TOLD Y'ALL I'D BE BACK SOONER! Hope you're all doing well. Had this one in the chamber for a while. This is gonna be the last chapter without wrestling for a while. Believe it or not, we're almost to the end of act 1 of this story! Crazy how time flies. I've loved every minute of it.
Let's get it started!
Beta: Wolfy
Art: Gyanguirus
Chapter 8 - Twist of Fate
"Oh yeah? Well, you're short!" Nora yelled.
"You're shorter than me!" Ruby retorted incredulously.
Jaune put a hand over his mouth to stifle his laugh. He was having way too much fun. When Nora had initially called him a while ago to set up a double training session he was a bit worried. He wasn't sure how Ruby would feel about meeting Nora and Ren. Turns out, they were doing just fine. Jaune watched as Nora sent another jab Ruby's way, watching his dear friend try and come up with something to say. They were practicing battle promos after all.
They'd chosen the VWC's performance center for the setting of their little rendezvous. A place he'd become well accustomed to these days. He'd picked up Ruby on the way, saving Weiss from having to drop her off. The two had fun in the car, listening to Ruby's various music playlists. He didn't figure her for a rock and roll type, but if there was one thing about Ruby that was a constant, it was that she found ways to surprise him.
They'd arrived early and ran the ropes in preparation for their training session. Jaune had given Ruby plenty of tips on how to interact with Nora. Well, they were more like warnings. Don't let her try any new moves on you, don't let her hug you too many times, and don't challenge her to a spar, he recalled. They were good rules to live by, especially if you wanted to live a long life.
Ren and Nora had arrived, brimming with that classic mistralian charm. It took Ruby a while to warm up to the two, but she wasn't the only one he'd given advice to. Nora asked Ruby about her moveset just like he'd suggested, and they were off to the races. Nora fed off energy, and Ruby had plenty of it, leading the two to talk for almost twenty minutes. He had zoned out, and elected to chat with Ren. His dear friend was doing well, and with only a week and some change out from the tag tournament, Jaune thought he was keeping it together well.
"I can't wait to see you out there." He said with a grin, bopping Ren on the shoulder. He smiled back warmly.
"Thank you, Jaune. I know this might be an inconvenient request, but I was wondering if you'd attend our matches going forward." he said, ignoring Nora's indignant squawk as Ruby attempted another verbal taunt.
"Of course," Jaune said, his chest swelling with elation at Ren's request. "I'd be honored to." The quiet man didn't usually ask things like that. It was a testament to how excited he really was, and that even he needed support too sometimes.
Jaune's eyes slid to Ruby. "So, what do you think?". Ren stroked his chin.
"She seems very kind, Jaune. She reminds me of Nora." Jaune let out a relieved sigh. That was a good sign. If there was one thing Ren liked, it was Nora. So Ruby was so far passing his friend's tests.
"What do you think of her mic skills?" He pressed. Ren inclined his head.
"They are a bit rudimentary," He began, "But I have seen plenty worse who've been on television. I am sure with more practice, she will be ready for her evaluation."
That was right. Ruby had signed up for her main roster tryout. It was slated to be two weeks after Jaune's match. Which meant Ruby now also had pressure on her to lock in.
"She's holding her own with Nora." Jaune observed. Ren chuckled.
"Well, Nora tends to sink down to the level of her opponent on the mic. Your friend came at her with somewhat basic material so Nora has returned them in kind."
Ah, that makes sense, he thought as he watched the two girls. Nora was great at capturing the crowd's energy and riling them up, something Ruby hadn't shown yet. That being said, she hadn't had the chance to be in front of one. He thought maybe Ren might be underrating Ruby, but in true Ren fashion, it wasn't out of malice, rather just passive observation. Ruby had a ways to go, but she was showing a lot of potential.
"You might be stronger than me, heavier than me, and more experienced," Ruby began, her eyes sharp, "But you can't count me out. Because if you do, the only count you'll be hearing is 1…2...3…!" she finished as she swept a hand to the side. While it was a cliche statement, her energy was there, her tone was ragged and filled with emotion. That was what he wanted to see from her.
"Oooh I liked that!" Nora said, dropping her character and giving Ruby a high five. She gazed over to her boyfriend and Jaune. "I like her Jauney! She's waaaaaay better than Renny used to be."
Ren's cheeks colored as Jaune chuckled, watching Ruby give her a shy thank you. Nora turned to Ruby with a toothy grin. "I think you just need some more practice and you'll be killing it! I can't wait to see some live TV Ruby promos, huh Jaune?"
Jaune nodded, giving Ruby a thumbs up. "You're gonna be great out there, Ruby. I know it." she flushed, waving her hands animatedly as if to say "Aw stop it."
"You ever consider tag teaming?" Nora asked with a curious hum. "You were really good at building off of my promos, like the timing and stuff. Most other singles stars aren't really good at that part when they're starting out."
Ruby went to say something, but Jaune came to her rescue. "Nah, she's not really into that kind of stuff." Nora pouted, but only for a moment.
Her expression turned mischievous. "Are you ready for the main event, Jaune?" Excitement crept into his chest. That's right. Today was a double feature of sorts. First, Ruby and Nora had their mic battle. Now it was Jaune's turn to train.
A match against Ren.
He rocked on the balls of his feet at the thought of it. A chance to take on his brother, to show him that he really had improved. That Ren's belief in him would be rewarded. He might even win. Ren was a bit better than him before he trained, and Ren wasn't a singles wrestler. He was ready to debut the new and improved Jaune Arc.
"Are you ready, Jaune?" Ren asked, anticipation dancing in his eyes like little pink wisps of flame.
"Ready." he replied, climbing the stairs and slipping through the ring ropes, Ren doing the same on the other side.
"Ruby, will you ref?" He asked. She nodded. It was the right call. Nora was a bit of a giving referee. She wouldn't stop the action no matter what. For better, or worse. And usually in his case, it was for the worse. Ruby slid on her belly under the ropes and into the ring.
"Wish I had one of those black and white shirts." She lamented with a grin.
"Maybe next time," he replied, heading over to this corner. She gave him a determined look.
"You've got this Jaune, just like we trained for." he strode forward and gave her a fist bump. He looked over to see Nora giving Ren a quick hug.
Jaune felt his blood racing as he fell into his stance. Ren cocked an eyebrow as he watched Jaune bounce on the balls of his feet.
"New stance," he explained. Ren let out an affirmative grunt.
"Are you guys ready?" Ruby asked them both. Ren gave her a curt nod. She looked over to Jaune. He gave her another thumbs up.
Ruby brought her hands together in a clap. "Fight!"
Nora leaned over and clanged the bell. At the third ring, Jaune crept forward, making sure to keep his hands up as he met Ren in the center of the ring. They circled each other, like two tigers sizing each other up. Ren's right hand shot forward, stopping short as Jaune flinched back. He chastised himself for falling for a feint so early. Ren was the type to set up traps with his feints, pouncing when the time was right.
The man in question's eyes roved over him, taking in every detail. The suspense of when his next attack would come was killing Jaune. But he was ready for this. He sprung forward off the ball of his right foot, throwing a quick one two punch combination, torqueing his hips for power. Ren gracefully circled to the right as Jaune's fists ricocheted off his guard. With Jaune now in range, Ren dropped his right arm, throwing a right body hook. Now, if he was facing the Jaune from a few months ago, he would've buried his fist in Jaune's ribs.
But things were different now.
Utilizing Ruby's stance, Jaune flung himself backwards, springing off his lead leg and putting space between him and his friend. As he retreated, he threw an overhand right that sailed over Ren's guard, catching the quiet man above the ear, sending him skittering back. He hadn't been able to anchor himself and put his full power into the shot, but he could tell it still hurt as Ren staggered back, surprise scrawled across his face.
Jaune gave him a quick smile that Ren returned. His friend brushed his hair out of his face, and Jaune went on guard. That was a classic tell of Ren's; it meant he was getting serious. Jaune began to step forward, mirroring Ren as his opponent crossed the canvas towards him. He took a quick breath, readying himself for anything.
What he wasn't ready for, was for the tinny sound of a scroll to break his flow. He shouldn't have gotten distracted, but he wasn't expecting it. Ren hadn't either, by the way he was gazing towards ringside. Nora eeped, having been engrossed in their quick exchange. She rooted around their bags and drew out the culprit.
"Jauney it's for you!" she called out. He gave Ren a quick look before slipping through the ropes and taking the device from Nora. He didn't recognize the number, but the scroll continued to ring. He thought about leaving it to voicemail, eager to return to his match, but on the off chance it was something important, he figured he'd pick up, raising the device to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello there," A deep, rich voice replied through the speaker. "Am I speaking to Jaune Arc?"
"Yes," He replied. "Who's this?"
"This is Ozpin, president of the VWC." The man replied simply. Jaune choked, coughing on his own saliva as he processed the man's words. Ozpin was calling him. Ozpin was calling him.
"H-Hi sir! What can I do for you?" he said, a little too loudly.
"Our systems say you signed into the performance center today, is that correct?" he inquired.
"Yes, I'm there now." Jaune explained.
"Wonderful." Ozpin started, "Would you be able to drop by my office today, Mr. Arc? It's in the adjoined building. Room 3345."
Jaune's chest felt tight. What business do I have there? He pondered, trying not to overthink it. "S-sure sir, any particular reason?"
"There's a matter here that concerns you, and I'd like to address it as soon as possible. But don't worry, you're not in trouble, young man." He assured. Jaune still blanched. That couldn't possibly be good, right? Regardless, he needed to know.
"Okay…okay that sounds good. What time works for you?"
"How does 2:30 sound?" Ozpin ventured. Jaune glanced at one of the various clocks that littered the PC. It read 2:11. "Yes sir, I can do that. For sure."
"Perfect, see you then, Mr. Arc." the older man stated, severing the connection. He idly placed the scroll back in his pocket.
"So," Nora began, "Who was that?"
"Ozpin." he breathed.
Nora's eyes widened. "You're kidding! What does he want?"
"I'm not sure. But he wants me in his office in fifteen minutes."
Ruby slid out of the ring next to him. "I wonder what he wants from you." she said curiously. Nora groaned.
"Awww but that means we don't get to watch Jaune and Renny go at it." Jaune quirked an eyebrow.
"Hey, we still have some time."
Ren tutted. "I don't think it would be wise to meet with the company's president with post match sweat, Jaune. We can continue our match when you return."
Ah, he had him there. He definitely needed to wash up and get his house in order before he met with the big boss.
"Alright, but don't have too much fun without me guys!" He remarked over his shoulder as he headed to the locker rooms.
/
Jaune's fist hovered in place a few inches from the door. It was a rare occasion to step into the mastermind's lair. He should feel honored, not many people got to meet with Ozpin in private. Between client meetings and coffee outings, the older man was usually absent from day-to-day activities, with Glynda picking up the slack. He'd been to Glynda's office far more times than he could count, for wrestling reasons, as well as just going to visit her. The only time he'd ever been to the CEO's office was when he first signed with the company. He felt much more upbeat back then versus now.
His curiosity finally winning out, Jaune swallowed past the lump in his throat and rapped his knuckles against the heavy door. The sound of his knocks echoed through the hall ominously.
"Come in," a voice from inside beckoned. Ozpin's voice. He turned the knob and stepped inside. Ozpin's office was a sight to behold. The cool gray walls were adorned with famous photos, not unlike Ruby's. Unlike Ruby's however, there were also title belts in cases, small statuettes, and on the back wall, a giant banner. The logo of the Vytal Wrestling Company. The most impressive feature however, was the massive white marble desk backed by a beautiful view of the city. The window seemed to be designed like the face of a clock, with the minute and hour hands at ten and two.
Seated at the desk was the man himself. Ozpin wore a very expensive looking black suit with dark green accents. The colors were a stark contrast to the main's graying hair and hazel eyes, adorned with little black spectacles. The man regarded him with a mysterious curiosity. Jaune knew the look well. Despite only seeing the man a handful of times, he had an enigmatic gaze you couldn't look away from. A testament to his charisma. To Jaune's surprise, Ozpin was not the only person at the table. To his right sat Ms. Goodwitch. His smile faltered as he took in her appearance. Her usually perfect bun was slightly bedraggled, with a few stray hairs sticking out. Her tie was slightly loose. She looked…tired, refusing to meet his gaze as he strode forward. Lastly, there was a man beaming at him that he didn't recognize. He had fiery scarlet hair and a full beard to match.
"A pleasure to see you again Mr. Arc," Ozpin began, clearing his throat, "Please, take a seat."
As he pulled out the chair, the red haired man strode forward, hand outstretched. "Jaune! It's nice to finally put a face to the name. How's your father?" Jaune reached his hand out to shake the man's hand, a bit taken aback by his enthusiasm. The man's grip was firm, bouncing their hands a few times, his smile wide.
"He's uh, he's good." Jaune said. Truth be told, it had been so long since he'd spoken to his dad, he didn't know if that was the case. The man bought it though, clapping Jaune on the shoulder.
"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I always did like your Dad. We never got to face off in the ring, but I always appreciated his work. After all," he began, gesturing to Jaune, "He seems to have raised quite the warrior."
An awkward laugh bubbled past Jaune's lips. But he didn't see the point in correcting him. "Sorry but, have we met?" he asked the man.
"Where are my manners?" he guffawed. "I'm Alexander, but you can just call me the man who changed your career."
Jaune's eyes widened. Changed my career? Before he could reply, Ozpin raised his hand. "Now Alexander, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have much to discuss after all." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Glynda roll her eyes.
"Ah, of course Ozpin. I'm just a bit eager, that's all." Alexander confessed as he returned to his seat.
"Um sir," Jaune began tentatively, "It's great to see you and all, but I was kind of wondering why I'm here."
"I can take that," Alexander cut in, waving his arms in a grandiose gesture. "The reason you're here today, my dear boy, is because destiny has seen fit to arrive at your door to whisk you away to the big leagues!"
Jaune inclined his head. What was this guy talking about? He seemed nice, but his energy was a bit too much. He was like Ruby, but without the eager charm. Ruby's excitement felt natural, but this? He wasn't sold on it.
"That's enoug–" Glynda began, her eyes sharp. Before she could finish, Ozpin interrupted.
"Alexander," he chided, "I'd ask you to refrain from the theatrics until I tell Mr. Arc why he's here." The crimson haired man relented as Ozpin continued.
"Mr. Arc, there are times in this industry where sudden changes happen." He began, his voice low, "A crowd doesn't turn out, there's a natural disaster, or in some cases, a match falls apart." he explained. He…he didn't like where this was going. Ozpin's eyes were firmly fixed on his. His voice, it had sounded almost somber. His stomach rumbled, twisting itself into knots as he wondered what exactly was going on here.
"T-That's true." Jaune observed, waiting for the company's president to get to the point.
"A good match falling apart is always a tragedy, no matter how small the affair is." he stated, "The crowd is disappointed, the fighters have to be rebooked, and business in the short term suffers as a result." The wait was killing him. Where was he going with this?
"However," Ozpin began, regarding him with that same strange curiosity, "It doesn't always have to be that way. When these things fall apart, there is always someone who can be counted on to save the day. To rescue the match."
Jaune's mouth was dry. He tried to catch Glynda's eye, but for some reason, she refused to look at him, electing to gaze down at the white marble desk's shiny surface. He turned back to Ozpin. "Sir…sorry if I'm being rude, but what are you getting at?"
Alexander rose from his seat. "What he's saying, Jaune, is that you've just been given a gift! A chance to save Monday's taping. To main event the show on your triumphant return."
"Y-you're bumping me and Yuma's match to the main event?" he gasped. Excitement bubbled in his chest. That would be an honor. Jaune had only main evented a show once, and that was his debut that felt like forever ago. It was nowhere near the prestige of being the top billing at a PPV, let alone the Vytal Festival, but it was still an accomplishment. Despite his elation, something tugged at his gut. This sounded good. Too good.
Alexander let out a hum. "Not quite, our main event match for that evening has fallen through. Harriet Bree came down with a badly sprained ankle, and has unfortunately pulled out of her spot."
Alarm bells began to ring in Jaune's ears. He and Yuma weren't going to main event at all. There was already a match in place. A match where he was taking Harriet Bree's place. Harriet, one of Ruby's idols and a multiple time midcard champion. She was no slouch. If she was slated to fight someone, that meant they had to mean business.
"I'm being rebooked?" he asked warily. "Who am I facing?" Being rebooked was always a gamble in this industry. It was a rough adjustment. You'd be training for weeks to face one fighter, then boom, you're thrust into a matchup on short notice that you weren't expecting. It wasn't uncommon for it to happen, but it sucked no matter what. All you could hope for is that you matched up decently well.
"Yes Alexander," a voice began from his right, her tone dripping with venom, "Who is he facing?"
He turned to face the source. Glynda had spoken uninterrupted for the first time since he'd arrived. Her green eyes, which had been firmly engrossed in the white marble, were now locked on Alexander. Jaune nearly gasped. Glynda wasn't just tired like he'd thought. She looked furious. Her brows were drawn down, and her narrowed eyes, usually so radiant, looked like emerald chips. To the untrained eye, it would've looked as if she'd been saddled with a minor inconvenience, but he'd known her for a long time. He rarely saw her like this.
Alexander gave him a wide smile. The expression, which seemed so friendly before, almost looked predatory now. "Why thank you Glynda, and of course the young man wants to know who he's facing. After all, everybody wants to hear their winning lottery numbers. My dear boy, you'll be facing Pyrrha Nikos, The Invincible Girl, in the main event!"
Jaune froze. An icy hand gripped his heart as he forgot to breathe. Despite the temperature of the air conditioned room, his skin felt hot. No, it felt like it was burning.
What?
That…that couldn't be right. Pyrrha was positioned for a massive push. She was still undefeated upon arriving at the VWC, boasting an impressive record. She'd trounced Cardin when they'd fought only a few weeks ago. They were intent on strapping the rocket to her, and he could see why. So that begged the question.
Why the hell was he being given this match?
He turned back to Ozpin so fast he was worried he'd tweak his neck. "S-Sir, I don't understand. I was supposed to face Yuma. I was told I was facing him on the go home show." he protested. Ozpin's gaze wasn't so curious anymore, instead, it looked resigned.
"What Mr. Nikos is saying is true, Mr. Arc." he began as Jaune flinched. Nikos? Of course! How had he not recognized him? Alexander was Alexander Nikos. Pyrrha's father and manager. He'd earned a reputation as being one of the most difficult managers to work with in the industry. "Ms. Nikos was set to take on Ms. Bree on the show you'd be making your return at. Unfortunately, Ms. Bree's injury has sent us scrambling for a replacement. After heavy deliberation," he said, sliding his eyes over to Glynda, who only scoffed balefully, "We decided you would be the candidate best fit to fill her place."
His heart began to beat faster, so fast and heavy he could hear it bouncing around inside his ribcage in a cacophony of terror.
"I'm sorry sir, but I'm going to have to turn this down." He offered quickly, hoping he could find his way out of the wretched situation that was unfolding before his eyes.
Glynda looked away as Ozpin let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I'm sorry, Mr. Arc, but we can't afford to let Ms. Nikos miss her match. I'm sure you've seen how quickly she's risen to popularity within our audience. The last thing we want right now is to lose that momentum."
But you're happy to sacrifice mine, Jaune thought in disbelief. He read what Ozpin was saying loud and clear. He couldn't turn this down. He didn't have a choice. Stepping in to fill in for a high profile match was in his contract, it was in everyone's. The situation was simple, Pyrrha brought in business. She was a top seller of merchandise, social media was buzzing about her, and her matches were phenomenal. Her father served as her mouthpiece, so any vulnerability regarding the state of her promos was undetectable. She was the top dog, and he was about to be crushed under her boot.
This couldn't be real.
This couldn't be happening.
"I-Isn't there someone else who could take the match? I'm sure they could give her a better fight." he suggested frantically, hoping maybe they'd made an oversight.
Mr. Nikos grinned, his expression now looking far more sleazy than eager. "No sir. Trust me, we thought long and hard about this one, you're the best man for the job." He felt his heart sink into his shoes.
Why him? To the VWC, he was a loser. Hell, he'd been called a jobber. What could Pyrrha possibly gain from beating him? Okay so Harriet wasn't available, but he was sure there were other grapplers on the roster who'd take the fight. So why were they so adamant on it being him? He glanced around the table, hoping to find some explanation. Ozpin wore an eternal poker face. Ms. Goodwitch however, looked him dead in the eyes, the message in her irises was complicated. But that didn't matter. He got it anyway.
Lightning coursed through his veins as he made a horrifying realization. His conversation with her all those nights ago, where she'd explained the process of matchmaking and legacy. They weren't interested in Jaune versus Pyrrha Nikos, they wanted Jaune Arc versus Pyrrha Nikos.
"You're going to feed me to Pyrrha." he said, his voice barely above her whisper. "You're going to use the Arc name, and the fact that I'm Nicholas Arc's son to give Pyrrha a boost."
Glynda let out a sharp exhale, no doubt affected by the way his voice trembled. Ozpin gave him a sympathetic look. It was all the confirmation Jaune needed.
"Feed is a word with such negative connotations, Jaune." Alexander explained a little too giddily. "Look on the bright side. You're being given a real opportunity here. There's nothing a crowd loves more than an upset. And if you pull this off, you might just secure the greatest upset in VWC history! And on your return no less. Think of the fans you could poach from beating her." The man showed no signs of sympathy, or even pity. In fact, he seemed elated that Jaune would be facing the death of his career. He glared at him as his temper burned. Anger warring with misery as he struggled to choose his words.
"You're going to give me Pyrrha Nikos on my return match. This…this is career suicide. All the momentum I had left is going to be crushed. I-I can't afford another loss! I promised the fans–" he protested, but once again Alexander cut him off.
"You don't have to get so worked up my boy, you'll be well compensated for taking this on short notice." Alexander assured him, waving his hand dismissively. "How does four times your usual rate sound? And of course, a win over my daughter will put you firmly in world title contention. Don't you want to win the belt your father did?"
He faltered, but only for a second. Of course he wanted to be a world champion. He wanted the gold. But he refused to fall for Nikos' scam. Sure, it was nice to imagine the fantasy world where he beat Pyrrha and rode off into the sunset, but reality was often disappointing. And it was the world he was living in. Return matches were a gamble. If you won, you'd return triumphant and the crowd couldn't help but get invested in the brand new you. But if you lost? The crowd would begin to treat you with something far worse than disdain. Apathy. If he didn't make good on his promise to them, they'd stop caring about his matches. They would tune out his promos. After all, talking the talk means nothing if you can't walk the walk. He had no chance against Pyrrha.
He would lose everything. Glynda put his thoughts into words.
"That's if he wins against Ms. Nikos. The Invincible Girl, the second greatest prospect the industry has seen in the last decade, who's been undefeated since starting her career." Glynda spat icily. "But of course you don't want to talk about the implications if he loses."
Alexander scoffed, managing to keep the jovial tone in his voice. "Second greatest prospect? And who might the first be, Glynda?"
"Forgive my frankness Alexander, but Dragonheart would have trounced Ms. Nikos had they ever been on the same circuit." She explained with a shrug, "But of course they never did meet, did they? Perhaps for that exact reason. I'm guessing you had a hand in that."
Mr. Nikos grinned, but Jaune could tell his smile was a bit forced. "Ah Glynda, when did you take up comedy? Your view is understandable though, given you've been out of the ring for a while. Your eye for talent may have dulled."
Glynda's smile was viscous. "I don't know about that, Alexander. After all, I used my talents to beat you for my second world title, didn't I?"
Alexander's smile faltered for a millisecond, but he caught it. Irritation flashed across his face. It was an ugly expression. Thankfully, he didn't have to look at it for long before the fake smile returned. He went to retort, but never got the chance.
Ozpin let out a quiet chuckle as he raised his hand. "As entertaining as this is to watch, I'm going to have to ask you both to return to your seats. If you wish to continue, you're welcome to come out of retirement and I can get you both booked immediately." he joked.
The atmosphere was still tense. Jaune couldn't recall a time he'd seen Ms. Goodwitch like this. Well, that wasn't entirely true. She used to play quite the confident character when she wrestled for the company. Even going toe to toe against his father on the mic. That being said, Jaune couldn't tell if she was going to bat for him. After all, Ozpin had said they'd come to this decision. He had to know. "Did you all sign off on this?" he asked incredulously.
Glynda didn't meet his eyes as Ozpin spoke. "It took quite a few meetings," he explained. "Glynda was quite vehemently against the idea, but we have to think about the bigger picture Mr. Arc. There's a story to tell here. Even if it's regretfully not the one you wish to be told. The story of the returning underdog with a storied legacy against the young warrior fighting to build her own." Jaune barely managed to stave off his bitter laughter. Of course that's how Ozpin saw it. If there was one ideal that Ozpin valued most of all, it was that a good story could override any rule. Every wrestler in the company knew it, hence why they tried to build stories. Storylines were hard to form organically, so Ozpin loved to pull strings to attempt to develop them. He'd had a hand in phenomenal feuds that had sold out arenas. But it wasn't so phenomenal now that Jaune was on the receiving end of it.
"Isn't there anyone else?" He rasped, desperation clouding his thoughts as his blood roared in his ears. "The tag tournament! There are plenty of people competing there with their own legacies. There are title holders there too! I'm sure you could pluck one out and have them face Pyrrha. They'd be more qualified too." He felt guilty attempting to throw someone under the bus, but right now he didn't have a choice. If he took this match, it would be his ruin.
To his dismay Ozpin shook his head. "The tag team tournament is our top priority right now Mr. Arc. There isn't much we wouldn't do to ensure it runs smoothly. All spots there have been locked in. Ms. Nikos' current run is a close second however, hence why you're here today. I'm truly sorry to put you in this position Mr. Arc."
Strangely enough, it seemed genuine. He felt the fire raging inside him begin to peter out, dismay overpowering his indignation.
"B-but I trained so hard for this." he confessed, his voice trembling. "You're just going to throw me to the wolves, after all this time?"
The sound of a chair scraping violently against the wooden floor caused him to flinch, turning his head to see Glynda storming out. Ozpin gave him an indiscernible look.
"Rest assured, you will be rewarded for stepping in Mr. Arc. Your stock has risen among us."
He snorted bitterly. "Yes sir, I won't let you down. Can I please go now?" he mumbled as he got up, not waiting for the man's reply. His mother's voice in his head chided him for leaving in such a disrespectful way, but he couldn't find it in him to care right now. He just wanted to go home.
"I'd ask you to stay for a bit longer, if that's alright with you Mr. Arc," Ozpin began, before turning his hazel eyes to the sleazy salesman that stood beside him. "As for you, old friend, I think our business here is concluded."
Alexander laughed, running a hand through his greased back hair. "No worries Oz, we'll circle back about those advertising campaigns I brought up earlier. Only the best for my Pyr." Ozpin let out a hum.
"I'm sure we will." He said dryly before taking a sip of his mug. "Farewell Alexander." The red haired man sent him a nod before bustling towards the door. He threw a grin Jaune's way as he grasped the knob.
"It was nice to meet you, Jaune." he said gleefully, "Best of luck against Pyrrha!"
He didn't acknowledge him, electing instead to wordlessly let the older man push past him. Once Mr. Nikos had left, he directed his attention back to Ozpin.
"So what's this about?" He demanded, his temper returning. "Can't I just leave? You've already thrown me under the bus. What else could you possibly want?"
Ozpin's eyes drifted shut. "He's insufferable, isn't he? Alexander was always like that, right when he first started. I had hoped he'd changed, but sadly, sometimes things aren't meant to come to pass."
Jaune blinked. Well, he hadn't been expecting that. That didn't mean he didn't share his sentiments though. Alexander was a con man, plain and simple. He was the type of manager happy to sell someone like Jaune down the river for a chance for his golden goose to keep laying eggs.
"Mr. Arc," Ozpin began softly. "This is far from the first time I've had to make a decision like this. It's never been something I've taken joy in."
Jaune jammed his hands in his pockets. It made sense, Ozpin had been around for a long time.
"For every wondrous story I've been privileged enough to have a hand in, there have been countless others that have failed. Most of them due to my own misguided choices. To tell you the truth, Mr. Arc, I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child in this business."
Jaune couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. To laugh at the absurdity of his words, or cry at the insinuation that he was just one more potential mistake Ozpin would be making.
"However, I don't believe this is one of them." Ozpin spoke, his words cutting through Jaune's thoughts like a hot knife through butter. Another surprise. Jaune found himself frustrated at the older man's cryptic words. Couldn't he just leave him alone? Ozpin casually disregarded his exasperated expression, content to continue.
"Is it a hurdle? Absolutely. Is it unfair, undoubtedly. And could it lead to the end of your career? Quite possibly. If anything, I'd be surprised if it didn't."
Jaune couldn't listen to any more of it, the tonal whiplash was just too much. Ozpin had a way with words, after all, he was the most charismatic man in the industry. But that didn't mean it wasn't extremely frustrating. He whirled away from the older man, stomping towards the door. Was this all just a big game to him? Why twist the knife harder?
"But somehow, I don't believe this is the end Mr. Arc." Ozpin called out from behind him. Jaune's fingers froze, lingering above the brass knob. Letting out a deep exhale, he turned back towards Vytal's president, giving him a glare, hopefully getting the message across to cut the fluff and get on with it. Ozpin seemed to receive the message as he leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his face.
"Do you want to know what defines success in this business Mr. Arc?"
Jaune waited for his answer, refusing to play games with the man that had pulled the trigger on his match up against Pyrrha.
"Adaptability." Ozpin finally spoke. Jaune inclined his head.
"Qrow Branwen was once a tag team champion who'd been hung out to dry by his own flesh and blood. Lost and alone, he floundered around the bottom of the card. It was his grit that forced him to reinvent himself, becoming a hero the masses could get behind." Ozpin explained. That… that was true. The average fan knew Qrow as the fun, charismatic yet grizzled grappler that could whip an audience into a frenzy. But Jaune was no casual. No, he was a nerd who'd spent countless hours browsing his favorite wrestlers' videos on the internet. He remembered watching clips of the less entertaining side of Qrow. Matches against Vine Zeki and mooks from the White Fang.
"Your father understood it too." Ozpin continued as Jaune drew a quick breath. "Young Nicholas needed to find a way to make his dreams come true, so he threw the most valuable thing a man can own in this business, his career, on the line for a chance to win his greatest desire in a gambit that played on his opponent's weaknesses."
Ozpin knew his history. Of course he did, he was there to make it. Jaune's shoulders hunched. "What's the point in telling me this? I don't think you're the type to change your mind about the match."
"You're right, I'm not going to." Ozpin confirmed. Jaune's hands balled into fists, nails biting into his palms so hard that if he didn't have aura he was sure they'd be bleeding. It was worth a shot at least. "What I'm getting at is that you have traits in common with men and women who've revolutionized this business."
"How do you figure that?" Jaune muttered.
"You didn't think we just left you to your own devices, did you?" Ozpin hummed. "No, Glynda made sure to keep track of your progress."
"She did?" He blurted out.
"She did." Ozpin replied. "She monitored your keycard's activity. Every time you swiped into the performance center, she was alerted." he explained. "We know how much time you've dedicated to your self improvement. You have grit, Mr. Arc. You have heart, and it seems like you've surrounded yourself with like minded souls, old and new."
Does he mean Ruby? He wondered as the older man continued.
"The coming days will crush or raise you. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can choose to let whatever happens on Monday defeat you, beat you down until your love for this sport has dried up. Or, you can continue to fight as you always have, and find a way to carve out your own destiny. Your own story, one independent from those who hold the strings. Do you understand?"
Jaune let his eyes drift shut, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "What I understand, is that it looks like the only path I'll be carving is one to an early retirement sir." he spat, unable to keep the resentment out of his voice. Shame bubbled within him as Ozpin looked away.
"Sorry, I didn't mean—I'll just go." He quickly rasped as he forced himself to turn away.
What am I doing? He lamented as he pulled open the door. Taking it out on Ozpin wasn't going to fix anything, he was surprised the older man had allowed him to speak the way he did. He was acting like a brat. I've got every right to be angry though, a treacherous voice in his head spoke as he stepped into the hallway.
He made it only a few steps before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned to face Glynda Goodwitch, who looked at him with dull eyes. His rage eroded, replaced with the sinking feeling of despair.
"Jaune…" she began, dropping the formal title. "I'm sor–"
"Glynda, you can't let them do this." He begged. "I've been training for months now. I can win my return match, I know I can. Please don't let this happen."
Glynda took a shuddering breath. "I didn't want this for you. This wasn't supposed to happen. You have to understand. I fought against it, I railed against it. I explained to Ozpin why this is a horrible idea for days now. But it…it wasn't enough. That bastard Alexander holds the cards right now as long as Ms. Nikos continues to win." she gave him a look that threatened to break his heart in two.
"I tried, Jaune. I'm so sorry."
Despite the misery that plagued him, a small ember of warmth rose in his chest. Glynda really had fought for him. She'd stuck her neck out to try and save him. Memories rose to the surface as he recalled Nora telling him about the big argument Glynda had with Ozpin.
"Nora told me you and Ozpin had gotten into a fight. Was that–"
"It was," She cut him off. "I was informed of his decision a little over a week ago. I wanted to tell you but we couldn't until Ms. Nikos agreed to it. I don't say this often, but it's an abhorrent decision, and I don't know what Ozpin's thinking. That "best for business" attitude of his, sometimes it infuriates me."
Jaune looked around, making sure it was just them in the hallway. "It's…it's okay Glynda. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me. You're too good to me already. More than you have any reason to be." Her eyes softened.
"Nonsense, Jaune." She said, laying a light hand on his shoulder. "If I had found you unworthy of my care, I would've turned down your father's offers to watch over you years ago." He almost smiled at the memories of Glynda's time as his babysitter. She and his dad sure went way back. A iota of hope clawed against his chest.
"Is…is there any chance I could get out of this?" Her face fell.
"It's not very high, Mr. Arc. Not impossible, but it would take a miracle."
"O-okay, thanks anyway. For believing in me. Even if it didn't really pay off." he said, beginning to turn away. Her hand caught his sleeve, her eyes determined and resolute.
"Your story isn't ending here, Jaune. I'm going to do everything in my power to make this right." she said, her grip on his sleeve tightening, "I give you my word. This isn't the end of the line. So please, don't be so hard on yourself."
He gave her a watery smile. It was brittle and forced, but he wanted to make her feel better. Anything to make it seem like his world wasn't crumbling around him.
"I-I'll try." He assured her, "I'm uh, I'm gonna go now. Thank you, Glynda." She gave him one last look before he turned away, staggering away to go find his stuff.
/
Jaune returned to the performance center's gym a dead man walking. He stumbled across the large room, approaching the familiar ring in the corner. Nora was at ringside slurping down a smoothie. He could see Ren and Ruby inside the ropes, still practicing. Ruby looked like she was showing Ren some type of springboard move. One where you'd use the middle or bottom rope like a trampoline, bouncing off them for an aerial assault. He didn't really care though. He just wanted to grab his bag and leave.
Nora saw him first, placing her cup on the ring apron and bounding happily towards him. Her face fell as she got closer, eventually stopping in place.
"Jaune? What's wrong?" she asked, dropping the nicknames in favor of an urgent tone. Jaune chastised himself for not freshening up in the bathroom. He must've looked a mess. He hadn't cried, but he was sure his eyes showed signs of the tears that had pooled inside them. And he was sure he didn't look his usual self.
He gave her a forlorn look, trying to convey with his eyes that he didn't want to talk about it, choosing to walk past her to go find his bag. Nora however, wasn't one to sit back and watch her friends in pain.
"Jaune," she repeated, louder this time. "What's going on?" Her words cut through the dull rumble of the gym. Ruby and Ren stopped mid move, the two leaning over the ropes to listen.
"Nothing," he murmured as he approached the ring apron. He was about to bend over and grab his bag when he felt Nora's fingers wrap around his wrist.
"What happened in Ozpin's office?" she practically demanded, her face ashen. "You're scaring me." Frustration bubbled in his gut, but it wasn't at her. It would never be at her, or any of them. He gazed at her, then looked at Ruby and Ren. The two seemed just as concerned as Nora was. Ruby's brows were drawn down. Ren's eyes were narrowed slightly, a small indicator, but he'd known Ren a long time. He could tell he was worried too.
"I'm screwed." he spat, throwing his hands up, breaking Nora's grip. "My career is done." It was like a bomb went off. Ruby and Ren slipped through the ropes and landed beside him. Nora stepped closer, her eyes wide.
"What happened?!" She shouted, her hands clamping onto his shoulders and shaking him. Her eyes were wild with worry. He was scaring her. She might be thinking he'd been fired, or got some even worse news. It wasn't right to not tell them. He took a deep breath.
"They rebooked my match." He began.
"O-Oh, well that's not that bad–" Nora started.
"Against Pyrrha. The Invincible Girl." he interrupted.
He was met with silence, the only sound being Nora's ragged gasp as she took a few steps back.
"That…that doesn't make any sense." Ren started, his eyes were wide. "Forgive me Jaune, but you're not on her level."
"Don't I know it!" He crowed, his voice dripping with venom. "But that doesn't matter. Harriet pulled out of their match, and they slotted me right in there. Turns out the Arc family legacy looks great on a resume!" He spat bitterly.
"B-But that's not fair!" Ruby protested. Her face was scrunched up and red. "They can't do this! You've been doing so well. They can't just throw you against Pyrrha on your first match back."
Jaune sighed. "I said the same thing. Doesn't matter. Pyrrha's more important. I'm going to lose. I'm going to lose my return match." he said, beginning to spiral. "They're going to turn on me. I swore I'd make it up to them. This was my last chance."
"It's not over yet, Jaune!" Ruby protested, "There's always a chance. You've improved so much. We don't know where your level is."
Jaune appreciated the sentiment, but one look at Nora and Ren told a different story. They wouldn't meet his eyes. It didn't offend him though. He knew it better than they did. He was finished. Heck, Ruby was the smartest ring technician he'd ever met. She definitely knew he had no chance. That being said, it was nice that she was trying, though.
"Thanks." He said, letting the word hang in the air before bending down to scoop up his bag.
"What are you doing?" Ruby asked, worry etched across her face.
"I'm going home." He said woodenly.
"But you didn't even get to train today."
Jaune laughed. "What's the point in training? I'm done. I think I'd rather spend these last few days at home." he turned to face her. "Ruby, I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, and I'm so glad I have you as a friend. I'm…I'm sorry things aren't going to turn out. I'll still help you get ready for your tryout though."
"Stop talking like that!" Ruby exclaimed, her silver eyes burning bright with emotion. "Stop talking like you're giving up!" The words hurt. Was he giving up? What choice did he have? He'd gone through a lot on this journey and never threw in the towel. But this? He wouldn't be coming back from his. Instead of giving her an answer, he took the easy way out.
"I'm going home." He repeated, hoisting his bag onto his shoulder. Before he could turn away, Nora surged forward and dragged him into a hug. He braced for impact, but found he didn't have to. The embrace was soft and sweet.
"I'm sorry, Jauney." she whispered in his ear, a sob caught in her throat.
He took a deep breath as she released him. Ren laid a hand on his shoulder the way he always did when he wanted to show Jaune he loved him. His pink eyes were filled with pain.
"You will survive this, Jaune. I will be here for you when you need me. No matter what." he pulled Ren in for a side hug.
All that was left was Ruby. Her eyes were watery. She didn't say anything, choosing instead to get on her tiptoes and wrap her little arms around him. He almost collapsed into it. His partner, who had grown to be one of his dearest friends, held him there, as if to say it was all going to be okay. It looked like she wanted to say more, but Nora cut her off. It was probably for the best.
"Have a good night, my fearless leader." she said, forcing some cheer in her voice.
He gave them a smile for their sakes, before he turned to leave.
/
Jaune shoved his weathered door open and stomped through the threshold of his apartment. The drive home was painful. He'd barely kept it together as he drove through the city. But thankfully, he was finally alone.
He staggered over to his bed, ignoring the state of his broken down apartment. He didn't even bother flicking the dim light on as he threw himself on the old mattress. He laid there for a few minutes, just taking deep breaths.
He really was finished this time, wasn't he?
He thumbed his scroll from his pocket and tapped his contacts. He searched through them until he found the one he was looking for.
Dad
He hit the "call" button and waited as the dial tone began. What am I doing? He chastised himself as he hit the end call button. Immediately the scroll sprang to life, his ringtone blaring as the caller ID read "Dad". Jaune hit the cancel button and put the device on do not disturb. He was a bit shocked at how fast his Dad had called him back. But it would be a mistake to answer for sure. Dad wasn't going to be able to help him, and if he spoke with him, he had no idea what they'd get into. Probably another argument, he lamented. Or even worse, an "I told you so."
Rage finally bursting, he flung his scroll across the room, a satisfying thunk ringing throughout the quiet apartment as it slapped against the wall. He could tell from here it wasn't undamaged. It was just nice to get some anger out. But Jaune wasn't an angry person, and as his temper eroded, it was replaced with pain.
As the reality of the situation finally got to him, Jaune Arc curled into his bed and wept.
Well shit. This ain't good! I wonder if any of you caught that this might be where the story was heading the chapter where Glynda talks about Pyrrha's rise? Trying my hand at a bit of Chekov's gun haha. Keep an eye out for more of that in the future.
So yeah, Jaune might be screwed here. It happens all the time in real life though, not only in the WWE, but MMA and Boxing too. People who were once big names are fed to the up and coming warrior to boost their resume and poach fans from their opponent. Poor Jaune just doesn't know what to do.
I've already written a good bit of chapter 9, but it looks like it'll be a long one. I'd love to hear anyone's perspectives on if they want shorter but more frequent chapters, or longer but fewer chapters? Let me know in a dm or a review. Speaking of which, as always thank you for the support, your reviews mean a lot, and see you in the next chapter!
- Curb