A/N: Behold, a double update day! This, and Whatever Comes Our Way! Looking forward to your feedback! Every bit helps!
Longer chapter is long! This is the other second I promised, with a third coming next week; while this one is chock full of chaotic humor! Really had a hard time writing with my health in my current condition, there's a lot of moving pieces in this chapter, and I wanted to get everything just right.
Would you prefer weekly updates again? Do let me know what you think in your reviews! One open slot remains!
Sorry for the delay. I'm not well and my health is affecting my work, but I'm still here, still alive, still wading through life. Hope you enjoy this long-awaited chapter.
As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others. I own no references, quotes, memes or themes! They're all tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know in the th comments~!
Once more, hopefully I captured the feeling of a proper RWBY episode here.
I'll leave that to you, the reader, to determine.
Do tell me what you think!
"Four against one? Do you have a death wish?"
"Someone clearly does."
"HEY!"
~?
Just a Little Fighting
When combat class came around the next afternoon, Jaune was prepared.
Unlike poor Team RWBY-currently languishing under a great many months of detention-Miss Goodwitch couldn't properly punish him for his little misadventure at the docks; especially given the "nature" of his intervention in the first place and all the commendations that followed. Ozpin had essentially forbade it.
But he knew she could make him suffer in other ways. Methods that the headmaster would probably turn a blind eye to. Methods that were fair game in combat class. Methods that would probably result in a great deal of pain for a first-year Beacon student and see them carted off to the infirmary for the evening.
If of course, he was actually at the level of a traditional student. Jaune was far beyond that. But his Team were presently the only ones privy to that information. Blake had seen him fight at the Docks and knew he was at somewhat "capable" in her opinion, but unlike them, she had a shallow grasp of the truth.
Likewise, he knew full well what was coming once Pyrrha finished her match against the whole of Team CRDL. Oh, their combat instructor congratulated his partner for a stellar performance-blind to the grimace the latter wore at such praise-chastised Cardin's team for their lackluster teamwork...then turned her gaze on him.
"Now, then." Oh yes, those teen green eyes locked onto him like a steel trap. "Do we have a volunteer?"
Jaune had a distinct feeling what would happen if he wasn't said volunteer.
Might as well make it easier for her.
It was tempting to deflect and play the weakling this time around and feign illness or injury, but he knew better than to restrain himself this time. If Pyrrha could thrash team CRDL -as she had on many an occasion!- then surely what he was about to do wouldn't stand out so much. Besides, he didn't like the idea of four fights consecutively. Best to do it all at once, ya know? With so many transfer students filtering in for the festival, surely that would be normal and keep folks happy.
.
..
...bah was he kidding? He wasn't happy at all. A man needed to vent.
Pyrrha had cried. Nobody but NOBODY made Pyrrha cry, yet cry she had. Because of him. Because of Dad. Because of his screwup, he was going to lose her, lose his team, lose all of this, and he had no one to blame but himself.
...That, and he didn't like the way that silver-haired bastard kept leering at Pyrrha. He had a bad feeling about that one. Smug prick looked like he was itching to raise his hand and DO something-
"I volunteer!" Jaune's arm slammed up as he raised his hand, beating the bastard to the punch. "I'd like to fight Team RWBY."
Miss Goodwitch granted him a steely glare that nearly made him flinch.
He smiled sheepishly. "If that's alright with you...?"
"Very well," she relented with a huff. "Would the rest of Team JNPR please stand up-
"No," he waved a hand, cutting her off. "Just me. I'll fight them alone."
Nora whistled woflishly.
Pyrrha inhaled sharply behind him, terribly startled. "Jaune?"
He could practically hear Ren's palm his his forehead.
"..."
And just like that, he could feel all eyes upon him. But hey, at least that silver prick wasn't looking at Pyrrha anymore now. Strangely enough, an older student with dark hair and eerie golden eyes seemed to be staring his way. He almost glanced her way but awkwardness got the better of him and he lost his nerve. What an odd girl. He didn't recognize her. Had they met somewhere before?
Unfortunately his request had just inadvertently earned Team RWBY's attention as well, and not at all in a good way.
"You?" Blake blinked slowly, not at all happy with her prospects. "Against all four of us?"
Yang hooted, blatantly oblivious. "Got a deathwish there, loverboy?"
Ruby whined unhappily, "Jaune...?"
"I accept these terms!" Weiss hissed out an angry breath and bolted to her feet, Myrtenaster already in hand and pointed his way, "Bring on the sacrifice-gah?!" her words warped into a yelp as a sudden spritz of water hit her straight in the face, rendering her an indignant mess. "Ruby, why?!"
"Weiss, no!"" The red reaper sprayed her partner again with the spray bottle, drawing a fresh sputter from the heiress. "Bad Weiss!"
Sputtering, she tried to shield her face, all to no avail. "Where did you even get that thing?!"
"Irrelevant! You just wanna beat up Jaune!"
"I can neither confirm nor deny-pfffft!"'she sputtered as a fresh spray spritzed her. "Cease that at once!"
"This is unacceptable behavior!"
Yang laid her chin to rest stop one her right wrist as the spectacle continue. "Aww, look at my baby sis, using big words. Mama's so proud."
Ruby rounded on her, redder than her namesake. "Yaaaaang! I'm right here!"
"I know!" The buxom blonde feigned a sniffle and wiped away an imaginary tear out her left eye. "They grow up so fast-pffft! Hey! Why're ya spraying me?!"
"Because, dear sister, all's fair love and war! And you just declared war on me!"
"You got my hair wet, Ruby! You want war, I'll give you war! C'MERE!"
In short order the sisters were scratching and clawing at one another as sisters often do; poor Weiss soon found herself drawn in, followed by a less-than-pleased Goodwitch who tried in vain to separate them. Somewhere along the line the rest of his team was "compelled" to help her, leaving him to look on in quiet consternation as his chance to blow off steam slowly slipped through his fingers.
He didn't hate Team RWBY, far from it, he thought of them fondly; he also knew they could take what he dished out without any hard feelings. They were good girls. Weiss was kinda scary, though...
Jaune looked to Blake, whose exposed ears drooped under his idly bemused gaze. "Don't ask me to get involved in that fiasco."
He clasped both hands behind his head and leaned back, content to watch the sparks fly. "Wasn't going to ask you to."
Her gaze flicked away from him, then back once more. "You're serious about this, then. Fighting us? Four against one?"
"You don't think I can win?"
"On the contrary; I saw what you did to Neo and Torchwick." Her feline ears flattened against her hair at the mere mention of the less-than-dynamic duo. "Please don't break my bones. I need those."
She'd always been the sensible one...well, when the White Fang weren't involved; throw them into the equation and all bets were off. Still, a rare, genuine smile touched his face. "I'll be careful."
Blake leaned past him to regard her tussling teammates. "Although, I wouldn't say no if you knocked the Schnee down another peg or two-
Weiss hollered as an exasperated Miss Goodwitch levitated her into the air. "I HEARD THAT!"
...why does it feel like we're the only sane members of our teams?"
"Hmm." Had she a tail, it would've been swaying; instead she flicked him an amused glance as the trio tussled. "Say, there's the dance coming up. Would you-
"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha thrust herself between them a moment later with a smile that promised pain for the faunus. "I'm afraid he's taken!"
Jaune blinked, not quite comprehending. "I am?"
"You are."
"He is?" Blake quirked a black brow, bemused, but not confrontational. "He doesn't sound entirely certain...
Pyrrha latched onto his arm. "I'm quite certain he is."
Blake took ahold of his other arm. "Maybe you should let him decide."
A bead of sweat ran down Jaune's brow. Incredulous, he looked left, right, then left again. No, no, no, this was not happening. This couldn't be happening. Were...were two girls actually fighting over him? Why? It didn't make a lick of sense! He wasn't worth being fought over! "There's really no need for this...
Yang hollered. "Are you blind?!"
Someone coughed harshly, commanding his attention. "Ahem!"
Funny how a single sound can put the fear of gods in you. You see, in all the confusion and clamor, he'd forgotten about Goodwitch.
In the wise words of one Yang Xialong, one does not simply ignore Miss G.
He looked back at her just in time to see her launch Yang and Ruby into the ring via use of her semblance. An unhappy Weiss followed a moment later. Blake took that as her cue and wisely disengaged, entering the arena by her own volition before she could be bodily thrown into the fray with the rest of them.
Miss Goodwitch considered him for a long moment, and he willed himself not to look away lest she use her semblance to slam him into the ceiling.
"Jaune Arc," she adjusted her glasses, light glinting in the frames just shy of her eyes. "You may have shown significant skill in previous, but I suggest you reconsider this course of action."
And not face Team RWBY after all? His temper sparked at the thought of being denied. "Aw, c'mon! You want to punish me, dont you? This seems as good a one as any."
Besides, he was aching for a good fight.
For a moment, her green eyes almost seemed to glow. Wuh-oh. Maybe he'd pushed too hard, too far, too fast?
"Very well," she relented with a sigh. "But the moment your aura hits the red, this match will end. Do I make myself clear?"
Heh. Miss Goodwitch really reminded him of Mom sometimes. She even thought he'd lose, too...
Pyrrha squeezed his arm, not quite willing to let him go. "Go easy on them, please."
He hummed once in response. "They're not made of glass, Pyr...
"Maybe not, but I'd rather you be careful all the same."
"Yeah!" Nora chorused. "No breaking their legs!"
"Oh ye of little faith...
Pyrrha released him, and smiling softly to himself, he sauntered into the ring, drawing Crocea Mors as he went. No need to use the mechashift or his shield just yet. This was all in good fun. His team would try to protect him from what was to come, but he knew they couldn't stand up to dad, or gods forbid, mom. He was officially on a timer. He didn't have long left to enjoy his "normal" life. Might as well enjoy what he had while he had it. And if he was going to get yanked away...he'd savor today.
Team RWBY wouldnt take this too seriously, unlike CRDL, he knew there would no hard feelings here.
Oh, right. Should probably bow first. "Let's, uh, have a good fight?"
Ruby chirruped happily at his suggestion. "Yeah, lets!"
Yang unfurled her bracelets with a wink.
Weiss...well, Weiss just glared.
Blake snorted and drew Gambol Shroud. "To you as well."
Glynda's crop snapped down, producing an audible crack. "Begin!"
They blitzed him.
Or rather Ruby did; Yang was only a heartbeat behind. He swayed around Crescent Rose while ducking Ember Celica, hopped upward to avoid a glyph ensnaring his feet, and drove a mile kick backward where he knew Blake would be. Sneaky girl. A startled yelp was his reward but he didn't have time to savor it, instead throwing himself into a reverse handstand to avoid Myrtenaster stabbing at his flank. Even as he fell he lashed out with his blade and batted her rapier aside. Out came his shield to bash her in the face, then he was gone, tumbling to safety, backflipping to avoid the buckshot Yang flung his way.
He alighted flawlessly upon one foot, sword and shield raised to match his knee, only for the crowd to burst into applause.
Oops. Might've moved a little too fast for his own good, there. He saw their expressions and winced.
"Nice moves." Yang whistled proudly at him. "Someone's been holding back...
Weiss made a strangled noise. "Arc! You're a dead man!"
Waitaminute, where was-
Ruby and Blake came flying in from the opposite sides but he was ready for them. Crocea Mors flashed out, snared the ribbon of the now-flung Gambol Shroud, which he promptly reversed and brought down on Blake's head, stunning her with his own weapon. Yang came barreling into him from the side and he lazily raised his shield to block her, grimacing as his bones rattled through his aura. He drove his elbow into her hip and she recoiled with a grunt, leaving her open to a followup as he outright tossed his kite-shield at her.
She slapped it aside. Foolish of her. The moment she did he swept low and slashed in at her legs, forcing her to stumble back. A fist whistled in at his face and he met it with one of his own.
Errors were made.
Contrary to popular belief, meeting a fist with another fist REALLY hurts. Aura or not. He grimaced at the shockwave that followed
Not so Yang. She swung in with her other fist, forcing him to catch her wrist and toss her over his shoulder to gain distance. Her heel swept in before he could, disarming him, to which he met her with a knee; from there the world descended into a maddened whirl of fists and feet.
His blood began to sing as they traded blows and he stomped down on it. Battlelust was something thar ran in the Arc family -according to Mum- but he'd seldom felt any such thing. And he was angry. Not at team RWBY, never them, but the idea that he was going to lose all this soon...it hurt.
As he fought on, however, that anger began to ebb, replaced by the surety of steel. But this wasn't enough. He thumped the catches on his crimson breastplate and it fell away from his torso. He tossed it at Yang. Diving between her weapons and Ruby's he kicked them both away to opposite ends of the ring.
Ice -probably the work of Weiss- ensnared his feet, and briefly annoyed, he pushed chakra to his body to burn it away, glowing gold.
Kurama chastised him for it. "Don't give so much away!"
Yang noticed his golden glow, blast her. "Huh, we match."
His anger fizzled as he looked back to Yang. "Come again?"
That trick of yours." the baffling blond flicked a hand through her now-glowing mane. "When your hair gets all glowy, its kinda like mine.
His pride bristled a little at the insinuation as he knelt to retrieve his sword. "It is not!"
She stuck out her tongue. "Is so~!"
"AAAARC!"
Thank the gods, a distraction. He'd take anyone over...
.
..
...oh.
Oh, dear.
Weiss didn't sound happy.
"Stand down, Yang! He's mine!" She didn't look all that happy either, judging by the beeline she was making toward him. "Our rematch begins now!"
Jane stifled a jaw-popping yawn behind his hand. "Why are you so angry with me? Did I do something wrong
Heh, her face did look kinda pretty when she got all red like that...
Wess lunged at him with a yowl with a flurry of blows, instantly forcing him on the defensive. Myrtenaster wove a web of dust and steel around him, a cage of stinging pain that left his aura sparking whenever he failed to block. Still, there was a method to her madness and he discerned her pattern soon enough. Thrust, lunge, sweep at his legs, consistently aiming for his lower torso above all else. She had improved. She attack in a flurry of sweep and stabs, forcing him on the backfoot. Jaune was happy to admit that much; it was a clear sign that she'd been driving herself hard. To the bone, even. But in the same vein...
"Is there a reason you keep aiming below my belt...?"
"Not at all." she snarled at him as their weapons clashed. "You must be imagining things.
Breaking their clash, she again stabbed below the belt with murderous intent.
Someone shouted from the stands. "I need those intact!"
"Pyrrha?!
Yang absolutely hooted in the background; though he scarcely heard her as he swayed left, right, then left again, gladly giving ground as Myrtenaster sought him time again. Strange that Weiss hadn't tried to utilize her summoning yet; she'd seemed so proud of it earlier. She'd certainly raised her speed if nothing else.
"You've improved!"
His words were honest, the praise moreso, but for some reason his remark irked her. He could tell. "Stop smiling!"
Jaune tilted his head as he parried her again. "Am I smiling?"
Weiss absolutely hissed and kicked off his chest, launching herself backward in a desperate bid to put distance between them. He could've pursued, even intended to, but Ruby rushed him, Crescent Rose swooping in at his shoulder, forcing him to divert it with Crocea Mors. From there he whirled and drive an open palm forward -wouldn't do to actually break her aura and hurt her- into her stomach.
The little reaper folded in half with a squeak and flitted away in a rush of rose petals.
She'd bought her partner enough time.
Down came Myrtenaster, stabbing into the floor. A white glyph was conjured, and Jaune turned, blade raised, half-expecting to face her Arma Gigas again.
Instead those cold blue eyes narrowed and he found himself swamed by a storm of white nevermore.
Having thrown away his shield earlier, he had no defense against them. He simply braved his blade with both hands and stood firm, letting them crash and crackle against them. This might tank his aura a little bit, but it would hardly be enough to do him in, which meant she must have something more up her sleeve-
Sure enough, towering white Beowolf burst forth from the flock, jaws gaping wide.
Jaune stomped down, pivoted for momentum, and cut in twain at the waist.
Not bad! Not bad at all! But where was Weiss-
A braying Boarbatusk bounded over the falling form of its kin to meet him. He brought his blade around and was surprised -amused even- to find resistance before being driven back half a step. He couldn't cut through this one quite so easily it seemed, not without unveiling his dust saber.
So he didn't.
Stabbing his blade into the floor, he ducked under its tusks and drove two golden fists upward into its ribcage.
A thunderous crack was his reward as the summoned Grimm disintegrated, showering him in ice.
It would've been the perfect time to attack, but none came...how strange.
He turned to face the rest of RWBY, beaming from ear to ear.
"Got anymore tricks?"
(.0.0.0.)
Jaune was smiling.
Ruby didn't mean that in a, well, mean way or anything; it wasn't a mean smile. Far from it. He looked thrilled to bits; ready and raring for round two. Against all odds, he wasn't even out of breath. It almost felt like he was playing with them. Enjoying this, deliberately dragging out their spar for maximum enjoyment. But that couldn't be right...right? Jaune was just so nice, he didn't have a mean bone in his body. What did that make him? Naive? Ignorant? Dense as a brick? She wasn't sure which applied to him.
But she knew a losing fight when she saw one.
Jaune swayed aside, flung up his shield to ward of Myrtenaster stabbing at his flank -really, Weiss?! Really!?- smacked aside Crescent Rose with Crocea Mors and raised that arm. It took her a second to realize why; Blake snared him with Gambol Shroud, only for him to yank that arm forward and rip her free from her feet. Yang came barreling in, but he ducked her and swept her feet, leaving her to tumble past.
Just like that, they parted.
Ruby spared a moment to check on her teammates.
Weiss was all but exhausted after using so many summons, probably running on fumes.
Yang had taken a few hits already and was swaying on her feet.
Blake...didn't look so good after that last kick.
And as for her...owowowOUCH!
Hey, her ribs really, really hurt after that last heel palm, alright? How was she supposed to know he was that strong?!
And Jaune? She risked a glance to the scoreboard above and grimaced at what she found there. His Aura was hovering in the nineties. If not for Weiss and Yang, he wouldn't have any damage at all. Not that they could tell. He looked fresh as a daisy when he knelt to retrieve his shields. Much to her quiet confusion, he chose to collapse it against his wrist and brave his blade in both hands once more. Stupid handsome blond. No faaaaair.
Right, taking him on in a rush wasn't working.
Time to try some tricky team tactics.
Hopefully they remembered...
Chambering a different round into Crescent Rose's magazine, Ruby slammed the hammer back and fired quickly; sure enough Jaune blocked it with his recently recovered shield, but that was the point. The "bullet" stuck to his arm, glowing a bright rose red -hehehe- as her friend looked on in quiet consternation.
"The heck is this thing?!" he pawed at it, but no luck, it held fast. "Its so sticky!"
Ruby didn't give him a chance to find out. She barked out a command.
"Freezerburn!"
Weiss stabbed Myternaster down, creating a sheen of ice with the last of her reserves. Yang bounded up and slammed her fist down onto it with a rush of heat. Fire met ice to create a dense mist. Jaune vanished into it, but the cheery glow of that tracer round did not. The four of them faded into it as well, but she kept an eye on Jaune, eyeing the baleful glow with a smirk. Yes! All according to plan. Now they just had to-
"You do realize I can still see you, right, Ruby?"
She sputtered. "What-no you can't?!"
"I really can...
No way his eyes were that good. Relax, it was fine, they'd had more than enough time to get into position.
"Checkmate!"
Weiss and Blake rushed him. They clashed for all of three seconds before he backhanded Blake, sending her skidding across the arena back to her. Weiss didn't last much longer, exhausted as she was, a quick sweep and a one-two-three slash combo sent her sprawling down next to an amused Yang. Her sister understood the plan though, and didn't rush in.
"Ladybug!"
Now it was her turn to bound in with Blake, speed blitzing him. She went high and the faunus low, but compared to Jaune they were just too slow. Or maybe he was too fast. He took Crescent Rose on the shoulder with a grunt and used it as leverage to battered her backward, allowing him to focus on a beleaguered Blake. She cried out the next formation as she skidded back, steadying herself.
"Bumblebee!"
Yang and Blake knew their moves well, for all the good it did them. Jaune swept out an arm to ensnare the ribbon of Blake's weapon once more, cutting it clean in half to ruin their move. Bereft of balance, Blake hit the arena in a tumble, which in turn opened her up to a flying kick that not only launched hurtled out of bounds, but more importantly, out of the fight.
That left Jaune trading blows with Yang -YANG!- and grinning like a loon. So was her sister.
Crap, crap, crap! Okay, they could still salvage this fiasco. Where was Weiss?!
Oh, sprawled right next to her. Ooopsie. "You, ah, alright down there...?"
Weiss garbled something unintelligible as she dragged herself upright. "What the heck is he...?"
"No time for that! Iceflower!"
Credit where it was due, her bestie didn't argue. She thrust Crescent Rose forward as a glyph formed before the firing mechanishm. Ice dust coalesced before the firing chamber and...
BANG!
Jaune took a punch from Yang on the jaw and somehow spun around with the momentum to catch the round in his hand. In an instant found his arm encased in ice. Two more caught him, one encasing his left leg and the other his chest, essentially rooting him where he stood.
"Ha!" Yang punched a fist into the air. "We win!"
Jaune hummed. "Are you sure about that?"
Before their very eyes his body burned brighter still, giving off a rush of heat and the ice melted. Yang didn't even get a chance to comment on it; a rousing roundhouse decked her and left her stumbling.
Jaune pivoted anew, his eyes narrowed upon her and Weiss.
Ruby gulped. "Wuh-oh."
Uh-oh indeed.
He flashed past her and shoulder-barged Weiss, launching her bestie-better-than-the-restie out the arena into a still-recovering Blake.
Then his shadow fell over her. "Sorry about this, Ruby."
She squeaked. "Sorry for whaaaaaa?!"
Dropping his weapons -heresy!- he grabbed her beneath the arms and tossed her into the air just like Uncle Qrow used to.
Against all odds, Ruby managed to flail and land on her feet.
Outside of the ring.
"Awww, man...
Just like that he was alone with Yang.
Her dear sister paused, whiped a line of blood from her nose, and beamed. "Ehhh, don't suppose you'd be willing to put the sword away, hotshot?"
"Why not." He collapsed his weapon back into his belt and lobbed the latter out the ring. "It'll be more fun this way."
Yang's face lit up.
Ruby knew that look.
Oh, jeez. He's done it now.
Blake frowned. "Done what?"
Ruby palmed her face. "You'll see.
Yang was tougher than Weiss, skilled in ways she wasn't. Blake probably had more raw experience thanks to her time in the White Fang, but Yang was definitely the strongest of them.
Jaune had been holding her off. Not just holding her off but winning.
And now...
She closed with him, and he with her. Yang reached him first, ever the fastest, propelling herself forward with Ember Celica. She didn't miss the giddy gleam in her eyes; nor the fact that she was the one to throw the first punch.
Her grin said it all.
She cold just imagining her saying it. Clench your teeth!
His fist found her face in the same moment she struck his. One stood. The other rocketed backward. That's right, the result was never in question. One of them absolutely flew from their feet..
.
..
...right into Ruby Rose.
"Owww! Yang! You're squishing me!"
"Sorrrrry!"
...the match is decided." Miss Goodwitch raised her weapon, somewhat stunned, even her voice was subdued. "The victor is Jaune Arc!"
Said Arc lowered his fist with a pleased cheer. "No hatd feelings...?"
Ruby didn't like the way Yang looked at him just then...her eyes practically sparkled with stars.
Jaune had no idea what he'd just done.
Weiss sputtered, utterly incandescent at their loss, now that she blamed her. "His aura's only at 85! How...?!
Alas, a certain Mercury Black raised his hand, and she never received her answer. "Sooo...can I fight Nikos now, or what?"
Jaune absolutely twitched, just then. Everyone saw it.
It was, in hindsight, a poor choice of words.
Very poor indeed.
(.0.0.0.)
Jaune considered himself a kind man.
He didn't enjoy hurting people; he took no pleasure in pain.
But he didn't like the way that silver-haired bastard was looking at Pyrrha.
Really, he couldn't help himself for acting the way he did; not after what she'd said last night. In hindsight, he couldn't quite say just what it was about the smirking boy that spurred him to action; only that something did. Call it instinct, a sixth sense, a sudden feeling of dread. Whatever it was, he just couldn't help himself. He moved before thinking, as he so often did these days. So he was surprised, quite surprised indeed, to find his hand raised high in the air.
Mom would've been proud.
Ruby tugged at his sleeve. "Jaune? What're you doing?"
"Idiot!" Kurama chastised him harshly. "What happened to not standing out?!"
It was too late for that now, wasn't it? Dad -and possibly his entire family- would reach Vale soon.
He knew his days here were probably numbered, so he didn't want to have any regrets. It was a poor excuse, even to is ears.
And so, for once, he ignored them both. "I said I'll do it, miss Goodwitch." he kept his gaze focused firmly ahead instead. "I still have plenty of aura left. I'll fight Mercury."
All the color drained right of the boy's face and Jaune noticed. Curious. Where had his enthusiasm gone?
"Absolutely not." Goodwitch glowered at him. "You only just fought against Team RWBY-
Mercury raised both hands to ward him off. "Yeah, on second thought, I'm good."
Pyrrha preened and made pleased Pyrrha noises as she looked on.
"No, no, no. You wanted a fight." Jaune shook his head. "So!"
He grabbed Merc with a chakra arm and yanked him into the ring.
"Get over here!"
The transfer student blanched, face gone a pallid shade of white. "... I regret all my life decisions."
Jaune growled. "that's far from the worst mistake you made today."
To call what followed a fight would have been generous. Merciful, even.
Jaune was not.
A/N: Amber and Ozpin next chapter!
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