AN: I wanted to address some things about the potential pairings for this story. To start off with I do not have a pairing in mind for Jaune so I'm open to that. And secondly, I'm not writing slash so I'm not doing Jaune/Whitley or any other such pairings.

Besides that, I wanted to give a base idea (story summary level) of what I meant by the two pairing options of Emerald and Blake. I know a lot of people, myself included, will choose not to read a story if the pairing is a certain thing or done in a certain way so I'm putting the idea out now to let people have a heads up and get feedback.

For Blake, I saw it as Blake being suspicious of him, trying to get closer to 'get proof of what he's up to' and grows closer to him as a result.

For Emerald it's Whitley being paranoid and observant enough to note that there's something suspicious going on about Cinder and those around her. He starts trying to get information and while trying to figure out more from Emerald he, and she, unintentionally catch feelings. I see them working very well together down the line and almost have an Aladdin and Jasmine vibe 'the rich 'royalty' and sneaky broke thief'.

With the Power of an Avalanche

Chapter 2

-Whitley-

Blinking awake, Whitley looked around as he felt the transport land, the impact jostling him awake.

"Attention passengers, attention passengers." The pilot's voiced carried through the large commercial bullhead's PA system "We're just making a quick stop in the town of Ansel to pick up a couple more passengers. Unless this is your final destination, please remain seated and we'll be back in the air once more within the next few minutes."

Running a hand down his face, and noting the empty seat beside him, Whitley looked out the window at the tiny village the bullhead had stopped at. So far, he'd been alone in his row while in the first-class wing and he doubted that'd change given the size of the town they'd stopped at. Cracking open a bottle of water, Whitley tried to brainstorm ideas for what sort of business he could open when he heard an awkward cough.

"Excuse me, that's my seat." A blond teenager who looked about Weiss' age pointed to the seat across from Whitley where his bag was sitting.

"Oh, my apologies." Whitley put on his best 'polite smile' as he picked up his computer bag, observing the teenager who was getting settled in. They were decently large and built but wearing rather simple clothes. Jeans and a hoodie along with sneakers? Not what one typically sees in the First-Class area. What drew his attention the most though was the sheathed sword he saw sticking out of a backpack, the weapon was old but clearly high quality and of Huntsman specification.

"Planning to attend Beacon?" Whitley asked with a raised eyebrow, admittedly curious at someone who could end up being his future teammate.

"Yeah." The blond gave him a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head, "It's…it's been my dream for years, but it still hardly feels real that I'm getting to go there."

"I can understand that." Whitley admitted, "I'm still surprised I managed to get in two years early." He made sure to not sound arrogant or cocky as he spoke, but genuinely 'relieved and drained' like someone commenting their success at finally passing a fitness record they'd been trying to beat while they're still exhausted and reeling. He wanted to see how this guy reacted to learning his classmate would be so much younger than him.

"Two-?!" the blond gaped before giving him a wide grin that could only be called proud "That's amazing man!" the blond continued that proud grin, seeming genuinely thrilled at Whitley's accomplishment. Someone that this person had never met before. It felt…odd to say the least.

"Thank you." Whitley kept any confusion hidden as he accepted the praise humbly, "I'm Whitley by the way, Whitley Schnee." The blond's expression showed a hint of recognition at the name but not much.

"I'm Jaune, Jaune Ar-" the now named Jaune was cut off as the bullhead started moving.

"Alright everyone, this is your captain speaking!" the PA crackled back to life "We've picked up those joining us in Ansel, so our next stop is Vale! Hold tight and enjoy the flight." As the captain spoke, Jaune was turning more and more green from the motions of the rising airship.

The second the 'buckle seatbelt' sight turned off Jaune shot up, "Be right back." The blond rushed into the nearby private men's room for first class.

"His aura is sealed." Whitley frowned, mind whirling as he saw the door closing behind Jaune. Motion sickness was a common enough issue admittedly, but the enhancements of aura always removed the problem. Whether it was enhancing the inner ear or just boosting the body's natural immune system or bodily functions. Those with active aura didn't suffer from things like motion sickness.

Hearing a beep, Whitley glanced down at the tablet Jaune had dropped on his seat in his haste. On the item was a strategy game, one he recognized as an old Atlas military training program for strategy exercises. One of his trainers had him use it a few times, the military having apparently sold it once they got a different program to use. He'd done decently enough but the scores he was able to pull up on the tablet showed scores that blew his best out of the water. Hell, they blew his tactics trainer's best scores out of the water.

Unable to stop himself, he opened up a reply of a recent online match. The tactics used always surprised him, never being one's that he'd have thought to use, but the results spoke for themselves in phenomenal ways.

Putting the tablet back down before Jane could return, Whitley leaned back in his seat to think. Before him was someone who had no aura yet was still apparently a Beacon acceptee. Either he was lying about being accepted into Beacon or he'd lied to Beacon in order to get in. Yet he was also clearly fit given his size, didn't have an ego to rival his sisters', and if the tablet was any indication was quite possibly a tactical prodigy.

He'd need more information before he made his decision.

"Ugh, sorry about that." Jaune grimaced, still decently green looking as he returned to his seat, "Motion sickness ya know?" Whitley just supposed he should be grateful there was apparently nothing left for the blond to throw up.

"Yes. Although now you have me quite curious. Aura is supposed to negate motion sickness after all." Whitley commented as he studied Jaune's expression. He saw the almost concealed look of confusion, then horrified panic, before miserable resignation.

"You know, I knew there was a chance I'd get found out." Jaune's expression was hollow, eyes dim as the blond slumped into his seat, "I just never expected it would happen before I even got to Vale."

"At the moment I'm more curious…as to why." Whitley leaned forward, the two speaking softly so the others in the spacious first-class cabin couldn't overhear.

"You'll just think it's stupid." Jaune shook his head, looking like a man resigning himself to the gallows even as his tone made it clear that even he himself thought it stupid.

"Try me." Whitely leaned back, staring straight into Jaune's eyes. If it was a reason that he could get behind he wouldn't mind helping cover for someone with the tactical acumen Jaune showed. Getting someone like that on his side would be a great boon.

Jaune observed him warily before giving a resigned sigh, "My family…they're old blood huntsmen." Jaune ran a hand back through his hair, "With traditions going back just as long."

"One of the old families?" Whitley felt himself growing intrigued. Many thought the Schnees were counted among such people given their wealth and their hereditary semblance. It was a misconception that his father made sure to encourage, despite Whitley's grandfather being the first to ever unlock his aura let along semblance. The old blood families were scattered all over the world and many argued on how many generations it took to be considered such. But they all always had something distinct about them.

"The Arcs." Jaune's tone was deadly serious as Whitley let out a low whistle. That was a name he'd heard of even in Atlas. Very old Valean blood. Known for a rumored blood connection to the King of Vale who'd founded the Huntsman academies as well as their powerful semblances. Outside of that people didn't know much, which had only ever served to fuel rumor and curiosity.

"You mentioned traditions." Whitley leaned back into his seat, "I'm guessing it's not something like 'graduate from training without any aura to prove how manly you are'?"

Jaune let out a dry snort, "If only." Jaune ran a hand back through his hair, "My family are very tied to their traditions. The first being that they won't unlock your aura until they're actively training you. The second is that they won't accept anyone besides an Arc to handle the initial training of an Arc. It used to be train period but with the Academies and the licenses the traditions loosened up a bit."

"They never trained you?" Whitley frowned in confusion. That didn't fall in with what he knew of the ways of the old bloods.

"Tradition number three. Seniority." Jaune's head hit the back of his seat with a thunk, "My parents, my siblings, and I are the only Arcs left alive. The rest of the branches died out from the war and the Grimm that came after. But I'm the youngest of eight siblings." Whitley could do the math.

"So, by the time the others were done being trained…" Whitley trailed off, waiting for Jaune to pick up.

"I was too old to be 'trained in time for Beacon'." Jaune nodded, "Oh, I still exercised. Worked on my strength and speed and all that. But knowing how to fight is something vastly different than being able to do some pushups. Added to that my dad…didn't really think I had what it took. Hell, before I got on the flight, he and my Mom told me that there was always a place for me back home when I failed." That one hit a bit too close to home. Whitley was wondering if he'd regret putting Jaune in a corner to get this story.

"Why didn't he think you had what it takes?" Whitley decided to focus on a…hopefully less uncomfortable topic.

"I told you I was the youngest of eight?" Jaune asked and, when Whitley nodded, pulled up a photo on his scroll of him surrounded by a bunch of girls "I'm also the only boy and had a hard time telling my sisters no. My dad saw me getting drug to play House with the girls, or do tea parties, or when they thought it was funny to make me wear dresses. To him a little girl doing that sort of thing was fine but not a boy. To him I wasn't warrior material."

Lovely. Looks like Jacques Schnee wasn't the only terrible parent in the world.

"It didn't help that his attempts to make me 'man up' never worked." Jaune snorted, a bit of fire returning back to his eyes at getting the chance to vent, even if it was only because he knew Whitley had him over a barrel "His idea of good advice to get a girlfriend was 'Just be confident boy. The only thing girls look for is confidence. Hahaha!'." As he spoke, Jaune put on an exaggerated machismo voice, "Hell, his idea of a good pick-up line for me to use, one that he made me practice was 'Hey, names Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue, ladies love it."

"Oh brothers, that's awful." Whitely couldn't keep from letting out a snort like laugh at the horrible pick-up line.

"Yeah." Jaune laughed before the light started dimming in his eyes again, "Yeah. Guess I don't have much choice but to head back home now though." The grimace on his face implied Jaune thought that the best case scenario for him.

"Not necessarily." Whitely studied him, "I…know a bit of what it's like you know. Of families pushing you aside, of trying to prove yourself. Going against the grain." Whitley nodded to the tablet "I saw your scores when you were in the bathroom earlier."

"So?" Jaune looked confused, "It's just a game."

"Just a…" Whitley gave the blond a flabbergasted look "Do you seriously not know?" when Jaune still looked baffled, Whitley continued "That 'game' is an old Atlas Military tactical training protocol. It got sold for civilian use once they got a newer one, the 'score' system making it like a game and thereby easy to market. Jaune, your scores blew mine and even my tactics instructors out of the water."

"It can't be that-" Jaune began to wave of what he'd done before Whitley cut him off.

"My instructor was a retired Atlas Military Captain who'd had years of practical experience. You on the other hand seem to be a natural at tactics. I can respect ability like that." Whitely leaned back in his seat and smirked, "Besides, you wouldn't be the first Beacon student to have faked transcripts. Hell, there have been actual Mistralian Bandits who've graduated and gotten licenses before. So, what do you say? You help me out with your tactics, and I'll unlock your aura while helping you get some combat training in before Beacon. If we're lucky we might even be able to find your semblance too."

Jaune was silent, expression of bafflement at the situation he was in. But Whitley knew if this really was the blond's dream then there was only one answer that'd come.

"Deal."