Here's another drop. writing is hard
Conditions
So, Aura was something that the soul projected in order to protect and aid huntsmen in combat. It apparently also had extreme healing properties that made recovering from life threatening wounds possible. This prompted Jaune to ask his next question.
"Can I grow my arm back?" He asked with hopeful eyes. Another groan came from Qrow.
"No, kid. It doesn't work like that. I don't even know all of the specifics, but I'm damn sure if it could regrow limbs, I would know about it." The veteran was used to the constant questions from being a teacher at Signal. "But how have you not known what Aura is? I know for a fact they teach it a school." He asked, still trying to wrap his head around that one. His dad is a huntsman for God's sake.
Jaune chuckled and looked away scratching his neck, embarrassment coloring his voice. "Well… I might have maybe not had paid attention once. Or twice. Maybe some more…" Jaune looked back at Qrow, finding a deadpanned look staring back. "Fine! I daydreamed a lot, okay? School was boring and it was too easy to zone out. Sue me."
"Kid, I don't need to. That collection has already been paid." Qrow said, motioning to the missing arm. He could already see the longing look in the kid's eyes while he looked back down at the stump. "Don't worry, we can get you a replacement."
"You can? Like one of those robot hands that can extend in the comics?" He asked another dumb question. Another sigh came from the drunkard as he undid his flask and took another deep draw.
"Yes, I can. It won't be cheap though. From what I've heard, they take as much maintenance as a well-used rifle. And they do not" Qrow glared at him. "have extendo arms."
"Awww. But I can still get a robot arm?"
"It's called a prosthetic."
"Gesundheit." Qrow took a deep breath, counted to ten, then released.
"The robot arm is called a pros-thet-ic." He said slowly. "Were you held back at all?" Jaune took offense to that statement.
"No! I wasn't held back! I did perfectly average!" He said crossing his one arm. Without the other one to hold it up it fell into his lap. Frustration etched into his features. "So how long is it gonna take to get a prosthetic?" Jaune changed the subject. Qrow hummed and tilted his head side to side in thought.
"I already sent a message out to my boss to see what he can do. It might be a hot minute. I also cont-" The blaring of a ringtone interrupted him. Taking out the scroll, Qrow looked at the caller I.D. "Speak of the devil, I'll be right back kid." He got up and answered the call as he walked out of the room. "Hey Oz, I need a favor from all my goo-" The rest was cut off as he walked out.
Jaune laid back in his bed, lost in his own thoughts. The constant rhythmic beep of the monitor and the smell of antiseptic kept him awake. Thinking back on the conversation he just had with Qrow and the lack of knowledge for the world he wanted to be in left him depressed. Crocea Mors sat beside him, the presence comforting and real. Should I even be a huntsman? He thought, I don't even know a damn thing about being one. Being woefully unprepared was an understatement for him. I almost fucking died.
The implications and reality of it finally set in. He was jumping into a career where life and death always hanged by a thread, and at any moment, could die. It was a sobering thought, but one he needed. Even so, his determination to become a hero didn't waiver. I need to start paying attention more. It's like my dad always said, 'Have one bag full of skill, and one full of luck, and see which one runs out faster.' Granted, he probably said that to all his kids.
Then the thought of telling his family about why he was missing an arm made him cringe. Maybe I can put it off for a day or two. A week, tops. Before he could get any further on planning a stay of execution via ass-chewing from his family, Qrow walked back into the room.
"Good news kid, I was able to get you a new arm! Bad news is, you need surgery to get the base grafted onto your nub." He pointed to his left shoulder. "Also, you're my bitch from now until I die. Get up! Training starts now!" The drunk pulled the sheets off Jaune, only to be reminded that he only had a hospital gown on. "Huh. Right after we get you some new clothes. How do you feel about cloaks?"
A day later, Jaune learned something important. It turns out, missing an arm makes everything difficult. Like push-ups. Jaune was sweating buckets out on the lawn next to the hospital, trying desperately to stay conscious from the assault of physical activity.
"Down! Up! Down!" Then there was Qrow, his bane and savior in one. The absolute madman of a taskmaster had been pushing him since he got up that morning. Yesterday was far more relaxed with him relearning to eat, write, and go to the bathroom with one arm. Also argue with Qrow about what he should wear as a Huntsman. To Qrow's utter disappointment, Jaune didn't like to wear cloaks, and would shoot any suggestion down with the precision of a surgeon. It was T-shirts and sweatpants for now. "Get up! Laps, maggot! Laps!" Qrow yelled and started chasing Jaune around the hospital with a branch he found.
Qrow might've let the power get to his head.
Thankfully, death by exhaustion was put on hold for a moment when Qrow told him to stop. Jaune collapsed on the ground, taking giant gulps of air. The drunk stood over him taking, a swig from his flask. "Not bad kid. Keep it up and you might be able to attend Signal next year."
"Fuck." Jaune heaved. "You."
"That's the spirit! You look thirsty, wanna drink?" He offered his flask. Jaune batted it away with his remaining hand.
"That's not water, you and I both know that." Jaune said standing up. He wasn't nearly as tired as he thought he would be. Aura is insane.
"Suit yourself, more for me." Qrow took another draw before putting it away. "We're done for today. I just need to get a baseline of what you could do."
"All of that was to get a baseline!? I nearly died! Again!" The drunkard merely waved him off.
"Eh, you're still mouthing off, so your fine. I'll see you in a bit." And just like that Qrow walked away. Sighing to himself, Jaune made his way back to his room, saying hi to the nurses and doctors along the way. The process of striping down and showering was cumbersome to say the least, but he was getting better at it. A nurse did offer to help once, but he refused. Let me keep my dignity at least.
After an awkward shower, he got dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and turned on the TV. If there was one thing that always helped him in trying times, it was either videogames or vegging out in front of a TV. Jaune was taken out of his stupor when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." The patient said absentmindedly. Nurses came and went every few hours to check oh him, so he didn't think much of it.
He wasn't expecting his parents to burst through the door, along with his seven sisters. Jaune barely got out a curse before he was immediately smothered by his mother.
"Jaune! Oh, I was so worried when you left! I thought the worst when we got a called from a weird homeless man!" Juniper began rattling off. "He said you almost died! But here you are in one…" Juniper leaned back to look at him to find that he was a bit thinner. "Piece…" The left arm of her son was missing. "Oh… Oh no." Juniper whispered as she hugged her son even more tightly.
"Uh…." Jaune began smothered by his mother. "I tripped?" The rest of his family stared dumbly at the response.
"That is how you lost an arm?" Violet asked, the second oldest of the siblings. She had short strawberry hair with a mean streak to match.
"Just trying to lighten the mood Vi. I'm okay. Really." Jaune assured patting his mothers back. Bless her heart, but she's crushing me.
"Explain." Nicholas Arc, his father, demanded. The intimidating man's eye were filled with mixed emotions. "And leave nothing out."
"Right… Uhh… So, after I left Ansel, I kinda trekked through the woods and stopped through towns for about a week before a Grimmkindaambushedmeandtookoffmyarm." He explained in a frenzy. His mother's grip tightening on every word, slowly suffocating him. With the amount of time he had to think, it should have sounded better. "Mom, I can't breathe." Juniper quickly let go over her son, allowing sweet sanitized air into his lungs. "And uhh… Now I'm here." There was a tense moment where Jaune was waiting for the tongue lashing that he knew was coming to him, but it never came. Nicholas Arc just sighed as he approached his son and embraced him.
"I'm just happy you're alive, son." He said giving him a warm hug. "This is the reason why I didn't want you to become a Huntsman. People die in this line of work far to often and far too young. I'm Fifty-two and I am ancient by huntsman standards." Jaune looked up as his father pulled away. "When we get home, we'll help you get back on your feet. Saphron is moving to Argus soon and there'll be plenty of opportunities there."
It was a good plan in his family's eyes. Jaune goes to Argus with his sister and her wife, go to a technical college and live his life safe in the city. It's what his father told him to do after high school, and his sister agreed.
Which why Jaune's next words killed the atmosphere.
"I still want to be a Huntsman, dad. I'm not going home. Not yet." The rest of his family stared at him in a mixture of confusion and anger. Surprising though, it was his mother who spoke first.
"Absolutely not!" She scolded. "You're coming home where it is safe and where you won't lose any more limbs!" Juniper had the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "Please. We don't want to see you hurt anymore." The rest of his family gave him nods with Junipers words. Jaune almost gave in then and there. But he wanted to prove himself. Not for his family, not for his friends back at home, but for himself.
"No mom, I love you, but I'm staying here and going to Beacon. I don't care how long it takes, but I will be a huntsman." Jaune declared with conviction, steeling himself for the backlash to come. Nicholas spoke up first.
"Son, I'm gonna say this in the most loving way possible. You. Are. Crippled. In the state that you're in, it would a blessing if you could find a job, let alone be a Huntsman."
"I would like to object to that." Came a calm voice from behind the Arc family. The collection of Arcs turned around to see a tall man in a green suit and white hair. He had green spectacles on and was carrying a briefcase in one hand and leaning on a cane in the other. "The crippled part I mean, that could be easily fixed." The man strolled through the family in the already cramped room with assured confidence, taking a seat in the chair next to Jaune.
"Ozpin, what are you doing here?" His father asked, the tone betraying his agitation. Jaune could feel the tension radiating off him. Call Jaune and idiot all you want, at least he can read the room.
"A little bird asked for a favor Mr. Arc, and I believe it would be of benefit to everyone if I agreed." He explained, holding Nicholas Arc's gaze. "Now then," Ozpin turned to face Jaune, setting the briefcase on the bed beside him. "Jaune, is it? I believe I have a solution to your current ailment." Dexterous hands opened the briefcase to reveal a grey metallic arm. "This model is a top-of-the-line HCP or Hunter Class Prosthetic as it were. Shipped in from Atlas and manufactured by Polendina Engineering with full range of motion and sensation. It'll be like you never lost your arm. Well, a close second by any rate."
Jaune stared at the robotic limb. The metal was grey like ash, with the whole assembly including a shoulder piece. The hands were reinforced and looked almost like a gauntlet from a war-torn knight. All the digits had little markings where short nails would be and there were pads on the fingertips. The joints of the wrist and elbow were of similar nature, reinforced for the lives of huntsman. "It is also powered by the users Aura, granting all the same benefits. With time and practice of course."
Ozpin smiled a grandfathers smile at Jaune. "The choice is yours, young man. Are you willing to become a Huntsman?" Before Jaune could agree, his father spoke for him.
"No. Jaune is not becoming a huntsman." The steel in his father's voice left no room for discussion.
"Truly?" Ozpin asked, as he closed the case. "Such a shame. I was hoping to give a young man his dream, but perhaps his family knows best." Standing up, Ozpin began walking his way through the crowded room. Jaune could see his future slipping with each step.
"Where are you going?" Jaune asked, frantically trying to get off the bed.
"Back to Beacon of course, I have meetings to attend for upcoming events, paperwork to file for transferring students, and most importantly, coffee to drink. I will bid you good day Jaune, and best of luck on your future endeavors." The headmaster nodded and continued to walk away.
"I want to be a huntsman!" The boy yelled, making Ozpin stop at the doorway. Turning around in the doorway, Ozpin faced the boy.
"No, he does not." His father said again. "He's too young and doesn't understand the decision he's making. He is not going to Beacon." Nicholas crossed his arms and starred down the headmaster of the esteemed academy. Ozpin wasn't fazed in the slightest.
"Are you sure, Mr. Arc? If he enrolled in Beacon, we could help with medical bills and insurance costs that come with fighting Grimm." Nicholas slightly winced at that fact. Being the sole earner of the household with nine mouths to feed required him to take as many jobs as possible. With Saphron moving out, Violet going to college, and the rest of the kids going to school, bills started to pile up with little wriggle room for additional expenses. "And most importantly in my opinion," Ozpin tapped the side of the briefcase with his cane. "a chance at a normal life."
The head of the Arc household thought for a minute before he spoke again. "Kids, can you give us a few minutes?" he asked kindly. "Mom and dad need to discus some things with Ozpin here." Saphron and Violet nodded and quickly ushered out the rest of the girls before closing the door behind them. The room was less cramped than before, but the atmosphere was still suffocating. Nicholas sat down in the chair next Jaune while Juniper stood next to him. Father Arc proceeded to give Ozpin the angriest glare Jaune ever saw.
"That was dirty, Ozpin. Even for you." The headmaster softly smiled at the accusation.
"I have no idea what you mean Nicholas, I was only stating facts. I would be more than happy to have Beacon cover the bill in order to give this young man a chance to have a normal life." He responded, meeting his gaze.
"Please, dad." Jaune begged. "I can do this. I know what to expect, and I promise to stay as safe as I can."
"No Jaune, you don't know. The life of a huntsman is not for the faint of heart, and it could either consume or kill you." Rage bloomed within Jaune of being denied again. This is not the end. Jaune wouldn't allow it. He gripped his sheets with his remaining hand and looked in his father's eyes.
"I will be a huntsman dad, with or without your approval." The two shared an intense look, daring the other to look away first. Jaune's will was a fickle thing at times, but right now, he would not be dissuaded from this. Not again. His father looked away first with an exasperated sigh.
"I want you to know I don't like this." Nicholas finally said. "But if you're this dead set on it, I'll help you as much as I can. Just promise me you'll be safe."
"I promise dad, I'll be as safe as I can be." Jaune then turned to Ozpin who was still smiling by the door. "Does that offer still stand by chance?" He asked. The headmaster strode towards Jaune and took out a handful of paperwork from a compartment within the briefcase.
"By all means. I'm happy that you could convince your parents. Family is quite important in this line of work." Jaune took the stack and attempted to understand the handful of forms given to him. "And Mr. Arc?" He looked back up to see the headmaster smiling at him with a victorious glint in his eye.
"Welcome to Beacon."
Hey everyone, I wrote this in one sitting in Caffeine induced self loathing haze in the god forsaken hours of the night. The chapters are short here to set up the proper backdrop for the story. Will attempt to post more regularly. See ya next time.