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Requested by :
Lea the RosenWulf
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Neo sat on the floor in her and Roman's shared room, a thin blanket spread out and covered in pictures, sticky notes, and a big scrap-book Neo had gotten years ago and saved for just this moment. The first bit, she'd always planned, was for her investigation. She'd written in his name, or the one they had at least - she couldn't be sure it was his real one, after all - and a few pictures she'd yanked out of their security cameras. Plus the nicer one Roman had used for his fake paperwork. She circled those pictures and his name at the top of the page and added a bright red question mark below it, then made another circle around all of it.
"Background check came in." Roman said as he walked by her and got a look at her project, "According to Junior, a 'Jaune Arc' did grow up in an 'Ansel'. And he's not there now. He's got some pictures and records coming to confirm, but…"
She nodded and added a blue check mark at the bottom of the circles, smiling and tapping the name.
"You know, it's been a bit since you looked so… Excited about something." Roman grunted, plopping onto a stool he'd dragged over and offering her a chicken sandwich. She took it, biting off a hunk, and gave him a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, I know why you are, brat. I meant… I meant it was good to see that again, after such a long time."
She cocked her head this time and sat up, drawing a little '?' in the air.
"You just… When we first met, you were so eager every day." He shrugged, stealing a moment to think by taking a bite of his sandwich. "Forget it…"
She considered doing just that, for a moment. But only a moment. Instead, she remade the little question mark and turned to face him fully, careful not to mess up any of her pictures and notes. The ones she hadn't organized into her scrap-book, that was. Roman was smart enough to understand what she meant by that, but also stubborn enough not to give in, instead eating his sandwich and staring her down. After a minute of it, Neo took to copying him, taking a bite when he did and sitting in the same slouch he was, all to irritate him - a pastime of hers.
It also, handily, let him know she was paying all her attention to him at the moment, and he knew she didn't let things go when she didn't want to.
"Ugh," Roman sighed, "look, I just meant that I was worried. Okay? And now I'm… Less worried. It's just taken so long, you know? And we hadn't found anything…"
Ah. She understood now, signing, 'You were worried I'd get depressed or something?'
"Depressed, angry, bitter, desperate…" He sighed, "Pick your poison kind of thing, really, and I didn't like the options."
'I'm fine.' She rolled her eyes, flashing a quick 'OK' symbol lazily and turning back to her work, looking down at a note detailing how much Lien he'd had when he showed up - did he need more? She'd need to ask. Sighing while she turned a new page and wrote 'How to meet', she stuck the note on and wrote 'help with money?' as her first idea. Signing while she did, she said, 'I appreciate your worry, though. It means a lot. I would have said something before any of that, though.'
"I know." Roman chuckled quietly, "But, like… There's 'knowing' and convincing the lizard brain that there isn't a problem. You know?'
'Didn't know you were an animal-man.' She signed, more because Valean Sign Language didn't have a word for 'Faunus' - but Roman knew that, and knew what she meant.
He laughed, sighed, and tapped her side with a foot to get her attention. When she turned around, he frowned and asked, "So… Have you thought about what to do?"
She blinked, confused, and drew another '?' in mid-air.
"The kid's at Beacon right now, kiddo." Roman said, as if that explained everything for her. When she only cocked her head to the side, unsure of what he was getting at, he sighed and nodded. "Right, I went but you didn't… And I never talk about that, do I?"
'Nope.' She signed, 'Something about it being the 'worst year and a half ever'.'
"Yeah, well, it was definitely that. But that's not important." He waved her off, "What is important is that Beacon has an Initiation…"
Neo blinked.
"They throw students out into the woods to fight Grimm as a test to get in." Roman went on tiredly, "And your little friend has zero experience in any of that and, well… No Aura. Or at least, no training to use it."
Neo blinked again. And then a third time… And then she shot up, eyes wide at the implications and hands flying while Roman sighed tiredly and stood. He caught her hands to stop her, smiled, and waved her towards the door.
"Come on," he sighed, "let's brainstorm - we have a few hours before they do Initiation anyways. Worst case, they catch him out, save him, and send him back to Vale."
That was true, and Neo knew it, but…
What kind of Sekirei would she be if she hoped for her Ashikabi to fail?
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"Okay!" Jaune grunted, standing in the men's lockers and splashing water on his face while other hopeful-initiates were already strapping on armor and filling belts with ammunition. Running a hand through his hair, he said, "Just get through, do what you need to, and- Hey!"
"Watch it." A big man with short, brown hair snapped, shoving him out of the way so he could use the sink Jaune had been at.
"There is one right there…" Jaune sighed, pointing at the one next to it. "Why-"
"Keep talking, and I'll break that one with your face." The big man huffed, flicking him a look, "Then this will be the only one."
Jaune blinked and backed up, laughing awkwardly and turning to head for his locker while the man snorted and muttered something under his breath. Jaune didn't catch all of it but 'scrawny' and 'fodder' were in there. And he'd played enough strategy games to know what 'fodder' was. Which very, very much did not help his anxiety in any way what-so-ever. And Gods, there was a lot of anxiety bubbling in his stomach right then…
He thought he was going to be sick.
Crocea Mors helped, though. It felt heavy on his waist, but the history behind it made him feel more… Well, confident. So many Arcs had carried it and gone on to be heroes, after all. How could he fail now? Aside from being eaten, that was. Or crushed. Or accidentally shot. Or falling down just right and breaking his neck…
"No." He grunted, shaking his head, "I-I'll be fine. It'll all be just fine."
"Hey." A young man grunted as Jaune reached his locker and sat in front of it, smoothing back hair damp with anxious sweat. Jaune looked up to meet the dark-haired man's gaze and he smiled, sitting beside him and asking, "Are you that anxious?"
"N-No." He lied, grimacing at his stutter and, figuring the cat was out of the bag at that point, sighing. "Yeah… That obvious?"
"You look ready to have a panic attack…" The young man chuckled, "So, yes."
Jaune grimaced, took a breath, and at least tried to look more at ease. He was sure it didn't work all that well - he was sweating enough to want another shower, and the nausea was still there - but he tried at least. Gently, the other man laid a hand on his shoulder and he felt… Well, it was like a cool bit of water had been poured over his head. Like the splash pads his dad had set out every summer for them to play in, growing up. It did wonders for his anxiety, and he flicked the other man a look as his hand withdrew and some of it came back.
"My Semblance." The man smiled thinly, "I can calm emotions, or at least hide them from perception. Yours or the Grimm's."
"That's…"
"I am sorry if I overstepped, I only-"
"Awesome!" Jaune smiled, offering his hand and nodding, "Thanks. I feel… Well, better."
"I am glad." The man smiled, shaking his hand and introducing himself, "Lie Ren. You can call me Ren. My partner is in the women's room, but her name is Nora Valkyrie. I do not doubt you will meet her soon enough."
"I'll, uh, I'll look forward to it." Jaune smiled, trying very hard not to be disappointed he couldn't just try and partner up with Lie here and now.
"You might for now." Ren chuckled, "You might not later."
That was… Well, pretty ominous, considering it was just about him meeting his friend. But before he could say anything, the warning bell chimed and the Headmistress came over the intercom to say, "All prospective students, please follow directions issued to your Scrolls to the testing start area for Initiation. Any who fail to arrive by the listed time will be marked as failures. There will be no exceptions for this."
A dozen or so Scrolls all chimed at once and Jaune pulled his out of the stomach-pocket of his hoodie, flicking it open to read-
"Five minutes?!" The big man from earlier that had shoved him away from the sink bellowed, "The fuck?"
Jaune, at least, didn't have much to put on. So he was among the first couple thirds of the room to rush out the door, merging with the people rushing out of the women's. He nearly tripped twice, trying to get the last buckles on his armor. But he managed it.
Just barely…
Outside, the weather was mostly clear, with overcast skies and a cold breeze coming in from the ocean. It was nice, in a bracing sort of way, and smelled faintly of salt. That receded, though, as they rushed across the grounds to the cliff-side overlook that they'd been directed to. There were marked positions to stand on, and the Headmistress and Headmaster were both waiting for them as well, though only the former spoke.
"Everyone, to your assigned positions." She ordered, waving them forward, "Stand precisely in the middle."
As they filed in, the Headmaster turned to speak, gesturing with his mug at the forest beyond and below him, "This is the edge of the Emerald Forest, a time-honored training ground which has been maintained and used to raise up each generation of Hunters since this Academy was built. From here, you will be launched-"
"L-Launched?!"
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Pyrrha sighed tiredly and rolled her eyes, frowning as Ozpin went on, chuckling, "Yes, Mister Arc, launched. Off of this cliff and into the forest at… Oh, how fast, Miss Goodwitch?"
"Fifteen miles per hour." She answered sharply, "Approximately. Your weights will cause this to vary, somewhat."
"Do we get… Parachutes?"
"No." Ozpin answered, "You will be falling."
"Then h-how do we…?"
"Your landing strategy is up to you, Mister Arc." Ozpin answered, smile thinning a bit as he gestured at the rest of the assembly. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to finish my speech. Presuming that is quite alright with you."
"O-Of course, Sir. I-I'm sorry."
"Mistakes happen." Ozpin hummed, "All is forgiven."
"Launched…" She turned to flick the young man a sympathetic look and he turned to meet her gaze, and-
Everything ground to a halt as she met his blue eyes. Her heart raced and ached and she could hear it and nothing else. For a moment, she thought she was having a panic attack. Or a heart attack. Fire shot along her arms and legs, and ice shot up her spine. Her vision fogged and she could feel her Aura react, trying to heal and shield her all at once. And failing, of course, because even her Aura was secondary to what this was, and the power it held over her.
"N-No…"
"Right?" Her Ahi- No, the stranger grunted quietly, looking terrified. And ignorant of everything she was feeling. "H-How are we… Hey, are you okay?"
"W-What?" She blinked, looking around warily before she caught the Headmistress' gaze. Her eyebrows raised and she flushed and ducked her head, ashamed of what the woman doubtless knew, judging from how she turned to the stranger and moved over to speak to Ozpin, cutting off a speech she hadn't heard before he said something and pressed a button on her Scroll.
"Hey…" The boy tried again, while Pyrrha stared into the ground and tried to ignore him. "Hey? Are you… Hey, are you okay?"
"I am fine." She hissed, avoiding looking at him even though it hurt to do it. "Just trying to focus on our job."
"Fine, sorry, sheesh…" And even that stung.
Did he hate her now? It was a traitorous, instinctive, ingrained part of her that wondered that. That was terrified of the mere suggestion. She tried to ignore it, turning her gaze away to watch other students brace and launch - some eyeing her curiously, out of concern and, of course, hoping to get to work with the Pyrrha Nikos - but a part of her was still focused on the stranger.
Who insisted on whispering quietly, "I-I'm Jaune, by the way. Jaune Arc."
"Indeed…"
"Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue." He was rambling, she could tell, turning to give him another look. Laughing weakly, he said, "Dad says the ladies love it! So, uh… Remember me if I, you know… Smoosh?"
"I will do that…" She chuckled, scowling when she caught the sound. She'd spent years preparing to deal with this, but now everything was betraying her… Shaking her head, she said, "Just brace your Aura. You will be quite alright, I assure you."
"Yeah I'll, uh… Figure out how to do that…" He murmured, whispering quietly, "Just as soon as I turn it on…"
The implications of that caught her just as her platform hurled her skyward. She tucked her knees into her chest to turn and roll, bringing up her shield and using it to crush through a tree to slow herself before she grabbed the limb of another and spun around it, landing on top and turning on instinct, looking up. She spotted the flailing blue and white speck a moment later. Watched him.
He was going to die… Which should have comforted her.
She'd be free once more, truly and utterly…
But, gnawing on her lip, her instincts warred with her. Finally, as he came towards the ground, she spat a swear and ran the math on his range and trajectory in her head. Aiming, she raised her spear and threw it perfectly, as ever. Both vanished into the leaves and Pyrrha frowned, quickly clambering down, swearing all the while. She didn't know if that had worked, or if that would even be enough to save him, and she didn't even know which she preferred.
She just knew she needed to get there…
And after that? She had no idea.
"Destiny…" She murmured as she jogged through the forest, "Why must you always be my adversary? Just once, could you not just let me have what I wish?"
The cosmic force of destiny, of course, didn't answer.
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Phantom 117 :
All correct, except that Penny is connected to Weiss. Weiss has two, in fact - Penny and Akitsu, a cano Sekirei character.
Essiter :
A number will be Sekirei, but not all - or even most - will be. Weiss is also an Ashikabi - a master. That said, I doubt Lancaster will appear in this fic. Apologies.