/==/ Chapter Seven /==/
Blake was confused, and it was totally reasonable for her to be so, just after seeing Professor Goodwitch escorting an obviously crying Jaune Arc down the hallway. She had stepped aside when she heard the sniffling and the click of heels on the tiled floor. But it was also the scent that filled her rather sensitive nostrils that was really doing a number on her brain. She had never really taken notice of Jaune when their teams sat together. He was forgettable, if she was being honest, yet now without the overpowering scents of Yang and Weiss's hair products she caught the first real dose of his scent, and it was distinctly feminine.
She watched as Professor Goodwitch, the woman that often after spars was very critical of Jaune's performance almost acting like a mother hen. They vanished down the hall and around a corner, heading for the teacher dormitory, which also caused Blake more than a few questions, and not ones inspired by her taste in literature. She suppressed the urge to follow, keeping her curiosity in check, and rather made a mental note to possibly speak with the rest of JNPR about what she had seen and noticed.
She also decided that the next time their teams gathered together she would try and seat herself closer to the blonde goof, as she was sure her sense of smell was playing tricks on her. Little did she know that Velvet Scarlatina, a fellow faunus, was making similar decisions.
/=/
In the safety of her apartment, Glynda scowled as Jaune recounted what had happened. She had long known about team CRDL's activities, and while they were mostly harmless, this recent event was making her feel more than a little angry, and vindictive. They needed to be taught a lesson, she began planning one out in her mind, as she sat on the couch, Jaune's head on her lap as she gently ran her fingers through her hair.
It was tearing Glynda up inside, seeing her precious one, so distraught and suffering so much, because of a choice made by the Headmaster. A choice she failed to prevent. Putting those thoughts out of her mind, she began to idly hum a soft tune, as she continued to work at comforting the magically altered young woman.
At the first notes of the tune, Jaune's distress started to melt away, and her deep blue eyes slowly closed. A sense of serenity flowed through her, images and memories of long ago times hearing that tune flooding her with a sense of caring and warmth. Not long after Glynda had started to hum, Jaune's breathing evened out, and the stern authoritarian and protective Aunt smiled. She knew Jaune was asleep, and that was for the best. So she continued to stroke her hair, as she hummed, her own mind going back to much similar and happier times.
"Rest baby." Glynda whispered, "I'm going to make this all better, I promise."
/=/
"Where is he?" Pyrrha asked, her voice filled with concern as she paced along the length of JNPR's dorm room. "He should have been here by now, if he was in the library."
"Maybe he had…"
"Nora, not the time." Ren cut off the obvious comment from his partner and lifelong friend.
"I was going to say… maybe he had another emergency with his family." Nora retorted with a huff.
"If he did he would have let us know, like the last time." Pyrrha countered.
"He might not have had a chance yet." Nora responded.
"That is a possibility." Ren agreed, "Let's give him some more time, and then we can message him."
"I'm worried." Pyrrha commented, "We all know he has been having trouble with CRDL, and Cardin in particular."
"I still say I should break his legs."
"I doubt Jaune would appreciate that, nor would the professors." Ren offered, from his seat on his bed. Unlike Pyrrha both him and Nora were seated, and giving off the image of being relaxed. But Ren was sure Nora was also like him. Just putting on airs. "We should have more faith in him."
"I do, but I just worry." Pyrrha countered, "We all know he's not equipped to be here, and while I wouldn't trade him for anyone…"
"We know Pyr, and I feel the same." Nora agreed. "Jaune is the glue that brings us together, we just need to get through to him that he's important to us, and the team."
"That's the point of this meeting I suggested. He needs to know that, and understand that we need him."
"I just hope he lets us help him. He's always there for us, I… we need him to understand that we're here for him, as well."
"He'll get it." Nora commented, a weak grin crossing her features. "We just need to be obvious with him."
Ren was still not willing to let the rest of JNPR know about his suspicions that Jaune was hiding something from them. He was sure the others had noticed his deflecting behaviour. Ren just didn't want to build up their own fears about him, when he didn't have a definite answer. This team meeting was going to be the start of his plan. He needed to get Jaune alone, so he could confront him in a calm and safe environment. Ren had no doubt that Jaune would react negatively, but Ren would do his best to mitigate that reaction.
/=/
While the remains of JNPR worried about the location of their leader, and while Jaune was being comforted by her aunt, Velvet was watching Coco stare at her scroll. All of CFVY knew Coco had met someone, Coco herself announced it, after having to relate to her team about why she had been missing for a day. To say they were pissed at Sky was an understatement, but they were also happy for their leader. They had never seen her so happy, and by the way we spoke about her blond angel, they all knew there was probably more than a physical attraction going on.
Fox and Yats had gone out to do something, leaving the two ladies of the team to have the dorm to themselves. That left Velvet to alone witness Coco's actions, which right now were solely focused on her scroll. Velvet wasn't sure but she was assuming that the incident with CRDL and the first year she recalled was named Jaune, was at the centre of this round of multiple chart messages.
"She's not responding." Coco commented to no one in particular, as her thumbs danced over the on screen keyboard. "She has always responded right away."
"Maybe she's busy Coco." Velvet offered, "You did mention she was away with family. There could be a family function going on and she just can't answer you back right now."
"But…"
"Coco, give her a chance."
"I guess you could be right."
"I could be." Velvet gave her slightly stressed team leader a warm smile. "Do you mind telling me why after what happened it is so important for her to respond to your messages?"
"I… it sounds silly now." Coco sighed.
"It's not silly, if it is something you feel is important."
"Well that first year we chased CRDL off of…"
"Jaune, I think that's what Cardin called him."
"Yeah, Jaune." Coco pressed her lips together, as if she was picking her next words carefully.
"Coco?"
"He has the same first name as her."
"That is not unusual, and happens."
"He resembles her, and not in just a passing way. When I saw his face, I was instantly reminded of her."
"He could be family. Cousins sometimes look remarkably alike."
"Then there was the tattoo on his wrist."
"Tattoo, again Coco many people have tatt…"
"Not like this one. It's also in the exact same position as hers," Coco cut Velvet off, "and Jaune told me only her twin sister and her had it. They got them when they were sixteen… a symbol of their love for dancing… and she can dance Vel. She really can dance."
"Are you perfectly sure that the tattoo is exactly the same? That it couldn't by chance just be similar? You only saw it for a couple of seconds."
"I'm positive. I couldn't ever forget such a distinct work of art."
Velvet filed that comment away in her mind, right next to the confusion she had about the young man's scent. It made no sense, and she would think about it later. Right now her focus needs to be on her friend. She watched as Coco during the lull in the conversation was instantly back to staring at her scroll screen.
"Give her a chance to respond, Coco." Velvet calmly commented.
/=/
Jaune woke from her nap, feeling slightly refreshed and less worked up about the altercation with team CRDL and Coco. She was still dreading the team meeting she was overdue to attend, and very concerned that Coco might suspect something; even if such a suspicion was wild and very unlikely. Glynda set a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, or more to the fact a cup of marshmallows with some hot chocolate, before her as she pulled out her scroll and checked her messages.
There were a couple from her team, which she responded to with some half truths, about needing to see Professor Goodwitch, then there were the ones from Coco. The many ones from Coco.
Coco: Jaune, I need to know something.
Coco: Jaune?
Coco: Jaune are you there?
Coco: Please don't ignore me. I really need to speak with you!
Coco: Are you ignoring me? Where are you?
(Coco deleted a message.)
(Coco deleted a message.)
(Coco deleted a message.)
Coco: I'm concerned… and sorry for those messages. I hope you didn't see them, but if you did I'm sorry. 8(
Jaune's level of concern and panic rose significantly at what she was seeing and reading. Thoughts of losing her chance with Coco flooded her mind, and with shaking fingers, which caused her Aunt Glynda he was watching her from the kitchenette to frown.
Jaune: I'm here. I had my scroll off… sorry.
Coco: It's okay. I was a little worked up by something that happened earlier.
Jaune: Something happened? Are you okay?
Jaune's lip trembled as she wrote that line. She knew exactly what had happened, but she needed to keep up the facade. She needed to pretend that she was away.
Coco: It was nothing really. Just some jerks bullying another student, but…
Jaune: But?
Coco: This is hard to ask… but DO you have another family member attending Beacon?
Jaune: Why do you ask?
Coco: Just… just that the student being picked on looked a lot like you… and had the same tattoo you and your sister have, plus…
Jaune: Plus?
Coco: He had the same name as you.
Jaune's fingers paused over the keypad. She for the life of her couldn't come up with an on the spot explanation. She knew there was an easy way for her to deflect, she just couldn't think of it. She almost felt like crying again as she looked up at her Aunt.
"Jaune? What's wrong honey?"
"Coco is asking who I am… as him… I don't know how to…"
"He's your cousin." Glynda offered.
"What if she asks why I…"
"It passed your mind, as you haven't seen him in years."
"She saw my tattoo… a tattoo only me and Vi have."
"You didn't know he had one."
Jaune gave her aunt a questioning look, one that said she wasn't sure about all this.
"I know you hate doing this Jaune, and I hate that you have to, but for now it's what you need to do."
"I don't want to do this anymore. I'm tired."
"I know sweetie, but this will only be for a little longer. I promise."
"Really?"
"Really."
/=/
Velvet watched as Coco's shoulders relaxed, the pings her sensitive ears heard informing her that Coco was finally getting responses from the girl she was interested in. It made Velvet relieved as she hated to seeCoco worked up like she had been.
"Good news?"
"Answers… reasonable and believable ones." Coco replied.
"But you still have doubts?"
"Is that wrong of me?" Coco asked as she looked up from her scroll, "I mean shouldn't I just trust her?"
"I would say yes you should at least give her the benefit of the doubt, but that's just my opinion, and you should trust your own gut and heart."
"I want to, but I…"
""Coco, you either accept her answers or not." Velvet offered, "No one can tell you what to do in this situation."
"I think I really like her," Coco explained, "and it's more than her looks, she just makes me feel good being around her, even as short of a time as it was…"
"Then hold on to that."
"But my doubts?"
"They're doubts, which is reasonable to have…" Velvet held back that she was also having doubts about this girl that Coco seemed to have more than a crush on. "But again… I can't tell you what to do."
"I want to…"
"Then do, until she proves your trust in her was a mistake."
/=/
The return to her team dorm was nerve wracking, as Jaune knew she was going to be walking straight into an ambush. She took a deep breath as she stood before the dorm room door, before tapping the entry keypad with her scroll and walking inside. It was a complete and nearly identical replay of her first return. She was not two feet through before she was entrapped in a Nora hug. She was relieved and relaxed into Nora's embrace.
"Is everything okay, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked as Nora released her hold upon their team leader.
"It was just a meeting with professor Goodwitch, nothing to be concerned about."
"What was it about, if you don't mind me asking?" Ren spoke up as Jaune moved to her bed and sat down.
"She is concerned about my performance in combat class." Jaune relayed, using the excuse her aunt had proposed. "She wants me to see if I can find someone willing to tutor and train me in some basics."
Ren hid his smile, and silently thanked Jaune's Aunt, Professor Goodwitch for laying the groundwork for them. Ren just hoped that Jaune would be receptive to their proposal, and if what Jaune was saying was true, he should be.
"That's interesting, that she would suggest that." Ren spoke up before anyone else could say a word.
"Why?" Jaune asked.
"Because that was what we as a team wanted to speak to you about." Ren replied. "We know you're struggling, and feel like you're letting us down…"
"Which is NOT true!" Nora cut in.
"Nora's right Jaune, you're a part of this team, a big part." Pyrrha added a soft warm smile on her face, "Without you there is no JNPR."
"Guys?" Jaune was confused. She had been so sure that this team meeting was going to be much different that it was turning out.
"We want to help you more Jaune." Ren informed the now stunned looking blond. "And we mean with more than just your school work."
"I don't…"
"We want to train you, and with you." Nora blurted out. "We've already talked about it, and we've decided as your team… as your friends… will you accept our offer?"
"I…"
"We've discussed it, and figured out how each of us will assist you." Ren informed Jaune.
"I'm going to help you with your combat skills." Pyrrha again spoke, her warm smile having never left her face.
"I'm in charge of helping you get stronger." Nora beamed, "If you want guns I'll give them to you. If you just want to be stronger overall and keep your look, I can do that instead."
"And I've decided I will help you with some general conditioning and aura control."
"Please accept Jaune." Pyrrha implored, her smile faltering just slightly.
"You're the heart of this team Jaune-Jaune, we can't be a team without our heart." Nora added.
"What do you say Jaune?"
"Can I…"
"Nope!" Nora cut him off, popping the P.
"Nora is right, Jaune. You have a habit of avoiding things that make you uncomfortable." Pyrrha expanded on Nora's comment, "And we understand your hesitation, but we really would like an answer. We will accept whatever you decide, and it won't change how we feel about you and your place in JNPR."
"Jaune?" Ren simply asked.
"I…" Jaune hesitated again, worried about her secret coming out, but also on another level understanding and feeling the care her teammates were showing her. "I acc… EEP!"
"Jaune-Jaune!" Nora exclaimed as she interrupted her leader's verbal agreement by yanking him up off his bed and straight into a classic Nora breath restricting hug.
"We're here for you Jaune. Through anything and everything." Pyrrha commented, her smile returning in full.
"We'll start when you are ready." Ren added, as he watched Jaune struggle to free himself from Nora's grip. His own smile crossing, his normally stoic features. It was starting to come together, but he knew he couldn't push ok far too fast. This was going to take time, and Ren was willing to take all the time he needed to make sure his leader, and more importantly his friend, was supported in all the aspects of his life here at Beacon and hopefully beyond.
/=/
It was getting late into the night, and with her team either in bed already or making the final touches before they settled for the night, Jaune was propped up on her bed, back against the headboard, staring at her scroll. The messenger application, sitting open on the screen. She had sent some quick chats to her sisters, answering their questions about how she was doing. Followed by one to her Aunt about the offer she accepted from her team.
Jaune: So I accepted.
Glynda: I'm happy you did. Your team cares for your Jaune.
Jaune: It was a surprise. I thought…
Glynda: Not everything is going to turn out negatively for you sweetie.
Jaune: It's hard not to feel that way… considering…
Glynda: Just remember, there are many, many people that love and care for you.
Jaune: I should try and get some sleep. They would like to work out a schedule for training tomorrow.
Glynda: Sweet dreams baby. Love you.
Jaune: Love you too.