/==/ Chapter Nine /==/
Jaune had a troubled sleep. Worries that people were about to discover her secret caused her to toss and turn, resulting in her looking tired and worn the next morning. She deflected her team's concerns with an "It's nothing." First and foremost in her mind, the looks that Velvet and Coco had been giving her the day before. While she knew Coco had accepted the selfie of her sister Vi as one of herself, she knew it was going to come back and bite her on the ass, at some point.
"If you're too tired, we can skip today." Ren offered.
"No." Jaune replied as she pulled her treasured hoodie on over top of the plain white tee-shirt she was wearing. "We all know I need the help, and just because of one restless night, it shouldn't stop me from training."
"But if you're too tired, it won't help." Nora offered.
"I'll be fine after I have something to eat."
"Jaune…" Pyrrha started to comment.
"I'll be fine, " Jaune spoke, cutting off her partner. "One bad night shouldn't stop what I need to do, and you all know I need this. It'll be fine."
"If you're sure." Pyrrha responded. "Just don't push yourself, if you overdo it, you'll set yourself back while trying to recover."
"I appreciate the concern." Jaune offered with a warm but tired smile.
/=/
At breakfast, Coco was able to for the lack of a better term, corner Jaune and apologize. Jaune lucked out that it was near the end of the buffet line, that it happened. Which meant none of her team was nearby to hear it.
"I don't know what it is specifically, but just looking at you reminds me of her." Coco mentioned as she started to step away. "I mean, the resemblance is uncanny."
"Yeah, we got that a lot of growing up." Jaune offered, doing her best to continue with the lie she had fed Coco during their last late night chat session.
Velvet's brow was furrowed. Standing near Coco, and offering her own apology, which gave her the perfect opportunity to inhale his scent. It only confirmed what she had noticed during the CRDL incident. Jaune did not match what her nose was telling her, and it was confusing. The masculine figure, before her, did not look like a young woman using creative dressing to hide herself. Yet his smell was without a doubt feminine, and oddly familiar. Like she had been exposed to a variation of it before.
"He's hiding something, Coco." Velvet whispered to her team leader as they separated from Jaune.
"We're all hiding something, Vel." Was Coco's response. "Like, aside from you, no one knows I'm scared of polyester leisure suits, and you're in love with carrot cake, but only if it has chocolate icing."
"I'm serious Coco." Velvet commented. "Her… er… him, is off."
"Her?"
"Slip of the tongue."
"No, you started with her." Coco eyed her teammate and friend. "Why?"
"Forget I said anything."
"Vel?"
"It's nothing Coco."
"You just said Jaune was hiding something, and then called him, her." Coco's eyes narrowed as she and Velvet took their seats. "You don't make slips like that. What is going on?"
"His smell is familiar, and not male. If you catch what I'm saying."
"Are you implying that Jaune, the Jaune seated three tables away, is pretending to be a guy?"
"Yes, I guess I am."
"And why?"
"It's his scent. I know you don't notice, but it's obvious to me. He smells like a girl, not a guy."
"He could just use…"
"It's not from soaps or such stuff. It's his natural scent, and to make it worse… I KNOW I've smelled a similar one."
"Similar?"
"Yeah, not the same, but close. Like a brother or sister, or parent."
"I don't know how. He's a first year, and I think you're mixing scents up." Coco responded as she began to tuck into her breakfast. Velvet remained silent. She knew what she smelled, but it was obvious that Coco wasn't ready to listen to her concerns. So she decided she would keep the rest of her concerns to herself, at least until she identified the scent that was similar.
/=/
After her stretching routine, Jaune was seated cross-legged facing Ren on some yoga mats, well out of the way of the main exercise areas. Her eyes were closed as she focused inside, feeling the ebb and flow of her aura. It was quite a relaxing exercise, and she soon found herself slipping into an almost hypnotic state.
Ren watched Jaune carefully. He knew from his years of practice that early on with new practitioners of these types of exercises could often put themselves into a suggestive state. He could see the signs that Jaune was currently doing just that. Ren knew it was wrong, but knowing that Jaune would deflect and avoid any questions he had, Ren made a choice.
"Jaune, can you hear me?"
Jaune just hummed an affirmative response.
"I want to ask you some questions. Is that okay? Will you answer them truthfully?"
Jaune once again hummed a positive response.
"Do you trust us? Your teammates?"
"Mostly." That response did not inspire confidence in Ren. He knew from Jaune's nervous ticks that he was hiding something, but to hear from Jaune's own mouth that he didn't fully trust his team, was disappointing.
"Are you hiding something from us? Something personal?"
"Yes." Jaune frowned as he answered. That was the confirmation Ren needed, but instead of stopping there, he pushed further.
"Can you tell me what it is that you are hiding from us?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I promised. The Headmaster and Auntie told me to never tell. Too dangerous to tell." Ren frowned. He thought it would be simple, but apparently it wouldn't be. So he tried a different route.
"Jaune, why is it dangerous?"
"Could end up like the girl in the tube, or worse."
"Girl in the tube? Worse?" Ren rose from his seated position, and was on his knees before Jaune, his hands just about resting on Jaune's shoulders, but not touching, knowing that in doing so he could snap Jaune out of his meditative trance. "Who is the girl in the tube Jaune? What could be worse?"
"Amber. Dead."
"Jaune what is going on?"
"Made a promise, to not tell. I can't break a promise."
Ren, despite his reputation, was not always emotionless, and the answers he was getting from Jaune had him worked up. He was deeply worried about his friend, and without thinking, he grabbed Jaune by his shoulders. The sudden physical touch shocked Jaune out of his self-induced trace.
"Ren?" What's…"
"I need to know Jaune!"
"Know?"
"Who and why you could end up dead. What promise did you make to the Headmaster and Professor Goodwitch!"
"Ren?"
"I need the truth, Jaune. I need the truth. Are you in trouble?" Ren shook Jaune slightly more than gently. "You have teammates… we can help!"
Jaune's eyes grew wide, and Ren instantly recognized the signs of panic, but before he could reassure Jaune, or tighten his grip, Jaune lashed out. Ren grunted more in shock than pain as Jaune's fist connected with his jaw. The surprise hit was enough to loosen his grip and allow Jaune to pull free. Seconds later, Jaune was up and dashing out of the gym, leaving Ren still on his knees.
/=/
The rapid banging on her apartment door rosed Glynda from her reading. Setting her novel aside, she rose to her feet and made her way to the entrance of her accommodations. The whole time she was moving to answer the door, whoever was on the other side was continuously pummelling it. Twisting the knob and taking it open, she was set to give the interloper her best glare, only to find a nearly hyperventilating Jaune.
"Jaune?"
"He knows!" Jaune blurted out.
"Knows? Who's he?" Glynda asked as she ushered Jaune inside. "I need you to calm down and tell me what is going on. So take a couple of deep breaths."
/=/
It took Ren about twenty minutes to get his wits about him, and gather his belongings, and Jaune's forgotten ones. The trip back to JNPR's dorm was another fifteen, which was more than enough for Professor Goodwitch to intercept him, at the door of the dorm room. Ren knew just by the glare the professor was giving him that he was about to have a rather uncomfortable conversation with the woman he knew was Jaune's Aunt.
"Mr Lie Ren."
"Professor?"
"Come with me. The Headmaster and I would like to have a word with you." Glynda informed the young man. All it had taken was a quick scroll call as she was making her way to the student dorms to get the Headmaster involved.
"The headmaster?"
"Yes."
"Can I kn…"
"You know exactly what this is about." Glynda cut him off. "Now if you please."
Ren just nodded. He knew it was inevitable that he would be spoken to by Professor Goodwitch considering the relationship she had with Jaune, however the inclusion of the Headmaster had the young man concerned. With a motion of her hand, Ren moved to a spot just in front of her, and started his trip towards the tower that everyone knew housed Headmaster Ozpin's office.
/=/
"I must say Mr Ren that was a rather innovative way to gather information about your teammate's situation, however," Ozpin commented as he sat behind his desk, hands clasped before him. "And rather underhanded as well. Jaune has, understandably, trust issues, and to be blunt you betrayed that trust."
"Headmaster, I…"
"You will have a chance to speak once I am finished." Ozpin cut him off.
"Yes, Headmaster." Ren conceded.
"I have spoken with Jaune, and Glynda, now I wish to hear from you directly… what did Jaune tell you?"
"That there is a girl somewhere in Beacon, named Amber, who is in a tube, and that for some reason Jaune is holding on to something that could see him killed." Ren saw no reason to deflect, or by being dishonest. Obviously, Jaune would have told the Headmaster and Professor. Ren of course didn't know how much Jaune could recall from his time in the trance, so he went with everything he knew.
"I see." Ozpin leaned back in his chair. His gaze never strayed from the young man seated before him. "The situation regarding Amber is best forgotten by you, and I highly stress that you do disregard anything Jaune has made mention of in regard to her."
"Also," Ozpin continued, not givingRen a chance to respond. "Any, and I mean any, further attempts by yourself to ferret out further information in regard to Jaune's personal situation, will result in much more severe complications to you and Ms Valkyrie."
"I don't…"
"You and Ms Valkyrie are a package deal, and if you push my boundaries I will be forced to act, as in breaking up JNPR me transferring the pair of you to another academy to continue your education." Ozpin leaned forward, "I will not deprive the people of Remnant two promising defenders, but I WILL however take steps to protect Jaune, drastic ones if I am forced. Understood?"
Ren just nodded, the reality that if he pressed his luck in trying to draw more information out of Jaune would cost him and Nora their team, and their friends. With Nora's future also in the balance, over just his own, the risk was too great.
"Good. Now Mr Ren consider yourself drafted."
"Headmaster/Ozpin?" Ren and Glynda both asked in unison.
"I will confirm that Jaune is facing serious threats to her person. I will also inform you that Jaune is not who she seems." The headmaster's use of she confused Ren. "Jaune was never meant to be a huntress. She had no desire to be one. Circumstances beyond her control have forced the issue, and she is at Beacon for her safety."
"Why do you keep referring to Jaune as 'she'?"
"That is of no consequence." Ozpin replied. "You will help Jaune in her development, as well as assisting her whenever she needs plausible excuses to distance herself from your teammates and friends."
"Ozpin, you can't be serious." Glynda commented from her position standing at the Headmaster's left. "He's a student, we can't…"
"Yes, he is a student, but by his own actions has inserted himself into this situation, and therefore I will make use of him." Ozpin replied, before returning his full attention to Ren. "These directives are non-negotiable. You either accept them or I will transfer you and Ms Valkyrie to one of the other schools, though I will be accommodating and let you choose whether it be Atlas, Haven, or Shade. Is this understood?"
"Yes, Headmaster."
"Good. Jaune will be staying with Glynda for the next couple of days, the cover story is that Jaune received a call about a family illness during your training session."
"A family illness."
"Correct. You do not need to expand on this excuse. Jaune will give further details for the cover story in a day or so. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Good. You are dismissed, Mr Ren. I strongly suggest you remember what I have relayed to you."
"Yes, Headmaster."
Ren rose from his seat. His heart crashed into his ribs, as he was still trying to come to terms with how his personal actions now had a chance to also affect Nora. Glynda waited until Ren had left before waking about Ozpin's desk. She gave Ozpin a stern look as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"It is time to end this farce. Lie Ren is a student, and you can't be risking him or Jaune for that matter. It is not right."
"I will do what I must to protect the powers that reside within Jaune, and if that requires coercing a young man into helping with the deception, then that is what I will do."
"Ozpin."
"Glynda, there are few options with regard to Jaune's safety. We hide her like we currently are, and allow her to gain control over her powers. We lock her away where no one could touch her, or…"
"Or?"
"Or we transfer the powers out of her."
"You are not putting my baby in that horrid contraption!" Glynda snapped the palms of her hands, slamming into the top of the headmaster's desk. Ozpin leaned back and raised an eyebrow, the gears in his head turning. "It's disturbing enough what you plan to do with Amber, you will NOT subject Jaune to it as well."
"I have no intention to do so." Ozpin leaned forward in his chair. "Jaune's best option is the one we are using. Hide her, and train her. Instill the skills and control she needs to master her powers."
"That would be easier to do if I could train with her, more than one week a month."
"If Mr Lie Ren and the rest of JNPR follow through with the training plan they have devised, I have a feeling when you have Jaune for the one week a month you will see a marked improvement."
"Reverse whatever it is you did. Just let her be with me. Give me the chance to work with her every day."
"We've been having this dance all summer, Glynda. There is nothing you can say now, that you haven't already said. This is the best course of action to secure Jaune's safety."
"Bullshit! There are…"
"I disagree." Ozpin retorted, cutting off Glynda's rant. "The decision has been made, and we will follow through with what has been agreed upon."
"Ozpin."
"Have faith Glynda. This will all work out for the better. Have faith."
/=/
Glynda was in a mood when she returned to her quarters, but Lon entering and seeing Jaune curled up upon herself caused the activation that Glynda was feeling for Ozpin to evaporate. Moving forward, she spread her arms and Jaune instantly was off the couch and shelled in her warm embrace.
"I messed…."
"No you didn't. Your teammate took advantage of the situation you were in. You did nothing wrong."
"But… he knows."
"He knows very little, and the Headmaster has… taken steps to make sure he doesn't say anything or to try that again. So you're safe. Your secret is safe."
"But…"
"Jaune all he knows for sure is that there is a girl named Amber at the school, and that there is a power inside you that others want. Nothing more. He has no clue about who you truly are."
"I feel like a failure. I messed up."
"You are no such thing, and you did not mess up. None of what happened is your fault. Lie Ren is obviously concerned about you, and he did something regrettable to try and discover what the situation was. Nothing more." Glynda squeezed Jaune a little tighter, trying to offer Jaune an even greater sense of comfort and security. "Now you need to calm down. The headmaster has arranged for you to have a couple of days away, so things can settle."
"What did he do?"
"You received a call during your training, about a family illness. Mr Ren will pass that story on to the rest of your team, and tomorrow you will send them all a message in that regard."
"So Ren is covering for me?"
"He is, and that is what the Headmaster has tasked him with. He is to help you keep your secret. To assist you when you need help, and to not push you to find out more."
"How did he…"
"You don't have to worry about that. That agreement is between Mr Ren and Ozpin. You just need to calm down and continue your training with your team."
"Continue?"
"Yes. It will help you gain control of your abilities and fit in more. The less you are noticed, the better for your situation."
"But…"
"None of us who know the truth expect you to be the best Jaune, but showing some skill over what you are capable of now, will help you be ignored by others, and that is the best we can hope for."
"I guess I see what you're saying."
"Have faith in me, Jaune. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. I'm always here for you, regardless of the issue. Just like when you were…" Glynda couldn't finish her statement as she closed her eyes and hugged Jaune even tighter. "I love you, sweetie. Just remember that.
"I love you too, Auntie."
"How much longer until?"
"Three weeks, give or take." Jaune answered
"You have the patches close by?"
"In my bag."
"Good."