Sorry for being away for so long but it was necessary for my own good since a member of my family that I was close to passed away suddenly. Then I had other family members come visit and it kinda helped me get back to things...that and playing a lot of assassin's creed. Turns out killing NPC's was actually good for me in a way.
Anyways with things as they are, I figured a little interaction between Jaune and team RWBY would be a good idea. Soooooo enjoy the chapter.
"N-No, wait! You can't".
"I can and I will. Give up now and I may just be merciful".
Ruby knew it was a lie, or perhaps a good enough chance it was one at least, but on the off chance it wasn't could she really afford to let that opportunity slip her by. Maybe there could be something resembling mercy in that cold heart of her partner. It was in that moment of weakness that Weiss pounced, pulling the sheet off paper Ruby was guarding in her hands and drawing it in front of her face.
"47! How could you get a 47 on your Grimm study practical test when we had all those study sessions together?! We even went over the questions together to make sure you understood them all". Weiss shoved the piece of paper in Ruby's face and sternly asked as calmly as she could. "How? Explain it to me". Which in hindsight probably wasn't all that calm to be honest.
"I-It wasn't my fault, it was Yangs idea"! Ruby yelled in her panic.
Weiss's head swiveled to the blonde only to see her teammate quickly and guiltily look away from her. The heiress turned back to her partner and took hold of her shoulders as she loomed over like a very angry parent. "Just because it was Yangs fault that this somehow happened doesn't explain much Ruby. Now talk! I want every last detail of how this could have possibly happened without my knowledge".
Ruby quaked under her very angry partners gaze. This usually didn't happen, in fact whenever she blamed Yang for anything her father would usually say "of course it was" and then grill her sister over it. Weiss, as it turns out was not as easy as her father and took pleasure in punishing her equally as her sister. Getting hit with a ban on cooks for a week was one thing but being told she couldn't play video games until she got a passing grade on their next test was just too much.
"Weiss you can't ground me"! The young team leader protested, only for the heiress to hold up her scroll with Ruby and Yangs fathers contact on display. Ruby and even Yang flinched at the suppose threat. Weiss raised a brow and smirked sinisterly. "Well if you don't want to listen to me for your own benefit then there's nothing I can do about that, is there"? Weiss sighed for dramatic effect, "although if that's the case then maybe your father would be better suited to weed out the problem then I".
"L-Let's not be too hasty"!
"Yeah, I agree with rubb's on this". Yang said as she hopped off her bed to take her sisters side. "Ruby's a big girl so I'm sure she can handle her punishment without complaining about it".
Weiss's smile grew significantly because Yang just handed her the rope to hang her with. "Your right I suppose". As soon as those words left her lips the two sagged in relief. "But since that's the case I'm sure you won't complain about your punishment for causing this whole thing, correct"?
Yang looked like a deer caught in headlights at the sudden turn of events. "Hehe, what do mean Weiss-cre-".
"When you went to bed early yesterday Yang had me play video games with her all night. I fell asleep during the test because of it".
Yang stared down at her sister in disbelief. The betrayal, how easily her own flesh and blood sold her out like that. After all she had done for her rotten baby sister, this was how she was rewarded? Ruby looked up at her older sister and stuck her tongue out as if to say she wasn't going down alone. It was the last straw before Yang tackle her sister to the floor and the two began to wrestle with one another.
Weiss watched the display with the patience of a saint...at least until that saint had been corrupted and over taken. Her foot stomped down on the floor loud enough to catch the two idiots attention and she stared down at them with a raised brow as if to ask if they were done yet. Her two teammates unraveled themselves and stood in front of the heiress with their heads down like two naughty children. "Yang for your punishment your grounded from video games as well, and no trips to Vale for the rest of the week. That also includes the weekend in case I didn't make that clear enough".
The heartbroken look on the blondes face was more then satisfying for the young Schnee.
"Come on Weiss-cream be reasonable" Yang complained. Weiss's response was to wiggle her scroll under her chin as she pretended to think on it. "And here I thought I was"?! She thought aloud. "Oh, but if not then I'm sure you can explain to your father why his eldest daughter was actively jeopardizing her sisters education". Weiss smiled at Yangs crest fallen face, knowing any hope of fighting back had been stopped in it's tracks.
They both accepted their predicaments much easier after that, and Yang went and called out Blake for enjoying their suffering. Though the quiet girl reading her book denied such claims, one couldn't help but notice the small crinkles on her face that told another story. Weiss shook her head and took a seat at the desk in their room and thought about studying again but found her mind wandering from the madness that her team brought to the room.
Reaching into her pocket the heiress fished out her scroll and skimmed through her contacts. It had been a while since she spoke to her sister but they usually conversed through letters rather then texts. It was while she was thinking that that her thumb stopped on another familiar face. The goofy grin and blonde hair of her former team leader made her hesitate, but after thinking about it they hadn't really spoken since she left Atlas behind.
Her thumb pressed down on the icon and her scroll began to send out a video call. With each passing second she felt closer and closer to just ending the call all together. Right when her thumb was hovering over the end call button, Jaunes face appeared causing the heiress to freeze once again.
"Hey snow angel" Jaune said casually and with a big grin on his face.
Normally the use of that nickname resulted in one of two effects. The first was her fury and scorn that burned hotter then the sun over Remnant. Then the second was a stern lecture of why such a nickname was unappreciated, especially for someone in her particular position. Much to the surprise of everyone around her Weiss merely smiled and rolled her eyes at the blonde. "I so did not miss you you you dolt". Jaune chuckled and ran a hand through his hair, which Weiss noticed was wet with sweat. Had he been pushing himself again? That would be just like him wouldn't it.
"It feels like it's been too long since we last spoke hasn't it". Jaune tilted his head to the side as he leaned against what looked like a wall. "So. How are things going over there in Vale, become team leader of a merry band of hunters in training"?
Weiss sighed the sigh of the damned. "Merry, yes but unfortunately not a team I'm currently in charge of".
Jaune snickered at her dismay. "Not yet anyway but give it time and you'll be whipping them into shape and calling shots just like you did when you were here".
The heiress crossed her arms and huffed, "I did no such thing and you know it. All I've ever done was try my hardest to meet Winter's expectations of us". Jaune's expression softened a little as he spoke. "Yeah you did, and it helped us out far more then you might realize. It brought our team closer together and made it easier for us to trust one another, which has already saved us". His words were full of praise and Weiss couldn't help but blush a little at how honest they were.
It was then that her thoughts caught on to what was said. "Jaune, has something happened since I've been away"?
Jaune looked away and sighed after a long moment. "I really shouldn't because at the moment it's classified...but it is you so I don't think there'd be much harm in it. I'll tell you, but only if you shut off the speaker mode on your scroll". Weiss was quick to comply and changed the video chat to a regular call as she stood up from her chair. If Jaune wanted these precautions then it had to be something pretty shocking. As she listened in to his words she could definitely see why this little bit of information needed to stay hush hush.
Be that as it may, she couldn't be blamed for her reaction to said news.
"YOU'VE GOT TO KIDDING ME"!
Yang, Ruby and Blake who had been extremely quiet since Weiss was on the scroll jumped a little at the sudden outburst. It was kind've a rule to not listen in on their teammates when they were on their scroll but from the way the heiress popped off, none could be blamed for the sudden interest. Blake peeked over her book slowly to keep the others from noticing her interest. She needed have bothered since at that very moment both Ruby and Yang took one look at each other and decided to test their luck. They both crept close to the heiress in an attempt to overhear her conversation.
Weiss was a trained huntress in her own right, having practiced her self awareness to detect those around her to better not be caught unaware. Though the others were trained much like her in their own way, they lacked the subtly and grace to go unnoticed. Weiss looked behind her and witnessed both Yang and Ruby crouched low to the ground to better not make a sound. As soon as they were busted though subtly was tossed out the window and they proceeded to dog piled the white haired girl before she could mount a defense.
"I got her sis"! Yang yelled as she grappled with the heiress, using her dominant strength to restrain her fellow teammate. The scroll clattered on the floor but was quickly picked up by Ruby a second later as she switched the call to video. As soon as Jaunes face appeared on the screen Ruby quickly realized what she had done and felt the full force of her shyness. She couldn't say a word at first and just stared at the stranger looking back at her.
"Uh hi" the blonde said awkwardly after enough time had passed in silence.
"Hi" Ruby repeated lamely. In hindsight it wasn't her best moment but could you really blame her for that? Yang had initiated this whole scenario and she just went along with it because...well, because she didn't know what else to do exactly. Now she was here, trapped face to scroll with a person she knew nothing about. Her brain whirled, trying to wrack up something, anything to say at all to get out of this mess. "Weiss is being mean to me. She's always being mean to me"!
Okay, this moment was probably worst then the other now that her thoughts were finally coming together. Then again this was Jaune, Weiss's first partner that she talked about like he was super amazing prodigy or something. Maybe he had some kinda trick to controlling the white haired menace that acted like such a snobby princess. Ruby must've said that out loud because all of a sudden Jaune was laughing on the other side of the screen while Weiss was giving her the coldest glare ever.
Weiss muffled out something from between Yangs fingers which was either a threat or possibly a very large apology. Knowing Weiss as well as Ruby did, she was pretty sure whatever her partner said was no doubt a threat against her. "See what I mean! Help me" she begged.
Jaune had this far off look on his face like he was remembering something fondly. "From what I can see your doing a far better job at getting Weiss to cooperate with you then I ever did. At least she hasn't pushed you so hard that turning your weapon on her seemed like a good idea. And your little idea about getting a trick from me to control Weiss isn't gonna happen, mostly because there is no such thing, sorry".
Ruby did feel a little bummed to be honest but at least she tried, and hey, he did say she did a better job then him when getting Weiss to work with them. The whole thing about aiming her weapon on her partner was a little weird though, and just what kinda person would do that anyways? They were here to be heroes and defeat the Grimm, not each other. "Hhnngghh! Don't you have anything useful to give me here? I'm desperate and Weiss is literally grounding/blackmailing me for a single failed test".
Jaune closed his eyes for a second before he spoke. "That really doesn't sound like something the Weiss I know of would do for no reason. In fact she never does anything without a reason and is a real stickler for the rules". Jaune opened his eyes and eyed the young team leader. "If you don't mind me asking what was your last test score like"?
Ruby tried her best not to show it, but she was never very good at lying to people in the first place. She bit her lower lip and looked away, "it wasn't too bad...I think".
Those few gestures were all the confirmation Jaune needed, having seen similar reactions in his sister's whenever they were caught by their mom for doing something bad. "I see. So it's safe to assume that the test scores before those were just as bad, if not worse then the one's you got now"?
Ruby slumped a little at his guess and trudged over to Weiss's bunk to take a seat. "But it's not my fault" she whimpered, "I never even studied any of those things on the test before". Her bottom lip quivered giving her a sad defeated puppy dog look that almost no one could resist. Unfortunately for Ruby, Jaune had built up a tolerance for such tricks thanks to how his sister's used to use it on him back home.
Before he came to Atlas and met the people he knew now, Jaune was pretty sure he would have never felt brave enough to give anyone the hard truth. Time with both Winter and Weiss showed him that sometimes it was needed for everyone's benefit including his own. But here it was definitely needed for this girl who was now in the position he was in not that long ago. "I have been wondering this for a while now but you look kinda young for someone attending Beacon".
Was he gonna poke fun at her age as well? "Yeah well, I'm 15. I skipped a few grades thanks to headmaster Ozpin".
Jaune nodded having guessed as much. "Jumping a few grades is pretty incredible I'll admit but it's not without its downsides I'm afraid". Ruby already knew of the downsides because she was forced to leave her friends behind, but why would he bother bringing that up? Unaware of Ruby's thoughts Jaune pushed on, laying the truth out flat for her to see since Weiss more then likely never would've brought it up otherwise. "Downsides like missing out on two years of education needed before entering one of the Academies".
Ruby's face twitched as the sudden realization of what Jaune was getting at. It was like connecting invisible dots to everything they talked about just now. Her bad test scores, Weiss's attention to her studies and punishment for not taking them seriously, and Jaunes sudden interest in her age. "But, but..."
"Weiss never does anything without a reason Ruby. After all this time together I'm confident in saying that you probably realize that just as easily as I do". Jaune watched as the small rose lost the stubbornness to refuse his words before turning away from the screen to her still bound partner. Weiss wasn't struggling anymore and instead looked tired of the whole thing. Meeting Ruby's gaze after Jaune seemingly made her realize the truth was a little embarrassing, as such the heiress looked away with a slight huff.
Weiss didn't see it coming but Yang sure did, quickly choosing to release the white haired girl in her grasp as her little sister dive bombed her to the ground. It was a rather cute little display of Ruby crying out how she was so sorry for not realizing how much Weiss cared about her. Though with how Weiss was trying to push her off and all the harsh words she was spewing it kinda muddied the whole thing. Maybe that's just how Weiss was though. Yang couldn't help but smile at the whole display as she moved away to pick up the now abandoned scroll off the floor.
"Looks like I'm saved from the evils of the wooden floor once again" the young Arc quipped as he faced the new person holding the scroll.
Yang chuckled and sat on her bed. "Hooray for small victories I suppose. So, your the guy we've been hearing so much about? Weiss-creams personal Knight in shining armor". Yang eyed what she could see with a critical look, then shrugged, "I thought you'd be bigger". Jaune didn't know if he should be offended or not by that statement. "Well, sorry to disappoint but for what it's worth I am 6'1, if that means anything".
"Oh"! That was a little surprising to be sure and quite a bit taller then she ever expected. Tall, blonde and from the look of things not so bad looking. She was going to have to keep the heiress from meeting her father face to face or she'd fall to pieces if this was her type. "Not the bigger I was talking about but good to know". Yang laid on her back and held the scroll above her. "If your willing to dish out some advice, maybe you'd be a little willing to answer some questions that I have? Pretty please with sugar on top".
Jaune didn't see the problem in answering a few questions but there were some things that couldn't be discussed with outsiders. "Hmm, I don't mind as long as I get to ask somethings in return".
Yangs eyes lit up and she smiled prettily. "A game then. We each get one question and if we decide to skip then the other person can do the same. That sounds fair enough to me". Jaune nodded in agreement so Yang started them off with something simple. "Weiss said you were her partner back when she was in Atlas, but I've never heard of a preparatory school that had kids working together before the academies. Were the two of you in some kinda of special schooling together or something"?
Jaune thought about it for a moment and figured it wouldn't be bad to give her a little insight into how Weiss and he met. "It wasn't exactly a prep school or anything like that. I was actually studying under Weiss's sister Winter for a bit before Weiss ended up joining us. Even then the only reason I was her partner was to help her prepare for when she joined one of the Academies". Having answered her questions as best he could, the young Arc asked his own, simpler question. "Right, so what's your name for starters"?
Realizing that she never formally introduced herself was pretty embarrassing. Though if her sister saw how she blushed at her own embarrassment, Ruby would never let her forget it. "Hehe, woops. That huh, kinda slipped my mind. Yang, Yang Xiao Long but just call me Yang, everyone else does". And there went her street credit if anyone ever seen her act like a timid bumbling idiot. Yang coughed into her fist and tried to regain her confidence. "Any embarrassing secrets you and our resident heiress share with each other"?
"Plenty" Jaune answered easily. Yang waited for more but Jaune didn't follow up on his answer. "My turn...hmm, well you've all been talking as if you heard about me before from someone. I'm guessing from Weiss here but what exactly is she saying about me? Nothing bad I hope".
Yang thought about just keeping it a mystery to get under his skin but decided against it since she was all about getting the best she could get her hands on. Taking a quick peek to the side Yang saw Weiss finally escape Ruby's clutches and turn her way, clearly wanting her scroll back. A devilish grin spread across her face as she spoke. "Actually Weiss goes on and on about you like your the greatest thing since peanut butter and jelly. Seriously it always Jaune wouldn't do this without a plan or Jaune tries so hard for everyone's benefit. Honestly everything we do is compared to you in some shape or form. I think you got an admirer".
Weiss overheard and grew red faced from the comment before turning into a hell cat as she threw herself at the blonde. The battle on the bunk caused the whole thing to come undone and Blake, with the expert grace of a cat landed on the floor in one piece as Yang and Weiss were crushed. If the flickering of aura was any indication then the two would live when they finally got free, but in the mean time. Blake picked up Weiss's scroll from the floor and eyed the blonde on the screen. She took in his features and committed them to memory before ending the call and tossing the scroll on Weiss's bed.
Blake thought she would feel indifferent to the young Arc, but at the end of the day it was because of him that Adam was dead and she just couldn't let that go. "I'll be in the library" she announced to her team leader as she left the room.
/
Far from the prying eyes of her council, Salem found the creature she had created in colaboration with Watts. The Grimm Knight laid at the edge of the blackened Grimm pool with one of it's arms deep within the liquid. It's body shivered slightly, but on closer inspection Salem noticed the Grimm was absorbing the black pool to restore what it had lost. She had given it no order to do so and it didn't obey her command when she asked it to return to her. This begged the question as to why and how this had come to be.
"Who do you serve"? Salem asked as the Grimm stood up on it's newly restored leg.
The Grimm Knight turned to her, eyes glowing behind it's bone plated mask and answered with a low rumble in it's voice. "No one"!
And done. Thanks for being patient with me and hope you look forward to the next chapter.
