I do not own Bloodborne or RWBY
AHH! I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY! READ A.N. AT THE END FOR INFO.
Chapter 2 Traumatic Reality
"So, first of all, how did all of this happen Jaune?" The doctor, a rather large man with dark skin asked clinically.
"A beast attack sir, it attacked me and my sister," Jaune replied politely, doing his best to keep his aversion to doctors out of his tone. The large doctor turned his head, his eyes were like granite and his features were hard and weathered, his dark skin was aged and marred by time. His head was shaved bald, and his beard was well kept and braided, extending to just below his neck but it too was showing its age by beginning to tinge grey.
"Mm, a beast hmm, I don't suppose that beast was a Grimm now, was it?" The doctor asked his voice gaining a tinge of mirth as he glances over his shoulder at Jaune's parents.
"Grimm?" Jaune asked innocently. He had no forewarning that his question would fill the room with unspoken tension. The doctor's mirthful smirk dropped, and his head turned back to Jaune with that professional observance that put Jaune on edge.
"Yes, a Grimm... you do know what a Grimm is, right?"
Jaune knew a loaded question when he heard one and so decided to pick a safe answer, "skin as black as tar, bone-white plates covering its body and red glowing eyes... sound like a Grimm to you?" He spoke his question as if it were rhetorical but in truth, it was a bluff as he was not positive about what a Grimm actually was. The name sounded damn familiar though... wasn't that what Jade had called the pig before.
"... yeah, that's a Grimm... you recall what type it was?" The doctor asked yet another question this time looking Jaune dead in the eye. Jaune looked back without flinching and spoke clearly, he dare not lie under such scrutiny.
"It looked like a pig," he stated with distaste, his dislike for anything porcine poisoning his words.
"A Boarbatusk, that matches up with what I saw on my initial observation, the tracks are a dead giveaway with them," Jaune's father chimed in his gaze also locked on Jaune but carrying far more concern. The doctor nodded his head subtly at this before reaching back into his bag once more, this time Jaune watched his posture as he moved, and it was then that it clicked.
"You're a hunter," he stated simply.
The doctor straightened back up a small thin rectangle in his grasp, "I was, I am technically retired now... from active duty at least." The doctor replied opening the rectangle and revealing a thin sheet of glass inside that lit up as if by magic. Jaune watched as writing he couldn't read appeared on the illuminated glass, his mind sparked to life trying to recognise what he was looking at but found himself utterly confused.
"How did you know Sunshine?" His mother asked speaking up.
"He has arms like you," Jaune answered smiling at his mother. Both Jaune's dad and the doctor looked back at his mom catching the light blush that appeared on her cheeks.
"Ha! You're a little sweet talker, ain'tcha" Jaune's dad quipped ruffling his hair vigorously.
"Hmm, an astute observation Jaune but I was a little different to your parents, rather than hunt Grimm my job was to supply first aid to hunters in the field. I did fight of course but it was not my priority as such I favoured weapons more attuned for support." The doctor was very forthwith with his explanation, returning his focus to his strange, illuminated glass.
"Oh, I'm curious doctor, what was your team's name while you were active?" Jaune's mother asked her tone coming across as just barely accusing.
"My team disbanded a long time ago... I operated as a solo specialist licensed out mostly to the Valean government as a support unit to bolster other teams on dangerous missions," the doctor answered plainly but both of Jaune's parents seemed to be waiting for something. With a heavy sigh, the man tapped the illuminated glass a few times before handing it to Jaune's mother.
"Thank you... wait... no way! You're Nickel Kaiser!" Jaune was honestly surprised at his mother's explosive exclamation. His surprise only increased when his father turned and lunged for the illuminated glass, grasping at it eagerly.
"... This is why I don't give out my bloody name," Dr Kaiser grumbled.
"Holy crap! How did I not know you lived in my town!?" Jaune's dad excitedly exclaimed, practically bouncing on his feet. "I can't believe I live in the same town as the 'Booming Salvation', you're the hero of Bastion," he whispered in awe.
"Yeah, what of it?" Dr Kaiser groused. His frustration finally seemed to reach the other adults as both of them straightened up and made themselves presentable.
"S-sorry sir, it's just... you're a hero," Jaune's mother spoke up regaining her composure first and having the decency to look somewhat ashamed of her bout of fanaticism.
"You saved thousands that day sir, your command and diligence in ensuring the safety of the civilians is the reason there is still a Bastion in the first place," Jaune's father cut in his tone still carrying a bit of the zeal he had shown before.
Dr Kaiser sighed, his shoulder slumping for a moment before he turned to face Jaune's parents and gave them a look that was best described as tired. "I know very well what happened at Bastion, Mr Arc-"
"Please sir call me Cloud," Jaune's father interrupted.
"... Right, Cloud once upon a time yes, I was the 'Booming Salvation' but now I'm just Dr Kaiser, a retired hunter," the old doctor lectured.
"But-"
"No buts, if there is an emergency, you bet your ass I'll help, but at the end of the day I no longer take missions and I no longer actively hunt, I'm old... really old by hunter standards. I should be somewhere nice and expensive living off my bucket load of savings, writing a memoir or something... but I can't. If I tried that I would drive myself to lunacy." Dr Kaiser declared his voice hinting at old pain and the exhaustion brought about by a hard and rigorous life.
"So instead, I help where I can, if that means providing fire support against large scale Grimm incursions so be it, if it means providing covering fire against an Elder Grimm then that's what I will do... or if it means fixing a brave little boy's leg, then you will find me doing just that." Dr kaiser motioned to Jaune who had been listening in with rapt attention. Both parents had the courtesy to look somewhat embarrassed at their decorum, apologising to the old doctor before returning his illuminated glass. Sick of trying to work out what the glass was, Jaune finally took a moment to speak up and settle his curiosity.
"What is that?" He asked pointing towards the strange glowing square.
"... I will tell you but tell me something first, when's your birthday?" Dr Kaiser countered with a question of his own.
"..." Jaune could not respond because he could not recall, despite his best efforts, it appeared to be yet another casualty of his fractured mind.
"Mmhmm, and I don't suppose you know the name of the town we are in? How about your address? Anything?" Dr Kaiser continued, but Jaune was still unable to answer much to his now mounting frustration.
"Doctor?" Jaune's father asked but was silenced as the old man raised a hand.
"Fine then here is an easy one, what day is it... what month... year?" Dr Kaiser's voice became more confident as he continued to ask his volley of questions.
Jaune's silence was damning.
"You can't remember, can you Jaune?" Dr Kaiser asked his tone gentle as if his words were interacting with something precarious.
Jaune wanted to deny it, not wanting to plague his parents with worry but in the end, he shook his head reluctantly confirming the doctor's hypothesis. Dr Kaiser gave a hefty sigh before speaking once more, "What do you remember Jaune? Clearly you remember your name and the name of your siblings... how about other stuff, anything at all?"
"... I remember that I am an Arc, my family is one of a proud line of warriors... we are named for the rainbow... mom calls me Sunshine for the golden rays of the sun due to my name being linked to yellow... t-that's about it." Jaune finished with damning finality, he averted his gaze from his parents, but it was too late he had already seen the grief that bled through their eyes.
"No, it's not," Dr Kaiser cut in his voice firm. "You also remember how to speak, in fact, you are startlingly well-spoken for a five-year-old. You clearly still remember how much you love your family, and you remember some of Remnant's peculiar naming customs... don't falter now Jaune, hold fast to that courage you showed earlier today."
Jaune and his parents both were stunned by the defiant voice the doctor suddenly projected about the room. Jaune recognised the voice of a leader instantly, a man of charisma and purpose, it was the tone he would not be surprised to hear giving orders in battle. "Doctor... what happened to Jaune's memories?" Jaunes mother asked in a restrained tone of voice, the simmer of restrained emotion just barely present.
"... Unclear, but that does not mean we cannot draw some hypotheses," Dr Kaiser encouraged pulling the square glass up, so it was clearly in Jaune's line of sight. "This Jaune is a Scroll, a piece of advanced technology that allows for communication across large spans of space near instantaneously, but that is not all it can do."
A stunned Jaune asked with utter awe, "it can do more?"
"Yes, lots more but amongst Scrolls mine is special, it is a hunter requisition model specialised for medical examination while remaining incredibly robust," Dr Kaiser explained pointing out the thick black metallic edges. "Even more so this one has been upgraded and customised by my niece but the important thing I want you to remember Jaune is that I can use this to help work out the best way to heal you."
With his explanation complete the doctor tapped his Scroll a few times before the screen changed and suddenly everyone in the room was able to see the inner workings of Jaune's body. His skeleton, musculature, respiratory and digestive system were all now visible beneath the screen as if it were a window to his internal body. Jaune was blown away by this, he had never seen it's like in the entirety of Yharnam, nor the depth of the Chalice Dungeons or even the Nightmares.
"Right, firstly your leg... it's not pretty but nothing that I can't take care of," a sharp click sounded before the doctor moved the screen so Jaune could see clearly. "What you have here is a displaced, comminuted fracture to the shaft of both your tibia and fibula... luckily, it's not the worst case that I have seen, and medicine has come a long way from what it once was." The doctor informed optimistically before his tone turned somewhat grim, "once upon a time this would have been a debilitating injury... possibly crippling."
Both of Jaune's parents gulped but Jaune was somewhat indifferent as he had known Gehrman who had been a hunter for a long time with but a singular leg. Clearing his throat Dr Kaiser asked Jaune an important question, "Jaune how did you break your leg like this? This amount of trauma takes a massive amount of force. This is more in line with the kind of break I would expect to see in a car accident."
"... Oh, yeah umm the uh pig Grimm-"
"Boarbatusk," his father supplied.
"- Right, the Boarbatusk rolled over it... part of me thinks it was getting revenge for what I did to its leg." Jaune shrugged completely missing the aghast looks on his parent's faces and the quirked brow of the doctor.
"*Ahem*, and what pray tell did you do to its leg exactly?" Dr Kaiser mused.
"I broke its hock with a rock," Jaune answered, doing his best to keep any bloodlust out of his voice. He really hated pigs.
"... that must have given it a shock," Jaune's dad commented.
"You must have given it quite a knock," the doctor continued.
"I did something similar once with a gunstock," Jaune's father grinned.
"I bet that made it lose the plot," Dr Kaiser countered.
"Would have sent it around the blo-"
"Gentleman," Jaune's mother finally cut in putting an end to their fun.
"... Just remember we are bound by wedlock," Jaune's dad prodded one last time, his reward being a firm cuff to the back of his head that did nothing to stop his snickering.
"Cloud please act your age, our son is hurt, and we keep distracting the doctor," Jaune's mother chided him.
"It's fine, it doesn't hurt that bad I promise," Jaune assured his parents giving them a toothy smile as he enjoyed their antics.
"I must say whatever pain killers you two gave him must be mighty effective, I've seen grown-ass men bawl their eyes out over an injury this bad... and rightly so." Dr Kaiser commented writing something on his Scroll, unaware of the Arc parents suddenly going very still.
"Um doc... we haven't given him any pain killers," Jaune's father spoke warily. Dr Kaiser also stilled at that before turning his head to look at Jaune who blinked back at him innocently.
"... Is something wrong?" Jaune asked.
"... Jaune how bad would you say your pain is right now?" Dr Kaiser asked his voice once more slipping into that clinical tone that made Jaune warry.
"Like on a scale of one to ten?" Jaune enquired.
"Oh, so you remember some numbers too, that's good, then yes, I suppose with one being almost no pain at all and ten of course being unbearable agony... what would you say your broken leg rates at?" The doctor demonstrated with his fingers, tilting his head slightly for Jaune who took a moment to think about his answer.
"... five."
"Five!?" Jaune's parents bellowed in shock.
"Five? Are you sure?" Dr Kaiser asked once more to confirm his answer.
"Well maybe a four, it only hurts if I move it or twitch... then it's a little worse," Jaune elaborated.
"... Jaune could I please try something, it might hurt but it would help me gauge your leg's state?" Dr Kaiser asked politely. Jaune happy to comply if it meant getting his leg mended nodded his head in affirmation. Without any fanfare or forewarning, Dr Kaiser reached over and prodded Jaunes leg, making sure that Jaune's face never left his line of sight.
Both of Jaune's parents made startled exclamations but Jaune did little more the flinch and scrunch up his face for a second, his features smoothing back out before the doctor had even removed his hand. Dr Kaiser without removing his finger asked calmly, "how about now Jaune, how would you rate your pain now?"
"Six."
"Jaune... I'm pressing pretty hard right now, you're not just trying to be tough, are you?" the doctor asked again, more sternly.
"No... here I can prove it," before anyone could stop him Jaune reached down and slapped his black and blue leg forcefully causing everyone in the room to flinch. Jaune from pain and the adults from pure shock.
Jaune gave a low grunt and hissed, his fingers curled violently into the sheets, and he scrunched up his eyes as pain washed over him. He inhaled shakily and opened his watery eyes before speaking, "that would be an eight." One of the adults let out a choked squeak as they heard first-hand the young boy all but shrug off what must have been a bout of excruciating pain.
"... I see, thank you for confirming Jaune but please do not cause further damage to your broken leg," Dr Kaiser pleaded his voice carrying a warning amongst his words.
"Ok," Jaune replied with a shrug and a smile.
"... I am concerned you may be experiencing some numbness from the injury and that such loss of sensation is lessening the pain, such effects are not unheard of with such traumatic bone breakages, but they can have other long-term effects if not seen to," Dr Kaiser pointed out, moving his Scroll to the broken section of Jaune's leg and shifting the view to observe the nervous system.
He observed closely as the Scroll showed Jaune's nerves behaving normally, which simply couldn't be true. But despite his best efforts to observe some abnormality, some section of reduced responsiveness, something as minute as a synapse firing incorrectly. He found nothing.
"... There is no evidence of reduced nervous activity in the region of his leg injury," Dr Kaiser muttered lowly his disbelief apparent.
Both of Jaune's parents turned to each other and shared a confused look at the doctor's quietly uttered observation. "Doctor what does that mean for Jaune's leg... is it worse than you originally thought? Has he suffered some kind of nerve damage?" Jaune's mother fretted.
"No, it means quite the opposite," Dr Kaiser answered, "it means that your son right now is feeling the full brunt of his broken leg... and doesn't seem to be batting an eye..." Dr Kaiser informed looking at Jaune as if he were some riddle or faulty equation.
"... How is that possible?" Cloud breathed.
"I just try not to think about it dad... I just focus on my breathing, or counting my heartbeats," Jaune explained gesturing to his chest. "I'm just tricking myself into not realising I'm hurt... Pretty smart huh?" Jaune finished letting slip a small chuckle at the adult's befuddle faces. In truth learning to ignore things, to compartmentalise and filter things out was as mandatory for survival in Yharnam as knowing how to fight was. You didn't walk through streets that reeked of blood, shit, and rot without learning to ignore the scent... the harder part was ignoring the screams and cries. Sometimes blocking out the pain was easier than blocking out the guilt.
"... I, umm will give you something after we finish our check-up to help with the pain... sound good Jaune?" Dr kaiser asked warily, his eyes alight with curiosity.
"If that is your recommendation doctor," Jaune conceded nodding to the elderly healer.
"Right... well before we take care of that leg, I would just like to do a quick check-up on the rest of you before I set your leg and write a prescription out for you," Dr Kaiser stated before he began to use his Scroll to examine the rest of Jaune's body from head to toe. Jaune noticed the doctor being very methodical, pausing to double-check his observations and recording thorough notes... Jaune hoped he was only doing so for the sake of treating him and not more nefarious reasons.
The room was silent aside from the tapping of the doctor as he noted observations on his Scroll and Jaune was perfectly at peace with this, his eyes locked onto the doctor with laser focus. Truthfully, he had yet to be given a reason to distrust Dr Kaiser... but his own experiences with healers had long since poisoned his opinion of them as a whole.
The doctor having noticed Jaune's blatant staring decided to attempt conversation once again. "... So, Jaune... the Grimm you fought, how big was it exactly?" Dr Kaiser asked conversationally, his attention still mostly on his Scroll.
Jaune thought back to his encounter, remembering that the boar creature had been roughly a foot taller than him at the arch of its back. He relayed said information to the other occupants of the room using a combination of words and his hands to gesture above his head. What was interesting to Jaune was that the other adults all acted as if this was already known information, which made him curious as to why the doctor asked in the first place.
"You all seem to be aware of the beast's size already, why ask about it?" Jaune's confusion was obvious as he spoke looking to his parents rather than the doctor for an answer.
"Well, firstly we can't know its exact dimensions as the beast had already evaporated before we arrived, only a few motes of its corpse remained on the floor when I got to you and your sister," His father explained, pulling out a scroll of his own, a smaller model than the doctor that was silver in colour. His dad opened his and the glass immediately illuminated in that almost arcane way that captivated Jaune's attention thoroughly.
"One sec... there we are, take a peek at this," Cloud instructed showing Jaune an image on his Scroll. The picture was of a small black puddle that was flaking into the air, Jaune realised instantly that it was the remains of the Grimm he had slain. "That's how I knew there had been a Grimm there, it's also why none of us are doubting your story," Cloud laughed while shaking his head.
"Trust me, at first I didn't know what to think but at the time I was in full protective dad mode, so I took the pictures I needed for the report and then rushed you and the rest of the family home." Cloud continued sliding his finger across the screen, sliding another picture into view on the device's glass. The next picture was of a hoof imprint, Jaune deduced that it was also from the scene of his encounter with the boar. Closer observation revealed that, unlike a regular hoof, the hoof of the Grimm was sharper and dug into the earth more at the tip giving its tracks a unique shape.
"As soon as we got back, I submitted the evidence of the eliminated Grimm to the rest of the hunters in town as confirmation," Cloud reported, sliding his finger across once more to a diagram of a Boarbatusk with a number about it and some writing that Jaune still couldn't read. "Since then, the town has been on lockdown while the other hunters investigate the area and patrol for more Grimm. A team was dispatched to the area where you slew it to conduct a more thorough investigation and as such reported the estimated size of the slain Grimm," Cloud motioned to the diagram and the measurements recorded around it.
Jaune looked them over finding them to be mighty accurate, a lot of the numbers matching up to the rough estimates in his head of what he originally hypothesised the creature's size to be. Jaune wished he could read the writing on the report but was genuinely satisfied that he could at least still comprehend the numbers of his native tongue. The fact that he could understand one but not the other was indeed odd, this of course occurred to him, but it was a small strangeness when compared to the absolute absurdity this entire day had been.
"... These measurements seem right... how were they able to calculate them so accurately from just a hoof print?" Jaune asked his hunter mind curious for further information about his prey.
"The Grimm Identification Index, the GII for short. It's the culmination of possibly centuries worth of knowledge gathered on the Grimm for the sole purpose of allowing hunters to accurately identify and quantify Grimm as accurately as possible." Jaune's mother explained stepping in as well changing the Scroll to a different screen that had a bunch of images of different Grimm.
"At its most basic level the GII allows for the rapid identification of a Grimm and a brief preview of its strengths and weaknesses," Cloud declared as he demonstrated by clicking on an image of a Boarbatusk. Jaune squinted at the screen observing it closely, but it was the image that drew most of his attention as he struggled with the words.
"... Which is honestly a terrible way to look at the largest collection of Grimm information ever collected," his mom grunted displaying her disdain for Cloud's description. "For those who prefer to use their heads and think, the GII provides everything from average appearance rates, preferred habitats, average measurements, elder ratios... it is arguably the most effective weapon ever produced to combat the Grimm." Her explanation finished she shot her husband a look daring him to rebuke her statement, but Cloud merely smiled at her before resting his head against her swollen stomach.
"Hella, he is five," Cloud teased his wife nuzzling her pregnant belly, Jaune's ears practically twitching at his mother's name being sure to store that away securely with all the other information about his family. Now that he had them back, he would carve their names into his bones if he needed to, he would not ever lose them again, their faces, their names, their love... he would remember them all.
"And already has a kill under his belt," Hella quipped back caressing her husband's head and shooting Jaune a wink. Jaune for his part felt a swirl of warmth dance in his chest at seeing his parents act with such affection towards one another... he had missed this he just knew it even if he could not properly recall the entirety of his longing. Part of his brain tweaked when his mother mentioned him having a kill under his belt. Images of streets caked in crimson red and pools of bodily fluids mixing into paving stones flashed through his mind in a macabre slide show. His parents would balk at the number of dead that lay beneath his feet, one more pig would hardly make a difference when the blood of a city caked his hands.
"Hmm... Jaune were you aware that you have two cracked ribs?" Dr Kaiser sighed, shooting Jaune an exasperated glance.
"No, I was not, are they as bad as my leg?" Jaune asked confused.
"No, no, no. If your ribs were as bad as your leg, I would be performing surgery right now, it's just small medial fractures on two of your bottom-most ribs. It seemed you took a nasty blow judging by the massive amount of bruising on your stomach, the blow was not directly on your ribs luckily, but the force of the impact has still left them cracked." Dr Kaiser explained tilting his Scroll so that Jaune's parents could see his ribs, the tiny cracks highlighted to make them easy to visualise on the screen.
Jaune lifted his shirt to see the injury the doctor was talking about and was struck with realisation upon seeing the mosaic of swollen and discoloured flesh covering his stomach. "Oh yeah, the beast caught me with a hoof when I was trying to cripple one of its legs," he explained in a very matter of fact tone.
"That's my boy," Cloud cheered quietly.
"... You were lucky Jaune, were the Grimm not a new spawn it's likely your attempt at maiming would have been for naught as it would have been far too tough to be maimed by such a... rudimentary attack." Dr Kaiser spoke with a stern voice that carried no small amount of concern, it was then that Jaune realised it was time for the 'talking to' portion of the evening. For the sake of efficiency, Jaune decided to cut it off at the head before it could gain any momentum whatsoever.
"I know doctor… but I didn't fight it because I wasn't afraid, I didn't fight it because I think myself indestructible," Jaune began pointing to his leg. "This was not gotten because I was foolish enough to think I could take on some monster I had never seen before… I killed that Grimm because it attacked Jade and you can scold me, punish me, threaten me but I promise you that should any of my family need my help…" Jaune paused looking up at the old man with a look that carried with it the bloodlust and fury that saw him through every horror Yharnam could throw at him, Dr Kaiser blinking in startlement at the look.
"I will slaughter whatever dares to threaten them," Jaune snarled his voice bordering on manic.
The adults in the room did not even attempt to hide their concern at Jaune's speech, nor the bloodthirsty threat coming from a five-year-old. Were this any other situation they would think the child to be overdramatic and in need of less time in front of a screen, but Jaune was different. Jaune that very afternoon had slain one of the enemies of civilization, a creature of Grimm with no Aura and no weapon, naught but a rock and at the tender age of five to boot.
"… Jaune…" Hella tried but could not conjure the words to talk about his declaration.
"… Son, what about yourself?" Cloud put in, "none of us want to see you hurt Jaune… and I don't know what I would do if something even worse happened." Jaune's father was kneeling now, pinning Jaune with a look that bled love and worry.
Jaune doing a complete 180 gave his dad a practically beaming smile that was nothing but pure exuberance, "oh if it's just me I'm gonna run like hell!"
Cloud was stunned once again and Dr Kaiser shot Jaune a tight smile as he resisted making a snort, not wanting to intrude on this family moment. Hella though, despite her best efforts was thrown completely by her son's sudden change in demeanour and could stop the loud grating snort of amusement that peeled out of her as her cheeks swelled with contained laughter. Jaune gave his mom a cheeky snicker and that broke the dam as she erupted into explosive laughter that brightened up Jaune's whole world.
Cloud merely let out a dramatic sigh as a joyful expression appeared on his shaking features, he stood up and smiled down at Jaune giving him a firm thumbs up. "Well, son just remember to call for help as you run, got it?"
"Yeah dad, I got it," Jaune replied returning his thumbs up.
"Well, I'm glad you haven't let your victory go to your head Jaune," Dr Kaiser spoke adding his own two cents. "There is not much I can do for your ribs my boy but probably take it easy on them, no jolting impacts and probably keep the hugs light got it?"
"Hugs… Bloody hell Jaune, I hugged you earlier and so did your sister! Why didn't you tell us it hurt?" Cloud accused tugging at his own long blond hair.
"… Because I wanted more hugs, and besides it's my bottom ribs and stomach that are hurt not my whole chest," Jaune argued back.
Cloud sighed again, "I swear your gonna make me grey at this rate kid," he complained dramatically. Hella however was cooing over Jaunes stubborn face as he turned his nose up defiantly at his father's exasperation.
"Jaune how bad are the ribs, pain-wise?" Dr Kaiser asked nonchalantly.
"... three."
"Of course, they are," the doctor grumbled, lightly prodding around the area, "and now?"
"Still three but a high three."
"Right take it easy on your ribs they will be delicate and more liable to breaking while fractured and we really want to avoid that, ok?" Dr Kaiser instructed, before moving his Scroll across the rest of Jaune's chest and taking a few notes. Finally getting to his arms Dr Kaiser paused once more but this time he had a smile on his face.
"Not a bad amount of muscle for a kid here Jaune," the doctor complimented his eyes shifting to Jaune's own with a spark of amusement in them. Jaune snorted lightly at the man's attempt to fluster him, but it was his parent's reactions that made the jest worth it.
"Of course there is, he's an Arc, after all, gets it from me," Cloud bragged flexing his impressive biceps to the point his shirt strained. Hella saw him flexing and jabbed a finger into his side causing the grown man to squeak and flinch away, a whine already leaving his mouth.
"Puh-lease, if he takes after anyone then it's my side of the family, we know functional muscle is better than all that excess weight," she teased flexing only a singular arm and showing off how the corded muscle flexed beneath her darker skin.
"Mm, I love it when you show off," Cloud revealed, his voice husky and low.
"*Ahem* Mrs Arc, I don't believe I have had the pleasure of an introduction yet, but now I am curious, I know of the Arc family prowess but are you also from a hunter line?" Dr Kaiser asked obviously trying to ignore what he just heard.
"Hm, you could say that I suppose. I'm Mistrali by birth, from the capital. My family might not tote the same martial fame as the Arcs, but I assure you our talents on the battlefield are infamous," she explained avoiding eye contact with everyone. "And you can call me Hella, Hellebore Arc, it is a pleasure to meet you, Dr Kaiser."
"Ahh, Hellebore... was starting to think you were one of the few spared the colour naming tradition," Dr Kaiser teased. Finally, the doctor got to Jaune's hands and once more was brought to pause as he saw with his own eyes the lacerations on his palms.
"Hmm, minor lacerations surrounded by abrased skin... guess you were serious about the rock. We will disinfect these and then bandage them, best to ere on the side of caution," Dr Kaiser explained briefly glimpsing the torn skin for only a short moment.
"It was either the rock or a stick... I chose the rock," Jaune defended his decision.
"I am not judging your choices Jaune, I myself would not have known what to do in your position... unarmed, no Aura and not even a decade old... strike that I know exactly what I would have done," Dr Kaiser shrugged.
"What?" Jaune asked curiously.
"... Probably died... or ran away... or both," Dr Kaiser spoke solemnly. "You are an amazing young man Jaune, you did something so ridiculously foolish that the only result should have been your parents having to grieve for their son... but instead you did a feat many would claim is impossible."
Dr Kaiser's proclamation was met with a strange amalgamation of morose thoughts and a begrudging smile from Jaune. Gently Jaune reached out to both of his parents, laying a hand on his dad's face and the other upon his mother's swollen belly. "... I'm ok," he proclaimed to his parents, a calm smile and smooth confidence aiding his powerful message.
Jaune was not expecting his assurance to have such a powerful effect but as if a dam broke his mother began to cry silently and his father bent his head hiding his face. Both parents clutched at his hands, his father in a firm grip with both hands and his mother sandwiching his other against her stomach. Jaune saw his dad shake lightly his face still hidden as his mother's sorrowful face looked picturesque as her tears cascaded down her cheeks, Jaune blinked away the mist that gathered in his own beginning to feel overwhelmed. It was his mother who spoke first her voice as clear as ever, tears doing nothing to her tone of voice.
"We love you Sunshine... so much," Hella confided, Jaune feeling a single tear slip down his features at her words.
"I love you guys too," Jaune replied squeezing his father's hands and smiling up at his mom with moist eyes.
"... Sorry to interrupt but Jaune you will be happy to know you have no further injuries," the doctor interjected as tactfully as he could. Jaune pulled his gaze away from his parents almost begrudgingly, but the doctor's tone made Jaune's instincts twitch.
"You aren't saying something," Jaune stated plainly his voice void of emotion or accusation.
"... Perceptive. Yes, I am, there are no signs of any physiological reason that I can observe for your memory loss but it's difficult as the mind is a complex subject." Dr Kaiser explained all the while examining his Scroll with furrowed brows, Jaune giving him an inquisitive look as he did.
"So why can't he remember then?" Hella asked, her husband still taking a moment to gather himself.
"... As I said I can't completely rule out a physiological reason as I don't know if there have been any changes to his mind from a previous state, but from what I can observe his brain looks to be in healthy condition. However, this leads me to believe that it's more likely Jaune's memory loss could be indicative of possible psychological causes... trauma comes to mind." Dr Kaiser concluded rubbing his weathered face with his large hands, his Scroll resting on the bed displaying an image of Jaune's brain.
Jaune reached over for the Scroll and investigated the image closely, his paranoia prickling as he looked at the in-depth diagram of his grey matter. The blood vessels in his eyes throbbed and a red haze bled into his vision as he beheld his mind covered in eyes that stared back at him hungrily, blinking and squirming. Jaune should have found this horrifying, Jaune should have been terrified and thrown the Scroll across the room in a panic. Instead, he snorted and handed the Scroll back to Dr Kaiser with a shrug before uttering.
"Brains are weird," much to the amusement of the other occupants of the room.
"Agreed, I wish I could give you all a more definite diagnosis, but I am most definitely not a Neurologist or a Psychologist for that matter," Dr Kaiser groused.
"Out of curiosity-" Jaune started but Dr Kaiser was one step ahead of him.
"Trauma Surgeon but I operate as a GP," Dr Kaiser explained.
"... and a GP is what exactly?" Jaune asked a little frustration bleeding into his voice as another gap in his knowledge made itself apparent.
"GP stands for General Practitioner... funny that you remember what a Trauma Surgeons is?" Dr Kaiser added questioningly.
"I just assumed it was a surgeon who operates on people who have undergone physical trauma," Jaune added his mind flashing through images of some of the clinics he had seen in Yharnam... he was intimately aware of what a surgeon was after all.
"Huh, close, but a trauma surgeon is someone who performs emergency surgeries on people who have sustained critical injuries... working with hunters meant I was never short of work," Dr Kaiser elucidated. Jaune simply nodded storing the term away in the back of his mind not really caring for the differentiation as he still classified all doctors under the 'possible threat' category in his mind.
It was Jaune's father who spoke next after finally having gotten his emotions back under control, his eyes slightly bloodshot as he addressed the doctor. "Right so the memory loss is something we will have to talk to a specialist about but what about my sons' leg?" Cloud inquired gesturing to the still injured limb.
At this Dr Kaiser straightened up as his face relaxed somewhat, "now that, I can help with," he exclaimed reaching into his bag once more. "Despite the severity of the break, I should be easily able to set it and use a DIP cast to heal it in no time at all."
"Like salsa?" Cloud muttered befuddled, his wife sighing at his quiet exclamation her face the picture of amusement.
"Dust Infused Plaster, their standard equipment for hunter medics but I thought they required Aura to work?" Hella elaborated looking at the doctor curiously.
"Yes and no, yes it requires Aura to activate the dust, but it does not require the person wearing it to have Aura. If it did, it wouldn't be of much use as most hunters don't end up breaking a bone until they have gone and exhausted their Aura in the first place," Dr Kaiser lectured as he pulled out a sealed packet of something and a large sock from his bag also tossing them in some kind of collapsible mixing bowl.
Cloud seeming to realise they were skipping a step voiced his concerns worriedly, "umm doc not to step on your toes but how exactly are you gonna set the bone... don't you need to, umm..."
"Yes, normally I would need to perform surgery but that's where my Semblance comes in," Dr Kaiser cheerfully exclaimed.
"Your Semblance? I didn't think you had a healing Semblance?" Hella chimed in her voice suspicious.
"Hmm, oh heavens no, nothing like that. My Semblance is the source of my moniker as the 'Booming Salvation', it is called Shockwave and it allows for me to generate waves of force from my Aura essentially turning me into a walking explosive without all the fire." Dr Kaiser demonstrated this by holding his hand out and causing the air to ripple above it as dark blue ripples appeared in the air causing little pop noises to sound off.
Cloud nodded at this his eyes brightening at the display of the old man's Semblance even Hella got closer to observe the phenomenon, but his curiosity had yet to be sated. "Not that this isn't badass but how does being the equivalent of a walking grenade help set Jaune's busted leg?"
"A hunter who can not adapt Cloud is a poor hunter indeed," Dr Kaiser chuckled cryptically. "Just watch youngblood, maybe this old man can teach you something."
Jaune at this point was just trying to keep up with the conversation having no idea what Dust, Aura or Semblances were but knowing they were most likely very important. They most likely had something to do with the strange Arcane art that Dr Kaiser showed off, he had no idea what they had planned as he had no idea what form of healing used Arcane arts to facilitate itself. His thoughts quickly drifted to the strangeness of it but then he couldn't claim it to be so abnormal when Yharnam found healing through the imbibing of the cursed blood of gods.
"Right Jaune, I am going to give you some local anaesthetic to numb the region and then using the imaging software on my Scroll and my Semblance I am going to shift the bones in your leg back into place. As soon as this is done, I will let your leg rest and observe it for any unpredictable shifts and if there are none, we will get it put in a cast and well on its way to mending." Dr Kaiser swiftly laid out his plan of action to Jaune who was still trying to wrap his mind around just what in Kos's name a damnable Semblance is. But wishing to move on with the fixing of his leg if only so he might better enjoy the presence of his dear family he gave the doctor a nod of affirmation.
"Very well then, let us get this over with so you can get some much-needed rest," Dr Kaiser grunted pulling on some gloves and putting on some strange glowing glasses. "Right Jaune, I am well aware that you have a high pain tolerance but just be aware that this might pinch at first before the anaesthetic kicks in."
Jaune breathed in and got comfortable blinking sluggishly, with a lengthy exhale he spoke calmly, "do as you must."
Jaune couldn't help but smile as he felt both his parents comfort him, his mother stroking his hair and his father squeezing his shoulder fondly. As the anaesthetic was applied Jaune let his mind drift, allowing him to ignore the pain completely and focus solely on the comforting presence of his loving parents.
As the sensations of Dr Kaiser tending to his leg fades, he hears a gentle voice chime "... now shut your eyes."
YVYVYVYVY
"Is he... is he sleeping?" Cloud asked surprised, Dr Kaiser looking up ever so slightly to see both Arcs looking down at their son with expressions of absolute concern.
"... Your son is something else," Dr Kaiser proclaimed over the low thrum of his Semblance as he used his power to operate on Jaune's leg in a completely non-invasive way. The glasses he wore were a form of imaging device that worked in tandem with his scroll, giving him a way to see inside Jaune's leg as his power moved his bones back into place.
"Doc be honest how much pain should he have been in?" Cloud asked his voice showing just how scared he was feeling.
"... I would have been screaming bloody murder," Dr Kaiser sniffed, averting his gaze.
"I've had fractured ribs before, but I don't remember a lot about how it felt other than it not being great," Hella confessed numbly. "Sneezing was a small slice of hell, and I can assure you I would most definitely not have wanted anyone to hug me."
"What would you have put yours at on that pain scale?" Cloud asked looking up to his wife his face scrunched up.
"... Enough that I punched out the nurse that ran into me," she admitted leaning on Cloud glumly.
Dr Kaiser spoke once more his voice calm as he stated, "I wasn't exaggerating before when I said I doubted that I could have pulled off what your boy did."
Cloud huffed, "yeah no way in hell I could have."
"... Not with just a rock," Hella conceded earning a snort from Cloud who nudged her gently.
"I wish I could give you a definitive diagnosis for the memory loss he's displaying but there may be a silver lining to this in the fact that it's not being caused by some form of traumatic brain injury." Dr Kaiser began, not looking away from his work for even a moment, "I will say that your son is exceptionally well-spoken."
The Arc parents looked at each other for a moment, undergoing an unspoken conversation before Cloud broke it with an audible sigh and decided to add Dr Kaiser to the conversation. "We were somewhat hoping that you might be able to help us there... we didn't want to freak him out, but Jaune sounded almost like a completely different person," Cloud confessed.
At this, Dr Kaiser did look up the vibrations from his hands losing some of their frequency as he gave the Arc parents an inquisitive glance before refocusing on Jaune's leg. The room was absent of sound aside from the noise of Dr Kaiser's Semblance as he ruminated on the new information. Without looking up he spoke hesitantly, "... there are some studies that indicate traumatic events can affect an individual's personality... add this onto the fact that we are already seeing signs of his mind being in a... delicate state via his memory loss..." Dr Kaiser trailed off.
Hella at this audibly growled, "how much crap does my son have to go through." Cloud was silent as his own frustration made itself apparent by the sound of his knuckles popping as he clenched his fists.
Dr Kaiser offered what little comfort he could, "I am sure it's of little condolence to you or your son but he's a trooper and more than that he is an admirable big brother, you should be proud of him."
Hella in a calmer voice was quick to pounce, "We are, more than we can express but how are we supposed to enthuse that point when we nearly lost two of our children today. Even now I have to look at my child, my son as he has the bones in his leg reset and his mental state questioned."
"What would you do in our situation doc, how do I push aside the worry to focus on the pride I feel, how do I beat back the tremors in my gut to let him know that he's a hero... how do I overcome the terror of nearly losing my son to praise his amazing- no, impossible accomplishment." When Cloud finished talking, Hella was quick to comfort him with an embrace and rubbed his back, whispering words of comfort.
Dr Kaiser didn't speak until he had finished setting Jaune's broken bones properly, once they were in place, he kept a single hand positioned over the limb directing his semblance to ensure the bones didn't shift. "I can't tell you, but what I can say is that however you've been raising him up to this point has produced a brave young man willing to rush a Grimm to protect his sister. I don't know anything about being a parent, never had the pleasure, but to me, your son is all the evidence I need to know you two are pretty good at this whole raising kids' thing... so maybe just keep doing what you've been doing."
His piece said, Dr Kaiser switched his focus back to Jaunes leg, removing the makeshift split from his leg to begin going through the process of applying the cast. He worked in silence slipping the stockinette over Jaune's leg carefully, not wanting to ruin his previous efforts of carefully shifting the boy's broken bones. The medical stocking on comfortably, he set about placing the padding, asking Cloud for some assistance with ensuring it was tight but not restrictive. The padding was now secure Dr Kaiser wet the DIP cast roll and began to wrap it over the padding, he used multiple rolls for security and to ensure a nice even spread of the plaster. The cast in place and positive the bones and other internals of Jaune's lower leg were in stable condition, Dr Kaiser began to mould and shape that cast with his hands.
Satisfied that the cast was properly applied Dr Kaiser looked to both of Jaune's parents, "if you want to, the both of you are more than welcome to help supply some Aura to activate the Dust... I know how difficult it is to just stand by and watch when you want to help," he confessed waving Hella over. Both Arcs were eager to take the doctor up on his offer and all together they charge their Aura's into the cast causing its previous grey colour to shift to a dull brown that was honestly closer to a deep maroon.
"There... as for his ribs like I said he will just have to take it easy," Dr Kaiser expressed tossing the water from the plaster bowl out the window. "The only other thing I will do is tend to his hands, then I'll leave you a prescription for some painkillers that will take the edge off his pain... not that he needs them with his obscene pain tolerance."
"Still concerned about that," Hella commented.
"As am I, at first I thought it might be evidence of a Semblance, but his Aura is most definitely not activated," D. Kaiser confided. With nothing further to say to the concerned parents, Dr Kaiser sat down next to Jaune and began tending to his hands. Both Arcs began discussing how to best take care of Jaune while he was recovering allowing Dr Kaiser to only listen with half an ear.
Using some bottled water, he washed his hands off, Jaune didn't even flinch as he wiped down the cuts. His hands clean Dr Kaiser rested Jaune's hand upon his knee and grabbed his disinfectant spray, memories of applying the same tincture to other kids who hissed or cringed away from the pain. He sprayed it onto Jaune's hand the only response being a subtle twitch of his index finger, the boy slept on peacefully unperturbed. Shaking his head subtly as the whole situation made him feel off-kilter, he quickly wrapped Jaune's hands in bandages, the cuts might not be deep but he only had medical gauze so it would have to suffice. Pausing to inspect his work Dr Kaiser looked closely at Jaune's hand to make sure he covered his wounds entirely.
The sight of the bandage shifting suddenly made him do a double-take.
Shooting his head up to glance at Jaune's still peaceful visage before again looking back to the bandage proved it was not the boy waking up. Leaning in closer he stared at the white gauze, his eyes investigating the medical wrap with suspicion, getting closer to look for some disturbance his eyes focusing along the edges of the gauze. He looked at the threads his face now almost pressed to Jaune's palm, those tiny innocent looking threads still but looking like... like...
*Boop*
Dr Kaiser shot straight, startled so much that his Aura flashed as his heart raced, immediately he had three sets of eyes on him as he steadied his breath. Wait, three? He thought as he glances down at a now awake Jaune who was giving him an inquisitive look his outstretched index finger still frozen from where he had poked the doctor on the nose. With exaggerated slowness, Jaune brought a single brow upwards his unasked question obvious as he continued to pin the doctor with a questioning stare.
"Doctor are you alright?" Cloud was quick to ask, moving to check on the older hunter, Hella close on his heel observing the startled man carefully.
Dr Kaiser cleared his throat and took a calming breath as he replied, "yes, yes just thought I saw something, but it must have just been my mind playing tricks on me, no matter. Jaune is as patched up as I can make him, from this point it's up to him to ensure that he gets plenty of rest and takes it easy."
"Ahh, well then how about we see you out then, we can fill out any paperwork downstairs and you can give us the prescription for those pain killers," Cloud expressed opening the door to Jaune's room. Immediately the sound of little thuds and tiny feet dashing away, clomping on the floor gave away that Jaune's siblings had been eavesdropping. "Oi, you little gremlins! Don't think we won't talk about this later," Cloud hollered out after the mischievous giggles of little girls.
"Very imposing love," Hella quipped getting a dramatic bow and arm flourish from Cloud.
"I aim to please, c'mon doc or I'll keep ya around for a nightcap," Cloud snarked.
"Heavens above, don't tempt me," Dr Kaiser sighed putting the last objects back in his bag. Turning to face a silent Jaune who had continued to eye the old doctor curiously. the medic clears his throat before giving his farewells. "Well, Jaune, it's been a pleasure and you have been a model patient. Once more good work looking out for your sister but try to take better care of yourself... you got lucky this time so let's not go tempting fate."
"... I will do my best doctor, thank you for your aid and safe travels," Jaune nodded politely bidding the healer farewell.
"Hmm, see that you do and a fine farewell to you as well Jaune," His parting words said Dr Kaiser departed the room of the most peculiar young man he had ever met. Hella remained behind with Jaune meaning he was escorted downstairs and to the door by Cloud alone. Reaching the door, he put his coat on once more and quickly pulled a script book out from his jacket pocket scribbling down some mid-grade pain killers that normally he would consider insufficient but for Jaune would more than suffice.
"Take this down to the trading post in the morning, they should have this stock on hand or something similar enough for it not to matter, be sure to mention any allergies to the clerk and if there are any issues contact me," Dr Kaiser instructed professionally handing Cloud the script.
"I'll do it first thing come morning, I think the town is still on lockdown for now but assuming an all-clear comes through in the next few hours everything should be normal tomorrow," Cloud shrugged.
"True, this is a secure town... bigger than most," Dr Kaiser commented off-hand.
"Aye, just shy of a small city but I kinda like it ya know," Cloud replied with a wide grin.
"Tis a fine mix of modern-day ease and natural beauty... keep an eye on Jaune Mr Arc and remember just keep doing whatever you have been up to this point, he is a fine young man," Dr Kaiser expressed earnestly walking beyond the house's threshold.
"We will and expect to hear from me soon," Cloud replied offering.
Dr Kaiser turned about offering Cloud a handshake which was quickly grabbed by the enthusiastic man, "of course, follow up check-ups for both Jaune and Jade I assume as well as looking into specialists to aid us with Jaune's memory loss and personality shift."
Cloud seemed to be brought up short for a moment before quickly agreeing, "wha-... oh yeah of course that's what I meant, haha."
"... you wanted an autograph didn't you," Dr Kaiser deadpanned.
"Yes, most definitely."
"Goodbye Cloud," Dr Kaiser snorted walking off.
"Was that a no!?" Cloud hollered behind him but only got silence in response. "... I am putting that down as a maybe," he whispered to himself determinedly.
YVYVYVYVY
Jaune's mother had bid him good night only moments ago plunging his room into black, truthfully, he wanted her to stay. He hated he had forgotten just how beautiful his mother was, how caring she could be, he needed to make up for that, but his body hungered for sleep. It was an amusing sensation to be reunited with considering he had not felt such a deep need for rest at Yharnam. Probably due to bouncing between dream realms and the real.
He wanted to sleep, to truly sleep but he had much on his mind, the fact that he now knew just how much he had forgotten gnawed at him, but it was something else that unsettled his mind. The doctor... he had been of the right sort, Jaune supposed, but despite his best efforts he had still had to resist the urge to lash out. He did not instinctively hate doctors, unlike swine, but he simply could not allow himself to trust them... any of them.
"Tell them to seek Iosefka's Clinic."
Once more it seemed he would have to suffer the ghosts of his mind as they stirred up emotions better left culled and forsworn. Jaune laid back shutting his eyes tightly, not wishing to feel the coming wave of feeling but despite his efforts, he would not stem the tide.
"Upon my Hippocratic oath, if they are yet human, I will look after them, perhaps even cure them."
Against Jaunes will, a growl worked its way up his throat, the phantom taste of blood writhing on his tongue as his fists clenched longing for the handle of his weapon.
"You can assure them, there's no place safer."
Jaune grit his teeth as fury broiled in his blood and the cuts upon his palms heated up, he pulled a shaking fist up to his eye line and in a haze saw the arm he possessed in Yharnam. Flesh pale and wrought in white marks, indicators of horrific damage sustained during the long night, his fingers bony and long wrapped about a cleaver as viscous sanguine fluids ran down the limb with tantalising slowness.
"They're in your hands, and soon, mi-"
Jaune brought that phantom limb down on the bed with such force that the frame whined under the strain as he finally beat back the past and let his mind settle on the present. Images of his reunited family, his loving perfect family blanketing his mind and allowing the dread and horror of Yharnam to abate.
It seemed that despite Dr Kaiser's professionalism he would yet struggle to trust any medical professional... no matter, he would simply avoid them. All he needed was his family.
And so, he drifted off to sleep with images of a field of flowers the colours of white, red, green, orange and purple all about him beneath a full luminous moon.
A.N.
I am so, so, so sorry for the delay but there is a reason, see I didn't actually think anyone was reading this because FANFIC THE WEBSITE thought it would be funny to not send me any of my usual email alerts. By the time I realised people were reading this for reals, there was already a veritable wave of support and so I quickly hammered out this chapter. Please forgive any errors I kind of threw this together as quickly as possible.
Firstly, let's just talk about what an overwhelming amount of support this got 13 reviews off the bat and nearly a hundred followers on chapter one, bloody hell I was stunned. But as soon as I saw that I knew I had to get this second chapter out.
Now let me just quickly state that I loved all the reviews, seeing that much reader interaction meant I just had to pump the second chapter out and so I hope this satisfies.
Also, a little update if you find yourself really, really, really liking my writing I have opened up the dreaded Pat Reon, spaces are there for reasons... reason being this website doesn't like the word but considering I don't like not receiving alerts about my story I don't really give a fuck. But yeah, if you really love my writing and want to show some financial support, I'm AceReaper on Pat reon same icon as on my FF account.
So yeah, I'll leave it here but don't fret I won't trust my emails anymore and will try and check up on the fic personally more regularly. Please keep the support coming as reviews have the biggest effect on post rate aside from Pat reon input.
Take care of yourselves, everyone, oh and ahh, happy easter I guess.
As always.
Until next time.