ghira didn't notice the door had opened?

Jaune was so fraught with indecision that he didn't move a muscle for a minute.

"Jaune." Ghira called out casually, "Could you take a seat? It's a bit off-putting that you are standing there watching me."

Jaune mechanically shuffled over to the chair and sat down, hands fisting on his lap as he stared determinedly down at his legs.

All because Blake didn't seem to care, it didn't mean Ghira was okay with him.

The silence stretched on and on, Ghira still doing paperwork as though Jaune wasn't there, clearly waiting all the same. Jaune kept growing more and more anxious as time went on, lost and unsure what to say or even do.

He couldn't take it anymore.

"Sir…" Jaune began, only to go silent as he honestly didn't know what to say.

Ghira looked up and waved a hand, motioning for Jaune to continue after Jaune clammed up.

Jaune opened his mouth, but what could he say?

His secret was out.

He didn't know what Ghira thought of Conduits.

He no doubt heard Jaune and Blake shouting and probably guessed what had happened.

Or Blake told him.

Honestly, Jaune would've been fine with either as Ghira was someone he respected and would understand the gravity of Jaune's situation.

If he still thought of Jaune as a person.

"I'm sorry." Jaune whimpered at last, "I am so so sorry."

Ghira raised an eyebrow, "Why? What have you done that requires an apology?"

"I… I… I am freak." Jaune whispered.

"Conduit." Ghira corrected.

"What?" Jaune said eloquently.

"You are a Conduit. Not a freak. Not a monster. But a young man who simply had access to superpowers as a result of your genetic makeup. And this is something you never need to apologize for. And most definitely not to me." Ghira expanded on his correction calmly.

"But… I… You aren't afraid?" Jaune sputtered.

"Have you attacked anyone undeserving with your powers?" Ghira inquired, knowing that Jaune probably had to defend himself with his powers at some point and referring the alert that he could tell Jaune had been involved with.

Jaune head shot up, eyes blazing with indignant outrage, "No!"

"Have you used your powers for personal gain at someone else's expense?"

"Of course not!"

"Used them in a way to cause harm to anyone if you had any other option?"

"I… I haven't…" Jaune murmured, the outrage driving him on fading quickly as he lowered his head again.

"Did you ever even want to?"

"Never."

"So why would I be afraid and why should you apologize to me?"

"I… I yelled at Blake?"

"You did. And while you were in an extremely emotionally confusing situation that you were unprepared for, that apology shouldn't be given to me, but to her. I have no doubt she will forgive you." Ghira said.

"Why?" Jaune mumured softly.

"Why what Jaune?" Ghira responded calmly.

"Why are you and Blake okay with this?" Jaune cried, burning building behind his eyes as his deep-seated self loathing reared its head, "You act like it doesn't matter! Like you still see a person when you see me! My own family threw me away when they found out, so why aren't you?"

Ghira waited for Jaune to modulate his demeanor before sighing and leaning forward, intent on delivering his opinion, "I act like it doesn't matter because it doesn't matter Jaune. I look at you and see a person because you are a person Jaune. Conduit or no, that doesn't change how I see you. That your own family abandoned you speaks volumes on how inhumane they are, not how you are any less worthy than anyone else of being cared for. You've worked for me for a long time, and I think that I have a decent grasp of what sort of person you are and that also includes how I never once had a complaint about you. Also — just so we're clear on that with no room for negotiation— Winchester's tantrums do not count."

Jaune couldn't help the startled and watery laugh that sputtered out from his throat at the very accurate description of Cardin's actions.

Ghira chuckled at the tremulous smile on the young man's face that he was trying to stifle and motioned to the door.

Jaune quickly stood up, nodded, and walked out of the office to go home.

His chest was tight and his eyes burned but his shoulders felt lighter than they had in years.