Throwing his head back, Jaune pulled the trigger. Shooting whipped cream directly into his gullet. Giving the whipped cream can to Violet, she gave him a curious look before trying the same. Her blue eyes lighting up as she swallowed.
Both Team RWBY and Team JNPR and Co were sitting outside the headmasters elevator, waiting to be called in. Atlas and all active, and retired, huntsmen and huntresses currently in Vale had rushed to the central square after seeing the flares. Quickly taking control of the situation. Taking both Roman and his side kick into custody.
'Even if there were already people calling for his head.' Jaune cringed. It wasn't just Valean citizens who had died. Many tourists from Atlas, Vacuo and Mistral had also lost their lives. There wasn't a clear number, and he didn't get to see much before he and Violet was ushered into a bullhead and flied to the school. His teammates and Ruby's team arriving shortly after.
"Share with you sister." Jaune chided slightly, managing a tired smile. Violet had whipped cream all over her hands and fingers. Pouting she handed the canister to Aurora, who suppressed a shiver. Grabbing the hem of her dress and doing her best to clean parts of the canister. Only serving to smear whipped cream over both her dress and the canister. Looking moments away from tears.
"Here, let me help you with it." Nora said, coming swinging in like an angel. Putting a stopper on Aurora's impending breakdown. Gently taking the canister out of her hands and giving it a good scrubbing before handing it back shining clean.
A troubled expression flashed over Aurora's face, eventually her shoulders fell. All thoughts of proper decorum and decency thrown to the side as she threw her head back. Whipped cream spurring from the canister. A gasp escaping her. Pressing the trigger without a care in the world, his eldest built a tower of whipped cream in her mouth. Growing to be taller than what she could reasonably fit in her mouth.
"You know that you are going to have to swallow eventually, right?" Jaune teased. Knowing full well that Aurora wasn't hearing anything of what he said. Instead of taking the whipped cream canister from her, Jaune instead opened his coat and pulled out a little pudding jar. Handing it over to Violet while pulling out one for himself.
"Ughhh. I hate you so much now." Ruby grumbled, silver eyes following his spoon as he ate.
Shrugging, he continued eating it without a care in the world. Simply glad to have Violet grinning like a loon beside him. Eagerly following his example and shovelling spoonful after spoonful of pudding into her mouth. Shaking in excitement the entire time.
"Why do you even desserts on you?" Yang snarked from the side, nursing an ice pack against the side of her head. Her usual fire nowhere to be seen. If he were to describe her, Yang looked defeated.
"Our assignment was in the sewers." Jaune replied matter-of-factly, not missing how all the girls flinched. Weiss openly gaging before pinching her nose, desperately fanning the stench away. "I wondered what the horrendous smell was. Have none of you heard of showers?"
Shrugging again, Jaune continued, not minding how he had been interrupted. "And well, the sewers are the sewers. You think we smell bad? It was worse down there." His team nodded unanimously at that. "So we brought some 'emergency snacks' to keep morale up if we had to eat down there."
"If I had known we were going to be wading through catacombs as well, I would have packed double." Nora mumbled, biting down on a half-finished loaf of gingerbread cake. Not caring about the crumbs or blood on her outfit.
"Did you know that there had been talk about building a necropolis for all dead huntsman and huntresses of Vale?" Jaune chimed in. Ice traveling down Nora's back, her head snapping to him quick enough to give herself whiplash.
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha chimed. Completely ignoring how Nora glared bloody death at him. "I should have offered to share. Do you want a bite, Ruby? Weiss?" Holding out a slice of apple pie. Ruby took one look at his partner, eyes landing on the clumps of darkish red brown in her hair. Pyrrha's eyes were red, even a little bit wild, and her body was littered with some splatters of dried red.
Part of him was almost certain Pyrrha hadn't had time to process what had happened in the train. Either supressing or outright ignoring what she had done. Waiting until they were safe to have her impending breakdown.
She wasn't the only one either. Weiss's pristine dress had some splatters of red that stood out. Seemingly lost in her own little world, only snapping back into reality when someone directly asked her something, before drifting away again. Blake looked shellshocked, biting her nails as her bow fluttered around without wind. One look at Ruby, and he knew that they would be holding another sleepover tonight. Her lips quivering, her cloak pulled around tight as she sought comfort in the familiar.
"How can you be so blasé about what happened?" Ruby eventually whisper-shouted. Looking at his team like this was the first time they were introduced.
"It's… Well… It isn't the first time we have been forced to kill." Nora answered with a sheepish little smile. Biting back into her load to hide her rising anxiety.
"A grown man tried forcing herself onto Nora when we were about six." Ren continued, effortlessly taking over the conversation as Nora grew quiet. "I shot him in the head until the magazine went dry." He whispered softly, something dark momentarily flashing in his eyes. "His paedophilia was cured. Posthumously that is."
"What the fuck." Yang whispered softly but with determination. Looking at the quiet boy, scooting her chair closer towards her partner. Disbelief never leaving her eyes, only mixing with weariness.
"What did you think life on the road was?" Nora snarked back. Biting back into her gingerbread loaf with renewed vigour. Shooting Yang a dirty glare. "Having a roof over your head was a luxury. So was having food in your stomach. You didn't sleep with a gun under your pillow. You made sure no one could get you while you slept. It was us or them. Literally. If we had some food, and other street rats or gangster-hopeful's saw it. They would go after us."
"Wasn't there anything else you could do?" Ruby, ever the optimist, asked hesitantly. "Go to the police, maybe. An orphanage?"
"Orphanages kill people." Violet and Aurora chimed at the same time. Even if it came out as more of a garbled moaning as Aurora tried speaking with a tower of whipped cream in her mouth.
"Some orphanages were good. Others were centres for trafficking. Be it literal slave trade, sex work, or easily impressionable gang recruits." Nora replied shrugging. "But neither me nor Renny wanted to bet. So the second we got some guns, ammo, and food, we were out."
"Why?" Ruby mumbled, pulling her legs up to her chest. "It shouldn't have to be like that."
"It shouldn't." Nora nodded. "But it is." Thinking for a second, sending a little look towards Blake before shrugging again. "Just like Faunus shouldn't be discriminated against. But they are. Life isn't perfect. Far from it in fact."
"Are we just going to gloss over what Violet and Aurora said?" Blake asked aghast. "That orphanages kill kids? HellO? Am I the only one who is hearing alarm bells?"
"I wasn't just imagining things?" Weiss asked over to Blake, horror dawning on her tired features.
"Where is Zwei, Ruby?" Jaune asked stone faced, shifting the conversation to something else. Ignoring the questionable glares Weiss and Blake sent him.
"Here." She said, shifting slightly to the side. Zwei, who hid behind Ruby looked at him, whinnied loudly before darting behind Ruby. Digging down into the chair and hiding his eyes with his paws.
"Don't think you can get out of this so easily." Weiss declared, her eyes never leaving him. Only breaking their impromptu staring contest to look worriedly over at the two girls in questions. Who for their sake, didn't have a single worry in the world right now.
"Wiess. Let it go." Jaune insisted, feeling frustration gnawing at him. It had been a long day, filled with one obstacle after another. A young boy had died in his arms while he was doing rescue work, before he was called away. Another old hag had thrown a tomato at the back of his head. It had been a shit day, and he wasn't in the mood for the accusations thrown his way. Neither was he in the mood for sharing more about his semblance. He had already shared to much with the headmaster, even if that had been necessary to cover Aurora's sudden appearance.
While the girls from Team RWBy were his friends, he didn't want them in on his secrets. For good reasons. Unfortunately, if there was one trait all the girls shared, then it was stubbornness. And recklessness, but mostly stubbornness.
"No. I will not." Weiss glared at him. "You can't just brush this of, Jaune."
"Now that you mention it. I have heard Violet say some concerning things every now and then." Yang pipped in, getting some of her old fire back. Throwing an inquisitive gaze over his girls. Only to wince and press the icebag harder against her head. "I didn't really pay much attention to it, but now, with the orphanage thing. They start paining a rather worrisome picture."
"Please, drop it. It's none of your business, and I rather it stays that way." Jaune sighed with exasperation. Feeling his eyebrow twitch, knowing without looking that they would continue to needle him. "How are things looking on the net, Ren?" He asked, partly because he was curious, and partly because he knew it would draw their attention.
"People are already calling for blood. Many are clamouring that Roman and his accomplice doesn't deserve a trail and should simply be executed. The same people are also calling him a race traitor. While there are some who want a trail, they all know that there is only one verdict he can get." Ren answered nonchalantly. "There are some trolls fanning the flames, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were already protests and demonstrations downtown. The death count isn't out yet, however ambulances are unable to arrive in the square, so medics and first responders are flown in via bullhead."
"That's… bad. That's bad." Jaune mumbled. Going over everything he had heard. Vale had been a powder keg with people from all over the world gathering and mingling. Now it was a powder keg with a scapegoat. He wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if the council decided to make a spectacle out of Roman. Both as a warning and to appease the bloodthirsty crowd.
"Are… are we going to get expelled?" Ruby whined into her knees. Bringing out a fear that was hanging over their heads. Everyone knew it was possible, but none had wanted to be the first to bring it up. Content with burying their heads in the sand.
"No, none of you will be expelled. Nor will any of you be sitting detentions for that matter." Professor Goodwitch answered matter-of-factly, stepping out of the elevator with a pling and ushering them in. "You were all put in situations where huntsmen greater than you would falter. You did the best out of a bad situation, and if our analytics are to be believed, you have saved lives in the thousands today. If the train had hit the square with its payload, most of Vale centrum would be ruins right about now with grimm running rampant."
"So finally time to face the music, huh?" Jaune mumbled, scooping down the rest of his pudding and throwing the plastic jar away. Bringing out a hand towel and handing it to Aurora. The poor dear had whipped cream all over her face thanks to startling when the elevator chimed.
"So it would seem." Ren sighed. Rising an eyebrow at him, a little smirk on his face. "But Jaune, did you include that little titbit in the report?"
"If you are alluding to Mr Branwen hinting at Aurora being my child born out of wedlock and his other inappropriate comments, then yes. It was added in the report." Miss Goodwitch replied sternly, cutting Jaune off before he had a chance to answer.
"Goddammit, Uncle Qrow." Ruby muttered, corralling her face in her hands.
#####
"I'm telling you Oz. Those girls aren't normal." Qrow protested loudly. There was heat in his voice, hurt in his eyes. "The smallest dropped three guys from the kids shoulders. Not a peep. While the eldest of the two dropped over fifteen. In my life I have never seen someone so desensitised to death and gore. Hammer girl had a reaction, so did Nikos and Ninja man. Even if Ninja Man's was to grow more apathetic."
"Calm yourself Branwen." Ironwood called out sternly. Giving Qrow a steely glare. "While I agree that bringing children out onto a mission isn't to be done." To that, Ironwood turned to give Ozpin a glare. "And really, what were you thinking, old friend? Having children fighting grimm. People would be up in arms if they knew. I simply refuse to believe children capable of what you are describing."
"Aurora, the eldest of the two. Is a walking mental breakdown if I have ever seen one. Dropped twenty guys. With throwing knives. Poisoned throwing knives. She didn't bat an eye. Not even when grown terrorists screamed for their mothers." Qrow shot back with a glare of his own, before blinking. "Also, I'm uncertain if I was just hallucinating or not. But I'm certain I saw some of the grimm her blades nick freeze in midair. It was almost as if someone set them on pause."
"I refuse to believe that a seventeen-year-old is capable of creating poison able to affect grimm." Ironwood replied sternly. "Never in the history of man has that been possible. And to give something so groundbreaking to a twelve-year-old? Incomprehensible."
"Because if it isn't something Atlas can do. It's impossible, right?" Qrow snarked right back. "And I have seen grimm with less visceral poison. A nick, and you were dead fifteen seconds later. Fingernails turning black, so did their tongue and eyes. Blackish green creeping trough their veins. And she didn't bat an eye."
"Qrow." Ozpin said gently, putting a holt on the conversation before it could grow anymore heated. "Are you sure you are not overreacting? You still have dust and smoke on your cloak. Maybe it would be best for you to sit this meeting out?"
"The two of you have been sitting in your ivory towers too long, if this isn't making you bat your eyes." Qrow scoffed loudly, taking a hard gulp from his hipflask. "Not even me and Raven were that desensitised to murder when we enrolled. And we were handed knives at ten, before being told to kill a prisoner or be thrown out into the world. The tribe was fucked in all sorts of ways. Still is for that matter. If you are strong, you are right, and everything you can take belongs to you. Be it sex from minors, men, or women, whoever catches your fancy you can fuck. Anything went if you were strong. If you were weak, you had nothing."
Ozpin listened silently on. Qrow being one that always held his past close to his chest. While he had known in broad strokes what went on, he had never pushed him for it. Not seeing it as something that was worth risking the man's trust over. While, once upon a time his inner circle had consisted of friends and close confidants. Now it was hard seeing them as anything but tools and pawns. All to familiar guilt gnawed at him, no matter how much he tried burying his head in the dirt regarding his feelings. They were just so tired. Their soul awash with more sin that thought possible. The guilt of multiple lifetimes following him, threatening to crush him at any moment.
"I don't know where the kid found those girls. But I have never, never, seen someone as nonchalant about murder and gore as those." Qrow finished. "Or maybe Oz would fit. But multiple lifetimes and all that don't really count."
"Dully noted." Ozpin drawled humourlessly. "On the topic of where. I will not break Mr Arc's trust regarding his semblance. What he has confined in me will stay between us, until I'm either asked otherwise or he majorly were to cross the line."
"Always keeping your student's trust, huh. That's just like you Oz." James replied with a steely nod.
"However, onto the matter of poison's. I do think giving Mr Arc the ability to explain himself would be the best course of actions." Ozpin continued, only giving James a tired look. "This is after all only the opening shot. Should it be made known that Atlas, or Vale for that matter, were to dissect terrorist corpses. Relations would only further fall. Exactly what they may be planning."
"Neither can we continue being passive." James countered instantly. "We were passive and see what have happened. Thousands wounded in the central square. The heart of Vale was bombed Ozpin. We must do something. Searching rooms aren't enough. The only thing we have is alcohol, booze, some drugs, condoms, and a fat load of nothing. It's abundantly clear that they aren't in the school, which should have been obvious from the get-go. I am no longer asking for permission. Either I will have your help searching for the White Fang, or I will have the Valean Council's blessing to do it without your interference. Don't play stupid, we all know that the White Fang is only their attack dog. But until we can get answers out from Torchwick, putting down a rabid dog is putting down a rabid dog."
Ozpin expertly hid how parts of him bristled. The effect of his curse, fragments of cruel rulers, tyrants, strong leaders of men, proud aristocrats, all parts of the whole that made Them. The other parts of him, those history still sung about, heroes, visionaries, noble kings, kind-hearted men, together with all his lifetimes of practice schooled his emotions.
Ozma had died a long time ago. While 'He' was the core ego, it was more correct to call him 'Them'. Each 'reincarnation' containing a full merging of minds. Which felt closer to a full digestion of the host before only They remained. The previous host completely consumed, leaving only fragments, flavours, instincts, and moments of who they had been behind. Some echoes were stronger, left behind by people of stronger will than him. Other compounded on themselves, growing stronger than the sum of their parts.
Twelve Arc's he had been through time. The nobleness, kindness, and righteousness of twelve men better than him always judging his every move. It was maddening. 'I'm sorry Jeane. I am not the man you thought me to be.' His first apprentice's redemption not something he deserved. Not after being unable, 'unwilling' his traitorous mind whispered, to stop her village from burning her on the stake. But it helped easing parts of him he rather not have making themselves known now.
The elevator chimed, his students filling out. A nervous tension hanging over their shoulders. Ms Rose lit up when she saw her uncle, the only thing stopping her from launching herself at him being the nervous little glance she threw his way. Letting his eyes wander over his students, he was quick to notice what Qrow brought up. Both Gascoigne sisters looked right as rain. Everyone else on the team showed signs of what they did weighing on their conscience, with Ms Nikkos most obviously supressing it.
"I want to preface this meeting, by apologising. I am sorry, I truly am." Ozpin started, letting his eyes wander over the students. Pride not his own blossomed when he saw the man Jaune was shaping up to be. The same way he felt pride not his own when looking at Ruby slowly growing into herself. "Had we known you would encounter the White Fang, you would not have been sent. However, you stepped up to the occasion. While it may not feel like a success, you saved lives today. As such you have my gratitude."
"Ozpin is correct." James chimed in from the side. Looking over his students and giving a small nod. "You saved lives today. Should all the payloads have made it to the end, there wouldn't be a central square left. Well done."
The General's words bringing soft, hesitant, smiles on his students lips. Tension leaving their shoulders as they sighed in relief. Violet tilted her head in confusion, carried in Jaune's arms. While her sister peeked out from behind him, shooting confused glares at the General.
"Now. While we have read your reports. Why don't you retell what happened. There may be bits and pieces that you have glossed over, that could be important." Ozpin continued. Turning to look over to Miss Rose, acting as a deer caught in headlights. "Why don't you begin, Miss Rose. Given that your team was in Mt Glenn when the train left."
Silver eyes darted nervously between him, Ironwood, Glynda, Qrow, before eventually landing on Jaune, who only gave an encouraging smile and nodded at her. Smiling to himself, it pleased him to see such camaraderie in his students. It was even better to see it between future potential agents. Jaune and his team having proved themselves to have their heads on right, while Ruby's team had heart aplenty.
'Maybe I should find a reason for them to share an eight-member dorm for a while.' Ozpin mussed while he listened to Ruby narrate what happened. Her team stepping every know and then, bringing her back on track while she went on tangents, or further sheading light on what had actually happened. 'Team RWBY would have much to learn from Team JNPR and co regarding planning and preparation. While Team RWBY would do wonders for helping Team JNPR and co learn to have fun.'
Shelving that idea for now, he leaned back and listened to her finish up. Her nervousness washed away by budding confidence.
"You will be having extra classes regarding unarmed combat." Glynda declared the second she was finished. Causing Ruby to wilt like a flower and earning a loud snort from her sister.
"On operational security and survival as well." Ironwood chimed in. "While I can understand why you went after your dog. Out in the field there should always be one lookout while others sleep. It may be boring; however it will save lives. Your lives to be exact. And the second you noticed your dog behaving strangely, you should have notified your team before going after him. I shudder to think what could have happened to you should Torchwick not have stepped in and protected you."
"What?" Ruby asked confusedly. What the General was alluding to flying straight over her head. However, it was something her sister clearly understood, especially if the way she froze and subsequent dawning horror in her eyes was anything to go by. From all the hard faces around her, it seemed Ruby was the only one not making the connection.
Feeling his scroll ping, Ozpin threw a quick look at his mail. 'We can bring her up to speed later. I think Ruby will want to sleep over later, and it wouldn't be impossible to tell her then.' It read. It was a mail from Jaune, with Yang also receiving a copy. Anger, guilt, and a cocktail of other emotions flashed around in Yang's eyes. Reluctantly she nodded, pressing the ice pack harder against the side of her skull.
"See that you will." Ozpin nodded, sharing a glance between the two of them. Again, pride not his own surged at Their descendants compassionate nature.
"Now, Mr Arc. May you explain what madness went through your head as you ignored your temporary leaders orders?" Glynda bit into Jaune.
"We had one, maybe two minutes tops." Jaune started. Completely ignoring her accusatory tone. "The Mt Glenn tunnels hasn't been used in over twenty years, and with the recent terrorist activity it wasn't hard to make the connection. So with limited time, I made a chief decision. Stop the train. Qrow was too busy relaying the information to you too actively give orders. Unfortunately, plan A was scrapped, so plan B it was. We decupled the carts, unfortunately Torchwick cut the emergency brakes and overcharged the engine. You know the rest."
"And your quick thinking should be commended." Ironwood interrupted. Glynda's head snapping to him as her green eyes burned. "And Team RWBY's actions is also something to commend. I said it earlier, and I will say it again. You saved lives today. How many I can't clearly say. But thanks to you, mothers can reunite with their children, children can grow up with their parents, the elderly will not be left alone in their final hours. You did good work."
"I'm not discrediting your actions." Glynda continued, eyebrow twitching. "I'm asking what you were thinking when you brought with you two children to rain a train."
"But this isn't the first time Master have taken me hunting?" Violet asked confusedly from her place in Jaune's arms.
"What!" Glynda bellowed. Caught between righteous anger and protectiveness. Resembling more a female lion protecting her pack than anything. Always having been frightfully protective of her students.
Squirming in his hold, Jaune stopped her from jumping out and spraining her ankle. Only whispering softly in her ear instead. Deflating the righteous indignation that shone in her eyes for him.
"I have not taken either Violet or Aurora into the Emerald Forest, if that's what you are thinking. Leave it at that." Jaune explained, kind blue eyes turning hard as he stared at Glynda.
Before she could further explode, Ozpin held up one hand. Stopping her in her tracks. She sent him chilling glare, before crossing her arms over her chest. Green eyes never leaving Jaune.
"On the matter of what I was thinking, then it was that they would be safer with us than stranded in the sewers alone. Not to mention that they can't be further than twenty meters from me." Jaune explained matter-of-factly. "There was no easy right or wrong decision. So I was forced to choose what I thought to be best."
"Such is often the unfortunate truth out in the field." James nodded determinedly. "And it's a truth you will run into often. Should you save the young or old from a burning house, who will draw attention from grimm, who will you sacrifice to save the most. It's what you do in those moments who will explain who you are. For good or ill."
"Please don't hold anything against Glynda. We are all stressed, your groups running on fumes as well. Glynda cares about you, all of you. However we can't be with you to offer counsel out in the field. As such we can only trust you to do the right things. And, in hindsight, bringing with you children to raid a train sends the wrong signals." Ozpin finished, hitting the nail right on the head with how Glynda bristled. He didn't fault her for the care she had for her students, neither was it something he would hold against her.
"Is that all?" Jaune asked, schooling his expression. Well masked exhaustion slipping into his voice.
"For Miss Rose and her team, yes." Ozpin acknowledged with a little nod. Allowing a little smile to slip trough at Miss Rose's infectious relief. On the other hand, Miss Valkyrie did a spot-on perfect impression of someone showed their last mean. The light in her eyes growing dimmer with each passing second as Team RWBY filled out of his office. Leaving Team JNPR and co behind. Jaune for his part not looking phased in the slightest. Only letting his frustration slip trough in a long sigh.
"This isn't about the poison, is it?" Jaune asked, already knowing the answer as he sighed heavily.
"Partly." Ozpin confirmed with a nod. "There were some curiosities that showed up when we held room inspections. A cabinet full of alcohol to be exact. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"We are of legal drinking age." Jaune answered, stepping forward and speaking for his team. Giving Nora a little look. The girl in question making a sipping motion over her mouth,
"That may be the case, however, while you are on Beacon's grounds. You are expected to abide by Beacon's rules. No alcohol on campus being one of those rules." Glynda explained sharply. "The alcohol has been confiscated. And Team JNPR will be sitting detentions with me coming Friday."
Nora looked ready to oppose, but a quick look from the rest of her team stopped the words in her throat. Instead the only thing she did was huff and cross her arms. Shooting her team the stinky eye.
"Now, back to the matter on hand. Poison. While not illegal, it isn't something reputable. Neither is it something taught in Beacons curriculum." Ozpin started, never taking his eyes of Jaune. "Please explain to us why you thought it proper to hand a twelve-year-old multiple poisons."
"Why? You don't bat an eye while handing children dust and firearms in Primary Combat Schools." Jaune countered nonchalantly. Electing a bark of laughter from Qrow. "He got you there, Oz. And it's not like he is wrong either."
"Mr Arc, Qrow, there is a stark difference between dust and poison." Ozpin sighed, pinching his brows. Knowing how this discussion was going to continue.
"No, not really. Many poisons are medicine in the right dosages, while dust's use is more mechanical and fuel centric outside combat. It's not my fault no one thought as to experiment with poisons for grimm. Because I take that's where the sudden interest stems from." Jaune explained.
"You would be correct in your assumption." Ozpin nodded. "As grimm are composed of negative energy given form, they do not have organs, or anything that you would find in a living creature. It is one of the reasons poison and other chemical compounds have never worked against grimm. You are the first person in recorded history to have proven that knowledge to be wrong."
"And that knowledge is not something I will share." Jaune replied sternly. Ignoring the looks of outrage on Glynda and Ironwood's faces.
"That knowledge can save lives-" James began, only to be ruthlessly cut of by Jaune. "No more than the knowledge of what keeps Atlas floating. I will not hand my knowledge to a nation that would rater turn it into weapons than help."
"You are overstepping, Arc." General Ironwood replied, giving his student a chilly glare. One that was returned in kind.
"Overstepping? Funny you would say that. A new coat of paint isn't enough for some of us. After all, isn't Atlas is just the name of Mantle's new floating upper district." Jaune shot back, venom lacing his tongue. Free hand brushing beside the hilt of his sword. A cruel glint in his eyes. Knowing just what to say to get a reaction out from James.
Holding up his hand, he stopped a brawl from breaking out in his office. While familiar with the famous Arc stubbornness. Never in his wildest dreams would he think Mr Arc as someone willing to pick fights.
"That's enough of that. Mr Arc, detention." Ozpin called out sternly. Sighing heavily when he found nothing but hollowness in Jaune's eyes instead of any regret or other feelings that said he was wrong.
"I stand by my point." Jaune said flatly. "The only ones I will teach is Violet and Aurora. What they chose to do with that knowledge is up to them."
Ironwood bristled. Paying him no mind, Jaune continued. "The reason I gave her poison was to give her some extra oomph. I hoped she wouldn't be forced to use them, but I am glad that she had it at her disposal. I can say with certainty that it is the only reason she is with us now."
"I… never want to do something like that again." Aurora whispered into Jaune's back. Making Glynda's stern expression crack.
"Are we done here?" Jaune asked flatly, shooting an apathetic look over at James. Half expecting him to protest.
"We are." Ozpin confirmed with a sigh. "I can see now that having this meeting while tempers are flying was a bad idea in hindsight. Mr Arc, your knowledge is your own to choose what to do with. We will not press you about it, however we implore that you change your mind. However, you and your team are dismissed. Please take your leave."
Jaune and the rest of his team gave a nod, before filing out of his office. Leaving Ozpin to deal with his growing migraine.
"Mr Arc, is there a reason you haven't left?" Ozpin asked after a while, noticing that one of his students had not left.
"Yes. I wanted to inform you and Glynda that Team JNPR will be moving back into our first dorm soon." Jaune answered, hurt in his eyes. "I thought Aurora had an entire week left, but with the hysteria that was the train, her time left have been extremely shortened."
"Wait what?" Qrow exclaimed in disbelief. "Can't you just unsummon and resummon her?"
"Aurora was already terminal when I first materialised her." Jaune replied flatly. "I don't know if you noticed, but her aura isn't her own. She is incapable of generating her own aura, so me and Pyrrha topper her off."
"So that's why her aura felt of." Qrow muttered. Momentarily lost in thought.
"Is there anything we can do to help her?" Glynda asked softly. Cleaning her glasses while giving him a long look. His temper and defensive ness suddenly making more sense.
"Unless you can heal a leaking soul in under a day, then no." Jaune replied flatly. Sighing tiredly. "I had wanted to give her one more week, where she could be nothing but a child. But I should have known that would be impossible."
"Unfortunately I can only offer my condolences, Mr Arc." Ozpin said sincerely. The death of always too young children one of the few things that They always agreed upon. "There is no need to move out of your newly assigned dorm. They will be yours until you finish your education. It's not much, but it is the least I can do."
"Thank you, headmaster." Jaune whispered softly, giving him a polite bow. "And no, Qrow. I can't unsummon and resummon her. You can see the prize of their souls, and full autonomy being that they only have one 'life', in comparison to say, a Schnee's summons. When Aurora, or Violet, dies. They are dead."
"And here I thought my semblance was fucked." Qrow mumbled. Throwing his head back and emptying his hipflask. Jaune looking halfway to ask for a sip, before shaking his head and taking his leave.
With a pling of the elevator signalling his departure, another sigh escaped Ozpin. "Why don't we return to what we were focusing on. Salem, gentlemen and lady, how to we counter her moves?"
###
"So what ya cooking, chief?" Yang asked over his shoulder. Her ice pack was gone, but she had a rather bad swelling on the side of her head. It would have been almost comical had it not been such a terrible reminder. The only reasons Yang wasn't dead, was because her estranged mother had interfered while she was still delirious. Knocking the blade of out the murder midgets hands and sending her running back to Roman.
"Just making some tea, the pot on the right is for headache's while the one on the left is for a dreamless sleep." Jaune answered plainly. More than happy to keep her mind occupied instead of letting her spiral. As an expert in unhealthy coping mechanisms, it was clear as day that she was doing her best to ignore the events that happened earlier.
However, Yang was just like him. Utter shit at dealing with her emotions. It didn't help that she was prideful and hot-headed to boot. A bad combination at the worst of times. And a worse one when she was thoroughly handed her ass. That her own estranged mother, who had literally popped her out, taken one look at the baby her before skedaddling, stepped in, must be more scalding than a thousand lost fights.
"Sweet." Yang chimed absentmindedly. "Hey Jaune, am I really that bad a fighter?" She asked nonchalantly. Throwing the question out nonchalantly while she leaned on the kitchen counter.
"You aren't bad as much as you are predictable." Jaune replied measuredly. Throwing a look over at Pyrrha who nursed a cup of tea by the kitchen table. Knowing full well that her advice would be more welcome than his.
Looking up from her cup, Pyrrha gave Yang a measured smile. The blood was long since washed out from her hair, but the dawning horror of what she had done was slowly settling over her.
'Was I like that?' He coulndt help but wonder. It felt like a lifetime ago when he was just a dreaming boy. 'How long has it really been?' He asked no one but himself. Not remembering if he had been the same. Everything since stepping foot in Yharnam feeling like one long, never ending nightmare.
"Jaune is right. While you are a good fighter, your fighting style is rather predictable." Pyrrha smiled weakly, tension easing as she eagerly stepped into the conversation. Not wanting to be alone with her thoughts. "It is enough against most. However, the second you meet someone better than you, the cracks begin to show. If you can't overwhelm them, they are free to poke holes in your offence. I take it that was what happened with Neapolitan? She got under your skin, used her semblance to confuse and obscure, and before you knew it you were out on your back?"
"Yeah." Yang groaned. "Fuck." She whispered, furiously whipping away a stray tear. "I must really be predictable if you can guess what happened."
"Take the wake-up call for what it is. It could be worse. You could have lost an arm." Jaune chimed in from the side. Cutting some herbs into fine paste before adding them to the dreamless sleep pot. "You could, should, have died. But you didn't. So be better. Use your head to make sure you are never in the same situation again. What's the first thing you should have done?"
"Oh fuck of with your wise mentor act, vomit boy." Yang swore. Shooting him a nasty glare.
"No, work with me. What was the first mistake you made?" Jaune continued, not minding how Yang's hackles rose. Bristling, her hair temporarily caught fire. Only for her to wince and hold her hand up against her head.
"Fine. Fine." She grumbled, frowning as her headache made itself known. "We shouldn't have split up."
"No. You should have shot her in the face before she could get her aura up." Jaune countered. Beginning to hack some other herbs. Ignoring the look of righteous indignation and surprise on Yang's face.
"While I don't completely agree with Jaune, his advice have some merit." Pyrrha settled on, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. "What advice I would offer instead is that when dealing with illusion-based semblances to never lose your head. Even if they mess with your senses, causing you to see upside down, or make you temporarily blind. Don't show weakness. While I don't want to say stereotypical, illusion users are often lighter fighters with frailer auras. One good hit from you could get them bellow yellow, two would break their aura."
"Another thing, you should have rushed her as a team. Completely overwhelm her with teamwork to neutralise her before she was a treat." Jaune chimed in again. Saying his piece.
"You fought her earlier, yes?" Pyrrha asked, eliciting a nod from Yang. Whose eyes darted between the two of them. Not completely sure whose advice she should follow. "Then you should have thought up counters to her fighting style. Even if you didn't know you would meet again, you should have thought up counters. I might not be as active in the competitive fighting circle anymore. But many of my training sessions consists of watching upcoming fighters, old and new, and practice counters. Stopping only when I'm certain I could meet them in the arena and come out the victor."
"If you had some proper long rang threat's, you would be far more dangerous. You should also add some variety to your shotgun shells." Jaune continued. Stirring the pot before bending down to take a whiff of the tea. Smiling contently to himself. "Slugs for long range, flechette and buckshot for area control and denial. You can create steam for obscuration. Experiment, never stop growing your arsenal. There is far more you can do with your weapons than using them in tandem with your punches to increase your power or as your primary source of movement."
"Stab them before they stab you!" Violet chimed from behind him. Still pouting up at him. Miffed that he didn't let her help.
"Sheez. Is this shit on Yang day?" Yang chuckled weakly. Even if Jaune could clearly see the gears in her head turning. "Jaune, spar with me tomorrow." It wasn't as much a question as it was a demand. "I want to see where I stand. Go all out. Don't hold back, please. I… I never want to feel like that again."
"I would love to spar with you, Yang." Jaune chuckled, turning to her with a toothy smile. Knowing it came out more bloodthirsty than intended when a shiver raced trough Yang.
"If you don't mind, I would also love to spar with you, Yang." Pyrrha chimed from the side.
"No thanks Pyrr." Yang replied with a sheepish smile. Quickly adding on when Pyrrha wilted. "It's well. You are too good. To skilled. And well, out of everyone, Jaune's fighting style is closest to mine. I would love to fight you properly when I get my head screwed on right again. But right now, Jaune is a better grindstone than you. But if you want to sit by the side and point out flaws, I wouldn't say no."
"I would love to." Pyrrha chuckled with a sweat smile. A smile that sent ice traveling down his back. A smile Yang grinned back at.
Violet, bless her heart, looked over at Pyrrha before her eyes darted worryingly back to Yang. Sneaking over to her, Violet gestured Yang down. "She is going to trick you into fighting her." Violet whispered into her ear.
"Pyrrha? Nah, no way." Yang grinned, ruffling Violet's hair. "She doesn't have a bad bone in her body."
"Your funeral." Violet huffed, frowning up at Yang before skirting back to his side. Hopping up on her little stool and reaching for a knife. Pouting harder at him when he effortlessly fished it out of her grip.
"But again, why are everyone crashing in our dorm?" Jaune asked, looking out in the living room to see Weiss, Blake and Ruby teaching Aurora Remnant the Game. Nora was out, scouring the campus for buckets. Jaune didn't need to guess that there was going to be multiple nightmares tonight. While it wasn't obvious, a weight had settled over everyone's spirits, mirroring the choked, soft, atmosphere that hung over the room.
"Because your dorm is bigger." Yang replied nonchalantly. "And also because, I don't want to point any fingers, but your team have more experience with… you know."
"Low blow, but not entirely incorrect either." Jaune sighed.
*Bang*
Thunder echoed trough the dorm as the door was kicked open. Spinning on the spot Jaune pulled out his revolver. Kitchen knives flew through the air. Launching themselves magical towards the intruder. The coffee table was flipped, the game thrown to the side as throwing knives flew over.
"!" Nora screamed, throwing herself to the side. Ducking out of the way of the oncoming onslaught of knives and sharp metal. Only daring to peek her head into the dorm when thing stopped flying. "Ok. Maybe kicking open the door wasn't the right idea." She chuckled weakly. Receiving nine flat glares. "But you won't believe what I found!"
"Buckets?"
"Booze?"
"Better!" Nora grinned, stepping into the dorm. The prize held over her head. "A projector! You know what that means!?"
"I'll put on some hot coca." Jaune sighed, not missing how Ruby brightened. "What movie are we watching?"
"Jaune." Pyrrha chided playfully as the room descended into controlled, amiable, chaos. But neither he nor Nora noticed how her shoulders relaxed fully. For the first time since the train, Pyrrha smiled again.
####
Ruby woke up with a start. Coldsweat racing down her back. Her chest hurt, it felt like her heart was going to break her ribcage. Getting out of the clammy bead, she hurried into the bathroom. Almost collapsing in relief when she saw her eyes.
"It was just a dream." She chided to herself. Feeling stupid all of a sudden. She wouldn't have been able to make her way to the bathroom if her eyes had been torn out. She wouldn't be able to see if her eyes had been torn out. But feelings weren't logical. Neither was nightmares.
She could almost feel the disgusting hands racing over her face, before they tore out her eyes. It didn't make sense. She had been halfway expecting a violent nightmare where she experienced what Jaune and Yang had clued her onto. Something she didn't want to believe but was an aspect of the job she had never thought about. She knew about sex. She had a scroll; she knew what porn was. She even had discovered a few fetishes of her own. Not that anyone would know them on threat of death.
"But why eyes?" Ruby whispered. "Why did I dream of someone stealing my eyes?"
Stepping out of the bathroom, she saw that she wasn't the only one awake. Ren sat nursing a cup of tea by the kitchen table. Giving her a tired smile when he spotted her.
While not usually fond of tea. Not really fond of alternative medicines either. But having just woken up from a terrible nightmare, she didn't find herself so picky. Going to the kitchen and pouring her a cup of the dreamless sleep tea. It didn't matter if it was a placebo or not. She just didn't want to repeat that nightmare.
"Having trouble sleeping?" Ren asked softly, never taking his eyes up from his cup.
"Yeah. Nightmare." She whispered back. Suppressing a shiver.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently as she sat down beside him.
"I… I don't know." Ruby whispered back, nursing her cup between her hands. "My team already looks down on me for being fifteen. I… I don't want to bother them with my problems."
"I won't push if you don't want to talk." Ren said softly, making Ruby sigh in relief. "But… But. I will send Jaune your way. You aren't alone… and you aren't the only one who are having some invisible battles. It's not weakness to ask for help. Even just silent companionship can go a long way, won't you say?"
"I… He resembles my dad, you know." Ruby whispered, cringing as she took a sip from her tea. "Not just physically. But… there was a time I coulndt see a difference between Jaune, and the moment I accidentally walked in on dad with a rope in his hands."
Ren only hummed noncommittally. Letting her vent her feelings freely without judging her.
"Does it ever get easier?" Ruby asked softly. The silence starting to get on her nerves. Her sister, team, and friends were all sleeping soundly. Both Violet and Aurora were curled up around Jaune. Sleeping soundly without a care in the world. Weiss soft breathing, Yang and Nora competing to see who could cut the most logs. It all came together to create a symphony that only served to drive her up the wall.
"Yes… No." Ren started, sighing wearily. "All I can say is that it depends. I won't tell you what to do. But I can tell you some things to look out for."
"Thank you." She whispered as she took another sip. Feeling her shoulders relax. The dark cloud that followed her since startling awake easing.
"While dehumanizing your opponents can work in the short term. If you continue to harden yourself, you will find it harder to feel other emotions. You will shield yourself from both the good and bad." Ren warned, giving her a self- deprecating smile. "Take it from someone who knows. I over relied on my semblance when I was younger. I… I no longer have a libido. Among other things."
"What?" Ruby exclaimed. Slamming her hands over her mouth, heart pounding in her chest. Terrified that she woke up anyone else.
"You heard correct." Ren replied with a teasing smile, but Ruby didn't miss the hurt that briefly flittered in his eyes. "I know because I had one before. But due to over reliance on my semblance, I am no longer capable of getting an erection without resorting to vigara or other medicine. I can still feel love, attraction, and lust. And I'm not infertile. However, as I said. I destroyed my libido. Turns out using a semblance that turns you temporarily apathic could have other effects for someone undergoing puberty."
"Why?" Ruby coulndt help but ask after a period of silence.
"We needed to eat." Ren replied flatly. "I don't regret it. Life was tough. My old nightmares are constantly mingling with new ones. But you get used to it after a while. It's just another part of life. Just, please, don't follow in my, or Jaune's, footsteps for that matter. You don't have to follow my advice, but don't let what happened consume you."
"That's easier said than done." Ruby snarked. "It just… why… why us… why me?"
"I can't say." Ren said, standing up and downing his cup of tea. A soft smile on his lips as he looked at her. Only for his head to snap ninety degrees to the side. Smile stretching into a thin line as he looked at Aurora. A soft silvery shiver coating her. Motes of eyes flying up into the air like gorgeous fireflies.
"What's happening?" Ruby asked aghast. Moving without thinking, only to be stopped by Ren clamping a hand on her shoulders. His hand a vice grip.
"So it happened today, huh?" He sighed sorrowfully. Never once taking his eyes of her form.
"What?!" She whisper hissed. She didn't know what was happening, but she didn't like it.
"Aurora was already terminal when Jaune materialized her." Ren answered flatly. "We all knew that this was coming. But… it's too early. Jaune said she had till Friday. And… well… I guess we all thought he could pull out some miracle to heal her."
"Friday?" Ruby repeated stupidly. Mind working overdrive. A silent tear trailing down her cheek as she froze completely. "Is… is this my fault? If she hadn't been forced onto the train. Would she have survived? Would she have been healed?"
"No. No." Ren whispered, his grip growing harder. Entire motes of light falling of Aurora in great clumps. Dancing trough the air with a carefreeness she hated. A single silvery mayfly floating over to her, landing on her cheek and drying her tear before disappearing.
An invisible wind came trough the air, whisking the dancing mayflies along. Ruby stood transfixed, a complex cocktail of emotions she could never ever beginning to describe settling in her chest.
Twelve seconds. That was all it took. Looking trough the room, everything was as it had been. The only proof that Aurora had been real, that she had lived, being the wrinkles in Jaune's bed, the feelings in her chest, and the memories she had of a snarky but kind young girl.
"Why?" Ruby whispered hollowly. Staring blankly in the empty air, where she was certain she had seen the motes of light merge into the softly smiling form of Aurora. 'Please tell Violet that I'm sorry.' She had mouthed before disappearing entirely. "What?" She asked shakingly.
"Don't think too heavily on it Ruby." Ren whispered, clapping her good naturally on the shoulder. "Trust me, it's better that way. Just… just remember her. It's the least we can do."
With that, Ren went to the sink and cleaned up after himself. Passing her once more before he crawled under the cowers. Leaving Ruby alone to deal with her emotions.
####
Note: I have finally decided what way I want to write Ozpin. And while it will be challenging. I think it will be fun to really attack it from the curse viewpoint. I haven't seen it done much. But I think this will fit the story much better. It also gives Salem another reason for hatting the gods. The husband that returned to her, not the same man she once loved. Fun stuff all around.
Note: This is the first of a two parter. The other, more emotionally impactful part will be next chapter where we get it from Jaune's perspective. I don't know when it will be out, but I'm looking forward to writing it.
Note: I am still on the fence on giving Ruby Insight. It's something I will make a chief decision about later. But for now I'm tipping to both sides. There are as many reasons as to why, as to not give it to her.