AN: Next Chapter

Chapter 3

"Jaune Arc vs Thor Odinson." Goodwitch called out to the class, and Jaune felt a chill run down his spine. He'd been hoping to avoid this for a little bit, till he'd gotten some training in. He knew he was probably asking for too much for that, but on the first day of combat class, well that was just his luck,

As he walked to his match, he felt like he was walking to the gallows. He'd seen Thor in the initiation and he wasn't exactly the type of person he'd like to face in his first ever sparring match. He did take some solace in the fact that Thor seemed to be an okay guy, if a bit loud and expressive.

As he looked at Thor's face, he saw he was smiling, and in that moment, he hated him. Thor was having the time of his life, while he was getting ready to be the worse side of a one-sided beat down.

But the feelings passed, like a flash of heat. This wasn't anyone else's fault but his and getting mad at the guy wasn't going to help him.

He eyed Thor's weapon, it looked like hybrid of a hammer and axe. Thor called it a maul, but Jaune couldn't help but think of it as a hammer/axe. He knew he didn't want to get hit with it, and he wasn't sure his shield would be much of a defense.

That left trying to dodge it, which was wholly unlikely. Thor didn't look it, but he was fast, faster Jaune at any rate. So that left the shield, and he knew that Thor was more than likely going to hammer away at his defense.

"Begin!"

Jaune wasn't ready for the first attack and raised his shield to guard. He felt an impact but it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Maybe his aura helped? But when he looked up, he saw the blade of Thor's weapon hooked on the edge of his shield. Before he could react, Thor yanked on this hammer and pulled the shield hard.

Jaune had to decided whether to drop his shield or be thrown to the ground. He let go.

He barely managed to keep his footing but stumbling kept himself up right and grasped his sword with two hands.

As he turned to face Thor only see the hammer flying at his face. He side stepped it and thought for a moment this would he his chance to, if not win, but put up a fight. If Thor had thrown his weapon, he'd be open.

He never got the chance before he felt a shoulder in stomach. It took him a second to realize the thrown hammer was just distraction, and before he knew it, he was thrown out of the ring, and out of the match.

As he lay spread eagle pondering what had happened. He'd lost in under a minute, which was utterly humiliating. But Thor hadn't done it by beating the life out of him, he'd disarmed and rung him out. Was he pitying him? Did he not take him seriously? What was the deal?

"Well done Mr. Odinson, excellent use of your weapon and distraction." Ms. Goodwitch said. "Mr. Arc…be more mindful of your opponents' actions."

Jaune slumped back to the team and was frankly thankful he hadn't at least been hurt. And Thor was one of the best students in the year, at least losing to him didn't make him look as pathetic as it might have been if he'd lost to Cardin.

Cardin was another big student but was categorically upper middle tier of their year. He was also something of bully, but Jaune was thankful he hadn't had a run in with him yet. He felt his satellite of friends kept him away so far. But he also felt like he was wounded deer and Cardin was the jackal ready to pick him off as soon as the chance came.

He sat through the rest of combat class in sour mood. The only up side was seeing Ruby deal with Cardin almost as quickly as Thor had dealt with him.

After class ended he felt like taking a shower, a long one where he might drown. His team tried to cheer him up, but he just said he wanted to be on his own for a bit.

He didn't go to the dorm showers, but the locker rooms, which he felt would be more…isolated now this time of the day.

As he walked into the locker room he contemplated just leaving. He was so far behind, and even though this was his dream, he honestly didn't think it was going work at this rate. He's just embarrasses himself and drag his team down.

"Jaune." A voice came out of nowhere making him jump.

"Who?" he said turning to look around.

"Me." Jaune saw Thor walking towards him. He was a little put off. Thor wasn't really one of his "friends", but sort of was satellite friend of his through team RWBY. Even with them, he only seemed to be friends with Yang and Ruby. Blake was distant, and Wiess seemed outright hostile to him, sort of like how she treated him. Still he wasn't a bad guy, as far as could tell.

"What? You want to rub it in my face?" Jaune snapped. He knew that was bit unfair, but he was so humiliated and angry with himself he couldn't control himself.

"You don't have place here." Thor said.

Jaune felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He knew it was right, but he didn't care to hear it. He was about react before Thor continued.

"But you could be." Thor said walking up to him. "There is…something in you. "Jaune was a bit off put by this, but listened. "I can help you, if you want."

Jaune was taken aback by this offer. But thought on it for a minute. Pyrrha had made a similar offer, but he just didn't want to show his own ineptitude to teammate, not matter how well-meaning she was. But Thor wasn't on any team, so that awkwardness may not be so bad. There was the chance of he might spread rumors. But something about Thor told Jaune that wasn't likely.

"I'll…think about it." Jaune said.

Thor smiled at this this "Don't think to long."

With that Thor left him alone to ponder the proposition.

Thor

Jaune Arc was very clearly not trained in any significant way to be a huntsman. But he made it in, somehow. Ozpin had to know, Thor didn't know the man that well, but he had the air of an old soul, literally, and didn't seem like one to be fooled so easily. He had to know this boy wasn't up to snuff.

But that aside, Thor believed all things happened for a reason, the skein of life was woven on day of birth, and couldn't be changed. And there was something the Arc, no skill, but massive aura reserves and a determination to at least try. The fact he threw himself into this with no skill set, while reckless, showed spirit.

He was being selfish in this regard though. While he felt bad for the boy, it wasn't his primary motivation for the offer. He itched to impart some of his advice to some of these students, yet he couldn't do so without coming off as pompous, and his teenage brain reeled against the idea of alienating his peers. His logical mind told him that wasn't important, yet he couldn't quiet bring himself to go against it.

Jaune was the perfect person to teach things to, he didn't have clue either way. And to be frank he liked the boy. He wasn't a great student, but he was a nice guy, sincere and that was rare.

He'd just have to wait and see what he wanted to do.

Jaune

That night as he lay in bed, he thought of Thor's offer. On one hand, Thor was in the top five students, as far as his own estimates went, in combat. Not many were better to try and help him improve. But then there was the fact Pyrrha had made and offer to help, he though anyway. She hadn't made an outright offer yet.

She'd be as good, or even better, she actually used a sword and shield like him. But the idea of showing his own weakness to her wasn't at all pleasant. He was the team leader, and he felt he couldn't or shouldn't show weakness like that to him team.

He was so uncomfortable with the whole situation but embarrassing himself in front of his classmates wasn't a thrilling proposition either.

Pulling out his scroll, he looked at it and realized he didn't have Thor's number. Ruby or Yang probably did, but he wasn't going to ask them for it. He didn't need them poking around, not that he thought they'd do it maliciously, but Ruby was overtly curious, and Yang was bit of a talker and he didn't want something to get out accidentally.

He'd just talk to Thor tomorrow, and…see what he had in mind.

Thor

Thor sat in his last class of the day, Grimm Studies. No word from Jaune but he wasn't that surprised. The boy was meek by nature, if he responded at all it may take a few days.

Still, there were other things to dwell on at the moment. His homework one, he hated doing it. But he knew it was necessary, at least as far the school was concerned.

As port finished and reminded them of there assignments, Thor packed his books and materials.

"Thor?"

Thor didn't have to look to know who it was, he was good with recognizing voices. "Yes Jaune?" He said as he packed up for the day.

"Ummm." He began "Your offer?"

"You want me to teach you?"

"Could you?"

Thor finished packing, before answering." Meet on roof tonight. Bring your weapons."

The Roof

Jaune stood across from Thor. He didn't have his weapon but had training shield and hammer.

"First." Thor said "I'll teach you the lines of combat."

"Lines?" Jaune said "What like…military formations."

"No." Thor said holding out his hand "Give me your sword."

Jaune was a bit apprehensive of this but complied handing it over.

"The lines of combat." Thor began "refers to the areas you seek to strike to win in combat." Thor slowly swung the sword in an arc. Jaune watched as it moved past in front of him level with his throat. "First the sword seeks the 'breath line', or simply, the neck." Thor swung the sword again, to show this. "Then the sword seeks the 'fat line', or torso." He gestured towards Jaune's chest.

"By what about the head?" Jaune asked.

Thor smiled and tossed the sword back to him "A viable target, but it's harder to damage than the neck of most opponents, the neck is softer and easier to cut, especially with Grimm, who I'm sure you've noticed often have armored heads, and the cutting the neck will achieve the same results in the end."

"Okay…."Jaune wasn't sure about this. What about stabbing? Wasn't that supposed to be more effective?

But what did he know, and honestly, he was thankful to have any help.

"Next, well, let's see your stance."

Jaune took his stance, or at least what he considered to be his stance. "like this?"

Thor walked over to him and grabbed his shield and raised it. "Keep your shield up, if your going to use a shield, don't let it hang at your side or in a lowered position, that make's defense harder and sloppier, that's what happened in class, you threw it up to quick and didn't have control of it, that's the reason I was able to pull it off you."

Jaune felt a little embarrassed, he though he'd kept his shield ready, but he guesses he hadn't. "I think that would have happened either way."

"Perhaps, but if you'd been ready, and hadn't let your shield drift, you may have been able to whole avoid me hooking it in the first place. This isn't uncommon for people using a shield for he first time, they forget they have it and let the arm go slack. Be mindful of you shield arm."

Jaune felt that was something he should have known for the start, but still, this was helpful information. "What else."

Thor didn't say anything instead shoved him, causing Jaune to stumble back and almost fall. "Man! What the!"

"Your stance, planet yourself firmer. Unless you intend to fight like Ruby and use agility and dodge and attack, which I don't think you do, you need to be ready to stand your ground."

"But…Thor, I'm not strong enough to just stand there and take attacks from people like you or Yang, you guys will pummel me into the ground."

"I didn't say stand there and take it." Thor said, "You can pivot and move, watch me." Thor pick up his practice shield and held in front of him. He started doing side steps and pivots, not moving far from where he was, but keeping a fairly wide stance. Jaune was seeing what he meant, if his stance wasn't firm, even if he moved, the chance of him being thrown off his feet were still likely. "Firm and stable stance is important in all fighting styles."

He looked at Thor as he demonstrated, and something was bothering him about how he was acting. He wasn't laughing or emitting the friendly attitude he normally did.

"Okay, I think I'm getting it."

"Good, then come at me." Thor said "I can tell you everything I know, but it won't help if you don't practice."

Jaune gulped in nervous apprehension, hesitated and then charged.

Thor

Jaune learned quick, that had to be admitted. He was still dreadful, but he could see him attempting to implement what he'd been told into what he was trying to do. He was already adapting, to what he learned. That was a good sign, he picked up idea's quickly.

His physicality was another matter. His attacks didn't do anything to his shield defense, he could bat them away or even withstand them wholly.

"Stop." He said and Jaune followed the command and looked at him "Jaune, you don't have the strength of stamina to fight like this. You may at some point, but you are just to aggressive and don't have the ability to make it count." Jaune looked a bit upset but kept silent. "Right now, you'd be better served to be more conservative in your fighting style."

"Okay, so be more defensive?"

"Not necessarily, but less aggressive. Remember the 'lines', your goal is to strike these area's, and as it stands, your skills aren't at the level where you can batter an opponent's defense away to strike them. Let them come to you and strike then."

"But won't that just let them finish me off quicker?" Jaune said, confusion on his face.

"Perhaps, but remember your shield, there are tricks that can open up an aggressive opponent who think's they have an easy target."

"Really?"

"Yes first, take Cardin Winchester. His attacks are strong, but straight forward. By sticking your shield out, and griping the handle, you can deflect his attacks, they will roll off the side, I'll show you, hold your shield up."

Jaune raised his shield up in a defensive position. "Like this?"

"No, like this." Thor extended his arm all the way out, holding the shield out as far as he could."

"But if he hit's that…couldn't it break my arm."

"If you took the whole force, but the idea is to intercept it and let him it one of the sides to deflect it. The way he swings his mace, it will make a opening for an instance in which you can strike, I'll show you."

Jaune copied Thor's position and Thor gently showed the movement. Jaune felt the shield roll in his hands and saw how useful a move like this might be. "What was the other thing you said might help."

"That is simple." Thor said and pushed his shield into Jaune face, not actually touching him, but coming close "Holding your shield up close to your opponent blinds them, and they can't see where your attack comes from."

"Okay…" He didn't sound certain, but that was fine. He'd learn through experience.

"That will do for tonight." Thor said, "We'll pick up tomorrow night, and we'll continue until your up to standard." Thor said before smiling the first time that night "You're a quick study, we'll make a warrior of you yet."

Pyrrha

Jaune came in late that night, clearly exhausted. She pretended to be asleep, but he was clearly wiped out. He climbed into bed almost immediately and she laid there, thinking. He was out practicing, she was fairly certain of this. But not with her, even though she'd offered.

Well, not, that wasn't true, she hadn't "offered" outright, but rather implied she'd help. Jaune however was so totally embarrassed that he couldn't seem to move past it to get help…or at least that's what she'd thought.

Jaune wasn't just tired, like the few times he'd snuck off to train on his own. But was limping, meanings someone had more than likely been training with him and given him a few licks.

The sound of Jaune hissing as he climbed into his bed made her think he'd been in an actual sparring match. That thought sent her mind reeling with possibilities. Who would Jaune trust enough to help him? And why wasn't she good enough?

What this person was, was sitting on her mind. Jaune didn't have many friends outside of his own team and Team RWBY. It wasn't anyone on JNPR, so she was thinking it would be someone on RWBY.

Blake and Weiss were not at all likely. Blake was to introvert, she barley interreacted with her own team, and Weiss was cold and sometimes cruel, especially to Jaune when he tried to talk to her.

Ruby and Yang were far more likely. Ruby was friendly, and probably Jaune's only real friend outside his team. Yang was friendly to him, but her interactions with him didn't go beyond that. If she would pick one, Ruby was more likely. But Pyrrha was certain she'd seen her go into her dorm earlier that evening.

But idea of Yang hanging out with Jaune however made her incredibly uncomfortable. Yang was such a flirt and outgoing, well it made her worried. She hadn't said anything to anyone, but she liked Jaune, in part because he treated her like a person rather than an idol. But it went deeper than that, Jaune was kind, sincere and she just felt at ease around him.

She knew it wasn't based on reason to think Yang would try to "steal" him, but it still made her stomach turn in knots.

It was stupid to worry about anyway, she had no evidence that anything of the sort was going on.

But Jaune did have a training partner. But who? Ruby was the most likely, and honestly that didn't bother her that much, but she was certain she'd turned in for the night.

She rolled over in bed, thinking about it. She had to get sleep and tried to tell herself she'd find out tomorrow.

That didn't help, of course and she didn't fall asleep for hours.

Thor

For the first time a long time, Thor didn't feel that hungry. He ate his breakfast without much enthusiasm. He chewed on a mouth full of bacon as he thought. The combat classes happened twice a week and his first one had resulted in him being paired off against the weakest student, not exactly thrilling.

It was true Jaune had a great deal of untapped potential, but at this stage, untapped potential and no potential weren't any different in a practical sense at this point. But that was besides the larger picture. He was bored.

Even if he got a chance to face one of the more talented students, he hadn't been overtly impressed. It was true some had some relatively high skill sets, not one of them was refined enough to challenge him in a meaningful way. He knew that out loud his thoughts, he'd sound incredibly conceited, that was a reason he kept his mouth shut.

But it was true, some of these kids were very talented…for kids. But he wasn't really one. He was stuck in the body of a teenager, and while he's adapted and adopted some of the traits of his youth, he still remembered how to fight, even without his powers, he was far ahead of any student. Not in terms of raw power, his semblance wasn't particularly more powerful than other's he'd seen, but his technical skill outstripped the other students.

He supposed he should have seen this coming almost from the start, but typical of his younger days, he hadn't really thought of things going anyway other than he expected, or in this case, wanted.

He'd held out hope of some level of enjoyment here, but he was finding it tedious and was considering leaving.

But he squashed the thought when ever it came up. This was the path, he was sure of it, no matter how boring it was right now. And anything else would likely be worse, and he didn't have anywhere to go at any rate.

Then there was training Jaune, which he found to be the most fulfilling thing he'd done sense coming to Beacon. He was quick learner on method and theory, and absorbed lesson well. Which was more than likely do to his total lack of experience, he'd do anything he was told by anyone he perceived to an authority on whatever he was learning.

"Hey big guy, you look a bit down."

Thor looked up from his tray to see Yang and Ruby walking to his table with their own trays.

"Are you feeling okay?" Ruby asked, "You aren't eating like normal." Her voice seemed mildly concerned.

"I'm fine just…" He said, not sure how put into his feelings into words.

"Down in the dumbs?" Yang suggested.

Thor shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head to the side, in a manner that indicated that wasn't exactly right, but close.

"What's got you down?" Ruby asked.

"Nothing…everything…I'm not sure." He took another bite of his breakfast. It wasn't till he spoke it out loud that he realized that his malaise was more than boredom. There was something deeper in his soul that was making him unhappy.

"Well…maybe…." Ruby started. "We could…do something about it?"

Thor looked at her and saw on her face a confused and contemplative face. Like she has spoken before she had any real idea of what she wanted to say, as if the thought was half formed. This was something he'd noticed in Ruby, she was highly excitable and quick to action, but didn't always think thing through.

"Yeah, like what?" Yang asked, and Thor turned to look at her, and she had slight smirk on her face as she looked at her sister, and that was an expression Thor knew well. He'd made that face many times when he was younger when he saw an opportunity to tease his own little brother.

"Uhhh…." Ruby stammered "I don't know, maybe…and I mean all of us…could go out this weekend?"

"Maybe." Thor said as he took another bite. Honestly, in his normal state of mind, he wouldn't have minded going out into the city, in fact he'd be excited. But he just felt like he couldn't muster the energy to even consider the idea. But he didn't want to snub Ruby. "Sure, Saturday sound good?"

"Yes!" Ruby said with excitement that Thor thought was completely to excited for the situation." I'm going make plans after class!" With that she jumped up and bolted off to Thor didn't know where.

"She's excited." Yang stated, looking at Thor with a smirk, and what Thor thought was a knowing look.

Thor didn't care all that much, but now the idea of going anywhere suddenly felt like a minor terror.

He'd been feeling like that about almost everything, the only thing that didn't make him become depressed was the extra training with Jaune. Even that only made him mildly interested.

"You sure you're…alright?" Yang asked him again, her voice more concerned, Thor realizing that his mind had wandered again.

"Just…thinking." He said.

"About what?" Her voice had changed for the playful tone she'd used earlier and was softer, and more concerned, like her earlier tone when she'd first come to table.

What could he say? He didn't even know, but he felt a compulsion to answer. "Just…life."

"Wow, super helpful." Yang said, not bothering to hide her sarcasm.

Thor hadn't known Yang long but sharing a room with her and her team made it so her knew her better than he did most of his fellow class mates, and he'd learned that she was hot tempered and somewhat mercurial in temper.

"Well it's true." He said as he took a final bite of his breakfast and picked up his tray to dump it.

Yang

If Yang didn't know better, she'd of thought Thor has snubbed her. She didn't know him all that well truthfully, but he was acting differently and far less friendly than he normally did. Something was clearly upsetting him, and she though that could be traced back to there first combat class.

After that, he was far less outgoing and much quieter. He's fought Jaune in class and had dominated the poor guy in record time. Thor was good, but Jaune was also, very clearly, way behind the rest of his class in combat skills, and the result had the most one-sided fighting that day. Granted Ruby had come in a close second with Cardin being thoroughly humiliated by her little sister.

But why would Thor be so upset over an easy fight? Was he disappointed? Maybe, but to put him in such a melancholy state, that didn't seem…right.

Maybe he was just going through a faze or was home sick. She knew she went through a similar faze a couple time when she was younger, mostly revolving around her issues with her mother.

Thor, was an orphan, or at least raised in an orphanage. Maybe he missed his friends there? Ruby had been nervous about making new friends coming to Beacon early. Or maybe it went deeper, and he was pondering his biological family.

What ever the case, she hoped he'd work it out before the weekend. Ruby and Thor didn't seem to realize it, but Ruby had asked him on a date. Neither knew it was going to just be them at this point, but Yang knew. Blake and Wiess were never going to go out into the city, and Yang would find and excuse, maybe her and Blake could do some "partner bonding", or something Ruby would buy.

It was funny that Ruby didn't even seem to know that she had crush on Thor was hilarious to her, and if Ruby wasn't already having a tough time getting her own partner to work with her, and doubting her leadership, she'd have been teasing her to dogs and back. But it was obvious to her at least. How she'd look at him in class, she'd talk about him when he wasn't around, how she shut up when he was.

She wanted to help in some way, but right now, it seemed her best course of action was to leave them both alone. Thor had things he needed to work out and wasn't in a mood to ask for help or talk about it. Ruby had to figure out Wiess on her own, not only did Yang think any approach she might come up with would make things worse, but it was important she do this herself.

But, he thoughts came back her sister, accidently, asking a boy out. She sister was so socially awkward that it almost made sense she made a bigger step outside her shell by accident.

It was something to think about, but for now, she needed to think about the rest of the school day.