Rouge grinned, "You heard me. We have no idea what Raven means by changes, but maybe we can convince her not to act if we take away her reason to."
Jaune shook his head, "That's a big maybe. If Mom finds out you helped me she might really lay into the both of us. We're supposed to figure this sort of thing out on our own."
She frowned, "Jaune, why do you...Never mind."
"Why do I what?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "What Raven doesn't know won't hurt her, right? So what do you say, let me help you out for a change?"
Jaune still looked unsure, "I just don't know. It feels wrong to go behind Raven's back like this. She can be really rough around the edges, but she's always told exactly what she expects of us. She's been honest."
Internally, Rouge was screaming. It was only a matter of time before Jaune got hurt. Sooner or later they would be sent out the camp to go on raids with the rest of the tribe. In the camp she doubted anyone would go so far as to kill him, but out there was a different story. She had to think of a way to let her help.
"I want you to be strong, Jaune," she finally said. "Vernal is a talented fighter and I don't have to tell you it shows. Raven is on a whole other level entirely, this tribe will never fall apart as long as she's around. I have my aura and my power, but then there's you."
Jaune sighed, "I know. I'm nothing special, but I'm okay with that. Like Mom said I'll be strong without my aura."
"You're lying."
"No! Honestly, I-"
Rouge leaned, pink eyes opened wide, "You're lying right now. Just like you lied to Raven. You said there was no point in training, but I've seen you sneak away to train by yourself. I was there for the whole match, Jaune. The crowd was taunting you and you were nervous, but you wanted to fight just as badly. You can't lie to me."
His face burned red, "I guess I'm caught. I just want to be more like Mom." That had Rouge frowning again.
"She's so strong," he continued. "She leads the whole tribe and everyone does what she says without thinking twice."
"If you want to be more like her," Rouge said slowly, "why don't you train with the rest of the recruits. How come you're sneaking off when she has instructors to teach us?"
Again his face turned red, "They think I'm useless and they talk badly about Mom because of it when she's not around sometimes. I know she knows about it, so I thought if I'm the reason they want to say those things then maybe they'd stop if I didn't show."
Rouge heard the rest of the tribe talk too, but to her she didn't care either way what they said. Despite everything Jaunes still looks up to Raven though, so he'll go out of his way to help her even if she doesn't need or care for it. Maybe she could use that devotion if she was clever enough. It had her feeling a little guilty, but it was Jaune's own good.
"Then let's make them stop together," she offered. "If they think you're useless then let's prove them wrong! If I help you with your aura at the very least that'll show them they were wrong to talk badly about Raven. Plus, you'll get stronger too which would be even better!"
Jaune hesitated for a moment, but Rouge's easy smile helped steel his nerves. "You're right."
She leaned back, a smirk on her face, "Yup. So are we gonna do this or not?"
He sat there thinking before he took a deep breath and let it all out, "Yeah. This'll be our secret." Rouge's smirk turned into a genuine smile. He held out his hand, "I'm ready. Unlock my aura."
Rouge's smile melted away, "I don't know how to do that!"
"What!?"
"Shhh, don't be so loud!" Rouge held a finger to her lips and glared. "I never said I would unlock your aura, don't you think I would have ages ago if I could?"
Jaune deflated, "Well, then what are we gonna do? I already know the exercises but they just don't work. What did you plan on doing differently?"
"Listen, the point of those exercises is to find your soul, right? When that happens you can start drawing on it and eventually you'll be able to push it outside of yourself and form an aura. Even move it through objects like weapons, armor, and trigger dust."
"Pretty basic stuff so far, Rouge," Jaune said, rolling his eyes. "I already know this, get to the good part already."
Rouge huffed, "Fine! My plan is for me to push my aura into you and since you're a living being with a soul, maybe I could help jump start your aura. Weapons and armor don't have souls, that's why they don't reject aura when you use it on them. Maybe with you I can force your soul to react to mine and wake it up. Maybe," she winced.
"Maybe." Jaune palmed his forehead. "And you're sure this won't kill me?"
"I-it should be fine. No! It will be fine."
Jaune sighed, "All right. I trust you and nothing else has worked for me before, so let's give this all we've got! What do you need me to do."
Rouge smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Jaune. I'll try my best. First, I need you to give me your hands and close your eyes. My control isn't very good, so I'll need you to be extra quiet so I can concentrate."
He nodded dutifully, "Hands, eyes, quiet. Got it." Jaune did all three and waited.
Gingerly, Rouge took his hands in her own before taking a deep breath to calm her own nerves. She had no idea what she was doing. Oftentimes she couldn't keep her aura up constantly during practice let alone focus it through a weapon. Jaune was relying on her though so she reigned in her beating heart and did her best to concentrate.
Outside, the wind picked and the trees began to sway back and forth ever so slightly. Jaune felt the temperature drop and he suppressed the chill that ran down his spine as best he could. He opened his eyes to ask if Rouge felt that before gasping softly. Her eyes were closed and her brow was furrowed, but what really caught his attention were the pink flames spilling out from underneath her eyelids.
Tearing his eyes away, he noticed a faint pink glow start to emanate from her chest. It coalesced into a small pink flame before it slowly expanded and started to creep across her whole body leaving behind a translucent outline. Jaune steeled his nerves as the flames climbed up the length of her arms where their hands were joined.
He closed his eyes and braced for the pain, but it never came and all he felt was warmth spread along his arms. Slowly, the sensation made its way over his shoulders and started covering his chest before it suddenly stopped. Deep inside his core Jaune felt something stir and all at once the warm feeling was chased from his body right back to where it came from. His eyes snapped with Rouge following suit, both gasping.
"What was that!?" they both yelled at once.
"You go first," Jaune egged on.
Rouge nodded and took a deep breath, "I was pushing my aura into your arms, but then I felt it stop almost like I hit a wall. Then, I felt something push back and my aura came crashing back into me, it was like electricity running through my body."
Jaune stared into her eyes, partially to show he was listening and partially to see if her eyes caught fire again. "I felt that rush of electricity too! It was weird like it came from inside me."
Suddenly Rouge was on her knees in front of his face with her hands on his shoulders. "Do you remember that feeling!?"
"W-what!?"
She shook him frantically, "Do you remember what it felt like? Where it came from? Try and find it again, hurry!"
"O-okay. Okay!" Jaune closed his and focused his attention solely on his chest. He took a deep breath and slowly released it, milling around in the dark with invisible hands. Suddenly, he felt that same sensation from before, it felt so familiar yet foreign at the same time. He imagined himself grasping it with his hands and then that rush from before came flooding back. "I found it! Is that-"
"Your soul! It has to be!" Rouge fell back onto her seat and pumped her fists in front of her, "You did it!"
"My soul...," Jaune echoed dumbly, a faraway look on his face. He paused for a few seconds before he shot to his feet and dragged Rouge up with him. "I found my soul!" he cheered and hugged her. "Thank you!"
She returned his hug laughing all the way, "Of course."
"What's next? What's next?" Jaune asked excitedly. After four years of training he'd at long last found his soul.
Rouge kept laughing, "You already know what. Do the exercises you've been taught and slowly but surely you'll unlock your aura."
Jaune took several calming breaths, "You're right. You're right. It's just-Gods I finally did it! I'll finally be a real fighter. You, Vernal, Mom, and dozens of others all have their auras unlocked and now I'll be right there with you! It's so exciting I just can't wait."
She smiled gently, "I know it is, but now we have something much important to do."
Confusion welled up in his eyes, "What's that?"
"Celebrate, duh!? We don't know when Raven will be back, but we're safe at least for tonight. Tomorrow, I'll help you much as I can with unlocking your aura, but this was a great first step!"
Jaune grinned, "You're right! Let's chow down and we'll jump right into it tomorrow." He started to turn to leave before Rouge lightly grasped his shoulder.
"Wait!" she yelled, almost frantically. "It's been a long day," she continued, "You've been doing chores, walking in the sun, fighting, playing in the dirt, it all adds up you know."
He furrowed his brow, "What adds up?"
"Alright. I'm just gonna say it." Rouge grabbed Jaune's shoulders again and walked in a circle around him until her back was to the tent's exit. "The tribe was expecting me back a while ago, so I'm gonna head out first to help. You? You. Stink. So go take a dunk in the river and let's meet up later."
Jaune flushed, "W-what!?"
Rouge shook her head, "You heard me! It was all I could not to pass out when I was crying earlier. I probably need one too with all the hugs, but I'm already super late."
He was reeling, eyes wide and cheeks blazing, "A-alright I got it!"
She turned, smirking as she pulled aside the tent flaps, "And use soap!" she called out one last time.
"Get lost already!" Jaune fumed as Rouge's laughter slowly faded away
:X:
The cool night air forced a shiver down Jaune's spine as he made his way towards the fires. There wasn't enough time to boil water so he had to make due with a cold dunk in the river after all. With the sun all but set when he arrived at the riverside he was forced to stumble his way back to camp in the dark. A quick stop at his tent and he was on his way.
Most of the tribe was present at the fires and were already feasting and drinking like it was the end of the world. Tree stumps and logs were used as tables and chairs and groups were huddled together around smaller fires. A deep and wide pit had been dug with a pyre set up at the bottom giving the illusion of fire spilling from the pits of the earth. A single large fire burned in the center of it all, it's flames reaching high into the sky and swaying whichever way the wind directed it. The smells carried by that same wind had Jaune's stomach growling.
"Jaune."
At hearing his name he turned, a smile on his lips before it dissolved just as quickly.
"Oh, it's you. Hi." he greeted, testily.
Vernal raised a single eyebrow, "You're mad at me, Jaune? I had nothing to do with what happened earlier. You have no one to blame but your-"
Jaune cut her off, "Right. Got it. Thanks. You seen Rouge around?"
"I tried to warn you," she sighed. "You need to apply yourself or you won't survive for much longer. Look, if you want to get serious and make this," she gestured towards Jaune's still bruised cheeks, "A thing of the past. Then maybe I can spare some time to help."
That caught him off guard, Rouge was one thing, but Vernal? No. She's never offered to help before so why would she offer now? "No thanks, Vernal. I can manage by myself. In fact, I just made a breakthrough all on my own if you can believe it." He quickly turned to walk before she noticed the smile tugging on the edge of his lips when he said that. Rouge helped obviously, but Vernal didn't have to know all the details.
Her eyes narrowed, "What? Get back here, I'm not done talking to you!"
"Thanks, but I have better things to do then stand around listening to you yammer!"
Vernal sucked in a breath, "You insufferable-! You can't do anything right, Raven was at her wit's end with you until I came along. If not for me she would have left you to die in the woods. Now I'm offering to help make you less of a screw up and you're just going to walk away!?"
Jaune turned back to face her, "I don't believe for a second you'd help me! You know what Mom thinks about that sort of thing. I don't know what you're trying to pull Vernal, but I'm not going to fall for it. You've never done a thing for me before!" He met her glare with his own for a few seconds before he turned to leave again.
"You're screwing things up again all because you want to hold a grudge," Vernal said through gritted teeth. "I looked after the both of you when I first got here or did you already forget? Making sure you didn't kill yourselves was the first job Raven ever gave me. Don't say I never tried doing anything for you!"
"Whatever!" Jaune stormed off sporting a wide grin. He stood up to Vernal and he'd gotten the last word too! Heart racing, he started milling around the feast looking for Rouge and a clean plate, whichever came first.
Festivities were cut short however when he heard shouting and soon enough a ring of people started to form. Fights could go on all through the night until daybreak so it wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but a pit formed in Jaune's stomach when he heard the voices of those involved.
"I said I was sorry! It wasn't even my fault! You spilled your drink all on your own!" Rouge was in the middle of the crowd with the other person being none other than Marron, already red in the face and angry.
"You're not going to disrespect me and just walk again!" He spoke slowly and deliberately no doubt having gotten an early start on the drinks. "I don't know what Raven's thinking, but having you brats around is a mistake." Some in the crowd murmured their agreements.
"If you're that hung up on it then take it up with Raven!" Rouge backed up into the crowd slightly before half a dozen different hands pushed back into the center. She threw a scowl behind her and but quickly faced forward, not keen on letting Marron out of her sight. "Just call them off and I'll go, I won't bother you again."
"Of course you'll bother me," he snarled. "Just having to look at you pisses me off! I'll give Raven a piece of my mind, trust me, but for right now you're the one that's right in front of me." He rushed forward and swung at her but Rouge was quick enough to duck under and circle around. A pink outline formed around her body before it faded. Marron stumbled forward but had enough wits about him to catch himself before he fell.
Jaune pushed his through the crowd to witness Marron miss for a second and was about to jump in the middle before someone grabbed his shoulder. Stumbling back, he was about to shake free before he saw sky blues staring down into his own. "Let me go, Vernal."
She rolled her eyes, "Not a chance. Just shut up and watch, this is exactly what Raven was talking about."
"I said let me go!" Jaune renewed his efforts to shake free before Vernal's fingers dug sharply into his shoulder. The pain quickly became too much and relented, glaring dagger's back her.
"Bitch and moan all you want, but this something you'll have to get used to." Vernal kept her eyes glued to the action in front of her. Rouge started to fight back but her punches and kicks did little to the giant attacking her. Seeing him go for another punch, Rouge tried to duck under like she had been but Marron switched tactics and kicked her to the ground instead.
"Rouge trains like the rest of us, but her technique might be even worse than yours. Not only that she thought Marron was dumb enough to keep falling for the same move and she paid the price for it." Her grip tightened once more as Jaune started to thrash.
"She's gonna get hurt, I need to help her!" He clawed at her hand with his nails and tried to pry her fingers off, but a light blue shell enveloped her arm and Vernal suffered no damage. "If you don't let me go I'll-"
"You'll what?" she squeezed harder and twisted his arm to emphasize her point. "Don't think for a second you're anywhere close to taking me on, Jaune. If you and Rouge don't learn this lesson now you'll die the second you step through those gates into the real world!"
Rouge tried to crawl away but Marron reached down and dragged her back by her foot. Suddenly, she felt weightless and she opened here eyes to find she could see above the heads of the crowd before she lurched forward and came crashing toward the ground. Marron had lifted her and slammed her back down by her foot. Rouge groaned and struggled to pick herself back up, pink aura flared up but remained intact.
Jaune eyes widened at the display, "What are you talking about!?" he questioned Vernal frantically.
"I lived for years in the woods and streets of Mistral alike before Raven found me. This" she gestured towards the fight, "is nothing compared to what I lived through."
"So what!?"
"So everything! I did what I had to in order to survive and now thanks to Raven I'm strong. I never have to beg for scraps or drink from puddles to keep from starving ever again. If anyone tries to hurt me I'm strong enough to kill them for it! If the tribe needs supplies I can go out and take them just like that!"
Marron smirked as he lifted Rouge off the ground by her shirt and held her in the air. He pulled his fist back, but without warning she brought her hands forward and crammed dirt into his eyes and mouth. Coughing and blinded, Marron dropped Rouge who swiftly delivered a kick to the inside of his knee and forced him onto one leg. Seeing her opening, she backed up and pivoted slightly on her front foot and delivered a kick to Marron's face. His head snapped back and to the side, but brown light shimmered into existence and absorbed the damage.
Unimpressed, Vernal continued on, "The two of you have no idea how good you have it being taken in by Raven. If you had any sense you'd do everything you could to climb your way to the top, but instead you play around like children. Rouge thinks she can hide behind you forever and you act like you'll always be there to bail her out, well you're both wrong. You need to fend for yourselves, the sooner you learn that the sooner you'll thank me for it!"
Having had enough, Marron lunged at Rouge and grabbed her by the shirt again before standing and tossing her into the crowd behind him. The bandits quickly scattered and Rouge fell hard and rolled until she was at the edge of the large central bonfire. Her aura flared up again and then dissolved into nothing.
"Is that all you got?" Marron barked out a laugh. "It's like I've been saying!" he said loudly for all to hear. He marched up to a bandit in the crowd and wrenched the bottle he was holding to wash out the taste of dirt in his mouth. "They make us weak and you know as well as I do what we do to those that would drag us down!"
With every word the crowd was whipped further and further into a frenzy. Even those who couldn't care less about Marron's opinions found themselves swept up in the chaos, eager to hear more. Behind her was the raging bonfire, to either side was the crowd, and in front of her was Marron. Rouge was trapped.
"Vernal, you have to stop this!" Jaune yelled over the roars of the crowd. "He's gonna kill her! You have to do something! Anything!" He tried to shake her off, but Vernal's grip held strong.
She ignored his pleas, "There! Broken after a few bumps! With shoddy control like that what good is an aura anyway? I'm not lifting a finger and neither are you, you wouldn't be able to do anything anyways." Vernal forced him back, "It's up to her now!"
Jaune was nearly hysterical, "Her aura's broken, Rouge can't do anything now!"
Vernal stared dead ahead, solemn.
Marron slowly approached Rouge, still on the ground and paralyzed with fear. He reached down and pulled a knife strapped to his ankle and her eyes widened further. Jaune had seen enough.
"I challenge you, Marron!" Jaune shouted. The crowd drowned out his voice, but those nearest turned to look his way.
"Shut up!" Vernal hissed and twisted his arm back further. Jaune hunched forward and sprung back with all his strength, pushing Vernal into the marauders behind them. Someone shoved them back and Jaune repeated his actions for a second time, drawing curses and shouts. On the third, someone directly behind Vernal lost his patience and threw an arm around her throat, pulling her back and forcing her grip loose just enough to slip away.
"Fight me, Marron!" he yelled as he stumbled forward and fell into the circle. Scrambling to his feet, he charged the giant and threw his whole body against causing Marron to stumble a bit. "It's still the third day, so I challenge you to a fight!" he screamed, voice hoarse. The crowd finally acknowledged his demand and gradually fell silent as to not miss a single word.
"You?" Marron asked, disbelieving. "You can't be serious!" Laughter welled up in his chest and even some from the crowd chuckled quietly. "Get out of my way, boy."
"Are you scared, old man?" Jaune puffed up his chest and held his head high with confidence he didn't have. "I challenge you. Right now. In front of the whole tribe! You can't say no! Fights go on through the night, Vernal herself said so!" Behind him, Rouge tried to stand and fell forward, grabbing Jaune's arms to catch herself.
"Don't. Please." Rouge begged.
"He's right!" A third a voice called out. Vernal walked out the crowd, clothes ruffled, but no worse for wear. "It's a formal challenge, Marron. Do you think Jaune could give you a better challenge than Rouge, is that why you're so keen on declining?"
His eyes shifted between them and the crowd. "Fine!" he barked, "I accept, boy."
"Good. Then give him a moment to prepare." Vernal said simply.
"That wasn't-!"
"You'll have the same time to catch your breath. Waiting a minute or two won't kill you." Marron growled, but marched off for another drink.
Jaune finally let go of the breath he was holding the minute Marron turned to walk away. "Why did you do that?" he asked.
"I'm giving you what you wanted. You wanted a fight and now you have it, don't expect me to jump in and rescue you."
He was at a loss for words. Vernal had gone out of her way for once, the thought brought a brief smile to his face before he immediately squashed it and turned to Rouge. "Are you gonna be okay? What happened?"
Her hair was matted with dirt and sweat with her clothes fared no better, but she was in once piece even if she seemed to favor one leg over the other. "I'll be fine in the morning. I was helping pass out drinks nearby when someone bumped into him and spilled his cup. I was the first one Marron laid eyes on. Jaune I'm-"
"Don't say it." he interrupted. "Just sit down somewhere and rest. I'll be fine." He tried to give her a smile to reassure her, but the sight of it wasn't fooling anyone. "Vernal, tha-"
"Save it. You won't be so thankful in a couple minutes." She grabbed Rouge's arm and began to guide her back into the crowd to watch. "Here." she handed a knife to Jaune from her own belt. "Don't say I never did anything for you," she echoed. On the other side of the circle Marron narrowed his, but said nothing.
"Right. I'm ready!" he called out as he walked towards the center of the ring.
Marron wiped his mouth on his arm and met him halfway, "It won't do you any good."
Jaune pointed the tip towards Marron and tried his best to keep from shaking. They were at a standstill and Jaune's heart was beating so hard he briefly wondered if Marron could hear it. When the silence became too much he shot forward and took a stab at the giant. Marron ignored the strike completely, letting it bounce off his aura and chest before sending Jaune flying with a punch from his free hand.
Impacting the ground, he let his momentum carry him onto his back as he righted himself. Jaune stood back up and clutched his chest, but kept the knife raised. He watched Marron's every move, refusing to charge in blindly again.
Back in the crowd Rouge watched with bated breath, "He's gonna die!"
"He might and it'll be all your fault."
Rouge eyes snapped to Vernal, "How could you say that! I never wanted this!"
"If you were stronger, you could have fought him off. If you didn't insist on hiding like a coward Jaune wouldn't be in there bleeding for you."
Vernal's words cut her deep and Rouge's response died in her chest as she gasped. Up until now Jaune was keeping his distance and swinging at whatever limb was in reach, but Marron decided to barrel on through. Everytime he charged in he would send Jaune flying with a shoulder, or grabbing him and tossing to the side with his free hand. Each time it took Jaune longer and longer to get back up.
"He's toying with him." she realized.
"That's right," Vernal confirmed. "Marron's fun is over the second he decides to use his knife."
Jaune was already running on fumes and his body was littered with scrapes and bruises, he wasn't sure how much longer he could go on. He hadn't managed to deal any damage to Marron at all, his aura deflecting all his attacks. The behemoth wouldn't let up. He was going to die.
"Is that all you got?" Marron echoed his words from before. When he saw the terrified look on Jaune's face he had his answer. "Alright, brat. I've had my fill."
Goosebumps broke out on his skin, Jaune slowly began backing away from the giant edging closer and closer to the massive bonfire still roaring behind him. Fear flooded his senses and all he could focus on was Marron's lumbering steps as he approached and the sight of the knife catching the light from the fire. He was in the same position Rouge was minutes before.
Suddenly, the heat behind him intensified and he was dragged back into the waking world. He spared a glance behind and saw the fire climb higher into the air before it quickly returned to normal. Some in the crowd noticed but quickly focused latched back onto the violence before them.
Vernal grabbed Rouge's pink hair, "Don't you dare!" she hissed. Rouge sucked in a pained breath but caught Jaune's eyes through the tears. Time seemed to slow as she clearly saw the way he shook his twice before he turned to face his opponent. When Marron was right in front of him Jaune fell to his knees and bowed his head.
"I really couldn't say what Raven was thinking when she took you in. She should have left you to die, but here we are." His voice was gruff and deep and seemed to rattle Jaune's very bones. "Now, you're going to die on your knees like an animal, not even going down with a fight. Pathetic," he said, spitting on the ground.
Jaune kept silent and as Marron bent down to drag him to his feet he sprung into action. With his free hand he threw a clump of dirt in his face just like in his first match that morning except this time he hit the mark. Evidently, his and Rouge's signature move.
"You little shit!" the giant said, spitting and coughing.
Not done, Jaune scrambled between Marron's legs and came out the other side a few feet away as the giant struggled to turn and face him again. The sound of his heart pounding away in his ears drowned out the shouts of the crowd and he sucked in a breath before shooting forward. Jaune mustered all his strength into his legs before he jumped up and bashed Marron with his shoulder, still in mid turn.
The giant's eyes widened as he felt gravity start pulling backwards into the bonfire behind him. Marron was nothing if not a firm believer in practicing what you preach and as he lost his balance fully he twisted his body and struck out with the knife catching Jaune in the side. The crowd was silenced by the screams that followed and Vernal grip on Rouge went slack, but no one dared move.
Jaune collapsed to his knees panting for breath and shaking, but alive. His hand held the side Marron had cut and closed his eyes, trying to focus on anything but the screams. He slowly opened them when everything went quiet again, but then he heard a different sort of scream coming from Rouge in the crowd. His eyes snapped open and he stared slack jawed as Marron pulled himself out of the fire.
His clothes were in tatters and his body covered in burns, but he was still very much alive. He shakily climbed to his feet and kicked Jaune onto his back, falling onto his knees on top of him and still grasping his knife. Drool spewed from his burned lips and his hatred of Jaune was clear as day in his brown eyes as he raised the knife high above his head.
Staring up at the face of death Jaune felt that rush from before well up deep inside him. It felt foreign yet so familiar at the same time. However when he grasped it and felt electricity course through his body he didn't let go this time.
A translucent shell tinted ever so slightly yellow enveloped Jaune's body as the knife came down. Confusion welled up in Marron's eyes before they widened as blood sprayed from his neck. It was then he realized in his blind rage what had been obvious to the whole world. His aura had shattered in the fire.
Marron toppled to the side, knife planted in his neck. Jaune stared up at the stars, his vision no longer obscured and a far away look in his eyes. Overhead, a winged shadow darted across the sky.
:X:
Jaune shivered and hugged his knees to his body against the cold night breeze on the river bank. He was left in torn pants and an undershirt, his outer shirt having been sent down the river after he finished washing the red from his body. The cold was the only thing bothering him though as the bruises and cuts he collected earlier had faded a while ago, even the large gash on his side had faded away. Hearing a dull thud behind him, he wasn't too surprised to find red eyes baring down on him as he turned to look.
His voice was quiet, "H-hi, Mom, I didn't think you'd be back so soon. I guess you heard what happened…"
"Vernal informed me," Raven answered simply. A long pause permeated the air before she spoke again, "You did well."
The words shook him and he snapped his gaze to the water, willing the tears not to fall to no avail, "B-but I killed Marron."
Raven spoke clearly and evenly. "You did, but you challenged him openly and fought him head on, killing him through your own power. If you had failed yet again I wouldn't be so quick to congratulate you."
Jaune looked up at her, "If I failed I would be dead…"
Raven spared him a glance, "Yes."
He stood up, trembling, "He was your second in command, aren't you mad at me!?"
She stared at the reflection of the shattered moon on the river's surface. "He would have died sooner or later either in combat or by over indulging in his disgusting habit. He'd clearly lost, but insisted on continuing the fight. You were well within your rights to act as you did."
He gaped at her, but couldn't find the words.
"Furthermore, the man you killed was a far cry from the one he claimed to be. Once he was a serious contender to lead before I returned and I was happy to have him serve as my second. Then he turned to drink. He was still drinking heavily before fights even back then. In the end Marron was a disgrace."
Her words didn't make him feel any better and so they just stood there in silence the night's events played over and over in Jaune's mind. Vernal's words rang in his head, "I got lucky today. We both did."
Raven turned to face him fully and crossed her arm, silently prompting him to continue.
"We were lucky Marron wasn't fighting us seriously, and I was lucky I unlocked my aura at the very end before…" Jaune shifted uncomfortably before continuing, "Vernal told me something during Rouge's fight. That we were lucky to be here, and that we'd regret not becoming strong. I think back to Rouge being knocked around and I feel horrible not being able to help her sooner. I just don't know what to do."
Raven bit back her words with considerable effort and turned to look at the river again. Through his own power Jaune unlocked his aura and proved he had strength, but here he was still worrying about someone else. It was enough to drive her mad, if he couldn't look out for himself then he was useless to the tribe, him and Rouge both. Just as she was about to lose her temper an idea struck her.
Jaune saw her slowly settle her hand on the hilt of her sword and tilted his head in confusion before he leaned back and fell on his back side, narrowly ducking under a red blade. "What are you doing!?" he managed to shout before he was forced to roll out the way of another strike. In his haste he rolled right into the river and swallowed a mouthful of water as it took him downstream. Jaune broke through surface, coughing and gasping as he pulled himself out of the currents and back onto dry land.
The sound of something impacting the ground in front of him caused Jaune to snap his eyes open in time to see Raven lift her sword in the air. He saw how it caught the moon's glow on its edge before it swiftly began its descent on him. Jaune held his arm out and clenched his eyes. When seconds passed and nothing happened he slowly opened them to find his arm glowing and Raven's blade inches away.
Satisfied, Raven sheathed her sword, "Don't tell me you don't know what to do, Jaune. You and Rouge almost died today because you were weak, but what use will complaining do about it since it's fated to happen again." Jaune looked up at her, eyes wide and speechless.
"Your lives will be in danger countless times and in the end you'll both be dead, there's no avoiding it. Unless…"
He leaned forward, mind racing, not wanting to miss what came next.
Raven lifted Jaune from his place on the ground and held him until his toes were lightly touching the ground, faces inches away from hers. "You fight. Stop cowering and train like your lives depend on it because they very much will. You've killed someone, Jaune. You're no longer a child, not to the tribe. If they see your weakness they will trample it and you into the ground. No one will look after Rouge then."
The night's events replayed in Jaune's mind, Rouge's fight, Vernal's words, his brush with death. He heard Rouge speak in his mind, 'I want you to be strong, Jaune,' and he knew what he had to do. "I want to be strong!"He declared loudly.
Raven dropped him unceremoniously onto ground, but Jaune bounded back up in an instant. "I want to be strong!" he repeated. He thought about how Marron easily tossed him around like a sack of dirt. "I don't want to feel helpless ever again." The chill from his soaked clothes and cold night breeze was forgotten. In the low light of the forest his blue eyes seemed to glow.
"...Prove it." Raven said as she began walking back towards camp. The sound of the twigs snapping behind her let her know he was following, but Raven scarcely noticed. On the inside she was less than pleased.
If she finally managed to reign in Jaune and get him to train then maybe the last few years wouldn't have been a waste after all. The fact she had to encourage his protective nature over Rogue in order to so had her less than thrilled. Their strength would serve the tribe before anyone else, Jaune and Rouge both.
Jaune and Raven were met by Vernal and Rouge just inside that gates after the sentries waved them in. In the distance you hear night's events hadn't ruined the mood and many were still drinking and laughing the night away.
Rouge dashed forward and hooked her arms around Jaune in relief. Vernal for her part looked surprised to see them both arrive together, but a look from Raven kept her silent. The two older women turned to leave as Jaune pulled back from his friend, a serious look on his face.
:X:
Months passed and while the camp's location changed many times the feast came like always. Like all those months ago Jaune, now twelve years old, was in the center of it all on the third day. In the crowd was Vernal and Rouge, filled with disinterest and concern respectively.
They had taken in four fresh recruits from the last settlement. Each of them were of varying ages, had their aura unlocked, were armed, and eager to prove themselves. Jaune had challenged them all to a one on fight and none were allowed to refuse.
From her spot across from him, Raven watched as one by one the fresh meat fell to the ground littered with cuts and bruises courtesy of Jaune and his newfound determination. When the final one fell Jaune was left with his aura broken and panting, but remained standing all the same.
The crowd broke into cheers, Rouge his loudest supporter by far. Jaune however tuned them all out and a slow grin spread across his lips. He finally knew what it felt like to fight and win. He soon snapped out of his stupor however and locked eyes with Raven. Blue eyes bore into red ones, before she finally broke contact and began to walk away, the crowd parting around her.
Jaune trailed behind as the years passed them by.
Six years later
:X:
And we're done! If y'all remember in the show they said the Spring Maiden disappeared ten years before the events of RWBY. Some basic math later and we're finally at the cusp of Jaune's enrollment at Beacon. Stick around to see how it all shakes out next time.
Read and review and thanks for your support.
A/N: revised on 06/06/24