To the surprise of Yang and Ruby, for somebody that didn't have Aura he recovered at record speed and by now needed no support from anyone. Still he wasn't cleared to train yet. Now
Jaune should be back home at the Arc-Manor however Tai to the shock of even Sincere allowed Jaune to stay at the Rose-Xiao-Long residence for as long as he wanted or needed to, Jaune was.. wary of the man considering he had been threatened constantly of being murdered if he tried anything with his daughters.. but he was moved by the gesture of kindness and took it so that he could learn more here on the island of Patch with his friends.
Of course while he stayed, he made sure to update his parents on his condition. Cena and Carmilla were ecstatic to hear from him, and so were his sisters who pestered him to return home, which he will soon. He didn't plan on living here forever, but just so he could still learn more about the vastness of combat and Grimm. Seriously the surplus information he gathered here will help him in his venture to heroism. He wondered if they knew about him being incapacitated at the time, but he did not want to bring it up in fear of scaring his poor mother.
But as of this current moment, Tai, Yang, Jaune, Sincere, and Ruby were all sat in the living room with Ruby being more adamant to retell them of what transpired in the woods where they visited Summer Rose's resting place, but this time with the main culprit, Jaune himself here. Now when questioned about it, the male Arc only mentioned that he remembers the incipient down to the moment where Ruby left off on her first iteration which was when they had been surrounded and the Hooded girl returned in an attempt to save him.
"Good, that means where we left off is where it all begins." Sincere concluded, the curiosity for her was for both the safety of her brother and also learning on this Grimm shift, would lead to her being able to help him while also strengthening her intelligence.
...she feels judged for some reason.
"You okay with this Ruby?" Tai made sure his little-rose wasn't pressured and she smiled, nodding with more comfort this time, much more preferable then her exhausted look.
"Yes, Jaune deserves to know what happened, and you all do too." She nodded assuredly, she wasn't cowering under it anymore.
"Alright sis, whenever you're ready." Yang prepped her with a nod.
One last breath for her nerves, the red-hood relayed the tale she witnessed.
"When I came back, they had us all surrounded. Really there was no way for us to escape, at that point I thought.. I was gonna die along with Jaune, if it weren't for the fact he suddenly started just screaming I guess? No, roar. I think that's the best way I can put it.. you were roaring so loud.. it scared me, and I think it also scared the Grimm..?" Ruby was unsure if what she said made correlation to how the Grimm reacted when Jaune howled out his beastly cry.
This was news. "Scared?" Sincere parroted.
"M-Maybe not scared, more of.. like, stunned?" She was still contemplating on it, but from memory it was the closest thing to label it as.
"Grimm are susceptible to being stunned or dazed, though it is interesting it was due to a bellowing shriek." Sincere murmurs to herself, writing it down in her mental note-pad.
"I wouldn't say it's uncommon I mean, back when I was at Beacon, I've seen a few shares of weapons in the form of instruments.. trust me you don't want to be their tuning helper, the last time I was close to one, I didn't hear em." Tai jested.
Yang laughed, while Ruby facepalmed.
Jaune did not catch the joke, and was left clueless as to why Yang and Tai were laughing.
Ruby clears her throat, wanting to avoid anymore of her father's terrible puns, it was a miracle Yang even liked them.. however is hell for the poor Rose.
"As I was saying... they were stunned, but not for long, they started moving but. By then Jaune also changed, as in his hair going black and his eyes going red kind of change. Grimm-like is, the best way I can put it.." Ruby was more meek and anxious saying it out loud, not because she was afraid of the memory.. at least not for the reason it should, but because what she was scared of was that it would make Jaune wary, while she isn't all mature, the girl was quite perceptive on character, she now understood more of why Jaune doesn't see much in himself, and doesn't want this to ruin his own reflection further then it already corroded.
"W-What?" Jaune stammered, his first time echoing out his presence. His eyes were enlarged from what he heard, he wasn't prepared for that.. and more that is coming up.
"Did anything physically change?" Sincere was already on alert, she hasn't been able to rest easy not figuring this enigma that now envelopes her brother and this only fanned those flames of incredulous.
"N-No, his body did not change just his appearance. From his hair and his eyes.." Ruby responded albeit more reserved and careful.
It wasn't much, but at least that made the cyclops Arc ease up slightly.
Yang hummed, it sounds almost similar to her Semblance activating minus the hair changing color, but her eyes do go red once she zones in.
"What happened next?" Tai made sure it moved forward before they made any initial assumptions.
"He just started.. going berserk." The girl now looking at her crush "You just went all out. You were dispatching them as if that entire time that we were in the hoard... Didn't happen, Jaune you got scratched pretty badly. And all you did, was punch the Alpha Beowolf in the face, killing it in an instant." Ruby was still in awe when she thought back on it now.. in that moment, her fears turned to astonishment in witnessing such unnatural inhumane feats.
That made Jaune look at his hands trepidation seeped into his heart, he... Did that? No, that can't be... He didn't have the ability that she was describing to him right now.. he was never that strong..?
Now, this was turning Sinceres head like an oven. Now hand-to-hand combatants are not rare by any means, some use claws some use something like mechanical gloves that are like rockets, some are like Yang who use Gauntlets, depending on what they prefer. The Gauntlets can either be like Yang's shotgun, or SMGs. Yang's way of approach is meant for burst and quick succession combination while playing very close, while SMGs are more for peppering and spraying and only engaging in close-quarter when distracted by the gun-form it was more preferable for people who like doing stealth.
...
Jaune. Doesn't have that, including no unarmed training, while he may be able to throw punches like an amateur it doesn't equal to punching Grimm to its demise.
Which means, this...
Grimm change Jaune shifted into, gave him strength beyond of that of his human capabilities.
And it was unknown, which made this an issue.. because is that change hurting him? Possibly killing him? Or even worse, can he lose it to the point of hurting those around him.
"Wait, wait..! He punched it to death?! Like, he punched it once?" Yang exclaimed, she was intrigued and somewhat excited.
Ruby nodded, smiling herself. Although the story may not merit such reactions of mirth, it was still an amazing feat.. not unheard of as some Huntsman or Huntresses have enough strength to obliterate Grimm with just fists to face, their dad was a prime example of it but, like.. 4, 5, 7 punches? Yeah you can kinda see why this was much more different add the fact of Jaune's circumstance compared to the average Huntsman in training.. it was unexpected to put it at the very least. And it made Yang's eyes sparkled with child-like curiosity, almost bringing old fantasies of hers to life.
"What makes this different then what you do normally?" Jaune bemused as to why it evoked such effervescence from the Blonde-bombshell.
"You are not really looking at this the way we are, yes punching is my natural talent and I'm damn well good at it." She smirked, Jaune rolls his eyes but chuckles at her need to boast. "But there is a major difference, in me punching with Ember Celica to enhance my natural fighting style and you. Punching with Jaune fistalot over there, with pure strength.. and only needing one shot to do so." Yang being pragmatic for some reason sent shivers down Ruby's spine.
"Yang isn't wrong, surprisingly." Sincere quipped
"Hey!"
"But to physically harm Grimm the way you did. Must have taken quite the force, it's amazing really.. and terrifying all together. This power that manifested from you bestowed strength and possibly even endurance when you were in that state, or perhaps during your enraged dose.. you seemingly didn't care or notice pain." Sincere frowned. Not upset at Jaune but more or less worried as to what this could entail for him in the future, and IF it could happen again.
"Was there anything else that should be added Rubes?" Tai asked.
Ruby pondered. "Well.. not really, he was strong.. and pretty fast, that was about it...oh! Actually-" everyone tensed.
"He kept saying that he needed to protect me, his voice was distorted but you keep saying you wanted to protect me Jaune." She smiled at the Arc, who sheepishly grinned back still unsure and not quite grasping at the fact this all transpired without his knowledge, but what he did understand.
Was that this was abnormal.
"Hm.. so, it was masked with anger but directed with protection.. so maybe this happened because he wasn't able to fulfill his will? And in turn, something possessed him? That doesn't make any frickin sense at all.." Sincere sighed as she couldn't form any of the information to craft the puzzle, she took bits and pieces that she could articulate.
It was due to near death-experience, was it only tied to it? Unsure.
It was also from his desire to protect Ruby-Rose again is it tied to it being the reason? Unsure, But likely more plausible.
Ruby mentioned it was Grimm-like, meaning in that moment he was angered, agitated, upset, and that is something that attracts Grimm..
But she can note this, what she was able to make tails of, was that it was based on negative emotion with a good motive.
"Qrow might be able to give you more insight on this, you know he doesn't seem to lack any Intel you need." Tai informed, and Sincere leapt up clapping her hands together.
"You're right!" She cheered
"He's on a mission however.."
"BALLS!"
Everyone sweated at the outburst.
[Later, Outside The Xiao-Long-Rose Residence]
Jaune sat alone on the porch, he was left to consume what he was told and swallowed what he could.. truth be told he wanted to vomit all over, he couldn't make heads or tails over it and for the most part.. maybe it doesn't matter, for the blonde it was quite the positive outcome even if shrouded in it's unknown.
He protected Ruby and came out alive with her.. there wasn't any need to ponder for more.
But he couldn't help himself, it made him wonder how he was suddenly able to just do everything he struggled with in the beginning. From what was said by Ruby, when he changed.. he was actually going above and beyond then what his mundane self could do.
"You alright?" The voice of his sister snapped him out of his reverie to look over to her, seeing that she was was leaning against the front-door, looking over at the field In front of them.
Jaune was quiet.. he was crafting his response.
"I know, you're confused. Me too bud, it isn't everyday you suddenly get the term Grimm like." His cyclops sister paused, it wasn't silence that made it awkward, it was more of allowing the unbelievable to mellow and make no argument of it. "But, I hope that this doesn't make you second guess yourself.. for me, even if we don't find out more about it." Another silence with the wind blowing that relaxed the tensing from the two siblings.
"I'm just glad you came back alive." Jaune hadn't looked, and he couldn't bring himself to. He heard it in her voice.. the engulfment of pain rattling his chest. Guilt isn't reasonable, you can feel it even if you did nothing wrong.. it was natural to feel it, especially when it's somebody close to you, and even more. Someone that you know doesn't show such vulnerability easily.
"I... I'm glad to be alive too, and.. thank you...for saving me." He made sure, that Sincere knows his gratitude towards her.
The cyclops snorted, it came off bitter. "I didn't save you.. I've never been able to save you." She remarked somberly.
"What are you talking about? You did, you.. you retrieved me and Ruby without you coming, who knows what more could've happened." Clearly flummoxed, the blonde-male tried reasoning with his elder sister that she did her deed.
Another silence was filled, this time much longer, but after awhile the sound of the boards clicking alerted Jaune that she was walking over to him. She sat right with him with the two looking over the view of the endless forest, feeling some peace in the mess that was their jumbled mind.
"Hey Jaune?" Her voice was gentle.
"What is it?" He hums.
"Remember what I said about Aura?" She looks over to him, and in turn Jaune turned to her.
"Um. Yeah? I think so, you said I shouldn't care too much about it since I haven't properly trained?" Sincere felt her face twitch, she doesn't always sound like an instructor right?
She coughs.
"Despite what I said.. it wasn't really because of that, mainly anyways.. look Jaune, the Aura is natural, second nature even. That was why when I said you could beat anybody without it, it caused quite the stir at Signal. Many of the children in training there and hell even in the big four academies, are so accustomed at the fact that they have Aura nearly all the time, that their natural human bodies are pretty weak, that is why I was worried of letting you know, I wanted to physically make your human being itself stronger first, before telling you anything, but of course there is more to it." She had come to the decision that enough was enough with secrecy, and that she needed to come clean.. although this may be against her father's wishes.. she was going to make her own offer to her little brother, and she will see if she really could save him...
"A-Alright..? But, what is Aura?" Jaune was still none the wiser to the topic of the Aura, he hadn't any clue what it was or why it affected this world.
"The manifestation of the soul, it is in every fraction of life Jaune. From animals, to humans, to possibly even the trees around us. The exception of course being the Grimm as they have no soul in them." She explained.
"What about robots?" Jaune blurted with genuine curiosity.
"What? Well.. um... I-I don't know about that, probably? I mean.. it could be done, why is this the first thing you asked?" She's stumped from how of all that could be picked, that was what he first came up with.
"Sorry my thoughts won over.." He grinned apologetically, Sincere chuckles she could not stop the grin forming on her face.
"Ahah.. anyways, continuing. Aura is basically a shield, or a barrier that covers the human body from being physically harmed, like an example, you have an armour and someone slashes you at the armour. It protects you, yet you'll still feel it, sure you'll feel sore and what not but you aren't gonna bruise or bleed... Unless you get your Aura shattered, that is when you can start to be mortally wounded like you are now. Think of it as like a cloak that protects you from being fatally harmed but slowly the sword starts shredding that cloak, and you are vulnerable again, but it can regenerate once you rest, depending on the person the regeneration can be slow or fast, but that is due to the fact of reserves but we can talk about it another time." With Sincere entering guru mode, Jaune was listening intently with all what Sincere said made him more intrigue on the advance of human anatomy.
"Aura while mainly used as defence, doesn't mean it lacks offensive abilities. Aura also gives users more strength than the average person, doubling their power, It can also be channeled, what that means is, you can cover weapons with the cloak of Aura, making them more durable and stronger to an extent, there is more capabilities that it can provide for attacking but that is the more basic knowledge. Then there is Dust... To be honest, I myself don't even know much about it, but I know the basics. Dust is another form of giving life in this world, with Aura being the soul, Dust could be said as the fuse. As it doesn't always need Aura to be activated, it works on almost everything, to vehicles, to giving electricity to our houses. Though that isn't to say that everything currently powered is by Dust, but with the majority of our world's futuristics, most you see whether it be cars, boats, houses, lights even. It's all mostly powered by Dust, and you did mention robots earlier and over at the northern continent they are better equipped with technology from cybernetics to even Dust production itself." Jaune couldn't help but raise a brow.
"What does this have to do with Aura though?" He questioned.
"Dust is also able to be another form of combat that is more an armament but you do have people known as Dust Specialist who have so much finesse with the damn thing that sometimes they may go overboard on the usage of it. And Aura is another way for you to make it react, as I said earlier you can channel Aura, and it's no different from converting it to a weapon with the exception that you channel Aura into it so that it exposes the Dust particles into combusting the element of one of the four mains being Fire, Wind, Water, and Lightning, now I can go into detail about how you can combine Dust, and how Dust can amplify weapons or even synergize with the next thing I'm gonna- you know what? I'll show you instead." Initially she wanted to explain, but decided that showing might be more the simplistic route to approach.
Jaune watched as his sister walked further and further away from the house before stopping near the trees and turning to him. He saw an outline of color begin to form around her body, the color being white as her eyes begin to shun with that same color, the mixture of curious excitement and slight nervousness tickles him.
"There is much more that I can teach, as I said before. This is all advanced, something that you have no idea on what could be achieved. Because you can't.. yet, Aura is something obtainable by harsh induced training, gained by one's will to succeed, those who break through ceilings created by the last, that is Aura. A human's superpower..!" She took one step.
Blur, Blur, Blur. Jaune released a strangled gasp.. as he was looking up at his sister who was just near the tree, now in his face, standing right In front of him.
A gracing smile was on her face. "That, was the full extent of Aura's manifestation. A power that is unique to one person who devotes themselves to fully unlock their potential.. that, was my Semblance, Blur." Jaune was forced to breathe once his lungs struggled for air at his lack of attention. Amazement was bright on his face despite that.
"Now obtaining Aura while what I said about training vigorously is not false by any means. Could probably take you till death to even come close, however there is another method done and is the more common way. Unlocking it, from a person that has Aura; I have Aura, and I can channel it to break through your barriers to give you full custody of it, and afterwards it's up to you to train it, and gain your Semblance." Jaune narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Something doesn't add up." Jaune said with an accusing tone.
Sincere rolled her eyes she heard the sass, but relented with a heavy sigh.
"Yes, and the reason that is. Because I'm not supposed to do that. Why? Because of tradition Jaune, family tradition, it is in Arc's history that we train ourselves till we reach one of the four academies, Shade, Beacon, Atlas, Haven. And there, when we are to form our team and gain our rightful partner, that partner is supposed to unlock our Aura." She points to him. "Which was why I was trying to keep it all a secret, because I didn't want you to know. And make you feel like you were below everyone, you'd feel like the odd one out of everybody, I wanted to make the human of you superior first, before that." She told him, and she wasn't trying to lie or cover it. This is her honesty.
Sincere realises her baby brothers facial expressions are one of the easiest to read and that isn't an insult to him, she can see that he wears his heart on his sleeves. Which has its weaknesses and empowerment. He expressed confusion, but not anger. Which was what she thought he'd be, she had expected him to lash out for leaving him in the clouds, making him ignorant to knowledge that would've helped him.. but at the same time, benefitting in knowledge, useless in his current state.
"I... I'm.. I don't know to be honest, I'm still trying to figure out everything from earlier.. now you drop all of this on me, I mean I'm not angry that you didn't tell me.. I guess I can see where you're coming from, but now comes the biggest mystery for me, why did you expose all of that? When you could've just kept it all under wraps.. why explain it now and not just wait instead? Because you have me curious, and curiosity killed the cat." Sincere couldn't deny that, many times had her own judgement led to the cats demise and perhaps regretting that decision later on. But trust is needed for their bond to strengthen further, that was what she also learned from the cats sacrifice.
"Because I need you to trust me." She said to him.
Jaune didn't elicit anything, but he was looking at her for an elaboration.
"I don't think we ever truly recovered. Jaune, our family. We were pretty forceful on what we wanted from you, we didn't think too much except for protecting you.. not realising that you were growing to be a fine young man.. I'm sure even you know, that we all feel iffy. Including you, mom, our sisters, and dad. For so long you were pushed in rejection, for you. No might've been the only thing you expected from us as a response, and I'm sorry Jaune.. I don't think I ever apologized for how I acted, I'm sorry for not believing in you during those times, when you needed someone to believe in you the most. I'm sorry, that I tried to shield you so much.. that I hadn't looked behind to even think of the knives you must've felt when we thought we were doing the right thing. I'm so, so sorry. That it took me this long, to see, that I was wrong." The two siblings were looking at each other again.
Sincere, was letting tears of regret and guilt flow down her face.
Jaune almost couldn't find himself to respond, he was stunned. Gone were the thoughts of Aura and Grimm and here and now were the thoughts of family, the years of experiencing denial.. and even when acceptance was reached, it still felt unreal. But he never thought of apologies, he didn't bear a grudge.. but hearing all of that, from Sincere?
Alleviates his mind from thinking that the only way for him to prove his worth, is by willing death. Twice.
Sincere pulled him into an embrace, and Jaune didn't hesitate to pull his arms around her in secure.
"I believe in you." She sniffled, those words.. it wasn't hard to say.. but what it did for him, was empower his soul to be better.
They stayed hugging together, but Sincere spoke. "I said I never could save you, and I believe that because truly I don't think I've been able to once in my life, however, it might change but that will be decided on if I succeed here. Because Jaune, I didn't tell you about Aura just because I felt the need to no longer hide it, but to also make you an offer." She pulled away, but her hands gripped his shoulders. Her gaze was intense as they scorched into his own. "If you do not move my arms in 10 seconds, I will break your Aura barriers. And the time starts now. It's up to you Jaune, the choice you make. I will take the burden of it." She stated.
Jaune's eyes widened. "I can save you right here, properly save you. Give you Aura, and you'll be just like everyone and perhaps it'll give me closure that my brother will be more safe then you are now.. but if you move. Failure is what I will shoulder, I couldn't save my brother yet again." She smiled at him, it didn't hold any ill connotations. "Because you did it yourself before I could." Jaune was racing through his head, this was it? He could be like everyone around him, training like them.
Really what was so bad about it, he'd be part of the majority, that will include Ruby and Yang themselves he assumed. He could live his dream like he ambitions so tirelessly for, he could achieve so much with this, so why should he move? He was weak as he is now. This was perfect!
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.. But, did he earn it?
1.. Because he felt unworthy.
This was wrong wasn't it? He should accept this, he could because it was offered, and not only that. But handed to him right here.
That was the issue wasn't it?
Sincere felt her arms being pushed away gently, she had her eyes closed but now they were open as she stared at the grown-man in front of her.
It seems he came to his own conclusion.
"You said you'd make the human of me superior didn't you? Then keep that promise. I'm still an Arc regardless, and I won't fail that name.. I don't care much about our family legacy as much as I admire Great-Grandfather or Grandfather.. but my name is still Jaune Arc, and I will work for everything. As I said, I can do it all myself, just need a bit of guidance." He stated with a firm visage.
Sincere huffed with mirth, knowing deep down; this was the canon outcome. "Couldn't save you after all." She laments, but she feels rather proud, more so than her pride.
"Fine, then I hope you are ready to train much harder once you heal up all dandy, this time you'll feel the soreness that you beg for what Aura can benefit." She grinned at him, still Sincere loves lighting a fire under him because it doesn't disappoint her in the slightest.
And he returned it back, fearless. Or stupid, either one works to make it.
Unbeknownst to them (Jaune), Ruby and Yang were listening/eavesdropping because the door was open.
Ruby was smiling like the star she was, and Yang was happy too. Truly, being siblings was hard, and not being alone in that role made it all the more worth it of what she and Ruby sometimes faced.
"You two can stop hiding." Came the voice of Sincere, making Ruby squeak out in surprise before revealing herself with a sheepish look, twiddling her fingers.
"Sorry.." she mutters.
"Heh, yeah.. didn't mean to dip into the family and all." Yang nonchalantly walked over to the two, and to the chagrin of one red-hood. Hugged onto Jaune, making the poor Arc gulp at her appendages boldness in blending into his back. "Y-Yang?" He sputters.
"Yang!" Ruby exclaimed, irate at her sisters shameless act on her crush!
"What? Jealous?" Yang challenged, the blonde herself hadn't anticipated how that came out. It wasn't her intention, yet seeing the blaze in Ruby's pupils had her nonetheless playing along, the urge pitted in her stomach to tease her little sister.
The red-hood ran forward, bursting into petals, Jaune blinked at witnessing her Semblance but with his full attention, the petals tackled both Yang and Jaune off the porch steps of the house.
"Guagh!" Jaune choked. Caught in the crossfire of the civil war between red and yellow.
Sincere watched it all transpire as the two sisters banter and play around with him, seeing the smiles, laughter, and scuffling, it made Sincere warm inside. She is no doubt amazed at how far he came in such short little time, and she will be even more proud once he goes beyond these current limits.
It seems her job is to make him super-human now, and she will not back down from such beckoning. It was his call after all.
She titters, she loves being the big sibling even when she herself has much to learn.
[A few days passed.]
Yang was looking out the window from her class-room, she was too busy thinking about in her own head to even pay attention in class. Which didn't go unnoticed by her father/teacher, the man himself sighed internally at his daughter's lack of heed. With the flick of his wrist, spun in mid-air was an eraser he held. That sped off in the direction of Yang's face, and when she did feel like eyes were on her.
Too late.
"Ow!" Yang yelped as the eraser kissed her nose, no date, not even a name just straight for the kill and she was not fallen by it.
"Yang-Xiao-Long. Pay attention, this is class not time to daydream." Tai reprimanded. The few classmates of the dragoness had a chuckle, but they were wary of the fact that it was Yang they were dealing with here. Cautiousand limited on the fun for not wishing an eruption of rage from the tomboy, that didn't stop her narrowing her eyes, flashing at them. Tai shook his head, there was no helping her sometimes. He continues on with the lesson on Emitting-Aura.
Meanwhile in the exercise-yard of the school, Ruby was panting heavily as she was told to keep running without the use of her Semblance, the girl while her stamina wasn't anything to scoff at, had been running for about an hour or two without stopping in the bear heat of the sun. "Come on cookie monster you can do it, if you can inhale as many sweets you sure as hell can run for longer." The voice of one Sincere-Arc encouraged/slander the Rose. "I'm going as best as I can!" She whines.
"You can do better." Sincere stated flatly, if it weren't for the fact she was too busy trying to make sure her lungs didn't collapse she would be angerily spewing gibberish at her second-instructor. While her uncle was away, Sincere took over her training.. and while her uncle Qrow was not one to take it easy on her, Sincere was more on adversity; pushing the limits of the body to break through further and be able to do more, sure they had spars here and there but that was more on her uncles side of tutoring, Sincere has more of her mother's flare, wanting dreams to become reality and her own? Well, it's like Jaune, be a hero that saves people.
However..
"Sincere I'm gonna die..!" Ruby groans. "Try not to." She responded, flat.
SHE WAS SO MUCH MORE INFURIATING TOO! WORSE THAN HER UNCLE- okay maybe she was being biased, STILL!
But when her earlier musings latched onto Jaune, the blonde became engraved into her mind as she ran laps; distracting her from exhaustion. Wonder what he was doing right now?
Jaune Arc, the hero wannabe, was not with the people he normally hung around with today, as he was permitted to have one last off day before going back into training, and since it was his last day he decided that he might as well explore Patch, while Tai's cabin was more on the secluded side, the island does residence people. He was walking through the area that led to Signal but he was looking over the shops and homes, he saw many faces and personality. Some even waved at him recognising him as the little brother of the Arc teacher. "Kid." A voice called, Jaune stopped and looked around for the voice, and once his eyes set upon an elderly man who signalled him. "Do you think you can help an old man with some heavy-lifting?" Jaune being the kind young soul he was, went without question. The elderly needed assistance with lifting some of his wares, and placing them on his food-cart. Jaune lifted boxes of meat, carton stacks of eggs, burger buns, and two gas tanks and loaded them up with the man. Once it was done Jaune sighed, wiping some sweat off his face, smiling at the man.
"That's everything sir." He huffed.
"Thanks kid, sorry for troubling you." He said while locking his ingredients into the compartment.
"It was no trouble really, do you need help with pushing it?" Jaune offered the man help, to which he waves it off.
"No need kid, you've done plenty thank you. It ain't everyday you get someone kind enough to spare their time." He denied politely. "No really, if you need help I can do it." Jaune however, was adamant if nothing else. The man chuckled. "I appreciate it kid, but I can handle everything from here. The names Jericho, pleasure to meet you." Although they had been working together earlier, they hadn't introduce themselves.
"Nice to meet you Mr Jericho, my name is Jaune Arc." In kind, he returned the courtesy.
"Arc huh? You and that girl with the eye-patch related?" He questioned.
Jaune tilting his head. "She's my sister, do you know her?" The man shook his head.
"Not personally, but she is a frequent customer. I start selling around time when school finishes up, everyone enjoys a good old burger my friend. If you can, come see me. I usually park it near the entrance so when everyone storms out they see it almost immediately, and if you don't see me there I'm most likely at the park near here if you take a left at the east side. I'm off, take care and stay out of trouble." With that, the man wheeled his possession, Jaune smiled and watched as Jericho ventured toward the direction of Signal, interesting man. A hard-worker too even at what he assumed to be his 50s.
He could explore further, and perhaps even go see that park the man mentioned, but Jaune had his fill.
While Jaune was going back in the way of the cabin, three older teens were currently harassing a Fanus Girl near a secluded area with trees and bushes covering the act.
"Blue, Blue. Blue.. you've been avoiding us." Out of the three boys, the one with brown hair instigated, acting out as the leader of the three.
Blue, the Fanus he is agitating to. Has hot-pink hair and yellow eyes, she also has two appendages at the top of her head, a pair of pink cat ears. She wore a dark sweater and pale blue jeans, on her left wrist was a fake gold watch with the chassis in the shape of a cat head.
She is currently stuck, with her back against a tree. Her eyes were narrowed at her three bullies.
They are known as the Trios. Gale, Vale, and Valir. Gale the one with brown hair could be considered the leader within the three, with Vale and Valir more or less following him around.
Vale has black hair.
And Valir, unfortunately has been hit with the writer bias with no hair to be found on his scalp.
"You just won't let me be will you Gale." The bullied girl growled.
Gale chuckles. "Now what fun would that be? You are one of our favorite friends. You know, we're friends and friends always wanna see one another." Every word elicited were smelly lies.
"Friends don't push people around nya.." she retorted, adding the cat-impression.
"Now, now. Our friendship is tad bit special? Right boys?" Gale looked over to his two companions.
"Yea!" Valir cackled like an idiot.
"Dude, stop fucking laughing so loudly, you'll get us caught idiot..!" Vale hissed.
"Sorry.." Valir deflated.
Blue snorted, clearly finding amusement between the in-fighting of morons. But Gale didn't find it so funny, and glared at her. Making the poor Fanus girl shrink under his flaming gaze. "Oh is that funny now? Blue, well let's see if you find this funny..!" He growled and grabbed one of her cat ears, and yanked them with his much larger hands.
"N-NYAOW! S-Stop it Gale it hurts..!" She sobbed while trying to remove his grip from her.
"It ain't so funny now huh?" Gale malevolently remarked. Before releasing his hold, the ear he pulled on became much redder as Blue rubbed it to soothe the burn.
"You... Big asshole..!" Blue grumbled.
The Trios eyes widened, but Gale saw basically red.
"What the hell did you just say!?" He grabbed the Fanus by the collar of her shirt, and slammed her up against the tree causing her to choke out a cry.
"Dude, stop you are going to far..!" Vale warned.
"This bitch wanted to call names, let's see how she likes it when a kitty cat gets on stuck on a tree!" Blue struggled against his assault, kicking at him fruitlessly.
"What the hell are you two doing? Hold her fucking legs down!" He demanded his two companions, Valir being the ever so easily influenced, went with his command and held down both of her legs from kicking.
Vale, was not so much complying but relented once he saw he wasn't getting out of it.
The three combined their strength, attempting to toss her onto the lowest tree-branch, but she didn't get enough altitude and only landed face first into the harsh soil and grass.
"Shit we missed." Gale clicked his tongue, not even concerned on if Blue was harmed.
"Dude that's enough, we can get in trouble if she's seriously hurt..!" Vale warned more desperately to the Trios leader.
"Who's side are you on Vale?" Gale asked his friend with doubt.
"Yea! Who's side you on huh!?" Valir exclaimed.
"Shut up you!" Gale and Vale hushed at the bald one.
Blue staggers to her knees, spitting out whatever green that had entered her mouth. This was her life, a normal day for Blue Berry. The girl who constantly has nya in her vocabulary, and it wasn't by choice. Bullied by these three not really necessarily because of her status as a Fanus, but mostly because she was one of the weaker kids to pick on. She wasn't a fighter, she didn't even dream about being a Huntress like most people her age do. She just wanted to be a good cook, a chef like her parents. But that made her an odd one. And adding herFanus trait and her way of speech only further escalated her into loneliness.
As Vale and Gale argued, Gale got hit by a rock to the side of his face. When he turned to see who threw it, he saw the enraged visage of his victim. Seeing that she hasn't learned he marched up to her, wanting to end the class session of having Blue know her place.
Once he stopped in front of the kneeling girl, he felt his entire face cave in from a fist.
His eyes rolled, and he saw blonde hair.
Gale thumped onto the ground, he scrambled his head to see his aggressor and saw a blonde teen with blue eyes narrowed in a scowl. But before he could act on anything, the blonde male's foot rose and kicked him right in the mouth.
Jaune was walking back home, but as he was, he heard something off in the distance, near the trees and bushes. But thought he was just hearing things, but curiosity got the better of him and when he made the first steps in, he heard a harsh thump. Thinking someone was in danger, he hurriedly traversed through and it wasn't long before he came across the scene of seeing the three larger males, and the Fanus girl. He wanted to charge in, but seeing as the perpetrators were much larger he hesitated, but as the group began to fight amongst themselves. He thought he could just leave because they might leave the girl alone, cowardice truly, he knew.. but when he saw the girl had thrown a rock at her bully. And the brown haired one was charging straight at her, he knew. He couldn't allow it. They might be bigger than him, and perhaps even stronger, but letting someone get hurt while he escaped was not his way of doing things.
Jaune kicked the brown-haired teen in the mouth, shockingly he didn't bleed from it but it sure as hell blackened him out of the picture.
With that, the bald one charged for him. And swung wildly, the dude was much slower than Yang or Ruby, not even close to what he had to endure with Sincere. So he maneuvers away from his fist, before playing dirty and raking at his eyes.
"GAH!" The bald one yelled as he covered his face.
"Valir! Gale!" The last one, being the black haired exclaimed in distressed at seeing his friend be so easily dispatched. He looked at Jaune, and he growled and rushed for him.
Jaune weaved away from his fist, but was quickly humbled by a quick strike to his stomach. He coughs, the last one proved more aptitude in fighting, but Jaune was smarter. He kept dodging or taking small hits but was backing in the direction of a tree, the black haired teen was too tunnel-visioned in his pursuit to knock the blonde out, he didn't expect him to suddenly duck down while his fist struck the bear bark with force. His fingers cracked.
He didn't have time to even register the pain, because Jaune ducked for another reason.
A low-blow.
"Urgh!" Vale released a sound equivalent to that of a soul being released from ones oral cavity.
Thinking victory was his, Jaune pushed him down to the ground. Not suspecting Gale to suddenly lunge at him from the side, the Arc yelped in shock. Before he was forced to block a series of furious punches from the larger male.
"Son of a bitch! Who the fuck are you!?" Gale shouted in rage, while laying in hammer-fists.
"You.. coward..!" Jaune grunted.
"SHUT UP!" Gale with his entire upper body, slammed his fist down. Jaune read the choreographed movement and shifted his head to the side, before smashing his head onto Gale's face. The boy stumbled back, Jaune scrambling to his feet but the blonde was then tackled by the bald one.
"Yea!" He exclaimed in Jaune's face, spitting all over.
Poor Valir, was poked in the eyes again. Before Jaune kicked him in the nuts. That left him with Gale once more but the teen had recovered, and swung. Jaune was hit with a haymaker to the face, but grinned at the browned haired teen.
"What's so fucking funny..?" Gale was heaving like a dog.
"You can't hit harder than a girl." Jaune snarked.
Gale saw no reason anymore. And went to possibly murder the Arc, but before his mind-less rage could ensue.
"Nya!" He got wedgie by the sneaking Blue, making the brown-haired male sputter.
Jaune closed the distance, and. For the third and final time.
Low-blow.
"Mommyy..." Gale whimpered before dropping with the rest of his circle, all cupping their genitals.
Panting, grunts, and whines were all that was left heard in the secluded area.
"If you don't feel scared now, and keep targeting innocent people? I'll make sure you have something to fear." Jaune said in between his heavy breathing.
"Fuck you... Man... My balls..." Gale cried as he rolled away from Jaune.
The fighting is over, but.
"Are you alright?" Jaune turned to look at the girl he saved.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you for saving me nya.." She thanked him with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, do they do this regularly?" He asked her in worry.
"Well.. yeah, I'm one of their easier targets." She was obviously downtrodden by that.
"Don't worry, I'll come help you again." Jaune offered her a smile.
"N-Nyu, you'll get hurt if you keep interfering.. it's okay, I'm used to them by now." She was quick to deny him, concerned that he wouldn't get the upper-hand like that again.
"Oh, no trust me. I'll help, no matter what." Jaune insisted, again his warm smile ever present.
The Fanus was endeared by it.
"But I don't want you to be hurt because of me nya..!" She tried to reason with her blonde saviour.
"And just allow you and innocent people get bullied by those three? I'll pass, no matter what. I will try my best to make sure you don't get hurt, i promise." Blue felt her heart jump.
She wanted to rebuttal, but..
"Promise..?" She instead asked.
Jaune's expression only warmed further.
"Promise."
An awkward silence now follows.
"Soo...? Um, what now?" Jaune asked.
"Um, oh! My name's Blue Berry nya." She greeted with her name. "Blue Berry Nya?" Jaune parroted, she shook her head. "N-Nyu, sorry it's just something I can't help but do. It's blue Berry, nya." She was now self-conscious about it, seeing as this was someone new and somebody that came to her rescue out of nowhere.
"O-Oh, well my name is Jaune, Jaune Arc." Today, he introduced himself twice. Seems he was getting better with social life, just kidding he felt exhausted right now.
"Jaune?" A familiar voice calls to him, the blonde turns to meet another blonde that isn't related to him with her sister behind.
"Yang? Ruby? What are you two doing here?" He questioned.
"Well we were coming back from school obviously, and we heard people talking here and I thought it was your voice. So I came here to check." She explained with a grin, before spotting the Fanus. "Oh shit, Blue?" Yang was surprised to see her with him.
"You know her?" Jaune looked at the two, and not to be rude or mean but the Fanus and Yang do not look mixable.
"Well, sort of. I know her being one of the people targeted by a group, dubbed the Trios their just older bullies that target smaller and weak kids, speaking of which, Blue have they still been bothering you?" The pink-haired girl shrugged in positive.
"Those meanies.. wait, Jaune did you..?" Ruby looked to her crush.
"Met them? Yeah." Jaune confirmed.
"Did you fight them?" Yang pressed.
"I had to, they were about to hurt Blue." He honestly answered.
Yang whistled clearly impressed by his tenacity, Ruby was looking over the Arc and saw little marks and imprinted on his face. "You got hurt.." Ruby muttered. "I know, but I'm standing. And not exactly in pain, so I say I've won that bout." He grinned at the red-hood.
Ruby giggled, hugging him. "Where are they now?" Yang looked over at Jaune.
"They crawled off nya." Blue saw them all crawling before scrambling off into town.
"Hm, they'll definitely target you worse." Yang frowned at the thought.
"They won't." Another voice, much mature revealed their presence. Making all four jump, as the one that said it, was Sincere.
"Sister, what do you mean?" Jaune asked while holding Ruby into him, not realising the effect it had on the Rose who had her face nuzzled right into his abdomen.
"Saw them off, heard them talking about revenge on that blonde kid. So I simply made sure revenge wasn't their main plan anymore." She nonchalantly said with a simple amused face. She walked closer, and put her thumb on the imprint on her brother's face. "That hurt?" Jaune shook his head. "Wait, Sincere what did you do to them?" The sole male was obviously worried about what his sister could and can do to them, even if they were bullies he'd rather not have his sister thrown into custody.
"Oh, just finished the job you apparently started." She smirked at him.
"My balls...I cannot feel my balls.." Gale sounded soulless.
"Yeaaa..." Valir grunted.
"I hate you two..." Vale stated with a hoarsed voice.
Everyone left the area, now in the middle of town. "Say, what do you guys think about Burgers for a snack?" Sincere offered, making Ruby jump in joy.
"That sounds great!" Yang beamed.
"Blue?" Sincere called, having the Fanus look up at the eye-patch.
"Come on, they won't bully you anymore. Not with all of us here." She said.
"O-okay!" Blue excitedly accepted, for once.. she didn't feel so lonely.
As they were walking back in the direction of Signal, Blue and Jaune were behind the group. The pink-haired girl tugged at his sleeve, taking Jaune's attention.
"Thank you, for helping me." She expressed gratitude.
Jaune only laughed. "No need to thank me."
The sun was on them, but she knew her face was hot for another reason.
Fin
Meet Blue-Berry an OC that will mostly be on Patch she isn't a Huntress and is more of a civilian character. She wants to be a chef.
And meet the Trios, the low level antagonists on Patch. Yeah, their first presentation is definitely not gonna make them fond characters but hey, that's the point. But I don't plan on making them too hated however.