Warning: This chapter turned out a little darker than I thought it was going to when I first started. There are underlying themes that might feel a little too real for some people. I did try to mix some humor in, but the dream in this chapter might make you feel things you don't want to. Not going to say the dream didn't come out well. I actually really like it and it's a good contrast to previous dreams. I just wanted to warn everyone so you can steel your resolve.
Now to the good news. Special thanks to Neoshadows and UrsaMJR. We also have an intern, nBappo who has joined our ranks and is getting experience doing some Betaing.
If you continue to enjoy my stories, feel free to check out my p a treon.
P a treon . com (Slash) Darkbetrayer
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
"C-Cinder?"
Jaune choked on his food, causing him to cough a few times as everyone else stared either at him or at Cinder. Well, except for Ruby, who waved to Emerald behind him. Emerald was a young woman with medium-brown skin and dark-red eyes. Her hair was a light mint green with a straight fringe and bangs, as well as two long locks on each side in the back. Being an exchange student, her clothes consisted of Haven's conservative dark gray outfit with a long-sleeved collared top and white armband.
"W-What are you doing here?"
"Hmm?" Cinder raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one who invited me and my team to come to sit with you yesterday?"
The conversation in the library rushed to the forefront of his mind. He did vaguely recall saying something to that effect. Amidst an anxious fear of his semblance sparking up again, the entire conversation with the attractive Haven student was kind of a blur. Hell, now that he recalled their talk, he wasn't really sure the smoldering-eyed woman would ever accept his offer. Once again, his damn Semblance was causing him trouble and making him either overthink things or grow weary of others.
Last night's dream aside, maybe Cinder wasn't as scary as everyone made her out to be.
"Right, sorry!" Jaune apologized, scooting over. "I'm not awake yet, you know? You're welcome to sit with us."
Introductions were quickly made as Jaune introduced Cinder to everyone seated at the table. Smiles, nods, brief glances, and waves were made to the amused amber-eyed woman, who had gained enough importance to the fledgling knight to be introduced to his friends like he was bringing over the girlfriend to meet his parents.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Cinder smiled. "I've heard a lot about Team RWBY from Emerald." She gestured to the green-haired girl and then to the boy next to her. "The young man here is Mercury."
"Sup ladies!" A pale, young man with gray eyes and partially slicked-back gray hair, unkempt at the front, greeted them. He was wearing a similar Haven outfit to Emerald and Cinder, except with pants. He gave them a wink, which made Weiss, Yang, and Blake roll their eyes.
"Sure, you can sit with us!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly.
"It's not like the tables are reserved," Nora added.
Cinder and her group took their places next to them. Emerald sat next to Ruby, while Cinder sat next to Jaune. Mercury sat across from her, next to Ren. The sudden introduction of the Haven students to RWBY and JNPR's table seemed to cause some immediate confusion and suspicion among a few of the more sharp-eyed members of the bunch.
Yang, who was looking between Jaune and Cinder, was interested in the gossip between them. One doesn't just get Cinder Fall to join you at your breakfast table without doing something impressive. She glanced over at Blake, wondering what she thought of her boyfriend inviting a smoking hot girl to their table.
Said ninja-faunus ignored her blonde partner, flipping a page of her book while only stealing a curious glance at the new members of their table. Ren was Ren, cool as a cucumber as he minded his own business and had no issues at all with Nora who was happily babbling some fantastical tale with Mercury. The gray-haired Huntsman-in-training had already gained some points with the silent pink-eyed boy, the former showing no discomfort or issues with some random bubbly girl talking his ear off.
Hell, Mercury went as far as talking back and encouraging her.
Being already familiar with Emerald, Ruby took to talking with the pleasant and polite girl, pleading something about inspecting the girl's weapons.
Weiss kept locking eyes with Jaune, who was trying to silently explain via eye gestures as to the sudden development. Sadly, Weiss's complicated Semblance did not include mind reading in its tool belt of cool magic-but-not-magic tricks. At least the Dust Heiress wasn't one to do anything rash. He couldn't help but thank whatever gods were out there that it was the icy, patient, kinda-tempered, and intelligent Snow Angel who had caught on to his Semblance instead of the others on her team.
Pyrrha, however, was silent as her eyes kept tentatively darting between Jaune and Cinder.
"So, Jaune." Mercury suddenly blurted out, catching a grape Nora had tossed high into the air with his mouth and bumping the grinning girl's fist. "Heard you flirted with our leader yesterday? Impressive. Our leader here isn't one to take a liking to others so quickly. Didn't take you for the charming type!"
"PFFFFFFFFFFTTTT!"
Pyrrha sprayed her drink across the table, and she wasn't the only one. Yang and Weiss did too, mouths sputtering coffee and orange juice alongside the Invincible Girl's ice tea. Groans, shrieks, and an indignant curse was heard as many at the table had been hit by the spray of morning beverages. Instincts had sprung up at the last second as Blake's hands blurred and her book vanished under the table to save her precious from the incoming tide splashing up like waves. Glaring at the three girls, she now had to actually join in social interactions like a normal, well-adjusted person.
Coughing into her fist, Weiss now had a legitimate reason to glare at the flustered blond knight. She had been taken by surprise like the others but for deeper reasons. Or at least one meaningful reason that had nothing to do with why Yang's lilac eyes were briefly flashing red.
After yesterday's interaction with Cinder, she had grown to realize that there was a possibility of Jaune diving into the Haven student's dream as he had with her. Who knows what kind of after-effects would pop up with his involvement?
Second, she, along with the rest of Blake's teammates, all thought Jaune was dating Blake. It was an unsaid secret among their team that the scraggly blond and the silent raven were doing more than 'reading' during their book club.
So why was he flirting with Cinder?
Now that Weiss could look at the blonde boy a little more unbiasedly, she didn't think he was the type of person to cheat on someone. Ruby would have ignored this like she normally did with relationship gossip, but she, like Weiss, thought Jaune and Blake were a couple. While a certain brawler's knuckles could be heard faintly cracking.
Yang was about to spring across the table and choke Jaune for cheating on her partner, her overprotective instincts awakening. Blake didn't deserve that, no one on her team did. She wouldn't let some playboy tease one of her own like they were some cheap trick! But despite her brash personality, she managed to control herself. For now, at least. She got in trouble too often for her temper, and she promised Ruby she would try not to jump to conclusions. Just to be sure, Yang glanced over at Blake. Her Faunus partner looked annoyed, which just reinforced Yang's belief that they were dating and that she was not happy with the current development.
Of course, her annoyance was really directed toward the fact she couldn't trust her teammates not to spill drinks on her book.
"What!" Jaune sputtered with a tint of red on his face, hands waving about to clear his guilt. "We just met in the library and talked a bit! I mean, I'd like to think ladies would like my boyish charm, but constant failure and embarrassment have proven otherwise! Tell 'em, Weiss!"
"Hmph!"
"See!?"
"Mercury, that's enough." Cinder cut off the silver-haired boy with a sharp glance. Immediately, the roguish teen shut up and gulped.
There was the strict leader Jaune had heard so many people talk about.
"Don't embarrass him... or me. We only chatted a bit, and he invited us to join them as a sign of friendship between our schools." The woman paused and touched a finger to her cheek as if in thought. "Though there were some awkward moments... Was he flirting? It was a different approach than what I'm used to. Very effective, I suppose."
"Don't besmirch my good name!" Jaune protested, standing up and smacking his hands on the table. "Just because you're pretty doesn't mean I was trying to-" He slammed his hand over his mouth.
Damn loose lips! Already he could feel multiple eyes honing in on him and his treacherous big mouth.
Mercury burst out laughing at once. Jaune's team might have laughed a bit at the flustered expression on their leader's face, but Pyrrha's face had gone pale as she heard the news. Nora was looking between Ren and Pyrrha, not sure what to do about the situation. She knew about Pyrrha's one-sided crush but was pretending not to. Ren only shrugged at her when they locked gazes. They couldn't really do anything. It was up to Pyrrha and Jaune to decide what would happen between them.
Emerald was gaping at Cinder, shocked she was playing along.
Yang inconspicuously elbowed Blake in the side. Of course, her partner ignored her the first time, so she did it again. Amber eyes glanced over at the blonde, showing annoyance, before looking away. Knowing she had to keep this up a bit to get Blake's attention, Yang did it once more.
"What?" Blake hissed quietly.
"Jaune's flirting with Cinder." Yang was testing the waters without coming out and saying that she knew. "Where did he get the balls?"
"I doubt he is." Blake sniffed. "Cinder's just teasing him for fun, as you do."
"Think so?" Yang narrowed her eyes slightly as she observed her partner. Blake was oddly confident, so she must have complete faith in her boyfriend. Her raven-haired partner was pretty hot, so it's not like she was losing in the looks department.
"Cinder has a lot of people who would love to be with her." Emerald added, looking annoyed. "But she's busy with... school."
"Now, now." Cinder noticed Emerald almost slipping up. "It's all fun and games, but I don't want to make my first real acquaintance at Beacon dislike me." She addressed the others. "I was just teasing him a little. Jaune and I only chatted a bit, and I think we can become friends."
"Thank you!" Jaune sat back down and went back to breakfast.
"I apologize." Cinder told him lightly.
"Eh, it's fine." Jaune waved off her apology. "I'm used to it. It's mostly Yang, but I have a lot of sisters who do the same thing."
"Hey, I don't tease you that much!" Yang protested, looking scandalous.
"You do." Pyrrha finally spoke up, her pounding heart slowing as she calmed down now that she knew they were joking.
"Quite often." Ren reminded her.
"Yep!" Ruby and Nora agreed.
"All the time," Blake added with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"It's really juvenile," Weiss huffed, rolling her eyes.
"Traitors, all of you," Yang grumbled, crossing her arms and slinking in her seat.
"Hah, I think I'll enjoy hanging out with all of you," Mercury laughed. "You seem like fun."
"Sorry about him," Emerald sighed.
"At least Cinder will stop," Jaune groaned. "And I can handle guys' insults."
"Do you need a best friend?" Mercury grinned. "I'll take an application."
"Sorry, that's taken by Ruby," Jaune pointed to the small girl.
"Hah! I'm awesome!" Ruby puffed out her chest, her expression all but beaming.
She was getting more involved now that the boring relationship stuff was over and Blake wasn't being cheated on. If Jaune actually cheated on someone, she wasn't sure she could be friends with him. Not like he would, of course! Her bestie wasn't some scumbag worthy of being cut up by her beloved Crescent Rose.
Her eyes then scanned Cinder's team out of curiosity.
"Don't you have a fourth teammate? Where is she?"
"Mint?" Emerald blinked and looked at Cinder carefully. "She's rather reserved."
"More like hates crowds." Mercury shrugged. "It's hard enough getting her to go to classes, let alone crowded places like the cafeteria."
"Ah, I can understand that." Ruby had her own socially awkward quirks. "Strangers can be scary."
"Yeah… scary." Emerald repeated slowly.
"Mercury has always complained he needs some male friends," Cinder smirked. "Yet he doesn't take the initiative."
"Pssh, Emerald loves me and we do everything together." Mercury made a couple of finger guns toward the green-haired girl while saying "ayyyye!."
Emerald fake gagged, making everyone burst out into laughter.
"I can see why you suggested we join you," Cinder spoke to Jaune with a quaint smile. "It's quite… relaxing to talk with your group."
"What can I say, we're an easy group to get along with." Jaune grinned, glad that Cinder seemed to be having fun. "If you want, we might be able to get some team outings sometime."
"Hmm, I don't know Vale that well, so if your team can show us around, I would be most grateful." Cinder's eyes gleamed slightly. "Though, I hope you don't mind a little teasing from time to time."
"Eh, I guess I can deal with it. As long as it's not Yang level."
"The fact we have a scale from 1 to Yang always disturbed me." Weiss commented flatly.
"Don't tease him too much," Pyrrha told Cinder, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Jaune's a very nice guy."
"Oh, I'll try not to, but it's kind of addicting." Cinder looked back, observing how protective the champion was of her partner. "Maybe it will be a light hobby of mine."
Jaune's blood ran cold. His breath was glued to his throat and his heart spiked.
Hobby? Like what they talked about in Cinder's dream.
Did she suspect something? Her dream had taken some bizarre turns when he changed it from her being a queen and invading other kingdoms to becoming a rampaging dragon. Then they ended up on a beach and talked about themselves. Did altering the dream cause her to realize something was amiss? Jaune didn't know how his Semblance could affect things outside the dream. Weiss had only mentioned that he was capable of making dreams more vivid. Had his latest dive been a bit too vivid? Panic was welling up from within, but he had to keep calm as Cinder was eyeing him casually.
"Please don't, I get enough of that already."
"No promises." Cinder smiled mysteriously.
"I like her." Yang whispered to Blake, trying to get a reaction.
"I bet you do." Blake sighed. "So Jaune, did Velvet tell you what book she picked yet?"
"No, not yet." Jaune answered, happy for the opportunity to talk about something other than making fun of him. While it was a pastime everyone could get behind, there was a limit to how much he could take at once. "Why? Did she tell you?"
"She did…" Blake's smirk was evident. "And it's a real book."
"I will start that debate again right here, right now."
"Please don't." Weiss and Ruby moaned together, causing Cinder's team to look at each other in confusion.
"You and Ruby will enjoy it," Blake assured him, cutting Jaune off without trying to argue. The rest of Team RWBY and JNPR sighed in relief. While Weiss and Ruby were in the book club, they saw firsthand how those two argued about shipping. Even Velvet got unexpectedly emotionally involved during their last meeting.
"What's going on?" Emerald asked Ruby in a whisper.
"Blake and Jaune argue a lot about books," Ruby whispered back softly. "But they always forgive each other because they are dating..." She covered her mouth, her eyes widening as her cheeks blushed. "Please don't say anything. We're keeping it quiet until they tell us."
"Promise." Emerald winked and smiled, before meeting eyes with Cinder. Of course, she was going to tell her leader about this. Cinder would want to know this information in case they needed to exploit it.
Thankfully, their conversation only lasted a little while longer, and the bell rang, signaling that class was about to start. Everyone got up and tossed their trays, not wanting to be late for Goodwitch's class. She did not tolerate tardiness. Jaune was one of many who didn't want to make her upset. At the same time, he knew she really cared about her students, and he wanted to do better. Her nightmare was remembering all of those before him who paid the ultimate price.
True heroes.
Lost in thought, Jaune didn't realize someone was pulling back on his sleeve until he almost fell over.
"Huh… gah… Yang?" The boy turned to see the blonde looking up.
"I called out to you." Yang informed him. "But you didn't answer. Lost in your thoughts?"
"Sort of," Jaune admitted, as he had been thinking back to seeing himself lying among the bodies. He was working harder, and progress was being made to avoid that scenario. "What's up?"
"Am I really bothering you with all the teasing?"
That was not a question Jaune had been expecting. His brain didn't seem to be able to process that. Yang was the type of person to always unapologetically teases people. Weiss, her partner Blake, and even her own sister. So why was she asking him that? Such an upfront girl, boisterous, bright, and fierce wasn't one to look so… self-conscious.
"Huh?"
"At breakfast, you mentioned you get enough of being made fun of by me." Yang reminded him, trying to play her words off as nonchalant. But she was twirling one of her golden locks like it was a habit she wasn't used to. "Is that true?"
"Er…" Jaune rubbed the back of his head. This felt like a trick question, with the wrong answer causing him to end up thrown through a wall or triggering something else he wasn't prepared for. "I mean, sometimes you can be a bit much."
"Damn it." Yang looked away and grimaced. "She was right."
"What brought this on?" Jaune asked, curiosity getting the better of him. It wasn't every day that the party girl showed such regret.
"Just a small argument Ruby and I had yesterday," Yang answered, not revealing many specifics. "She mentioned I made fun of you too much. Like Vomit Boy. Even though she uses that name too. Says it's not nice to call you names like that"
"Ruby using it has a different vibe, I guess?." When his friend used it, it was more endearing than when Yang did it. He'd never really put too much thought into it but the vibes were different Like two different wavelengths. Jaune didn't want to say it but when Yang addressed him as Vomit Boy, it was…insulting. She probably didn't even mean for it to come off that way, instead hoping it might be seen as affectionate. To be fair, he did vomit on her new shoes. People didn't forget that.
Maybe it was because every time she called him out as Vomit Boy, he couldn't help but grimace at how they had met another and argued about spewing chunks on her boots.
"Ah… then sorry about that." It was Yang's turn to look a little embarrassed. "I'll try to avoid calling you that, Jaune."
"I did sort of deserve that nickname," Jaune admitted, trying not to make Yang feel too guilty. He didn't like making people upset. It wasn't like such a silly name was hurting him.
But…
"I appreciate it though. Vomit Boy isn't exactly the most…suave title to go by. You really aren't that bad most of the time, Yang. It's just that sometimes you can forget when to stop."
"I've heard that before, but I'm not going to change who I am." Yang slapped him on the back. "Thanks for understanding Jauney Boy."
"Jauney Boy?"
"Hey, I need to try out new nicknames for you. If you're going to be hanging out with me and my team more often, you have to have one. I give everyone one." Yang pushed off of him and started walking ahead. "Now come on, unless you want to be late for class. I can't afford to be late again right now, or I risk detention."
"The famous, Yang, wanting to be on time!" Jaune faked gasped, with a hand to his heart. "Hmm, either you are trying to be a better person or you've been replaced by a clone. Must be a good one though, as the original one was the evil one."
The punch in the arm was well deserved, and both of them laughed as Yang headed toward the classroom. Jaune was about to follow her when another girl showed up. This time, Jaune wasn't lost in his thoughts to notice Weiss approaching him.
"Did you notice?" Weiss whispered anxiously into his ear.
"Notice what?' The confused boy asked.
"When Yang slapped your back… there was a spark." The heiress' eyes were wide as she finally witnessed the phenomenon herself.
Instantly, the boy's heart stopped for a moment as the blood rushed from his face. Panic began to overtake him in that brief moment before he managed to calm down. The last thing that needed to happen was for Jaune to freak out in the middle of Beacon. Looking around, no one was near enough to them to overhear, but he still kept his voice down.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive; it was like a white electric spark," Weiss confirmed seriously. "I wouldn't joke about this."
She rarely joked at all, but Jaune felt this was not the time or place to point that out.
"I thought it came from your hands."
"I thought so too!" Jaune almost cried out in exasperation. "I mean, I've always noticed it from my hands, so I assumed my semblance would only activate with a handshake or something. I can't remember the first couple, but I'm pretty sure everyone before this was from them." He sighed loudly and looked at the ground. "Guess I'm visiting Yang tonight."
"If anyone else heard that, they might get the wrong idea." Jaune might have laughed at Weiss' words if he wasn't concerned about his guaranteed nightly excursion. "Do you have your journal?"
"Huh, it's in my bag, but I thought you wanted it after clas-"
"Give it. I want to start looking over it as soon as possible." Weiss held out her hand expectantly. "You can write Yang's stuff in later."
"Sure," Jaune pulled the notebook out of his bag and handed it to Weiss. "Has anyone told you you're a lifesaver?"
"Ruby and Yang when I assist them with their studies or lend them my notes." Weiss actually cracked a small smile as she carefully put the notebook into her bag. "Glad to see you're smart enough to realize it. Now, let's get going to class. I'm not going to ruin my perfect attendance."
"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else." Jaune assured her as they started to walk toward the classroom. "Oh, what happened between Yang and Ruby yesterday?"
"Ah…" Weiss frowned like she was debating whether she should tell him or not before finally shrugging. "Our book club actually got Ruby interested in reading. More than just comic books. She started browsing through Blake's bookshelves. Blake didn't mind; she was actually thrilled that Ruby was taking an interest. It was just Ruby discovered a hidden section that Yang disapproved of."
"Ah, her smut books."
"I would prefer the term adult literature, so I don't have to picture that, but yes." Weiss shook her head and shut her eyes for a moment. "It turned out that Ruby got involved in one of the books, and Yang caught her. An argument ensued, and there was some yelling. It almost seemed as if they'd done this before. Blake and I broke them up, but Ruby was really upset that Yang treats her as a child. Honestly, with how Yang was overreacting to the matter, you would think she was her mother rather than her older sister. Hard to believe that girl could act so… I wouldn't say mature but, perhaps, maternal?"
"Oh… yeah, she tells me that a lot." Jaune recalled all the talks he and his best friend had. "They seemed fine at breakfast."
"It's a don't talk about it situation."
"Mmmm, those are awkward."
"Tell me about it." Weiss groaned. "It's actually nice to talk about this with someone. Blake just hums and gives one-word answers most of the time."
"She's actually quite talkative when you talk about some of her interests," Jaune admitted, thinking of all their arguments. "She's just naturally introverted, so she stays out of your arguments. She'll help you if things get bad, though. Guarantee. Just give her time."
"You know her well." Weiss pointed out with a knowing gleam in her eyes.
"What do you mean you didn't find it?" Cinder demanded.
As soon as their classes ended for the day, Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury made their way back to their dorm room, where they were greeted by Mint, the fourth member of their team. Although that wasn't her real name, the short girl's hair was styled in a unique twin-tail fashion, with white bows accentuating the black and light streaked locks. Unlike her comrades, Mint was not dressed in Haven's uniform. Instead, she wore a sleeveless black blouse, complete with white frills on the collar and chest, and a black ribbon bow, which hung elegantly from the front of her collar, showcasing her midriff. Her outfit was completed with a knee-length skirt fastened with a white belt, which perfectly complemented her top.
Mint frowned and shrugged before gesturing to the room around her.
"You looked everywhere?" Emerald asked. "Not just pretending to look?"
The small girl glared back at her as her eyes changed from green to one being a magnetic brown and the other becoming a bright pink color.
"No, Neo here is an expert at rooting our hidden things," Cinder cut off Emerald before a fight ensued. "The fact she didn't means that Jaune Arc is one step ahead. Only proving that book is more valuable than it first seems."
Cinder's curiosity couldn't be contained by what Jaune was working on in the library. From what she saw, there were detailed notes about multiple people in Beacon, including priority targets like Pyrrha. The boy was the champion's team leader, so he probably had some valuable insight. Though she hadn't been able to make out any clear details involving combat styles, weaknesses, or strategies, what little she had found had painted a clearer picture of the fumbling knight. One cracking the once simple-minded image of the nobody.
Cinder always considered him a buffoon. A Huntsman-in-training lacking any true skills or strengths. Someone who couldn't even be considered a dime a dozen but a boring old penny among pennies. Just earlier today, he got his ass kicked by the musclehead Winchester, a brute of a fighter with a moveset seen from a mile away, large openings to take advantage of, and a highly emotional nature. Without a doubt, Winchester was a strong student, but there was nothing worthy of fretting about in the grand scheme of things to come.
With enough experience and thought, even your average student could defeat the leader of CRDL. Yet the noodle of a knight hadn't been able to win a single spar against said opponent; he's fought constantly in class. Weak. Ill-experienced. Pathetic. A generic boy who wasn't special or worthy of any attention.
So, if he was so pathetic and lacking, how was he able to keep something hidden from Neo, a master thief? There was more to him than meets the eye.
Flames. A sunset. A sweet drink and a beach.
Her dream last night flashed through her mind. A very vivid memory that seemed almost too real. The boy had not only disobeyed her but also managed to escape her wrath, then had the nerve to act all goofy and innocent while flirting with her on the beach. She had no idea why she dreamed of him like that. There was no way someone like her would fall for an idiot like him. But was he an idiot? Jaune Arc kept his important notes hidden away so no one else would find them. He played the role of a silly fool, yet there had been something hidden in the shadows of his frilly sleeve.
Were all those fumbling steps, those goofy smiles, those pathetic displays, all just an act?
Was he actually a brilliant strategist and only pretending to be weak in class?
Over the years, Cinder learned to trust her instincts, and right now her instincts were screaming for her to investigate that boy. That's why the plan was for Neo to break into Team JNPR's room and find the notebook while everyone was at breakfast and in class. Neo had plenty of time to search for it, so the fact she couldn't locate Jaune's notes in a small, confined room was cause for concern.
"Really?" Mercury placed his hands behind his head. "He seems like an idiot."
"No, he needs to be investigated." Cinder decided on the spot. "We'll keep our current plan going, but he'll be added to the list. Even if it turns out to be nothing but a false lead, I would rather ensure our success than deal with any unexpected problems."
"We're in a good position too," Emerald realized. "I was already friends with Team RWBY, and now Cinder is friends with Jaune Arc. He invited you, so there's nothing suspicious involving us. We can stick close to them and investigate."
"And they think Cinder fell for Jaune." Mercury laughed and plopped on the bed. Neo's ears twitched and her eyes widened in excitement as she turned to the gray-haired boy, eager for more information.
"That's nonsense!" Emerald snapped. "Cinder is perfect and only deserves the best. No one, especially not that guy, could match her."
"Yeah, yeah, you worship Cinder as a goddess." Mercury brushed off and Neo imitated his dismissive hand waving.
"Besides, Ruby said he and Blake were secretly dating." Emerald huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at her teammates.
"Hmm, can we use that?" Cinder mused. "I don't think I need to pretend to have a crush on him, friendship should suffice, but we'll play it by ear. If it gets us closer to Team RWBY and Pyrrha, it might be worth it."
"You can't be serious, Cinder!" Emerald gasped as Neo grinned widely.
"I am," The woman's eyes flashed. "Are you doubting me now, Emerald?"
"N-No, never." Emerald's face paled slightly as she shook her head.
"Good. For now, we'll continue to get closer with Team RWBY and JNPR." Cinder informed them. "However, we need to keep Ozpin busy too while we look for the Maiden. Luckily, I have a plan for that too." She opened the closet and pulled out a plain metal container that looked like a simple Dust storage box. "Thanks to Neo for smuggling this in." The white and black girl puffed out her chest. "We'll release a few Nightmares into the student body. That should keep the headmaster occupied."
"WE'VE BEEN ROBBED!"
Nora's voice echoed through the hallway the moment she opened the door to Team JNPR's dorm. Jaune's team had finished class and were preparing to put their things away before getting some team training when Nora shouted. Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren rushed to her side to take a look at the damage. Their room had been ransacked, with clothes, books, bedding, and more all thrown around the floor. Even their closet and bathroom seemed to have been opened and searched through.
"Oh, my!" Pyrrha covered her mouth.
"Who would steal from us?" Jaune wondered, stepping inside and feeling wildly violated. "Nora, can you get Professor Goodwitch? We'll take a look to see what was taken."
"Right!" Nora exclaimed, her expression shifting from one of relief to one of fierce determination as she absorbed the task at hand. Without wasting a moment, she bolted off at full speed, weaving her way through the crowd with impressive agility. Her enthusiasm was such that she almost knocked down an innocent bystander who had rushed over to investigate the commotion.
"Good choice," Ren told Jaune. "She won't be able to dwell on what happened while she has a task in mind." He pulled out his Scroll and took a picture of the mess.
"Well, we have been a team for months, so I do know a bit about my friends." Jaune pointed out with a forced smile. "Let's clean up and take note of what was taken."
Nora returned only a few minutes later with Glynda right behind her. While Jaune and the others had made good headway, there was still a bit of a mess.
"Ms. Valkyrie told me someone ransacked your room," Glynda spoke up. "I see that wasn't an exaggeration."
"It doesn't look like anything has been stolen." Jaune admitted. "Anything of value we have is fine."
"And nothing… personal was taken." Pyrrha's cheeks darkened a bit as she closed her dresser drawers after putting her clothes back.
"It's possible it's someone just wanted to pull a prank or get revenge on us." Ren suggested.
"Sorry!" Pyrrha apologized automatically and everyone looked at her.
"For what?" Nora asked, confused. "You didn't do this."
"This seems like the kind of 'pranks' that happened to me back at the Sanctum," Pyrrha explained, shaking her head. "It feels like it followed me, and you all got caught in the crossfire."
"Nonsense," Jaune huffed, patting Pyrrha on the shoulder. "This isn't your fault. If someone's doing this because you beat them in combat class, they are the ones who should be sorry."
"Mr. Arc is exactly right." Glynda agreed, giving Jaune a short nod. "Do not blame yourself. Beacon is a sacred institution and will not tolerate childish acts like this. I will be personally investigating. If you hear anything, even rumors, let me know." She pulled out her riding crop and flicked it. Most of the items still on the floor or bed floated into the air and positioned themselves back into place. Her Semblance of Telekinesis was incredibly handy for picking up messes left behind by unruly students.
Like Nora.
A lot of damage was caused by her just being her normal energetic self.
Glynda eventually left to file a report with Ozpin and promised to have their locks changed to avoid a repeat of this. Jaune and his team stayed to check everything, making sure nothing was taken, even though it was the last thing they wanted to do. Thanks to Glynda, they really didn't have anything else to clean up, just reorganize. They even had time to get some training done that evening.
"It's so unfair we had to clean up a mess that wasn't even our fault!" Nora whined as they got ready for bed.
"Professor Goodwitch helped clean up a lot of our messes," Ren pointed out. "Sometimes it's unavoidable."
"But that's, like, her job."
"Sorry!" Pyrrha apologized again.
"Pyrrha, please stop blaming yourself," Jaune insisted, repeating his words for emphasis. "You have nothing to apologize for, and none of us here hold you accountable, even if someone wanted to seek revenge against you. It's not your fault." His words seemed to resonate with Pyrrha, and she responded with a radiant smile. Jaune felt relieved that he was able to comfort her and prevent his partner from spiraling into despair. However, he was still unsure about how to handle her romantic feelings toward him.
He really did value their friendship and family bond.
"Yeah, I bet it was Cardin!" Nora sat up in her bed. "Since Pyrrha trashed his entire team. He can't beat us so he resorted to this!"
"Do not jump to conclusions," Ren warned seriously. "If you accuse him without proof, you can get in trouble and lose any sympathy Beacon has for us."
"Grrr…." A low growl escaped her throat and she plopped down. "We'll figure out who it is."
"Goodwitch is looking for the guy, so their days are numbered." Jaune assured Nora, not wanting her to start dressing up like a detective and go around solving this mystery. She might not dress up, but she would definitely cause some problems. Problems the boy did not want to deal with.
They talked a bit longer before turning off the lights and trying to get some sleep.
'Maybe I can use my Semblance to peek into Cardin's dream to trick him into telling me if he did it or not?' Jaune wondered as he slowly drifted off to sleep. 'That would be abusing my Semblance though…' There were a lot of moral quandaries that Jaune had to be careful about. The moment he took a step down that path, it would be really hard to return. Weiss' words rang in his mind about abusing it, and he was glad she figured it out and there was someone to talk to about it.
With everything that happened that afternoon, Jaune forgot all about the incident with Yang.
Until he found himself standing on a cobblestone path leading up a hill to a cozy house.
"Right… Yang's dream." Jaune facepalmed at his forgetfulness. "Huh, I expected… more?"
The only structure in sight was a one-story prairie-style house, standing alone amidst an infinite expanse of grass. Not a single tree punctuated the landscape, which stretched out in every direction as far as the eye could see. The cloud-speckled blue sky provided a serene backdrop to the scene, with the sun radiating a comforting warmth and a gentle breeze causing ripples in the grass. It was a picturesque day, and with no other destination in sight, Jaune began to walk toward the house. When he reached the door, nothing happened. He was unsure of what to do next, but before he could consider the consequences, he acted on instinct.
Jaune rapped his knuckle against the door.
"One minute!" A muffled, but familiar, voice came from the other side of the door.
Jaune waited as he heard footsteps approaching and the door swung open. While he expected it to be Yang, the boy was a little shocked at how different she appeared. Gone was her carefully maintained long hair, now haphazardly tied into a ponytail as if she was in a hurry. Her normal clothes, which tended to reveal her chest and curves, were replaced by a simple sunny yellow T-shirt and dark jeans, covered by a cooking apron. Stains littered the cloth, and there was white powder on Yang's cheek. Lilac eyes had dark circles under them, giving her a perpetually tired look.
"Jaune?" Yang's eyes widened with surprise as she saw who was at the door, and her words were filled with confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"Er…" Jaune had to invent a lie really fast and try to keep the dream on track as much as possible. This wasn't like Cinder's dream, where she was doing something he was adamantly against. His friend seemed to just be busy cooking in her dream. "You invited me over?"
"I did?" The gears turning in the girl's brain were visible through her lilac eyes as the dream tried to make sense of those words. "Ah, sorry. I've been really busy. Come on in."
"Are you okay?" Stepping inside, the living room looked like a mess. There was a TV on the far side of the room with a shirt hanging off it. The couch had bags of clothes, dishes, toys, and other junk. Half of the floor was covered in similar objects. Jaune was surprised there were no rats scurrying about.
"Just tired." Yang yawned before sticking her head near the stairs. "RUBY! Jaune's here! Come say hi!"
"Jaune's here!"
The voice sounded like Ruby, but what came down was completely different than the Ruby Jaune knew. Of course, the girl was Ruby. Same black and red gothic outfit, short dark hair with red tips, and unique silver eyes. However, this Ruby's proportions were off. Her head was comically big compared to the rest of her body. Maybe almost the same size as in cartoons. Then there was the fact that this Ruby was shorter. His friend wasn't the tallest girl around, but she was still a normal height.
This Ruby was like two feet tall.
"Chibi…" Jaune muttered to himself at how adorable she was.
"Jaune!" In an instant, Ruby zipped forward and in a flash collided with his stomach. Arms moving automatically, Jaune caught her and held her almost like a baby as she gazed up at him with a big smile. "Have you come to play?"
"Maybe in a little bit, I came to see Yang." Jaune replied, remembering whose dream this was. If he took Ruby away, would that change the direction of the dream. It was hard to tell, so he was trying to play it safe. "I promise we'll do something later, okay?"
"Awwww." The resolve he had almost broke at that adorable pout. Ruby was always able to tug at heartstrings with her puppy dog look, but this was that times ten. "Okay, I'm going to go eat cookies."
"Stop!" Yang held out a hand. "It's almost dinner-!" It was too late as Ruby vanished in a flurry of rose petals to dash around the corner. "Ruby! Don't you dare spoil your appetite! No cookies!"
"I don't wanna!" Came the childish reply.
"That's it! I've had enough of your back talk!" Yang's eyes flashed red for a moment before she stomped after her chibi sister. "You're going to have a healthy meal today!"
Jaune wasn't sure what to do. Was Yang dreaming about when Ruby was a kid and rambunctious? The Ruby that Jaune knew was a nice girl, if excitable and a bit hyper. Growing up, she was probably a different person. Not wanting to miss what happened next, but also not wanting to interfere too much, he stepped toward the entranceway to the kitchen and peered inside.
Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was a mess. Pots and pans littered the sink. Half-empty gallons of milk, broken eggs, and bowls of food were covering the counters. The oven was on and something was cooking inside, but trays of burnt cookies were piled on top of it. The only thing that didn't have a lot of junk on it was the kitchen table.
Which had a tray piled to the ceiling with cookies.
Ruby was sitting on the table next to it, her hands moving in a blur as she tossed cookies from the infinitely regenerating tower into her mouth.
"RUBY!" Yang yelled, running forward and grabbing her cape. "I said, no!"
"You're not my mom!" The girl exclaimed, holding onto the tablecloth as if her life depended on it. Yang tugged at Ruby with all her strength, but the tablecloth didn't budge. Jaune couldn't help but find it funny to see the muscular Yang struggling against the tiny Ruby, who was like a human anchor, holding on for dear life.
"I'm still in charge!" Yang shouted, more annoyed than outright angry. "If you don't let go, no more cookies for the rest of the week!"
"NO!" Ruby's high pitch shrill caused Jaune to wince as he watched from his vantage point.
"That's it!" Yang yanked Ruby, and finally the tablecloth moved, sliding out from under the massive tower of sweets. The force sent her and Ruby flying into the counter. When Yang's back smashed against the wood, the entire structure shook. A bowl of what looked like cake batter or maybe oatmeal precariously perched on several other bowls shook. Almost in slow motion, it began to fall. Maybe it was falling slowly due to dream power. Either way, Jaune saw it happening clearly, his mouth opening as he realized what was about to happen.
The bowl landed straight down on Yang's head, coating her in creamy goo.
Jaune didn't know whether to laugh or gasp. If this was real life, laughing would have been a death sentence. With anyone else, most people would have laughed if some batter fell on a friend of theirs. To Yang, her hair was her life, and someone cutting a few strands off by accident would have been punched through walls. Being in a dream and having Ruby as the partial culprit would probably change the outcome. Jaune forced himself to be quiet, though, just in case Yang turned her ire toward him.
"RUUUUUBBBBYYYYY!" The cake batter began to bubble and brown as the heat from Yang.
"Serves you right for being mean!" Chibi Ruby jumped out of Yang's arms and turned around to stick her tongue out. "Next time, leave me alone and let me eat cookies."
"I've had enough of your attitude today, Ruby!" Yang stood up and wiped her face clean. "You're grounded! No cookies for the rest of the week!" Instantly, the tower of cookies on the table vanished into nothing. Ruby gasped and looked horrified, but then her eyes narrowed and she looked just as angry.
"You're not my mom!" Ruby shouted again. "Quit trying to be!"
"I'm trying to take care of you!" Yang shot back angrily.
"I don't need you to, I have a mom already!" Ruby shouted back loudly.
There was a moment of silence as Yang stiffened.
"Mom… isn't coming back." Yang choked out, her anger vanishing and replaced by a soft whisper. She inclined her head, messy blonde locks clumped with batter falling like a curtain over her face."Dad's… occupied too."
"Mom is coming back!" Ruby covered her ears and shook her head. "I don't need you! And stop calling her mom. She's my mom, not yours!"
"She is my mom!" Yang's face seemed oddly pale to Jaune, and things were getting more awkward by the moment. This argument wasn't something he should see, and for some reason, it felt even more personal than Blake and Pyrrha's erotic dreams. "Raven's not my mother!"
"Your mom abandoned you because you were a terrible daughter!" Ruby shot back with a teary glare. "And now you're trying to latch onto mine! But she's not yours! She's mine! You can't replace her!"
Jaune's mouth fell open. Ruby would never say something like this. He had to remind himself that this wasn't actually his best friend, but a manifestation of Yang's inner thoughts. Still, hearing Ruby say this out loud was disturbing. His stomach churned, and he felt sick. When he saw Yang's expression, whatever he was feeling was a thousand times worse for her. Her mouth gaped wordlessly like a fish.
Lilac eyes grew wet and seemed to lose their once vibrant shine.
"Why don't you go find your real mom and leave mine alone!" Ruby didn't care, her words cutting so sharply that Jaune flinched. "Just because you weren't wanted by her, doesn't mean you can interfere with my life and place yourself into it. My mom will come back because she loves me. Me! Not you! You'll never be loved! Just stop trying to be accepted! Everyone around you will leave until you're all alone. Mom, Raven, dad, everyone would rather push you away than love you."
Pressure.
Unbearable, crushing, melancholic pressure.
In that moment, Jaune felt a familiar sensation, one of the world itself threatening to crush everything to nothing. As if the dream itself was threatening to collapse within itself.
'S-shit! What's going on?! Just what the hell is this dream?'
What brought this on? Just this morning they had all been enjoying a nice and pleasant breakfast. Last he recalled, Yang had been smiling, joking around, and had even apologized about ribbing him a little too much.
So, where did all this unbearable pressure come from?
Weiss' words rang out in his mind.
'It turned out that Ruby got involved in one of her books, and Yang caught her. An argument ensued, and there was some yelling. Almost seemed as if they'd done this before. Blake and I broke those two up, but Ruby was really upset that Yang treats her as a child. Honestly, with how Yang was overreacting over the matter, you would think she was her mother rather than her older sister. Hard to believe that girl could act so…I wouldn't say mature but, perhaps, maternal?'
Was this…because of the argument Yang and Ruby had gotten into?
What he was witnessing now, the unbearable pressure filling the room, must have been a nightmare. A manifestation of fear, worries, regret, and pain leaking out from Yang's heart.
Jaune knew a little about Ruby's family dynamic after being friends with her. Raven, Yang's biological mom, left when Yang was a child and never returned. It was the reason the blonde girl never considered her 'mom.' Summer, Ruby's biological mother, raised Yang for a few years and had Ruby. For as long as she had known, it had been Summer who was her mom. She was her daughter. Not by blood, but by love.
Summer had been the one to care for her, to raise her, to shower her with love and affection, who must have brushed her hair every night, to have read her stories every night. She was her mother. Not a replacement. Not her Stepmother. Summer Rose was Yang's Mother. Even at the very end, when Summer failed to return from a mission, she was her mother. The mother who had died and left behind a shattered family. One the crying daughter must have realized she had to protect in her place.
Glynda's dream may have involved death, but Jaune would have taken weeks of her kind of dreams compared to this. This nightmare was a different breed of tragedy. Its darkness was too human. This was upsetting on a fundamental level.
Yang's deathly pale skin suddenly flushed. Growing redder and redder, her lilac eyes soon matched her face. Rage was welling up within her. Scrambling to her feet, her hands clenched into fists, Yang's hair glowed brightly with yellow flames. For the first time Jaune could ever recall, her anger was directed at Ruby, even if this was a fake dream version. A shiver ran down his spine.
This was wrong.
So wrong.
"How dare you!" Yang reached forward and grabbed Ruby's cloak, lifting the squirming chibi into the air.
"Let go of me!" Ruby kicked and flailed her arms, but to no avail. She was so much smaller than her older sister.
"Do you know how much I sacrificed to raise you?" Yang screamed, her tone radiating anger, her very body bristling with rage. "How much I gave up? Do you know what it's like to lose your mother—not just once, but twice! You were too young to really know her, but I did. I remember…" Tears started falling down her face. "And yet, you still can't appreciate me? After everything I've had to give up, just so you could act like a happy brat! I shouldn't have wasted my childhood with you. I should have left ages ago."
Sickly.
Foul.
Revolting.
The unseen pressure gained a sense of taste. A sense of taint unlike what he had experienced from the first time he had been subjected to such an atmosphere by Cinder's rage. The very air in the now small and cramped kitchen made Jaune shiver and tremble as he watched Yang's back grow stiff. He felt his chest grow tight. He felt uncomfortable at the embers dusting the silent girl's body like flies wafting from a corpse.
Beneath her breath, Jaune heard it.
"I'm tired of this. I'm sick of this fucking responsibility. I…I don't care anymore."
All but forgetting Jaune's presence, the blonde girl walked over to the oven. Tar like steam lingered out of the shut door, spreading lines of darkness out like beckoning tendrils of some vile thing awaiting its prey. The dream itself grew distorted, the lines of the nightmare glitching out in the background as the focus of everything was centered on the tired, worn out, and fed-up blonde girl with a squirming little red-headed child in her tight fist.
"I can't take it anymore."
With a single swift motion, Yang retched the oven's door open and slammed her baby sister into the bellowing maw of the oven.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
An ear-grating screech was heard as Jaune's muscles howled. The nightmare fought to keep him in place, demanding him to submit and let what be pass. As if the scene playing out before his eyes was to be left alone.
Jaune snarled, his body enveloped in his white aura as if to counter the nightmare's rule.
That was the straw that broke the camel's back for Jaune. Even for a nightmare, this was going too far.
There were scary dreams, nightmares, and then stuff like…stuff like this! Jaune already had an inkling of what this was about. As an older sibling, even a loser of an older sibling like him, he could understand on some level.
Parentification was a thing. The role reversal of child and parent, where the child would take up the responsibility, the demand, and the pressure, of a parent due to some emotional or physical disorder of the parents or parents. The term itself was something he had only known about due to having older sisters of his own, who would take up the role of the parent whenever his parents would be far too busy for their many children. And, in some small way, he had felt it too whenever he would be in charge of taking care of his younger sisters when no one else was around.
A child would stop acting like a child. They would start thinking to themselves that they couldn't act like a child anymore. That they needed to step up. That they had to grow up. That they were the ones who had to scold, lecture, raise, teach, and care for their younger siblings because they had to.
And as the older sister, who had lost her mother and probably had a father who might have been emotionally devastated or far too busy to be there, Yang had to take the role of being more than just a big sister. Even though she had probably been only a few years old herself at the time, she had to take the place of her mother for Ruby.
That kind of responsibility, of demand, of stress, of self-sacrifice was reserved solely for a Mother or Father; it was never meant for a crying child to bear.
On some level, Yang must have held some resentment for taking up the mantle of Mother. Even if she didn't show it, she must have felt some anguish and anger at having to give up being a kid. Of course, she loved her sister more than anything, and it showed, but it wouldn't be unusual for some negative emotions to manifest over the years. Hell, Jaune recalled his own parents telling stories of times he and his sisters pushed their patience. It didn't mean they didn't care. Everyone was human and had bad days.
But they were his parents. They were supposed to bear with it and accepted all the good and bad of choosing to raise kids. It may seem unfair but they had decided to accept that cross. Yang though? The little girl who must have been crying at the loss of her mother, who once again felt as if she was abandoned in some way, and should have been engulfed in a hug and allowed to cry her heart out?
Like the caring and loving girl Yang was, she would obsessively dwell on something like this for a long time. It didn't matter if this was some one-off nightmare. Even if she awoke with a scream, sweating bullets, and had her team come to her rescue to calm her down, it wouldn't be enough. This kind of pain, this kind of wound, even if unseen, wouldn't just go away.
Like some disease, the nightmare would rest inside her and damage her in a place she could not touch.
For someone who had grown regretful enough to apologize for what now seems like a silly and childish thing as a nickname between friends, it would break her. The nightmare screeched as he pushed against its pressure and he snarled like some violent beast.
There was still no way, even in a dream, Jaune would let something like this happen!
"Get a hold of yourself, Yang!"
With his aura all but blazing with light, he broke through the nightmare's heavy and smothering push, and rushed straight for Yang. Jaune wrapped his arms up and under Yang's shoulders as he pulled her back away from the blazing oven.
"This isn't you! Come on, snap out of it! You know you would never hurt a single hair on your sister's precious little head!"
"Go away!" Yang screamed furiously, bucking against Jaune's hold with an open mouth snarl. "This doesn't concern you, so stay the fuck out of it!"
"How the hell could you expect me to stay out of this!? Just how little of me do you think of me?!" Jaune shouted back, panting as he tried to hold her back. "You're both my friends! And Ruby's your sister! You don't want to do this! You love her! You're always gushing about how cute she is, how precious she is, how she means the world to you! Even when it's about her making her first friend, you gush about how proud of her you are!"
The struggling ceased and Jaune felt weight press down against him as Yang went limp.
"Ruby's your sweet, little sister, right? So, why would you think I would let you hurt her?"
A strange sound was heard from Yang's tight-lipped mouth; a cross of a sob, a scream, and gasp. Among the angry buzzing embers peeling off of her limp body, a small crystal like bead was seen swimming past her face and over her shoulder.
A tear.
"I'm a monster..." The words came out in a barely audible whisper, but the weight of their meaning echoed throughout the dream.
The next moment, Yang pushed him off and ran out of the kitchen. Heavy footsteps indicated she went upstairs, followed by a door slamming. Jaune wanted to go after her, but right now, he had to save Ruby. There wasn't anything getting in his way, perhaps a sign of the dream letting him move and act on his own.
Yanking the oven door open, he pulled out the rack, tossing aside any fear in the back of his mind of burning his hands. Jaune expected a grisly and gruesome sight. A scene that would scar his heart and threaten to break his mind. A foul stench. A stomach-churning… thing that would cause him to lose his lunch.
'...Huh?'
What he saw almost made him laugh. He would have actually laughed if the situation a moment before hadn't happened. The smile making its way to his face was both relieved and twisted; happy yet disturbed.
Ruby was fine and beaming up at him from the tray. Not a single hair on her head was so much as singed.
Her head was fine, but…her body was replaced by a roasted chicken. An actual roasted dinner chicken you could find packaged in a to go container at the supermarket. She was standing on the drumsticks that would be her tiny legs and waving to Jaune with the little chicken wings you would call her arms.
Jaune seriously didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Hi, Jaune!" Ruby smiled up at him. "Are you ready to play?"
"Almost," Jaune swallowed thickly but gave the ever-happy rose a wavering smile.
Ruby was safe. Magically transformed into a roasted chicken of all things, but she was safe and sound. Meaning he could take relief in knowing that the dream wouldn't go as far as burning a little child to a bloody crisp. Thank god. Carefully, he set the still piping hot tray down onto the kitchen counter.
With a careful pat on Chicken-Ruby's head, he leveled his face to hers and gently spoke.
"But first, I need to talk to Yang. You…you saw her expression, right? You didn't mean what you said, right?" The small Chibi chicken Ruby hung her head.
"No… I didn't." The girl admitted lowly, hanging her like any child her age would when she was caught doing something bad. She fiddled with her chicken wings, poking them with a sad frown. "I said something bad, didn't I?"
"You did."
Chicken-Ruby was a manifestation of Yang's dream, so, in some way, did that mean he was speaking with a part of her too? There was a chance this was Yang's subconscious part of the dream. A piece of her that had slipped out. If he could help her avoid any residual emotions from this when she woke up, it was worth a shot.
"We both know you love her, but saying stuff like that really hurts. You're going to have to apologize."
"Okay…" Ruby started to tear up. "Am I a bad girl?"
"You made a mistake, what matters now is what you do afterwards." Jaune told her. "However, can you stay down here while I go talk with her first?"
The girl nodded, and Jaune stood back up. He walked out of the kitchen and put his foot on the bottom of the staircase before looking up.
It was pitch black up top, and the stairs were way longer than they should have been. Outside, the house had only been one story; now inside, it wasn't. There wasn't anything unusual about that. Jaune was more worried about the darkness and tripping. Carefully, he climbed up the stairs, hands gliding along the register as if it would be a lifeline when the stars suddenly fell away to plunge him into the abyss.
None of that happened, and he reached the landing.
Two doors greeted him on either side. Both looked exactly the same. Plain wood, a brass knob, and no markings on or around them to identify who they belonged to. No sound came from either of them. Jaune half hoped that he could hear some angry muttering or crying to identify which direction was the right one.
Nothing.
Only silence greeted him.
"I guess I don't have a choice." Jaune sighed, feeling a sense of deja vu. Opening random doors made him feel like something was going to pop out, like in Blake's dream. At least he knew not to dawdle and stare at random people chained to walls. "Let's start with the left, then. Assuming it's not locked." He half expected it to be.
It was not.
Slowly, the boy turned the handle and pushed the door open, trying to be quiet. An impossibility, as an unnaturally loud creak rang out, making Jaune flinch on reflex. Seriously, have dream doors not heard of oil? Rather than swinging the door completely open, Jaune only opened a couple inches to peek inside.
A rancid stench washed over him, making his eyes burn.
Jaune ignored it and breathed through his mouth. If the dream was trying to keep him away, there was probably something important in there. The room wasn't completely dark after all, with a small bedside lamp lighting it up. There was a single occupant laying in the bed, facing away from Jaune. A blond, muscular man with the sheets up to his shoulders. His arm was hanging off the side of the bed, resting on a pile of beer cans and liquor bottles.
In his hand was clutched a picture frame.
Upon closer look, the picture was of a woman who looked eerily similar to Ruby. Summer Rose, Ruby's mom. It couldn't be anyone else. Then that man... must have been Yang and Ruby's dad. Ruby never mentioned that her dad was an alcoholic. The floor was literally covered with bottles and cans. Her Uncle Qrow on the other hand… Jaune got to hear a lot of hilarious stories about. Doing one last sweep of the room, Jaune didn't see Yang and slowly closed the door.
An ominous feeling informed him this wasn't something he should have witnessed.
"I should have chosen the right door," Jaune muttered. "It's the 'right' door after all."
For an instant, a weak chuckle broke the silence… and it was coming from the other door.
A small smile tugged on Jaune's lips. Even though she was depressed because of her nightmare, Yang still loved puns. His small joke set up a crack in her defense. Reaching for the second doorknob, he found it also unlocked. When he opened the door, there was no creaking this time. It swung open without any resistance as if beckoning him.
Jaune took the invitation and stepped inside.
The room was pretty normal for what he would imagine Yang to be like. A bed, a desk, a free-standing punching bag, and a picture on a bedside table next to the lamp. Yang and Ruby were there, along with their parents. The same two people Jaune had seen in the other room. They were all smiling and hugging, even though Yang and Ruby were far older in the picture than when Summer vanished. Tearing his eyes away from that, he focused on the girl wrapped up in blankets on the bed. Her back faced away from him, her body seeking to hide away from the world itself.
"Yang?" Jaune asked cautiously, stepping inside the room.
He could see her figure twitch and heard a slight sniffle.
"Sorry you had to see that." Yang muttered. "It's probably best if you leave."
"How can I leave when one of my friends is hurt like this?" Jaune sat down next to her. If they were in the real world, he would be doing the exact same thing. "Do you want to talk?"
"No."
"Okay."
Jaune sat there as the room shimmered around them, a familiar effect he had already seen from the previous dream he had invaded the other day. Yang may not have consciously wanted to talk about it.
Her subconsciousness said differently.
Flashes of what Yang had gone through began to play like a movie against the dark walls, similar to movie reels found in the old days. A young Yang was carrying Ruby around and trying to make breakfast while the younger girl slept. Changing diapers while gagging and almost crying herself. Constantly passing Ruby cookies every time she wanted them or was crying. A couple of times their dad came into view, face blank and in a daze, and didn't even seem to register them as he grabbed a bottle.
They were mostly her younger years, so he didn't see a single memory in this stream that showed it continued on afterward, but really, that was enough.
Being responsible for Ruby changed their dynamic, even if it was only for a short time. The time, the innocence, the naivety, and cheer of childhood in those young years would never return.
"I'm awful!" Yang blurted out, tears falling down her cheeks. "I should have raised her better. Her cookie addiction is my fault. I always gave her one when she cried to get her to stop because I didn't know how to make her stop! I made sure to keep all the boys away from her so she never got to know how to deal with them. I was afraid they'd hurt her or leave her too! I always kept her inside, terrified she would get hurt if she so much as stepped a single foot out the door! She's sheltered because of me, because I was too afraid, not her! All her insecurities, her fears, her mistakes, her shortcomings; I'm to blame! I tried so hard, I tried everything, but it wasn't enough! I was a terrible mom!"
Faintly, the room began to darken, blotting out the moonlight outside Yang's window. As if the nightmare were lurking and waiting to seep back in and damage her heart.
"You're not her mom!" Jaune told her sternly. "You're her sister."
"When mom left, dad shut down," Yang's words trembled as she spoke, eyes pained and haunted by what she had seen in the left door he should have never opened. "He didn't pay us any attention; he barely even left his room. He just fell apart. Like he was too broken to even cry or even see. Uncle Qrow would stop by once in a while, but he couldn't visit very often. Me and Ruby, we were all alone. And Ruby was still just a baby, she couldn't take care of herself and she wouldn't survive by herself! So, I had to take charge. I had to take care of Ruby. I had to be a mom…."
Yang's words died as Jaune hugged her tightly. She went limp in his grasp as her arms wrapped around him tightly back, as if never wanting him to let go.
When…when she was just a crying child mourning over the death of her mother, the collapse of her father, the demands of her baby sister, how many times had she longed for someone to just hug her and hold her like this? Just how many times had she been denied that right?
How long had she gone with having to bottle all this pain and suffering behind a sunny grin?
"You stepped up to raise Ruby," Jaune whispered, his voice both awed and disbelieving at such a brave act from a little girl. "I always thought you were one of the strongest people I knew. Compared to me? You were the sun, blazing and strong, and just hard to compete with. You have the kind of confidence and strength I can only wish for! Now I know you're even stronger than that. It's thanks to you that Ruby was able to grow up and be the amazing Huntress she is. She has a cookie addiction? She's not as social as she should be? That's what you're worried about? Even those small details make her all the more lovable! Even if she's not perfect, you're the reason why I have such a sweet and cool best friend!"
The Ruby he had met in a crater had been nurtured by the crying girl in his grasp. Yang was the one responsible for giving Ruby her Ruby-ness. How could she think she had failed her? Why did she have to think like a mom? Why did she have to force that kind of responsibility and expectations on her shoulders?
"You were a better mom than so many others, but you aren't her mom. You're her sister." He had to keep repeating that. To drive home that she had to let go of the overbearing weight. For her sake. "And she is one lucky girl."
"Lucky?" Yang reached up to wipe her face but still didn't let go of him.
"How many people can say they have a sister who loves them so much that they would do what you did?" Jaune asked. "Most people would have bailed, they would have ignored what was going on and blamed everything on someone else, focused on themselves and their sorrow, lashed out or gotten separated, but you stayed. You stayed and took care of a girl who others would just point out was only half your sister. That's more than your biological mother could have done. You're ten, no, a hundred, wait, a thousand times better than her."
"Think so… hic?" Yang hiccuped weakly.
"I know so." Jaune felt her let go at last, and he leaned back so they could look at each other. Seeing Yang, the toughest, most outgoing girl he knew, looking so... vulnerable, steeled his resolve to do whatever it took to make her feel better. Even if he had to divulge personal information, Yang might not know and make her suspicious. "My older sisters would have done the same for me and my younger sisters. They love me more than life itself, and I can tell you love Ruby that much, if not more."
"But she hates me." Yang shook her head. "She blames me for treating her like a kid. I'm just trying to keep her safe and maintain her innocence a little longer before the weight of the world hits her. She shouldn't be like me. Shouldn't be trying to make up for lost time. I want her to enjoy her youth. To be a kid before she realizes she's already an adult."
"I know that feeling." Jaune finally felt a small laugh escape him. "I helped raise my younger sisters as their older brother. There were times they annoyed me, and there were times I annoyed them. Yet, no matter what happens, we forgive each other because we love each other."
Now was the time to help Yang and Ruby's relationship. Weiss and Blake had told Yang this, but maybe she'll accept it if it comes from her 'own' mind. After all, what was the point of having as invasive as a Semblance as his if he couldn't even use it to help his friends?
"You do baby her, Yang. You need to accept that."
"I don't mean to. I just don't-..."
"Want to see her grow and leave?"
Yang went silent at his words.
"None of us want to lose people we're close to," Jaune sighed, leaning back against the wall next to the bed. "When my older sisters left the house, I was sad. I cried a bit myself. But just because they aren't with us physically doesn't mean they are gone. They call us regularly; we can call them with problems, and they will still listen. I know that if something happens and I need them to come help, they will do so in a heartbeat. It's the same for me. When I left, my youngest sister bawled her eyes out. If she ever called me and needed my help, I would go back home in an instant to solve it."
"Then what do I do?" Yang wasn't crying anymore, but she looked desperate. Desiring advice, hope, anything that could help solve her issues with Ruby.
"Be there for her," Jaune suggested. "Don't smother her; let her make mistakes, but always be there to help catch her if she falls. Give her advice, but understand she doesn't have to accept it. Ruby looks up to you. She respects you. All she wants is for you to respect her too."
"But what if she gets hurt?"
"Then help her back to her feet." There had been a time one of his sisters' boyfriends broke up with her, and she was inconsolable. All his other sisters spent the weekend helping her get over him. "As Ruby always says, you're the best big sister. Anything that happens to her, whether it's heartache, a bad grade, or just some advice for something bad she did, you'll help her. I know you will. Right?"
"Right." Yang sniffed and nodded. "Jaune… you're really smart."
"Always have been." Jaune smiled lightly. "And I never vomit on people's shoes." Okay, he wanted her to think this was a dream with that line.
A pair of stained tennis shoes appeared on the dresser and Jaune made sure not to draw Yang's attention to it.
Then a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Yang?" Came Ruby's voice. "Can I come in?"
"...Sure." Yang told her, after a brief pause when she glanced at Jaune. The door creaked open, and Ruby stepped in, back to her full Chibi self. The girl had her hands behind her back and was looking guilty.
"Ruby…"
"I'm sorry!" Ruby apologized first and looked like she was about to start crying. "I said really bad things I didn't mean. So I drew you this!" She held up a paper with a picture of her and Yang holding hands. It was a really good picture and not just a hand-drawn child's drawing. It might as well have been a photograph.
"I love it." Yang took it and hung it up above her bed. "I'm sorry too, Ruby." She scooped up her chibi sister and hugged her. "I don't try to be mean. I'm just looking out for your health."
"I know, and I'll try to eat better." Ruby promised.
"You're more of an adult each day." Yang smiled. "Hey, why don't we go out tonight? Kill some Grimm or something?"
"Yay! I'm going to get my scythe!" The girl vanished in a flurry of rose petals as she rushed downstairs.
"See?" Jaune smiled at her. "You two can get over anything."
"We do," Yang's bright smile was back herself as she slapped him on the back, causing him to stumble forward. Yep, she was back to her old self. "I still wish my mom was back. So Ruby could meet her."
"She would be proud of you." Jaune assured her, patting her shoulder.
"I am."
Jaune jumped as he saw an adult Ruby, no, a Summer Rose, standing in the middle of Yang's room, looking at them with kind eyes while wearing a white cap instead of a red one. Yang didn't freak out at all. In fact, it's like she expected Summer to be there.
"Mom, Ruby, and I are doing great at Beacon." Yang told her. "We're the best first-year team."
Jaune didn't bother to inform her that his team would win the Vytal Festival. This was her dream in more ways than one.
"I'm proud of both of you," Summer told her, stepping forward and hugging Yang. "But we need to talk about how filthy your room is. Seriously, it's a mess!"
"It's not that bad!" Yang protested as clothes, magazines, food, and workout equipment appeared out of nowhere and covered the carpet. Jaune tried not to laugh as Yang's dream was literally getting her in trouble with her mom.
"Your cute boyfriend is even laughing at your messy room!" Summer pointed. "Seriously, you're just like me. Always going for the tall, scraggly blondes."
"We aren't-...?" Jaune tried to say.
"Hands off, mom." Yang pushed Summer back and stepped between them. "You have dad."
"Come on, Jaune." Summer cooed. "Don't you want to be with an experienced woman? I always loved cute blonde boys."
Suddenly, Jaune found himself in the void as Yang woke up. She was probably screaming that her mom was after her friend. That seemed really out of place, but maybe it was a way for Yang to find some closure before waking up? Or maybe it was her subconscious thanking him for his help. Like with Velvet. Jaune sighed as he fell for a few moments and then woke up in his bed, staring at the ceiling.
'At least Yang is feeling better. Hopefully, she'll reconcile with Ruby tomorrow.'
Jaune turned over and went back to sleep, trying to forget some of the darker parts of Yang's nightmare.
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