I'm back. And while I was away I was obviously thinking a lot about my fanfics and I came up with (what I think is) a genius idea for Raise here. People have often said they'd love to see more of what the other kingdoms think of Jaune – and also what the newspaper headlines are like. Now since I'm having Ironwood wisely keep all that away from Jaune, meaning I can't easily show them, I thought it might be fun to start each chapter with a series of headlines from different in-universe fictional newspapers. Not the full articles, but headlines to convey a sense of what direction Jaune's fame is taking. Let me know what you think and if you like or dislike it. I'll go so far as to offer one from each kingdom as a means of depicting international sentiment. And a little extra one from a not-quite kingdom but still important region.
They won't all be front page headlines, ofc, more news happens in the kingdoms, but expect that these are sort of stories inside the papers – some front page if important enough, but others maybe just covered elsewhere or even on their online pages.
It looks like it takes a lot of the chapter but it's only 78 words so don't worry about it impacting word count or taking away from anything.
Cover Art: GWBrex
Chapter 9
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Love is in the air: Atlas' Miracle further cements ties to kingdom with blossoming romance
Atlas Times
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City mayor steps down over mishandling of Arc case; experts weigh in
Vale Daily Tribune
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Mistral Regional Champion rubs shoulders with Atlas elite
The Mistral Review
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Vacuo Council reaches out to Atlas for political visit from miracle healer
Vacuo Today
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Shock! Has Arc shown his true colours in refusing to address Schnee atrocities against faunus? More inside.
Kuo Kuana Express
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Jaune was on cloud nine even at the hospital, and his stupid teenage cheer apparently worked to his advantage. The doctors and nurses all smiled at one another and one of them even offered a teasing remark that had his face burning up and Elm bursting out in laughter. It was the same morning as always, him up early and at the hospitals using his Semblance to resurrect those who had reached the top of the list.
It didn't feel like any other morning however, not after the party the night before and some early morning texts exchanged with Weiss. Jade and Hazel had begged him not to text her until at least a day passed, saying he'd look desperate and lovesick, but he hadn't been able to resist, and he was sure Weiss didn't mind. It had been nothing more than a few lines asking how she was, if she got anything good for her birthday and what she was up to, and vice versa on her end. Really, there wasn't anything special or romantic about any of them. Weiss had sent a smiley face after the last one though, when he told her he'd be at the hospital helping people, and she'd even called him a hero.
That was enough to have him floating through what would have been an otherwise painful morning. As dead bodies were carted up, he kept smiling, and the photographers who were there today had certainly caught it. He just knew his stupid face would be up online by lunch, but he just didn't care. Everything was perfect.
"Your aura is getting low." Vine warned from the far wall. The Arc-Ops were arranged as usual, though Clover and Tortuga were absent today, off with General Ironwood for some other meeting or task related to him. Jaune hadn't cared enough to find out what. Now, however, Jaune tensed up, the familiar fear gripping him. "You can do maybe two more before we need to break off."
"I feel-"
"There are actually only two more on the list for this morning," the doctor said, interrupting him with a gentle smile. "We've noticed that his Semblance can only really cater to eighteen people in one sitting. Well, without pushing him further. We felt it was cruel to get people's hopes up by having them queue only to find out he couldn't see them."
"Oh." Jaune let his breath out. The tension slipped away. "Oh, that's good."
With a breath, his smile and good mood returned. It was cruel to the parents being made to wait and hope his aura held out, but it was also something he hated as well. Knowing there were more people in line and having to fight the knowledge that if he just had more aura, or did a better job, that they could be seen as well. It was never bringing people back that terrified him, but more the act of reaching the end of his endurance and having to be escorted out past weeping families and sobbing parents begging for him to help their children.
He knew he could heal more than just the eighteen if he had to; he'd healed far more daily in Ansel. The problem was that doing that cost him every hour of the day, any chance at sleep and every chance at living a normal life, and left him working from one exhausted nap to another. It didn't feel right to pretend he couldn't do more here in Atlas, but he understood why the lie was necessary. If he let out he could do more, the citizens would expect more, so it was better to set a hard limit from the beginning and stick to it.
"Thank you…" Jaune sent the doctor a nod full of gratitude and was rewarded with an understanding one in return. He probably knew just what it was like. Jaune stood tall again. "Let's help these last two then!"
The last two families were handled with the efficiency he'd come to expect of Atlas' hospitals, having a chance to both be there while their children were brought back and then to shake his hand after. Unlike prior times there were no politicians at the hospital today, evidence they were either busy elsewhere or were satisfied with the good press they'd already siphoned from joining him on his hospital trips. Once the final family were seen to and once he'd accepted a hug from the young girl brought back along with her mother, Jaune was escorted back to the entrance of the hospital. To have no line and no grieving families watching him leave was a huge relief.
"Hospital visit done," he texted to Weiss along with an emoji of a tired face. "Eighteen people. Aura at 10%."
He made to put his scroll away only to receive a ping. It was her! His eyes lit up not only at the response but also at how fast it came. He opened it nervously and quickly felt his smile stretch.
"That's amazing. Are you going to the hospital again later?"
"This afternoon. Same rota."
"Thirty-six children brought back. You're amazing."
Jaune blushed, then blushed harder and hid the scroll against his chest when he felt a shadow fall over him. Elm had the biggest grin on her face – one that said she'd been reading over his shoulder. "What?" she asked innocently. "I'm your security agent. I'm just making sure you're not in danger."
"I'm fine."
"Really? Looks to me all the blood in you is running to your face." Her teeth glinted. "I wonder why…" He was too embarrassed to respond to either that or Weiss' last message, and since they were heading outside he shoved his scroll away. "Oh come on, there's nothing wrong with a little romance. I've seen the pictures. You two were cute as a pudding."
"I've seen them as well." Vine spoke up. "And it's worth reminding you that should you wish to spend time with her, we will need to know in advance. I realise an armed escort might cramp your style somewhat but both you and her are important people to Atlas."
"Are you saying you'll be watching us?"
"Watching around you." Elm said with a cheeky grin. "Trust me, the last thing we want to watch is two teenagers making kissy-face. Vine is right for once, though. We don't need to know what you have planned but we'll need to know when and where. A day's warning would be enough. Just let us know if you ask her out. We'll stay out your way if you're worried about that."
He was worried about that, just as he was worried about the presence of an armed escort scaring Weiss away. No, she wouldn't be. Weiss was rich and famous as well, so she was probably used to it, especially since she was a concert singer. There were security teams there as well, so it probably wouldn't be too weird for her. He hoped not anyway. It was their job to look after him at the end of the day and he didn't want to make it any harder for them than it already was.
"I'll let you know if we do anything," he promised.
"Thank you." Vine nodded. "We know it's frustrating, but we really do appreciate your working with us. I've heard that not all of your sisters are as cooperative."
Yeah, he had too. The older ones mostly. It wasn't easy for Coral and Sable, who were adults themselves, to accept being shadowed all the time. Jade and Hazel didn't like it either, but they were in school, so it wasn't like they felt the presence of their bodyguards as much. He'd heard mom and dad chastising them, and the arguments that came from it. They kept the rest of them out of it though, so it wasn't too bad. They had a lot more room now in Atlas to wander away if things got too loud, unlike their small home in Ansel.
He wondered somehow how Ansel was doing. Better, he hoped, now that a lot of the dying and terminally ill residents had left and followed him to Atlas. Hopefully, the police wouldn't be so overwhelmed, and the village could start recovering with the aid packages he'd secured them.
At least the girls were safe now. Amber was spending more and more time with her personal guard, who Jaune had yet to meet but who mom and dad assured him was great with his little sister. He wanted to ask if she was feeling safer now in Atlas but worried it might just remind her of the crazy woman who took her hostage. A part of him was worried Amber blamed him for that – which would be fair in a way; it was his fault – and if she'd hate him for bringing it up again. It wasn't like he was hiding from her as they shared breakfast and dinner most days, but he was doing his best to tiptoe around Amber without every engaging her in conversation about Atlas, Ansel or what happened.
The glass doors of the hospital slid open and Jaune followed the Arc-Ops out towards the vehicle that was waiting for him. The crowds that used to press against the barriers to catch a glimpse of him were smaller now. Still present but numbering maybe two hundred or so and not the thousands of the first day. He waved at them, having learned that a little pleasantness could go a long way. They cheered and waved back, scrolls flashing and some holding their hands out for him to touch. Elm steered him away before he could, and toward the waiting APC.
Something bounced off it with a loud clang and then clacked onto the street, coming to rest by his foot. It was a rock. About half the size of his fist. Jaune stared at it dumbly, uncomprehending for a moment.
The Arc-Ops did not.
"Elm!" Vine barked. "Cover him. Harriet-"
"On it!" the dark-skinned girl who rarely spoke to him blurred ahead and started shouting orders, directing the police presence at the hospital toward a group of raised signs Jaune could see past the barricades. He couldn't make out the people hoisting them, but he could make out the words `SDC` on one, before Elm blocked his vision with a grunt. Another rock fell between her legs behind her.
"Elm!" he gasped. "Are you-?"
"I'm fine." The woman practically hoisted and threw him into the back of the APC, then ducked down to climb in herself. "I have aura – I didn't even feel it." Her grin was back, if a little strained. Crawling to the front, she slapped her fist on the backplate of the driver's cabin. "Get us moving. Harriet and Vine can catch up."
"Yes ma'am." The engine revved and the doors began to close. Jaune saw Vine look their way, nod and wave his hand for them to go before it had shut completely, and they were moving soon after.
Jaune sat, shaken, and looked to Elm as she settled down. "W-What was that?"
"Just some idiots expressing their opinions the wrong way." Elm looked ready to leave it at that, but he had to know more and pressed her further. The tall woman sighed. "Not everyone is happy with you visiting the Schnee family and getting friendly with their heiress. It's not something you should worry about – none of their business either."
"Then why are they upset?"
"They look at your actions and ascribe more meaning to them then there is. That's all. You went to the gala because you were invited, and you're getting to know the girl because you like her. That's all. But some idiots will tell themselves there's more to it."
"What are these ones saying?"
"You really shouldn't pay them any attention."
"I want to know."
"Ugh." Elm ran a hand over her face, looked to him and then sighed. "General Ironwood will have my head. Fine – but only because I know if you go looking online you'll get some biased and stupid opinion piece. You know the faunus, right?" He nodded. "Well they don't get on with the SDC because of some pretty bad business practices, both now and worse in the past. Now that's none of your business," she said quickly, "Nor is it your girlfriend's. She wasn't even born when the worst of it was happening and she sure as hell doesn't dictate SDC policy at the age of fifteen. That's the point I'm making. Some people are acting like you've thrown your support in with them against faunus just because you visited their party and got close to her."
He'd only gone because Ironwood said he had to, and while he'd enjoyed himself and made a friend in Whitley and fallen head over heels for Weiss, that didn't mean he was making some political statement. "I didn't even know about the faunus rights and that thing."
"I know. And it is stupid. That's why you need to ignore it. I guarantee most faunus will know better. You get idiots in every demographic."
Elm sounded so sure of herself that Jaune accepted it as fact. She was right after all, and he'd seen himself how stupid people could get back in Ansel. This was just a case of a few outspoken people getting the wrong idea and working themselves up over it.
He was sure it would blow over in a few days, especially once all the faunus children he'd brought back started to make the news. The hospitals didn't discriminate and neither did he. This was just a bad interaction right after the party from people who really ought to have known better. The Arc-Ops had handled it too without anyone getting hurt, which was a lot better than what happened back home to Dr White.
It'll be fine. It'll all blow over soon.
/-/
Since many of his sisters were being taught on Atlas instead of Mantle, they had the advantage of being able to go back to their rooms for lunch. That meant he could spend a little time with them while he waited for his afternoon sessions. After the protests from the morning however, Jaune was a little more focused on each of them, dreading the moment when they'd ask why they had been accosted at school.
They didn't.
Or rather, they had, but not quite about the faunus rights problems.
"If I hear one more girl in my class ask whether it's true you're taken or still single, I'm going to snap your neck." Jade told him.
"Why my neck? How is it my fault?"
"Because you're within arm's reach." His elder sister rolled her eyes when he predictably moved out of said reach. "But no, I've not been bothered by any faunus or protestors. Why? What happened?"
"Someone threw a rock at me."
Jade still, spoon close to her lips. It lowered, as did her eyebrows. "You serious?"
"It didn't hit me."
"Not the fucking point. Who would dare?"
He told her the story Elm had given him. Since he'd come back he had done a little searching online and hadn't liked what he'd seen. Where before, people were mostly singing his praises, there was a noticeable undercurrent of hostility since the Schnee party. It wasn't like everyone was calling him a monster, but he could now find one post among every fifty or so either criticising or defending him. The latter wasn't great either since there shouldn't have been anything to defend him from.
"That's dumb as hell." Hazel interrupted, joining the conversation at the table. "You spend every day working your ass off, then you go to one party – like, your first non-work event in months – and people are jumping down your throat. What do they want?"
"For him to be chained to a hospital bed for their convenience." Coral said.
She wasn't wrong. "No one has bothered any of you over it then?" he asked.
"Not that specifically, no. Then again there are only like… what?" Jade turned to her twin. "Three faunus? Four?"
"Three." Hazel confirmed.
"Only three faunus in our class. They stick to themselves as well."
"There aren't many in mine either." Lavender said. The younger girl paused in her eating to tilt her head as if she'd only just noticed the fact. "And they also stay with themselves mostly. I do talk to one of them though. Would you like me to ask for you?"
"No." Jaune shook his head quickly. He'd only wanted to make sure they weren't catching flak for his actions. Lavender might invite it if she went up to ask. Hearing how few faunus were in their classes, after all the accusations of racism, had him wondering if that wasn't more signs, but he didn't know the circumstances behind it and didn't want to jump to any conclusions. "No, it's fine. I was just worried I might be causing trouble for you all again."
Sable sighed the sigh of a woman tired with the line of conversation. "Jaune, we've talked about this before," she said firmly. "You cannot blame yourself for what other people choose to do."
"Sorry."
He did, though. How could he not? It was only because of him that they were here in Atlas, that they had to flee Ansel and that they were in their classes and schools in the first place. It was one thing to take responsibility for other people's actions when you were just a normal guy, but he was responsible here. He could and would cause people to act differently to them by his actions. If I suddenly refused to work in the hospitals everyone would start hating me, and I know for a fact that would bleed over to how they're treated in school. Not that he planned to stop but it was still the same point. His actions had consequences beyond what only he felt.
"Is Amber not coming back?"
"She's out with her bodyguard again," Coral said. "I think she has a crush."
"Amber is a child." Sable admonished her twin, who chuckled and wriggled her eyebrows naughtily. "She's just excited to have someone all to herself. And still a little panicky around trusting people." They all winced. Even Coral. "Give her a few weeks. I'm sure she'll get better and start making friends her own age."
"I-"
"Not your damn fault!" Jade snapped. "Some crazy bitch abducted her."
It was his fault though, wasn't it? She'd been abducted to try and blackmail him, and if his Semblance were stronger or if he'd helped the people understand better or if he'd worked more with the police like he did with Ironwood here in Atlas, then it might never have happened. It might still have to be fair, but there was a greater chance of her being safe if he'd done more. And ultimately, that crazy woman had only ever come to Ansel because of him. Saying it wasn't his fault Amber nearly died was false comfort at best and an outright lie at worst.
The rest of their meal was eaten in silence.
/-/
By the time the afternoon rolled around, the ruckus from the morning had disappeared, or the authorities had dispersed the protesters. One or the other. He was in and out the next hospital without issue, and he counted the faunus he brought back – eight out of eighteen. A fair enough representation that he felt confident in saying his actions shouldn't be sending any mixed messages. Clover and Tortuga were back, along with a few extra soldiers for an escort, but none of them were needed. That didn't stop him being shuttled back from Mantle with all haste, nor did it stop him feeling safer once he was up on Atlas.
He spent the afternoon catching up with his sisters and watching movies – they had an entire library of them now thanks to Atlas' version of cable. Then he was escorted to another counselling session with Dr Seng, in which the older man brought out a boardgame for them both to play. Jaune thought it patronising at first, until Dr Seng destroyed him in the first twenty minutes, prompting him to try again but harder. It involved resource management and using little people – called meeples – to assign huntsmen to spots to fight Grimm and beat back an ever ticking timer to the end of the world.
While they played, Dr Seng asked him about his interactions at the SDC ball but shied away from talking specifically about Weiss. After the fifth time he turned away from the conversation Jaune felt prompted to ask why.
"I don't want to bring your relationship into your therapy," he said. "Not unless it becomes a problem that needs addressing or you feel your problems are negatively impacting it. Do you have any concerns about that?"
"No. I mean, we're not even together. We're just… you know… talking…"
"That sounds perfectly normal. The only thing I'll say is that you should reach out and take any opportunities for personal happiness." He went on to laugh. "Honestly, this is out my zone of expertise. I normally deal with officers and military men and women who feel they can't engage in a healthy relationship because of their duties or responsibilities. My usual job is convincing them that it's okay to lower their guard or accept someone into their life."
Jaune hummed and considered his next move. Had his Semblance been the kind of thing without a limit or a tax on his aura then he might have felt the same way. If he could sit in a hospital all day and save people, he might have felt pressed to do so to the point of not having a life or a relationship outside it. Luckily, it didn't, and Ironwood was very strict on him having set times for work and set times to himself.
"Do you have any advice for me?" Jaune asked instead.
"Have you tried your parents?"
"Dad just says I need confidence and mom says she believes in me."
Dr Seng laughed. "Typical parent answers. I swear, half the problems young people have are because parents outsource the difficult answers to the internet or educators. My advice, as a married man myself, is to simply spend time with her, see if you both enjoy said time together, and progress from there. You'd be surprised how many people hit it off at first, spend time together and realise they hate one another. Invite her over to indulge in your hobbies but remember to indulge in hers as well. The road goes both ways. What do you know about her hobbies?"
Jaune thought for a moment. "I know she wants to be a huntress and is interested in things around that."
"You did yourself, if I recall?"
"Yeah."
"Then that sounds like a good mutual interest for you to relate over." Dr Seng chuckled, took his meeple and placed it on the exact spot Jaune had been planning to next round. His groan did not go unnoticed. "You're too obvious. I don't have to predict your move if you keep hovering your hand over it every round."
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me feel better via this therapy?"
"Ah, but your problems come from a lack of fun and too much focus on helping people to the point of self-destructive behaviour. I'm personally ensuring you have a little time for yourself."
"And what about my-"
Jaune was about to say his memories of Dr White, the things he'd seen in Ansel, but he clammed up before he could say it. The memories still haunted him some nights. Dr Seng had to have noticed, but he didn't jump on it or even send Jaune a pitying look. He appreciated that. Pity would have infuriated him at that moment.
"Do you want to talk on anything that bothers you?" he asked instead.
"No." Jaune shook his head. "Not yet."
"Then we won't push those issues yet. These things take time. Wounds of the body, soul and even the mind require time to heal. You can't bulldoze into them and force them into place. It's not healthy."
"Is ignoring them healthy?"
"No, but the fact you are thinking about them and that we are talking of them now proves you're not ignoring them." Dr Seng looked up with a fatherly smile. "When you want to talk about them, we shall, but not a moment before."
Desperate to change the subject, Jaune brought up the protest from earlier. Dr Seng went with it, allowing him to move away from the trickier topic. "Ah, I wondered when something like this would happen."
"You knew it would?"
"I expected. You can't please everyone – no one can – and things like this happen all the time when anyone has a great responsibility. In the military it's often officers feeling guilt or pressure over decisions made in the heat of combat. Could they have done better? Are people blaming them for what went wrong? Is it justified?"
"Is it?"
"That depends. When an officer fails by negligence and causes loss of life that was unavoidable then it may well be, but when there were no good options, or the option taken reduced loss but still caused some… well… What do you think?"
"If people would have died either way but they made the choice that reduced deaths, I think that's good."
"I agree." Dr Seng said. "Of course, you sing a different tune when it's your family that died because of the decision. You can't blame those people being angry or wanting to know why their loved ones had to die. I imagine it was the same for those in Ansel who felt you should have prioritised their families. As for the faunus here, well, there's no denying the SDC has a terrible record with regards to them. It's not just what they have done but how they have lobbied and fought against bills for better working conditions and rights. Their record is not a pleasant one."
Jaune sank into his chair. "Oh…"
"But that is not a young woman's fault, nor is it yours for liking her. Who can say, perhaps if things work out, the two of you can work to change that reputation in the future?" He smiled suddenly. "A little too early to talk of marriage, I know, but I hope you see my point."
"It's not Weiss or me who are the cause of their anger."
"Exactly. Now, that doesn't mean they won't occasionally aim it at you, but do you truly believe yourself racist?"
"No. Not at all."
"Then hold onto that certainty. Keep it tight. And remember that those calling you out are misinformed and perhaps even hurting. It doesn't make what they do right, but it doesn't make their accusations correct either."
"So I should just ignore them?"
"If you can. If they push, then address them, but make it clear you are not Jacques Schnee, nor are you an employer of faunus who mistreats them. Explain that their anger is misplaced and, if they continue to push, extricate yourself and leave them to it. It's best not to get yourself trapped in an unwinnable battle. Especially not if it makes you emotional." Dr Seng rounded up his turn and swiped victory again. "Another game?"
Jaune leaned in, fighting a competitive scowl. "Another."
/-/
It took a full week for arrangements to be made. Two days for an invitation, two to work out a timetable and then three more to confirm it and make sure everything was in order. A full week for a simple visit, but it would be worth it, she hoped.
"Hello Mrs Arc. Mr Arc." Weiss curtseyed as she'd been rigorously taught to but also kept her eyes on theirs. A Schnee showed respect, her father had told her, but never subservience. The lessons never really made sense to Weiss before, what with how little she cared for her father's wealthy business partners. They were all rude and only cared about her for the value she could bring. Here and now, however, she found herself thanking him in her head. She desperately wanted to not make a poor impression on these two people. "Thank you for inviting me to your home."
"So polite." The woman, Juniper Arc – Weiss had done her research meticulously – cupped her hands to her lips as though she'd been presented with the cutest puppy. It would have annoyed Weiss normally. Here, she blushed. "And you're welcome, Weiss. Any friend of Jaune's is a friend of ours. Especially if it's a girlfr-"
"June." Nicholas interrupted with a patient smile. "You'll embarrass her."
A little too late for that! Weiss' face flamed hot red, and she had to bite back the urge to snap at them for saying something so… so impolite! That it might in the future be true mattered little when she and Jaune were but acquaintances now. No, they were more. Acquaintances didn't stay up late at night exchanging texts, nor wake up early to check their scrolls and see if there were any more messages. Still, what she got up to in the early or late hours in her bedroom was her business and hers alone.
"Jaune is on his way." The older man said. Nicholas Arc was a well-known huntsman, in Vale anyway, and Weiss found herself impressed when reading his details online. It wasn't as though she'd stalked his family, merely… acquainted herself with them in advance. There was nothing wrong with that, was there? Either way, he was what she hoped to be. Or the male equivalent anyway. Strong, successful and respected for his deeds and actions.
It certainly didn't hurt that he was rather attractive in an older gentleman kind of way.
"I apologise if I arrived early, sir."
"Nicholas is fine, and you didn't. Jaune should have been back but there was a last-minute photo op sprung on him outside the hospital, then he had to meet with foreign dignitaries from Vacuo."
"It's fine, sir." Jaune was a busy man. Weiss respected that. Unlike so many others their age, Jaune did not waste his time with frivolity or needless games. He was a man of action, of respect, a hero who was known across all the kingdoms. How could she complain just because he was a little late to meeting her? It must have been about the agreements to share Jaune on visits to the other kingdoms. Those weren't public knowledge yet but father was on the council now and boasted often of it. "I know how things can get. It's happened enough times with me on tour and at concerts."
"Of course, you're quite famous yourself, aren't you?" Juniper was all smiles. "I hadn't heard much of your music before – Ansel is quite remote – but I've heard Jaune listening to it recently and I have to say you're a wonderful singer."
"T-Thank you." Weiss was no stranger to praise but she certainly was to the odd feeling in her stomach at finding out Jaune was listening to her songs on repeat. "I-I have a charity concert coming up in a few months." Arranged by her father of course. Weiss had been annoyed at first but now saw an opportunity. "I was going to ask if you all wanted to come."
"We'd love to. And I know Jaune would." There was a sound by the door of a key turning and Juniper turned. "Ah, that must be him now."
Weiss was quick to brush her hands down her white dress, smooth her hair out and turn – ignoring the way Jaune's mother elbowed her husband and smiled. It was one thing to be teased, another to look poor on her and Jaune's first meeting. Playdate, her father called it. Weiss hated the term for how childish it sounded.
When the door opened, he entered, looking worn and tired and annoyed. It lasted only a second, frustration turning first to delight and then panic. Oddly enough, she found herself understanding it entirely. He was as panicked as she about looking ruffled, and he certainly did look that right now. While she looked prim and proper, he looked like he'd come from a warzone.
It only made her respect him more.
"Weiss!" he gasped, stumbling over his words. "I- oh crap, I'm sorry I'm late. There were reporters and then the councilmen came and-"
"It's okay," she said. "I heard from your parents."
"Right." He took a deep breath and let it go. "I must look a mess."
Yes. Yes, he did. Had it been anyone else she would have felt insulted by the lack of effort, but it wasn't anyone else and she knew what he'd been doing. Even so, she asked, "You were at the hospital helping people, weren't you?"
"Yeah. Then we got ambushed on the way out. I haven't had a chance to rest since."
Working, helping, saving people. It was one thing to look the mess because you were a scruffy and lazy individual, and another thing entirely to look it because you had been selflessly giving up your time at a hospital. Weiss' smile spread. "I think you look fine." A little ruffled, a little grungy, but somehow attractively so. "If anything, I feel overdressed."
"Don't say that. You look-" He clammed up. That didn't mean she couldn't extrapolate his next words. Heat crept up to the tips of her ears, which burned bright pink. "Ahah. Yeah." Jaune looked around nervously. He hadn't come alone. There was a giant of a woman behind him in military fatigues, though she smiled and let herself out. "Do you…" He took a short breath. "Do you want to… hang out… in my room?"
Inviting her to his room already. She would have balked if she didn't have full faith that he meant it innocently. It would be rather awkward to keep talking in front of his parents after all. Embarrassing for the both of them. "I'd like that. You were going to show me X-Man and Rav, right?"
"X-Ray and Vav."
Weiss winced. "Y-Yes. That."
"We'll leave the two of you to it." Juniper said. "Dinner will be ready in an hour. I'll make sure to knock before coming in," she added with a sly wink. Jaune went bright red, as did Weiss, but more fuming than embarrassed.
So it was, with carbonated soda for drinks and sandwiches for snacks, that Weiss was brought to the room of a boy for the first time in her life. To her memory at least, and not her irritating brother. Jaune's room was spartan, which could have reflected his personality and his commitment to working but could just as easily have been because he hadn't been in Atlas long enough to truly decorate yet. Weiss eyed the bed as though it were a King Taijitu, but thankfully Jaune had a pair of beanbags for them to sit on. Doing so while keeping her skirt down was not easy, but she soon had a comic book open on her lap which helped.
Comic books… They were strange, Weiss Schnee decided after almost half an hour of passionate regaling and storytelling from Jaune. Naturally, she smiled, nodded and listened intently to everything he said, but she couldn't say she understood the purpose or the appeal of them. They depicted heroes – often supernatural, with abilities or powers that didn't make much sense, and which didn't make them all that much stronger than huntsmen. Why, then, did these fictional worlds need superheroes? What purpose did a superhero serve in a world where huntsmen and huntresses could achieve much the same, without the spandex and the flagrant vigilantism?
Any licensed huntsman could step in and stop a crime. They were trained, both in subduing criminals and in the law necessary to understand when they could intervene, to what degree and how they could place someone under arrest. It was all but necessary when some criminals would have aura and Semblances of their own. Given all that, she wasn't sure what the appeal of a superhero character was. Yes, they saved people, but so did her sister, and Winter had worked hard for her skill. She hadn't had it handed to her because of some radioactive incident.
As the time ticked on, Weiss found her interest flagging even further. Jaune was passionate, though, almost ridiculously so, so she pasted a smile onto her face and kept nodding as he pointed things out, trying instead to focus on and enjoy the way he talked if she couldn't the pictures and words on the page. These supervillains were almost as bad as the superheroes, and nowhere in sight was a huntsman or huntress to arrest either.
It was so very boring.
Childish too. Weiss almost wanted to say that but was afraid she'd upset him. If this was what he liked... well, she'd just have to work harder to find the reason why, wouldn't she? Maybe she should order some of the earlier comics to her manor and try to see if it all made more sense starting from the beginning. She was doubtful, and yet she knew she'd be forcing herself to read them all anyway.
"Do you not like it?" Jaune asked after a few more minutes.
"What? No, no it's great!" Weiss lied quickly and desperately, straightening up and smiling brighter still. "I'm really into the character development between X-Ray and Vav," she said, engaging in what Klein would call bullshitting, and what she would call innocent embellishment. "They have a very unique bond."
Interesting as in Vav was somehow content to play second-fiddle to a man not all that much stronger or more deserving of leadership than he. Then again, they were both strong by virtue of superpowers being thrust on them without effort, so she couldn't call either of them inspiring. Jaune seemed to recognise that somehow. Maybe she wasn't as good a liar as she thought, or perhaps he was just that perceptive. It had to be the latter. He was more a hero than these 2-D characters.
"How is your training going?" he asked.
Weiss' eyes lit up. Finally, something comfortable. "Wonderfully! My teacher says my fencing technique is all but flawless." He didn't – she was adequate in the strict and skilled man's words - but there was no harm in showing off a little. "I'm excited to start fighting Grimm myself. He says that once I can convincingly hold my own against him, he'll take me out. I know father will send an escort, but still, I'll get to test myself."
"That's great." His pinched expression reminded her, with no small horror, that he had faced Grimm before, and seen his father torn apart by them. He recovered before she could think to apologise. "I wanted to become a huntsman myself before… well… I'm not sure they'd let me risk my life doing that now."
They wouldn't. Weiss knew that for sure. "You're doing just as much for Atlas," she assured him. "More in fact. Every huntsman or huntress you bring back will kill that many more Grimm and save that many more lives." It was just a matter of economics in the end. Some roles were not glamorous even though they were important. Luckily for Jaune, his role was both important and glamorous. "You're worth more than any huntsman."
"I know. I know. I'm not going to stop helping out. I just meant that it used to be my plan."
That. That attitude was what made him a hero where those cartoon characters faltered. Weiss found her boredom swept away just talking about it. We're not two teenagers. We're Weiss Schnee, future huntress and hero, and Jaune Arc, current hero. Our names are going to be remembered forever. No one would remember that Jaune liked comics or videogames or those other silly things - she would make sure of that.
"Maybe we can have a spar sometime." Jaune said. "I'm a little rusty but I could use the practice."
"I'd love to!"
Panic. Obviously, she was pleased to have a chance to show off her hard-earned skills and she knew a friendly spar was just that; that wasn't in question. The question was more of whether he would be upset if she beat him or not. Probably not, she felt. He was mature and a good person. Still, probably not didn't feel sure enough right now. She would have to ask Klein for advice later. He always knew what to say.
"You can visit the manor and watch me train," she offered. Technically, she was supposed to ask her father's permission for that but she very much doubted he would say no here. "Then we can have a spar after. My teacher is always saying I need to practice against other people and it's not easy finding sparring partners out at the manor."
Not since Winter left.
"That sounds awesome! Ah." He winced. Weiss expected the worst. "I'd have to talk to Ironwood and the Arc-Ops first."
Was that it? Here she'd been worried he didn't want to. "That's fine. I have to tell my security team where I'm going as well." Jacques had spared her having to be followed today because he trusted Ironwood's handpicked team to do more than an adequate job. As such, it wasn't a bother at all that he couldn't give a straight answer. She couldn't either. "I have sessions on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday just before midday. You can ask them which suits best and they can let us know."
"Midday? That's good. I do my healing early and then another session in the afternoon."
Again, she knew. It wasn't an exaggeration to say she'd been following his movements even before she met him at her birthday party. He looked so gallant, standing in the middle of families crying in relief, his face set with a tired smile. Weiss would have to hide the photos she'd downloaded onto her scroll. If he knew she had them, he might think her some stalker.
"A-Actually," she said, nervous at first but then with mounting courage. "If it's not too much trouble, and if it's allowed, I'd love to see you work…"
The silence after she brought it up felt like it lasted too long, and she dreaded that she'd made a mistake. Eventually, Jaune said, "You would?"
"Yes." How could she not? What he was doing was a miracle. "If it's not allowed, I'll understand. I'm just…" Curious. Eager. Longing. It wasn't that she wanted to steal his thunder - accompanying him wouldn't anyway, and she never cared for the games her father liked to play - but for someone who longed to become a huntress to protect people, it felt like standing nearby as he did that would put her on the front lines. And if they were going to date then shouldn't she support him? Shouldn't she be there through the hard times to cheer him on? It was something mother never did for father, so she was sure it was the right thing. "I'd like to see you in action," she finished lamely. "Like you want to see me in a spar."
There was nothing wrong with that, right? He wanted to watch her train and she wanted to see him work. It wasn't strange and she didn't think it should be too much to ask. Of course if the decisions was out his hands then she would respect it, but she'd been thinking about asking ever since last night. Only now had seemed like the right time. As the seconds ticked on however, she began to wonder if she had crossed some unknown line.
"Is that okay?" she asked, filling the silence. "I'm fine if it isn't."
"No. No, it's fine." Jaune didn't look upset, only surprised, and Weiss let out a breath. "I'll have to ask Clover and Mr Ironwood, but I don't see why they'd have a problem with it. As long as you didn't distract me."
"I wouldn't. Never. What you do is very serious. I would never step between you and saving people, Jaune. Never in a million years." The mere idea, well it wasn't insulting, but it was something she had to make sure he understood, and something to keep in mind. Quiet cheering, then. A silent, reassuring presence to bolster his spirits without distracting him. She could do that. "I think what you do is brilliant. Heroic, even!" The light came to her eyes, and she leaned forward. Jaune for his part leaned back, his cheeks heating up and his finger scratching at one. "I want to see you doing it, Jaune, and… and maybe support you as well…" she added with a blush of her own. "If you'll have me, that is."
"Yeah. I mean, yeah, I would." He grinned back at her, looking just as excited as she felt. "I'll ask Ironwood."
The faintest rumblings of discontent here and there with certain demographics. Obviously, Jaune choosing Atlas isn't going to be enjoyed by everyone, and some might even look at the money being offered and start to think he's only doing it out of greed. I think the new newspaper headline system will be a good way of conveying that without taking up scenes.
At least he has Weiss to support him, right? Nothing worrying there. :D
Next Chapter: 5th July
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