Jaune POV
By the time I got to school, my nerves were shot. Every step felt heavier, like I was dragging something invisible with me. The box was hidden away in the bottom of my backpack but it felt like everyone could see it, like there's a neon sign flashing over my head that says "Up to something." I stuffed my hands in my hoodie pockets, attempting to hide how shaky they were.
My mind was a whirlwind throughout the day, filled with doubt and an uneasiness that ate at me. My thought's plagued by theories of what could happen should I get caught. Expulsion, Having to face Mom and Dad, What even happens when you're not allowed to attend school anymore?
The theories only spun further out of control the closer to Gym I got, becoming out right torturous as the bell rang, it was time for Gym class. My stomach felt like it was tied in knots making me feel physically sick.
It was then that I spotted Axel just ahead of me. He walked surrounded by people laughing as one of his friends cracked jokes. Memories flashed through my mind of each kick and the pain that came with it, the delighted sounds of laughter, the cruel smiles that stared down at me while I struggled for breath.
The pit of nervousness in my stomach began to smolder as though someone had tossed in a match. The queasy nervousness that plagued me vanished, turning into a tempered determination. I had a quest to complete and Axel was gonna get what he had coming.
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It was strange being one of the last people to make it into the locker rooms, it was never a good idea to be alone around any of Jason's friends, so to avoid it normally I'd be gone by now. The moment I opened the door my stomach dropped as I made eye contact with Troy for a split second. Quickly I dropped my gaze to the floor and shuffled behind a few other kids.
Relief washed over me as I felt his gaze leave me, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Keeping my head tucked down I made my way to the back of the room and carefully set my bag in the storage room with the others. A part of me wants to panic as I feel several eyes land on me as I make my way through the locker room but I force myself to get changed, there's a good chance I was just imagining it anyways.
Trying to calm myself as I focus on the usual routine: shoes off, gym shorts on, socks tucked into my sneakers. Shirt swapped.
But no matter how hard I try I can't seem to tear my mind from the small Velcro pack sitting in the hidden inner pocket of my shorts, I had to keep my hands from drifting to it, it weighed barely anything but the way it pulled on the hidden pocket made it feel like it was a thousand pounds.
Gym class became a blur, my mind stuck on the plan I've been turning over and over in my head. My heart pounded in my chest hard enough that I could feel each beat. Once again burying my anxiety, I forced myself to go through the motions, pretending to pay attention to Coach as I worked my way through the warm-ups, but my eyes kept drifting toward the Gym doors.
I raise my hand, doing my best to sound casual as I call out to Coach.
"Can I go to the restroom?" The gym teacher barely looks at me before waving me off. My heart skips a beat as I walk out, nerves twisting in my stomach.
The moment the gym door clicked shut behind me, I quickened my steps, heading straight for the locker room. Just as I anticipated, it was empty, yet the stillness inside felt almost suffocating. My nerves tightened as I walked through the room, unable to lift my gaze; the silence pressed down on me like a heavy weight. Each echoing footfall only deepened the sense of isolation, an oppressive atmosphere that clung to me, refusing to let go until I finally reached the door to the storage room.
Grateful for the distraction, I shifted my focus to the task at hand, the most challenging part of my plan-getting into the storage room. As I slowly turned the doorknob a familiar sense of disappointment washed over me as it clicked into place, confirming it was locked.
Kneeling down, I discreetly pulled out the small black Velcro pack hidden in my shorts, my heart racing with anticipation. Carefully I pulled out two slender tools from the lockpicking kit Saffron had given me, their cool metal glinting in the dim light as I held them up to the lock.
My hands were slick with sweat as I struggled with the lock, attempting to apply pressure on the cylinder with one tool while using the other to pick at the pins. At least, that was the intention. Instead, the small metallic tool kept slipping through my fingers, frustrating me with every failed attempt.
Each time I lost a tool, anxiety gnawed at me, rising like a tide. Panic began to bubble up as I rushed, my movements growing frantic, yet all I accomplished was dropping my tools even faster. I could feel my heart racing, as the weight of the moment pressed down on me.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking, my head was pounding. Gods, I was messing this up again, wasn't I? I pulled back, slumping in defeat as I gazed at the sterile white ceiling above me. I was at a loss; the picks weren't working, and no matter how hard I tried, nothing I thought of seemed remotely close to working.
The longer I sat there, the closer the walls seemed to creep, as if they were threatening to crush me.
Slowly, my gaze drifted to the small Velcro pack I had left on the floor. Despite my racing thoughts, something about it anchored me, conjuring up memories—though admittedly, there weren't many. I could clearly picture the giddy, almost sinister grin Saffron wore when she handed it to me.
"Alright, Jaune, first thing we need to do is get you up to snuff, and right now is the best time to start." She had dragged me out the front door of our house and locked it behind us with her key.
"Here's the deal," She said, her voice steady. "I'm going to walk you through how to pick a lock, and you're going to open our front door." I nodded, opened up my new kit and looked up at her.
"Ready."
She smiled. "Good, just keep in mind you're on the clock. Mom just left to visit one of her friends, and if you don't want to get caught, you need to get through that door."
Looking back, I realize I panicked far more than necessary, barley allowing her explanations to sink in. After watching me flounder for a while, she gently placed a calming hand on my shoulder.
"Jaune, you need to chill out. Yes, it's stressful, yes, it's difficult, but you're trying to rush a delicate process." She gently turned my head to meet her gaze. "Breathe with me. In, out. In, out."
"Good, now take it one step at a time."
Even though Saffron wasn't here I could still hear her voice in my mind. Following her instructions I took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and then released it slowly. Gradually, I felt my racing heart start to calm. Before I could lose my newfound calm, I picked up the small tools I had thrown to the floor in frustration. With steady hands, I worked my way through the pins, feeling more confident with each satisfying click until finally, the knob gave way, and the door swung open.
Quickly I make my way to my bag pulling out the ant farm I had hidden in the bottom of it. The weight of the farm seemed heavier now than it did this morning. My palms are slick with sweat as I fumble with the zipper of Axel's backpack. The thunderous beat of my heart fills my ears as I open his bag and lift the ant farm above it, popping the lid off.
Slowly tipping the container I watch as the ants pour out, a mass of wriggling legs and tiny bodies all mixed in dirt and sand, In moments they disappear into his bag, scattering through everything.
Before I can think too hard about it, I scramble onto the nearby gym equipment. Reaching up and quickly lifting one of the ceiling tiles, pushing the empty ant farm inside. My heart's pounding and every part of my mind is screaming at me to stop and double check every detail, but I force myself to move quickly as I drop the ceiling tile back into place.
Hopping down, I wipe my hands on my gym shorts trying in vain to dry the nervous sweat before I have to use the lockpicks again. Rushing out of the room, I quickly lock the door behind me with my picks. Another click echoed from the lock, the sound fills my ears signifying a job done, quickly I dart out of the locker room as fast as I can. Hurriedly making my way back to the Gym, doing my best to appear calm as I speed walk through the hallway. Returning to my spot on the bleachers, I tuck my hands into my lap to hide their slight tremble and release a nervous breath, trying to steady myself.
The rest of Gym class drags on, every second feeling like an eternity. My stomach's still in knots, but I force myself to act normal, keeping my eyes on the clock. When the bell finally rings, I grab my bag and change in the furthest corner away from where Axel normally changes, but still allows me to see him.
I bury my anxiety as Axel walks into the storage room, crossing my fingers and hoping he doesn't notice any ants before he puts his backpack on. My anxiety quickly melts, turning into relief and a vindictive satisfaction as Axel quickly slings his backpack onto his shoulder not even bothering to check it as he talks to Troy.
Quietly I stick to the back of the room as the two bullies make their way out of the room and into the hall. Giving them a moment to get ahead of me before walking out into the hall after them, taking care to keep several people between me and Axel's group.
From my spot further down the hallway, I watched Axel's confusion turn to panic, a mix of satisfaction and horror churning in my stomach. It started innocently enough—him scratching at his shirt with that puzzled look. But when he spotted the ant crawling on his arm and let out a startled shout, I felt a rush of adrenaline.
As he frantically swatted at his clothes, my heart raced, half-excited by my little scheme and half-nauseated by the realization of how far I'd pushed it. When he noticed more bugs on the strap of his backpack, his face twisted in sheer terror, and I couldn't help but feel a thrill of revenge at his expense. But the moment he hurled the backpack against the wall, sending books and ants scattering across the floor, that thrill turned to a cold knot in my gut.
I leaned back against the wall, trying to blend into the crowd that swirled around me. I knew I probably shouldn't have done it regardless of whatever The Game was, but watching him unravel in front of everyone felt oddly satisfying. There was a strange sense of relief in seeing him so flustered, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
Still, guilt tugged at the corners of my mind. I watched him frantically swat at his clothes, a hint of terror in his eyes that accompanied his panicked yells, and for a moment, I hesitated. Just for a memory to cut through the uncertainty, the vivid recollection of his boots slamming into my stomach. The injuries were long healed, but that pain felt fresh. This was his consequence, and he earned it.
I took a deep breath settling myself before slipping out of the hallway. As I walked away a surge of determination washed over me as I felt the familiar jolt of my quest screen updating.
*Ding*
Jason (0/1)
Dillan (0/1)
Troy (0/1)
Axel (1/1)
Dustin (0/1)
Time remaining - 239 days
I turned the corner, slipping into my next classroom as the bell rang, the usual chatter and rustle of papers barely registering. I was too happy to pay attention to anything else, too busy with my silent celebration to care.
My shoulders felt lighter like a burden I was stuck carrying had been lifted, getting back at Axel felt great, it felt freeing, and my mind was already racing with ways to get back at Troy.
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Saffron Pov
I watched Jaune happily skip out of my room, a bright smile lighting up his face, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. It had been too long since I had seen that kind of joy in him, the kind that reminded me of the little brother who used to bounce around the house, filling it with laughter. I could hardly believe how much he was changing. Maybe he didn't even realize it himself, too caught up in the rush of getting back at one of his bullies while he chased his dream.
It probably wasn't the best way for Jaune to find some self confidence, most people-our parents included wouldn't be happy knowing Jaune had essentially tortured someone even if they were a bully, but after seeing that spark reignited in Jaune I couldn't bring myself to care.
Seeing him change had taken a weight off of my shoulders, it hurt watching him slowly fade into an inactive depressed shell of who he was, it was a relief to have him back. Better yet it seemed his act of rebellion had given him the confidence boost I hoped it would. The feeling of pride slowly shifted to concern. I'd have to teach him how to throw a proper punch and quick, before that new found confidence lands him in trouble he can't handle.
I let out a groan as I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts spiraled to what was next after Jaune was done with his bullies, like a weapon. If he wanted to be a huntsman he was gonna need to train with one. The idea of sneaking Gramp's old sword out of Dad's safe without Mom noticing twisted my stomach into knots. I briefly considered enlisting a couple sisters to help just to keep Mom distracted if nothing else, but quickly dismissed the thought. That was a problem for future Saffron, today I had my own plans.
With a small huff, I pushed myself up from the bed, shaking off the lingering worries. Besides, I had a little Lien to spend. A quick trip to the store would set me up for tomorrow. Sure, it was Jaune's fight but that didn't mean he was the only one allowed to have some fun. There's a reason you don't mess with an Arc.
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Jaune Pov
The rest of the school week was oddly peaceful. Axel had been rushed to the hospital because of the sheer number of ant bites, and by Friday, he still hadn't returned. It took no time for the rumors to start swirling, and just as quickly they began to spiral out of control.
The rumors were so wild and varied it impressed me, for every person who said he was probably at home resting you had another three saying he fell into a coma at the hospital or something just as absurd. Jason and his little minions insisted Axel was just skipping out on school for fun, I'd be shocked if anyone believed him.
While the rumors helped ease my anxiety, providing some entertaining distractions, it wasn't long before my anxiousness crept back in. To say I was happy with how my plan for Axel had unfolded was an understatement. I was thrilled and itching to get revenge on everyone else, but Saffron had other plans.
"Do too much and at once and other people will get involved. Lie low for a bit and let things calm down. The last thing you need is people on guard, trying to catch you doing something."
She was right, I knew she was but that didn't mean I had to like it.
I huffed quietly to myself and cracked open my science work book. If I'm stuck in school with nothing to do, I might as well study.
I didn't get more than a couple words in before a chime went off in my head.
*Ding*
Jason (0/1)
Dillan (1/1)
Troy (0/1)
Axel (1/1)
Dustin (0/1)
Time remaining - 234 days
Huh?
Confusion swirled through me, I hadn't done anything to Dillan-he wasn't even on my radar for revenge. I tried to puzzle out what could've happened, but I came up blank.
The Game wasn't offering any answers, just its usual silent blue screens.
One strange notification completely distracted me. Even after I dismissed it and tried to focus on studying, my mind kept wandering, ruining any chance I had of memorizing the information in the textbook.
Frustrated, I finally gave up. There was no point in trying to read if I wasn't internalizing anything. If The Game needed me to be moving at a certain speed to count as running, I wouldn't be surprised if it refused to give me points for not fully absorbing the material.
With unanswered questions driving me up the wall I did my best to investigate, only to come up short. Dillan seemed perfectly fine at lunch, happy even, it made no sense.
Did my semblance make a mistake? For something that seemed so particular about watching my every move, I couldn't understand why it had decided Dillan had been taken care of.
After lunch I found myself watching the clock, trying to shake off the strange occurrence that had confused me earlier. Each tick felt like a reminder of how unsettled I was. But my mind kept drifting, it was frustrating being unable to tear my mind from what my semblance had done.
When I got home I was surprised to find Saffron in a good mood. She was lounging on the sofa, stretching out like a cat soaking up sun, the sight made me crack a smile. I walked around the sofa and leaned against the backrest above her head.
"Up to some real important work over here I see." I teased.
Her immediate reaction was to scoff. "Hah, you have no idea." She smirked up at me as she nestled further into the sofa, "I finally got to have a little fun."
"Oh?" Fun around here? I smell bullshit." I raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you swing by the community center for a couple rounds of Bingo, and you didn't think to invite me? I'm hurt."
"Ha. No, something way better than that, and no, I couldn't invite you." She lazily reached out and poked my forehead playfully. "Not when you're the reason I had to blow off some steam."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Oh, am I causing my poor sister that much stress?"
"Yep, yes you are." She replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And I'm glad you realize that. You should be nicer to me, you know. I can only do so much crazy shit for you before I expect a favor in return. But if it serves as an excuse to go out and have fun like that again, it might not be so bad." She chuckled to herself as she rolled over, resting her head on a pillow instead of looking up at me.
"Oh, come on, I'm not that bad." I started poking at her back as I spoke. "Besides, you're telling me you found something fun to do around here? You're terrible at lying."
"But I'm not." She insisted, her voice thick with a faux hurt. "I had so much fun it's not even funny."
"Well then, oh gracious sister of mine, would you please enlighten your little brother?"
"Nope."
I couldn't say I was surprised by that response. "But why? You've got me curious now, I gotta know." A little pouting never hurts, especially if it happens to work.
She chuckled and blindly raised a hand to pat my face. "Nope, sorry little bro, this is a big sister secret. We all get to keep a couple things to ourselves, and in the glorious name of Saffron Arc I claim this secret as my own!" The smugness radiating from her was suffocating.
I batted her hand away, and she let it fall limply back onto the couch. "Fine, keep your secrets, I'm headed up to my room for a bit. Could you tell the little ones to give me some space for a bit?" I didn't wait for a response and started towards the stairs, though I heard her grunt in affirmation.
Today kinda felt like a waste with no real stat point gains, and what better way to fix that than to work out in my room? The only thing left on my latest workout quest were the crunches and I could get those out of the way quietly.
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The weekend went by in a blur, like I'd blinked and suddenly it was Sunday night. I threw myself right back into my training. By noon I'd managed to clear the third part of the getting in shape quest line, and like clockwork was given part four. No new exercises, which I guess was a good thing, but it doubled all the requirements. Rep's, time, intensity. Everything. I knew it wasn't going to get easier, but at least I was getting used to it by now.
One surprise though, came in the form of my sister, Saffron. Out of nowhere she decided it was time to "Teach" me how to fight. She seemed a little hesitant having not taught anyone before while not exactly being the most dangerous person around, but I wasn't going to turn down any help. The first lesson was, thankfully, pretty straightforward: how to throw a punch. Apparently, making a fist wasn't the only part of it I had wrong, twisting my hips and leaning into the punch were things I had never even thought about. I could help but laugh as Saffron shouted at me to "throw my ass into it," but once I started focusing on my form, I could feel the difference.
We spent the next couple of hours lightly sparring–or at least trying to. Honestly, it probably looked like a couple of idiots slapping at each other, or, me trying to slap a she-devil who was clearly enjoying beating the crap out of me. Saffron was fast. Too fast. Once she figured out that my Aura would tank her punches and leave me fine afterwards, she went full throttle. Aiming for my face, my family jewels, my feet–anything she could hit, really. All the while shouting about what I was doing wrong. It was like a constant barrage of corrections and light jabs. It didn't help that I couldn't bring myself to try and punch her, while I had Aura and could take the abuse she didn't and I refused to be the guy that hurt his sister.
The sparring session taught me a few things. First, Aura didn't work the way I thought it did. I'd always assumed it would just block any damage outright, but that wasn't the case. It absorbs the blow, sure, but I still feel the shock from it. That lesson hit me hard when Saffron landed a brutal kick to the groin. I'm pretty sure my Aura didn't help me much there.
The second lesson was just how hard it is to actually apply anything you think you know in real combat. Saffron wasn't a professional, but she was relentless. She kept me on my toes, constantly moving, her hands a blur as she feinted and jabbed. Trying to track her while also thinking about my own moves proved to be a nightmare. I realized pretty quickly that actual fighting wasn't about looking cool or following some textbook method–it was about staying alive long enough to land a punch.
Still, she didn't go too far. As fun as it probably was for her to take advantage of me when I was on the ground, dazed or struggling, she always stopped after a couple of extra hits. "Pain's a great teacher," she'd say, grinning down at me. 'A few motivational punches should help you remember to not do the same dumb shit twice … I think." She sounded so pleased with herself, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Not when I was already getting back up for round two.
It wasn't the most intensive raining out there, but after spending some time practicing my punches with Saffron, I definitely felt a lot better about handling Jason or any of the gremlins he called friends, if they caught me trying to plant something. At least now I'd have a fighting chance. And honestly, that made me feel a lot more confident about the whole situation. It also changed up my routine a little, now that I was working on my form and adding punches to my workout mix.
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Saturday came and went in a blur too, with my sisters leaving me to my usual grind. Before I even realized it, I was standing in front of my school on Monday morning. It felt like the weekend hadn't even happened. I dragged my feet into the cafeteria, grabbing breakfast and settling into the background noise. As usual, the place was buzzing with gossip. It wasn't even news anymore–it was just the same group of people talking about whatever had happened recently. This time, it was all about Axel's incident. Even a week later, it was still the most exciting thing to happen at the school. Everyone was talking about it, and I had a feeling they'd be doing so for a long while, or at least until something just as big came along.
What caught me off guard, though, was the talk about Dylan. Apparently, he'd been looking pretty rough lately. People were gossiping about how he'd been snapping at anyone who asked if he was okay. It sounded like he wasn't in a good mood, but what really piqued my interest was the stuff they were saying about him. His bloodshot eyes and the odd, sickly-sweet smell about him—it wasn't the good kind of sweet. The kind that made you think something was rotting. And suddenly, it clicked. My semblance. The whole quest I'd been working on—it all made sense. Maybe someone had done something to Dylan, and my semblance had counted it as part of my quest.
Of course, the whole thing raised more questions than answers. How did my semblance know anything had happened to him when I wasn't there to see it? It was a puzzle I had no hope of solving so I pushed it to the back of my mind. There wasn't any point in worrying about it without any way to test or prove something anyways. Instead, I focused on the task at hand: Troy was up next, it was time for a little revenge.
This time, the plan was almost too easy. I didn't have to hide my tools, and planting the stuff was going to be a breeze. Troy was notorious for bringing his beloved lemonade to gym class—he always had a bottle of it with him, and it was no secret he loved the stuff. It was also no secret that he liked to drink from it without the lid, making it the perfect target. Saffron had told me about Magnesium citrate, a liquid laxative that tastes exactly like lemonade and it worked quickly, the best part about it was you could buy the stuff straight off the store shelves, no pharmacy required. The plan was simple: fill a bottle, wait for the right moment, and swap it with Troy's.
When Coach announced that it was an outdoor game day, I could barely contain my grin. Those days were always the best. Everyone either participated in the game or walked the track. It gave me two big advantages: first, there was no way Troy wasn't going to be playing, which meant he'd leave his bottle unattended. Second, he'd be busy, so he wouldn't notice his bottle until he was thirsty. I watched him carefully as the game began, and sure enough, he set his bottle down with everyone else's next to the stands, leaving it wide open for my plan.
I waited for my moment, keeping a close eye on Coach and the rest of the class. When the time was right, I made my move. I swapped out his bottle with mine, the contents pouring into the grass with a quick twist of the lid, then replaced it with my own concoction. I was back on the track in seconds, my bottle hidden and Troy none the wiser.
It didn't take long for my plan to unfold. A few minutes after Troy took a drink, someone near him shouted, "Damn Troy, how hungry are you? I heard your stomach from all the way over here!" People laughed, and he laughed too, but I could see the cold sweat starting to break out on his forehead. Within minutes, he was running for the bathroom, yelling for Coach that he needed to go. The best part? He wasn't anywhere near the gym door, and he didn't make it.
I heard the unmistakable sound of cameras clicking, people pointing, and then laughter. Troy had shit himself right in front of everyone, and it was impossible to ignore. The brown streaks running down his legs told the whole story. I couldn't help but laugh along with the rest of the crowd. With Axel still absent, there was no one from Jason's group to see me joining in.
Coach tried to keep the crowd of preteen's under control but the damage was done and he hadn't been trying too hard beyond telling everyone to keep walking and getting the game back on track. The damage was done and no amount of yelling at anyone would keep them from posting the pictures they had taken in time.
A chime echoed in my head as my quest updated, my smile widened as another box was checked off my quest log. Another step closer to victory.
A/N- Shit it's been a minute since I've posted I meant to get this out waaay sooner, unfortunately I have the attention span of a goldfish and got stuck as the DM in my dungeon and dragons group.
I'm not the happiest with this chapter but I don't think it's too bad, feel free to leave your thoughts in a review and again thanks for reading and hope to see you next time :)