10 years ago
Jaune eyed his caretaker, Marron, warily as he sat down and leaned against a fallen log, running a hand through his greasy hair. "Pick up your sword and keep going, boy!" he barked. They'd been at it for hours now, it was always like this whenever Raven had to go out. This time she'd been gone for nearly a week and he was starting to get worried.
"W-when's Mom coming back?" he asked meekly.
Mason eyed him before pointing at a spot on the ground beside him, "Come here. Now."
Jaune swallowed nervously before stepping past where he dropped the rusted sword he used for training before walking slowly up to him. When he got close enough his Mason quickly lashed out and struck him across the face knocking him onto his backside. Jaune quickly pressed his hands to his mouth and scrunched his eyes tightly.
"You start crying and you get another one. You know Raven doesn't like you calling her that." Jaune sat in place, shoulders trembling as he struggled to keep from making a sound. "This is horseshit," Mason sighed. "Everyone else is either doing work around camp or hunting Grimm but here I am stuck looking after a waste of space like you. Give me a break."
Mason looked at Jaune still trembling and rolled his eyes as he reached for a flask in his coat. He'd been with the tribe for most of his life even before Raven and her brother had even shown up. Hell, he'd been the one to push for them to get sent off to train as huntsmen so they'd have a better chance of killing them. Now, he was second in command and they were on top of the world.
Jaune rubbed his eyes and put some distance between him and Mason before he stood up again. He hated it whenever Raven had to leave. Usually she was gone for two or three days at most, but the longer she was away the longer he had to stick by Marron. It wasn't unusual for Raven to come home and find him black and blue all over, but she never questioned it.
"D-do you know when Raven's coming back?" Jaune amended. He had to be extra careful not to say anything out of line or get too close. His caretaker got especially mean when he started drinking.
"I don't know, alright? Shut the hell up already!" Mason took a swig of his flask, "I already showed you what to practice. If you don't want to do that then go find a nice pile of sticks to nap on, but stay where I can see you and don't talk. Neither of us have much choice but to wait."
For his part Jaune, turned around and walked back to where he was practicing. His face ached and he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep no matter how exhausted he was. The sword Mason had found for him wasn't anything impressive. It'd be more like a short sword or long knife to an adult. Jaune liked it though because the rust gave it a nice reddish color and it was single edged and curved. Just like Raven's.
Jaune got into the stance he was shown and started swinging the sword. Too soon his arms started to ache and his hands started to hurt from gripping the misshapen handle too tightly. He dropped the sword and rubbed his arm before suddenly wincing as something impacted his forehead. Mason had thrown a rock at his head.
"The sword goes in your enemies guts not on the ground! Pick the damn thing up and don't stop until I tell you to!" Mason dragged a hand across his grizzled face before shuffling further off the log to rest his head on it before he closed his eyes and his breathing gradually slowed. Normally, he towered over Jaune when stood to full height. His body was muscled and strong not quite thin and lithe like some of the other tribe members, but powerful all the same. Probably even more so.
The young boy glared at him and rubbed his forehead as blood started to run down around his eye from the cut there. Slowly, he leaned down and picked up the rusted sword as he continued to stare hatefully at Marron. He tried a few swings before his muscles started protesting again. Sparing another glare at him, his heart started pounding and before he knew it he was inching closer to his guardian, sword clenched tightly in his hand.
He stopped when Mason stirred all of a sudden but relaxed when all he did was empty the rest of his flask into his mouth. The pounding in his ears was deafening and he marveled at how close he managed to get, certain that the old bandit would have picked up on the sounds he was making.
The rusted blade in his hand started shaking as he got closer and closer. Without warning, a red portal opened off to the side and Jaune yelped as he fell back in surprise. Three figures walked out of the portal, two significantly shorter than the first. Jaune beamed as he recognized the red eyes and jet black hair of the woman he saw as his mother.
The other two figures were closer to Jaune in height and age and he looked less sure about first girl who had black hair like Raven but was cut very short and had light blue eyes. Her skin was tan and she wore ragged clothes. The girl held her chin up high and glared at everything around her, unafraid. The second girl's primary theme seemed to be pink from her pink hair to matching pink eyes to the redness of her cheeks accented by her paler complexion. Her clothes were also worn, but Jaune could make out a design of stitched flowers on her shirt through the stains and tears.
Raven said nothing as she took in the sight before her. Mason was napping, his silver flask on the ground by his hand, and Jaune sitting a few feet away, wide eyed and gripping a sword. "Marron!" she shouted.
He scrambled to his feet and turned to face Raven, completely oblivious to Jaune. "Raven! It's about damn time you got back! Where have you-what the hell is that?" he asked, pointing to the two girls at her side. "Please tell me we've started trafficking people now."
"No, this is Vernal," she said, pushing the black haired girl forward, "and the other one is Rouge. They will be joining us from today onward, so they'll need food, new clothes, a tent, and-"
"Hell no!" Mason yelled out. "What the hell are you thinking bringing in more fucking kids." To anyone else disobeying and questioning the leader of the Branwen tribe would be a death sentence, but Mason understood how things worked around here. The strong survive and the weak perish. There was no way around it and Mason wasn't about to tuck his tail between his legs and do as he was told like some beaten mutt.
"Watch yourself, Marron…" Raven warned, eyes narrowed.
"Fuck that! Explain yourself, Raven. One snotty brat is pushing it as is, but now you drag in two more? You've lost your damn mind. I haven't survived all these years to play at being a nanny! You want these kids looked after? Then do it your damn own self!"
Marron was practically frothing at the mouth and Jaune didn't want to be anymore on his bad side than he already was so he stayed quiet. He saw that the girl called Vernal was staring daggers at Mason and Rouge was wide eyed and frozen.
"Enough!" quicker than Jaune could follow Raven drew her sword and held the point at eye level to Mason. "You will not speak out of turn again. I won't repeat myself so you better shut your mouth and listen! Am I clear?" Mason batted the blood red blade to the side and glared at Raven but said nothing. "Good."
Jaune picked himself up and stood to the side knowing better than to interrupt. He eyed the two girls Raven brought and saw that Vernal was staring at Raven's sword in admiration. Rouge didn't look so enthused by the weapon and stood peeking out from behind Raven. Jaune couldn't help but feel bad for her.
Raven sheathed her sword and began to explain, "I found these two in Mistral on the way back. From what I understand, Rouge chose to run away from Haven Academy and had been living on the streets for a few days when I found her and Vernal. Vernal was fighting with Rouge over scraps in an alley when Rouge activated her semblance."
Rouge grimaced and tried to make herself look as small as possible while Vernal just scoffed and looked away, arms crossed. "Rouge would have killed her had I not been passing by seeing as Vernal wasn't afraid in the least despite the fact she lacked an aura."
Jaune could only gape at the two new arrivals. Rouge, someone as young as him, having an aura and a semblance was the coolest thing in the world! Vernal, still wanting to fight despite being defenseless, was just as impressive. Marron on the other eyed the two with obvious skepticism.
"So," Raven continued, " I decided to intervene and bring them both back. Rouge lacks control and so I will instill discipline in her. Vernal's actions, while foolish, are indicative of a natural born warrior. I will train them both as soon as they've built up their strength."
Mason waited a few moments to see if she was done before speaking, "Someone so young manifesting a semblance is incredible, but that doesn't change the fact that they need to be looked after. I'm sick of being a babysitter and I won't stand for it any longer, Raven. Find someone else to clean up after them."
Raven's lips curved up slightly, "Relax. You've done as I've instructed and for that I am grateful. There is another reason for bringing Vernal as well. She is older and wiser having grown up in the slums. She will be responsible for Rouge and Vernal. You may return to your other duties."
At hearing his name, Jaune perked and shuffled a bit closer behind Mason to try and catch Raven's eye, but she peered straight ahead ignoring him completely. Vernal saw him move and scowled at him before huffing and turning up her nose. Rouge on the hand and giggled softly and Jaune rubbed the back of his head before smiling in turn.
"I see…," Mason trailed off and pondered Raven's words before seemingly making up his mind. "That's not good enough Raven. I've wasted too much time looking after your mess, I'm gonna need something more." Mason crossed his arms and stared back into Raven's eyes.
"...Fine." Raven conceded, "We will discuss compensation at a later date. You're dismissed." Mason grinned, smugness radiating off him in waves as he marched off. When he was gone, Raven finally turned and acknowledged Jaune, keeping her features measured in the face of his beaming smile.
"Mom, I'm so glad you're back!" he said, rushing forward arms open wide to wrap them around her waist before he abruptly stopped.
Raven held her hand in front of his face and glared at him, "What do you think you're doing? I've told you before to never address me as such have I not?"
Jaune looked at the ground and shuffled his feet, "Yes, but you've been gone for so long and I wanted to give you a hug. I missed you…"
"You know full well I don't want you touching me. Don't make me discipline you, my trip was long and I have better things to waste my time on."
Jaune winced at her tone but nodded, "Yes, ma'am…"
"Good. Clean yourself and show these two where to get some food." Raven strode past him and started towards her own tent, declaring nothing more needed to be said between them.
Left alone, Jaune turned nervously to face his two new companions, "Um, hi, I'm Jaune. Nice to-"
Jaune was cut off as Vernal marched towards him and grabbed him by his shirt and held him at eye level. Seeing as she was taller than both of them Jaune had to stand on his toes to keep from falling over. "Where's the food?" she demanded.
"Ah-ow! It's over there!" he said, pointing in the direction of the fires where they were cooking the meat their hunters had brought back earlier. "I can ask them to give you some, just wait a-" Jaune grunted as Vernal pulled him off the ground and threw him to the side before storming off.
"Oww," Jaune whined as he pulled pebbles out his palms and dusted himself off for the third time that afternoon.
"Um…" Rouge trailed off and gripped her forearm.
"What?" Jaune snapped. Are you gonna hit me now too?"
"N-no! I'm sorry! I just um…"
Jaune's glare melted when he saw just how nervous the girl in front of him was. She shuffled her feet and quickly looked away whenever their eyes met. "I-I'm sorry," Jaune sighed, "I didn't mean to yell. Are you hungry?"
"Mhm," the girl nodded.
"Okay, uh, Mom said to get cleaned up first though and I have to do what she says. Um...are you gonna hit me now…?"
"N-no. I need to wash my hands before I eat too."
Jaune took a tentative step forward, "That's smart. My mom says she won't waste time looking after me if I get sick so I need to really make sure I get clean. Did your mom tell you the same?
"N-no."
"Oh." Jaune tilted his head slightly, "Did your Dad?"
"No…"
He rubbed the back of his head, "Uh, do you have a Mom or a Dad?"
The girl shook her head causing her curly pink hair to bounce slightly, "I don't think so. There was a man who was really big and hairy and had a tail and he'd talk to me about making sure I stay healthy, but I don't think he was my dad. He was more like a babysitter, I think."
"Oh, okay." Jaune looked around awkwardly before slowly taking another step closer to her, "Are you sure you're not gonna hit me if I do something wrong?"
"I'm sure."
"You promise?" he pressed.
Rouge giggled slightly behind her hand and smiled, "Yes, I promise."
Jaune's face lit up and he quickly closed the distance between them causing Rouge to stumble back in surprise, "Okay! You promised so you can't take it back no matter what! That's how it works! Oh, and do you really have a semblance, like for real?"
Rouge's smile fell before grasping her forearm again, "Mhm...but it's kinda scary. I don't really feel like showing it off sorry...
"That's totally okay!" Jaune waved his hands back and forth in front of him,"I believe you, you don't have to show me if you don't want to!"
She smiled again and her shoulders fell as the tension left them, "Thanks, Jaune."
"Uh, anyway, there's a stream back that way where we can wash our hands. Let's go!" Jaune pointed and quickly set off with Rouge following behind, laughing and talking as they went.
"Then we can get you some new clothes, oh, and then I can show you where we keep our hunting dogs. They're really big but they like when you scratch them behind the ears and then I show you how to start a fire and then we can get you a tent and then…"
Jaune's voice trailed off into the woods as he rattled off all the things he couldn't wait to show his first friend.
:x:
That's it for chapter 1! I don't have much experience writing, but I read fan fiction all the time as well as regular books too all the time. This idea's been bouncing around in my head and after reading all the amazing stories I have so far it's made me want to try my own hand at it. I didn't think people would be all that interested reading backstory and so originally this chapter was going to be around twice as long, but in the end I decided rushing to finish would only do more harm than good. Updates may be sporadic as I'm not too far ahead in writing the story. Seeing as this is my first work and I want to do it right I'll be taking my time with proofreading as well as mapping out the later parts. I can't wait to show you what I have in store for Jaune's interactions at beacon! Next update: whenever it's ready.
A/N: revised on 06/06/24