Hello everyone I am glad to see that the story is really gaining traction. Even with just two chapters out there has been a showing of interest and want for more.
I had been busy for song long I knew I wanted "One Man Band" to get another chapter due to the attention it has generated but I assure everyone this story is gonna get some more attention as well.
Now let's waste no time and dive right back into the situation Jaune has found himself in.
I do not own RWBY or any of the characters presented in this work of fiction. All characters belong to their respective creators and companies.
Chapter 3: Man or Monster?
The moment someone said Grimm it was truly like a new energy had taken over the class. Jaune had already achieved being under peoples gazes due to his lack of ability.
Yet now he could feel everyone just eyeing him as he breathed in deep breaths of air as he still tried to recover from the fight. The aching in his ribs starting to leave him as he felt the voice picking at his mind again.
"Control yourself, these are observations not accusations", the voice said as Jaune for once had to agree with it as his senses came back to him.
He immediately crossed his arms as he looked to Goodwitch and could only come up with something.
"Well...I just remember professor Port always going on about his hunts and started connecting dots on how he changed his style depending on the Grimm", Jaune said as he was glad for the sweat dripping down his face to keep from actually showing his nervousness.
Even now he could hear the whispering almost a little too well and knew his hearing must have been improved as well as students talked about Ports class but still held unease to Jaune's combat.
"Professor Port indeed has used such combat tactics before. It is honestly considered a very old mindset for fighting Grimm", Professor Goodwitch said as she turned to the class and tapped on her data pad.
"Grimm will not be as forgiving as your opponents. They will not tap out and it is for that reason as to why we train you to improve your own styles...however just as Mr. Arc has shown you can learn much from your enemies", she said as Jaune let out a sigh of relief that this was going in his favor.
"For now you are all dismissed", she said as she turned and walked to Jaune before turning her data pad around as she showed her notes and statistics for Jaune's fight.
"Mr. Arc usually you are in the lowest level in terms of combat prowess but I must say you have achieved at-least a B to A- with what you showed today", she said as Jaune widened his eyes and began to rub the back of his head out of sheepishness.
"I suggest you refine this method you seem to excel at using but I must warn you. Using such tactics and moves will always garner unease...we fight creatures of Grimm...never do we wish to become them", she said before turning and leaving to do paperwork.
Jaune merely stood there as her words hung in his head about becoming a Grimm. It was due to this thinking that he became distracted as he felt a weight crash into him as Nora had jumped onto his back and climbed up onto his shoulders as he staggered before catching himself.
"Jaune Jaune that was amazing!! You were like a super Grimm hunter!!", she said with her bubbly personality as Ren came up to his side holding a towel for Jaune.
"I must admit that Nora is right Jaune even I didn't think I could beat Yatsu although I won't lie your move set is a bit...concerning", Ren said as Jaune wiped his face.
Already he was feeling what Goodwitch was talking about in terms of causing unease.
"There is nothing to be concerned about you won and proved your power that is all that matters", the voice said as Jaune could only sigh.
"If you are gonna be mouthing off in my brain can you at-least act less like a jerk?", Jaune thought as he felt what he could only assume was the voices version of the silent treatment.
Nora continued to voice her enjoyment over the fight while Jaune didn't even looked bothered by her weight or unease on him. Pyrrha soon came to his side as she told Nora to get down earning a salute as she got down.
"Jaune we haven't even begun any type of training for close combat how did you ever find time to train in such a fighting style?", she asked hoping he wouldn't lie as she was truly befuddled.
Jaune had made a promise not to hide things from his team and yet he honestly didn't know how he could begin to describe what was going on with him right now.
In that moment even just contemplating about how to talk about it he felt a sharp pain in his temple as he pressed his fingers to it trying to stop it.
"Remember my words boy this will be a secret you keep", the voice said in a cold like tone as Jaune grit his teeth before feeling a hand on his shoulder as his attention flew back to Pyrrha as she held a concerned look.
"Ah...um sorry about that got a headache all of a sudden and as for training well...I just don't like having to ask you for help so much Pyr and when I do my morning run I find I can fit some training in", he said not really lying as much of what he said was true.
"I can't jog in my armor and carrying my sword so I just followed my instincts...Arc's word", he said feeling bad that he had to talk like this but he knew he wasn't really lying either.
He didn't have the means at the moment to share everything and it also felt like maybe he couldn't either just yet.
This response seemed to appease her as she merely nodded. "Well still you could have just asked you know I don't mind", she said shaking her head at his reasoning.
He could only awkwardly chuckle as team RWBY all came over celebrating his win as comments passed and even Yang couldn't help but smack him on his arms as she poked him feeling the muscle as he stood there not knowing what to do.
"Damn Vomit boy you are looking more like Vomit man with these guns. You gotta give me your workout regime", she said as Jaune could only lift up an arm as he flexed it making the bicep tighten and rise. He formed a goofy smile over it as he never had such things before.
The action earning quiet blushes from Pyrrha and Ruby as Jaune heard everyone discussing their battles only to look up from his arms as he saw Blake staring at him.
The two held a quiet gaze as Jaune felt her look cutting into him like she was reading him like she does her books. It was thanks to the changing of classes that he was spared as everyone soon gathered and left for the lockers to change and then be done for the day.
Jaune made the comment he would prefer to shower in the dorm as he gathered his stuff and headed that way quickly.
Jaune was quick to move through the halls as his transformation for anyone that hadn't seen it was still shocking as he sped up a little more trying to get to the dorm.
"Why are you in a rush? These fools are in awe of your power, you should enjoy this", the voice said as Jaune shook his head soon heading up the stairs as he spoke in his mind.
"Okay one these are not fools they are my classmates and two they wouldn't be in awe of me if they saw what else comes from my body right now", he said as he soon got to the dorms and after trying the door he realized that his scroll was still firmly locked behind the door and laying on his bed.
Jaune's huffed in frustration as he thought about what to do here.
"If going through is all we need we can always...", the voice began as Jaune's arm up to his elbow began to turn black as the familiar bone white plates from before surfaced.
His fingers starting to change into claws as he freaked out and waved his arm around.
"Dude enough with the claws already! I just need to get into my room!", Jaune said as the plates and skin soon returned to normal as Jaune sighed.
"Then what are you thinking?", the voice asked as if Jaune had a better idea only for him to look around before seeing the hall window as he got his idea.
Jaune looked down from the height he was at with a tinge of fear as his legs dangled a bit from the window. Normally this type of response would never be his answer but he needed time to try and figure this out before his team got back.
"This is idiotic", the voice said as Jaune deadpanned ready to get into an argument, he knew that the buildings allowed for people to traverse these ledges.
Hell he heard about how Sun and Neptune did it a few weeks back before the dance so he figured it would work the same.
Once Jaune began to slide his weight forward he tapped around against the side of the building as he felt the ledge under his foot. Normally this idea was out of the question but he had been running on adrenaline and instinct.
Jaune however couldn't help but notice despite what he was doing he didn't really feel any fear at the moment. It was an odd sensation like a switch was flipped and he was simply doing something normal.
Jaune knew that he was currently sharing his body with something he really didn't understand and yet...part of him was a bit perhaps excited over what he has been able to do.
I mean he just took down Yatsu! A veteran school team powerhouse and his own body looks and feels like machine. So many good things but as Jaune was starting to shimmy across the outer wall he began to think back to the hole he fell into.
The darkness, the heavy feeling that was sinking into him. It felt worse than the fear from the Beowulf and yet as he shimmied along he came to a stop as his head tilted back against the wall.
In that moment his eyes rolled back as his body began to shiver. The memories of the crystal dagger breaking, the pieces falling into the holes that were ripped into him.
The pure fire that twisted and surged through him all before it went black. A red haze in his vision and snapping in his bones before it all came back to him with blood all over his hands.
This moment caused Jaune to forget himself as a new vision flooded his mind of the wall he saw down in that room. The images and carvings all leading to a set of dark hands holding out and centering on the dagger.
The image in his mind moving closer as his hand rose to reach out and take something as his foot lifted forward to move in.
Yet, as he followed through the world left him as the day took his vision once again and the sight of the ground beginning to come up as he felt his feet leave the edge.
No sound came from his lips as his breath hitched in his throat. His arms coming up to cover his face as he was getting ready to brace for the hard impact to come.
However, in one quick motion Jaune felt himself simply hanging in the air as he no longer saw the ground rising to him.
He didn't feel anything under his feet either as he slowly turned his head back enough to see. There embedded in the wall were four of the tendrils keeping him from falling.
"Do not worry I've got us", the voice said as Jaune was reeled back in enough that his feet were on the ledge however instead of himself moving along the the tendrils began to move as they pierced the wall at different spots to pull him as he was just along for the ride.
Once he was at the window it was easy to pull open the window doors as he was soon set down inside as he stumbled for a second.
"Well that was different", he said shaking his head as the tendrils shut the window behind him before sinking back into his clothes.
Jaune was still in awe at what was currently happening as he shook his head and headed for the bathroom as he turned on the water to as hot as he could get it before looking down at his clothes as he focused on willing them away.
With some effort the clothes returned to a black liquid state before sinking into his skin as he let out a breath and put his hand to the wall.
"Don't suppose you can close your...eyes? Or something while I shower?", Jaune said into the open air being tired of thinking his words in all of this. It felt like having a two way call at max volume in both ears.
"I see what you see, sometimes more but in a manner yes I can turn away for this instance, I'm sure you have questions", the voice said getting farther away before Jaune actually felt an emptiness in his head as he tilted his head back in enjoyment.
"Finally...some privacy", he said opening the door to the shower as he stepped in and began to wash off the day.
One very hot shower later...
Jaune stepped out with his towel around his waist as he shook his hair to help dry it. He eventually sat down on his bed picking up his scroll as he saw some messages from his team.
Everyone was wanting to do a snack and movie night so they were raiding the vending machines. Jaune was grateful for this as it would give him a little more time as he sat there now.
He licked his lips and took a breath as he tried his hand at the clothes thing again as he focused on what he wanted. Yet again there was almost a refusal, the urge to get something to happen for nothing at all to happen.
"You still know nothing", the voice said coming back like a truck hitting a wall as Jaune lost his concentration.
"You know it isn't any easier when you go barging into my brain", he said as the voice almost seemed to chuckle.
"If we are to be sharing this body you must begin to understand your situation", the voice said as Jaune raised an eyebrow.
"You are asking for something to occur when you must demand it. It is the same as if you were to a breath in fresh air. Do so out of survival", the voice chanted as Jaune felt like this was going to be a common occurrence of vague help.
Taking a moment Jaune returned to his effort but instead of asking like making a muscle move he focused on his breathing. His chest pushing in and out as he felt the sensation.
After a moment he breathed in deep and pulled the thought of his clothing in with the breath, as he exhaled he felt the shimmer over his skin as a black shirt and dark grey sweatpants cover his form.
He opened his eyes and saw the clothing as he let out a happy breath as he painted the clothing noting that they felt as real as the normal fabric he remembered wearing.
"Thanks for that", Jaune said before feeling the need to get serious here as he needed to focus.
"Can you explain to me what all of this is, what you are?", Jaune asked as there was silence for a few moments before speech.
"I do not have answers...", the voice said as Jaune seemed to be taken aback by this.
"What do you mean you have answers? You were down there, don't you know why or even what you are?", Jaune asked as he felt frustration setting in.
"I did not awaken until your Aura sparked me to life. Everything from words to understanding your world was purely pulled from your thoughts and memories", the voice said as Jaune tilted his head.
"Wait so you can see my memories...that explains your little trick about my lying already", Jaune said with an aggravated tone.
"I have none of my own except perhaps one...dark hands...molding...creating...then nothing...until you", it said as Jaune remembered the carving of my hands from the room.
Nothing the voice was saying jogged much of Jaune's prior knowledge, not that he would honestly know much.
"So are you a Grimm? I mean the way you work and can summon things looks familiar", Jaune said remembering everything that led up to this point.
"I am not sure...when you killed the Beowulf something triggered my own instincts to consume it, drink its very essence. That's how I reshaped you, improved you. My survival is linked to yours and we needed better chances", the voice said as Jaune narrowed his eyes before feeling a deep pulse in his chest as his hand rose to it.
He felt his heart beating but somehow he could almost feel another layered over his as he blinked.
"When I awoke I bonded myself to your very body and soul. Another instinct telling me to do this as if part of a set of events for myself", it said as Jaune wondered if this was just all due to his terrible luck.
His scroll went off as he looked over seeing people were heading back and that it was all being held in team RWBY's form as he messaged back and put his hands on his thighs as he rubbed them out of anxiousness.
"So...what happens now...I mean...are we stuck together or...am I gonna become a Grimm, what do I even call you?, Jaune asked scared of it all as he remembered the looks from his classmates.
"I do not know...I am void of all knowledge to give you answers...perhaps in time I might remember but for now you must live with the situation", the voice said as Jaune could only shake his head and put it into his hands.
He appreciated the calmer conversation but could still feel a sort of thirst behind the voices words. Like it wanted more of something.
There wasn't much to go on here but Jaune would make do.
"Well then Void I guess for now we are stuck together", Jaune said needing something to call the voice and considering its lack of knowledge he figured the name worked out.
"Hmm Void...how clever", he said in a tone Jaune could only surmise as dry.
Jaune soon heard footsteps as he quickly stopped the conversation and grabbed his scroll as he headed for the door to join his team. For now he needed to be Jaune Arc for his team and friends he would figure out the other later.
A few hours later and many movies and snack...
The movie marathon had result in much success as many of the teens were either in a sugar and food coma or merely passed out.
Nora and Ruby were currently sprawled out on the floor with cookies and candy all around them. Yang and Pyrrha had been arm wrestling and having contest of strength before eventually passing out at the desk.
Weiss and Blake had opted to go to sleep early in their own beds while Ren merely sat in a meditative trance close to Nora.
Jaune however had settled into a beanbag chair as he watched everyone having fun while he merely contemplated his current situation. Slowly eating the snacks or sipping on soda.
He was still awake despite the events of the night and found himself honestly restless. His body felt filled with energy and his fingers couldn't help but dig into the been bag as he breathed a little heavy.
"You feel it don't you?", Void said as Jaune jumped a little before remembering to think his responses.
"What do you mean feel it? I feel like I'm hyped on so much caffeine I can't breath", Jaune said as he began to hear a ringing in his head as he gripped the beanbag even tighter.
"The Beowolf has kept my hunger at bay but it has run out...we must feed", Void said as Jaune swallowed a bit at his words. He sounded different, like he did when Jaune first heard his voice.
"We can't everyone's here and there is a curfew you'll get me in trou..aah!!" , Jaune doubled over as he felt the ringing grow more intense.
His body began to feel weaker now as he sat there, his eyes shot open as he saw his veins darken.
"WE NEED TO FEED!!", Void screamed as Jaune wondered where the diplomacy went from before.
Jaune immediately pulled himself up as he was careful to not make any noise while leaving. He held his stomach as it felt like it was eating self as he got to the door and quickly slipped out as he collapsed in the hallway.
His vision beginning to blur as his entire body ached and shivered in pain. At that moment as he felt darkness creeping in more he heard it.
A howl and not just any howl one so deep and primal that Jaune and Void spoke at the same time.
"Alpha", their voices said in unison as tendrils shot from Jaune's back and began to pull him to the hall window as Jaune was pulled like a puppet on a string.
Jaune immediately put his hands up as they impacted the window frame keeping him from crashing through. Void pushed tighter as Jaune began to fumble his grip only to quickly unlatch the window as he tumbled through into free fall.
The night air greeted him as did the stars as Jaune rolled forward in the air feeling his insides slither and change.
Just as Jaune was about to hit the ground his body shifted as he got his feet under him as they slammed into the ground leaving a small impact of his bare feet.
His breathing was heavy and his arms began to snap as the shift was more aggressive this time. His fingers elongated and the claws popped without question as his vision darkened as the whites of his eyes were consumed by darkness leaving only his sapphire blues as he sniffed the air feeling instinct be his only guide as all rational thought left him in the moment.
"FEED!!!HUNT!!!", Void screamed as Jaune kicked off covering the distance of the campus grounds all to quickly before heading back into the forest as he felt the memories from his fight with Yatsu take hold.
In that instance as he came upon a stream Jaune leapt over it before shifting into a running position using his arms and legs as his feet shifted into ones resembling the Beowolfs as he ran hard with the ringing still in his mind.