Chapter 10: The Dive

"You're saying this is normal?" Joseph asked.

Miss Onyx nodded. "In cases like this, yes. How is he around the house? With his sisters?"

"Not bad…" Joseph sighed. "But not like it used to be. I have to drag him out of his room sometimes, and while he's normally not one to start fights, he has had more arguments with his sisters than when he used to. I thought he was just getting older, more confident. But he even argues with me sometimes. He was always a peaceful boy."

"His emotional states can be erratic—sometimes it manifests as sadness or guilt, in Jaune's case, its anger."

"How can he be angry if he doesn't know what he's upset about?"

"Trauma affects victims both on a conscious and subconscious level. It can influence certain out-of-character behaviors even if he isn't aware of it. Jaune may not remember, but his brain does, if that makes sense."

That only made things more difficult. Joseph couldn't recall how many times he'd sat Jaune down and tried to talk to him about… well, it. Only for him to act like he didn't know what was going on. He'd thought Jaune was simply dodging the subject, avoiding talking about it. But to think that it could really be that he doesn't remember? He just couldn't fathom that.

"How is he in the sessions?" Joseph asked.

Miss Onyx pursed her lips to the side. "I'll admit, he's a tough nut to crack. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he hates me."

"What do you mean? Its your job to help him."

"Part of that job is earning trust, sir. We have to work with what will work for your son. Oftentimes, that may mean switching methods. All I'm saying is keep that under consideration." She sighed. "Does he have nightmares or flashbacks?"

"If he does, he doesn't tell me."

"Does he ever seem particularly distressed or uncomfortable?"

"Not at home." Joseph said. "But his teachers have told me he's irritable and non-attentive in class. Miss Honey lets him eat in an empty classroom so he doesn't have to be around his peers."

"While I can understand the sentiment, I'd recommend that she stops that. As much as it might make Jaune uncomfortable, its important for him to learn how to function in social situations, even if its just to tolerate them. Asocial behavior in itself is not bad so long as he can healthily function in situations he has to."

Joseph nodded. He'd tried making Jaune go play with some friends of his, the friends he was supposed to have. But he didn't even make the attempt anymore. An eight-year-old shouldn't be clinging to his father, but running off with his friends doing dumb kid things. Try as his might, Jaune's heart just wasn't in it.

"Miss Onyx, is it normal for him to become… violent?"

"Increased aggression and irritability can lead to more violent outbursts and choice-making."

He nodded. "Like I said, Jaune is a sweet boy. He'd be the first to try to stop a fight peacefully, especially between his sisters… but, he did get into a fight a few months ago. Twice, actually."

"Well, if he'd been prodded hard enough, I can see that. You did say he dealt with bullying before, right?"

"Right, but this time it wasn't him being bullied. It was another child. Someone he didn't even know."

Miss Onyx pursed her lips to the side. "Well, aggression can manifest in many ways. Maybe instead of stopping fights peacefully, he's decided to start throwing himself into them. Though, I doubt for purely altruistic reasons. Its very possible that, subconsciously, he's looking for a reason to be violent. So he sees someone being bullied and… well it fills two needs."

Joseph lowered his head. This was not at all how his son was supposed to be. It broke his heart just to think about it. But he sat there in the office, trying and failing not to watch some kids his age play a board game. He could tell Jaune wanted to join them, but stayed in his seat. When it used to be that he was never afraid to approach people and make friends with them. It was why everyone loved him. Where was he? Would he ever get that son back?

"Jaune feels like a completely different person."

Miss Onyx nodded. "You're not alone in feeling that way, Mister Arc. That is what trauma does to people, most especially children. Your son won't be able to grow up the same way again. But he can get better, trust me on that."

Joseph supposed he had no choice but to.

The doorbell rang. For the fourth fucking time.

Now Neptune was pissed. As much as he tried to ignore it or hoped Sun would hear and answer it, it seemed he would have to be the one to tell this salesman or religious zealot or bootlegged DVD seller to piss the fuck off. So, with sluggish purpose, he made his way downstairs, fury rising with a ring of that damn bell, and swung the door open.

"Fuck off!" he barked.

Weiss blinked back at him.

Neptune blinked back. Then looked down at himself, at his filthy, messy, and likely stinking clothes.

"Neptune, I—"

Neptune slammed the door. What was she doing here? Why was she here? Damn it, did he have any spare clothes? Well, it's not like there was anything between them anymore. So what did it matter?

Weiss apparently didn't care either and walked in, and Neptune nearly backed off like she was a wolf and he was the frightened hare. For a moment, she just looked at him, up and down noticeably. At how disgusting he was. Could this have been any worse?

"Do you need a ride to school?" She asked.

"I can... walk." Neptune said lamely. But then she lived all the way uptown, in the upper class district. She passed the school on the way here. She hadn't needed to come pick him up at all. She'd used to sometimes, even when she didn't need to, when they were dating.

"Then I'll walk with you. Get dressed."

Neptune looked at the time. "You don't need to. You'll be late."

Weiss crossed her arms, began tapping her finger on her arm. Neptune sighed and went upstairs to wake Sun.

Before long, they were dressed, and Weiss offered Sun to use her chauffeur's car to get to school. Insisted on it actually. And Sun was either oblivious or acting like he was, for he jumped in without hesitation and blew them both a goofy kiss goodbye. That left just her and him. They stood outside Sun's house for a while before she took the lead. "Coming?"

"Yeah," Neptune said, meeting her pace.

They didn't say anything for a while, and Neptune tried to keep his eyes forward, hands in his pockets, but couldn't shake the idea that something was wrong. And not just the obvious fact that Weiss had showed up to his door—well, Sun's—unannounced. Perhaps it was that he didn't often put his hands in his pockets. Or at least one of them. The last time he'd been walking with Weiss like this, he was holding her hand.

Gods, how he missed it. The gentle, smooth, but firm grip. The gathering sweat of holding for too long, the intoxicating warmth that somehow warmed him up better than being in bed with his previous girlfriends. It didn't feel right, walking beside her without holding her hand, as if some ancient unspoken law had been broken.

"I'd ask how you're doing, but I doubt you'd tell me the truth." Weiss said. "So, how do I get you to talk to me?"

In the interest of being contrary, if just for the sake of it, Neptune decided to indulge her. "My life sucks. Happy?"

"Extraordinarily," Weiss said. "But I'm not going to bother mincing words. Neptune, are you upset with me?"

He looked at her, baffled. "What?"

"Its fine if you blame more for everything. If I'd never called you on the day of your meet, maybe things would be different now."

"That's not—" But it was sort of true. Had Weiss waited to call him, allowed him to finish the competition, he could have come rushing to her and comforted her then. No one had to lose in that case. His teammates would still love him, his father would be only slightly less than a dick, he'd still be with Weiss, he'd still be swimming. It would have been perfect. "Why would I blame you for that? I knew what I gave up to come see you." No, he hadn't. He thought he'd have enough time to get to the city before it was his team's turn. Did it make him a worse person to be holding his sobbing girlfriend while antsily hoping she calmed down quick enough for him to bolt to the swim meet? Neptune had no idea. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"I heard what happened with your father." She looked up at him with those beautiful crystalline eyes of hers. "Tell me what I can do to help."

Take him back? Oh how tempting that side of him was, but not all the bravery in the world would make him say it. Nor would getting back together fix any of his problems. What would he become then? Some wreck of a man who sobbed on his girlfriend's shoulders because he couldn't face his own father? It was pathetic. And, for what pride he could still muster, he wouldn't be pathetic in front of her. Or not any more pathetic than he'd already been.

"You can leave it alone. I'll be fine." Neptune said.

"You can't honestly expect me to accept that."

"I don't. I'm asking you to respect it."

She scowled. "Oh yes, I can certainly respect the slovenly, tired misery you are so keen on perfecting. Its an art form, truly. Why can't you accept my help? Do you just want people to pity you?"

Neptune frowned at that. That wasn't the case at all. Right? Then again, it was hard to think back on how he told Sun and everyone else who tried to help him that he didn't need help. And yet came right back to them asking what to do. Sure, Sun would always be there for him, but how long did he plan to stay at his house before he eventually got fed up with him? Even Sun was not that nice.

"Weiss, can't you just let it go? We aren't together anymore."

"Why should that mean I can't help?"

"Because…" Fuck, he didn't have an answer. "Just because, okay? I swear, first Jaune and now you. Can't you guys just get off my back?"

Weiss blinked. "Jaune spoke to you?"

Crap, why had he let that slip. "Last night. He just wouldn't stop pestering me about everything. I don't even know why he wanted to know." Weiss didn't have the look of much surprise. "You know him?"

"I talked to him the day you skipped class." She gave him a berating look for a moment before softening up. "He wanted to know how you were doing."

If it was concern he was trying to show, he did a very poor job of it. Neptune wished he hadn't exploded the way he did, but Jaune had gotten under his skin in the worst way possible. The worst thing was that it didn't seem out of maliciousness, which somehow, only made him angrier. "What's with him? Its none of his business. What did you tell him?"

Weiss lowered his head, but didn't answer him. Neptune almost stopped right in his tracks. "You didn't…"

"Well, what else was I supposed to say? I thought he was your friend!"

Ugh, so of course he was pestering him. He knew the whole damn story and now thought he had all the answers. "Well, thanks for respecting my privacy, Weiss. Now the new guy gets to whisper behind my back how much of a wuss and a coward I am. Really, thanks.

It brought him no pleasure to annoy her or make her feel bad, but it seemed like the entire world was intent on pissing him off. "Why won't any of you just leave it alone?"

"No one thinks any less of you, Neptune. Why do you think that?"

"The entire swim team does. My dad does."

"Who cares what they say? It should only matter what you think, and what the people that know you think."

"And what do they think, huh?" Neptune rounded on her. "That all I'm doing is whining and complaining?" Because that was what he was doing. "That I'm too scared to do anything?" He was too scared. "That its a good thing that I sacrificed my potential career and my team and everything I wanted for some girl? A girl I'm not even with anymore? You tell me. Was it even worth it?"

Weiss looked at him for a long minute. Only then did Neptune realize what he said. "Weiss, I…"

"At least you got it out, right? That's all I wanted," Weiss said. "I regret it. What happened with me… it could have waited."

"No, it couldn't have."

"It could and you know it."

Neptune shut his mouth. She was right. And it wasn't like he regretted the choice itself. But how could he not be upset when he seemingly made the right choice and was still punished for it. Lost everything for it, including the thing he'd sacrificed for.

"If I could take it back, I would. But I can't. So let me try to help you now. It doesn't matter if we aren't together anymore. It doesn't."

She'd stopped him, pressed her hands on his chest like she used to. Looked up into his eyes, hard, soft, and unflinching. He wanted to hug her, yet also push her away. "Please, let me help you."

Neptune eased her off. Thought he might say something biting, but spied someone ahead on the other side of the street. Hood up, headphone cords dangling back and forth, hands in his pockets. He couldn't see his face, but he could imagine the omnipresent scowl. "Since everyone likes talking about me behind my back and nosing into my business, there's your newest cohort. You want someone to complain to, there he is. I've heard enough."

Weiss glared up at him defiantly, then looked toward Jaune. "He asked to speak with me alone."

"What?"

She looked at him. "I thought he was just trying to ask me out. I figured the only reason he was around you was to get to me. But that wasn't the case at all. When he met with me, all he talked about was you. He said you were kind to him and that he wanted to return the favor."

He said those things? Neptune couldn't help but stare at him. That hard-edge? That wanna-be Mister I-don't-give-a-fuck did all that for him?

"He came to talk about you even though Yang was ready to beat him up. He did it for you." She stabbed her finger into his chest. "He embarrassed himself, made himself look like a fool, but he did it for you anyway. Why in the world would he do that? Why does Sun cheer you up however he can? Why am I going out of my way to talk to you again after how many times you've shut me down? The Gods know I'm not patient for it, and know even more that you don't deserve it!"

Neptune felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, lowered his head like a child being disciplined.

"Maybe I should go walk with him instead. He at least looks like he has a spine. What in the world happened to yours?"

And she walked off ahead of him alone. Neptune almost couldn't believe it, wishing badly that she'd come back.

It should've been him next to Weiss. It had been him next to Weiss just a moment ago. She had been the one to come see him. She didn't need to do it at all. Probably knew things wouldn't go her way. But she'd done it for him.

Neptune wished he didn't have to watch Weiss walk ahead of him with no one by her side. Without him by her side. But he didn't have the bones to do anything about it.

What else was new?

"But what about Neptune's heart?" Jaune gawked at his aunt, who shrugged her shoulders apologetically as she packed her suitcase.

"It'll have to wait until I get back. My boss needs me for an inve—uh, important job."

"Investigation of what?"

She zipped her mouth. "Nothing you need to know. Anyway, I'll only be gone for two days. Neptune will be fine until then."

She was the expert, so she would know, right? That was the logic Jaune tried to cling to. But he'd been so ready to try today. To get started as soon as possible in case something happened. He'd have to wait two days to get started? That seemed entirely too long.

"How did talking to him go?"

Jaune huffed and sat down on the couch. "It didn't go anywhere. All he did was yell at me and run away." But I did push him, didn't I?

Granted, at this point it probably didn't matter so long as the school pool proved to be his heart, but it was still frustrating. Sitting around the house while Neptune continued to tear himself apart, he just couldn't stomach it. It made his fingers twitch. Made him want to punch something. And what better to hit than the Grimm terrorizing his soul?

"Well, just keep an eye on him until I get back. That should be easy since he doesn't want to go home, right?"

Jaune sighed. "I guess."

Eventually, Peach got together everything she needed and Jaune was following her to the door. Something about it made him stop, watch the back of her head move further and further away from him. Seemed familiar somehow. "Aunt Peach?"

"Hm?" She turned to him.

Then he was suddenly feeling her warmth. That wasn't strange in and of itself, she would sometimes hug him out of nowhere. This time, he'd done it, and was holding her as close as possible.

"What's gotten into you?" Peach said once they parted, shocked, but preening.

"Just… thanks, Aunt Peach. That's all."

She chuckled. "You're welcome, nephew." She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you soon, alright?"

Jaune watched her go until the car was gone. Remembered his dad doing the same, and how alone he'd felt standing just before this house that he was sure he'd hate. He knew he should wait for her. It was only two days. But that burning need within him refused to quell, and he'd learned long ago that it was pointless to resist. He had to do this now. Tonight. He'd beg his aunt for forgiveness on his knees later.

Night came, brought a veil of darkness that pronounced the lights coming from the neighborhood homes like the glowing eyes. The street was quiet, the crickets chirped to the dead, and Jaune wasn't sure if he ought to bring anything with him. He'd made sure one of the outside gym's windows was unlocked before school ended, knew how to get on campus and avoid the cameras. This was going to be a pretty straight shot, assuming all went well.

He just hoped everything did go well.

He left the house, couldn't help but feel guilty doing so, and headed on his way. He didn't question himself why anymore, didn't wonder if he should just turn around and lock himself away from the world. At least in this case. Once this was all over, everything would go back to how it was supposed to be. With Sun and Neptune out of his life and him able to just live in peaceful seclusion.

That was definitely what he was really doing this for. No doubt about it.

He stopped when he was about to pass Neptune's house. Saw the car in the driveway and recalled Lewis's words. Then down the street, where Sun had wrapped an arm around his friend, and comforted him as they walked away. Who could blame Neptune for not wanting to come back? Who could blame him for being scared? No one was standing up for him. There was nothing his friends could do, not even Weiss. Was it so unrealistic that he would feel powerless?

But as Jaune stared at the door of the house, as the fire burned inside and his feet began to move, as he imagined that helplessness Neptune had to feel, he came to one conclusion.

He was not Neptune's friend. He didn't have to worry about consequences, or rather, didn't have to care.

He was in front of the door now, and every sensible, logical, fearful side of him screamed to get away. To not do what he was about to. But he couldn't barely register those sides of himself. He wanted to sate the angry monster that saw no reason, even if it'd only get him in trouble. He knocked on the door before he could stop himself.

Lewis Vasilias, looking tired and annoyed, answered. "Can I help you?"

"Hello, sir. I'm Jaune. I'm friends with Neptune."

His eye twitched. "Well, he's not here right now. Check his friend Sun's place."

"I know, sir." Jaune said, "I came to see you."

Contrary to how action movies portrayed it, a punch did not have quite the 'oomph' they were believed to. It was more of a wet slap or crack, and bone hitting bone hurt every party involved. That was why Jaune's knuckles cried in protest after he struck Lewis in the face, putting him down on his ass. Jaune might have been shocked with himself, but found instead that his lips were trembling and his eyes had gotten moist. "Do you even care about him?"

Lewis snarled as he clutched his bloody lip. "What?"

"Your son. Do you care about him?"

He snarled. "That's none of your business. He's my son, I only want—"

"You only want what's best for yourself. You aren't thinking about him. He was happy with Weiss. Isn't his happiness enough? Isn't that what you're supposed to want?"

The man's eyes softened. Somewhere caught between shocked and angry.

Jaune's fist trembled. His teeth were bared and he was certain he was crying now, his face felt so hot and wet. His vision was muddy through the tears, but he refused to wipe them away this time. "He's not clay for you to mold as you please. All he wants is your respect. For you to be proud of him. Why is he only worth a damn through his accomplishments?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!"

Jaune stood straight. Blinked the tears away. He wasn't looking at a man anymore. Just a pathetic, bitter creature. It humiliated him that his own father shared such a title with him. Lewis had no clue what it meant to be a real one. "He can't even talk to you because he's so afraid that you don't love him. Is that how you wanted him to feel? Just because of what his mother did?"

His eyes went wide, and he shrank back like he'd grown weak. "That's… I…"

Jaune threatened to swing again, and Lewis flinched. He wanted to do it so badly. To just hurt him, like all the other people he'd ever met that projected their pain on others. That monster inside wanted to be fed.

But he lowered his fist, uncurled it. The point was to save, not to hurt. "Call the cops on me if you want. I don't care. Neptune deserves better than you."

And Jaune bolted down the stairs and away. Ran as fast as he could manage and even when his breath ran ragged and his throat burned, he kept on. The wind dried his tears, his legs felt strong, and the world ahead was dark but no less clear to him. He had no reservations anymore. The match had been struck. The dynamite was lit.

When he got there, the pool was an eerie dark, barely lit by the moonlight peering inside, setting the still water aglow. Jaune went up to the edge, stared into the pool like it was an abyss calling out to him. Threatening to snatch him into it. Gods, he hated water. It made his very blood turn to ice.

But he felt stronger things than fear right now. So he shut his eyes, tried to keep Neptune at the fire of his mind, prayed his hunch was correct, and jumped.

He didn't feel cold rush him. He didn't feel water surround him. No soaked clothes, no water shooting up his nose, threatening to drown him.

Instead, the world had shattered into a millions pieces, coalesced into a swirling vortex toward a great unknown. It worked.

It was time to make it count.

Been a while. I don't have too much to say other than updates will not be as frequent as I've decided to focus more on my original work. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the read and see you in the next one!

ISA