A/N: EDIT: Flames all over the reviews again. Added some more content, too...T_T

Back from the dentist, and in paaaaiiiin. That wasn't fun.

Still, its over now, and I'm gonna recover...

...eventually.

*shudders*

As ever, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story for the time being.

Sad as it might sound, if folks don't like this,...well, I won't continue it. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? If folks don't like it? Done. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...

Of course, reviewing is your choice. I can't force you.

Now lets move onto your questions, comments and concerns. Got quite a few to answer this time, so feel free to skip over this if you don't want to be spoiled:

Q: Who! Is! Port?!

A: Peter Port? Why, Port is Port of course! Who else would Port be but Port? *whistles innocently*

Q: Good sir, I humbly request that you give Kurama more time to shine. Feels like he's getting the short end of the stick in this story.

A: Well, I had planned to save this bit for later...but sure. Why not?

Q: Naruto's giving me Tywin vibes lately. Towards his enemies, at least. Is that intentional?

A: Wait, from Game of Thrones? Heh. Been awhile since someone mentioned that to me. Naruto's all about family to be sure, but unlike the old lion, he has both the means and method to wipe out a continent if it meant keeping them safe.

Unlike him however, he cares nothing for fame or power. He only wants to keep his family safe.

Q: Not sure if anyone asked this, but how strong is Juniper? We've not seen Jaune's mom do much.

A: Strong enough to win Naruto's heart, keep it, and fend off other women in Ansel.

She's a fighter that one, through and through. You'll see soon enough.

After all, she taught Jaune everything he knows about swordplay.

Q: Update schedule, please?

A: I have one, but unlike Coeur, its not set in stone. Time, life, and my jobs dictate when I can write. T_T

Q: Keep posting daily, damnit!

A: Oi. I'm trying. Have mercy, please. If I take a day or two off, its to make the chapters longer.

Q: Welp, Child's sticking around. Beacon's fucked.

A: Right in the down under.

Q: Make Jaune stop holding back, damnit!

A: That's the crux, isn't it? He has a skewed idea of normal. His "normal" could flatten huntsmen. Jaune could be so much more that that if he wasn't dense as a brick with delusions of grandeur; if he didn't let his nerves control him. He's still got a long way to go, but he's evolving, both as a character and a person.

Alright then, I think I've kept you long enough. You didn't come here to listen to an old man's ramblings, after all.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Now off we go.

Hope you're ready~!

"You are my son, Jaune. You have always been my son. Never doubt that.

So stand strong. Be proud. You're strong. Now set your heart ablaze.

The greatest leaders are forged under pressure, after all."

~Naruto.

Just a Little Balance

Life was seldom simple for Jaune Arc.

In theory today should have been; each first year student -himself included!- was required to gather jar of sap for Professor Peach. Likewise, a member of team CFVY had been assigned watch over each group for reasons he didn't understand. One for RWBY, a second for CRDL, and a third for JNPR. The fourth and final member would be held back in reserve, rotating with Glynda and Port in case of emergency. All in all, their presence was an extra layer of security for each of them, unnecessary though it might be. Simple, no?

Not so in practice.

Guess who JNPR got?

First two guesses don't count.

Collecting sap had seemed like such an easy task at first; everyone split off to do it. Not far mind you; just out of sight, and close enough to holler for help if need be, but once occurred to them to fear for their own safety. Why would they be? They were going to be Hunters and Huntresses after all. A few Grimm were hardly enough to scare them.

But there were other things to fear in the forest.

Jaune resisted the urge to look over his shoulder as he drove a spigot into another tree. "...is she still watching us?"

Kurama uttered a jaw popping yawn. "Yup."

"Its been five minutes!"

"Yuuuup."

"Ugh."

A low sigh stole out of him as he filled up another jar. Couldn't hurt to have more; if anything it was probably a good idea, given Nora's sweet tooth. Forewarned was forearmed and all that. He'd already gathered at least five in the last few minutes alone; if only because it gave him an excuse to stare anywhere but at her.

"Do you think Velvet's afraid of me?"

...why would she possibly be afraid of you?"

He grimaced. "Well, I did beat Cardin down right in front of her an' all...

For some reason, his uncle found that hilarious; the laughter that followed left his ears ringing.

"What?" he dug a finger into one in a vain attempt to restore his hearing. "What did I say?!"

"Let me put it this way; she's thirsting for a tall glass of water."

Did she not have enough to drink? "Um..?"

"A tall, blond glass of water." came the clarification.

Jaune. flung up his arms. "That doesn't make a lick of sense!"

The old fox only laughed all the louder. "Don't worry. You'll figure it out soon. I have faith."

"You do?! I don't!"

Doubling down, Jaune returned to the task at hand, heedless of his body's protest. Blasted nosed was starting to think he was allergic to this stuff; his eyes were stinging and his throat felt scratchy. He'd faced down worse colds before. So long as he didn't get any on his face or -sage forbid!- guzzle the stuff down like Nora did, he'd be fine.

To be fair, Velvet Scarlatina wasn't doing anything untoward.

She'd just been watching him like...well, like a skittish rabbit. If he tried to talk to her now, she'd probably bolt.

"Ain't that a little rude there, kiddo?"

"Wha-no! Gods, no! I didn't mean it like that! " Nothing further from the truth. Jaune felt bad for her. Something was clearly bothering her. He couldn't well glare at an upperclassmen, so he settled for taking the spigot and slamming into another tree insead. "I mean, if she'd just talk to me instead of standing there," lost in the web of his thoughts, he failed to see her ears twitch his way,"Then this would be so much easier!"

A hand tugged on his sleeve.

Without a thought, Jaune batted it away. "Not now, Nora."

The tugging intensified. So too did his scowl. "Nora, no. You can't have the sap.

She outright yanked on his sleeve.

Jaune rounded on her. "NORA!"

Doe brown eyes met his; framed by an adorable scowl, long chestnut hair, and familiar rabbit ears. Arms crossed before her bosom, right foo tapping impatiently against the ground, producing a steady thump-thump-thump; all in all it did precious little to help the image. His heart sank somewhere down to the vicinity of his stomach. Not Nora. Definitely not Nora! Panic seized his tongue and for an awful moment, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

...Velvet, right?"

Her head bobbed once, and the glimmer of anger faded from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhear you...

All the color drained from Jaune's face, taking every bit of blood and courage with it. Urk! Wish granted, but not at all in the way he'd wanted!

His hands slammed together as he bowed his head. "I'm so sorry!"

"What? No!" Velvet flailed her arms at him. "You don't have to be! Its my own fault for standing around like that!

Color returned to his cheeks. "Then we're both sorry?"

"Right then, close enough." she pinched the bridge of her nose, spun away from him, then spun back with enough force to burn the grass at her feet. "I came over here to thank you."

Had he done something worth thanking? "For what?"

Kurama absolutely cackled.

Traitors, the lot them!

"What you did that day to Cardin," Velvet lost her nerve and began to fidget then; she looked down, knees twisting in thinly veiled anxiety. "I...it was very brave."

His face felt hot. Why? He wasn't running a fever, yet he felt uncomfortably warm.

I would've done it for anybody...was probably not the right answer here. Call him dense all you like, but Jaune Arc wasn't stupid. He could clearly see that those words would hurt her badly; shatter both her spirit and what little confidence she'd managed to must. And truth be told, he wouldn't have done that for just anyone. Most girls wouldn't have put up with Cardin. They would've spat and snarled, fought back at the very least. But she hadn't. And so he had.

Such was what heroes -Hunters!- were meant to do.

"I'm glad I could help." Call it cliche, but he felt it was the safe answer. The normal answer...wasn't it?

Evidently not, because Velvet's eyes actually flashed.

"You did more than help!" her shout nearly had him leaping back. "Ever since that day...he hasn't bothered me." her outburst expended she looked away again, threading her fingers together. "Not one look, not a single remark, not anything. And I wanted to...to th-thank you earlier, but I couldn't get up the nerve, so...

She reached down into the satchel bound to her belt, nestled against her hip.

really were very nice hips-bad Jaune! Eyes upward!

Her eyes snapped to his. Had she caught him staring? Was she angry? He hadn't meant to...

"This...this is for...um...that is to say...I made these!" Her words crashed to together, but he was certain he got the gist. "For you!"

Velvet withdrew her hands from her pouch, bowed her head low, and thrust something against Jaune's chest. Into, more like! His aura actually took a hit from that! The impact alone made him falter, sending him stumbling half a step backward. A faint crinkling sound hit his ears, and reflexively, his fingers closed around the parcel.

Huh. His mind mused.

A moment of silence stretched between them. Then another. Another still.

Jaune blinked. Cleared his throat, which suddenly felt terribly tight. His brain physically rebooted.

"This cannot be happening to us!" it cried to his eyes. "Look again!"

"We are!" his eyes hallooed. "Its real!"

She'd given him a bag of cookies. Freshly baked by the smell of them. They were still faintly warm in his hands; bound up in a nearly transparent red bag, much like her namesake. A scarlet string bound the plastic near the top, preventing it spill out in his hands. Still! A girl had just given him cookies.

And with that realization, Jaune's world came unspooled.

No on outside of his family had never done this for him. Not here, not back in Ansel, not...anywhere, really.

"Gee, I wonder why! Wasn't like you had any scary sisters to chase them away...

He slapped his sassy uncle down. "Is this for me?"

Velvet nodded stiffly, looking upon him with wide, expectant eyes.

Jaune knew what was expected of him. She was watching. Waiting. Even so! It was too much pressure!

"Now remember son," Dad's voice came back to him in an instant. "If a girl bakes something for you, be it cookies or chocolate, or even a cake, ya have to eat it. No matter what. Doesn't matter how they taste, or if she mixed up salt with sugar, you must eat them. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," he'd groused at the time, "But that'll never happen to me."

His father had only smiled, whiskered cheeks dimpling like they always did. Damnit, dad!

Here at last, his nerves failed him and he dithered.

Velvet drooped, and her ears with her. "Are you allergic...?"

"What are you doing, fool?!" A dozen mini Jaunes roared in his head. "Be nice to the bunny!"

Nimble fingers undid the scarlet string around the wrapper and opened the bag to meet his doom. What he found there was anything but. They were in the shape of...what were those? Where they supposed to be carrots? Hearts? Both? Each cookie had a distinct shape to it, many of which he didn't recognize. Some even looked like weapons...or cookie versions of them anyway.

He popped one into his mouth -kinda looked like a scythe?- and bit down, resigning himself to oblivion.

Sweet.

Flavor exploded across his tongue and it broke him. The chocolate cookie didn't just melt into his mouth, it all but dissolved on his tongue His hand betrayed him and snatched up another -didn't even pause so see what it looked like- before flinging it into his mouth. He'd never thought to experience something like this; never known he'd wanted something so badly until he received it.

"They're good...

"Really?!" Her ears perked up; the hope in her eyes was too pure to behold. They almost seemed to glow with flames. "I tried so many times and I was so afraid I'd mixed up sugar with salt again...

Jaune's blond brow climbed into his hairline. "Bunny say what now?"

Velvet's hands flew to her face. "Nothing!"

"But I was sure I just heard-

"You heard nothing!"

Wow, she could be kinda fierce when her nerves weren't eating her alive. Without thinking, he popped another cookie into the mouth. Mistakes were made. This one was even better than the last. Caramel?! How had she managed to get caramel filling into a cookie?! Who knew?! Not him! His mouth made a noise caught somewhere between a sigh and a whine.

"They're good." he sniffed out, unable to contain himself. "So damn good...

Now it was Velvet's turn to squint. "Are you crying?"

"No! Its just, no one's ever done this for me...

Doe brown eyes blinked. "No one...?"

Sure, his sisters had made cookies a time or two, but they were usually god awful...or filled with salt as a prank. The less said about dad's cooking, the better. Mom had been known to bake on occasion; but therein lie the rub. She was good. Too good. With so many hungry mouths, her cookies were devoured as soon as they were made; in that, his siblings showed no mercy. But this? This was for him. Him and only him.

It...it felt good.

"Never thought cookies would bring you to tears. Guess it takes all kinds...

"I'm sorry," he laughed out an apology to Kurama as much as Velvet. "I sound like an idiot, don't I?"

"No." her eyes sparked. "You don't."

"I kinda do...

"No."

That was his only warning.

Jaune's every combat instinct blared a warning as Velvet Scarlatina stepped forward; in truth, he half-expected an attack when she ventured into his personal space. Maybe he'd been trained a little too well in that regard; perhaps some habits were just too well-ingrained to shake after all these years.

As luck would have it, Jaune was only half right.

When the assault, when it came, was not at all what he expected it to be. He inhaled sharp, catching the faint smell of cinnamon and perfume, then she was upon him. Something warm, soft, and infinitely yielding graced his right cheek. Little more than a feather's brush. Her body pushed up against his, nearly drilling him into a nearby tree. The contact lasted all of an instant, then drew back thrice as fast, leaving him to wonder if he'd imagined it in the first place.

Kurama whistled like the wolf he wasn't. "Sneaky girl!"

...there." Velvet skipped backward, refusing to meet his eyes. "Now you have another first."

Jaune tried to speak, but his tongue committed bloody mutiny and refused to work properly. "Bwuh?"

"I'll...ah...see you around, yeah?" Her nerves must've failed her, too; because she tugged her long ears down over her eyes. It did nothing to hide her pink cheeks.

She stammered out another thank you and bolted back in the other direction before he could say anything more. Huh. A distant, detached part of him mused. She really could give Ruby a run for her money when she tried to. More than that, she'd done something he was fairly certain Ruby never would.

A trembling hand touched his cheek. It was still warm. "Wow."

"First kiss, eh?"

Was it? He tried in vain to recall any such event and came up short. Nothing. There really hadn't been any girls interested in him back home. The most he could recall was holding hands with a green-eyed girl when he was very young. This was, in every way, a first for him.

A dopey grin spread across his visage.

"Wipe that silly grin off your face." Kurama gave him a swift jab. "We've got company."

'We do? But I dont sense any-

"Having fun, my boy?!"

A jolly laugh pervaded Jaune's ears as a hand slammed down on his right shoulder, hard enough to make his aura flare. He jolted, juggled Velvet's gift for a wild moment, somehow managed to get both hands on it, and wrangled it down against his chest like a precious gem. Only then -once his heart stopped trying to leap out his throat!- did he dare turn around.

Familiar busy brows and a drooping mustache filled his vision. "Professor Port...?"

In truth, he'd nearly forgotten about the jolly old fellow on this trip.

Port had that air about him.

"I see you've found yourself an admirer." the teacher cast a weather eye toward Velvet's rapidly retreating form bolting the way he'd come. "Ah, young love. Reminds me of the old days!"

Heat flooded Jaune's face.

Warm lips, the fullness of her figure pressed against his...

"It does...?"

"Indeed!" Another slap on the back nearly knocked the wind clear out of him. "The stories I could tell!" a meaty arm draped itself over his shoulder. "So many adventures!"

"Please don't," Jaune's brain bleated. "You'll put me to sleep...

An awkward pause settled between the two of them. At last, he dared to breach it. "Did you need something, professor?"

"Now that you mention it, lad!" Port pulled away, considering him for a moment. "There is something you can do for me." his smile gained an edge. "Think of it as an...extra curricular activity, of a sort."

Anything to get away from baffling man. "And what might that be...?"

"Dodge."

Port's ax whipped at Jaune's head with a speed that bellied the old man's girth; in other words, far, far faster than it had any right to. He actually glimpsed his dumbstruck reflection in the bladed blunderbuss. Then reality reasserted itself. Instinct, once tightly leased, broke free and howled to the fore.

Jaune's left leg carried him forward as the right stomped down, strengthening his stance.

Aura flashed, sparks skittering across his fingers. Just as well, because then he did something foolish indeed; He caught the bladed instrument with his palm. Pain flared in his arm and he felt his reserves plummet, but his grip held fast, if only just.

The ground...was not so fortunate.

Jaune felt rather than saw the soil splinter underfoot; heard it part with an awful crack. Fine fissures spread out from the point of impact, threatening to sink his footing entirely. His knees buckled; he firmed them up again with a pulse of chakra, squared his shoulders, and stood tall, fingers biting into the bladed edge. Cracks scrawled across the steel. Blue eyes bled red, blazing with rare anger. He hadn't been hit this hard since one of dad's spars; even then, Naruto had restrained himself. But this...?

"That," he rasped, "Wasn't very nice."

Port's smile was all teeth. It was not a very nice smile.

For a wild moment Jaune wondered if the "teacher" would carry through and try to chop his head off. He certainly had the strength to do so...!

Imagine his surprise then, when the older man relented with a hearty guffaw.

"You pass!"

Jaune's jaw clicked open. "...what?"

"Dear boy," the lunatic slammed his axe into the dirt and wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of his eye, "My apologies for the sudden ambush, but I had to be sure."

"Sure of what?!" Jaune grit his teeth.

"Your lineage, of course!" Something flashed in Port's gaze then; the eyes of a man whom Beacon thought to be little more than a senile old coot well past his prime. "What else? I wasn't certain before, but now I am. Ha! he leaned closer, still grinning. "After all these years! You're his son, aren't you?"

Jaune's blood ran cold. His lips sealed shut. He daren't speak.

"There it is!" Port reeled back. "That's the look! Just like your father, after all." the man's grin was nothing short of gleeful; his eyes were open beneath that bushy brow of his; dark irises regarding him with undisguised glee. "What fun! Tell me, how is that old fox doing?"

He refused to rise to the bait. Anything he said could be used against him. "I don't know who you're talking about, sir."

"Not going to tell me, eh?" Port puffed himself up and shrugged. "That's fair. Still, I do believe I told you to dodge, boy." peace said, the man moved to stow his weapon on his back. "Not catch my ax." a finger flicked his forehead. "Do be more careful next time. I could have maimed you. And you didn't even strike back!" a pudgy finger wagged at him. "For shame! We'll need to cultivate that killer instinct of yours in the future."

"Wait." Jaune looked left. Jaune looked right. Not a soul in sight. Port had chosen his moment well. "Did you want me to hit you...?"

Port's smile had entirely too many teeth for his liking. "Maybe next time...if you can. But lets not get ahead of ourselves!"

Jaune's world began to whirl, bringing with it a faint sense of nausea deep in the pit of his stomach. There was going to be a next time?! None of this made a lick of sense. Who was he? How did Professor Port, assuming that was his real name, know dad?! That shouldn't be possible...!

"Ah. I've frightened you. Don't worry, boy." Port patted his head, tousling his hair with a large hand. His fingers were cold. "Your secret is safe with me." a bushy brow quivered down at him as he winked. "After all, it would be so very boring if you were outed from Beacon before he arrived, wouldn't you agree?"

"..."

"Well, that's my peace said!" With another guffaw the jolly round fellow waltzed away, a spring in his step. "Do give Naruto my regards when you see him next," a dark eye winked over his shoulder. "From one faker to another, tell him I said hello. And one last thing," a fat finger rose, "Just so we're perfectly clear on where we stand..

He paused, pivoting to face him full. There it was again, the hint of that smile that bordered on sadism.

"Do not bore me, Jaune. You wouldn't like me when I'm bored."

An invisible pressure came with those words, slamming down on his shoulders like lightning itself. It wasn't Dad. But it felt like him. That same ominous intent; that sheer sense of presence when he got serious, This was worse. Colder. Sterner. Mania masked behind a merry facade cultivated over decades.

"Wait!" Against his better judgement he called out to him. "Who are you, really?!"

The man pivoted on one heel, marched away, and didn't look back. "Why, Port, of course. Who else would I be?"

Was it the truth? A lie? Some mad blend of the two? He wasn't sure; there was a part of him that didn't want to know. Instead he held his tongue as his "teacher" trundled away, whistling a merry as he was, Jaune didn't dare move; not until Port was well out of sight. "Right...

The reality of his situation hit him a moment later.

Panic took wing in his heart and kicked up a vicious.

Frantic, he turned to the one person he trusted more than any "Any chance you recognize that lunatic...?"

Kurama creaked an eye open.

"Jaune, my attention is divided between you, your father, your mother, AND your siblings." a deadpan silence followed from his uncle. "I've been watching out for you lot from the moment Saphron came into this world. Do you have any idea how many diapers I helped change? How many scraped knees I healed? How many hands I held?

Scraped knees? Hands? "Wait, you have a human form?"

"NOT THE POINT!"

"So is that a no...?"

"I don't know! He seems familiar, but for the life of me, I can't place him...

...please don't tell dad about this."

Kurama didn't answer.

That itself, was answer enough.

Jaune heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping.

Well, he certainly had problems of his own now.

He could only hope that Child was behaving herself, wherever she was.

Who was he kidding?! Knowing her, she'd probably razed half of Vale to the ground by now...


(.0.0.0.)


Child jolted as her Scroll rang.

She picked it up at once.

"H-Hello, daddy...


(.0.0.0.)


"Sooo? How did it go?"

Coco cornered Velvet far too quickly for her liking.

In other words? Her partner hunted her down like a stag.

To be perfectly fair, she managed to avoid her leader for a time, but on a field trip like this, it simply wasn't feasible to evade her forever. Nevermind the very real possibility of Grimm cropping, but they had rookies to look after. If they strayed too far, or gods forbid, something happened to one of them, Goodwitch would have their hides.

Nothing would happen to Jaune, though. He could probably bench press a Beowolf...among other things.

Things like her-meep! Bad brain!

"It went." she shook her head and refused to look at her fellow brunette, if only because she knew she'd find a shit-eating grin there. "Wasit-aren't you supposed to be looking after team CRDL?"

"Really? Those pricks?" Coco lowered her glasses with one finger to reveal narrow eyes. "Why would I have any interest in their safety? They can go get eaten by an Ursa for all I care."

Surely she wouldn't...no, this was Coco, after all. Velvet made angry Velvet noises. "You can't just leave them to die because they bullied me!"

The gunner planted a fist on her hip. "Can and will, bun-bun."

Velvet flailed at her chest. "COCO!"

"Relax, I'm joking!" a peal of delighted laughter greeted her as she fended her off with one hand. "What's the worst those meatheads could do on their own?" she caught one palm, twisted it down, and flicked her forehead with a girn. "But enough about Cardin." she leaned in, grinning like the huntress she would soon be. "I'd much rather talk about mister tall, blond, and handsome. You give him the goods, yeah?"

Oh gods, her ears were burning again. She tugged one down to hide her face. "Maybe...?"

"Velvet."

"I did, alright?!" her cheeks flamed with heat.

"And?!" Now it was Coco's turn to flail at her. "Details, girl! I need them!"

Velvet gave them up begrudgingly; if only because she knew better than to deny her team leader. If she didn't tell her, Coco would just hunt down poor Jaune and grill him until he cracked. Not that. Anything but that! Her grin almost made her think it would've been worth it.

Coco went terribly still.

"And then you kissed him?"

"Yes-no!" she course-corrected with a yelp, realizing her mistake. "No kissing! None of that! There was no kissing!"

Coco's grin had been smug before; now it was nothing short predatory.

A moment of silence passed between them. And then:

"Daaaamn girl, you're thirsty."

Velvet sputtered.

"COCO!"


(.0.0.0.)


Jaune trudged back to his team, feeling every bit a dead man.

He felt even more like one when his Scroll vibrated.

Seemed the universe had it out for him today.

Naturally his first instinct was to ignore it; as he'd done countless times before. The second was to wonder how in the hells he had reception way out here. Technically Vale's CCT towers allowed cell-based communication across Remnant. But this far from the city there shouldn't be a signal at all; certainly not a strong one.

"Answer it." Kurama voice was strangely soft for once. "Might help."

He ripped it from his pocket and gave it a baleful glance. Maybe...maybe some advice was what he needed right about now. Or comfort. Maybe a bit of both.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to keep a warble of distress out of his voice. "Mom? I," he gulped, "I think I need some advice...don't tell dad."

"Oh, sure." a low voice drawled in his ear, brimming with sarcasm. "Now my wayward son asks for advice."

Nope! Not Mom! Not her at all! This was it. His life was over. He was doomed.

"D-Dad?! But this is mom's number! How did you even...?!"

"Uncle Pietro, of course~!"

Jaune balked, "How many people do you know?!"

"Now, now." the grainy voice came through. "Your mother's the only one for me, but that doesn't mean I couldn't make a few friends. Speaking of which," the pause that followed proved heavy indeed. "Why don't you make this easier on yourself and tell me where you are? You're not in Atlas, and you're not in Vacuo. That means Mistral or Vale. Which is it, Jaune? Where are you?"

His already cold blood became solid ice in his veins.

On a certain level he knew his Father was being generous; kind to him, even. If Naruto truly wanted to hunt him down, he would have done so by now. No stone would be left unturned. Instead he'd given him a chance. He'd delayed. Stalled. Or perhaps events had conspired to capture his attention. If it came to a fight, he would lose. No doubt about that. There was even a chance he might be tracing this call.

...you know I can't tell you that, dad."

"No? I'll just ask your sister, then. Where did that darling girl run off to?"

Jaune clammed up. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Alright." his voice remained gentle on the other end of the line. "At least answer me this, then. Which one are you interested in? The blond? The brunette? The redhead? Or maybe...

Aha, so Child had welched on him after all. Not where he was, but who had taken an interest in him. There would be vengeance for this!

...I'm hanging up now."

"Wait, wait, wait!" the sudden plea caught his thumb just before he could end the call. "Earlier, you said you needed advice. What for?"

Jaune wanted to tell him; more than anything. Even now, ever after all this, here was a small boyish part of him wanted to tell Dad everything; to let him swoop in and fix things as he always had in the past. Whenever trouble reared its ugly head, he'd always hid behind him or mom, or his sisters. He always had.

"..."

He gripped his Scroll until it creaked in his grasp. "Just...just some teacher troubles. That's all."

"Jaune Arc! Tell me you didn't fake your way into becoming a professor!"

A surprised laugh escaped him. "I didn't!"

Just the thought of it threatened to unman him. Professor Arc, really? Not a chance! His forgery credentials were good, but not that good. He didn't have half the credentials needed for a position like that. He could barely pretend to be a student! The brief moment of levity helped center him regardless. What had Dad said to him once?

All you need is a little confidence...?

"Right." he said at last. "I can handle this...hearing your voice helped."

"Jaune." the pause made him wince. "If you're in danger, you'll let me know, won't you?"

"I'm...not in danger." it wasn't a lie. Not really. "Just...just give me a little more time. Please. I'm begging you."

"You have until I track you down and drag you back by the ear." it was the best he'd get. "And not a single day more, young man! Your sisters are worried sick!

For him?! Saphron he could understand, but he couldn't imagine Vaylin and the rest being worried about anything. Had something happened? He nearly asked, but some sixth sense told him not to. Mom wielded guilt like an ax, but Dad could talk circles around someone. He wasn't about to fall prey to his father's infamous talk no jutsu. No openings here! No sir!

"Your mother's worried, too. We all are. Come home, Jaune."

...alright, maybe one opening.

"Dad, no." he grit his teeth, mastering a sudden surge of sorrow. "I'm not going back. I can't."

"Then you'll need to prove you're strong enough to stay."

He shivered. "I will. I'll prove it."

A pause. "You'll lose."

...we'll see."

Neither spoke for a long moment.

Naruto sighed into the silence. "Love you, kiddo."

Heat slapped Jaune's face. He sputtered. "Daaaaad!"

Though the line went dead on his father's laughter. Strangely enough, it lifted his spirits. Jaune took a deep breath, and exhaled. His fear began to bleed away with it. Dad was right. He had absolutely no hope of defeating him on his own. But then again, whoever said he had to do it alone? The spark of an idea struck, burning bright. Ninja...ninja never played fair, after all.

It began to gutter out as he considered the sheer enormity of the task before him.

"That's all well and good, but how can I beat him? Even with backup, he's way too strong!"

He'd need help, a lot of help if he even wanted to scratch Dad. Nevermind beat him back. It was too much. He couldn't-

"Hey, ah, Jaune?"

A sudden tug against his sleeve stilled him. For a moment he thought it was Velvet, come back to ask him a question. Not now. Anytime but now.

He looked down. Blinked. Frowned.

Preeetty sure Velvet didn't have silver eyes.

"You're looking pretty down, there. Ruby Rose looked back up, her eyes wide and concerned. "Are you alright...?"

Ordinarily he would've said yes; fobbed her off with an excuse or something. But she looked so small. So pitiful. So concerned. And he wasn't alright. Not by a long shot. It felt like the whole of Remnant had crashing down around his shoulders. The burden alone threatened to crush him.

"I messed up." the words burst out of him before he could think to hold them back. "My sister's got me on a leash, my dad's looking for me, and now this...

Silver eyes fluttered in a quick blink. "You have a sister?"

"Not important!" he palmed his face with a groan. "I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea. I'm a failure...

"Nope."

He paused. "No?"

"Nope!" she shook her head and retreated half a step, clasping both hands behind her back.

...I don't understand."

"Means no." the faintest hint of a smile lifted her pale cheeks. "You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure."

Jaune felt his right eye twitch. Her words didn't soothe him. If anything they made him angry. Easy for her to say. She'd ironed things out with Weiss in less than a day. Her team loved her. They'd probably go to the ends of Remnant and back for her. He was still struggling to be one, and juggling his old life with the new.

"But what if I'm a failure at being a leader?"

"Nope!" came the happy chirrup.

"Again with that?" He planted his back against a tree and slid down it, dropping to his haunches. "You know, you're not the easiest person to talk to about this kinda stuff."

Imagine his surprise then, when she plonked down beside him. "Jaune, maybe you were a failure as a kid...

His already wounded ego crumpled even further. Great pep talk, Ruby. I feel so much better...

"You might have even been a failure the first day we met."

"Hey!"

"But you can't be one now." she reached over and swatted his hand, startling him. "Because its not just about you anymore. You've got a team now, Jaune. We both do." she looked away and his gaze followed. It fell upon Pyrrha and the others, blissfully gathering sap, ignorant to their worries. "And if we fail, then we'll just bring them down with us. "We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second."

"Not tryin' to fail." he muttered morosely into his arms. "I just don't know where to start."

Ruby didn't answer at first and he began to fear she'd given up on him.

"You already have."

Jaune's head shot up. "Excuse you?"

"I said you already have!" Earnest silver eyes met his, glowing with fervor. "You don't even realize half of the things you've done!" There was no escape. He leaned back and Ruby pushed forward, nearly falling into his lap to get at him. "Not just for me, or even that Velvet girl, but Weiss, too!"

His eyes watered. "Ruby...

"Your team deserves a great leader Jaune." she climbed to her feet and offered him her hand. "And I think...no, I know that can be you. You just have to try! No matter what Weiss does!"

...what was that last bit about Weiss?"

"VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE!"

He heard a battle cry in the distance, followed by the death gurgle of a Beowolf.

"Eh," Ruby waved a hand. "Weiss is Weiss. You get used to it." that same hand swung back, all but squashing against his face. "What I'm saying is, you can be a good leader. We both can. You just need a little confidence, and...ah...stuff!" she flashed a timid smile at him as her nerves failed her. "Practice makes perfect, after all!"

It was too much. Jaune broke down.

Not into tears, but laughter; a great, hearty guffaw tore out of him, leaving him bent double. Everything sounded so...simple when she put it like that. Ruby misunderstood of course; she huffed and puffed out her cheeks in anger; it only made him laugh all the harder. Just a little confidence. How often Dad threw that very saying at him. Now here he was, hearing it again. Was it really that simple?

"Just a little confidence, eh...?"

He reached up, took her hand, and pushed himself upright. Then he struck.

Ruby never saw him coming. One moment he stood before her, the next his arms drew her into a crushing embrace. Her head slammed into his chest as she made a noise of protest, muffled against his jacket.

"Jaune?!"

"Thank you." he muttered over her shoulder, heedless of her complaints. "Thank you so damn much." his arms tightened around her as he bent down and buried his face into her hoodie. It gave him time to blink the tears away when they threatened to overhwelm him" You have no idea how badly I needed to hear that. You're a great friend...

"Right...friend...glad I could help." she stammered out, arms flailing. "Totally what I meant to sayandwowyoureallyareaonemanfurnace...

"Oho?" Yang's voice called across the clearing. "What do we have here, sister of mine?"

Ruby jerked back as if she'd been burned. "Yaaaaaaaang! Its not what it looks like!

"No?" her sister sauntered over. 'Cuz it looks like you were enjoying yourself."

Jaune tried not to laugh at her plight. He really did. He failed spectacularly.

But maybe that was alright. Everyone failed now and again.

This was his life, now. He would fight to keep it.

A/N: Ruby with the pep talk...and still being Ruby.

Aaaand there we go. Tribute to Professor Arc is obvious~! That's one of my favorie stories by Couer

As ever, sticking with the "Embers" rule.

If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular, if folks don't like it...well, I'll not continue it. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. I'm working two jobs, trying to keep a roof over my family's head, and at the end of the day this is very much a HOBBY. I simply don't have time to write a story no one likes, and feedback sustains me...

Once again, reviews are my fuel. Without them I simply cannot write.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews.

POTENTIAL ONES!

Soooo! Tell me what you want to see~!

(FUTURE! Previews)

"Quite the house of cards you've built for yourself here, Jaune. Watch me strike a match, and burn it all down."


He showed her the picture on his scroll.

Yang whistled. "That's your dad? Daaaaamn...


"Angel? You think your mother's an angel? Ha! She's not even close to an angel. She's death itself."

So! When she says grounded? You are GROUNDED, missy!"


Naruto took a long drink from the bottle. It helped to settle his ragged nerves.

A single line of text awaited him on his scroll, face up against the table.

...he's in Vale, boss. Want me to bring him back?"

His informants had finally come through. He almost wished they hadn't.

Beacon. Jaune was in Beacon. Of all the places.

He had to answer.


Blake glared golden daggers at him. "You don't understand! I didn't just hurt them! I betrayed them! I-

"Ran away?" Jaune tilted his head. "Yeah, I pretty much did the same. Wasn't a terrorist, though. You've got me beat there. So, about this crusade of yours...

Her very soul tensed. He'd tell Ruby where she was; or barring that, drag her back. She'd have to fight him. Could she win...?

...you want some help?"

Blake blinked. "Eh?"

"Help." Jaune offered her his hand. "Do you want it?"


"Bah! Mongrels, the lot of you! You must truly wish to die, dogs!"


She bumped her hip against his and kept walking.

Jaune nearly walked into a wall.


...no. I'm not fighting you."

"What's wrong?" that smile had far, far too many teeth. "Scared?


She grabbed him by the face and crushed her lips to his

Quick as a flash, she pulled away. "There. Satisfied?"

Jaune blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Bwuh?"

R&R~!