When Jaune woke he immediately noticed that something was off. Opening his eyes, he saw and felt the familiar presence of Ruby curled up lovingly next to him.
His other side lay cold and bare.
It truly was incredible when he thought about it. Had he told himself a few months ago that he would be waking up every morning with two girls cuddling next to him, he would have called himself a liar. A fool. An idiot. When he thought about it more, it wasn't that far from the truth. After all, he had wound up getting himself stuck in this place. He truly did have to be an idiot to accomplish that.
A glance down to Ruby showed that she was sleeping peacefully. For that little bit of comfort he was grateful. She didn't seem to be suffering from any nightmares. Her tears had long since dried up, and none seemed to have spilled in her sleep. Her face seemed relaxed and content. A small sense of satisfaction filled him knowing that he had played a part in that. His warmth and comfort had made her at least feel better. It was all he could do for her.
He could not kill Salem. This much had been made clear to him. His wrist had suffered the consequences of thinking he could harm her, and it was a mistake he would not make again. No, in order to defeat Salem, he could not kill her. Rather, he would have to defeat her in another way. Saving his friends, and thus ruining her plans, was entirely within his power. The monstrous woman thought such a goal was out of reach. Obviously she had lost her own humanity long ago, or else she would have realized that he would stop at nothing to achieve this goal. It was his very humanity that drove him forward against such impossible odds.
With his friend sleeping soundly, Jaune felt the urge to check on the girl who was missing from their bed. His second bunkmate who had in the past few weeks made their three-person bed a normal, comfortable, and somehow, workable situation. Weiss had been injured the prior day, and badly too. She had refused to let him see the extent of the injury. It must have been bad if she did not wish to sleep next to him. After making such a fuss about looking after what was hers, that was concerning.
Jaune gently removed Ruby's arm from around his chest and slid the covers off of him. Moving as slowly and carefully as possible, he slipped out of the bed and stood up.
Ruby shifted slightly, her arm grabbing hold of the pillow he had just been using and pulling it close to her chest. Her horns pressed against it, and it was a wonder they didn't puncture the fabric. The girl settled in, content that the pillow with his scent was in fact her friend, and laid still once more.
A serene smile formed on Jaune's lips as he looked down at the scene. Ruby would be okay by herself for a little while as he checked on their friend across the hall.
As he turned and took a step toward the door, he nearly tripped as something snagged his ankle. After flailing for a few seconds he regained his balance, and looked down to see what he had caught his foot on.
He wasn't surprised to see a familiar tentacle protruding from underneath his bed. Clamped around his ankle like a small child might hold their mother's hand while crossing the street.
"Where are you going?" the elusive voice of Blake sounded.
The twisted hybrid had never done this before. Then again he had never snuck off on his own before. He would have always left the room with Ruby, Weiss, or both. This must have been an unexpected change of pace for the girl who slept underneath his bed.
"To check on Weiss," he answered honestly.
Seconds of silence followed. The tendril remained in place, but at the very least she didn't seem interested in pulling back to his bed. Or worse, under it.
"Are you going to kill her?" she finally asked.
The question took Jaune aback. Concern even worse than when Blake had grabbed hold of him flooded his body. "What?" he asked, aghast by the very thought of it. "No! Why would I do that?"
Blake's tentacle began to slowly and methodically rub around his ankle, the barbed tip of it making its way up his calf. "She's injured," the dark whisper told him. "Now would be the ideal time to do it."
It would be, had he been interested in such an action. He wasn't in the slightest. "I'm not going to kill her," he stated bluntly. "Weiss is my friend. I'm going to see if she's okay, and if there's anything I can do to help her."
Silence once more filled the room. Jaune looked down at the slithering tentacle once more, but it had stopped its ascent up his leg. Blake seemed content for it to remain where it gripped him.
"How very... human of you."
Jaune froze. His mind ran through all the possible scenarios that could come next. The most prominent ones were where he would be forced to fight. Where he would be forced to wake Ruby up in order to aid him. With his best friend's help he would probably win, but there was no guarantee. Blake was already in a prime position to ambush them both. To do what she willed with her deadly tentacles. To subdue him and kill Ruby before she could even properly wake up.
He would just have to play along as he always did. Play along, and hope they would continue to believe his lies. "Yeah. Well, that's what we're here for, right?" he asked.
For a third time there as silence. Jaune waited, each breath he took torturous as he anticipated what Blake's response would be. Eyes remained glued to the floor as he stared at the tendril which held him fast. As he searched for more which may shoot out to drag him into her waiting maw.
"Most of us," Blake replied simply.
With that her offending limb released its hold of him, and the tentacle slithered back underneath the bed. For long seconds Jaune stared down there, waiting for it, or her, to emerge once more. It never came. She never came.
Seeing this as an opportunity to go about his business, Jaune moved quickly to the door and went outside. A breath of relief passed through his lips as he stood in the hallway.
Across the hall was Weiss' room. Her old room, before she took up residence with him and Ruby. Her injury had forced her to retreat there once more to lick her wounds away from those who might take advantage of them. Not that he ever would, but Weiss didn't understand that. She didn't understand how humans worked.
He would simply have to teach her. Just as he would all of them.
A pair of firm knocks against the wooden door echoed through the hall. She would surely be awoken by them if she wasn't already awake. Knowing Weiss, she was an early riser.
His suspicions were confirmed when he heard a voice on the other side of the door. "Go away," the harsh and commanding tone of the tiny terror came.
She didn't want guests, but perhaps she would change her tune when she realized it was him. Maybe she would be interested in making a nice breakfast this morning. "Weiss, it's me," he said. "Can I come in?"
Much like in his conversation with Blake, silence fell upon them. He didn't like that. Weiss was never one who was short for words or expressing her opinions. A quiet Weiss was a worrying Weiss.
"Weiss?" he repeated. This time concern laced his voice.
"I don't need your help," she stated harshly.
He hadn't asked if she did. Weiss' unprompted statement made it clear to Jaune that she did indeed need help. She was just too proud to ask for it.
Or too scared.
Jaune wasn't about to have his friend suffer over the false belief that he would hurt her in her weakened state. Grabbing hold of the doorknob, he twisted and pushed. "I'm coming in," he announced.
Pushing the door open, he was greeted by the sight of Weiss sitting atop her bed half undressed. Much of her exposed skin was crudely covered in bandages that she was attempting to apply herself. They overlapped in some places, and left other areas entirely exposed. The area of her abdomen where she had suffered her injury was discolored, with what he assumed was blood and pus seeping through and tainting the pure white bandages.
"Jaune!" Weiss cried out, her hands moving to cover her chest. "Get out!"
Rather than look at what she was covering, however, Jaune looked at the discolorations of her dressings. Black from her Grimm hybrid blood. Yellow from the infection of her wound. No, this wouldn't do. This wouldn't do at all.
Jaune was no doctor, but he had suffered and tended to enough cuts and bruises back home to know how to care for them. Weiss would just have to be the first patient who was not one of his sisters.
"Let me see it," he said, taking a step into the room.
Red eyes widened, and her forearms and elbows shifted so that they would cover the area in question. "I will not!" she stated defiantly.
With a slight shake of his head he moved closer to her. "Weiss," he said, reaching out to grab hold of her arms. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Her face contorted, and she did her best to try and fight him off without exposing her undressed torso. "I do not need your assistan-"
"Weiss!" he finally shouted, letting his frustration get the better of him.
The girl's crimson orbs once more widened, and in a flash all resistance ceased. A ragged breath slipped through her lips, and the girl's face looked away from him.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he repeated as he grabbed hold of both of her arms. He tugged on them, and she stood up willingly before he led her to the bathroom. "Sit on the edge of the tub," he ordered.
To his surprise, Weiss did as he commanded. She sat there, hands still covering her breasts, but the area below that had been bandaged exposed for him to see. Had it truly been so easy to cow her into submission? Simply by raising his voice to her?
Jaune found the edge of the wrapping and began to unbind her stomach, As he unwound it he began to see the full extent of the injury she had suffered in yesterday's class.
The puncture wound had not scabbed yet, and around the small hole her flesh was gray from bruising. Yellowish tints were mixed in, telling Jaune that it was indeed becoming infected. He didn't know if Weiss had been cleaning it regularly or just trying to bandage over it to prevent any fluids from leaking out. Knowing what he knew about hybrids, he doubted that she had much education on taking care of wounds. Especially when becoming severely wounded often led to death.
At least the bathroom had the bare essentials. A washcloth and a bar of soap would have to do. He was lacking in any sort of anti-bacterial washes or even something as simple as rubbing alcohol, but he would do his best with what he had.
Jaune was suddenly glad he had barged into the girl's room uninvited. Left to her own devices, he wasn't sure if the hybrid girl's superior constitution would have staved off serious illness. Weiss had taken a very bad hit in their spar yesterday, and it spoke volumes that she was even up and about with her puncture wound. A human being would have been incapacitated or killed by this. Without him she might have suffered a similar fate. The loss of the girl would have crushed him.
That realization dawned on him in this very moment as he wet and rubbed soap on the washcloth. He cared for this girl. Even if their relationship was different from the one he shared with Ruby. Weiss, like Ruby, was precious to him.
Placing the cloth on her stomach, Weiss flinched from its coldness. That, or maybe there was slight pain where the soap seeped into her wound. Whatever the case, it was for her own good.
"You know, Weiss," he began. "You're going to have to clean and rewrap this every day. Probably even more often than that. Two or three times a day I'd say."
Glowing red eyes were locked onto his hands as they gently rubbed and washed her injury. "You don't fool me," she said softly.
Jaune frowned. "Fool you?"
"You merely wish for an excuse to see me nude every day," she explained. Her hands fell from her chest, exposing all of her torso for him to see as he continued to cleanse her wound. "Don't lie."
He looked away in an instant. "What? That's not it at all."
The truth of it was that he wasn't even focusing on those areas of her. At least he hadn't been. But once she had lowered her arms, he had gotten to see her. All of her. Her flat and smooth stomach was marred by her injury, but it wouldn't always be. Maybe a scar would remain, but her midsection would be just as beautiful even with it. Perky breasts, while not as large as Ruby's, were still appealing to the eye.
He tried to focus on other things as he sought to not stare at the young hybrid's body. He stared at her face. Her hair. Her eyes. Yet he couldn't help but find those attractive as well. Weiss was a fountain of beauty whether she was in her hybrid or human form. In all honesty, probably the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. She was like a princess out of a fairy tale. Jaune had always fancied himself a hero like from the legends of old. Now here he sat like a knight taking care of the princess he was charged with protecting.
Weiss turned her head away from him and his healing hands as he continued his work. "Is seeing Ruby not enough for you?" she asked bitterly. "Little surprise there. I am far more attractive than her anyway."
Objectively speaking, Jaune agreed with that assessment. However beauty came in far more forms than just physically. Ruby was a different sort of beautiful than her. Not that he wanted to share that with Weiss in this moment.
Still, there was one part of her statement she had gotten wrong. "I actually don't see Ruby naked anymore," he admitted.
She scoffed. "I see. So you've been deprived of satisfying your natural urges and your first choice was to gaze upon me. I have to admit that you've made the correct decision for the first time in your life. Not that I'm particularly happy with this arrangement, but at least your simple mind came to the correct conclusion."
Jaune rolled his eyes as he wrung the cloth out before applying more soap and water. She was still as arrogant as ever, even when injured. Even when in a state of complete vulnerability before him.
"Sure, Weiss," he said sardonically. "Let's go with that."
Sarcasm which Weiss obviously did not pick up on. She hummed triumphantly as Jaune continued his work. "At least you have decency to admit it. Not many people could so readily admit to being wrong."
People like her. Jaune wondered how she would react to knowing that so many of the statements she made with such supreme confidence were so very wrong.
"You should be honored to see me in such a state of undress," she continued. "No one else ever has before."
The words made him feel slightly guilty. Like he was taking something he should not have had access to. Like he was seeing something the girl had not wanted to reveal.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It's not exactly by choice. I just want what's best for yo- ow!"
Even in her weakened state, she still had the strength and will to jab the tip of her horn into his midsection. Some things would never change.
"Not by choice?" she growled. "Are you saying that you would not fall to your knees and beg for the opportunity to look upon my flawless body?"
That was a bit overdramatic to be sure. Under normal circumstances he would have admittedly been thrilled to see all of Weiss. She was after all a very attractive young woman, even in her Grimm form. However right now his number one concern was to ensure that she was safe and recovered properly.
Jaune didn't know what to say that would get him out of the mess he had walked into. Perhaps the truth would be the best option. "You are really beautiful," he admitted. "But having to worry about your injury isn't the best way to, um, see how beautiful you are."
Weiss harrumphed, once more looking away from him like that in itself was some sort of punishment. Like being deprived of her attention was his loss. Jaune was sure she would have folded her arms across her chest had their current predicament allowed her to do so.
When he was satisfied that Weiss' injury had been cleaned to the best of his ability, he reached over for a gauze pad and the roll of bandages that she had been attempting to wrap herself. He would need for her to be upright for them to be properly applied, and he took hold of her hand, urging her to stand.
She did so without resistance. As he stood so closely to her, their height difference became readily apparent. Maybe it was also due to the fact that she was stark naked from the waist up, or maybe it was because she was so vulnerable at the moment, but right now this hybrid girl who had seemingly made it her mission to dominate him appeared so tiny. So fragile. So human.
Standing behind her so that he would be less inclined to stare, Jaune began to circle the bandages around her torso while she held the very end of the wrappings in place. Long white hair brushed against his chest, and as he looked down upon it he got an unintentional whiff of it. It, just like the rest of her, was pleasant. Appealing. Beautiful.
He was almost done, and that meant that the opportunity to speak with her would soon be over. Her guard would be back up once this was over, and things would return to normal. It was a golden opportunity to have a real conversation with the girl. One he wasn't about to pass up.
As the bandage made another pass around her stomach, he spoke to her in a low, calm voice. "You know I would never hurt you, right?"
Her head turned away from the side he was speaking from. "What are you talking about?"
"I know how things work," he explained. "Injury. Weakness. The... culling." He believed that was what Tyrian had called it so long ago. "If you're hurt you don't have to hide it from me. I'd never tell anyone. And I'd never do anything that would get you killed. I'd only try to help you like I am right now."
Weiss' head turned the other direction now, and she glared back at him out of the corner of one of her glowing red eyes. "Why?"
It was a simple question. One she had been raised to ask, given everything she and the rest of the hybrids had been through. After all the death and destruction they had wrought upon each other. Why would one help another in a time of weakness? Why would a fellow hybrid wish to heal another rather than eliminate the competition?
A simple question had a simple answer. The simplest one Jaune could think of. "Because you're my friend," he said genuinely.
In a flash her face turned back the other way so that he could not gauge her reaction, and her ponytail lightly slapped against his body. "I see."
"I want you to know that you can trust me." He hoped his actions were speaking louder than his words. He hoped the fact that he was caring for her injury would show the girl how much he did care for her. That being here in her most vulnerable state proved that his intentions were pure. "And I only want what's best for you. I want you to survive all of this. I want you to live a good long life along with me."
Jaune felt how her body tensed up after those words. Shoulders stiffened. The muscles of her tight stomach hardened. Had he said something wrong?
"You do?" she asked softly.
"Well, yeah. Is that okay?"
For several moments she did not answer. Jaune wondered if he had overstepped the boundaries, but thankfully her next words proved such thoughts incorrect.
"Well, good!" she said smugly. "I'm pleased my servant knows how to properly care for me. Better late than never, I suppose."
Jaune smiled and shook his head lightly. Servant. Of course she would still go on with that line of thinking. It was time to dispel that way of thinking as well.
As he neared the end of the bandaging, his thumb pressed down softly against the spot of her injury, earning a yelp from the hybrid. She jumped slightly, and looked back at him with a murderous glare in her eyes.
"Care to continue calling me your servant?" he asked.
A husky breath slipped through her lips. "C-cruel fiend!" she gasped. "I shall not forget that!"
He could have sworn that her white cheeks had grayed slightly with those words, but she quickly turned back around before he could confirm such suspicions.
Finishing up his work, Jaune snipped the bandages from the roll and secured the other end to her body. "All done," he said happily.
Weiss took a few steps away from him and looked down to assess his handiwork. It was far better than what she had attempted on her own. Not only was her wound clean and sanitized, but the bandages neatly and evenly wrapped around her torso from her stomach to just below her bustline. They would have to be reapplied a few times a day, and it would be a time consuming process. But it was worth it. She was worth it.
"Stay in here while I put on a shirt," she ordered. "Your lustful eyes have already gotten enough of a treat for one morning."
Jaune did as he was told. He couldn't help but smile. Weiss was back to her old self. Her arrogant, domineering old self.
Seconds later she reappeared before him wearing his oversized undershirt. It really was adorable how the garments hung so loosely off of both her and Ruby. Like small nightgowns that extended just below the waist.
"Well, I guess I'll get going," he told her as he left the bathroom. As soon as he had been about to turn for the door, he felt a hand grasp his wrist and stop him. He turned back to her. "Weiss?"
"Did you enjoy your night alone with Ruby?" she asked him.
The question came out of the blue, and he wasn't really sure how to answer it. The circumstances of the previous day had made that night anything but enjoyable. However much like he had done today with Weiss, Jaune had been there for Ruby in her time of need as well. Only where Weiss' need was physical, Ruby's had been emotional.
Jaune thought back to all they had done. He and Ruby had kissed. They had cuddled. He supposed that there had been physical comfort after all. And loathe as he was to admit it, as painful as the circumstances were, those experiences with Ruby had indeed been pleasant.
"Yeah," he admitted. "I guess I did."
Weiss frowned and nodded. "Then I have a request."
A request, rather than a demand. Interesting. "Yeah?"
"Since she got to... be alone with you last night, then I want time alone with you as well."
That sounded more like it. Much like Weiss had been jealous of Ruby receiving one of his shirts to sleep in, she was jealous of him spending the night alone with the redhead. He didn't mind honoring her request. After all, he had just spent the morning alone with her.
"Sure," he agreed. "What did you have in mind?"
She tugged on his wrist, bringing him to her bed before sitting down on it. "It's still morning, and there is still some time before classes," she explained. "It is within our rights to sleep in."
Weiss was correct on her assessment. "Right."
"Therefore I request that... that you spend the morning with just me," she said, again looking away from him as she laid down. As she moved the covers so that her legs and body rested underneath them. "At least for a little while."
It was a simple enough request that he could fulfill. Maybe his words had gotten through to her. Maybe she was fine with being seen as vulnerable in front of him. Maybe she did indeed trust him in her time of need.
"I can do that," he answered softly. Jaune could guess that by bringing him over to the bed with her that she wanted him to get in with her. He did so, slipping underneath the covers himself.
Weiss turned her back to him as she laid on her side. Reaching back behind her, she grabbed one of his arms and pulled it so that it was wrapped around her. So that the front of his body was pressed up against the back of hers. "Like this," she demanded softly.
Once again Jaune obliged. Settled in next to her, he had to admit that it felt nice. His arm was around her torso protectively, and his hand rested on her stomach near where her injury had been suffered. A part of him wanted to try and use his Semblance and Aura to heal it right here and now, but he had no idea how a Grimm hybrid would react to it.
Weiss' own hand came up to clasp his, her fingers intertwining with his own. Her body shifted and adjusted, molding itself against the shape of his. He was as close to her as he was when they normally slept together along with Ruby. Only rather than the two pressing themselves against him while on his back, he was spooning her. The difference in height and body mass once again became abundantly clear.
No further words were spoken, and Weiss' breathing evened out a few minutes later as she fell asleep. Jaune wasn't tired, and couldn't force himself back to sleep. He had time to think now. Time to bask in the moment of holding this beautiful girl in his shielding grasp.
For someone as strong and aggressive as Weiss, it was surprising to see her take such a submissive position with him. To see her in such a vulnerable state. He was sure moments like these would only come in private. Still, it was nice to see nonetheless.
It wasn't just her, either. Ruby enjoyed cuddling as well. After what he had learned about the girl's mother, maybe it made sense. The girls seemed to seek out physical comfort in that way. They seemed to want to be held. To be protected. To be taken care of. Maybe he was looking too deeply into it. Or maybe it made too much sense. If they had been torn away from their parents at such a young age, maybe they subconsciously craved this kind of affection. This kind of protection. This kind of loving reassurance.
As Jaune held Weiss tightly against him, he knew it was something he could provide willingly. He would love and protect these girls until his last breath. Someone had to.
Later in the day, their first class was Hazel's. Weiss' injury was healing remarkably quickly, but he still attended to it dutifully. He marveled at how fast hybrids could heal even major tissue damage, but they were still limited in some aspects. It hadn't been as pleasant when Ruby barged in mid-dressing and Weiss nearly stabbed him in her outrage.
Instead of the usual sparring lessons that followed in Hazel's classes, he had them seated. Jaune wondered why. Hazel wasn't the type to work from a book and so far all of his lessons had been very physical. The man stopped, turning his attention to Weiss who stood up straight.
"You children, you are very strong. Much stronger than any normal human. This has its limits," he locked his gaze with hers, Jaune noticing her complexion growing paler. "If wounded grievously enough, not even a hybrid could survive unaided."
He turned away from her, Weiss shooting Jaune an accusatory look. Jaune shrugged, unsure how the man knew.
Hazel continued. "Though you are far hardier than any human, can survive more than any, it is a misnomer to think that you are similarly more durable. In fact, a trained huntsman with aura can take far more damage than you without issue. One of you would be sliced open by a simple knife. A similar strike to a huntsman would result in the blade bouncing off."
He started pacing. "Part of your duty to Salem is fast approaching. Soon, four of you will be chosen, and only four, to partake in Salem's grand vision. Infiltration of the human society, and most especially the multi-nation event known as the Vytal Festival. The four chosen must have the ability to flawlessly appear human, and ideally the ability to use their Aura."
The larger man took a deep breath. "This is why you must learn to harness your innate humanity and unlock your Aura. This will be incredibly difficult for each of you, for some it would be impossible. To my knowledge, a few of you can reasonably blend in as human, and only two of you presently have Aura."
Jaune's head tilted. Two? Wait, Blake. Didn't she have her Aura?
"Jaune, step forward."
His eyes widened, feeling a dozen eyes turn toward him. Possibly many more depending on how many Wesson now had trained on him. "Um..."
Hazel glared at him, making Jaune wince. "The only reason most of them haven't noticed is because they're too naive. If I'm expected to make progress getting them up to speed, I will require your help in this."
Jaune nodded, throat dry. Hazel had just outed him in a big way. Walking up to him, Jaune tried not to look around the room. Tried not to drink in the stares of his classmates. Of the creatures that would kill him if they knew the truth. The hopefully absent suspicions of the girls he had grown close to. Would they think it a betrayal, him hiding that fact from them?
"Jaune, as Professor Callows has been oh so happily spreading around the school, is one of the most remarkable and strongest among you. Yet even with that," Hazel abruptly sliced Jaune's face, a knife drawn so fast that he hadn't even seen it. "His control is not perfect. Quite the opposite."
Jaune bit back the scream of surprise, biting his tongue. The wound didn't hurt as much, only stung. Despite himself, he willed his Aura forth and healed the damage in seconds.
"He has issues understanding how to keep his Aura up at all times, and does not have a proper grasp on his Semblance related to it. Semblance training is not something I expect us to go over before results are expected, but in time it will be a valuable tool." Hazel snapped his fingers. "But as you can see, this minor injury is already gone. More than healed, it has effectively been erased. This is the power of Aura. With your natural healing abilities boosted by Aura, theoretically you would be next to impossible to kill."
That hit Jaune. Was that the explanation for why Salem was so powerful? Was that her secret to immortality?
"Now, I would like a demonstration of a Semblance, if you wouldn't mind."
Jaune wanted to question why Hazel seemed to be speaking to someone else when, abruptly, he found a weight on his shoulders. His breathing hitched in his throat when the black tendrils snaked their way down his shoulders and around his neck.
"Hello again, lover."
Her voice was as sultry as ever, Jaune doing everything in his power not to flare his Aura to cast her off.
"You've left me ever so lonely, giving those two little snacks so much attention." Something flicked his ear. It was moist.
Hazel snapped his fingers, yet nothing seemed to happen. The tentacles remained around his neck, the legs dangling on his shoulders, Jaune daring not to move. Until he felt something pass between his legs, two black cat ears in a mane of wild, unkempt black hair rising into his field of vision from below.
Jaune, yelling, jumped back- the Blake that had draped herself around him vanishing into darkness. Looking back to where she had been last, Jaune did not see anything. Blinking, his head twisted wildly.
"Blake is the other hybrid who has her Aura and Semblance. Her Semblance is that of shadow projection, leaving duplicates of herself behind to confuse and fool the unwary and unobservant." Hazel's gaze settled on Wesson, who looked especially terrified. "Something many of you have discovered first hand." He then came to a grimace. "Only, where Blake has conquered her Semblance and can flawlessly integrate it with her natural talents, her Aura control is... unbalanced."
Jaune stood, wary, realizing now why the others always wore their battle gear and carried their weapons. There was no such thing as a non-confrontational class. Where was she? Where would she be?
"Jaune." Hazel's sharp voice broke his search. "I want you to flare your Aura for thirty seconds, hold it for all to see. Tell them how it makes you feel. Be honest. They will learn nothing if you are not."
Jaune swallowed, nerves building up inside. The same kind of nerves that just days ago would have made him sick to his stomach. Pushing it away, Jaune reached down for the flame within. The Aura born from his desire to survive. It enveloped him, burning white-gold across his body. His family filled his thoughts as he closed his eyes, a sea of dark blue and blonde hair. Warmth, comfort. Lilac eyes came next, a brighter blonde- strength and loyalty. Silver and icy blue followed, Jaune's eyes squeezing shut harder. Beauty, devotion, love. Something to fight for. Something to live for. Something to be strong for.
Abruptly a great weight landed on his shoulder. His body was still burning with aura, Hazel's hand laying heavy on him. Jaune was panting, he realized, so focused on summoning his Aura and maintaining it. He looked around the room to see disinterest and shock on several faces. Weiss looked fascinated, repeating something to herself. Ruby, on the other hand, Ruby looked overjoyed.
Jaune looked back to Hazel, blinking. "Did I do that right? Did I... say it right? I don't remember... what I said exactly."
Hazel nodded. "Aura is a representation of your soul, Mr. Jaune. Yours is quite strong. What you express like that cannot be wrong." Hazel pushed Jaune forward, the boy finding his footing unsure as he stumbled back to Weiss and Ruby. "Now, for the counter example. Jaune is the ideal to strive for. What to avoid... Blake?"
Jaune wasn't paying attention as he sat down, Ruby humming with excitement next to him. Weiss sat a few feet away, talking to herself as if working out a problem. Due to this, he did not see Blake appear. Only that now she stood next to Hazel and looked... he shook his head. That couldn't be right. She looked vulnerable? It was hard to judge, but her all too long, too thin legs no longer held themselves with the same superhuman elegance. They were planted firmly on the ground at an awkward angle, Blake hunched forward a bit, her tentacles jittering back and forth. With her face covered, it was impossible to call, but she looked uncomfortable.
"If you would please demonstrate."
Jaune leaned forward until Ruby's skeletal hand grabbed at his sleeve. Looking back, he saw something he wasn't used to. Fear.
Screaming tore his attention back, Blake's body erupting in a purple blaze. Her tentacles shrank away, blades burning away to normal human hands. Hands that clutched at her head, twisting into her hair as her eyes alternated between red and gold. Spittle flew from her mouth, her screaming forcing words out of her mouth.
"Mama! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! So sorry! I'm so sorry! Mama please! Daddy! Adam, I don't want this! I don't want you dead!" Her screaming followed her as she fell to her knees, her body quaking even as the purple light burned brighter and brighter. "I didn't mean to, I only wanted...I didn't mean to I only wanted..." Screaming turned to sobbing.
No one deserved to suffer like this. No one needed this kind of regret to plague them without help. Jaune stood, moving to help her. At least he would have if Weiss and Ruby both hadn't latched onto his arms. Blake's Aura seemed to stabilize even as she fell even further into a huddle on the floor, head buried into the ground. Her head snapped up at a speed that gave Jaune pause, worrying that she had snapped her own neck. That worry bled away quickly when he saw a most peculiar sight. Two same but entirely different sets of eyes peered back at him, alternating golden faunus and red Grimm.
"I wanna go."
All at once everything started moving. Jaune brought his arms up, flaring his Aura as Blake was suddenly in front of him. Weiss and Ruby had leapt backwards, the two of them fumbling for their weapons that they had not carried this far in. Blake was twisted, her hair alive, each strand becoming its own tentacle ending in a serrated blade. Her arms were now three long, powerful whips, all drawn back to come crashing down.
Crashing down they did, Jaune taking the brunt of the attacks with his forearms, jacket tearing even with Aura support. Jaune was sent reeling back by six more striking him in the face, tiny red blades digging at his eyes and mouth as Blake violently twisted her head. Jaw extending like a snake, her tongue split down the middle. Propelling herself forward, Jaune fell back- only for the Blake above to vanish, even as the grip of the tentacles to tighten as the real Blake appeared behind him. Eyes bleary, Jaune felt her breath on his ear.
"You're so tasty. I'm so very hungry."
Jaune, yelling, flared his Aura higher, driving his head back into Blake's face forcing her to loosen her grip. He didn't get a moment to take advantage of this as his feet were suddenly swept out from under him. Looking up, he saw Blake flickering back and forth, six phasing from one to the next, glowing a dull purple.
"Even if you say no, I won't stop feeding. I am very, very hungry and you are just so tasty!"
Bringing all of her tentacles up, Blake was ready to drive them down into Jaune's body. He didn't know the limits of his Aura, if he could tank this attack. Not that he would have to worry about it, Jaune's eyes widening as a familiar large, scarred hand grabbed hold of the tentacles. All but one of the Blakes vanished as Hazel pitted his strength against the crazed hybrid. A fight he all too quickly won, pulling Blake with a monstrous bellow of his own.
The smaller horror was lifted into the air before being slammed back down into the ground. Struggling and snarling, Blake tore into Hazel's arm as he pinned her underfoot. Spitting and howling, slowly the purple Aura around her faded, her body shifting back into what Jaune was familiar with. Four eyes became two, a twisting mass of fangs and tentacles became the scarred visage with lovely black hair. The ever changing number of tentacled whips coalesced into the two familiar limbs.
Still Hazel did not release his hold. As Blake's breathing settled, he pulled her forward as he drove his right fist into her face. A sickening crunch and the stonework cracking beneath made Jaune recoil back. Satisfied, Hazel released her before turning back to Jaune and the rest of the class.
"If you do not have a proper hold of your innate humanity, when you activate your Aura, it will drive you insane. You will become stronger, yes, but you will also risk losing what humanity is left. If that happens, then you are no longer any use to Salem. Just another monster, one of many expendable beasts. Like the recently twice departed Sky and Russell."
Jaune got to his feet, eyeing Blake. "Is she...?"
"She'll be fine." Hazel was quick to discount him, eyeing the girl with pity. "A consequence of her having her Aura unlocked before becoming a hybrid. She's naturally more disturbed. She's a sweet girl normally, if not shy."
Jaune stared at the lump on the ground, damages already healing themselves. Sweet? Shy? His throat was dry.
Hazel turned his attention back to the others. "You're doing well, but the road you have is harder than most. Don't let that slow you down. Have you found something you want to fight for? Something to be strong for?"
Jaune looked back to Blake, crumpled on the ground like a broken toy. He turned to Yang, who was eyeing him with some interest. Finally, Weiss and Ruby. Weiss was fussing over the damage to the classroom, mouthing off about Blake 'going off again'. Ruby, however, was smiling at him. Proud of him? Or something else? He imagined her with her silver eyes.
"Absolutely."
Hazel nodded. "Good. Now return to your seat and try to keep an open mind. You're going to need to be stronger than anyone for what you want."
"Yes, sir."
Despite his strong words, eyes lingering on the limp and listless Blake, an unease pervaded him. A quiet despair bloomed in his chest.
Even Blake was a victim of Salem.
Professor Rainart's class had been a truly eye-opening experience. How cool was it that her bestie and roomie was one of the two hybrids who had their Aura unlocked? Jaune truly was incredible. So much talent, so much experience, and yet he was so humble. So down to earth. So kind. Kind enough to put up with a screw-up like her.
The question now was, where was he?
Ruby hadn't seen Jaune leave at the end of class. He had somehow slipped out under the radar following the flurry of questions and activity that came with the aftermath of Blake's outburst. Students had been eager to learn about what to do, and more importantly, what not to do following their classmate's breakdown. Weiss especially had been aggressive in her questioning of their teacher once class had ended.
The fact that Weiss had remained in the classroom made things even more peculiar. With Jaune missing, she would have expected that maybe the white-haired hybrid had snuck off with him for more of their personal time together. Yet she had not. Ruby's second instinct was that maybe Blake had abducted him to have her way with him. However, Blake remained as well, in no condition to partake in any of her usual antics following her demonstration. Yang remained behind as well, but as far as Ruby knew she had never shown a particular interest in Jaune. At least not anything more than something purely physical.
So where was he?
Ruby felt like a rudderless ship adrift in the sea as she wandered the halls. Normally she had the taller boy by her side everywhere she went. He had a sturdy and comforting presence, one she seemed to be innately attracted to. Not in a 'I want to mate with you' way, or anything like that! Not a 'let's form a pack together' type of attraction either! Nope! They were just friends! There was just something about his scent that drew her to him. That's all.
Even if she had told Yang otherwise. But that was just to get her away from Jaune. Though if she ever did decide to take a mate, he would be at the very top of her list.
Without him she felt alone again. Alone like she had before he arrived in the school. No one else went out of their way to spend time with her. Right now Ruby was probably emitting enough negativity to offset her naturally cheery demeanor. Maybe she'd make more friends if she kept sulking.
Her wandering found her at Professor Callows' classroom. The room was empty, but she opened the door and stepped inside nonetheless. Maybe Jaune was in here. Why he would be, she couldn't say. She just felt like it was a good idea.
"Jaune?" she asked to the seemingly empty room. The large and uninhabited room caused her voice to echo softly. There was no response, however.
With a frown Ruby found herself moving further in. Toward the door which led to the locker room. With the blood and sweat that students often found themselves coated with following a friendly spar in Tyrian's class, it only made sense that the locker room would be connected to this place.
Opening another door, Ruby found herself descending a flight of stairs. Something inside her continued to pull her to this location. A tingling in the back of her mind. Hairs standing up on the back of her neck. Almost as if there was an overwhelmingly negative presence down here. But that certainly couldn't be the case, right? Who would be down here when class wasn't even in session?
Then she saw it. She saw him. Standing near one of the walls with an outstretched arm supporting him, she saw a familiar mop of messy blond hair. Her heart soared at the sight of him. At least momentarily until she put the pieces together. The overwhelming negative presence was him.
A large fissure snaked its way up the wall he leaned on, as if it had been struck repeatedly by his fist. She wondered why he had done such a thing. Not that random acts of violence were discouraged here at this school, but she wondered why he had chosen the wall and not a random opponent to strike like Yang might have.
She supposed there was only one way to find out. "Jaune?" she called again. This time her words reached their intended target.
The boy's body jerked suddenly, as if her voice caught him by surprise. He stood up straight as he turned around to regard her. "Hey, Ruby," he said weakly.
He looked off. Blue eyes, normally so bright and caring, were tinted red. The flesh around them was moist and puffy, as if inflamed by some sort of irritation. Was he ill? Is that why he was alone down here? Ruby sincerely hoped not. The last thing she needed was for Jaune to be ill again, and have to endure him risking his life in the Grimmlands for a second time.
She took a step toward him. "Are you okay?" Concern was heavy in her tone as she approached him. "Are you injured? Are you ill?"
Jaune stared at her for a few seconds before he began to shake his head. "You're really asking that," he asked in disbelief. "Am I okay?"
Ruby squinted in confusion. "Well... yeah. You kinda disappeared after Professor Rainart's class. And now you're alone down here and your eyes look like they might have some sort of infection. I'm just... I don't want you to be too sick to fight again."
The memory of almost losing him was still fresh in her mind. The day after she had found her new best friend she had nearly lost him. She would never go through such an experience again. She would kill anyone who tried to take Jaune away from her again. Even if that meant taking on Professor Callows himself.
"You really are concerned about me," he asked incredulously. "Me and not you. How is that even possible?"
Ruby took one more step to stand right in front of him. She was forced to look up due to the height difference. "Jaune?"
A difference which he immediately negated as he sat down on one of the benches. He buried his face in his hands. "You didn't deserve this," he whispered bitterly. "None of you did. I'm so sorry..."
The redhead took a seat next to him. She didn't understand what was going on, but the negativity from him was overwhelming. Sorrow. Hatred. The emotions were practically oozing from his very pores. Ruby found herself staring at him, almost entranced by just how strong the feelings coming from him were.
They were beyond anything she had ever experienced before. Far stronger and more potent than any of Yang's wrath. Or Weiss' envy. Blake's lust. She couldn't explain why though. While negativity was a part of who they were as hybrids, there was something completely unique about what Jaune was displaying in this moment. Was it because he was so advanced for his age? Was it because he had control over both his Aura and his human form? If Ruby didn't know any better, she would say that this boy actually was a real life human in this moment.
"What didn't we deserve?" she asked with genuine curiosity. "Why are you sorry?"
Jaune's face lifted from his hands, and those moist blue eyes stared into her own. For long moments he just stared until he finally spoke. "You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"You don't remember either," he continued, ignoring her question. "But your dreams do. Your dreams remember. Maybe it's good that you can't remember your dreams either. After seeing what happened with Blake..."
He wasn't making sense. Ruby's concern for the boy only grew when she couldn't get a straight answer out of him. Something was wrong, and he didn't seem to be able to explain what it was or why. Was it her own fault for not being on his level? Or was he intentionally being vague?
Ruby knew one thing for certain, however. This wasn't the good type of negativity that Yang so often encouraged. Jaune was in pain. The same kind of pain she felt before he had arrived at the academy. The pain that came with her defect. Of being too positive.
Only unlike with herself, she knew she could do something to alleviate Jaune's pain.
She reached out with her Grimm arm and pulled the boy against her. Into a warm, tight embrace. He did not struggle. He did not protest. He merely leaned against her shoulder as she held him. In this position she held the dominant height, and her cheek came down to rest on the top of his head.
"I'm sorry," he repeated weakly. "I'm sorry..."
"Shh," she whispered. "It's going to be okay. Just relax."
"I'll stop her..." he muttered. "Somehow..."
Her. Who, Ruby couldn't say. In any case, she had witnessed enough pain from her best friend for one day. There would be no more talk of killing anyone.
Her skeletal hand stroked his arm. "Don't worry about her." She had no idea who he was talking about, but it didn't matter. "Just rest."
Ruby had never intentionally used her power on him, but right now she thought he might appreciate a bit of it. Her Apathy ability would chase all of his negative emotions away. Blake wasn't here to complain about ruining her experience. Weiss wasn't here to butt in on the personal moment. Yang wasn't here to make suggestive comments. Nope, right now was all about Jaune and herself. About making him feel better.
Jaune's body seemed to lose its strength as it slumped against her, and she caught him with the support of her normal arm. His heavy weight felt good pressed on her side. Ruby rather enjoyed its mass. Its warmth. Its comfort. Even if she was the one who was comforting him, it didn't mean that she couldn't also enjoy the moment. She curled both her Apathy and normal arms around him, holding him in a tight, loving embrace.
For long minutes that's what she did. Jaune leaned on her physically just as she had been leaning on him emotionally for weeks now. It was what friends did for one another. They looked out for each other. Helped each other. He had done it for her last night. She would do the same for him right now. Jaune needed all the help he could get, and she was the only one who could provide it. Not Weiss. Certainly not Blake. Only her.
Her hand moved up to brush his golden hair. It felt nice. Everything about this moment felt nice. She hoped that he was feeling better now too. "How do you feel?" she asked softly.
It took a few seconds for him to reply. "I feel fine," he replied just as quietly.
That was good. She couldn't feel any more negativity from him anymore. She smiled at the thought. "That's right. Everything's fine. As long as I have you with me, everything will be fine."
"...I'm just really tired..." he continued groggily. "And I really hate this place..."
She understood exactly what he meant. "Yeah, the locker room is pretty smelly," she agreed. "But if you're tired maybe we could go back up to our room and rest. Would you like that?"
"...that's fine..."
Ruby smiled and stood, helping Jaune to his feet as well as she did. His knees were a bit wobbly, but that was fine. He could continue to lean on her. She would continue to help him the only way she knew how until he was out of whatever funk was affecting him.
A nice, pleasant rest in bed would certainly help to lift his spirit. If he needed her to hold him there as well, she would. She would not abandon him. Not for any reason. He was her roommate. Her friend.
One whom she cared deeply for, regardless of whether or not it was proper for a hybrid to do so.
Author's Note: Who would have thought that attending a school full of kidnapped children turned into Grimm hybrids wouldn't be all fun and games?
Still, there's plenty of fun to be had. The Jaune and Weiss scene was one of my favorites to write up to this point in the story. Like many of you have commented, there's a delicate balance of fluff and drama. Comedy and horror. Hopefully it's been an enjoyable mix so far.
As always my thanks go out to Burkion and Lightningstrxu for their contributions and ideas. Couldn't do it without you!
And of course I hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter. You continue to be an inspiration for the three of us to write the best story we can.
Thanks for reading.