Not Going to Happen
Drama
Jaune Arc / Cardin Winchester
The passing of the Arc patriarch was a death sentence to the illustrious Arc clan. His secrets came to light, and the debit he was hiding became a tidal wave threatening to sweep the now family of nine into obscurity. Unwilling to let the once proud clan to falter she began negotiations with other prominent families. Schnee, Nikos, and Winchester. The money from the bride-prices would restore the family. Preventing them from fading ingloriously into history.
/==/
Jaune didn't know what to think let alone do. He was at Beacon, and it wasn't his choice; not only that the nutcase of Headmaster had flung him from a cliff. Something he only survived thanks to Pyrrha. Then there was the Deathstalker; which he would not admit to anyone, that it was his fault; and the Nevermore which was definitely not his fault. Now he was the leader of a team of supercharged teens. Why he didn't understand. It's not like Pyrrha, Ren or Nora wouldn't have figured out how to take down the Deathstalker. He just noticed it first. That didn't make him leadership material. Nothing he's done since getting to Vale indicated he had even the slightest inclination of being a huntsman.
Yet, here he was, the leader of a team that had no need for someone like him. He wasn't a fighter, or a tactician. He was domestic homebody. He didn't like weapons, or fighting, or training. He liked cooking, baking, keeping things tidy, and organized. In his free time, he like to practice his flute. Of course, all these wackos thought it was a weapon case; looking at him funny for carrying it to the dorm. Until he finally relented and showed them the contents. The fallen faces of Nora and Ruby told him that they were not impressed and really wanted it to be something dangerous. Once in the team dorm he bolted to the furthermost bed from the door, dropping his flute case on the foot of the bed; he stuffed his body as far as it could go in the corner.
Pulling his hood up over his fox ears, and over his eyes. His fluffy tail wrapping around his midsection as he pulled his legs up and wrapped his arms around his knees. His body shivered, as his mind tried to understand the last forty-eight hours. He had only wanted to get away and hide. Well, he could admit no one would look for him at Beacon. No one would think he was crazy enough to be at this insane asylum. The headmaster was a nutcase. The professors had to be wacko to let him get away with what he did; and don't get him started on his peers.
His teammates took in the rather timid look of their newly proclaimed leader, of their freshly created team, and wondered. All three could tell Jaune was very uncomfortable with his new role and seemed to be even upset that he was in Beacon to begin with. Nora could tell something more was troubling their leader and she wanted to scoop him up into a hug and make him feel better, but she held back. She was unsure of how he would react, as currently he was trying to be as far away from everyone as he could be without leaving the room.
Ren had an idea what Nora wanted to do, and it of course made him smile. But his mind was quickly going over all he saw and knew about their leader. He was smart, and could quickly evaluate a situation, which he proved with the Deathstalker encounter. However, he was ill prepared to be here. He had no weapon that Ren could see, nor apparently even a change of clothing. It was almost like he was just scooped off the streets of Vale to make sure there was an even number of students. Yet he had aura, and if Pyrrha's question of him earlier on the walk back to Beacon was true; he knew how to focus his aura to form actual weapons. That was a rare skill, even he wasn't capable of such a feat. Which all begged the question why he was here if it was making him so miserable.
Pyrrha bit her lip. Jaune was sweet and pure. He showed no recognition of herself or even Weiss when he was in the locker room; at least until their last names were mentioned. At that point she saw the panic in his eyes. It shocked her; when he mumbled some excuse and to then and bolted. He literally ran from them. The reaction had put off Weiss, with her making an obvious derogatory remark about faunus in general, which to be honest Pyrrha found rather distasteful, and it cemented her decision to avoid the SDC Heiress. She looked for him after leaving the changing area and caught sights of him. He was so timid, avoiding people at every turn. She was starting to really become concerned for his welfare. So, she decided then and there she would keep an eye out for him. He obviously needed help. She knew what it was like to be in fear others, for various reasons.
He had thanked her repeatedly, so much so that it bordered on obsessive; for her "saving him". It was then Pyrrha knew he wasn't ready to be at Beacon, then she ended up with even more questions. During the flight from the Deathstalker she had watch him twist around and throw a golden javelin at the beast. His aim was off, only clipping its tail; but it delayed the grimm long enough for them to get a better head start. Then came the fight at the bridge. He was so quick to come up with a plan, that just didn't rely on her doing all the heavy lifting. Then came his name. He had only introduced himself as Jaune, then the headmaster announced Jaune Arc as JNPR's leader. That was a shock to her. She knew of the Arc family. Not personally, but through conversations with her mother. Her younger brother, Achilles was slated to marry an Arc, if she remembered correctly.
"But the Arc's are not faunus." Pyrrha muttered to herself, getting an eyebrow raise from Ren.
"Did you say something Pyrrha?" Ren asked, having caught a garbled portion of her comment.
"Just thinking out loud." she replied, giving Ren an actual smile. Nora and Ren seemed like nice people. They had all introduced themselves on the way to the dorm, and Pyrrha was generally happy to have two others that didn't seem to care about her fame. They knew of her, yet they acted like that was not a concern.
"What do you think?" Ren asked as he moved closed keeping his voice low.
"About?"
"The situation involving Jaune." Ren replied. "Something seemed to really upset hi..."
"I can HEAR you!" Jaune snapped glaring at the pair from under the edge of his hood. "If you want to ask me something so just do it."
"Can I pet your tail?" Nora asked from her spot sitting on the bed next to Jaune's. "Pretty please?"
"What?" Jaune replied his deep blue eyes shooting to look at his, and obviously overly bubbly teammate.
"Nora you can't..." Ren started to speak.
"He said to ask him." Nora cut Ren off, "So I asked. So Jaune-Jaune, can I?"
"I guess?" Jaune replied as he unwound his tail from about himself and let it stretch out on the bed beside him. Jaune's ears shot straight up at Nora's first gentle touch, throwing his hood back, exposing his slightly messy blonde hair. While his eyes grew wide, and a red hue started to colour his cheeks.
"Soooooo soft." Nora almost moaned as she continued to gentle run her hand through the soft fur.
"Ah, Nora..." Ren spoke as he moved to Nora and gently laid his hand on her shoulder. Nora looked up at her partner, and best friend in the whole world. She followed his eyes and with her own eyes going wide she snatched her hand back.
"I'm sorry!" she stammered as she noticed Jaune's reaction.
"Jaune are you okay?" Pyrrha asked, her curiosity rising. She could tell even now that Jaune wasn't huntsman material, and that again begged the question why he was here among others. Such as why he seemed so nervous, along with why he ran once he found out her last name.
"F... f...fi... fine." he stuttered as he yanked his tail away from Nora and coiled it about his torso, while he flattened his pointed ears into his messy blonde hair.
"Maybe we should all get settled, and then maybe we can talk?" Ren offered.
The rest of JNPR nodded and set about putting their personal affects away in various dressers and the shared closet. The three all noticed the obvious. Jaune hadn't moved from his chosen bed. It was the final confirmation Ren needed. Jaune had been scooped from the streets of Vale. Most likely because of his apparent aura control skills. Ren noticed Nora regarding their team leader, one of her extra-large tees in her hand. He knew that look.
"Jaune?" she asked as she slowly approached his bed, the tee in hand. "Do have a change of clothes?"
Jaune just shook his head in response, suddenly looking even smaller as he scrunched himself up further. Nora held out the off-white tee towards him. It was decorated with a cartoon twin-tailed fox on the front. Jaune looked at her, his eyes asking the obvious question.
"It might not fit really good as you're a bit taller than me, but it at least gives you something to sleep in other than what you're wearing right now; and it's clean." Nora said with a soft smile. "Ren has a small sewing kit if you need to alter it. He can even do it for you if you need him to; right Rennie?"
"Of course." Ren replied without hesitation, as he stopped pulling out his clothes and set about to find the small sewing kit he carried.
"Jaune, take these." Pyrrha spoke as she held out a set of reddish night pants. She had been moved a little by Nora's sudden out of nowhere show of kindness. Seeing as Jaune was near her height, the additional piece of clothing should fit him well enough. "You can alter them if you need to as well. I have plenty of extras for myself."
"Why?" Jaune asked softly as he reached out and accepted the offered articles of clothing.
"You look like you could use some help." Pyrrha offered shyly. She wasn't sure why, but she felt Jaune was even more alone than she felt. Hers was due to her fame, which seemed not to matter to Ren or Nora. Jaune on the other hand looked like he for the lack of a better word, abandoned.
"Besides." Nora added. "We're a team, which is like a family, but not family; so we help each other out."
"Do you need me to alter those for your Jaune?" Ren offered as he approached the small sewing kit in hand. "It won't be good, but it will work."
"I can do it." Jaune replied, "Just help me mark where I need to mark the alteration?"
"Sure." Ren agreed.
It only took a couple minutes to mark both articles of clothing and Jaune set to work. The kit wasn't much, just a pair of cheap scissors, a couple of needles and a collection of mismatched threads. They were all a little surprised by the speed and skill Jaune demonstrated. It was obvious he knew how to sew, and well; it was almost professional in how he worked. Soon he completed the alterations. Perfectly done slits to allow his for his tail.
"That was fast, and impressive." Nora commented. "How do you know how to do that?"
"My mother taught me." Jaune replied softly, his ears flattening against his head again.
All three instantly thought the worst, at Jaune's reaction; and none knew what to do. Ren and Nora had lost people very close to them, in fact it was their very own families; so, they understood. They just didn't know how to broach the subject with Jaune. Pyrrha had also lost someone close, though she could just barley remember her father. So, the room was suddenly filled with an uncomfortable silence.
"Can I have the first shower?" Jaune asked, breaking his three teammates out of their sombre thoughts. He watched as the three of them nodded. "Thank you."
With Jaune rushing into the bathroom and locking the door behind him, the three shared a look, before all deciding that they had should finish putting up their personal items and get ready for bed. Half an hour later Jaune emerged, nodded his thanks and quickly got into bed. Pulling the covers over his head, he left the rest of his team to take their own turns in the washroom.
/=/
The next morning wasn't the greatest for JNPR. They each took turns getting changed in the bathroom; with Jaune going last and taking the longest. It wasn't like they had classes today, but they did want to get to the cafeteria before the good breakfast foods had been cleared out. After Ren knocked a few times to remind Jaune through the door, that it was time to go. He eventually appeared. Unlike the others who had changes of clothes, he was forced to wear what he had the other day. Pulling his hood over his head and ears he followed the rest of his team out.
Jaune stayed in the rear of the group, or at least he tried, until Nora decided that as their fearless leader he should be up front. Pyrrha had never seen someone literally try and dig their heels into a tiled floor, but Jaune attempted it as Nora grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the front of their little group. Again Pyrrha was reminded of how timid Jaune seemed. To her it was almost like he was trying not to be noticed. Unable to resist Jaune's shoulders slumped and he scuffed his way along the floor leading his team to the criteria for breakfast. The high pitched yelp Jaune let loose when Ruby suddenly appeared in front of him, drew the entire room's attention to them. Jaune tried to sink into the background actually physically moving around to put Pyrrha between him and anyone who was looking.
"Jaune, are you okay?" Ruby asked, a little puzzled by the actions of her fellow team leader, and the first nice person she had met after Yang had abandoned her.
"F... fi... fin... fine." was his stuttered reply. "You surprised me. That's all."
"Sorry, didn't mean to." Ruby pouted for all of two seconds before once again beaming at her fellow team leader. "Want to sit with my team? We're like super awesome!"
"Not real..." Jaune started to say.
"Not as awesome as us!" Nora declared, throwing the metaphorical gauntlet.
"No way! We have my sister Yang who is super strong, and then Weiss whose super smart, and bossy." Ruby took a breath before continuing. "Then Blake... she's super sneaky, like a cat ninja."
"No way this Blake is better at ninja-ing than my Rennie!" Nora counter boasted. "We have Pyr-Pyr who is like three huntresses in one, then me, and our fearless leader! So not ONLY are we better, but we outnumber you as well!"
"Has anyone seen Jaune?" Pyrrha asked cluing that he was no longer hiding behind her.
"He's heading for the doors." Ren commented while pointing at the shoulder slumped hooded figure trying to avoid everyone as he made his way to the main doors.
"Jaune-Jaune!" Nora shouted as she bolted, reaching him and snatching him up; only to release him instantly as he let out an ear piercing shriek of utter terror. The sound once again drawing the attention of everyone. Jaune instantly pulled his hood as low as it would go over his face as he again physically hid behind one of his teammates. "Are you okay Jaune?"
"I just want to go." he muttered, in a soft voice Nora was barely able to hear.
"Why?" Nora asked softly as she noticed the approach of the rest of her team, along with Ruby.
"I don't belong here. I don't want to be here."
"Jaune?"
"I just wanted to hide..." Jaune clammed up as soon as the others closed in.
"Jaune are you okay?" Ruby asked worry in her tone "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I swear."
"I..."
"Nora, Ren how about you go with Ruby and I'll take Jaune to go get some uniforms. He'd probably feel better about meeting people with fresh clothes. Right Jaune?" Pyrrha commented.
"I guess." Jaune answered noncommittally.
"We'll grab you guys some breakfast sandwiches." Ren offered, "Meet at the dorm?"
"Jaune how does that sound?" Pyrrha asked, he emerald eyes studying the reactions of their timid leader. Instead of speaking, he just nodded. With Pyrrha's soft hand on his back the pair left the cafeteria and made their way towards Beacons on grounds tailor shop to get fitted for their uniforms. Pyrrha hoping that a change of clothes would help Jaune come out of his shell.
On the way there she felt Jaune stiffen. They had only gotten about halfway to their destination, when CRDL appeared. They had several uniforms piled in their hands; obviously having just come from the shop. Pyrrha could swear he heard Jaune say slightly louder than a complete whisper "No, not here, not him." She wasn't sure the context to the statement, but she clued in instantly to whom it was about.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha wasn't positive why she was so interested in assisting Jaune, maybe it was because he didn't really react to her status as a celebrity; or the fact he seemed so alone, like she did. Even if their first meeting was less than spectacular. "Is something wrong?"
"Hey Nikos, why are you even dealing with that animal?" Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, focused on the tall ginger who was speaking. "I'd be careful, that mutt might give you something. You should be hanging with real men anyway."
"Any who asked you for your advice?" Pyrrha found her saying, in a rather forceful tone. Which surprised even her. "I don't recall asking you for your opinion, Winchester."
"Free advice." Cardin, responded to her comment with a sneer. "Need to keep the bloodlines pure of their filth."
"I would keep such comments to yourself, Winchester." Pyrrha offered, as her hand gripped Jaune's hoodie to keep him from bolting like he obviously wanted to. She knew of Cardin's family, and the way they acted made her stomach curdle. For a family with such an illustrious history, the recent crop of descendants were disappointing, to say the least.
"Why? It's the truth. Just look at what the White Fang are doing, what they've done to the Schnees and SDC. What they've done to my family." Cardin glared at the visibly shaking fox faunus, "That's it mutt, remember your place... beneath your betters."
Pyrrha physically placed herself between Jaune and the whole of team CRDL as they passed by. Cardin gave the pair a glare, which was echoed by the rest of his team. Pyrrha bore it with dignity, refusing to shrink back from their disgusted and lecherous looks. Once the team. which Pyrrha was quickly starting to despise, vanished through the entrance doors of the dispensary building; she turned to face Jaune.
"Are you okay, Jaune?"
"No." he responded with a distressed tone. "Shouldn't be here."
"Why do you feel that way, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I just shouldn't..." Jaune fidgeted as he was once again almost following Pyrrha towards the tailor. "I shouldn't be here. I don't want to be a huntress... I never trained for it."
"If you don't mind me asking..." Pyrrha paused just then taking notice that Jaune said huntress over huntsman; but pushed it away as a simple slip of the tongue. "why did you apply..."
"I NEVER applied!" Jaune snapped. His sudden burst of anger, and his admission took Pyrrha back a step. "That lunatic running this school made me come here! Just because I killed a couple Beowulf with my aura..."
"So I wasn't seeing things in the forest when you threw that golden javelin." Pyrrha commented as they closed on their destination.
"No I did that... not that it helped any." Jaune confirmed as he stopped and held out his right hand. A couple seconds later it was wrapped around the haft of a golden spear almost ten feet long. A few seconds later Pyrrha watched as it faded away in a shower of golden particles.
"That is impressive, but if you never wanted to be a huntsman, why did you train so hard to master aura manipulation in such a fashion?"
"Mom never wanted any of us to not be able to defend ourselves. All my sisters can do this, I can just do it more often because of my aura reserves."
"How many sisters do you have?"
"Seven." Jaune replied, getting a little chuckle out of Pyrrha's slightly surprised look.
"That's a lot of siblings," Pyrrha offered, feeling it was only fair that she also share similar information. "I only have one, my younger brother..."
"Achilles Nikos." Jaune cut her off, a distinct sour tone to his voice.
"How did you...?"
"I heard it mentioned somewhere, maybe the news... can't remember." Jaune replied rather quickly, as he suddenly stepped past Pyrrha and entered the tailor shop. Pyrrha watched him enter, noticing the stiffness in his posture. She would have to speak with Ren and Nora, out of Jaune's hearing, about what she's seeing. She actually felt good at that thought. It less than twenty-four hours since initiation and it would seem she had three people who she could actually, possibly consider as friends.
/=/
Cardin was not happy, news from home had been a double barrelled shot to his gut. Not only was his sister's condition not improving; she ended up having a relapse and was at the institution once again. It was the fourth time so far that year. The second hit was finding out that his bride to be had taken off, and was nowhere to be found. That was a double hit in itself, as he had yet to in person meet the young woman that he had been betrothed to, through a marital contract. He had seen pictures of her, and spoken to her once over a video call with his mother and her mother in attendance. He had been respectful, kind and gentlemanly during the interaction. He felt they had made a connection; but apparently they hadn't. The families were involved in a search for her, and a missing person's report had been submitted. Knowing the prestige of his family and hers, there was no doubt that the case was taking a top priority.
His team was quiet as Cardin took several long slow breaths. Inside tucked away far from any chance of anyone noticing; he was worried for both his sister and bride. The world was too wicked a place for such innocence to survive. He had failed his sister, he wouldn't fail his bride. On the outside presented for the world to see, he was stressed and angry. Trying to calm down, he turned to his scroll and opened the photo app. He flicked through some pictures stopping on one of a demure looking young blonde woman his age. She was seated in a wicker lawn chair, her mother standing behind her; hands upon her daughter's shoulders. Both were dressed in matching light blue gown like dresses. Conservative yet fashionable. It was a classically and professionally done introduction picture. He had to sit through one of his own, in a dark suit with his parents standing beside him.
"Whoa!" Russel exclaimed having leaned over to see what his team leader was looking at. "Total looker. Who is she?"
"Screw that!" Sky exclaimed as he leaned over Cardin's other arm to take a gander, "Whose the MIL..."
"Don't you EVER..." Cardin growled into Sky's face, after having dropped his scroll on the table and grabbing Sky by the back of his head, smearing his face against the metallic surface, "attempt to say something like that around me again. Understand?"
"Whoa, calm bro, calm." Dove stepped in speaking in a steady tone. "Sky's a moron, but he's sorry. So let up okay big guy?"
"Ease up Cardin, like what's the..." Russel stopped talking as Cardin glared at him, his hands still pressing Sky face first into the table.
"The issue, is this douche just insulted my mother-in-law to be. A lady of refinement and status, by being an uncouth piece of gutter trash."
"Mother-in-law? You getting hitched?"
"I am, or was..." Cardin replied to Dove's question as he released his grip on Sky.
"To the girl in the chair?" Russel asked, taking another look at the picture.
"Yes."
"Why'd you say was? Something happen to her?" Sky asked while rubbing his face trying to ease feeling back into it.
"She's missing." Cardin replied, picking up his scroll.
"What do you...?"
"Just what I said. She is missing." Cardin cut off Dove, "Her mother doesn't know if she ran, or if she was taken. Both options worry me, cause both mean she's in danger."
"I'm not following. Sure she's a nice piece of..." Sky stopped himself, took a look at Cardin's grimace and decided to change his wording, "She's very beautiful, but why would someone take her?"
"Her last name is Arc," Cardin informed his team mates. "and that name still holds influence. Still means something..."
"Aren't they in debt or something? Think that Lisa Lavender did a story on it a week or so back."
"They are." Cardin commented while picking up his scroll and once again staring at the picture. "Her dad hid some debit... a significant amount of debit. When he died they came, looking to collect."
"So what does that have to do with you?" Russel asked.
"My parents were for years trying to arrange at least a meeting to see if our families could possible entertain the thought of being united through a possible marriage." Cardin sighed, his eyes never leaving the picture as he spoke. "When the debit came to light Lady Arc..."
"Lady Arc? What is she royalty or something?" Sky asked with a chuckle.
"In a way she is." Cardin replied.
"Seriously?"
"Yes. If the monarchy was reestablished in Vale; the Arcs have a legitimate claim to the throne as do the Winchesters."
"Brothers, seriously?" Sky asked with out the mirth in his voice.
"Why the fuck do you think I'm lying about this shit?" Cardin snapped. "Open a fucking book and read some history instead of porn for once."
"So Lady Arc and your parents negotiated a contract between you and her?" Dove asked, cluing into what Cardin was getting at.
"Yes. My father even worded the contract that instead of the Arcs providing a dowry, we would instead pay a bride price. Help erase the debit her father amassed." Cardin closed the photo app, and put away his scroll. "The Nikos and the Schnees from what I've been told have also negotiated similar contracts."
"So she bolted, doesn't sound like you made a real good impression boss." Sky commented, trying to be funny. Russel and Dove both gave him a look making his grin vanish.
"You're worried, right?" Russel asked. "About what exactly?"
"I'm afraid of what happened to my sister... happening to her." Cardin rubbed his face with his hands in frustration, "No one deserves that, regardless if she wants to marry me or not... no one deserves that."
/=/
Jaune had to admit Pyrrha had been right. Now dressed in a clean set of clothes, a Beacon uniform to be exact. He did feel better; even more so as he chewed idly on one of the breakfast sandwiches Nora and Ren had brought to dorm. Pyrrha sat on her bed eating the other one. He could tell that all three wanted to ask him something, or several things. So once he finished his meal, he looked at them all; his fox ears lowering towards his head.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked noticing his change in posture, specifically his lowered ears. "Is something wrong?"
"I know you guys are going to start asking me all kinds of questions..."
"Well I would like to know more about you." Pyrrha offered, "And I'm sure Ren and Nora would as well, but if that is going to really upset or bother you we can talk about other things."
"Can you tell us why you seem so stressed about being here at Beacon?" Ren asked, "It just seems a little odd that someone would apply..."
"Jaune never applied." Pyrrha answered for her partner, "The Headmaster recruited him."
"So cool!" Nora jumped in. "So you're like super talented, or super strong!"
"I'm not strong." Jaune rebutted.
"Then why did...?" Ren started to ask.
"I don't know." Jaune spoke cutting of Ren's question. "All I did was impale two beowulf on aura spears. That's it. It's not special, it's not talent or skill. I literally fell and made a spear because I was so scared that I would die."
"Jaune what you showed me is special." Pyrrha spoke up before an uneasy silence could happen. "I've been competing for years, and training even longer. I've never met anyone that can make functional weapons with their aura."
"Nora and I have travelled all over." Ren added, "I've seen huntsmen and huntresses that could empower their weapons with aura. I can even put aura into my strikes..."
"What can you make?" Nora asked cutting Ren off again. "What's you favourite?"
"Favourite?"
"Yeah, which do you use most. What do you most often create?"
"I..."
"It's okay, Jaune. We can wait until combat class. We'll see what you can..." Pyrrha spoke, in an effort to give her uncomfortable partner an out from Nora's questions.
"Combat Class?" Jaune asked, his ears instantly flat against the top of his head, as his tailed coiled about him.
"Jaune, what's wrong?" Ren asked easily seeing as did the others, Jaune, their leader moving towards the beginning of a panic attack.
"No no no no no no..." Jaune started to breath rapidly, "I can't. I can't I don't..."
"Jaune-Jaune?" Nora asked worried at her leader's reaction
"Jaune, listen to my voice." Pyrrha kept her tone even and calm as she got off her bed and slowly approached him. It was a tactic one of her trainers had used on her before her very first tournament match, though her words were not meant to inspire confidence; but aimed towards controlling panic. "Concentrate on my voice. Everything is okay. You are safe. You're with people who consider you a friend."
"That's it. Listen to my voice. Take a breath, slow and easy." Pyrrha continued as she crossed the distance between their two beds; and gently sat down next to him. "Listen to my voice. Slow and easy, breath, slow and easy. We're all here for you. We're a team."
Jaune heard her words, and let her calmness flow over him. Following Pyrrha's instructions, he took long slow breaths, easing the tension that had been building up in him. He felt a light touch on his back, and then a second. It took him a few moments to realize both Pyrrha and Nora were beside him; their hands on his back, working in gentle circles.
"Jaune?" Ren asked, gaining the leader of JNPR's attention, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but your not combat trained are you?"
Jaune just nodded his head, and then coiled his tail about his waist even tighter. The rest of JNPR took the admission fairly well. It had actually been a possibility they had discussed while Jaune was in the bathroom changing into a uniform. They all had the suspicion. His lack of wanting to be here added to his lack of any gear were pretty obvious indicators of a serious problem. It was now confirmed. Jaune wasn't ready to be here; but the in each of his teammates thoughts, the more questions rolled about. A similar answer formed in each of them.
They had to help their leader in any way they could. Nora because she was Jaune looked so small, and it pulled at something maternal inside her. Ren wasn't sure why he wanted to help. Yes, Jaune was quick minded, easily spotting the deathstalker's weakness, and figuring a plan that used them all to accomplish a goal. Pyrrha could tell Jaune was alone, though his reasons were definitely different from hers; she saw a kindred spirit.
"Jaune," Pyrrha took one looked at her other teammates a knew they were thinking the same. "Will you let us help you?"
"Help me?" Jaune replied, "How?"
"Come with us, and we'll show you." Pyrrha gave him a warm smile. Something that she reserved for only those who she could totally trust; and something inside her told her, Jaune was one of those people.
About twenty minutes later all of team JNPR was in one of the smaller training rooms. Jaune fidgeting as he stood before the rest of his team. Pyrrha had explained her idea to them as they made the trip through Beacon. It still made Jaune nervous, regardless of the support his team was showing him.
"Okay, Jaune." Pyrrha broke the silence with her soft voice. "Just like we discussed on the way here. Show us the weapon you are most comfortable using. Then we'll as a team work out how to help you train."
"But why?"
"Because you are a teammate and I hope you see us as friends." Ren replied.
"Strangers are friends you just haven't met yet." Jaune muttered.
"What was that, Jaune-Jaune?" Nora asked.
"Just something my mom always said." he replied.
"Well, as I mentioned on our way here. We want to see what weapon you are most comfortable with." Pyrrah explained. "Then as a team we'll figure out how best to help you gain some skill with it."
Jaune just nodded, and bit his lip.
"Whenever you are ready..." Pyrrha started to speak only to be cut off as a great pair of glowing golden wings sprouted from behind Jaune. All three stood in awe of the sight.