Next chapter. Nearing the end. Just a couple more chapters to go.
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Jaune stumbled into yet another cave, panting heavily, his entire body aching from a combination of exhaustion, panic, and what he could only assume was the universe's personal vendetta against him. His legs felt like lead, his arms trembled from gripping Crocea Mors for dear life, and his face was sticky from a combination of sweat and fruit juice. He slumped against the nearest wall, sliding down until he sat with a heavy thud.
For a few blessed moments, he simply existed.
The jungle outside was still filled with distant shouts and rustling movements, but at least none of them were immediately closing in on him. He'd actually managed to lose the horde of crazed Belladonna simps, which was frankly miracle considering how loudly he'd been screaming while running for his life. He didn't know if it was dumb luck or if they had gotten distracted fighting each other, but he wasn't about to question it.
His chest rose and fell in deep, shaky breaths. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his head rest against the cool rock behind him. He could do this. Jaune swallowed, his throat still dry from all the running and panicked yelling. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to calm down. This whole tournament was the stupidest, dumbest thing he had ever been a part of; and he'd fought against team RWBY in a food fight. But if he just focused and took things one step at a time, he could win this.
And when he did?
Jaune could already picture it. He'd look Blake in the eye, shoulders squared, and with all the confidence of a man who had just survived the worst three days of his life, he'd say:
"No thanks."
The words alone filled him with a sense of cathartic relief. He could already see it. He'd stand there, exhausted but victorious, and Blake - who probably wanted this nonsense to end just as badly as he did - would nod, maybe even shake his hand, and they'd walk away like civilized people. No romance. No weird love declarations. Just mutual understanding and, hopefully, a shared agreement that everyone else in this competition was completely insane.
And then...
Jaune exhaled, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. Then he could go back to normal life. No more love-struck lunatics trying to decapitate him. No more battles over Blake's affection...or her 'booty'. Just regular, peaceful Beacon life where Team RWBY did constant property damage that cost the city millions but somehow never got into trouble. He'd go back to training with Pyrrha, hanging out with Ren and Nora, and- oh crap, Pyrrha.
His stomach twisted uncomfortably as his mind replayed what had just happened. Pyrrha, jumping in to protect him like the unstoppable warrior she was, standing strong against the crazy greatsword guy...only to get swatted away like a ragdoll because she wasn't attracted to Blake. Jaune groaned, covering his face with his hands. That was so stupid. The entire tournament was stupid, but that? That was next-level, brain-meltingly stupid.
And yet, she still tried. Even knowing she wasn't part of the competition, even knowing she had no advantages, she still came crashing down from the sky just to help him. She hijacked an airship, for Brothers' sake! And what did she get for it? She was probably still lying in a bush somewhere, contemplating all her life choices.
Jaune sighed, dropping his hands and staring up at the cave ceiling. He owed her. Big time. She was one of the only people in this entire mess who actually gave a damn about him, and she'd nearly gotten herself flattened for it. He needed to make it up to her. Somehow.
Maybe he could cook her something? That seemed fair. Pyrrha was always the one taking care of him, making sure he ate properly and didn't accidentally set himself on fire during training. He wasn't the best cook, but he could at least put something together as a thank-you meal. Or, at the very least, he could just listen to her for once. She was always the one encouraging him, helping him train, and pushing him to be better. Maybe it was time he did the same for her.
Jaune sat up a little straighter, rolling his shoulders and shaking out the tension in his arms. He could do this. It was all simple.
...Okay, not simple, but at least he had a plan. Or an overarching goal. Whichever.
Now, all he had to do was make sure he didn't die before he got the chance to actually do any of it.
And judging by the distant sound of something exploding outside, that was going to be easier said than done. Jaune sighed, dragging his hands down his face, "I hate this tournament so much." But even as he said it, he pushed himself up, adjusting his grip on Crocea Mors and schooling his face into a neutral expression.
He wasn't going down without a fight.
Jaune took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever fresh hell awaited him outside. He'd lost the horde of crazy simps, found another cave, and managed to regain his bearings. Things were looking up.
Which, of course, meant that things were about to go very, very wrong.
As he stepped outside, bracing for another chase sequence or an impromptu beatdown, he instead blinked in sheer disbelief. Bodies. Not dead bodies, thank the Brothers, but unconscious, groaning, absolutely wrecked bodies were sprawled across the ground like the aftermath of a particularly violent food fight. Jaune's gaze darted across the scene. Broken weapons, shattered Scrolls, and even a few makeshift banners with "Blake is Love, Blake is Life" scrawled across them littered the battlefield.
His eyes drifted toward the center of the chaos, where one person stood, scowling with such pure, unfiltered irritation that even Jaune - who had no idea what was happening - felt his survival instincts kick in.
Uh...what was her name again? Cinder...Autumn? It was something seasons related. That weird transfer student who looked way too old to be a first-year. She stood tall amidst the carnage, her arms crossed, an aura of sheer, radiating annoyance rolling off her in waves. Her scowl deepened when she turned and locked eyes with Jaune, like he was the cherry on top of the terrible sundae that was her day. And she looked she was gonna do something about that.
Jaune's survival instincts immediately overrode his brain, and he threw his hands up like he was under arrest, "I'm not in love with Blake!" he blurted, voice cracking slightly, "I just want to survive!"
Cinder's expression flickered. The scowl didn't disappear, but something in her eyes shifted. She took a step forward, her fiery gaze scrutinizing him with the intensity of someone trying to determine if he was worth vaporizing on the spot, "...You're serious?" she asked, her voice slow and measured.
Jaune nodded frantically, keeping his hands where she could see them, "Yes! Yes! I didn't even know what this tournament was when I signed up! I thought it was a school trip! I don't have a crush on Blake - I barely talk to Blake! I didn't want to be here!"
Cinder narrowed her eyes further, her fingers twitching slightly like she was deciding whether or not to launch him into orbit, "Hmph. You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes!" Jaune yelped, "And...And an Arc never goes back on his word!" He wasn't sure why he added that, but it felt right. Like something his dad would say if he was trying to survive his way through the most embarassing battle royale in history. Even more embarassing than the Vacuo Cheese Wars. Yes, wars plural.
Cinder studied him for a long, agonizing moment. The wind rustled through the trees. Somewhere in the distance, a bird cawed ominously, as if sensing the sheer tension of the situation. Then, at last, she sighed, "...Fine."
Jaune blinked, "Wait, what?"
She crossed her arms again, but her scowl lost some of its edge, "If you're telling the truth - and I will know if you're lying - then that means you're just as much a victim of this ridiculous spectacle as I am."
Jaune slowly lowered his hands, still wary, "Uh. Yeah? I guess?"
Cinder's amber eyes flickered back toward the unconscious simps at her feet, "This," she said, gesturing vaguely to the disaster zone around them, "Is beyond absurd. I came here to make sense of the madness. But instead, I've had to endure a day of desperate, lovesick idiots treating Blake Belladonna like some kind of divine figure."
Jaune scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "Yeah, that's been my experience too. Except with more running."
Cinder exhaled sharply, shaking her head, "I refuse to let my reputation be tarnished by participating in this. I'll win, of course. But the idea that I'd waste my time chasing after that smut-obsessed Faunus is an insult."
Jaune blinked, processing that, "...You're not in love with Blake?"
Cinder made a face like he'd personally offended her, "Of course not! I have standards."
Jaune exhaled slowly, lowering his guard just a little, "Oh. Well. That's...actually kind of a relief." She could've been lying, of course, but why would she? It wasn't like he could stop her if she really was another crazy admirer. He didn't have any traps, didn't have any time to prepare some kind of counter-attack.
She smirked, tilting her head, "Why? Afraid you'd have to fight me?"
"Afraid? No. Terrified? Absolutely." Cinder actually chuckled at that - low, amused, and just a little unsettling. Jaune gulped, "So, uh...what happens now?"
Cinder tapped a finger against her chin, humming thoughtfully, "That depends. You want to win, don't you?"
Jaune hesitated, "I mean...sort of? But only so I can say 'no thanks' and go back to my life. Really, I'd take losing if I had a guarantee that some insane simp wouldn't just beat the heck out of me to secure the win. Cause there's no chance any of these crazies will make it quick."
Cinder's smirk widened slightly, "Hmph. I almost respect that."
Jaune braced himself, "Almost?"
Cinder leaned in just slightly, eyes gleaming with something unreadable, "You do realize what this means, don't you?"
Jaune blinked, "...What?"
Cinder gestured to the battlefield, the unconscious bodies, the absolute mess she had left behind, "It means that, aside from myself, you might be the only person in this tournament who isn't powered by sheer, unhinged Belladonna obsession."
Jaune swallowed hard, "...Oh."
She stepped past him, walking slowly, like she was enjoying watching him squirm, "You'll never match Yang's brute force. And Adam?" She scoffed, "Let's just say he's...particularly motivated. I know that from personal experience." Jaune was tempted to ask what that personal experience was, but he held himself back. Cinder's gaze flicked back to him, considering, "But you're still here. You've survived. And if you really don't care about winning Blake's affection..." She trailed off, smirking again.
He tensed, "...Then what?"
Cinder tilted her head slightly, an almost predatory glint in her eyes, "Then maybe we should talk." Jaune shifted uncomfortably, still wary despite the fact that Cinder hadn't tried to incinerate him yet. She wasn't acting hostile - not yet, anyway - but that didn't mean he could just relax. He'd seen what she'd done to the poor idiots sprawled across the ground. If she wanted him out of the competition, she could probably snap her fingers and make it happen.
So, cautiously, he asked, "So...how exactly are you still here?" Cinder arched a brow. "I mean," Jaune said quickly, "You don't seem like you find Blake attractive. Pyrrha got oneshot just because she didn't. But you're still standing, and I know those guys weren't holding back." He gestured vaguely to the fallen simps groaning around them. He did find Blake attractive, objectively speaking. Not enough to fall in love with her, but enough that he wasn't immediately kicked to the stratosphere. He didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.
Cinder scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "Please. As if I'd fall to this." She kicked one of the unconscious students lightly in the ribs, making him wheeze in his sleep.
Jaune gulped, "R-Right, but that still doesn't answer-"
"I'm not in love with her," Cinder interrupted, rolling her eyes, "Let's get that straight. But." She exhaled sharply, almost begrudgingly, as if admitting something deeply unpleasant, "I do acknowledge that mangy cat is...attractive." Jaune blinked, thrown by how much she seemed to hate admitting that. He wasn't against saying Blake was attractive; pretty much every female student in Beacon was. No, the main issue he had was being airdropped into a battle royale because of it.
And no, he refused to accept any blame just because he signed up for that stupid form. Who put up something like that on the bulletin board?!
Cinder crossed her arms, scowling, "Annoyingly so. As much as it disgusts me, I can see the appeal. Pale skin, dark hair, amber eyes..." Jaune frowned. Something about the way she listed those traits felt...odd. His brain took a second to process before it clicked. Pale skin, dark hair, amber eyes-
Was she talking about Blake...or herself?
Jaune's mouth opened, then closed. He glanced at her again, really looking at her for the first time since this ridiculous encounter started. She and Blake did kind of...look similar, didn't they? Different styles, sure - Cinder had that whole elegant-but-murderous thing going on, while Blake leaned more toward 'mysterious bookworm who might stab you if you interrupted her reading' - but the physical similarities were there.
He decided not to comment on it for the sake of his continued survival. Instead, he cleared his throat, trying to move the conversation along, "Right. So, uh...if you don't actually want to win Blake's heart, what are you doing here?"
Cinder's scowl deepened, her gaze darkening as she turned away slightly, "I'm here-" she said slowly, "-to figure out why."
Jaune frowned, "Why...what?"
"Why her?" Cinder snapped, throwing a hand toward the screens hovering above them. So far, Port and Oobleck hadn't done any commentary. Probably because they were just talking instead of fighting to the (near) death for Blake's affections, "Why is she the center of all this? Why does everyone worship the ground she walks on? Why does this entire school act like she's some untouchable goddess? They're acting like they're fighting for...Helen of Mistral!"
Jaune squinted at her, the gears turning in his head. Oh, she was pissed about this, wasn't she? Jaune wasn't exactly happy to be stuck in this tournament, but Cinder? She wasn't just annoyed. She was offended. And now that he was actually paying attention, she wasn't just mad that Blake was getting all this attention. No, this was deeper than that.
She was mad that it wasn't her.
Jaune let out a slow breath, "So...just to be clear...you're not here to win Blake's affection."
"Absolutely not."
"You're here to figure out why everyone is fighting over Blake..."
"Yes."
"And not, say, someone more...deserving?"
Cinder's eye twitched, "I don't like your tone, Arc."
Jaune took a tiny step back, hands raised. Keep your stupid mouth shut, he told himself mentally, "Oh no, I'm just asking questions. Purely hypothetical. No assumptions at all."
Cinder narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him like she was debating whether or not he was worth keeping alive. Jaune held perfectly still, trying not to sweat under the intensity of her gaze. After a painfully long moment, she exhaled sharply, clearly still irritated, "This tournament is a joke. But if I'm going to be forced to participate, I will find out what makes that book-obsessed Faunus so special."
Jaune nodded slowly, "Uh-huh. And if you don't find a good reason?"
Cinder's smirk returned, sharp and predatory, "Then I'll just have to correct everyone's misguided priorities."
Jaune swallowed. Yeah. He definitely knew who she meant. Perfect. The one non-Blake obsessed person here and it was because she was a raging narcissist. Well, whatever, he could use this. He licked his lips, mind racing as he weighed his options. On one hand, Cinder was terrifying. On the other hand, so was literally everyone else. But unlike the other lunatics in this competition, she wasn't actively foaming at the mouth for Blake's affection. That put her in a rare, exclusive category of 'People Who Might Not Try To Kill Me Immediately.'
And he could work with that.
"Alright," he said slowly, lowering his hands, "How about we make a deal?"
Cinder arched a brow, folding her arms, "A deal?"
Jaune nodded, forcing himself to meet her gaze, "We work together. Take out the rest of these lunatics before they get us. You don't have to worry about being caught unaware, I don't have to keep running for my life. It's a win-win."
Cinder hummed, tilting her head slightly, her amber eyes flickering with intrigue, "And what happens when it's just the two of us?"
Jaune exhaled, already knowing he wasn't going to like what he was about to say, "I let you win."
Cinder's eyes widened ever so slightly, just for a fraction of a second, before narrowing in suspicion, "You'd just let me beat you?"
Jaune shrugged helplessly, "It's not like I could win in a fair fight anyway."
That earned him an amused smirk, "True."
"But," Jaune continued quickly, holding up a finger, "You have to promise me something." Cinder's amusement dimmed, but she gestured for him to continue, "If I let you take me out," Jaune said, straightening his back, "Then you promise to make it quick. No dragging it out, no beating me to a pulp while screaming about the Bellabooty, no weird declarations of dominance. I want it quick and clean. Like going to take your shots."
Cinder chuckled lowly, clearly enjoying his discomfort, "Aw. You don't want me to whisper sweet nothings while stomping your face into the dirt?"
Jaune shuddered, "I really don't."
Cinder's smirk remained, but she seemed to consider it. Her fingers drummed lightly against her arm as she eyed him, scrutinizing every inch of his expression, likely trying to see if he was serious or if this was some elaborate trick. Finally, she sighed dramatically, "Fine. If you hold up your end of the bargain, I suppose I can grant you a quick elimination."
Jaune let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, "Great. So, uh...partners?"
Cinder's smirk widened, but there was something distinctly dangerous about it, "For now."
Jaune gulped, "...For now."
But just as he was about to relax, Cinder leaned in slightly, her voice lowering into something more sinister, "But Arc?"
Jaune tensed immediately, "Uh. Yeah?"
Cinder's eyes gleamed, her expression still deceptively playful, "If you try to double-cross me, your death will be slow, painful, and very traumatizing."
Jaune swallowed hard, nodding rapidly, "Noted. Very much noted."
Cinder hummed approvingly, "Good." Jaune resisted the urge to groan. Well. He technically wasn't alone anymore. Yay? She tilted her head, still smirking, "Alright, Arc. What's the plan?"
Jaune wiped his hands on his pants, still feeling a little shaky from the whole 'making a deal with a crazy narcissist who could absolutely turn him into a human torch' situation. He pulled out his scroll and tapped through the interface, bringing up the latest update on the tournament's status. Twelve contestants left. He and Cinder were obviously still in the running, so six more unknowns. And then there were the two big problems.
Yang and that Adam guy.
He shuddered involuntarily. One was a walking wrecking ball powered by who wouldn't know proportional force if it smacked her in the face The other was...well, the other guy. Even looking at his little portrait on the list made Jaune uncomfortable. There was a darkness in that guy's eyes that screamed I should be locked up for a the good of Remnant.
Jaune took a deep breath, willing himself to focus, "Alright," he muttered, adjusting his grip on his scroll, "We can deal with this. We have to deal with this."
Cinder tapped her foot impatiently, "I'm waiting."
Jaune nodded, tapping the screen, "First, we lure as many people as we can into a trap. We thin out the competition, knock out as many as possible, and make sure we're the only ones left besides Yang and Adam."
Cinder's interest visibly piqued at that, "Hmm. Go on."
Jaune tapped a few more times, opening up the map, "Once it's just us and them, we let the two of them fight. Let them wail on each other, burn themselves out, and do all the hard work for us." He pointed to Adam's name on the list, "That guy? He's way too intense. I can tell that just from his freaking picture. No way he's walking away from a fight with Yang without taking some serious damage." Because he'd refuse to surrender or retreat. It was either win or (almost) die trying.
"Neither will she," Cinder added, catching on quickly.
Jaune nodded, "Exactly. Once one of them finally goes down, the other'll be weak. That's when we strike. Ambush them, take them out before they can recover, and boom. We win." A pause, "Or, well, you win. Just remember to keep your promise."
Cinder's smirk widened, a gleam of approval in her eyes, "I like it."
Jaune let out a breath, "Great."
"I especially like the ambush part," Cinder mused, her voice smooth, "Striking at enemies when they least expect it? That's very much my style."
Jaune gulped, "Yeah, uh...figured you'd like that."
"But," she continued, tilting her head, "That still leaves one question, doesn't it?"
Jaune blinked, "Huh?"
Cinder gestured vaguely, "The trap. How do you plan to lure the others into your plan?"
Jaune hesitated, glancing back down at the map. His fingers tapped idly over the screen, his mind racing. He needed somewhere open enough to control the battlefield, but with enough cover to set up something. He didn't know what yet, but something.
Then his eyes landed on a clearing near the center of the map. There. He tapped the location, looking up at Cinder, "Here. This is where we set up a trap."
Cinder glanced at the map, raising a brow, "Hmm. And what is this trap, exactly?"
Jaune grinned nervously, tucking his scroll away, "I'll explain when we get there."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, but the smirk never left her lips, "Keeping secrets already?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, "Not really, I just, uh, haven't exactly figured out all the details yet. But don't worry, it'll be a good one! And it's not like you have anything to lose, right?"
"And that map? I don't have one. Am I supposed to assume you just happened to have this island's geography on your scroll?"
"Let's just say I have a friend. I can't say any more; if I do, they might back out, and we're gonna need their help. The only reason I managed to survive so far is because of them."
"Considering the competition and your own lack of skills, they must be a valuable ally indeed. He winced. Did she have to be so blunt about it? Cinder chuckled, low and soft, "Fine, I'll play along. For now. Lead the way, Arc. Let's see if your plan is as clever as you think it is."
Jaune nodded, gripping Crocea Mors a little tighter as he turned toward the jungle. No pressure. No pressure at all.
Jaune wiped the sweat from his brow as he knelt in the center of the clearing. It wasn't the most glamorous work, but it was necessary. He'd spent the past thirty minutes scrambling around like a lunatic, gathering as much sand, loose stones, and anything remotely throwable as he could. His hands were dirty, his knees ached from crouching, and he was pretty sure he was starting to smell. He would've taken off his hoodie if he wasn't too shy to expose himself to whatever cameras were around.
If this plan was going to work, he needed ammo.
The clearing was the perfect place for it - flat terrain, plenty of loose earth, and just enough distance from the treeline that anyone stepping into the open would be completely exposed. All it needed was the right setup, and Cinder's Semblance gave them exactly what they needed.
She could superheat objects. Jaune wasn't a genius, but even he knew that meant they could weaponize this entire clearing. Superheated sand and stone? Those were projectiles. And painful ones, too. They might not take out the stronger contestants outright, but getting hit with a faceful of burning, molten anything was going to put a serious dent in their Aura. It was a simple idea, but effective. And he'd take any advantage he could get.
He glanced up at Cinder, who stood nearby, watching him him like an amused noblewoman observing a peasant struggle with farmwork. She wasn't helping, not even a little. She just leaned against a tree, arms crossed, amber eyes flickering with something unreadable. Jaune huffed, grabbing another handful of sand, "You know, you could help."
Cinder scoffed, "I could," she agreed, flicking a speck of dirt off her sleeve, "But why would I?"
Jaune groaned, "Because this is our plan?"
"Yes," she said dryly, "And you're the one gathering materials. I'll handle the actual attack. Or would you rather we switch roles?" Jaune said nothing, "That's what I thought. Hmph, this would be much more convenient if I had my minions."
Jaune paused, raising an eyebrow, "Minions?"
Cinder waved a hand dismissively, "You know. Subordinates. Useful people who do all the menial tasks for me."
Jaune's expression twisted, "You mean friends?"
Cinder snorted. It sounded weird coming from her, "No, Arc. Minions."
Jaune sighed, shaking his head as he went back to gathering stones, "Right. Of course." He was too tired to ask. She was a first year at 25. She probably had some weirdness to her.
Cinder continued watching him, tapping her fingers idly against her arm, "I don't see why I should get my hands dirty when I have you to do the grunt work."
"Because teamwork?" Jaune groaned.
Cinder rolled her eyes, "Charming, but no."
Jaune groaned again, tossing a particularly large stone into the pile with more force than necessary, "You know, if this doesn't work, you're going to have to fight Adam or Yang without my genius plan to soften them up." Granted, said genius plan was literally 'jump them when their back was turned', but you know what they said: if a plan is stupid and it works, then it's not stupid. Ruby knew that too. Who else would use a slingshot to take out a Nevermore?
Cinder's huffed softly, but she didn't argue. Instead, she exhaled through her nose and muttered, "This would still be easier if I had my minions."
Jaune shook his head, "Yeah, well, you've got me instead. Congratulations."
Cinder hummed, a glint of amusement in her eyes, "Hmph. I suppose I'll make do. Who knows, if you prove yourself useful, then maybe you'll have a spot in my inner circle." Jaune shook his head and kept digging. This would all be worth it in the end, he told himself as he stepped over to the edge of the clearing. The enemy of my enemy was my friend. And right now, he had a lot of enemies to deal with.
Jaune crouched low, fingers deftly working as he tied a snare into place. The idea was simple: trap as many people as possible before they reached the center of the clearing, making them easy targets for Cinder's incoming superheated barrage. Anyone unlucky enough to step in the wrong spot was getting yanked off their feet and left hanging like the world's dumbest piñata. And if they weren't caught in the snares, then the tripwires would do in a pinch.
As he tugged the knot tight, his scroll buzzed in his pocket. Jaune sighed. Right on schedule. He fished it out, answering the call without looking, "Before you say anything, yes, I know working with Cinder is a terrible idea." He looked over to his 'partner'. She was browsing her scroll and not even looking at him.
The voice on the other end was silent for a moment, "Good. Then why are you doing it?"
Jaune rolled his eyes, pulling a vine taut as he tested the tension in his snare, "Because I don't have a choice. You think I can just waltz into the finals alone and expect to take out Yang and that Adam guy on my own? Please. I've already used up all my dumb luck getting this far."
The voice hummed, unimpressed, "Even so, Cinder is...dangerous."
Jaune let out a dry laugh, "Oh wow, thanks for that revelation, mysterious jungle voice. I had no idea. Is it because she's obviously a narcissist? Or the fact that she unironically refers to people as minions and acts like saying I can be one is a huge compliment?"
"You're being flippant."
"I'm being realistic." Jaune moved on to the next snare, looping the vine through a branch with practiced ease, "Besides, at least this way, Blake doesn't have to deal with a crazy simp that wants her butt." The voice went silent. Jaune, too busy tying another knot, didn't stop to think about it, "I mean, yeah, Cinder's a whole different problem, but she's not that kind of crazy, you know? The last thing Blake needs is some nutcase thinking they own her just because they fought in some dumb island battle royale."
Another pause. Then, finally, the voice asked, "Why does that matter to you?"
Jaune blinked, pausing mid-knot, "...Huh?"
The voice repeated, slower this time, "Why does that matter to you?"
Jaune frowned, resuming his work, "What, do I need a reason to not want someone to deal with an obsessive creep? Call me crazy, but I feel like that should just be common decency." They were being trained as the future protectors of mankind. Considering no one (himself included...) helped out that Velvet girl when she was being harassed by Cardin and his team, they probably weren't doing a very good job. Maybe this was his own way of making up for it.
"You're not friends with her," the voice pointed out, "By your own admission."
Jaune huffed, "Yeah, well...so what? Maybe we're not friends exactly, but I've been through enough here to want to make sure she doesn't have to deal with someone like that crazy sword guy. No one deserves that."
The voice went quiet again. Jaune didn't really care. He had work to do. He tugged the vine tight and gave a small, satisfied nod, "Besides, you're the one who wanted a not-crazy person to win, right? If that means cutting a deal with Cinder, then that's what I'll do." He moved on to the next trap. Granted, Cinder was still crazy, but not the kind of crazy that would bother Blake.
"...You're kind of an idiot, aren't you?"
"Hey! What's with the insults?"
"It was a compliment."
"Really? Doesn't sound like it." Jaune sighed and got back to work. Stupid jungle voice.
Jaune tied off the last snare, stepping back to survey his handiwork. The traps were set. Vines strung high, tension just right, everything positioned to catch as many unsuspecting idiots as possible. It was almost beautiful in a way. A deathtrap masterpiece. If he made it through this alive, he could imagine himself being the first ever trap Huntsman. Using actual Hunter methods against the Grimm. Yeah, that sounded cool...
Now all that was left was the hard part: actually getting people to walk into it. Jaune sighed, rubbing his temples, "Alright, I did my part. Now how the hell do we get six crazies to charge in here?" It needed to be exact. He couldn't exactly cover the whole clearing, just one part of it.
The voice hummed in his ear, their tone unreadable, "I have an idea."
Jaune frowned, "Oh yeah? What-"
His scroll vibrated, and a notification popped up. New message received. A picture attachment loaded on his screen. Curious, he tapped it.
And instantly regretted everything.
Jaune's brain short-circuited. His face turned a deep shade of red as he visibly recoiled, nearly dropping his scroll as he staggered back, "What the hell?!"
It was a picture of Blake sitting in a chair. One hand was lifting her shirt, exposing a very lacy black bra with intricate patterns that drew the eyes. The other hand was- oh Brothers, nope, nope, NOPE. His eyes flicked downwards. The zipper of her shorts was undone, the white fabric pulled halfway down her legs to her knees. The white fabric contrasted starkly against the black-purple stockings. He only noticed then that the fabric didn't come up to her waist, instead stopping at her creamy, pale thighs.
And yep, there were her panties. Black lace just like her bra with similarly shaped patterns.
Her face was mostly blank, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks, just enough to imply she was flustered but not enough to completely break the unreadable expression. Her eyes were half-lidded, amber eyes staring straight into his soul in silent judgement. Technically, nothing was explicitly exposed. Technically, it wasn't the worst thing he could've seen. The voice could've sent something way more graphic. But in some ways, that made it worse. Much, much worse.
Jaune clapped a hand over his burning face, willing himself to forget what he just saw, "How did you even get this?!" He briefly wondered if the voice on the other end was Blake before disregarding it. No chance she'd send something like this to him, even if she was desperate for him to win. No, it had to be someone else on team RWBY. Ruby wouldn't send this either. Weiss or Yang, maybe? The voice sounded haughy enough for Weiss.
No, he didn't have time to think about that now.
The voice on the other end didn't sound remotely fazed, "That's not important."
Llike hell it's not!" Jaune yelled, still looking anywhere but his screen, "Why do you have this?!"
"Focus, Arc," the voice said, completely uncaring of his embarassment, "Send this to the remaining six contestants."
Jaune's stomach dropped, "What?"
The voice continued, calm and measured, "Send them the picture. Tell them you're Blake's soulmate and to 'come and get it'. Then tell Cinder to superheat one of the stones like a flare. They'll be on your like rabid dogs. Mindless, stupid, and vicious even when they're not dealing with rabies."
Jaune's breath caught in his throat. His brain scrambled to keep up with whatever deranged thought process was unfolding before him, "Are you-Are you telling me to bait the simps?!"
"Yes."
"That's insane!"
"No," the voice corrected, "It's effective." Unless you have another plan? Jaune opened his mouth to argue, but then his mind reluctantly processed why this could work. The lunatics in this competition weren't just competing for Blake's affection; they were obsessed. All it would take was one message. One declaration that he was Blake's "true love," paired with that picture, and they would come charging in a jealous rage.
Right into his perfectly laid-out trap.
Jaune dragged a hand down his face, "...This is the worst thing I've ever done."
The voice didn't hesitate, "No, it's the smartest thing you've ever done."
Jaune groaned. He was going to hate himself for this, but...if it got him one step closer to ending this tournament and getting his life back...
He exhaled through his nose, steeling himself as he pulled up the six contestants' contact info. Their scroll numbers were listed alongside their names. Trackers were off though, so it was really only useful if you wanted to send a taunting message to a rival. Spice up the fights. Jaune hadn't gotten any messages the whole time, and he was hoping he could keep to that.
"...I can't believe I'm about to do this." Jaune's fingers trembled as he pressed send, his breath hitching in anticipation of the inevitable storm that was about to break. For a few agonizing moments, there was nothing but silence, a brief, fleeting pocket of peace that almost made him believe that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't work as expected. SUre, he'd need to come up with a different plan, but it was better than literally poking the Lancest nest.
Then, his scroll exploded.
Notifications poured in with the force of an avalanche, his screen lighting up with furious messages one after another, a flood of raw, unfiltered outrage so intense that Jaune physically recoiled. He barely had time to read half of them, but from the few glimpses he managed to catch between rapid pop-ups, it was abundantly clear that his message had done exactly what it was supposed to do.
"YOU LYING, FILTHY ARC!"
"YOU'RE DEAD! YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!"
"BLAKE IS MINE, YOU BLONDE RAT!"
"I'LL RIP YOU LIMB FROM LIMB AND DANCE ON YOUR CORPSE!"
"I'M GOING TO EAT YOU AND SHIT OUT WHAT'S LEFT!"
Jaune swallowed hard, barely able to process the sheer venom behind their words before he heard it - the telltale sound of an approaching stampede.
It started as a distant, ominous rumbling, the soft tremor of countless enraged footsteps colliding with the forest floor in perfect, synchronized fury. At first, it was almost surreal, something he could have easily mistaken for a passing breeze rustling the undergrowth, but then it grew louder. The tremors turned into full-blown quakes, the rhythmic pounding of enraged warriors moving as a single unit, every step radiating with an intensity that screamed murder.
Jaune's entire body stiffened, his muscles locking up with an instinctual run response, but he forced himself to stay still, his heart hammering in his chest as he clenched his fists. He had to wait. The timing was everything.
And then...they emerged.
Half a dozen figures burst through the treeline in a frenzied, frothing rage, their eyes blazing with the kind of unhinged fury that only a deeply personal betrayal could bring. Their faces were twisted into expressions of pure wrath, their teeth bared, their weapons clutched so tightly their knuckles had gone white with the sheer force of their grip. Four guys and two girls, but right now, they didn't look like men and women training to be Huntsmen. No, they looked like deranged beasts that would give the Grimm nightmares.
And were all coming for him.
"DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!"
The sheer volume of their collective war cry sent a spike of panic straight through Jaune's soul, but still, he waited. He waited until they were close enough that he could see the sheer desperation in their eyes, close enough that he could feel the heat of their anger rolling off them in suffocating waves, close enough that he was almost convinced they would tear him apart right then and there.
Then, without a second thought, he turned and bolted.
The instant he spun on his heel, the forest exploded with the sound of screaming rage, the horde giving chase with reckless abandon, their war cries shaking the trees as they lunged after him. Jaune pushed himself forward as hard as he could, every ounce of his focus dedicated to not tripping over his own feet as he weaved through the clearing, hopping over the carefully laid-out snares and avoiding the tripwires with the precision of a man whose life depended on it.
The six of them, too enraged and jealous, didn't notice the traps at all.
"URK?!"
"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!"
"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!"
One by one, the six enraged contestants ran straight into his traps, their momentum betrayed by the very ground they had been so certain would lead them to their glorious revenge. Some were yanked straight into the air, their limbs flailing wildly as they dangled from the trees like oversized, screaming pinatas. Others stumbled headfirst into snare traps that coiled tightly around their legs, yanking them back with brutal efficiency. One particularly unfortunate soul tripped over a cleverly placed wire and tumbled face-first into the dirt, his angry battle cry cutting off into a strangled wheeze as he was promptly buried under his own flailing teammates.
Jaune belly flopped with the grace of a beached whale and screamed, "NOW, CINDER! NOW!"
A wave of heat surged over him, the air around him distorting from the sheer intensity of it, and then-
A barrage of superheated projectiles shot over him, burning stone and sand slamming into the trapped contestants with ruthless, unrelenting force. The sheer impact of it was enough to send shockwaves rippling through the clearing, each hit accompanied by a fresh wave of agonized screaming as their Auras were mercilessly drained away, the makeshift ammunition eating through their defenses like they were nothing more than paper shields.
"AAAAAAGGHHHHH!"
"IT BURNS! IT BUUUURNS!"
"WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO MEEEEEEEE?!"
Jaune stayed down, belly flat against the dirt, hands clamped over his head as the onslaught continued. The heat was unbearable, waves of molten energy licking at his back as Cinder unleashed hell on the helpless simps, her attack so overwhelmingly destructive that for a brief, terrifying second, Jaune almost thought she had forgotten he wasn't the enemy.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the barrage stopped. Silence followed, heavy and absolute. Jaune cautiously peeled his face off the ground, blinking dazedly as he took in the devastation around him. The six contestants lay sprawled across the clearing, their bodies twitching, their clothes singed, their Auras completely gone. The smell of burning foliage filled the air, and Jaune could still see wisps of smoke curling up from where the superheated projectiles had landed.
It was over. It actually worked. Jaune groaned, rolling onto his back and staring up at the sky, sucking in deep, desperate breaths as his body finally registered that it was, for the moment, safe.
A shadow fell over him. Cinder stood above him, arms crossed, ambered eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction, her expression practically oozing confidence, "Hmph," she mused, tilting her head, "I guess you're not completely useless, Arc."
Jaune pushed himself up onto his elbows, still gasping for breath, about to throw out some half-witty remark about how technically, this whole insane plan had been his idea before he heard it. A deep, resounding whir cut through the clearing, followed by a sudden gust of wind that nearly knocked him flat again.
His head snapped upward just in time to see the massive, imposing silhouette of an airship descending from the sky, its sleek hull blotting out the sunlight as it loomed directly over the clearing. The sudden shift in atmosphere was immediate. Where once there had been the faint crackling of cooling stones and the groans of unconscious simps, there was now only the low, menacing hum of powerful thrusters holding the craft in place.
Before Jaune could even think to react, before he could so much as move, figures began dropping from the airship in perfect synchronization, each one landing with the fluid precision of highly trained professionals.
Huntsmen. A lot of Huntsmen. Jaune barely had time to process what was happening before they were already on the move, spreading out across the clearing with their weapons at the ready, moving with the kind of authority that made it painfully clear that this wasn't just some random inspection. This was an operation.
And Cinder was at the center of it.
Her smirk vanished in an instant, eyes widening ever so slightly before narrowing into a furious glare. Her entire body tensed, her fingers twitching like she was on the verge of igniting the entire battlefield all over again, but before she could so much as lift a hand, three of the Huntsmen were already on her.
She hissed like a cornered predator, dodging the first two attempts to restrain her before another Huntsman slammed a specialized suppression device onto her wrist, locking her Aura and neutralizing her Semblance in one swift motion. Her eyes burned with orange flames, but before she could do...whatever it was she was planning, a collar was slapped around her neck, shocking her horribly every time she so much as blinked.
"Get your hands off of me!" she snarled, thrashing violently as they forced her to her knees, but no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free. The collar kept zapping her all the while, the flames around her eyes starting and stopping constantly with every jolt.
Jaune, still sitting in the dirt in confusion, barely noticed when the last person dropped down from the airship, his presence somehow more imposing than the dozen Huntsmen already in play.
Ozpin.
Jaune's breath caught in his throat as the headmaster stepped forward, hands folded neatly behind his back, his ever-calm expression betraying nothing as he looked down at Cinder with something just shy of disapproval, "Cinder Fall," he said, his voice even and measured, as if he were addressing an unruly student instead of a dangerous narcissist, "I trust you understand why we're here. I'm afraid your time in this competition has come to an end."
Cinder snarled again, her hair falling over her face as she glared up at him. Again, she tried to attack, but another jolt of the collar sent her sprawling face-first into the dirt.
Ozpin continued without a care, "We've been tracking you for quite some time," he said, tilting his head slightly, "However, your identity was only recently confirmed, thanks to an...unexpected informant. We had, of course, intended to deal with you sooner, but I regret to say it took some time to make the proper accommodations. Villains of your caliber require rather specific containment measures."
Jaune blinked, "Wait, what?"
Ozpin cast him a brief glance before returning his focus to Cinder, "Adam Taurus," he continued, "Has offered information on your presence in exchange for permission to participate in this competition. With that confirmation, we finally had everything we needed to bring you in." Jaune's blood ran cold. He had no idea what was happening. All he did know was that his ace in the hole - the only ally he had on the ground - was being taken away for...some reason.
Cinder screamed in frustration, lurching forward in a last, desperate attempt to free herself, but the Huntsmen moved with practiced efficiency, three of them already closing in and slamming her back down with precise, controlled force, "You bastard!" she spat, her voice dripping with raw fury, "You think you can just-"
One of the Huntsmen knocked her out before she could finish, their weapon striking the back of her head with just enough force to render her unconscious. Jaune flinched. The Huntsmen moved quickly after that, binding Cinder's wrists and ankles with reinforced restraints before hoisting her up and carrying her toward the waiting airship. None of them even glanced in Jaune's direction, too focused on their mission to acknowledge the stunned, shell-shocked blonde still sitting in the dirt, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"Uh- wait- hold on!"
The airship's thrusters powered up again, its engines roaring to life as the Huntsmen filed in one by one, securing Cinder's unconscious form before taking their positions. Jaune's mind finally caught up with what was happening, "Wait!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet, "Can I get a rid- "
The airship took off, kicking up a powerful gust of wind that nearly knocked him over again before it vanished into the sky. Jaune stood there in absolute disbelief, staring up at the empty space where the airship had been, his brain still desperately trying to process what had just happened.
They took Cinder. They left him. He was still stuck here...and both Yang and that Adam guy were still out there.
His knees buckled, and he slowly, helplessly lowered himself into a fetal position. This was it. This was how he died. His scroll buzzed. Jaune barely even reacted as it automatically accepted the call. The voice on the other end was quiet for a moment before finally speaking, "I'm still still here."
He rocked rocked back and forth.
"I'll still help you. You survived before Cinder, and you can survive now that she's gone."
He curled up.
"...Arc?"
Jaune groaned weakly, his entire body resigning itself to his fate.
The voice sighed, "...Just keep breathing. We'll make it through this. Together."
Blake let out a long, slow sigh, her fingers tapping idly against the armrest of her seat as she leaned back, gaze fixed on the screen before her. Jaune was curled up in the dirst, his entire body locked in the universal posture of I have given up on everything. The high-resolution camera zoomed in slightly, giving her an even clearer view of his expression - one of utter exhaustion, complete disbelief, and the unmistakable look of a man who had just realized he was well and truly screwed.
She didn't blame him.
It was down to three now - Jaune, Adam, and Yang. And despite how much she hated this whole ridiculous, mind-numbing farce of a competition, she knew that she had to do everything in her power to make sure Jaune won.
At first, it'd been a purely logical decision that came down due to the process of elimination. Out of all the psychotic, love-starved maniacs who signed up, Jaune was, without question, the least awful option. He was the only one who hadn't entered because of some deluded obsession with her, the only one who hadn't spoken about her as if she were a prize to be claimed, and the only one who hadn't spent the past few days screaming about his undying love for the 'Bellabooty.'
Granted, that was because he somehow mistook it for a field trip cause he was too dumb to read the damn paper, but whatever.
But now, watching him lying there in the dirt, rocking back and forth like a broken man, something in her chest twisted in a way that she didn't quite understand. Because Jaune had done something none of the others had done: He actually cared.
Not in the suffocating, unbearable way the others had that made her seriously consider faking her own death just to escape it all (It wouldn't have been the first time). No, Jaune had cared in a way that was...normal. He cared enough to worry about her, to think about what happened next and what her life would look like after this ridiculous contest was over. He'd cared enough to say that he didn't want her to end up stuck with some lunatic who saw her as a trophy.
And sure, maybe that was just the bare minimum, but honestly? After dealing with Yang, Adam, Ilia, and Blake for months, her standards were at rock bottom.
Blake shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers tightening slightly against her armrests, her thoughts moving faster than she was comfortable with. He hadn't entered this competition for her, but he fought to survive it. He'd gotten this far through sheer dumb luck, pure determination, clever planning, and, above all, a refusal to simply roll over and let himself be trampled by the horde of simps chasing after her. That was admirable in a way.
And, well...
He hadn't been eliminated in a single hit, had he?
Her gaze flickered to the screen again, to where Jaune was still curled up, shaking slightly, his entire posture radiating I do not want to be here. If attraction was tied to power in this ridiculous contest - which Pyrrha had proven given how quickly she lost - then that meant Jaune had to find her at least a little attractive. He hadn't been knocked out immediately, and even if that was only because of his absurdly large Aura reserves, it still meant that, on some level, he was at least physically attracted to her.
Which meant...
Blake exhaled, shifting again, her arms crossing tightly over her chest as she tried to ignore the sudden, unfamiliar warmth creeping into her face. Just maybe...it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe, if Jaune did win - if he somehow managed to survive Adam and Yang - maybe it wouldn't be entirely awful if he decided that he actually wanted to date her. It'd keep the rest of her fans away, and Jaune seemed...okay enough. Malleable. After dealing with Type A personalities for years, someone different could be just what she needed.
She shook her head. First, she had to make sure he won. After that...well, you never know.
Oh no, Blake's at it again. How's Jaune gonna win against Yang and Adam? I have no idea. Guess we'll see.
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Question:
1. Just curious if you guys changed your mind. Knightshade or Jaune still not into Blake?