Ever since that day, Sincere whom would return to Patch will always bring Jaune back to the island along with her. And in doing so she would tutor him further along with the Signal-Students, although Jaune did not have the legal documented proof of him being a part of the school, but with everyone around and with two friends he made. Signal academy had taken him in as their very own, now the uproar he had when he first showed-up wasn't as prominent as it once was, of course he still had students around who grew curious over him, the school nicknamed him the Hoodie-Boy, as he always seemed to wear some sort of different Hoodies when he was stationed here.
From pictures of rabbits, cats, and even certain depictions of old cartoon animation, the school decided that he would be dubbed the Hoodie-Boy because of his more to be desired fashion taste, but it was all in jest and Jaune did not take anything personally and would occasionally join in and tease himself amidst the mischief of the people around him. Now Jaune, although getting more comfortable, still did not prefer being around this many people as he mostly lived secluded from the actual world and since they lived practically within the wood-lands, it wasn't exactly social-oriented. So being placed in a vicinity that guaranteed some sort of interaction took some time to get use to for the hero-in hoodie wear, but with people like the Dragon he liked to call her, but she is better known as Yang, it wasn't too bad with her around and on occasion he gets to see Ruby, her sister. But that aside there was another thing that spread-like fire, for some reason the school liked to compare the two, the two being Jaune and Yang. Like saying that Yang and him were nearly identical and even some individuals, in someway shape or form.. thought he was some long lost brother of hers, but in reality that wasn't the case. And above the surface aside the blonde hair, the two did share the determination to overcome the obstacles that they challenge, Yang's fiery spirit and Jaune's undeterred soul no matter how many times he was dropped, it was reasonable why they could have been misprinted as Identical. But the personality of their shoes are not of the size.
Jaune is timid, kind, humble, perhaps abit rash at times, and with the times people observed him, they noticed his lack of care for himself. Pushing his limitation anytime he is pinned against the wall of progress, no matter the bruises, the cut, the pain. An Auraless dude who didn't care enough about his well-being that those around him have to force sense into his head that he could very-well cripple himself if he pushes boundaries too much.
Yang is outgoing, boisterous, confident, ambitious, sexy as all hell, (Jaune thought) those aside. She has fire unlike anyone in her current year, her talent and aptitude for the Huntress role surpasses that of even graduates, she too is stubborn, willing to press herself into her limit for a good fight, to hopefully prove something in herself, to achieve above and beyond.
But what makes them different?
Their goal.
A goal that is separating the two indefinitely, although Yang does wish to become a huntress, her goal isn't entirely on fighting Grimm or saving the world to earn some sort of attention or get recognized. No her goal is much more complicated in her own way, and that goal is to punch the shit out of one person, and then ask. Why? Why...
"Why did you leave.." She hushes with gritted teeth, her lilac eyes dipped in lament and anger, but also cluelessness with sprinkling guilt.
And then there is Jaune, his dream is simple, simple, but childish. And that is to become the hero he had always desired to be, although he had once been rejected, he had been silenced, he had been told he could not do it and yet here he was like the sword in his hand slashing every single disapproval, every bit of denial, everything that once haunted and had him weeping he cut it all off with his rapid-trained strokes that were splitting the unseen wind.
Yang pursuing for her answers to the questions that have possessed her life.
Jaune running for what he had longed desire. What formerly was unreachable became possible.
Their conviction iron, but the soul that they personally possess are what separate's them from being identical.
Jaune took notice of the lonesome dragon, her expression far from the regular he had always knew in the short time that they were friends, the simple grin, bright yet mischievous friendly smile she would emit, however seeing her look so flat and fragile had twisted the Arc's heart, now it wasn't any surprise to him. She... Was technically the first female who had extended her hand in friendship to him that is in no correlation related to his sisters, and during his time in Patch, which was over one month. He had taken somewhat of a soft spot for her, sure she constantly tease him and would always get them into trouble. But that was what made her.. unique, not in any negative light but it made her stand-out more.
Jaune made his way over towards her, the girl too deep in her reverie to had caught the glimpse of her friend approaching closer. "Yang?" The fiery-blonde was startled, in her scare, she would aggressively respond by nearly swinging at him with a mean hook, but Yang would realize what she was doing, as she is released from her entrapped-mind, she quickly snapped back while Jaune fell onto the ground in an attempt to avoid the heated knuckles that would've certainly left him toothless, plural. "Yo!? Yang what the heck!" Jaune exclaimed in shock, Yang dittoed his bizarre. "S-Sorry! I... I didn't even realize you were there, i was.. *sigh*...just thinking." She hastily tried to make amends, but her apology went on, guilt began to surface on her face while her body lost it's earlier tension, Jaune hadn't a clue why she looked so down, but the blonde-knight did not like it one bit, especially one like Yang, her countenance that looked too majestic (in his opinion) to hold such an expression.
The boy pushed himself to his feet, Yang looked to the side, almost in shame while the blonde knight dusted his jeans. "Alright Yang, what's gotten into you." He asked, his blonde-unrelated sister that didn't respond and only tried hiding herself by turning away to the side even further. "Hey, i'm not mad about tha-" "I know." She interrupted him, turning to him she tried to put on her smile. But Jaune could see that a simple lighter would've melted it. "It's nothing, okay? Don't worry." She tried to brush past it, but Jaune was abit persistent. "If it's nothing then why did you nearly knock my face inward." Jaune retorted, Yang flinched under his gaze not out of fear, but uneasiness as her control on herself was wilting. "You surprised me, i didn't see you coming." Yang kept the attempt of this facade, to which Jaune did not fall for, his eyes narrowed slightly at her. "Even if you had gotten shocked or surprised, you wouldn't had such an outburst like reaction, you are pondering something, and i don't know what it is, but it's clearly bothering you." Jaune told her of what he atleast understood, and not wanting to play along with her game he cut's through her bull, something was bothering her and he knew it just by the face she made, it wasn't like her at all. Even when she is angry or upset, it didn't look like that, distraught and guilt written, hurt and depressed, pressurized rage that is slowly overheating, and while normally that would make Yang appreciate the fault Jaune put on himself.
"Why do you care." Yang growled, however her emotions were unstable to have any of that feeling, by just observing her earlier and the way her body language spoke currently. "Because you wanted to be my friend." Yang felt as if she had gotten shot, in context however it wasn't unpleasant or painful, just baffled slightly, Yang and Jaune over the course of the month had gotten close. Now to put it into sense, Jaune saw Yang as someone that approached him first and extended her hand into their current relationship, and Yang saw Jaune as someone who she respected, from his work-ethic, his effort, his never-give up attitude, his gentle yet fierce blue-oceanic eyes. Plus he treated Ruby with such kindness she could vomit, overall however Jaune did not look at her as some sort of peach to bite. Now make no mistake, she see's how he would sometimes gaze and stare, even she would admit at first she thought he was perverted. But after learning his lack of contact with the social life from both her teacher Sincere and the boy himself, she grew fond of him because in her opinion he was innocent and curious, but also cute and kind, but having enough snark to be sarcastic, and as much as his eyes might roam, his feelings do too and she genuinely liked that.
"You... I..." Yang stumbled with forming her sentence, his response had netted her into quite the corner she doesn't usually get placed in, the reassurance in his voice tugged at her. "I care about you." Jaune took Yang's stumble and imported it into his next saying. The lioness only had her eyes widened, but she then sighed, giving him a small joking half impassive look. "I know you do hero boy." She snorted at how easily flustered he became, his face dashed in red, but Jaune quickly steadfast with the tease. "Don't try to pull away with the comedy shtick, just.. tell me what's wrong." His tone albeit somewhat firm, it held sincerity, it made what Yang thought of the Arc more profound. "Do you remember about what i told you when you first met Ruby?" She asked him, Jaune noting that she was opening up to him, nodded his head, Yang and Ruby were only genetically sister by their father. "That is what i'm thinking about." Yang lied, well, it wasn't an entire lie but she just did not want to expose her... More then burning grudge to her heroic friend that would most likely be against her more or less criminalistic ideal of chasing after what has never even came back and or thought for her, but the blonde dragon just had to know, to understand why that woman had to leave her, abandoned her, and.. and yet there was another one, another that left not by deliberation, but she knew that woman, rather then the mystery she wishes to solve aside one picture.
Jaune actually never asked about the situation of her parental status, as he only saw Tai their father, but neither of the mothers, and while he wanted to question it, the topic could be sensitive, now for all he knew they were huntresses and are traveling right now, but while that could possibly be true.. there was just something, something about the atmosphere that was just whispering to him that there was more underneath what is just on the plain surface. "Yang i never asked since i arrived, but-" "She's dead." Yang bluntly said what she assumed he was thinking, and with how blunt it came out the bemusement and flummox visage from Jaune was more then justified. "I-I'm sorry? Did you..?" He stammered, Yang sighed exasperated. "She, is, dead." She stressed each syllable that was elicited from her lips, Jaune continued to gawk at her face that went crestfallen again from telling him... The half-truth. "She died during her line in duty, she went on her mission one day promising she'll return, next thing we knew.. promise never made it back home." She grunted, although her exterior showed that she was toughening through it. The girl inside her, was crying, crying of that memory, hurting, angered, agitated. "It doesn't matter anymore, lamenting doesn't bring her back." Yang uncrossed her arms and was about to walk off, however the blonde-knight did not allow that and placed his hand on her shoulder. "What is it now." She snarled while turning to give him the side-ways glance. "She'd be proud of how you are now you know." He stated from left-field, it caught Yang so off-guard that her expression was morphing every turmoil it had. But her mind made up, and snapped. "What the fuck do you know!?" She raged, slapping his arm with force that had Jaune wincing as he was pretty sure he felt some sort of small pop was made, the enraged and emotionally unstable lioness grabbed him by the hoodie's collar area and growled infront of his face. "You and i have only been friends for at the very least one month! And this is the first ever time i've ever expressed this shit to anyone!? So why the fuck! WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW ANYTHING!!!" Yang hadn't even the clue why she was this enraged, this was suppose to be just a molecule lie, a small one that would hopefully push the thought of the bitch away, but now... Now her lie was becoming double-edged, from the bitch, and to her beloved late-mother, it spiralled with her eyes beginning to shift red, Jaune who was staring directly into them felt himself tremble in fear, those red eyes reminded him of the Ursa. Filled with anger and ravenous belief, but what made this different, is the utter sadness it held, the abundance of guilt, and most of all. A friend of his was suffering, and he has to act or talk her through, he'll choose the latter first. "I don't know, you are right we have just been friends for a short-period, so i wouldn't even understand why or what you are going through." Jaune admitted, Yang's glare was turning more and more feral. "But, at one point in my life, nobody believed in me, not my mom, not Sincere, not my father. Nobody wanted me to become a huntsman, and those that did either kept quiet or knew they'd lose the argument. So nobody ever told me, that they believed in me, that they knew i could make it, the only reason i'm here is because i had to force my ship to sail." As Jaune revealed more of himself, not in an expressing way but figurative, to get a point across, Yang listened, she acknowledged this, and slightly understood more. on why he had no Aura to begin with, or why he was so clueless on the subject even, having Sincere practically pleading her to stay silent when she was pulled aside that one time made more sense now, well.. as much sense as it could get, but this is deviating from the actual point, what he said earlier had nothing to do with this, it wasn't adding up to why he said Summer or that Bitch would be proud of her from out of nowhere, he doesn't even know who Summer is, he doesn't even know her name currently, or actually. She never specified which mother she was talking about, so he was entirely going on a whim, which only added the blaze further. "What does this have to do with what i said earlier? It's approval isn't it Yang, you want to know if you are worth it? Would she be proud? Would she care? If she was here, will she support and cheer you on? And i told you. Yes, yes she will, and yes even now she does." He firmly put, the statement fueled her fire further into madness, her jumbled mess of a mind screamed repeatedly of why they left if they did support her. If they did care, if she cared!? If the bitch cared!? Yang was so close to snapping. "But if that isn't enough for you, i believe you too Yang." But, it wouldn't be him if it wasn't another haymaker towards her already fucked up feelings, his confusing way with words, it is probably the most weirdest she ever experienced out of anyone she talked to, and she had an uncle who can speak backwards when he is drunk enough for Oum's sake.
"What...?" She gasped languidly, she couldn't help but internally curse at him for the mess he is making out of her, but another part of her heart was thankful it was thankful and bemused as to why she is, so her body reacted with what it thought was the solution. "Ha...haha...ahaha.." She started laughing, and the laughter slowly mixed itself with tears of despair, and then crying, her cries engulfed the laugher, and she wailed. "Why... Why are you like this..!? Why are you saying shit that you don't even know! You don't even know which mother i'm even talking about, you don't fucking know shit, not one single FUCKING BIT! *Sob* so why? Why..! Why are you talking as if you knew...!!!" She screamed with such dismay that it was making Jaune quake on the inside. Yang stumbled forward, her legs losing the will to keep-standing as they buckle. "I said it earlier, i don't. I don't know how you feel, or know-" "SO WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU JUST SAYING SHIT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A GODSDAMN IDEA ABOUT!?" "BECAUSE I KNOW I'M RIGHT!" The roar had Yang fall down to her knees, the blonde-emotional lioness looked over at the Arc. Who was now kneeling infront of her, grabbing ahold of her shoulders as he stared deeply into her eyes. "Because just by how much pain and emotional you feel right now. I can tell, that she would have been so proud that you are pursuing what you want or perhaps what you wish to gain, good or bad. I'm sure she would have had approved in her own way, and as for which i'm talking about? It's the one that is making you cry this hard." Yang's now lilac eyes just stared into his oceanic ones, that held such care, such warmth for her. If she wasn't this ruined, she'd probably be swooned or perhaps in love. Maybe even kiss him, but right now, all she did was lean into his shoulder and sobbed her heart out, Jaune held the lioness awkwardly as he isn't known to sooth anyone with gestures like this ever, so Yang was the first, aside his family, but as of this current problem, he had to push his insecurities aside and comfort this poor heart-bleeding lioness/dragon hybrid.
Yang was still baffled on how her little-play it off, turned into one of her whiniest days yet, it was one of the hardest she had ever cried thinking about Summer her mother, and her bitch, whore mother. Okay maybe that was abit unnecessary, but with how she is right now, fuck her. "You know, most guys would just try inserting their dick by now." She quipped even in her current corrode, Jaune snorted. "Can't you just cry and let it out instead of joking." Jaune softly reprimanded, Yang giggled and hiccuped as she just rested on his broad-shoulders. Silence took over the moment, the wind blowing over the two while they just stayed in their current position for awhile longer. "Jaune?" "What is it." "Thank you." Jaune exhaled in amusement, earlier if looks could kill, he was sure he'd be a skeleton by now. "We're friends, it's what they do." Jaune smiled, and Yang could hear it, it made her smile as well. "I guess so." She muttered.
[Later At Xiao-Long Cabin]
Jaune had helped Yang back to her house, Tai looked at the pair with... What Jaune would describe as the father look, but the man seemed to have faith in him, somehow.. Yang led the knight to her room where she sat on the bed, sighing. "You didn't have to do that you know." She mumbled. "I didn't but i wanted to, sides you're tired and after what happened today i can't blame you." He waved her off, making the lioness snort and lay back on her bed. "I'm suppose to take Ruby to go see her today, but.. you aren't wrong, i'm tired." She grouched, Jaune lifted his brow in curiosity. "See who?" Yang was silent for a few moments. "...I was crying about her earlier." She ran her hand across her face, Jaune's eyes widened, but they close in ponder. "Jaune i..." She hesitated to ask- "I'll do it." She looked up at him, she was met with the typical face Yang always saw from him, it was either his nervous or anxious self. Or his more confident side that kept arising from the depth's of his character, the blonde dragon sighed in mirth. "Then you should go get Ruby, tell her today... I'm not really.. in the right head-space or thought to see her, tell her i'm sorry." She shifted her position on the bed, turning towards the window that showed the outside, from the fact she hadn't heard footsteps meant Jaune still stood there.
"Well what are you doing?" She questioned, however the response was nothing. "Jaune?" "I'll tell her you said hi." And with that, his footsteps led away from her bed and then out of her room, the dragonslayer craned her neck to see his body-turn toward the direction of Ruby's room. Yang stilled in that position trying to figure out what he meant, hi to who?, Ruby? Or... She sighed exasperatedly and stared out the window again, while she isn't thinking as deeply as she was earlier, it still lingered and whimpered internally, but now, it was also mixed in with that idiot's voice. "I believe you too Yang." The conviction and absolute in his tone when he said that earlier still affected her, she scowled without any scorn. "BuT I bElIeVE yOu ToO YaNg!" She felt very chuff in the sarcastic impression of the nerd-knight, but it only made her laugh to herself. "Haha... Ahaha, ah... Damn you.." her lips could no longer stop the rippling from curving upward into a pleasant grin at the thought of her blonde counterpart. "You wannabe hero.." she took one last jab while spacing out at the window again.
Jaune's attention now on the door infront of him, it led to the little-red hood's room, or better known as Ruby. The tiny, petite, small insecure, small, short, small, cannot cook but can somehow bake, and also short. Jaune's friendship with Ruby was alot more different compared to Yang. Well okay, maybe not alot, but by some margin. Because Ruby was younger and had his sort of mental-attitude, heroes, comics, videogames, storybooks. They had alot in common, and while Yang also had those traits, she is the extrovert between the two, making Ruby the introverted one, similar like him. Plus, she wasn't so... Exposing like Yang, and he used that term very loosely when he thought about the difference from both girls choice of attire, shaking off those impure protruding imaginations he knocked on the red-hood's door. "Coming!" Her squeaky yet maturing voice called from the opposite side.
The door retreated back enough to have the short-bob cut haired girl peek, her silver eyes lit up once she saw her only friend that wasn't her sister standing before her. "Jaune!" An effervescent cheer along with the full swing of her door, tackling the much larger blonde into an embrace, Jaune coughed and chuckled, hugging her back albeit more awkwardly, again he still and probably never will get used to these type's of interaction's with people outside his family. "Hey short-stack." Her cheeks puffed in irritation as her eyes watered slightly from how hard they were narrowed. "I'm drinking as much milk as possible! Just you wait, i'll get even taller then you!" She sulked, Jaune rolled his eyes as well as his shoulder, a sign of waving off her empty not so-much threat. "When you start flying red-hood, but Yang said she is tired today." Ruby's eyes largen abit, but she quickly hid the small disappointment they held, she morphed her expression into that of an understanding visage. "Oh, that's okay she must be pushing her self alot, ever since that fight you had with her, she seems to be working more and more harder." The past small-shouting match rung in Jaune's ear, he quickly kept that off and replied. "I highly doubt that is the reason." He shook off what Ruby thought. "Jaune, she's my sister, i know her longer then you do." She deadpanned, Jaune scratched the back of his head, he couldn't deny that now could he? "Fine, fine.. i personally dont think that is the reason she is tired." Jaune would reiterate but also added in some phrases that would hopefully please the Blachette cosplayer.. that isn't cosplaying. "Well, i personally believe... That you are wrong." She quipped in smugness, Jaune felt his smiling face twitch with slight agitation. "Fine... Ruby, it's because she nearly got her ass-handed by me. That is why she is tired..." He said between gritted smiling teeth.
Kch kch.
"Ah... Shit.."
"You have to pay twice now."
"Fuck."
"Thrice."
[Later]
Jaune sat with Tai at the lounging area outside while he waited for Ruby, the riding-hood seemed shocked that he said he'll accompany her, before her beaming almost sun-blind inducing smile appeared, and Jaune knew now that he wouldn't even hesitate to ever say yes again. While he didn't hesitate earlier when taking Yang's position, he did doubt himself, but after seeing that precious smile. He knew he will protect it at all cost, no matter what her innocence is his top-priority to defend. Which was why he and Tai were currently sat together, the younger blonde fidgeted beside the much more experienced man, who coul..-would kick him across the field if it weren't for the trust his daughter's had in him, his impression's of the Arc did not sour or plateaued, it did slightly rise to 'he won't kill him if he caught them holding hands, but if they kissed he would be surely dead.' Thankfully the three zygotes were non the wiser to those thoughts.. except Jaune who just managed to secure it well enough. "I didn't wanna ask earlier with Yang nearby, but what happened? She seemed exhausted, alot more exhausted then normal." Tai eyed Jaune, who shifted abit before sighing to himself. "Mr-" "Just call me Tai when we're not on school-grounds." Jaune looked at the man, who gave an easygoing grin that abated his nervousness abit.
"Earlier, i found Yang sitting by herself. It wasn't strange, but it was her face that bothered me, it looked.. dark, and depressed, yet also hateful. So when i went up to her she nearly knocked my entire face off my skull, that thankfully did not connect... We were... Okay, i was pushing it, i was worried about her you know? She looked completely out of character, it wasn't the one i'm used to, the overly flirty yet friendly personality. She shifted entirely to someone else, someone that is hiding from the world because they've been hurting.." he explained the first-half, Tai kept himself from eliciting, Jaune didn't notice the small-twitch that he evoked from the man due to the little remark about Yang, sure she was overly flirty... But.. but... Okay he had nothing. "So as i asked what was wrong, it dragged, with her trying to cover it up. But i just knew something wasn't right, so i pushed abit.. maybe it wasn't the right thing to do? But if it bothered someone so much, sometimes you kinda have to pull it out, force it maybe... Yes, it is insensitive, and callous, but if we look from another perspective, bottling will only make the cocktail more potent before it combusts into flames. She needed help is all i'm trying to say, and she must release some of that pent up-anger, and then it turned into alittle one-sided argument." It started progressing to the middle of the tale, Tai being more aware as he straightened his body, though he couldn't help but have a small part of him be abit amused by the wordplay and poetry from the boy beside him. "Then she gave in, she told me that she was thinking about her mother, or mothers? I don't know.. but that's what she was saying. At first i was confused, i didn't understand what she meant.. i didn't know she.." Jaune paused, looking over at Tai who was looking at him with an expression that told him he could keep going. "Sigh, she wasn't here on remnant anymore to put it, at the very least. So on and so forth, and she tried brushing past it again. But i stopped her, now i do not know why, or what i was thinking if i'm fairly honest. But i just thought it made the most sense, i told her she'd be proud of her." Tai gawked at Jaune, before snorting and chuckling. "I'm surprised you're alive." The older-blonde kidded, Jaune took it in stride, laughing beside him. "Me too.." Jaune would continue after his short laugh. "So i said that, and when i said it... I just had this feeling i wasn't wrong. So i didn't buckle too much when she turned with the glare, she almost got physical, she was by now shouting in my face, her eyes were red." Jaune had to suppress his flinch, but Tai caught wind of the sudden and sharp shake, he examined him and thought back to what Sincere explicitly shared about the boys condition not too long ago. "Then i told her my life, and how it wasn't so pretty.. when i told her about what i went through it confused her as to how it correlates with me saying what i said earlier, and that was acceptance, it took me so long, so, so damn long to achieve it from my family. And i was the reason it even happened, but i understood to an extent that she wanted some sort of acceptance from her mother, hoping that they agree or maybe support her path towards the dream she chose for herself.." Tai nodded, keeping his personal thoughts to himself. "More shouting, shocked faces, more things i blurted out, it was just... All over the place, explaining it like this isn't as.." Jaune tried thinking of a word. "Authentic as how it was when it happened?" Tai helped him with his thought, Jaune nodded with a tiny grin. "Yeah, something that can have similar meaning to that." Tai sighed, before clicking his tongue. "Look Jaune, Yang... She is going through alot, alot more then she'd like you to believe, i'm not gonna spill what she clearly doesn't wanna share so you shouldn't be too pushy about it as well. If she ever does come around she will tell you, and besides i, myself don't even know what she really is thinking, what kind of gears are turning in that head of hers.. and if you are expecting me to tell you what i atleast know, you won't get it out of me kid." Jaune nodded at Tai. "I get it, and i wouldn't want you to had told me anyways, it isn't my business in any regard.. but, maybe that's why i want to put my nose in it so badly.. because i wanna let her know that i at the very least care." Jaune sighed, Tai ruffling his hair quite hard having the poor fellow yelp. "Hmph, don't think just because you use smartass platitudes mean i'm gonna let you date them." Tai growled, Jaune paled and pulled his arms up in protest. "W-Woah! Uh, i wasn't even thinking that, i just meant that i cared for her as a friend is all!" Tai smacked his knee while he laughed in cacophony. "Dude! Loosen up man, i was joking with you." Tai trying to regain his breath, pulled Jaune closer to him and whispered. "If you do try dating them however i will end you." Jaune knew he wasn't joking, but he couldn't help the bubbling sass that is encroaching his mouth. "Sir, with all do respect... Even if you did allow i'm sure they'd be running the opposite direction.." Jaune grunted with his shoulder still heavily clenched by the much stronger man, silence pitted as they stilled in their position, before Tai chuckled. "You are a good kid, take good care of my daughters you hear." He demanded, Jaune grinned up at him. "An Arc never goes back on his word." Using the motto, Tai released him and patted his shoulder before getting up. "You are heading to see Summer with Ruby right? Ruby can take care of herself, but she still inexperienced compared to you. Make sure she is safe from Grimm alright?" Jaune nodded. "You got it." Although the thought of Grimm had Jaune's heart racing, the idea of them harming Ruby pulled him away from fear and has him determine to remove them if they were near. Tai sighed, but showed gratitude before walking inside-"also, if you actually date them. I will kill you."
"WHAT IS UP WITH YOU AND OBSESSING THAT I WILL DATE ONE OF THEM!?"
Jaune kept waiting, during this time he allowed himself to piece what he could of the events earlier with Yang, her hardship, her problem, her issues, it was something he didn't expect from her, but then again that is quite naive thinking that just because someone cheerful always makes everyone else join her mood meant that they themselves cannot be under pressure of their own self-worth, Jaune picked at his consistently and constantly, joking even when it hurt's him because in some morbid way... It help's cope that he isn't perfect, but it also sting's to know he can never be, but now knowing atleast something about Yang, it made him realize that she too is human, and she herself has need's and covet's what she hasn't achieved, what is it? He doesn't know. But perhaps.. he could help her, but that must come with trust and he will hopefully get there one day with her. Jaune continued his brooding, his mind now shifted from Yang to himself and his lacking of abilites, it wasn't anyone's fault but his and he is trying his best to reduce that, but it seemed like he was still so far-behind. But everyone put their faith in him, even if it was abit late, better that then apposed to never. "Man, thinking is so draining.." Jaune groaned out, slumping abit in his patio-chair. "Then you shouldn't think." Jaune cranked his head, seeing Ruby who now was dressed in a white-blouse paired with her usual combat skirt, she also wore knee-length boots with red lacing and white soles, her right knee had an iron-padding that is attached to the boot, she also had one fingerless glove on her right hand strangely.. but to fit off everything, instead of her normal Blachette, red hood cape, she dons... A white one, the cloak itself had pinkish-petals spots at the hems of the cape, it was clearly also abit more oversized for Ruby. "You wearing a different hood?" Jaune questioned, he has not seen Ruby without her fluttering rose cape, the girl whom is questioned was hesitant as she fidgeted, wrapping an arm around herself. "This... This is an alternative cape that was given to me." She muttered, her silver eyes dimmed. "Alternative being, this was originally mother's wear." She admitted, Jaune felt himself go rigid, and sympathy ran him. "I... See, well.. you look very pretty in it, i'm sure she would have been happy to see you in it." Jaune smiled at the cookie loving monster, she was taken-aback by his comment, but quickly smiled genuinely with abit of glistening in her eyes. "Thank you... Jaune.." She quietly thanked. The hoodie-knight stood up, Crocea-Mors clipped to his hip. "Alright, we should get moving. It's about to get dark soon, if anything appears make sure you stay behind me okay?" He warned the rose, who scoffed and smugly looked at him. "What makes you think i need you to protect me?" Her tone bratty and displeased. "Because you are short." Ruby's head was filled with tick-marks. "J-JUST YOU WAIT..! WHEN THE DAIRY PRODUCTS FINALLY DO WHAT THEY WERE MEANT TO I WILL BE SO TALL YOU'LL KISS MY BOOT!" Ruby exclaimed with irritation. "Sounds like something a munchkin would say." Jaune was clearly having fun with this. "Yeah! Well atleast i look adorable and not some tall lanky dummy like you!" She retorted. "Hey! Who said being tall and lanky mean's i can't be cute." Jaune argued, Ruby being Ruby stuck her tongue and raspberries. As the two went back and forth while heading in the area of Summer's tomb, two figures stood near the window of the cabin watching the two tease, mock, and laugh at one another. "You sure you don't wanna go?" Tai questioned the lilac eyes girl who was staring at the distance, she shifted abit and shrugged her shoulder. "Eh, next week, i'll see her next week." She told him. "Also, why did you tell Jaune to protect Ruby as if she couldn't defend herself?" Yang turned to her old-man, who snorted. "I'm not saying she cannot, i'm just telling the kid to make sure she is safe. Although Ruby is good with the gun, Crow is still having her train in melee-combat which is why he hasn't allowed Crescent-Rose to have the mecha-shift scythe mode." Tai explained to Yang who simply nodded while her eyes now just wandered across the glass, that reflected her face. "Jaune.." she muttered. "If you date him i will massacre him." Tai jested obviously, of course he's joking.. "DAD!" Yang felt her face heat slightly, now she doesn't feel any kind of crush or like to the Arc romantically, but friend-wise, she was happy she met him, even if he is weirder then the average joe that he always put himself as.
The pair have now arrived at the path-end that led to the cliffside-forest, from the main-plot. They took steps in into the large-clearing with dead roots that dense the area, Jaune saw the spot where he and Sincere would often land with the private Bull-head, but the two stepped deeper into the terrain, and as they kept walking in deeper with lesser the clearing and more of the dead-roots, Jaune had to admit that some of the tree's had nature carved faces embedded onto it, it was pretty fizzled and of course not immaculate, but the picturing was enough to make you imagine it shift. The journey may have started off amusing and mirthful, but as they tread deeper in. It became more and more solemn, as the only sound were just their footwear crushing the ground below. "I either usually come here with Yang, or sometimes alone.. don't tell Dad or Yang that please.." Ruby being the first to break the silence. "Secret is safe with me, but.. why would you come here all alone? Isn't it dangerous." Jaune asked, Ruby bobbed her head in agreement. "It is dangerous.. but, sometimes i just wanna see mom. Today Yang was suppose to come, but again i don't feel upset because she is tired.. and besides! I have you with me and i can introduce her to you!" She grinned at him, her expression enough to settle the growing anxiety in him by walking in this Grimm-infested forest, Ruby always being the one to turn any negative small or big into some benefit the girl was optimistic, more then he could ever be. "I hope she doesn't mind me too much, she might question why you brought some stranger instead of Yang." Jaune playing around, it made Ruby giggle and looked away as a fond expression made it's way on her face. "I'm sure she'll find you pleasing Jaune, and hey for once i get to tell her that i made one friend after so long, she'll never have to worry about me being alone." Ruby proving his point of optimism, Jaune chuckled as he couldn't help but be infected by her positivity. "Yeah, i'll promise her that i will protect you." "Even though i don't need it." "Yes you do short-stack." "WHY DO YOU KEEP MAKING FUN OF MY HEIGHT!?" "Because you keep challenging me." Jaune smirked down at the fuming white-hood. "Oh, i can't wait.. to grow..!" She growled with intense blood-lust, Jaune swallowed the lump that built-in his throat, maybe.. poking the bear too much isn't such a smart thing to do.
The travel would forgone without any verbal exchange yet again, Ruby forgiving Jaune without having the need to tell him, since she was willing to get closer to him instead of rushing forward or stepping to the side at an exaggerated length, but she is only 13 pushing 14 soon so her childish tendencies isn't something too diverse for her, it was part of her charm and personality, comparison of her and Yang could not be anymore digressing, of their personality, but without the attribute of nature like outgoing or loner the description would pit more to this. Yang is the vixen, the mature body, the confident mind-set, and overall Yang is an all-rounder kind of girl, whom can definitely hang with most crowd, gender, or personality. And then there is Ruby, whom prefer the more quiet atmosphere, but in actuality is just as loud and can be as robust as her sister rather just preferring it in her comfort-zone then having it be known to everybody, it's similarity with the distinction enough to separate them, of course that is excluding physical appearance and DNA. "Umm.. Jaune..?" She called out to him nervously, the blonde pulled himself back to his surrounding rather then his mind. "Yeah, what is it Rubes?" Jaune was oblivious to the fact he was making the girl who has self-esteem issue's as bad as he does, feel insecure about her less desirable look then that of Yang due to his eyes locking onto her when he went into reverie. "You... Yang is beautiful right?" She did not proceed with her original thought and tried the more round-a-bout way. "Uh..? Yeah, what does this have to do with-" "And you like her, right?" "Umm... Well, what do you entail by like?" Ruby went silent, her face going red while peppering herself internally that she could do it. "Would you eat her." And all that peppering did absolutely nothing to her nerves. "What!?" "Wah! Ah, Um! I-I mean would you.. uh...!" Ruby scrambling for anything, saw in the far away, the chance to have this completely just be comedy and hopefully never have this interaction be brought up again! "Look Jaune, there it is!" She took him by the hand, which affected the Arc who blushed at the smoothness of her gloveless hand, and pulled him closer to the gravestone. Jaune felt her fingers slip away from him, he watched as the little-rose rushed closer and closer near the edge of the cliff, and there. Her reminder-stone was embedded into the earth, Jaune took the scenery, and noted how her grave-sight was that of another clearing, as no trees or dead roots were even near her grief-plaque. Jaune took his time to make his way over, he watched as Ruby had already knelt infront of the memory-reminder praying in silence, gone was the earlier fun and confusion from lack of context, to the somber realization that Ruby at such an early age. Never had anyone that she could call mother, and that was the most depressing part of it all, he has no idea what Ruby even went through herself, yet after all that she has the will to smile, the heart to be pure, and the soul of an innocent and it made Jaune really figure his luckiness he once thought was so bad, while nobody may have supported him initially.. he atleast had a mother, a mother that genuinely loved him, maybe overly love him abit too much, but love him no more then anyone else she loves in her family. It made Jaune feel guilty again about the times he felt upset over not getting his way to become like those from his fairytale. But if this were one, then Ruby should still have both her parents, the same goes to Yang. "I have so much more to learn, so much more to understand, maturing is part of the journey." Jaune narrated to himself. Once he was near enough, he heard the conversation that Ruby was creating with Summer-Rose. "Sorry that Yang isn't here today, she's been quite tired lately, pushing herself alot more then necessary, but it wouldn't be Yang if she didn't right? Can you believe that Yang nearly lost? I mean, i know that everyone atleast loses once, but Yang is somebody that i find very hard believing who'd lose. But she won, and the person she nearly lost to.. is here mom, this is Jaune, Jaune Arc. My first friend.." "And.. my crush." "Hello mrs. Rose, i'm Jaune, Jaune Arc." He formally introduced himself to the memory-plaque. "It's short sweet rolls off the tongue and ladies run from it." Ruby burlesque, feeling pleasant at the crimson takeover that happened on his face, revenge for all those short-mocking's he was doing just now, and before, and, and even later down-JUST REVENGE DANG IT!
"Hahaha... Aha, ahh..? I mean, she didn't run, so it can't be that... True?" Jaune tried to reassure..? Himself if we are practical here, Ruby giggles at how adorable it was but also how sweet it sounded, well it was tad bit cheesy but no one said that alittle bit of cheddar was bad right. "Aside me making ladies run in terror i'm also trying to be a hero, i don't know if that's an influence you want for me to give Ruby, but i said it to her earlier and i'll say it again. I will protect her and along with Yang, with my life." Ruby went her namesake and then some with Rose, although Jaune had said it earlier and before coming here, she did not actually expect him to literally say that infront of her mother. "J-Jaune you are embarrassing me!" She whined. "Well it's the truth, i meant it." Ruby pouted, her cheeks fairing the best shade possible to improvise her name, but she would be lying if the racing of her heart told her anything, it pounded from his sincerity and being, his very presence right now impacted her in ways that the hoodie-boy could ever imagine. "...Pervert." She muttered. "Excuse me!?" Jaune exclaimed as he looked at her flummoxed over what she just dubbed him as. "I said you are.. a pervert." She sang the latter half with a tease. "How am i, a pervert?" Jaune placed his hands on his hips, staring and judging her. "Because you keep saying how much you wanna protect me, and that only mean's you wanna...wanna.. uh..." Ruby came to the conclusion, that it meant he wanted to marry her... Jaune wasn't as couth, he thought the worse, how did innocent Ruby even knew of such NONSENSE!? IMPURE DEVILISH! CORRUPTION! HOW COULD IT EVEN HAD REACHED SUCH A SOUL..!
One was distraught over something that wasn't even close to the blachette's thoughts, and her thoughts were nowhere near what the knight was thinking, the fact of the matter is. Both are without sugar-coating, stupid.
The shenanigans passed, with the two just kneeling close together as the current of the wind-blew past them, it was relaxing and peaceful for both individuals. But for Ruby it was also getting into her feels, she sat there expecting to hear her mother, is it childish and stupid to wish for something such as that? Maybe, but she didn't care. She just wanted to hear her again, tell her she loved her, and perhaps hear it back from the woman she so missed.. memories of her were scarce at best, maybe one kiss to the head or being pampered with, nothing else. "You know." Ruby voiced, garnering Jaune's attention. "I sometimes sit here, and wait, for no reason but to hope i could hear her voice. Is it dumb? Hehehe.. yeah, i can see it. But is it wrong to want something? Even if it would take a miracle.. what do you think Jaune?" She asked him, Jaune kept to himself for abit deducing and machinating on how to form his sentence's properly and not dive in like he did with Yang. "Well... It could be seen as unrealistic if we were to put it bluntly, but is it so wrong to want something unrealistic? Is it some sort of sin for wanting to believe in such, for me i don't think so. I think it's okay to want to hear that Rubes, what's wrong with wanting to hear the voice of a loved one, one more time.. i'm sure if she could, and she had the ability to.. she would, no doubt. So no Ruby i do not think it's stupid or dumb.. childish perhaps but there is nothing wrong with having it in us sometimes.. it's what makes people human, and you are human short-stac..Ruby?" Jaune turned to look at her, but the sight had his voice choking in on itself, Rubies eyes and cheeks were cascading with water. And it sure wasn't raining, her eyes were dull as she kept vision straight and on Summer's memory. "I... Want to see her again..." She choked out, turning to Jaune with pleading eyes, as if asking him to do the impossible and bring her back. "Ruby..." Jaune murmurs as he looked at the pained expression on her countenance that was contorting and twitching from controlling itself, she was holding the dam even when it was leaking.. this poor girl. Jaune did what he could next, because saying anything more might only add more to the damage, and that was what happened with Yang before it was smoothen from luck he believed, so he hugged Ruby, the action rocked the girl as Jaune had never initiated the embrace ever, it was always her if they did hug. So for him to push off his insecurities and nervousness away for her to feel some sort of relief and closure, it made her cry more. It was from sadness, it was from the pang of loneliness, but importantly it was from because she has another person that cared for her. "Than...thank you, Jaune.." she croaked out with her voice tightening to not let out sobs. "It's what friends do." Ruby felt herself blushing as she cried, how interesting.. her love-interest comforting her while she was feeling down, but also happy that he is here for her. Emotion's are the strangest thing humanity will ever encounter, because they should be defined as all-over the place in the dictionary.
Jaune then felt it, the air shifting. Dread shivered through his body as he felt his hairs stand-up from all over his body. "Ruby." "It was because of me, i'm sorry Jaune.." she apologized with guilt laced in her voice, Jaune wouldn't have that however. "Don't be ridiculous, it's okay for you to let go of the pressure.. it's just bad luck that it attract's something else.." he turned and saw many red glowing hue's stalking from the tree, branches, and barks, they were simply put surrounded and fucked. "Shit.." Jaune muttered. "There is so many of them..?" Ruby now too had dread chilling her core, but kept her composure as to not encroach anymore unwanted guests. "Stay behind me Ruby." Jaune told her as he made his way forward, unlatching his sword from the sheathe as he stared ahead at all the red that was glaring at him, it was just that, red, but to him it felt like an entire beast was engulfing him, biting his flesh to chunking pieces, but he had to fight through it. To make sure Ruby get's out of here safely. "I'll cover you from behind Jaune." Confused he turned to ask what she was implying, but his mouth sewed shut once he saw her pull out what seemed to be something that's related to be a weapon. "What is-" But Jaune wasn't allowed to finish his thought when what he would describe as some storage compartment, expanded itself out into some mid-length pull-bolt barrel, Jaune gawked in disbelief.. that weapon is twice the size of her, and is as big as he was!? "I... How are you even..?" Jaune was lost. "We can talk about that later Jaune, we have more pressing matters right now!" She pushed aside his baffled stare and focused on the current conundrum. "Right..!" Jaune got his head back in the proper way and turned to see what they were dealing against, he see's Boarbatusks and Beowolves as for what they've been able to observed at least. "It's mostly Boarbatusk and Beowolves, there could be an Ursa among them though." At the mention of the bear Grimm, Jaune felt himself nearly get eclipsed back in his trauma but the man fought it off as it wasn't here and he hasn't seen it yet, which mean's it's only hypothetically possible. "We worry about what's here first, since you can take range how about pick off some that are further from the back? I'll do what i can as the frontline but if i don't notice, and they come too close? shoot it even if it it'll hit me." Ruby's eyes nearly bulbous out of their sockets. "ARE YOU NUTS!?" Jaune grinned shakily as fear shot through his body. "Hehe... No, i'm terrified as all hell." He admitted. "It won't come to that Jaune, trust me." She said to him, determined in both her eyes and voice. "Ruby, i trusted you the day i told you ladies ran from me." Jaune took his stance as the Grimm marched toward him.
They should be attracted to him, the macabre in him shook his very being so the Grimm should target him first. A Boarbatusk charged forward, it was attempting to skewer Jaune with it's appendage's but the blonde leapt over it, he heard a cacophonic blast radiated from behind him. Seeing the boar Grimm immediately turn to dust, Jaune landed in a roll his arm shifting to block the Beowolves claw from shredding him, another loud roar from behind him and the Beowolf shattered into particles, with the weight off him he whirled toward another wolf and slashed it's head off. He ducked under a leaping boar, skewering it from under the belly and dragging the blade across, the boar Grimm dissipated along with the wolf, he ducked under the maw that nearly bit his head off from another beowolf, and it instead ate Rubies shot. Jaune kept aware of his surrounding and noted that the numbers were not dwindling in the slightest. "Shit, they keep getting attracted..!" He gritted his teeth as he felt his fears becoming more and more prominent, lessening the control he has over the shaking. He saw Grimm falling from Rubies expertise, Jaune noted from the back of his head that Ruby was... Definitely alot more skilled then he was, what the hell was that old-man on about Ruby being inexperienced? He shook off the thought and charged back into battle, he ducked under one of the Beowolves claws, leapt over a rolling Boarbatusk, he evaded another Beowolf's maw from chomping him, he quickly thrusted his blade into the one that tried biting him in the head, it whined and swept at Jaune in defiance, catching the blonde off-guard as claw-marks wiped across his cheek, Jaune rolled away from the previous Beowolf, whom finished off it's brethren for Jaune by sinking it's claws into the already dying Grimm. When Jaune stood up, he hadn't taken account of the Boarbatusk, it spun at ridiculous speed's and drove itself right into his back. "Guagh!?" Jaune choked, stumbling forward to be met with greedy malicious intent, as the Beowolf he had dodged earlier did an uppercut variant of a slash, Jaune felt his body fly before gravity took him into a nasty fall, he skidded back, feeling his arms and legs gain cuts and bruises. "JAUNE!" Ruby exclaimed, she had her own issues with Beowolves taking charge at her, she quickly aimed her sniper and took out the wolf that was haggling the Arc, but the Rose couldn't have her attention on the downed boy as she had to made sure she didn't get overrun, sides she saw the thumbs up Jaune offered her and believed that he will be okay. "You better be.." she emotionally growled as she bashed a wolf that got too close before splattering its head to pieces with a piercing shot. Jaune was recovering from his haze, he then saw the Boarbatusk that had him injured spinning like a ball, before dashing at full velocity, Jaune in a panic, grabbed his sheathe unlatching it as he tried to defend himself. When the Boarbatusk made impact, the scabbard.. expanded out!? It became a shield.. a kite shield to be exact. "Huh... Would you look at that?" Jaune snarked as he pushed back the Boar that landed on it's back leaving it's weakness completely bare, Jaune slashed across it's stomach and then stabbed it through the head. The blonde panted, hissing at the injuries, he examined the kite-shield. "You know.. you would've been alot more useful like, all the fucking time." Jaune lament slightly, but yelped when a beowolf made a quivering impact onto the shield. "Yeah, like that." Jaune stated before decapitating the beast.
Ruby stomped on a Boar that squealed before silencing it by firing through the skull. The rose skillfully leapt back, and weaved through waves of wolf claws, she whacked one of them away from her before twirling her weapon like a staff, hitting another beowolf that stacked onto the one she knocked formerly, Ruby grinned and blew her two-for-one deal, the Beowolves dissipating into dust, she checked her cartridge's and grimaced, she was only left with three, two excluding the one already loaded into Crescent Rose. "Oh, Ruby you are still inexperienced to be using the scythe mode." Ruby childishly sputtered at her uncle's remark, Ruby got clawed that had her Aura flashing as she skidded to gain distance. "Okay i kinda deserve that.." she muttered before incapacitating the one that damaged her, which was another Beowolf. Jaune skewered his umpteenth Boarbatusk, he was getting fatigued alot quicker then Ruby was, but the Arc refused to be downplayed by something such as human-limits, and kept on fighting. By now, the Arc had found some sort of rhythm, he was able to endure through the violence of the Grimm-ambush, although his body was tired his arms and legs kept moving to eradicate more, it wasn't as if he had suddenly gained skill and overall improved, no. It was that he was adapting more and more as this prolonged. But just because he was adapting didn't mean the situation was getting any better, because it seemed like the Grimm kept coming and Ruby saw an Alpha Beowolf marching towards Jaune, she aimed her barrel and fired at the wolf. It took her shot, rocking back but it didn't immediately die. "Uh..oh.." Ruby gulped, she tried firing again but once more the Grimm that weren't focusing Jaune, kept their attention at her making the job of covering the Arc tedious. Jaune finally encountered the Alpha Beowolf and he froze slightly at the size, but was forced to move when it's massive paw went to massacre him, if the alpha wasn't enough, he had to deal with the lesser variants as well. They were much more easier to deal with, but the much thicker alpha was troubling him. Jaune went to slash at the neck, but the beast caught his sword in it's mouth. "Shit!?" Jaune cursed trying to yank it back, but the beast wouldn't make it easy, he scratched unpleasantly against the shield, Jaune grunted at the pressure he was put on, but seeing no way out of it. He bashed the beast with the shield, finally having his blade free before offing it's head in a blur, the moment was surreal for how fast it all went, he? Jaune arc beating a beast such as that..? But he couldn't celebrate for long when he saw more of them charging through the dense forest and onto the open-field, Jaune had to push away his exertion and kept fighting, Ruby now had space due to Jaune making ways for himself to cover her unlike earlier, the sound of firing and hacking were resounded through the forest, but what also was resound, was a click. "No!" Ruby anguished, she had went through all of it, and yet they still haven't ended. "Ruby." "What is it?" Jaune pondered before making his choice. "I'm gonna give you an attempt to escape, it's our only chance." Jaune admitted somberly, Ruby was aghast. "Are you insane..!! I can't leave you here!" Ruby argued, but Jaune firmed. "It's either both of us or one of us Rubes! And i'm the one that can, you are out of option's and... It's my duty to keep you safe remember?" Jaune smiled, it wasn't that of his beaming and sunshine like grin, it was alot more sadder. "Jaune.." she choked slightly. "Alright Rubes, with the signal." Jaune, took his stance as Ruby flinched, but prepared herself.
Jaune rushed into the wild with every intention to have the ire of every Grimm he could, and it was working for the most part as he allowed his fear to overcome him on purpose. "GO RUBY!" Jaune yelled, the white-hood trembled, she didn't want to, she doesn't want to. She is gonna just abandon him!? "RUBY GO!!!" The gutteral wail had her body shaking, she sobbed before running off in the opposite direction, Jaune blocked an Alpha's punch, but was blown back by three rolling Boarbatusk, he coughed out his spit before hitting the ground. The air in his body leaving him while he struggled to regain equilibrium, he felt the snarl of the angered beast on his neck, he shifted to look and felt his nightmare happen all over again, the abundance of red that surrounded him, it was something only one thought could arouse to. "I'm gonna die.." he whimpered. "JAUNE!" a shrill scream, as rose petals pushed through the Alpha wolf, it stumbled back before the petals reversed itself into Ruby, her compartment shifted back into rifle mode, while she had no ammo, it didn't mean she couldn't smash and bash them. "RUBY!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, I TOLD TO GO!" Jaune shouted in despair. "AND LET YOU DIE!? WHILE I LIVE LIKE SOME DAMSEL IN DISTRESS!? I REFUSE JAUNE! I REFUSE TO ABANDON YOU! YOU ARE MY FIRST FRIEND AND I LOVE YOU!!!" She screeched as if to pierce heaven, it was so loud that it somehow stunned the Grimm around them, but it mostly stunned Jaune, it was so...assured, and powerful, and just by her action alone showed she meant every moment of it, but her yelp and crash knocked him from those thoughts, Crescent Rose flew from her grasp as she landed next to him, her body flashed a form of red, the girl looked at him with a small grin. "Hey.. atleast you won't be alone right?" Jaune felt his heart drop, she was ready to accept her fate? For him? Because he was weak? Because... Because he couldn't protect her like he promised..? No, no..! No...!! It was an Arc's duty, an Arc's word, and most importantly, an Arc's promise...!
Damnit...
Damnit...
The alpha's claw raised, preparing to sweep at the two.
Damnit...!
The claw fell with terrifying agility.
DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
A human soul is complex, but one of it's known factor is the Aura, something that is known to be in any living-being, except the Grimm, it is the manifestation of the soul, something that can be applied, used, and worked in many different conundrums, varying from each individual.. but what of the soul itself? Aura wouldn't exist without it, and the soul technically couldn't exist without the opposite either..
Ruby saw the arm of the alpha wolf, except it wasn't attached to the body of the beast anymore.
But what if some souls, were special in of it self? Like.. a pyramid triangle shape that has different uses? Something like...
The Aura
The Spirit
The Grimm
And for Jaune, his soul may not have had it's Aura barriers shattered through yet, but his resolve, his anger, but most of all his will that regained it's strength.
Broke through it's right side.
He may not have Aura, or his Spirit.
But for this moment in time.
"HAAAAGHHH!!!!" A beastly cry emitted from the depth's of Jaune, the color of his once blonde hair taking into a much darker tone, raven even. His eyes, blue-oceanic eyes transmogrified into blood-lusting red. "J-Jaune!?" Ruby cried out in terror, his roar had dazed the creature's of Grimm that became aware of Jaune's change, and how... They felt him? Like, as in, they did not see him as an enemy, but their desire were all the same, to kill him. The raven-haired male, growled, before deciphering the Alpha in half with a simple vertical slash, Jaune aggressed further by slaughtering the surplus amount of Grimm, that were now nothing more but ants for the Arc, who's rage was bellowing, he was mowing anything that was making it's move, protecting Ruby all the while, although lost in his current form, it never forgot why it was doing this to begin with. "Protect... Ruby...!!" He growled, dispatching a row of Boarbatusk, an Alpha scratched the Arc across the front. It ripped his hoodie apart, but did little to the target itself, Jaune cocked his fist back, and with strength... Of an Ursa Major, knocked the existence out of the Alpha Beowolf, in his rampage the number of Grimm dwindled, perhaps they were lacking anymore that were close, or perhaps by some miracle they managed to actually hold them off for this long, it didn't matter, because with one last unclean yet strength filled stroke of Crocea Mors, the last Beowolf shattered into dust.
Jaune stood still, his black-hair waving by the cooling air. "Ruby..?" He called out, the girl quickly responded. "Jaune! Jaune, what was that!? I mean it was awesome, and scary at the same time! But.. are you okay..!" Ruby couldn't stick to one, simply because she had no idea on how to process, Jaune's red eyes stared into her gorgeous and sparkling silver ones, and he chuckled. His voice dipped with echoes, she saw his red eyes return to his natural blue. "I'm... Gl,ad.." he only heard her cry once, and he was engulfed by his unconscious. A white petal, landed on him unbeknownst to Ruby whom worried and shouted in fear for her friend who was in dire need of help. "Ruby!?" A familiar voice sent waves of relief through her.
"Sincere!" Ruby was overjoyed.
Fin