Cuts of RWBY
A RWBY Fic Collection by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and ViZ. Please support the official release.
Doctor Knowall 4
Our heroes settle into Beacon, while Doctor Knowall tries to adjust to the past.
In all honesty, the team selections were still a bit of a mystery to Jaune.
"JNPR and RWBY?" Jaune muttered, as he stowed his gear in his locker, "seems pretty strange."
"I like Junipers!" Nora Valkyrie chirped, the energetic orangette practically bouncing around the room, "Juniper berries go great with Renny's tea!"
"Yeah but..." Jaune sighed. Ren cocked an eyebrow.
"Your friend Blake?" He asked. Jaune winced then shrugged.
"Yeah. I-I mean, no offense guys! I'm so glad to be here with you all," he smiled, "You all did great against that Deathstalker!"
"It was thanks to your leadership, Jaune," Pyrrha said with a shy smile as she sat on the bed opposite his, "You did very well."
"But you wish you could be with your companion," Ren surmised. Jaune nodded. Ren wore the ghost of a smile as Nora plopped down next to him.
"I understand," he said.
"Me too!" Nora said, "But now we'll all become great friends! We just gotta kill some more Grimm together and we'll be the best!"
Jaune laughed. Nora was a handful but he definitely liked her spirit.
"Absolutely," he agreed. "I promise guys: I'll be the best leader you could ask for."
Pyrrha again smiled warmly.
"I know you will," she said.
After that, they got ready for bed. The guys grabbed a shower first since they wouldn't take as long, and they got out and dressed for bed as soon as the girls went in. Jaune laid down to sleep in his twin bed and sighed, shutting his eyes.
If he was being completely honest? He did miss Blake being there. They'd slept cuddled up together in haylofts and in their tent. Nothing had ever happened, of course. He was a gentleman. He refused to take advantage of her, especially after what she had been through.
Still... He did miss her warmth.
I guess I'll just have to get used to going without, he decided.
Pyrrha and Nora emerged from the bathroom, dressed for bed. Nora pushed her bed up against Ren's and immediately plopped down to sleep next to him. Pyrrha watched this, blushed, then carefully avoided Jaune's gaze as she laid down in her own bunk. The lights went out. Jaune relaxed and did his best to fall asleep.
He heard a very faint creak. Something most people wouldn't have noticed. He opened one eye and scanned the room.
Nothing. He scanned for a moment more, before he slowly closed his eye.
Then he felt it: A warm, female, and familiar body slipping into his bunk. His eyes flew wide open as he jerked his head to look. There was Blake, sliding into his bed and wrapping her arms around him.
"Blake," Jaune hissed, "What are you doing-?!"
"Couldn't sleep," she explained softly. "You don't mind, do you?"
"I-Um-But the rules-You-!"
Blake snuggled into his side and closed her eyes.
"Good night," she murmured.
Jaune held back a long sigh. He laid back in the bunk and wrapped an arm around her.
Well, he had missed her company while sleeping.
I suppose this is on me, he thought, as he slipped into dreamland.
Classes at Beacon started after breakfast. First up was Professor Port's class: HIs stories were very long winded, but Jaune thought he could pick out the useful tips amidst all the blather. He also knew how to keep people's attention by bringing live Grimm into the classroom-Something Weiss handled with ease.
She really was incredible. It was hard not to stare.
They then went on to Combat Class, led by Professor Goodwitch. She called up pairs of students and had them fight. She was extremely stern but definitely knew her stuff. She could pick out everything right or wrong with a students' combat performance at a glance and made sure you knew it.
After a few matches, she gave Jaune a stern look before she called out:
"Jaune Arc, you're up against Cardin Winchester."
Jaune looked over at the scion of the Winchester family. The young man was a lot bigger and taller than him. He wore a cocky smirk as he walked up to the ring in his full armor, holding his large mace menacingly.
"You got this, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora said encouragingly. Blake and Ruby also gave him smiles.
"Show him what you've got, Vomit Boy!" Yang cheered.
Jaune got up and walked into the ring. He drew Crocea Mors and opened his shield up. Glynda looked between the two combatants.
"We will continue until one opponent's Aura is in the red, or there is a ringout. Ready? Begin!"
Cardin charged and swung his mace hard, obviously trying for a knockout right away. Jaune waited until the very last second and danced out of the way of the strike. He swung his blade, charged with Aura, and swung for Cardin's arm.
"GAH!"
The taller boy was slammed back. Jaune pressed the advantage, striking furiously as Cardin began to guard. The redhead swung his mace around furiously, but Jaune was too quick and nimble after training against Blake for months to let it catch him. He deflected one blow of the mace with his shield before he stepped in and stabbed Cardin in the gut. Cardin snarled then charged up his mace.
He slammed it down on the sandy floor, unleashing a massive blast of Fire Dust. Jaune was blown off his feet and slammed onto his back. He grunted in pain, then rolled, just barely getting out of the way of Cardin's next mace slam.
All right... Gotta finish this quick, he thought. He rolled up onto his feet and took a wide stance. He channeled his Aura, toughening himself up. Cardin smirked and charged again, relying on his bulk to steamroll Jaune.
Jaune held his ground, waiting... Waiting...
Now!
He ducked under Cardin's swing and rammed his shield up into his gut. Channeling his Aura to boost his strength, he twisted his hips and swung his blade at Cardin's feet. Thanks to Aura, he didn't cut through them-But the force sent Cardin into a stumble.
A stumble that Jaune used to pitch him right out of the ring. Cardin slammed down on the wooden floor outside the sand hard. He grunted, and got to his feet. He gaped in disbelief as Professor Goodwitch held up her riding crop.
"Winner, Jaune Arc."
"WOOHOO!" Nora cheered loudly.
"YAY!" Ruby added.
Cardin glared angrily at Jaune, who kept his facial expression neutral. He didn't want to appear too smug.
Goodwitch summoned them both into the center of the ring, where she gave them her assessment:
"Mister Winchester: Good to try and take initiative right off the bat, but brute force is not always going to win. Your opponent was able to turn things around with some good tactics and quick thinking. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. In addition, while unleashing a Dust blast at point blank range can work in a dangerous situation, it can also easily backfire and cause yourself damage. Only save it as an absolute last resort."
"Yes ma'am," Cardin managed, shooting Jaune a dirty look. Glynda looked at Jaune with a raised eyebrow.
"Good footwork and tactical thinking, Mister Arc. However, your inexperience shows: You got a bit sloppy. Continue to refine your combat skills, as you will not be able to defeat all opponents with a ring out."
"Yes ma'am," Jaune said with a nod. Goodwitch hummed.
"That strength boosting technique. Did you learn it from your mother?"
"Er... Sort of," Jaune allowed with a shrug. Goodwitch nodded.
"Continue to improve it, Mister Arc. As it is, it can give you a temporary boost in strength in battle but it clearly took you time to charge it up. Had Mister Winchester noticed that, he could have struck before you were ready and then you would be in real trouble."
Cardin looked calculating at that. Jaune nodded again.
"Yes ma'am."
Jaune felt pretty good all said when he returned to his seat with his team. Even Weiss seemed to be somewhat approving.
Blake just sat down on his other side and smiled.
"Good work," she said, "I knew you could do it."
"Thanks to you," Jaune said gratefully. Blake's smile grew by a fraction. Pyrrha, Yang, and even Ruby all noticeably tensed.
Which was strange, but soon forgotten as Jaune watched the next bout between students.
Lunch was pretty uneventful. Or at least, that's what Jaune had hoped it would be. Cardin was still in a bad mood after his defeat in combat class, and was now tormenting a young rabbit Faunus girl. He tugged on her ears, making her cry out.
"Haha! What do you know? They are real!" He laughed.
"Ow! Pl-Please, don't!" The rabbit Faunus girl cried out.
Jaune was already on his feet and about to intervene. He couldn't stand to see this happen and refused to allow it: He wasn't weak anymore, he had strength...
Which was went Doctor Knowall, as if appearing out of nowhere, calmly grabbed Cardin's wrist and squeezed. The redheaded boy yelped and let go, as Knowall lifted his wrist.
"Now now, Mister Winchester," Knowall stated in a kind of teasing voice, "Save that kind of play with your crush in private."
Cardin and the rabbit Faunus girls' cheeks went bright red. Cardin found his voice first.
"Wh-What?! Professor, I didn't-URK!"
Knowall squeezed Cardin's wrist and the young man grunted in pain. He looked up in fear at the terrifying smile the doctor now wore.
"The alternative interpretation," the doctor stated quietly but still loud enough to be heard, "Is that the son of a Councilman decided to bully a girl a year ahead of him because she was a Faunus. This would reflect very poorly on him and his family, and might even become grounds for expulsion. Further, even if you weren't expelled, it would spread among the student body and later on to any potential future employers you might have. That you are a bully and a coward who picks on others just to make yourself feel big. Now... Which interpretation shall we be going with, Mister Winchester?"
Cardin grimaced. The doctor's grip on his wrist tightened.
"I... I'm sorry...!" Cardin managed. "I-I won't... Do it again...!"
"Now, why don't you apologize to this young lady and offer to take her out to dinner as recompense for your clumsy attempt to woo her?" Knowall asked, all smiles. He finally let go of Cardin's wrist. The young man rubbed his wrist, blushed, and then looked over at the blushing young Faunus rabbit.
"I'm... I'm really sorry... Can I please buy you dinner?" Cardin ground out, shooting fearful glances at Knowall every so often.
The rabbit Faunus girl, oblivious to this, blushed harder and nodded.
"S-Sure! Um... I'm Velvet Scarlatina, what's your name?"
"C-Cardin Winchester," he returned, stuttering in shock. Velvet smiled at him, and rubbed her ears.
"I um... Let's maybe work out when and where?"
Cardin again glanced at Knowall, then back at the rabbit Faunus girl. He sighed in resignation.
"Sure."
They walked off together. Knowall looked around at everyone's stares and raised an intimidating eyebrow.
"Don't you have food to eat? Nothing to see here," he stated firmly. Most of the students did so. Yang watched him with starry eyes as he turned and walked out of the cafeteria.
"Wow... He actually made the bully take her out on a date?" She giggled. "Damn! That is twisted! I kind of like it!"
"Isn't that just rewarding the brute?" Weiss sniffed. "Still... I-I admire his composure."
"Weiss, you're bright red, are you feeling okay?" Ruby asked.
"I-I'm fine!" Weiss said quickly, shaking her head. Yang laughed.
"Careful now, you don't wanna get melt, Weisscream!"
"Sh-Shut up!"
Jaune frowned as he turned back to his food. Pyrrha, ever alert to his moods, frowned with him. As did Blake.
"Something wrong, Jaune?" Blake asked. "He did deal with that bully."
"It's just that... He was using a technique of my mom's," Jaune murmured, "But it's one she's never taught to anyone... No one that I know of."
"Maybe he figured it out himself?" Ren suggested. "Beacon only hires the best."
"Maybe," Jaune allowed. "Still... Maybe I'll sent her an email. Just to ask."
Doctor Knowall twitched and shuddered. He shook his head and frowned. While not exactly superstitious, even after all he'd been through? That still felt like a bad sign.
Still... He supposed he would deal with it when it came. No sense worrying about it right now. He had a future to save.