Author's Note: Boy did this take a long time to write. But finally I did it. Still haven't decided on the pairing. But I'd rather build the world around Jaune first before fully committing to a particular ship. Good news for people still trying to vote for their favorite girl. Anyway let me know what you guys think!

Project: Jaeger

Chapter 5:Scars of the Heart

"Augh…" The blonde Jaeger pilot couldn't help but groan through the phone call, though he hoped his sister wouldn't pick up on his weariness.

Unlucky for him, however was that of all his sisters, Charlotte was the most perspective one of the bunch.

"Long night at Beacon, Little brother?" He could hear the amusement from her tone.

"Oh? And what gave that away?" Jaune smirked as he slowly and painfully bent over to apply the ice pack on his sore knee cap. He met the cold, tender embrace and it felt like heaven. Thank God for small comforts like it.

"Haha. Let's just say a sister knows."

"Are you sure it wasn't my incessant groaning?"

"I just thought that was what you sounded like normally."

A pause, followed up by a familiar light laughter. Moments like this were precious to Jaune. God only knew he had few of them. Part of being a family meant that he and his siblings had to grow up eventually. And with growing up came separation, as the girls and he found their callings in life. But he never lost touch with what was important. He always made sure to call his sisters whenever he could.

Well, whenever one of them would pick up their scroll, anyway. Charlotte however was usually receptive to being reached. A socialite and the darling of the art world, his sister was famous for her ability to bring life to the stone statues she sculpted. And not to toot his own family's horn, but even Jaune was impressed by his sister's creations. It was too bad he couldn't attend her upcoming art gallery. When she heard the news of his return to the Jaeger program she had flipped out on him at first, until much reasoning and apologizing won her over to his side (she always was a softie). His twenty four year old sibling relented and gave her consent on the promise that he would call once a week when he found the time.

"You've drifted apart since Louise… you have other siblings too, you know."

She was right, he didn't need to be reminded, but it was about time he allowed himself to heal. Starting with mending bonds with his family seemed to be the right step.

A fair price to be paid.

"Well, what was it?" she continued,"A blonde? A brunette? A saucy redhead?"

"It was a redhead-" Jaune subconsciously answered. His eyes widened a moment later, fully realizing the meaning of his words. "Wait. no!"

Too late.

"Oh my! Jaune! I didn't know you had a thing for redheads!" his sister teased.

"It wasn't like that."

"Heard that one from Marie before."

"I'm serious, Char. We were just sparring! That's all!"

"Is that what kids are calling it nowadays?" The teasing never ended with the Arc girls and Charlotte was a of the master of the game.

"Char!" he could feel the heat emit from his face.

Yes, Pyrrha Nikos was insanely attractive as were the majority of the girls of Beacon. But his sisters were the last people in the world who needed to know that. They didn't need further ammunition to use against him.

"Alright, alright. No need to get all huffy about it, Mr. Big-Boy-Pants."

Jaune sighed. Your four year old self admits once to wearing those on camera and the teasing monicker sticks forever.

"Seriously, though how's your day?" Despite her constant laughing, Charlotte never failed to ask what was truly important.

"Exhausting." Jaune admitted as he recalled the day's events with her.

It had started with the uneasy first day jitters, than his failed evaluation with Glynda, his brutally long day with the classroom and his students, etc. Charlotte listened intently, without intervening. She was always one of the better listeners, not as good as Marie, but good enough that he had shared a secret or two with her before. Still his tale wasn't unpleasant. He ended his story with the sparring match against Pyrrha Nikos.

It wasn't a complete beatdown, like he thought it would. Heck, given the time he had been away he was surprised he remembered a lot of the Ranger's fighting techniques and held his own. But eventually the night concluded with Pyrrha slamming him down hard on the mat for the one moment he let his guard down. And if Jaune was honest with himself, it felt a little like she was holding back.

Something he promised wouldn't happen again. He still had a pride as a Ranger.

"-I'm telling you, Sis. This girl… she was something else."

Perhaps he shouldn't have said that in such a forlorn tone.

"Oh? Sounds like you're fond of this, Pyrrha."

"I mean… It's not like… well she is kinda cute-"

That was all the cue his sister seemed to need. Soon afterwards all the blonde Ranger could hear was tapping on the line, like… wait a minute...

"Hey, are you looking her up?"

"Why, Jaune I have no idea what you're- Oh my gosh, Jaune she's gorgeous!"

He sighed. That was his fault. He probably should have known Charlotte's curiosity would get the best of her the second she heard Pyrrha was a girl. His doomed love life was one of her favorite topics. Any girl he had ever presented to her, Charlotte was quick to analyze and ready to "ship" them together, regardless of how he felt.

"An All-Remnant state champion, a professional athlete, and named person of the year twice by Atlas weekly! Mmmm, there are some nice pictures here. Do you think she'd be fine modeling for me?. Wait, did you know she's on the box of Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Cereal?"

"Yeah, she's some- wait, she is?"

Jaune had to look that up. Within seconds he could validate Charlotte's claim. "We'll I'll be." There she was, on the cover of one of his favorite cereals growing up, like a celebrity. "How out of touch am I? She never mentioned…"

Of course she'd never mention it, dummy. What was she going to say? "By the way, I'm on some cereal box?" That would have made for some awkward conversation.

Still… if he wasn't impressed before, he surely was now. Her files never mentioned her public success, just the bare essentials of her Ranger career. Maybe it was something he could use, something to talk about. Pyrrha was polite enough to him but he could tell she was still trying to figure out how to approach him.

If he was going to be a successful teacher here he would definitely need her help. Pyrrha knew the New Beacon. She was New Beacon. He needed to adapt to that as soon as he could.

The youngest born of the Arc family was than quick to steer the conversation elsewhere otherwise Charlotte would have been at it forever.

He had been with her on the phone close to an hour now, but Jaune hardly thought of it. He missed hearing his sister's voice. It was a comfort no brother would forget. "So… have you been to the newest courtyard there yet?

"No, not really. I haven't been able explore all of the new sides of Beacon since I got here. There's just so many things for me to do. Why?"

Where was Charlotte going with this?

"You should. Next chance you get. I donated some of my finest work there. Ozpin and our family might have had some grievances but the man knows good art when he sees it and he told me it was the central piece to the courtyard at the Academy. Figured you could do that for me at least, since you won't be able to go to my art gallery. You can ask Glynda to show you."

"I guess I can-" Jaune's eyes widened as he looked up at his ceiling clock. He was 10 minutes late for his session with Glynda. And she was never one to tolerate any tardiness. "Oh man, listen, Char. I gotta go, okay? I'm super late for something!"

"Is it a date?! Wait hold on-"

"Bye!" he'd apologize to her later but right now she was not the one he was worried about.

He groaned once more as he slowly got up, still feeling the aches his body was telling him to.

No rest for the weary, Jaune supposed as he took his key card and closed the door behind him.

He was going to be a pilot again, no matter what he had to do.

If his body was weary, his mind was fried. He had been at this for two hours now, connecting himself once again inside the drift helmet, reigning in his thoughts. Controlling his memories was harder than he'd thought it was going to be.

It wasn't like it was easy to begin with, honestly. Jaune remembered the training he had as a young cadet. Human beings are emotional creatures. The Drift revealed the most intimate part of you and let that part loose. It was like trying to contain a thousand butterflies that flew from you to the outside world to be free. It was damn near impossible without the training.

And he hadn't had training in years.

And he was suppose to teach the newest generation how?

What a joke.

"Grah!" Jaune had had enough, he pulled the helmet off to reveal a sweaty and frustrated looking face.

"Jaune, we were making some progress," Glynda softly reprimanded him as she stopped to take notes.

"Really?! Because I haven't noticed! I'm drawing blanks here, Glyn!" He took both of his hands and drew his blond bangs back away from his eyes. He was suddenly quite aware of his tone. "I'm sorry… It's just… it's been a long day. Last thing I needed was to be reminded how much of a broken piece of crap I am."

"You are not that." His eyes locked with Glynda's green ones as she told him with sincerity. How could he have not noticed how striking they were? Like they could see through his soul. "Broken? Yes, perhaps a little. But a piece of crap? Jaune Arc you are many things, but a piece of crap is not one of them."

He knew it wasn't true… still it felt good to have someone else validate your worth. "... way to take the wind out my whining sails, Glyn." He smiled sadly. " But thanks." He took a deep breath and sighed before looking at her once more. "Again?"

She gave him a glance and nodded solemnly. "Again."

And back into the void he went. Into the recesses of his mind, the darkest corners only Louise and Glynda had been privy to.

What do you see, Jaune?

Glynda's voice was always calm and soothing. She would be his anchor and life house should he ever find himself lost in the fog of the memory.

"Nothing yet…"

Concentrate. Think back again on that night. The rain. The thunder. The fight.

Picturing the image wasn't hard. Maintaining his hold however, was another.

Every time the memory surfaced, feelings and emotions of that day were imprinted on him. It was no use fighting it. It was like trying to change the words to a book that had already been written.

Don't fight it. Don't get caught up by its swells.

"...E...easier said than done, Glyn," he grunted, his breathing heavy.

Don't let its grasp take you. It is a part of you, but it does not own you.

It doesn't own me… it doesn't own me…

"Jaune!" Louise' terrified voice echoed within him still.

Doesn't own me… It doesn't own me…

What happened to you and Louise was tragic. But you saved a lot of people's lives that night. You and your sister both. That was what you were born to do, Jaune. To save lives.

"Jaune…" It was Louise' voice again. But this time it was much more light, playful even. It was the memory of their time in Beacon. "Hey bro… I'm glad you're doing this with me. I wouldn't have anybody else at my side."

"Hey, No big… besides, who else is going to save the world with you? Marie?"

"Shut up, you goof!"

Her laughter was like the pleasant sound of a bell. Something he hadn't heard in awhile. Maybe Glynda was right. He was out of balance after that night. The bad memory of that day had flooded his senses and taken hold of his character, his will, his drive and had frozen him solid.

To undo the hurt… he needed to heal, to feel. He needed to remember the good times with Louise.

Jaune was ready to soldier on when he felt the familiar touch of Glynda's fingers on his shoulder, indicating the end of the Drift cycle.

She helped pull off the heavy contraption as she took hold of his head and studied him intently. "Your eyes are still dilated. Heavy perspiration and heavy breathing." She glanced to the side as she looked at a monitor. "Your brain's alpha and delta waves are off the charts. We definitely should stop for now."

"Just when I thought we were getting to the good part." He chuckled despite his tired state. "Well, Doc. What's the prognosis?"

She gave him an annoyed look before shaking her head. "It's too early to say. But it's a definite improvement over yesterday."

"You sure you're just not saying that to make me feel better?" He couldn't help it. Deep down he'd always wanted to tease the ever prim and proper Glynda.

She was more than quick to respond as she slapped his face slightly with a piece of paper, one of the many that was quickly being ejected by her printing machine. "Facts don't lie, Arc. You're slowly improving. Keep that up and you'll be inside a Jaeger cockpit in no time."

He'd been meaning to ask. Now might be a good time as any.

"What about you?"

"Hmm?" Glynda adjusted her glasses as she looked on him puzzlingly. Damn, can she be cute when she wants to be.

Jaune cleared his throat. "I said, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"When this is all over Glyn, what are you going to do?"

"That's a silly thing to ask. I'm going to continue on with my duties."

Now it was his turn to shake his head. "No, Glynda. I meant to say when I become a pilot again, I'm going to need a partner."

"...Jaune…" She took off her glasses, giving him a full clear view of those magnificent green orbs. It was like staring at an ever green meadow. "...I… I can't."

"Bullshit." Even he was taken back by his language, but he needed to say it. "You were the strongest candidate by far during our years together, You and James had a flawless record. You'd be amazing out there as a Jaeger pilot again. Hell you've been inside my head. We'd be perfect together!"

It took him to realize the double meaning of his words. Glynda was well aware too as both of them flushed the same crimson shade. "I mean… what I meant to say was-"

"Jaune I know what you mean. And I'm flattered." She smiled yet why did it feel like there was going to be a but at the end of her line?

"But-"

And there it was.

"I'm needed here. Jaune I have a lot of responsibility to the academy now. Beacon can barely function without me and Professor Ozpin running it. It's… I just don't think it's a good idea."

But Jaune wasn't one to give up so easily. "Then find a replacement."

"Huh?"

"Find someone to take your spot. Oz would understand. I mean he practically proposed the idea that you and I be partners together years ago! I was just too pigheaded to follow through with the idea. It's a new start for me... and you."

"Jaune. You are tired and emotionally drained…" Glynda kept up a proper appearance as she placed back the glasses back on her face. "You're not thinking clearly. If you would like we can discuss this matter another time."

"Glynda I don't want to-"

"Jaune, please. Just drop it for the night. I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay?"

Jaune knew he could be stubborn when it came to things. Perhaps he was being a little bit too pushy.

"Okay… okay. Fine." He reluctantly agreed.

Just for tonight. He had not given up on the idea of Glynda being his partner, far from it but it was best to respect her wishes for now.

She looked at him and he at her before the two broke eye contact, embarrassed at the act. It was like being a school kid all over again.

She finally broke the silence. "It's getting late. Get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow."

He got up and put on his bomber jacket once more, glancing up at the clock. "Yeah, you're probably right. It is getting kinda late."

He was about to bid her goodnight for the evening before stopping. "Hey Glyn."

"Yes?"

"You've been to the new courtyard, right?"

She nodded. "Of course. Why do you ask?"

"It's just something my sister said… she told me she wanted me to see one of her works. I guess she donated one of her sculptures or something? Thought I might just walk by if it's on the way back." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

The cool blonde beauty before him glanced at him for a moment or two before her lips pursed into a small melancholic smile. "I see." She got up and got hold of her small lavender sweater. "Shall I accompany you?"

"To where?" Now it was his turn to look the confused part.

She shook her head. "It's not something for words. You need to see with your own eyes."

The night air was cold and crisp, Autumn indeed was in full swing. Jaune didn't care, he liked the cold. It reminded him of hot chocolate and long nights by the fireplace. He looked at Glynda, who looked like she was faring worse than him.

"You alright, Goodwitch?" He chuckled as he watched her shiver.

"I-I'm fine Arc." She stumbled through her words.

Huh. The cold and calculating Glynda Goodwitch can feel sensations after all.

"Do you… wanna borrow my jacket?"

"I still have my pride, Arc. I might have underestimated the weather, but that doesn't mean I'm some fragile school girl who needs your charity." She crossed her hands over her full chest, rubbing her arms in the process.

"Suit yourself." Glynda might have grown up, but that stubborn streak she had still remained.

"Are we there yet? We've been walking for like five minutes." He glanced around.

"Almost there. Just a left at the atrium."

Just like clockwork, Glynda's directions were flawless and on the mark. They had definitely arrived on some kind of new courtyard garden, complete with a magnificent fountain and statue as the center piece. The street lamps lit the grounds quite well but it was the site of the fountain that pulled at his attention. There were dozens of lit candles placed around it, all of varying sizes and degrees. Some had even burned all the way to the core. The countless tiny flames were magnificent to behold, but it was the statue above that they illuminated that held his gaze.

"... Wha…" He looked around, dumbfounded, practically turning to Glynda for guidance.

She gave him a warm look and said " Go on."

His mind didn't fully grasp what she meant but his legs did as they continued to advance slowly towards the lovely sight, the sound of the tranquil waters of the fountain easing him in. Other than the candles were bushels of flowers, some in bouquets, others just a long stemmed flower in a vase. All had a place beneath the fountain. Illuminated by candle light flames and the street lamps he would have to have been blind to not recognize the statue.

It was in the shape of a woman, garbed in the graduation uniform of Beacon Academy. On her left she held a Jaeger helm, while her right hand saluted any bystander lucky enough to have looked at her. Despite her onyx exterior there was a very human expression on her face. Something could never forget in the twenty two years he had been alive. His breath was taken away as he slumped down, his one hand raised, afraid to reach up to her.

"Louise?"

He glanced at the plaque card below the statue of his sister.

Louise Constance Arc

Beloved Hero and Daughter of Beacon.

Never Forget, Never Forgotten

Somehow his eyes stung, something liquid-like was deeply flowing down from his face.

"Never forget, never forgotten. Those were your sister's ideas. Charlotte can be a such poet when she wants to be." He heard Glynda speak softly behind him, which was good. He couldn't let her see him like this. "But never has any truer word had been spoken. Jaune… People remember Louise's sacrifice. Every year there are flowers and candles constantly lit in her memory. Jaune… she's never gone, not truly. Not unless we forget."

He wiped his tears on his sleeves, trying his best not to be overcome by his grief, but the hot flowing liquid continued on. "I won't. I won't ever."

And so he sat there. Under the stars of night, weeping for a sister and a friend. For he had lost her… and found her at last.