Foreword: Thank your to everyone who commented about the Insight shop, it means a lot to me. I got my ass in gear; the currency and role of the shop is hashed out.
Foreword: For those wondering, the story is crossposted to A.O... .
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Meditation didn't come easily to Jaune. Relaxing fully and finding ones inner peace stood in sharp contrast to what Yharnam had beaten into him.
It was inviting weakness; it was inviting death.
However, meditation was also the only feasible idea he had to enter his 'soul space' in a reasonable time. He could always try his hand on potioneering, creating a brew or potion to send him there, he just didn't have the faintest idea where to begin. Not to mention doing so felt a lot like brewing psychedelic's, a line he wasn't quite willing to cross. Even if the thought of doing so became more and more enticing by the seconds.
The only thing stopping him from jumping on that bandwagon was the price of failure. He didn't know what could happen, but given it was about something as intricate as a sole, he didn't dare take any chances. Maybe he would accidentally inverse his spirituality, maybe he would seal his aura, or worse, destroying his ability to use aura completely. A single mistake would have catastrophic consequences. Even the price for success could be far higher than what he was willing to pay.
Trying to get his wandering mind under control he pushed the distracting ideas away. Taking a deep breath, holding it until a familiar strain settled in his chest, only letting it go as his lungs began screaming for air. Letting the pain, worries and distracting thoughts fly out of him as he took a fresh breath. Filling himself with calm confidence and an empty mind.
Once again trying to reach a 'zen' stake as Ren called it. It took five seconds before his eyebrow started twitching in irritation. Ten for him to feel restless energy racing beneath his skin, goading him on to do something, anything. After a minute he knew that he would reach a 'zen' state quicker if someone were to hit him in the head with a shovel.
In spite of his body's restlessness, he felt himself gradually sinking inwards.
*GGRRRRGRGRGR*
A horrifying growl tearing through him, almost ripping him out of what tranche he had forced himself in. Thankfully, his mind or the trance was stronger. Allowing him to sink even deeper and deeper.
First went his sense of smell, the smoke in his nose stops tickling. Then went his sense of hearing, the gentle conversation around him disappearing as if put on mute. Taste disappeared like a spectre, it could have been the first or the last to go, he would be none the wiser. His sense of touch sent him spiralling inwards, slipping as his 'anchor' to the real world disappeared.
Then they slowly returned, like a blossoming flower gently handing them back. A gentle warmth washed over him, a fresh breeze tickled his hair, bringing with it the rustling of leaves.
Carefully opening his eyes, he found himself seated before a golden bonfire that represented the strength of his soul. Golden tendrils of flame washed over him, burning away worries, insecurities and doubts, leaving only a sense of warmth and security.
Standing up and looking around Jaune let out a low whistle in appreciation. The seven wells of blood were still the same, if only larger. The real change came from the trees that grew inside said wells. They had all grown, in both size and height. But the biggest change was the presence some trees radiated.
The trees with the most change wasn't his vitality maple, it's leaves shining a radiant red, no branch left empty. It wasn't the pine representing his endurance who had shoot straight up, the tallets tree in his soul space with a healthy green spread of needles to match. It wasn't his strength oak either, even if it had experienced a qualitative shift, having gained much more height and width, starting to exude an aura of indominable strength.
They had gown, that much was true, but they had more grown into themselves. The same couldn't be said for his other trees, some he could remember as sprouts, others as nothing more than saplings barley peeking over the gentle waves. Now, while they hadn't grown to immense sizes and most likely never would, they had all jumped right past the sapling stage. Becoming beautiful trees that decorated his soul space with colour.
One of trees with the most amount of change was his arcane cypress, who had been nothing but a sprout barley peeking out of the blood well, now standing tall and proud. Glowing half formed runes scattered around its branches and leaves, shining with enigmatic light.
The other was the weeping willow that represents his insight. It was a marvel to behold. It wasn't fully grown, yet it was just as magical if not more so than the cypress. It's branches and leaves were wispy, dancing a mesmerising dance with an invisible wind that just drew anyone who watched in. Promising them sweet nothings as they were lulled into a sleep they would never wake up from.
The last time he came here, he had an Arcana stat of two, and an Insight of one. The two stats now sat at fifteen and sixteen respectively. Having grown like there was no tomorrow.
If there were some trees that had hardly changed, then it was his bloodtinge sakura and his skill willow. They had both grown, that was true. However if anything, he had mostly ignored them. Instead using training and studying to nurture them, as he had for his cypress. The sakura bore a few more crimson blossoms, also having gained the faintest hint of pungent blood and gunpowder. The skill willow on the other hand was getting closer to have a quantitative transformation, it's slender branches and delicate leaves ghosting through the air like graceful dancers. Yet it was spotty, chaotic at the best of times and completely order-less at the worst of times.
Tearing his eyes from his trees, he ignored the whispers that insidiously rang out from the Weeping Willow. Ignorance was bliss, one he unfortunately wasn't able to experience ever again. He would rather remain ignorant and build himself up, than be knowing and not being able to handle the truths thrown his way.
There was no need for him to go looking for secrets, Yharnam would force more and more upon him as he explored and uncovered. It was only a matter of time, why go hunting for questions when he would eventually find more answers than he would ever like?
But honestly, right now Jaune didn't care about gloomy futures. To busy beaming proudly at all the trees, even the Weeping Willow, even if he detested what it represented. The visual growth the trees represent a completely different experience to just seeing some bloody numbers steadily go up in the mirror.
His trees seemed to agree with him, a light show dazzling his soul space with splendour as every tree tried drowning each other out. Vibrant red's, invigorating greens, stalwart greens, dancing dark blues, fresh scarlet, and midnight blues all trying to drown out their competitors. Acting like exited children vying for their fathers attention. Giving him the smallest of glimpses as to what having maxed out his attributes would be like.
And he couldn't wait, it was just something about seeing his improvement that got him craving more.
"However that's not why I'm here." He mussed to himself, forcing the trees to calm down while getting back on track. Taking a deep breath, he shouted out "Iosefka!" Hoping, like the doll, that she would appear.
Dead silence greeted him, nothing happening expect his voice dying out, swallowed by the darkness outside the light his bonfire. "Iosefka!" He cried out again, much to the same result.
"Should have known it wouldn't work. Nothing is ever easy." Jaune muttered hollowly, having known deep inside that it wouldn't work. The only way he could see her again was to let go, if Ren was to be believed, not that he had any reason to doubt him after. Especially after what he said, he had done his best to never mentioning that name. The pain associated with it too much, so Ren saying it was proof enough.
But he couldn't just let go. That shot, that moment. Had seared itself into his soul, even if he wanted to forget, he couldn't.
Leaning back, he did his best to ignore all too familiar pain that shoot trough him. 'You are too late, always too late.' A sinister whisper wormed it's way to his side. Followed by a sinister 'You do not belong.'
Ignoring the all too familiar voices, Jaune looked up at the stars. Where nine dim stars hung, drowned out by a single shining star that he bore on his right hand. Reaching up, the glowing star tore itself from the tapestry of a sky. Floating down, drowning him in a soft blue light not to dissimilar to moonlight, before finally landing in his hands.
The second his hand touched the star; a jolt shook his entire soul. Suddenly he understood. The ghostly fires over corpses, why he could suddenly understand Yharnam's language like another mother tongue, the game like interface. All key abilities that helped him navigate Yharnam. Hadn't it been for the rune, he would still be stuck trying to learn the language, having to battle a language barrier as he battled what secrets the city threw his way. He would never have gotten to where he was now.
He wouldn't have been able to help the little girl nor the old crone.
However that wasn't all he learned. Like a dawning sun, it came to him. How to infuse spirituality into the rune, temporally 'awakening' it and allowing him to perform completely different mystical abilities compared to what he thought was possible.
"Is this one of the unorthodox types of magic in Yharnam?" Jaune whispered to himself in amazement. Not having known that he had the key to figuring out one type of unorthodox magic quite literally in the palm of his hand. It also upped the priority of finding more runes, and the stolen rune tool on his priority list.
He didn't know if his rune was special, or there were other runes with the ability to 'awaken'. He didn't dare get his hopes up, only for it to be crushed. A far to common occurrence in Yharnam. But that didn't stop him from wanting to fill out his rune slots as quickly as possible. More runes meant the chance for more 'rune abilities', something he couldn't wait to get his hands on.
"Illuminate the path, double the radius of any held, equipped, or touched light sources, unveil hidden objects or markings within the illuminated area." Jaune whispered to himself as he stared unblinkingly down at the star. Feeling both disappointed that it wasn't something groundbreaking, and happy that it was something he could see himself using.
In a way it was like getting another semblance. He was a bit miffed that it wasn't combat oriented, but it was usable. And at the end of the day, that was all that really mattered.
A part of him wanted to test it on his bonfire, another part of him, the more rational one, knew that testing random powers inside his soul was a stupid idea. With a reluctant smile he allowed the star to gently float back up, merging itself into the sky.
Looking around his soul scape for one last time, he reluctantly closed his eyes. Sounds, smells, and sensations assaulting him as he came to.
"Nora. No."
"Come on~ Renny. You say that like you don't want to tickle fearless leader with a feather. Honestly, it's his fault for falling asleep. Had we been back home at Beacon I would have drawn a moustache on him, but here we are so I have to make do with what we have."
"I'm awake." Shot out of him as his eyes snaped open. Wildly looking around before focusing on a grinning Nora who had a random feather in hand. A grin on her face as she looked back to Ren, smiling like the sun.
"See! I told you it would work." Nora said with a smile, throwing the feather away and standing up, dragging Jaune with her. "Didn't think you could sneak away from packing, could you?"
Tsking loudly, Jaune sent Nora a teasing smile, getting one in return before diving into cleanup and packing. Any want to test his new rune ability as he decided to call it pushed to the back of his mind. Working together effectively the tent was down in a little over five minutes, with the clearing being tidied up after ten more. While it still looked lived in with the fire pit, kitchen slab and the firewood, it was clean and free from any litter and other garbage.
"I'm going to miss you secret base." Nora muttered out as they all stood by the treeline looking over the little clearing that had been their home for the last days.
"It's not like it's leaving. And we may be back in a week or two if we want to do another training trip." Jaune said with a smile. Glad that the trip had been a resounding success. They had started working on teamwork, while they hadn't gotten the hang of it and worked out some simple tactics. Rigorously testing them to find their limitations.
Throwing a sweeping look over his teammates, Jaune saw tired and dirty everyone was. Bathing in the creak could only do so much, not to mention sleeping outside was different. The forest sounded alive, a problem they never had to worry about back in Beacon. While everyone was alert and ready, a tiredness clung to them.
"Dibs on the first shower." He said quickly, getting one scandalised look, one betrayed one, and one look that said his word meant nothing if he got in first and locked the door.
"Jaune, you are a brother from another mother, and I deeply cherish your company. But if you dare get in way of me and the shower, we will be having words." Ren said calmly, words not betraying the resolve to break bones that shone in his eyes.
"Now, now Renny, let's not get hasty here. Momma hasn't had her shower in three days. We have a date coming up, me and warm water, you are not coming between us." Nora said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Why don't we let the chips land where they may?" Pyrrha said sweetly, stepping between them and stopping whatever was brewing straight in the tracks. "We are family, let's not let silly things like who showers first get in the way of that."
"Now, I'll take point. Let's just focus on getting back to Beacon before anything." Pyrrha said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Giving them all a look filled with disappointment before walking off. Nora quick on her heels, bouncing along with a smile on her face.
"You should tell them; they deserve to know." Ren said, almost whispering with how softly he spoke the second the girls were out of hearing range. Levelling Jaune a look as the blond sighed, returning a harsh tired look of his own. "No and leave it at that."
"Jaune, they deserve to know. We can't hide something like this from them." Ren whispered harshly. "You have to trust them; it would crush them to have to find out the hard way."
"I trust them with my life. That is also why I can't. They shouldn't be burdened with something like this." Jaune whispered back just as heatedly. "I just want what is best for them."
"And what is best for them is knowing the truth." Ren sighed out, about done with Jaune's martyr complex. He had an idea where it came from, given that he still struggled to believe it sometimes. Completely forgetting about Iosefka, only to be blindsided when he looks back over Jaune and sees her draped over his shoulders. But there was a stark difference between some small white lies, and something as earthshattering as this.
"Before the dance." Jaune eventually settled on, giving Ren a hard glare. Eventually getting a somewhat reluctant nod from Ren. Intimately knowing that this was the best he was going to get from Jaune.
"What are the two of you talking about? Come on, let's get a move on." Nora shouted, looking grumpily at them while Pyrrha hid a smile behind her hand. Shaking his head at her antics, a little smile appeared on Ren's face, before he turned to Jaune and gestured at him.
"Yes, yes. We are on the way. Team JNPR move out." Jaune said with a fond little smile. Smile widening slightly at the carefree laughter that rang out at his little outburst. Not wanting to trade it for anything.
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"I'm bored." One Ruby Rose loudly announced to the annoyance of her team members. Lying down on her bed, one foot hanging in the air, a bag of chips on her stomach, and pillows upon pillows acting as a recliner. The show on her scroll continuing, but she had long since fallen of. Idle silver eyes curiously trailing over her teammates.
"Unfortunately I'm in the midst of something." Weiss sighed, brow twitching as she shot an exasperated look over at her team leader. Before going back to her empty letter to her sister.
At least Blake gave a half-hearted hum, Yang didn't deign her sister with a response. Only rolling her eyes, never taking her attention away from her fighting game.
Tentative silence returned to the dorm, with only the odd sound of pages turning, and button tapping ringing out.
A silence that didn't last long before Ruby let out a loud groan, throwing her other leg over the ledge and jumping down. Frown on her face and lips scrumped in a pout. With overly heavy stomps she marched towards the door, only for a glyph to spin to life as she reached for the handle.
"And where do you think you are going? We are under house arrest." Weiss said, prim and proper mask cracking at the edges as her true feelings shone through. Never having been one to skimp the rules before, the house arrest hitting her the hardest.
"Anywhere but here." Ruby petulantly shot back. "I'm tired of doing nothing. I'm going to find something better to do."
"Like your homework?" Yang snipped, never taking her eyes from her scroll. Even if a little smirk appeared on her face.
"No you are not. The headmaster and Professor Goodwitch have made it abundantly clear that we are on house arrest until Monday. Don't go testing their patience." Weiss said, going back to her empty letter. Wondering how she would break the news to her sister. She didn't care much about her father's opinion, even if she strived to live up to his expectations.
The same couldn't be said against her sister. While she didn't think they could ever have the relationship that Yang and Ruby had, she at least wanted to try. She couldn't remember hugging her sister, neither could she remember just sitting down and having a pleasant conversation. It was always this and that with Winter. Not to mention how rare her time had become after being recruited into the Special Operatives Unit.
She was proud of her sisters accomplishments, but the shadow Winter cast with her achievements sometimes felt crushing.
"Everyone was onboard, but the second something went wrong you throw me under the bus. I didn't ask to be made leader." Ruby pouted as she glared at her teammates. "Don't roll your eyes at me miss 'I'm going infiltrate this rally wearing the exact same clothes I did at the docks.' What could possibly go wrong with that."
"Hey!"
"She got you there partner." Yang snipped with a grin, ignoring Blakes outcry. Throwing herself of her bed and walking to the door with her hands behind her head. "But there is only so much sitting around I can do before something got to blow."
"And what are you going to say when you one of the professors sees the two of you waltzing about?" Weiss asked trough gritted teeth. For the nth time wondering how she allowed herself to be convinced. She should have informed the teachers the second the word 'White fang' and 'investigation' left any of her teammates mounts. With a loud, unladylike groan she smashed her forehead into her desk. "Is it too late to switch teams now?"
"Aw, chucks, you are stuck with us now Weisscream. It's ride or die Team RWBY." Yang grinned.
"In that case I need new friends." Weiss returned with a glare.
"I mean, it's not my fault the three of you have a social circle that only extends to us and Team JNPR." Yang shrugged nonchalantly as she looked over the team. A sly smile coming over her as she couldn't resist. "Or maybe you are waiting for the ball to bring home that special someone. I won't judge."
"Excuse me?!" Weiss exclaimed, pale cheeks burning a wonderful red as she glared at Yang, who only grinned wider.
"When do you think Team JNPR is back? Jaune said something about today, but not when." Ruby asked as she opened the door. Smile blossoming on her face, Jaune stood before the door with a backpack by his feet. He looked tired, if relived. A light brushing of sweat on his brow as he turned and gave her a smile.
"Jaune!"
"JAUNE!" Nora bellowed, sprinting down the hallway with fury in her eyes.
"Sorry Rubes gotta go!" Jaune quickly said, throwing open the door as Nora came down riding on Magnhild, pink smoke trailing behind her. In a feat of athletics Ruby never had thought Nora capable of, she launched herself of Magnhild, sliding forward and catching the fully transformed form of Magnhild. The hammer head coming out on the other side of Jaune's legs, and with a swift pull he crashed forward with a hard "Offf."
Grinning she waltzed over Jaune, only to crash face first as a bola snaked itself around her legs. Ren spinning another in his hand and throwing it behind him as he ran like a bat out of hell towards the dorm room.
Snagging the bola out of the air, Pyrrha sent it flying down the corridor. Ren only managing a scared look behind him before it crashed into him, sending him sprawling into Jaune who didn't manage to roll out of the way in time.
"Really you guys, it's just a shower." Pyrrha said with a good-natured smile. Giving her team a disappointed look as she strode down the hallway. "Honesty, you are all so immature."
"Quick! Nora! I don't care if I don't get to shower first as long as it's not her!" Jaune shouted out as he fished out a thin knife from his belt, swiftly cutting the bola that tied her legs.
"Your sacrifice will be remembered fearless leader!" Nora exclaimed as she threw herself on her feet. The kind smile that adorned Pyrrha's face, swiftly fell as a dark aura enveloped Magnhild. A harsh, "No you don't." rang out before Magnhild slammed into the back of Nora's knees. Sending her crashing into the banister of Ren's bed face first. Collapsing with a loud 'thunk', a groan escaping her as she tried getting up only to stumble over her legs.
"You know, I called dibs." Jaune said as he quickly shoot up, throwing himself towards the bathroom, only to be dragged backwards by his backpack straps. When he had managed to throw of the backpack, Pyrrha had already danced between them. Giving them a cheeky little smile as she looked out at them from the bathroom. "I win~"
Slamming the door behind her, breaking Yang and Ruby out of their stupor.
"What was that?" Ruby asked in disbelief. Still not over seeing the usually well-behaved team squabbling like a bunch of siblings with something to prove.
"Way to make an entrance." Yang whistled as she looked over them, grin falling as a ranch stank hit her nose like a punch to the gut. "Yo, have you been showering? You smell rank. Paint flaking kind of bad."
"I mean. We bathed in the creak. It was… fresh." Jaune eventually settled on, a full body shiver racing through him.
"Fresh is one way to call it all right." Ren said, untangling himself from the bola. Standing up, curiously smelling his pit, jerking his head backward while his face scrunched up like he bit into a lemon. Having to blink away the tears in his eyes. "I mean, we kept up with our hygiene, but we should have remembered to take some extra set of clothes. Especially for how much we were training."
"Hug?" Jaune asked, teasing smile on his face as he strolled towards the two girls. Arms wide open and ready for a hug. Brazenly ignoring the looks the girls were sending him.
"No. No. I'm still not over what you did to my poor hair. Jaune, I swear." Yang started, inching backwards into her dorm. Ruthlessly pushing her sister into his waiting arms. With a soft 'Eep' Ruby sent her sister a look that promised retribution, before she was ruthlessly engulfed into a bear hug. Jaune lifting her up, ignoring her kicking as she began to feel green.
After a good minute too long, Jaune finally let her go. The second she was free she exploded into rose petals, materializing on her bed, greedily gasping for fresh air.
Laughing good naturally, he turned towards Yang with wide arms ready for another hug. Inching towards her with large steps as he boxed her in. Lilac eyes darting around, seeing only mirth and righteous satisfaction at the rampant teaser finally being on the other end.
"Jaune, no. Nuhu, no, nope. I swear I will hit you. I'm not kidding." Yang started as her back hit the wall. Quickly deciding to stay true to her threat she stepped forward. Not expecting Jaune to dash forward, catching her in a crushing hug before she was able to introduce her left to his liver.
Yang felt nauseous, having done the same to Ruby before when they were younger. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, doing her best to push down the nausea as she tore herself out of the hug. Pushing Jaune away as she grumbled under her breath. "I hate you dad."
Noticing her mistake to late, brows disappearing into her hair as she snaped to her team in horror. Four sets of eyes looked at her, not a second after laughter broke out. Weiss trying, and failing, to hide her laughter, full out ugly laughing. Tears streaming down her face as she tried getting her laughter under control, only to look at Yang again and break out in laughter again.
Blake let out a snort like an elephants trumpet, while Ruby blinked once, before falling onto her back laughing. Wheezing and panting for air, but unable to stop as she pointed at her rapidly reddening sister.
Eventually managed to Ruby get her laughter under control. Even if a stray wheeze left her every now and then when she looked at Yang. Glad to finally have witnessed someone pulling a one up over her sister.
"You, me, arena, now." Yang said trough gritted teeth as she looked over at Jaune. Rosy cheeks on her face, as she tried to brush it off.
"Sorry Yang, but I'm not going to allow you to use me as a punching bag just because you got embarrassed." Jaune shrugged, ignoring the glare she sent him. "You are fun and all to fight against, but until you get your temper under check you aren't much of a treat. Sure, you pack a more than mean punch. But when your anger is ruling you, and not vice versa, you are terribly predictable."
"Ohhh, he got you there sis." Ruby chirped with a gleeful smile. "How many times have dad said just the same?"
"And what of it? I have still won more fights than I have lost." Yang shot back, glaring at Jaune. Flashes of the last time they fought dancing in her mind. She knew she had gone into the battle with a belly full of anger, but she was far from predictable. It was just that Jaune fought with a ruthless relentlessness, taking her offence like a challenge. Instead of backing down and waiting to create opening. He came at her with a relentless onslaught. Matching her intensity with a fire of his own.
If she took a hit to dish back double, Jaune took a hit more than content to pay a bit of aura to get an upper hand or set up for a following strike. His large aura reserve allowing him to fuel such a reckless style.
'But is it really reckless if he knows exactly how much he can afford to sacrifice?' Her traitorous mind whispered, before the idea was slammed behind lock and key. Shaking her doubt away she levelled Jaune a look. Wondering if he was already playing mind games before the tournament.
"I mean, spars are spars?" Jaune asked somewhat unsurely. "They are meant to help you work on your weaknesses? I won't pretend to lecture you about what you should and shouldn't do. If you see spars as fights to be won, then you do you. Your funeral."
"Hey Jaune, out of all of us, who do you least want to go up against?" Ruby asked with a strained smile, half curios, half wanting to not have her sister cave her best friends face in. She knew her sister well enough to know that, while not malicious, Jaune's earlier words had struck a nerve. Her earlier embarrassment not helping in the slightest, instead shortening Yang's already short fuse.
"You or Blake mostly." Jaune answered instantly. Only cringing slightly at the sudden extremely interested look Weiss gave him.
"Go on." Weiss said diplomatically, not allowing her thoughts to show on her face. On one hand her pride burned at being so readily dismissed as a threat. On the other, she acknowledged both Ruby and Jaune as a pair of prodigies. Ruby had skipped two years and was able to hold her own in most fights, only struggling slightly when it came to the academical side of things. And while Jaune hadn't been much, he had caught up at a terrifying pace. She couldn't see Jaune as the same boy that had awkwardly flirted with her before initiation. It was like a night and day difference.
She had seen all the effort he had put into his rapid progress, taking notes, reading up on things he didn't understand, working himself to the bone. Every second was spent trying to better himself. Sometimes she wished Ruby could take a bit of her best friends work ethic.
Other times she wondered how life had been if she and someone else on Team JNPR swapped places. Would Jaune's incessant drive to improve rub off on her? Would she be stronger? Would she be as happy as she was now? She didn't know. And she liked keeping it to 'what if's'.
"Well… it's mostly a bad match up from my side. I'm not the nimblest of fighters, and I'm struggling with opponents who can out speed and manoeuvre me. I'm working on it, but until I get some counter strategies, or learn to out manoeuvre my opponents, I struggle most against extremely mobile fighters. Something both Ruby and Blake are."
"What about me?" Weiss asked curiously, eyes boring into Jaune as if demanding answers.
"I don't know how to say this without coming of as rude, but as of right now you are a no threat. You are frail, rash, and you are not playing to the strength of your semblance and weapon. You act like a frontline fighter while not having the aura nor the means to keep up the pressure as a frontline fighter." Jaune explained, cringing more and more as he listed all the flaws he found. "But should you move away from being a frontline fighter and focus more on control, then I would abhor to fight you. You can effectively lock down entire areas, control what happens, when it happens. You will be a menace to fight."
This wasn't the first time someone had singled out her flaws, if anything, Jaune was far more considerate than her father. She wasn't going to take his word as gospel, but rather as advice to be tested.
"Honestly, the best advice I can give you is just to go hunting in the Emerald Forest. It will show you your limits real fast." Jaune added helpfully.
"Jaune, as sound as your advice is. Please leave or take a shower." Blake said dryly, scrunching up her nose as she glared at him.
"Well, I would if I could. But unfortunately Pyrrha is hogging the shower." Jaune said sheepishly. A bit glum that the sacred art of 'dibs' was so readily crushed underfoot.
"Then use ours. Just for the love of all that is holy, take a shower." Blake groaned out. Not wanting to have his stench assault her. She wasn't a stranger to the smell of sweat and grime; she had been with the White Fang after all. They didn't exactly have access to showers and other hygiene products while camping out in the heebie-jeebies. But just because she was used to it, didn't that mean she wanted to smell sweaty man.
Not waiting for her team to counter her offer, Jaune dashed into the bathroom.
"Don't you dare use my products vomit boy!" Yang shouted at him.
"I have seven sisters! I know what to do!" Jaune shouted back, the sound of the shower turning on quickly following.
"I thought you disliked Jaune, Blake?" Weiss asked curiously, having pushed what Jaune said to the back of her head.
"Dislike stemming from a difference of opinion." Blake said blandly. "I disagree with what he did at the docks and am of the opinion that he also should be disciplined for his actions. I don't outright hate him, if anything I find his drive for improvement remarkable. But this is this and that is that."
"Ouch, now you are making me feel immature." Yang said with a half-smile.
"Yang, your semblance is a superpowered temper tantrum. You don't need any help in that department." Ruby snickered. Glad that even if they were under house arrets, they had grown closer as a team. While not the bestest of friend's, they were a far cry from the Team RWBY that almost tore apart by the seams.
"So, Weisscream, how are you feeling about Jaune's 'advice'? Yang asked, half in curiosity, half in concern. Jaune just had a way to get under someone's skin while lecturing. While he meant good, he didn't hold his tongue, every word hitting deep.
"While I appreciate his input, I will take his words into consideration." Weiss said mater of factly. "He might mean well, but I'm comfortable with how I fight now. I will not switch my entire style around just because he says so. I also have a good grasp of how he fights, so should we both be called up I can beat him."
"That's good." Yang said under her breath.
"What? You think I will break down just because a little criticism? My ego isn't so frail. And if anything, Jaune is too nice. He is nothing like father who makes you question your worth as a human being." Weiss said nonchalantly, managing to blink once before red rose petals exploded around her and Ruby enveloped her in a crushing hug.
"Thank you, Ruby. But, please, it's getting hard to breathe." Weiss choked out, warm hug quickly choking the air out of her. With another explosion of rose petals Ruby was gone, smiling down at her from her bed sheepishly.
"Pheww, thank you. I didn't know how much I needed that." Jaune said as he stepped out of the bathroom. Duster coat and vest slung over his shoulder, his white shirt hinting at impressive muscles that hadn't existed a month ago. "Thank you for allowing me to use your bathroom. I'll owe you one."
At his words his rune flashed slightly, discreetly glancing over her teammates she noticed that no one but her noticed it. Frowning to herself, Blake glared at the runemark, committing it to memory. 'If anything it can serve as a nice side project now that the fang has gone underground.'
"Oh, Weiss, another thing came to me while showering." Weiss gave him a look that said, 'go on'. Deciding to bite the bullet he gave a sheepish smile. "If anything, the quickest way for you to improve would just to hit the gym more."
"Excuse me?!" Weiss shrieked, his words finally striking a nerve. "I will have you know I follow my workout routine to the letter, thank you."
"Well, yes… But…" Jaune started, running a hand trough damp hair as he tried to carefully pick his words. Ignoring the gleeful look Yang sent him. "I'm not calling you weak, but… well… my youngest siblings at eleven and have larger arms than you. Yes, I understand someone have a harder time putting on muscles, but doubling the duration or intensity of your training regime would be good for you."
"Hey, Jaune. What do you have in your vest?" Ruby asked curiously, ignoring how Weiss glared at Jaune. Seemingly considering the thought of running him trough. Idly kicking her legs over the side of her bed. Silver eyes laser focused on all the different pockets, some were full, others empty, but they all caught her attention.
"Oh? Some different tools. Some molotov's, first aid supplies, ammo, some fire paper, some cocktails, and whatnot. Just useful things to have carry along while hunting." Jaune said, leaning back against Ruby's desk turned workbench. Full of oils, and a multitude of other tools to keep Crescent Rose in tip top condition.
"What's a molotov?" Ruby asked, eyes sparkling in curiosity. Not noticing the curious looks the rest of her team sent him.
"A molotov is a glass container, or another fragile container, filled to the brim with processed whale oil with a cloth soaked in lighter fluid sealing of the top." Jaune explained, pulling out a molotov from his vest. Throwing it towards Ruby who snatched it out of the air, silver eyes sparkling in interests.
"Why carry something like that with you? Wouldn't dust be better?" Weiss asked curiously, not understanding why he didn't just use dust instead.
"Ease of creation being one." Jaune shrugged. "The other is that it's fire is different from that you get from fire dust. Instead of a burst of fire, you get a fire that won't stop until either put out or it have consumed everything. It also clings to you, so it's hard to get off you. An effective anti-personnel weapon if anything."
"Catch!"
Effortlessly snatching the molotov from the air and placing it back where it belonged.
"Sheesh, and you carry those things with you wherever you go?" Yang asked with a whistle. "Paranoid much?"
Nonchalantly shrugging Jaune gave a sheepish smile. Having gotten so used to always being prepared that he hadn't given the matter a second thought. After all, they were useful to have.
"But anyway, I'm dipping. Have fun with whatever you are doing. I'm heading to the gym to blow of some steam." Yang said, giving Jaune one last look before heading out. Looking forward to some punching bag therapy, Jaune's earlier words having snaked under her skin.
"So what have you been up to during the weekend? That reminds me, how was your night out?" Jaune asked innocently, not at all prepared for the sudden silence that descended over the room. Each of the girls looked like they wanted to be everywhere but here.
"I'm heading to the library." Blake said calmly, grabbing the book she was reading and walking out.
"What was that about?" Jaune asked curiously, as Weiss got back to writing her letter. Doing her best to ignore them.
"Well… let's just say we had an unforgivable night." Ruby said, sheepish smile ringing alarm bells in Jaune's head.
"You all did something stupid didn't you?" Jaune sighed out. Ignoring how Ruby full body cringed. Or how Weiss suddenly stiffened.
"Wha? No, no, of course not… ok… maybe? What's it to you?" Ruby mumbled out. Cringing and waiting for the inevitable outburst that never came. Cautiously asking, "You are not mad?"
"Did anyone die? Were anyone hurt?" Jaune asked calmly.
"Eh, no? I don't think so?" Ruby answered somewhat confused. Having expected the conversation to have gone a completely different way. "You aren't mad?"
"No? Why should I? No one got hurt or died, right?" Jaune answered like it was obvious.
"But… but… last time…"
"But last time you stepped onto an active battlefield, with dust in multiple volatile states, scattered corpses and critically wounded people." Jaune deadpanned. "This and that are two different things."
"Ohhhhhh…"
"I never took you as someone so pragmatic, Jaune. You do tend to wear your heart on your sleeves." Weiss said good naturally, taking her eyes from her letter for a moment.
"It is what it is." Jaune shrugged. Shoulders slumping as he sighed. "But on a completely different note. I could need some advice."
"If this is about the upcoming dance, then no." Weiss deadpanned, already gotten multiple invitations, from boys and girls alike. All of which had been politely declined.
"No? I was more going to ask, between doing the hard but right thing, and easy and wrong thing, what would you do?" Jaune said with a half-hearted smile. Eyes not as much looking at her as looking through her.
"Are you sure this isn't about asking someone out?" Ruby asked carefully, teasing smile on her face. Ignoring the churning in her gut as Jaune looked hauntingly like her dad when he was in his deepest depression.
She and Yang had thought the worst was over with they had their dad back, cracking jokes and smiling like nothing had happened. The faraway looks were far and few between, they didn't think anything about it, to happy to have their father back. That was until one night she woke up from a nightmare, not wanting to wake her sister she snuck into dad's room. Finding him sitting on the bed with empty eyes, running a length of coiled rope between his fingers.
When he saw her, the rope disappeared from his hand before she could blink. He caried her back to their room and tucked her in. Next day the rope disappeared from dad's room, she never saw it again. But some memories stayed forever.
She didn't understand then what the rope meant, only finding out when she was older. But that her best friend had the same eyes, and asked such a loaded question, put her on edge like nothing else.
Glancing over at Weiss it was clear that while the rich heiress didn't understand her worries, she also picked up something from Jaune's demeanour.
"No, I'm not going to ask someone out for the dance. Sure, it would be fun, but I'm just not feeling it. I may go around dancing, I'll even step in if your date stands you up or something like that if you want." Jaune sighed out. "It's just that I have so much on my plate, and I'm not exactly in the right headspace to date right now. Maybe after the tournament is over, or when I can catch a breather."
"If you say so~" Ruby sing-songed with fake cheer. Eyes hardening as she turned serious, after all, a serious question demand's a serious answer. "Then the hard but right thing, no hesitation." Weiss nodding at her words.
"Yes, I was afraid of that." Jaune sighed, looking ten years older. Squaring up his shoulders, he gave her a lacklustre smile. "For the greater good, huh? Yeah, I can do that." He mumbled softly to himself, for a moment coming of larger than life. Blue eyes burning in reluctant resolve, back straightening up, coming up to his full height. A small smile blooming on his face, sharp around the edges, but shinning with kindness. A far cry from the strained smiles that had adorned his face lately.
As quickly as it came, it was gone, leaving Jaune, just Jaune. Even if he stood tall with his back straight, he was still her Jaune. A kind asnd friendly smile on his face as he looked lighter, shadows hiding in his eyes pushed away. Seemingly having made up his mind about something. What something Ruby didn't know, but it seems to have troubled him.
His smile rapidly fell as Nora stuck her head into the room, head snapping towards Jaune with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "There you are fearless leader. You didn't think you could sneak away from unpacking, could you?"
With that, she grabbed Jaune by his shirt and dragged him out, only barley managing to grab his coat and vest before waving goodbye. Leaving a heavy silence over her and Weiss.
"Is it just me, or is something up with Jaune?" Weiss asked carefully, still looking at the spot where Jaune had just been dragged from. "I can't quite find the right words, but he seems to be present but also not sometimes. Almost as if he can switch between two personalities on the drop of a hat. It reminds me of one of our butlers back home. But he is also nothing like Jaune."
"Jaune is…" Ruby started before sighing and collapsing back into bed. "Jaune is not in the right headspace. He is getting better. But it often gets worse before it gets better. He needs love and support, not to be criticized."
With that the conversation was as good as dead, Weiss going back to writing her letter, humming lightly to herself. Sighing, Ruby pulled up her scroll and started a random game. Wanting to get her mind of things.
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Note: Don't worry, the ten rune slots come with some caveats. Not everything is as it seems.
Note: Chapters will be more spread out as I'm studying for my exams. I'm not going to drop the fic, but it's a warning that some updates might be more far between as we are getting closer to exam time. Don't worry, I have mostly planned out most up to the tournament and have a general outline for plot points until the end of the current arc. Just have to write them.