Chapter 4 here we go! Babies' first mission. I hope you all enjoy, I thought long and hard how I wanted to introduce Jaune into the events leading up to the Vytal Festival. This felt most appropriate, and would give him foundations for later cooperation with other members of the main cast. Disclaimer: I'd like to shout out the fandom and it's many authors for giving me the inspiration for some of the character backstories mentioned in this chapter. Mainly Coeur Al'Aran. Please leave reviews! I love reading them!
Warning: Chapter contains attempted murder and mentions of past traumas.
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Jaune felt his heart slamming in his chest as the police cruiser he was in barreled through an alleyway, knocking aside trash cans and loose debris. Qrow drove like a bat out of hell, his jerky motions behind the wheel translating to a very uncomfortable riding experience. The front tire had a hole in it, but the auto-filling tube within kept the air from leaking out too fast. The engine was spitting smoke and steam out of the bullet holes in the hood and from the edges around the front bumper.
The Van they were chasing after, had swung into a warehouse on the edge of the commercial district, right where the north-western edge of the industrial district began. Qrow swung them to the left about two blocks early, turning the lights and sirens off and speeding them down an alley to park out of sight. As his mentor killed the engine and opened his door, he turned to speak.
"Listen, you barely got your Aura unlocked like ten minutes ago. When we go in, you stay behind me at a distance. Don't engage unless they come after you first. And I fight better alone, so if I'm in the middle of something don't get too close. Other than that, watch everything carefully. Take notes of everything going on and any details you see in case I miss something. Now come on." Qrow said exiting his seat and walking towards the back of the car.
Jaune exited and quietly closed his own door before walking around to join Qrow as the man put the keys in the trunk lock and sprung it open. Inside there were two ballistic vests on side racks, with two semi-automatic rifles latched into a frame that ran down the middle of the trunk length-wise. Qrow unlatched one of the rifles and one of the vests, pushing the vest into Jaune's arms.
"They don't know we've followed them. So we have a minute to prepare. Put this on under your stuff while I show you how to use this rifle." Qrow ordered, collecting three loaded magazines from the bags between the vest racks and the rifle stand.
Jaune quickly removed his back-pack and taser housing, before slipping the vest over his head like shirt and pulling on the side straps to tighten it down to his body. Then he quickly put his equipment back on over the vest, loosening the straps slightly to make them fit his thicker silhouette. Qrow got his attention by hoisting the rifle up in the crook of one arm.
"Alright, here's the barebones. Insert the magazine, then rack the charging handle back fully before releasing the bolt forward. Flip the selector switch to fire and let rip. It isn't a machine gun, so place each shot carefully. These magazines hold thirty rounds. Aim for their legs and arms if you have to open fire. No use killing them, when their arrests are what we are here to do. If I need any help I'll shout. Then all you have to do is get some rounds close to them, they will get behind cover if they're smart. Then just keep them suppressed. When you run out of ammo just dump the mag with the release, slap in a new one and hit this latch. It will ride the bolt forward again and you're back to shooting. Got everything?" Qrow said, educating Jaune.
"I got it. Stay back, don't get shot. Only fire if I have to. And be prepared to send rounds when you yell." Jaune said, nodding and taking the rifle from Qrow. With his left hand he took the three magazines and slotted two into the pouches on the front of the vest before slapping the third into the rifle and racking the first round into the chamber.
"Safety on, ready to go… I think." Jaune said, calming his mind and trying to calm his heart.
"Good enough. It's a peep-hole sight. Know how to shoot with that?" Qrow asked, pulling his Sword from his back and mecha-shiting it to full length.
"I know how. I'm not practiced with it but I'll figure it out." Jaune said doing a once over on all his equipment.
"Then let's go." Qrow said.
They briskly walked towards the opening of the alley closest to the front of the warehouse. Then down the sidewalk while hugging the walls of the buildings to their side. Once they had eyes on the front of the warehouse, Qrow pulled out his scroll and made a call to the police dispatch, giving his name and the number of the cruiser they borrowed from the police officers. Then he gave coordinates and told dispatch to send the armored units in to surround the place after he makes entry. With the call over Qrow readied himself and they jogged across the road.
Qrow funneled Aura into his legs and leaped the eight foot chain link fence surrounding the building and lot in one go. Jaune swung his rifle around his back on its sling before running up to the fence. With a leap, he planted one foot into the fence and propelled himself up to grab the top bar. Then, carrying his momentum forward he bent over the top at his waist, holding tight with his hands and letting his body flip over the other side. Letting go as his feet moved past his head, he landed on the other side of the fence on his feet, knees slightly bent. His hand reached back to grab his rifle and pull it around him and to a ready position. It wasn't perfectly smooth, but it was quick enough.
Qrow had already moved up to the large garage door that now concealed the van and terrorists inside. Jaune moved up to the side, staying back about thirty or so feet from the door. He found a large metal drum that he could only guess was for holding water, and crouched down behind it, placing his rifle on the top and taking aim towards the door as Qrow watched him. As soon as he was in position, Qrow nodded his way and elbowed the garage door controls lightly. The large door began to rise, and Jaune saw movement from within the building as the interior was revealed.
Several dozen people wearing White Fang outfits were milling about, some carrying boxes to and from five different vans. The entire back wall was covered by large stacks of small shipping crates and containers, and the catwalk leading to the second floor office had makeshift electrical lines running along it and to the many shop lights that illuminated the space. The door reached the top as the figures within stopped, finally hearing the noise and seeing the open door. It was then that Qrow stepped out into the center of the doorway, setting his sword's tip on the concrete floor in front of him and to the side.
"So. I guess this is where you put your hands in the air and all that jazz." Qrow said loud enough for the criminals to hear.
Jaune's eyes widened as a tall man, towering over the others, stepped out from behind one of the stacks of crates. In his hands was a ridiculously large chainsaw. His massive biceps flanking his tall stature.
"Kill the Huntsman!" The large man screamed as he revved his chainsaw and charged Qrow.
Several other goons grabbed up firearms and machetes and began their assault. A small number with blades charged Qrow along with their leader, while the majority of them took up positions behind crates and the vans to begin laying down fire. Qrow spun his sword in front of him as he charged to meet the melee goons halfway. Bullets pinged off his weapon and the occasional shot missing and going wide. As stray fire pinged off the metal drum Jaune hid behind, Jaune heard a voice.
"What do we have here?" A masculine voice trilled from behind him. Only a few feet away.
Jaune spun and brought his rifle up to aim at the newcomer. The man had orange hair, a bowler hat, and white suit jacket. The cigar he was smoking fell to the floor and the man used his cane to smash the end out on the concrete.
"Now now little piggy, no need to get feisty." The man said as several White Fang filed out from the surrounding cover and stood beside him in a line. Their weapons aimed at him.
"Surrender!" Jaune barked out, not feeling the confidence he hoped his voice portrayed.
"Don't be a silly kid. You are outnumbered here, and you were the one who walked straight into a criminal exchange!" The man laughed as he pointed his cane like a gun straight at Jaune. "I think you should follow your own orders and drop the rifle."
The sounds of fighting and gunfire from within the warehouse drew the man's eyes as he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Perry, take the men and go save our shipment. I'll handle the twerp." The man ordered.
Jaune swung his rifle to the side and squeezed the trigger while aiming at 'Perry's' shin. But as his shot rang out, his rifle was yanked from his grip by the end of the leader's cane. The head, withdrawing into the shaft of the cane by a cable, brought Jaune's rifle directly into the man's awaiting hand. Perry leaped back as the shot went wide before nodding to the other White Fang members. They all took off for the Warehouse as Jaune slowly reached for his sword.
"Here. Catch." The man said, dropping the magazine out of Jaune's rifle and ejecting the unfired round from the chamber before throwing it straight at Jaune's head.
Jaune ducked the rifle as it sailed over his head, yanking his sword from its sheath and deploying the shield on his left arm. Not a second too soon, as his opponent sprinted forward after his initial toss and slammed an Aura amplified knee straight into the shield. Jaune's shoulder screamed in pain from the impact, as the force of the attack slammed Jaune's back into the metal drum. Jaune struck forward with a quick stab using his sword as he sidestepped to have his back away from the drum.
The cane came up in a wide arc, parrying the sword away as the man grabbed the top edge of Jaune's shield with his free hand and pulled. Jaune's eyes went wide as he was yanked from his feet and thrown head over heels up and over the criminal's shoulder. Jaune landed hard, rolling to his knees after having the air knocked out of him, facing away from the criminal. Instinct that had been drilled into him about defense by Tai and Qrow activated before his mind did. His body rolled sideways onto its back as the blow from the cane slammed into the concrete where he just was. Jaune kicked forward and low with his left leg as the concrete shattered from the cane's force to his left side.
A muffled sound of pain left the criminal's lips as Jaune's foot connected full force with his crotch. It bought Jaune enough time to get to his feet and press for advantage.
"Little bastard, I'll…" The man got out before Jaune cut him off by swinging his sword right for his head.
The man leaned back and avoided the blow, his arm bringing the cane up to catch Jaune's sword on its curved handle during its follow through. A quick twist of the cane, along with the opposing leg kicking out sideways to slam into Jaune's shield, had Jaune's sword flying from his grip and several yards away to crash down into a puddle. The man scoffed before slamming his cane forward in a jab, catching Jaune's open shoulder with enough force to send Jaune back a couple feet. The pain was numbing, but manageable. Jaune responded by yanking his Taser out of its holster with his shaking right hand, using his shield to prevent the criminal from seeing what he was doing.
The man slid forward in a quick dashing motion, before twisting his body and spinning around his back heel as he lashed out with a leg in a textbook sweep.. Jaune hopped over the blow, and tossed his shield straight forward like a disc. The man deflected the shield with his forearm as he came out of his spin, and his eyes widened for a split second as Jaune's feet touched the ground again. The crack of the Taser's charge detonating filled the air as two sharp barbs attached to wires sprang from the weapon straight towards the Criminal's exposed chest.
Instead of bringing his arm back down to block, the man swung his cane in an upwards arc and tried to deflect the barbs away. The cables tangled and looped around the cane's shaft as the man succeeded in preventing the barbs from hitting off his Aura. The resulting voltage traveled up the metal cane and straight into the man's gloved hand. Jaune watched for over a second as the man convulsed, teeth grit in a snarl and Aura flashing as the electricity bled a good chunk of it away.
With a grunt and a cough, the man let go of his cane and pushed off his back foot, tackling Jaune around his waist and bowling them both to the ground. Knees slammed down to the concrete on either side of Jaune's ribs as the man mounted him and raised his fists.
"Little…" A fist struck Jaune's raised forearms. "Rat…" Another glanced off his temple. "Bastard!" A third went wide as Jaune jerked his head to the side.
The man's fist struck concrete and cracked it as Jaune slipped one hand up to grab the collar of the man's suit jacket. Jaune's other hand reached around the knee on his right and yanked his knife from its sheath before slamming it upwards into the ribs of his assailant. The metal point of his blade grinded angrily against Aura as the man winced from the pain. But both of his hands looped down to grip Jaune's throat.
"Let's see if you pass out before my Aura breaks shall we?" The man hissed with venom as he strangled Jaune.
"Smart…Rat." Jaune squeaked out as his face began turning bright red.
"What was that you little…" The man began. But he didn't get a chance to finish as Jaunes thumb worked the latch on his knife's handle.
The resulting blast of fire dust ripped the man off of Jaune and sent him spiraling through the air several yards. A resounding crash was heard as Jaune craned his neck to look where the man landed. His opponent was face down on the concrete, struggling to his hands and knees with a groan. The metal storage container behind him had a sizable dent in it from where the man had collided with it during flight.
Jaune choked air back into his lungs as he scrambled haphazardly for his shield. Rapid footsteps approached as Jaune grabbed his shield and rolled to his feet. Backing away to create space between him and the man as he came towards Jaune. Jaune's fingers worked a random cartridge from his belt while precariously gripping the knife in the same hand. As the spent cartridge jangled to the ground and its replacement was loaded in, Jaune's enemy spoke.
"So what are you huh? Some Huntsman in training? Another Beacon student to mess up my whole operation? Well guess what? Roman fucking Torchwick dosen't come unprepared!" Roman shouted as the lot they stood in was bathed in white light.
A bullhead flew in and hovered above them, the roaring engines making Roman's hair wave wildly in their exhaust streams. The mechanical sound of a revolving gun was heard as it activated on the bullhead and started to turn toward Jaune.
"Now kindly die would you! I'm behind as is!" Roman said, waving for the bullhead to begin firing. But someone else beat him to it.
Dozens of guns began firing from the street directly on the bullhead. The rounds pinging off the hull made the pilot jerk to the side to avoid catching a round through the cockpit windows. Jaune's eyes looked down to the street at the same time that Roman swung around in surprise. He saw four large vehicles with armored plating parked halfway on the curb on the other side of the fence. Police officers in full battle gear were letting loose a rain of hellfire from their positions behind the trucks. Peppering the bullhead and concentrating fire on its two large engines.
"Oh for Monty's SAKE!" Roman screamed, grabbing his cane from the ground along with his bowler hat. His arm pointed the cane upwards and the curved handle shot out towards the bullhead.
"I guess it's time to leave kiddo! Kill you another time!" Roman yelled over the sounds of gunfire and bullhead engines as his cane began to retract, pulling him skyward and up towards the open side door to the flying vehicle.
The louder crack of a high powered rifle followed an impact against Roman's back as he ascended. Jaune watched the man's Aura fizzle and shatter as it tanked the round. The second went slightly wide as Roman scrambled into the bullhead and slammed the door. As the bird swung away and started to flee through the sky, Jaune glanced over to see three red lights on the rooftop opposite the warehouse. One of the police snipers made a quick waving motion to Jaune before returning to aim towards the door of the warehouse.
Jaune collected his equipment from the floor and sprinted towards the building. His eyes took in the carnage as he crossed the threshold of the doorway. Qrow was standing still in the center of the space, not a scratch on him as he finished knocking out the final terrorist with a kick to the side of the downed man's temple. All of the fifty or so criminals, including the large man with the chainsaw, lay strewn about the place in unconsciousness. The bullet holes lining the vans, crates, walls, and ceilings showed that Qrow had been very mobile the entire time, avoiding gunfire while dealing with the threats in small groups.
"Police are here!" Jaune tried to shout. But his words came out gravelly and his neck pained him greatly.
"I saw the others come in. You okay?" Qrow asked, walking over and looking Jaune over.
"Y-yeah. Just got my butt kicked by some Roman guy." Jaune said, stretching his sore shoulders and slinging his rifle around his back.
"Torchwick. Didn't know he was working with the White Fang." Qrow said waving the police officers in from the road.
"It felt more like they were working for him. He was giving orders and stuff." Jaune explained, trying his best to make his voice stronger.
"Don't strain yourself. You evidently did good. No blood or broken parts." Qrow stated, walking around Jaune and looking him up and down from every angle.
"He wasn't as fast as you two. So I blocked most of his hits. Still hurts a lot. He was really trying to kill me." Jaune explained as he looked at his still-shaking hands.
"It'll pass. You fought him off long enough to force a retreat. That's better than anyone could expect of you." Qrow said first. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you kid. I messed up leaving you out there. Won't happen again. We will stay within sight of each other from now on. I just didn't expect an ex-Huntsman in Training to show up.
"He was a Huntsman?" Jaune asked, surprised.
"He was a student in Beacon twenty five years or so ago. Then his team was sent on a mission to a settlement as it fell. Only two of them walked out alive. Roman went nuts after. Left the school and disappeared. Several years back he became known as a professional thief and mercenary. Been on the run ever since. You're lucky the cops showed up to give us help. We both are." Qrow explained as the cops began funneling in with weapons raised, starting to round up the White Fang and arrest them.
"You could have taken him." Jaune said, pointing to the dozens of White Fang Qrow had taken down.
"I could have kicked his ass seven ways to sunday. But not while protecting you from both him and a bullhead." Qrow stated, shrugging his shoulders.
"Huntsman!" The Police Sergeant shouted, jogging over in full kit.
"Present. What's the plan on your part?" Qrow replied while turning to the new face.
"Just mopping up the mess now. Gonna send the boys through all their stuff, try and gather intelligence on exactly what was going down here." The Sergeant said, glancing around to his officers.
"It was an exchange." Jaune said, entering the conversation.
"You a fed? Know you ain't mine." The sergeant asked, looking at Jaune's dress clothing and vest with 'Police' printed across the chest.
"Jaune Arc, Official Valean Press. I was here to document the Huntsman's work." Jaune said, producing his I.D and extending his hand in greeting.
"The O.V.P has guys on the White Fang cases? I thought the council had detectives from the head office on it." The Sergeant said, nodding at the I.D and shaking Jaune's hand.
"They do. I stepped in to volunteer as an extra set of eyes and ears." Jaune said, lying through his teeth. "Happened to be taking a statement from Mr. Branwen when the high speed pursuit passed us. I tagged along when he borrowed the cruiser."
"That explains the gear. Leave it with us before you go, we'll get it back to the team it belongs to. Looks like you got more involved than you were planning to." The Sergeant noted, pointing to the red swelling in the shape of Roman's hands on Jaune's throat.
"Torchwick is a trained fighter. Photographer over here held him off till you boys rolled up." Qrow interjected.
"I know. I saw. We are already having dispatch pull the CCTV footage from the roadside buildings. I'll get you a copy for your report to the O.V.P. Hell of a job from one of the council's camera boys. I'll put in a good word with the force if you ever decide on a career change. Anyway, I'll have one of my teams drop you off where ya need to go. We have the rest from here. Just send in your reports to your offices before tomorrow is over. Good work." The Sergeant said, clapping both of them on the arms before moving into the fray.
Jaune found himself pondering his calmness as he handed his vest and rifle to the police private that approached him. He normally would have never been able to lie so well and steady before. But after being roughhoused by Roman and staring down a high caliber minigun, he didn't really feel nervous around the cops just doing their jobs. His body felt heavy, and the aches in his joints and throat were beginning to throb as his adrenaline wore off.
Qrow led him to the road where the three snipers were standing next to the several armored trucks and police cars that now lined the street. The three of them put their fingers to their mouths and let off whistles and hollars as Jaune and Qrow approached.
"Hell of a job Huntsman! Didn't even have to take a shot into the warehouse. Mopped them up, you did!" One said, smiling to Qrow as he stopped in front of them.
"A day in the life boys, a day in the life." Qrow replied, smirking and leaning to put his weight on his back foot. "Sergeant in there said someone would take us where we needed to go."
"That'd be us. We will take the Sergeant's ride. He's gonna want to ride back with the paddy-wagon anyway." Another said as he started moving towards a standard police S.U.V with its lights on.
"Tell you what, the office will be buzzing all week with talk about this. Not every day a kid from the O.V.P goes toe to toe with one of Vale's most wanted. If they put you Fed-type's names in the paper you'd be famous!" The third said with a laugh as he patted Jaune on the back.
"You guys saw that huh?" Jaune asked, his embarrassed blush creeping up his face.
"Well we were the first in position. Didn't get clear shots with all the tussling, but we caught the last portion. You're a mean fighter. Probably taught him a good lesson before he ran. I'll be holding my tongue towards the O.V.P boys next time they come around poking their noses in our investigations." The leading man spoke, getting in the car and starting the engine.
The car ride to the west bullhead docks was one full of jargon and laughter. The sniper crew were funny men, with jokes that would make a sailor blush. Qrow and Jaune mostly stayed silent as they rode with them. Occasionally chipping in with answers to questions and affirmations here and there. Eventually a scroll dinged in the front seat and one of the snipers held up his hand to signal for Jaune's attention.
"Just received the CCTV footage of your fight with Torchwick. They stitched it together from three different cameras but it should be enough for your report. Give me your number and I'll text it to you." The third sniper said.
Jaune listed off his number and soon enough he received a text.
"My name's Jenkins! Save my number, and if you ever need a contact for the boys in blue you feel free to call me up. We marksmen rarely see any action so I'm sure I could work something out. Here's your stop. Good work tonight Mr. Arc, you too Mr. Branwen. Hope to hear from you again!" Jenkins said as Jaune and Qrow exited the vehicle.
With an exchange of waves later, the S.U.V pulled off the curb and drove away. The night air of Vale whips through the air-docks gently, tickling at Jaune's neck. He raised his hand and ran his fingers over the steadily forming bruise on his throat.
"Seems like you made a fan." Qrow broke the silence.
"I think he's just bored. He said he doesn't see much action." Jaune replied, rubbing his neck.
"Good news is your Aura was trying to fire. Or else your shoulder would be dislocated and your wind-pipe would be crushed. From the looks of it, it was trying to tank the blows, but didn't hold well." Qrow theorized as he plugged his flight request into the terminal.
"I wasn't trying to use it. I was just fighting for my life." Jaune said, lowering his hands.
"Instinct is a hell of a thing. Some people even unlock their Auras themselves when they are stressed enough. Looks like you might be a natural at using it. Good. Otherwise you'd be in the E.R." Qrow spoke evenly as he planted himself down on a waiting bench next to the flight platform.
"Can we even catch a flight at this hour? It's almost two in the morning." Jaune asked, taking the seat next to his mentor.
"Most services run all day for Huntsmen. The Registration Office, the bullheads, even the dispatch for open missions. We are all ready to defend the Kingdom at the drop of a hat, so they are ready to assist us the same way."
"Handy."
"Yep. We will go over the footage when we get back and get some sleep. Never know what we could glean from it. Plus it will show me and Tai exactly how well you did. And what we could teach you better to improve your chances of going up against criminals in the future." Qrow told Jaune as he took a long gulp from his hip flask.
"I keep seeing his face. All angry and twisted in pain from my knife as he tries to strangle me to death. For a second I really panicked. Didn't know what to do." Jaune admitted quietly.
"That's normal. Not pleasant, but normal. I remember the first time a two-bit gangster put a gun in my face. I tripped as I pushed backwards. Raven had to step in and disarm the guy. It wasn't the first time I'd been threatened or even attacked. But it was the first time I panicked in a situation like that. I thought about that gun for weeks straight afterwards." Qrow reminisced.
"So it goes away." Jaune spoke.
"No. It all just blends together eventually. Becomes manageable. Don't be afraid to talk about it with Tai or me. Everyone needs to get things out in the air sometimes." Qrow said, looking at his flask with a slight downturn to his lips.
Jaune had a feeling that Qrow didn't follow his own wisdom as much as he should. No normal student of Beacon starts drinking on the daily. Or compulsively acting out and taking very little seriously in their personal life.
"So I'll adjust then. I'll get better at handling this stuff as I go. I-I think… I think I can handle that. I am not turning back. Or doubting what I'm doing here. I just…" Jaune started, staring at his hands in his lap.
"You weren't expecting your first night on the job to end up being near fatal." Qrow finished for him.
"Yeah." Jaune's small voice confirmed.
"Well. Not everyone gets to stop a simple robbery on their first night. Or bust up some street rapist with no training. For every ten students or apprentices that get the easy starts, there are ones like you. Or Torchwick and Dr. Oobleck, who lost the other members of their team on their first real mission. This work we do, it's not pretty. No matter how much the Kingdoms want to paint it that way on T.V or during the tournaments. But it's gotta be done. If not by us, then who?"
Jaune didn't want to pity Torchwick. He didn't want to feel sorry for the man that nearly strangled him not an hour ago. But in his heart he could sympathize with the man. He certainly didn't agree with what he's evidently become. But he could imagine a young man his age with orange hair and the light of the world in his eyes. The same way he saw it in Ruby's eyes or even Yang's. Then he imagined that same young man coming back from the field, covered in grime and the blood of his closest friends. His eyes hollow and his heart broken.
"I feel… Sorry for him. In a way." Jaune admitted.
"I kind of knew him back then. Distantly. He was a couple years ahead. And we didn't run in the same circles. I remember he was funny. That he loved collecting candles of all things. His old partner, Dr. Oobleck, teaches history at Beacon. He doesn't talk about any of it now. I can guess it's for the same reason Tai doesn't talk about Ray. Being betrayed by someone you love leaves its mark."
"Why are you so honest with me?" Jaune asked, turning to face his mentor.
"What?" Qrow asked back with furled eyebrows.
"I mean, you're honest about things I wouldn't expect anyone to be. You tell me about your team, about your past. And the pasts of others. Why?"
"Because I'm supposed to teach you how to be a Huntsman kid. And every story of mine, no matter what about or how painful, have lessons in them that can be learned from. I don't share with Ruby or Yang like this because what kind of Uncle would I be if I burdened my nieces? But you… I'm not just responsible for teaching you to fight or how to protect others. I'm responsible for shaping your mind. For forging you into a man. One who can do everything he has to if he wants to keep the monsters at bay. Both physical and mental. And one who can weather all the horseshit that comes his way by simply living on. Do you get it now?" Qrow's tone was that of someone trying to reassure Jaune. Not belittle him.
"I think I do now. Sorry if that came out wrong earlier." Jaune apologized.
"Don't sweat it. I'm abrasive, but not heartless. I get it. This is the first time you've had an adult around that takes you seriously. I can remember what that is like."
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes until their flight was ready to take them back to Patch. Jaune's eyes drew his gaze to the night sky, to the shattered moon. He wondered idly if the universe was looking down at him. At any of them. And whether or not their struggles meant anything in the grand spectrum of everything. But whatever the silent answers to his questions were, he knew he didn't need them. He just needed to make sure that he made the best of the here and now. That he didn't falter. That he could be someone who protects the world that all the innocent people of Remnant called home. Then, would it really matter if it all had a grander design? Or would the simple act of devoting himself to good, even if it cost him his life, be enough? He didn't know. He didn't care either. Because it would be worth it to him. And everyone he saved.
His drive reestablished, Jaune climbed the steps to the bullhead platform as the engines of the craft roared to life. Tonight may have been scary and eye-opening. But something told him it was a good night nonetheless. One full of learning.
Now if only I can stop my hand from shaking… He thought to himself.