Tuesday had come and gone, and Jaune hadn't asked Neo what she did or who her partner was. He was going to ask her on Friday for sure, but how do you go up to your friend, and confront them about being honest about their work as a criminal? How do you tell them that you already kind of know who they are, and who they work with because they slipped up a couple times while you two were talking about your lives?
Jaune had been spending his little free time between studying pondering on how to answer these questions over the last four days. If it would really mean he would be safer knowing for certain then he would ask her to tell the truth, and trust that she would. Around him the halls of Beacon were bustling with activity. Students buzzing around like insects, even some of the teachers moving through the crowd as the last class of the day had ended.
Today he hadn't eaten lunch, opting instead to study (take a nap) in the library. He felt slightly better after that, but not well enough to not sleep through Ports class. Luckily nothing important happened as someone had distracted him, and got him to tell an unrelated story to the lesson. In another lucky break the professor managed to forget about the assignment he had planned to give out.
Feeling more rested than usual Jaune finished his work from his other classes quicker than usual. Maybe he could get in a little weight training, and cardio in tonight. He hadn't run in almost a week, and he enjoyed running. The monotony of the action gave him time to think, and push himself harder.
Every day was about getting better, about catching up, about proving himself right. Proving everyone else wrong was worthless. Sure there was the satisfaction of knowing that you surpassed expectations, and left someone looking dumb. But why would you want to focus on them when you could show yourself, and the people that believe in you that you and them made the right choice.
Beacon's gym was nearly empty at this time of the evening with most students spending time with their team or studying. Tonight was no different with only three people in the gym besides himself. The first two he recognized as the two giants from team RACT, the last one he also recognized.
Yang sat at a machine fly, and Jaune watched for a moment, as she worked her chest, and quickly turned away. He had enough sisters, and respect to not stare (for too long anyways). Finding an empty space, Jaune starts lightly stretching. His muscles tight from sitting almost the whole day.
"Yo! Vomit Boy." Jaune, and the other two huntsmen in training working out turn to look at the girl who had shouted in the nearly empty gym. "Over here."
Heading over to the girl, Jaune responds "Hey Yang. I didn't see you when I came in."
"You about to work out?"
"Yeah?"
"Sweet. I just started myself. Want to work out together?"
Jaune shrugs "If it doesn't bother you, then sure."
Going back towards the machine fly, Yang sits down. "I have two more sets, you can go on between, and then we'll move on to the bench."
"Today's chest, and arm day for you then?"
"Ugh!" Yang grunts as she pushes the bars towards eachother "Yeah, but if you want to do other things I can work with that."
"I usually work a little bit of everything, and finish off with a run, but if it's chest day for you then I can join you for that."
"Nah. Lets try what you do. Switching it up can be a nice break sometimes, and I want to see what ya got vomit boy!"
"Alright lets finish this then we can start on my routine." Jaune chuckles
He may not have the biggest muscles, but as they rotated around slowly, and worked out Yang had to wonder if he was getting the most bang for his buck. They were fairly even in strength it seemed, some workouts she would be better at, and some he would do better.
"Damn Jaune, I didn't know you packed this much heat." Yang laughed, as she placed herself under the bar. The weights on each end making the bar sag. An impressive feat for any at Beacon with how strong the equipment was. "I still pack a little bit more though."
Yang squats down, and up four times. Jaune's hands ghosting over her waist as she completes each rep. "Come on Yang!" Jaune shouts as she struggles to get up. As she stands and pants, Jaune urges her to keep going "I know you got one more in you!" Yang slowly drops back down her muscles screaming at her.
"RAGGHHHHH!" She screams, her legs shaking violently as she completes her final rep scaring the other two men in the gym. The bar rises slowly as it's wielder straightens her legs. Jaune Places his hands on the bar after she finished the final rep, and guides it into its proper spot. The metal clacking as it's set down "What's. After. This. Jaune?" Yang pants
"Dips, and Pull ups, then we've only got the run after that."
"Awesome. Should give me enough time for my legs to recover a little bit." Yang stretches her legs pushing a bit of aura into them for a slight recovery boost for the run they would be doing soon.
Switching between dips, and weighted pull ups between the two both Yang, and Jaune were feeling the burn. Now they had time for a small break before running at the very least. "So Jaune. Since I've got you here. Where do you go when you're down in Vale every Tuesday, and Friday?"
"Training." The knight answers quickly before taking a sip from his water bottle
"You gotta give me more than that."
"One of my friends in the city helps me train, and get better at fighting."
"Why don't you just ask Pyrrha? I'm sure she'd be down to help."
"I don't want to bring her down her more than I already do."
"Jaune, you know she would help you in a heartbeat. She doesn't see you as a burden."
"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I am one to her, and my team. I don't want to be the reason we don't make it back one day. It's why I need to be strong on my own."
The silence in the room is deafening. Jaune, and Yang were the only two in there now so any other noise was gone. "I understand what's that like…" She says softly, breaking the silence. The downtrodden look on her face dies a quick death as a bright smile takes over her features. "Let's get to running. You've done pretty good so far, but now lets see how you hold up against the big sister who had to deal with Ruby's semblance growing up."
"I think I'll manage to surprise you" Jaune says hopping on a treadmill, the brawler stepping on to the one right next to him.
A mile on. Both were finally warmed up, and really starting to feel themselves. Yang had been faster to start out with, and ribbed Jaune a little about it, but both of them were having fun.
Five Miles in. Yang was sweating now, but still going strong, and feeling good. She had chased Ruby farther than this, and ran like this with her dad so she could see how a real huntsman does it. Jaune had managed to catch up distance wise, and Yang decided to push herself even harder to pass him back again.
Ten miles running. She was at her limit. Jaune had passed her comfortably a while back, but she would be damned if she let Jaune show her up this bad. He had started sweating, but wasn't breathing as heavily or relying on the handrails occasionally like she was.
Twelve Miles. She had passed her limit a mile and a half ago, and was speed walking now. Panting, and drenched with sweat she watched Jaune keep running at the same pace as before.
Fifteen Miles. She was finally finished. She had sprinted the last mile, but even finishing as strong as she could wouldn't help her catch up with Jaune who had been sprinting the last twenty minutes. His legs glowing as he forced aura into them to go even faster.
"Huff! Huff! Are you a damn robot or something?"
"What?"
"How did you keep up that pace for fifteen straight miles, and still have the energy to jog and sprint while I was finishing?!"
"I ran 26 miles. I've been doing long distance running as part of my training for Beacon? Do you not run that much?"
"Nobody in their right mind runs that much! I'm going to have to start calling you the Robot Boy instead."
"Next time I'm in the gym do you want to work out again?"
"If I have to run with you, absolutely not."
"We don't have to run. Next time we can do something you want instead."
Yang perks up, and an evil grin spreads across her face. "Hand to hand. You want to torture me for an hour, I'm gonna get my getback. Just you wait."
"You didn't have to run with me." Jaune says using the bottom of his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow.
"You're sparring with me tomorrow, and thats that."
"Yang, I have to meet up with with my friend on Friday. I cant go and see her when you've turned my spine into powder."
"I don't care about your girlfriend! I just ran 15 miles with you. Least you can do is indulge me in some sparring."
"Fine… I guess it could be good to get some extra training in, even if it is just going to be punishment."
"Good. Be ready for tomorrow."
"Will do."
The two walk back to their dorms, talking softly about their home lives, and how it was being a brother, and sister in two completely different, but somehow similar families. Jaune even showed Yang the picture of him when his sisters captured him, put him in a dress and brushed, and styled his hair. She got a good laugh out of that.
"Goodnight Yang. It was fun having a partner to workout with, and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Just try and go a little bit easy on me alright."
"No promises. Night Jaune."
Jaune would end up fighting earlier than he had planned to on Thurdsay. Goodwitch called his name to fight today. Usually he fought a member of team CRDL. More often than not their leader, but today he was fighting one of the other behemoths in his year.
Nathaniel "Nate" Raine was a very large man, yet still only the second largest member of his team. Standing at a towering six feet eight inches, and built like he ate his yearmates for the protein. He was scary. Mostly because few knew him besides his team.
His combat attire consisted of a heavy neon green, and black longsleeve turtleneck shirt filled with thin armor and had extra padding over the elbows, and neck. Maybe it was cockiness, maybe it was confidence in the material that made up his clothing that he didn't wear more armor, and wore such a bright color. The tan cargo pants were similarly padded on the knees, and his large belt had shogun shell loops sewn into it.
His weapon was a war pick. The hammer side of the weapon was large, not as big as Magnhild, but still not fun to be hit by. The other end of was the pick side. Two large spikes jutted from the end of the weapon in the shape of a V, and slightly curved like the fangs of a serpent. The warpick was aptly named Snakebite.
It's massive shaft housed the biggest secret of the weapon. A 4 gauge dust shotgun. The warpick would shift only slightly when the shotgun was used making for a quick, and practical transformation when Nate seemingly cracked it in two. The handle would shift down, and a trigger would pop out allowing Snakebite to be used as a shotgun. The pick end of the weapon could then be used as rudimentary sights.
While not being the most advanced mechashift weapon it sure as hell packed a punch. It didn't help his foes that it was loaded with slugs. His buckshot dust rounds were used primarily for small and medium sized grimm. Slugs were for people, and the more difficult of the beasts. Even with aura getting hit by the slugs hurt like a bitch.
The two silently got their gear on in the locker room. It wasn't that they disliked eachother. Jaune, and Nathan harbored no ill will towards one another. It was just that they didn't really know eachother at all. They would be speaking with more than words in the ring anyways.
"Are you two ready?" Professor Goodwitch asks looking at the two combatants. Jaune, and Nathan nod in affirmation. "Begin!"
The first year huntsmen in training charge at one another. Nathan's long legs, and lighter kit helping him cross the distance in a blink, and leaving Jaune with less room than he would've liked. The hammer end of Snakebite slams into Jaune's shield he feels like someone just upped the gravity by ten times. He had enough strength to not drop down to a knee, but that didn't stop the ground from cracking beneath his boots.
When Nathan pulls back. Jaune lunges in taking the opportunity to stab and slash at his midsection. The sword biting, and causing Nathan's aura to flash. A heavy boot to Jaune's own stomach sends him careening back towards the edge of the ring.
Catching himself before he flew out, and was disqualified, Jaune managed to look up in time to see the large barrel of his enemy's gun, and heard the clicking as the weapon transformed. His shield went up right as the trigger was pulled.
BANG!
Jaune felt the round impact his shield before he heard it. The lack of any form of explosion or other effect told Jaune he had just gotten extremely lucky. Snakebite's owner loved to make his own improvised slugs with different effects. Jaune had seen some of the more nasty ones such as his one's filled with tear gas, "lava" slugs, paralyzers, and his dust rounds. He had even more on his belt, and depending on how this match ended up going he had a couple ones stuffed in his pocket to test out.
When Jaune started running at him Nate unloaded the shotgun each round crashing into the shield of Crocea Mors. The heirloom may not be fancy, but just like its owner it could take a beating like nothing else. Before he could reach onto his belt to reload Jaune hit him like a meteor. Nate slid back, and cracked the weapon back into its base form. He didn't have enough space to do much else.
Digging in, and using his semblance he stops the Arc from pushing him over the edge. Throwing him off, Nate ran at Jaune who was prepared for when he tried hooking his leg with the weapon. Jumping over the knight landed a clean blow on Nates face. The razor sharp blade of Crocea Mors stinging as the blade sunk into his aura.
"Pff!" Nate grunts as Jaune hits him in the stomach with the shield. When Nate had recovered Jaune was already swinging the sword down. Having just enough time to lift up Snakebite to block, Nate feels the full weight of the strike.
Pushing up, and away Nate uses his superior size and strength to get Jaune away from him. While a fairly difficult opponent to face now Jaune still was woefully underprepared, and didn't have enough experience or training to fight against the massive teenager. He was leagues better than he had been though. In matches a month ago Nathan would've won in a single hit.
Today was different though. Jaune was winning right now. His thoughts lie elsewhere though. Neo kept creeping into his mind. Thoughts of losing his best friend outside of Beacon were racing through his head as he fought against Raine.
The fangs of Snakebite dig into Jaune's back, and he's pulled into Nathan's waiting fist. The blow sends him reeling, and flat on his back. Scrambling to his feet. Jaune narrowly avoids the hammer as it smashes into where his chest just was. He had to take the opportunities he was given right now if he wanted to win this. It's what Neo taught him after all. Hesitation will get you killed or in his case maimed by a tiny Psychopath.
Jaune dove in headfirst at Nathan.
Thrust.
Block.
Swing.
Deflect.
Jump back.
Block.
Click
Block.
Deflect.
Punch with shield.
Each movement success or not kept Nathan on his toes. Each time a strike landed whether a graze, or a solid connection it felt like a win. Jaune's aura was slightly higher than Nathan's. If he could land a few more solid hits then maybe he could win this.
Winning a match like this would help prove to himself that he belonged here. A real fight. One step closer to being a good leader for his team. One step closer to showing that he wasn't just wasting Neo's time. One more step closer to being strong enough to protect people, and be the hero he wanted to be. One more step closer to being able to pay back Neo for all she's done for him.
His heart was pounding, and he could hear the rest of the students cheering the fight on. Team JNPR, and RACT were the loudest of the crowd, with team RWBY being a close third. Jaune had a chance.
When Nathan sped up, and started attacking more sporadically Jaune knew this fight was close to over. Both of them sweating as they traded blow for blow. Their auras could take the hits. Both of them knew that. Each attack by Jaune was met by Nate's own. Jaune felt more comfortable than he had in weeks. He was getting the hang of Nate's attack pattern right now.
His shield lifted to block a strike that never came. Instead fangs passed over the top, and Nathan pulled the weapon back catching his shield, and wrenching it from the blonde knight's hand. The force pulling him with it.
Jaune didn't have the time to lament the loss of his shield when he heard Snakebite crack, and shift into it's shotgun form. Jaune thought it might be a bluff until Nathan grinned.
It reminded him of Neo when she knew she had him. Jaune swung his sword with both hands. When he heard the air whistle they both knew it was over.
Nathan rammed the end of the weapon into Jaune's stomach. Pushing Jaune a couple feet away from him, and causing the knight to double over. Ripping back the bolt handle, and chambering the slug Nathan's grin grows even larger.
"Boom."
The classroom shook, and the two combatants vanished in the blinding light of the explosion. Goodwitch's barrier that protected the class from any stray projectiles or debri shattered from the pressure of the blast. When the smoke cleared only one person stood standing in the middle of the crater that used to be the floor of the ring.
The other was crumpled in a heap at the very edge of the arena. His aura flickering weakly as he lay there.
Goodwitch is the first to make any sound, "Mister Raine is the winner of the match by ring out. Please change back into your uniform, and sit down. We will be discussing your improvised ammunition after class."
"Professor Goodwitch, I didn't know it would cause an explosion that large."
"Leave Mister Raine. We will discuss this after class."
The students stood silent as Nathan exited. Their focus on the young blonde still laying on the ground. Goodwitch walked over to Jaune, and knelt besides him. Jaune started to stir, and Goodwitch helped him slowly sit up. He sat there for a while before shakily getting to his feet.
Collecting his shield, and sword from the rubble Jaune walked gingerly into the locker room. Goodwitch following behind him.
When Nathan exited the locker room he was met by dirty looks from team RWBY, and the remainder of JNPR. He got a few small cheers specifically from team CRDL, and his own team, but he paid little mind to them sitting back down in his seat silently.
"Next time go for the kill!" Cardin jeers at Nathan.
"If I get you in my next match I just might."
"So hostile. Aren't we supposed to be friends here?" the leader of team CRDL mocks.
"You almost got me, and my teammates killed because you decided to cut the bridge!"
"That wasn't us." Cardin shrugs
"Ozpin told us he watched you do it!"
"Then why didn't he have us kicked out?"
"Because you had already passed the test, and we hadn't. And apparently since we didn't die no harm no foul. A bunch of bullshit if you ask me."
"Throwing around some serious allegations. You talk a lot of shit for the third best fighter on his team."
The bear faunus on the team gets up, and slams his hands on the desk in front of him "He could still beat your ass you racist prick."
"We can go right after this. We got a free period, and I've got more than enough aura to deal with you" Nate threatens
"You've got to talk to Goodwitch for almost taking off Jauneyboy's head. Maybe tomorrow though. Also keep that animal on a leash. I don't want to get rabies."
"Screw it! We can go right now!" Nate lunges towards Cardin who's smiles, and crosses his arms.
"Mister Raine!" Nate stops in his tracks right as he's about to get to the brute. "It seems like you must really want to speak with me since you will be spending this evening, and tomorrow evening in my office."
"Professor he was being racist towards my teammate, and telling me that I should've gone for the kill against a fellow student."
"That's not true! He attacked me because I said he's a bad fighter and needs to figure out better ways to finish a fight!" The auburn haired leader of CRDL shouts in mock fear.
"You lying piece of shit!" Nathan jumps at Cardin, and he doesn't have time to react in any way but to widen his eyes. As his hands wrap around Cardin's neck Nathan is frozen in place. Slowly he is pulled back, and up into the air. His fingers are pried outwards painfully to get him off of the other boy.
"Mister Raine!" The teacher barks. "You are going to the headmaster right now! Exit my classroom, and walk straight to his office. I will ensure he will be expecting your appearance."
The light glow around Nathan disappears and he falls to the ground. His face baring his emotions to all in the class. Even when he turned around he couldn't hide his clenched fists, and the light shaking of his body.
Jaune passed Nathan as he re-entered the class room and wondered what happened for the boy to be kicked out of class. "Hey man." Jaune tries grabbing the other boys attention "I didn't mean to get you in trouble. I thought you did great. No hard feelings?"
Nathan doesn't answer Jaune, and keeps walking. Looking down Jaune feels a nasty sensation build in his stomach.
'Am I so weak that others just get in trouble for beating me now?'
Jaune sits down in his seat, and is almost swallowed whole by Pyrrha. The strongest member of his team grabbing him, and looking him over like a concerned mother. Pressing on him lightly to see if there was any damage beneath his clothes that she couldn't see.
"Pyrrha. I'm fine. You really don't have to do this." Jaune's cheeks redden as he continues to be groped by his partner.
"Nonsense! You just took an explosion to the chest that destroyed the entire arena, and probably would've taken out half of the classroom if Professor Goodwitch wasn't protecting us. I know your aura is strong, but I need to make sure you're okay."
"Pyrrha I'm seriously fine. If I wasn't I would tell you right? You're my partner after all."
Pyrrha finally pulls her hands back, and sets them into her lap. 'Would you tell me?' she wonders sadly.
"Seeing as the arena is too damaged to take another fight for today. We will instead continue our discussion from earlier in the class about how to limit civilian casualties when fighting another huntsman or powerful grimm…
"Mister Arc." The blonde professor's words ring out, and catch Jaune as he's about to exit the class. "I would like to speak with you."
The whole of JNPR stops, and Jaune waves them to go on ahead without him. "Of course professor."
"Let's talk about your match, and what you did incorrectly. Can you tell me where you made mistakes?"
"My footwork got sloppy as I started getting more tired. I didn't pay attention to my opponent, and let him load another round. I thought my opponent was bluffing when he shifted his weapon because I wasn't paying enough attention to him, and ended up getting knocked out of the ring. I didn't capitalize as much as I should have on his mistakes, and I'm sure theres even more I need to work out so I can maybe win next time."
"You would be correct on those criticisms of yourself, but you did fairly well against an opponent with a longer reach, ranged weapon, and more experience. Your match is not what I wanted to talk about primarily though. I want to talk about you falling asleep in the locker room last week."
"Oh yeah… That." Jaune rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "I was just really tired from studying."
"I know. The other teachers, and I have gotten several messages, sometimes quite late at night about where you are since you don't seem to return to your dorm more often than not."
"They don't have to worry. I'm just studying in the library. Weiss, Pyrrha, and Blake have all found me in there it's not like they don't know what I'm doing."
"You disappear into Vale twice a week, and come back looking like you've been assaulted by a gang. Half of the time you are here you're asleep in the library. It's completely understandable that your friends would be concerned when you don't come back."
"I'm just trying to get better. I'm trying to prove that I belong here. That I can be the leader my team needs me to be. That I won't get them killed, and even if they end up hating me I want to know that when the times come that I can be there. For them, and for Ne-my friends."
"I know Jaune. I felt the same way when I went to Beacon. I wondered why the headmaster would have let me into the school when everyone else was so much better, and more talented than I. I worked myself to the bone. My teammates grew distant, and I grew lonely. We all made it through Beacon, and I through my hard work had achieved the highest honors, but I didn't have anyone to celebrate with. I cared about my team I really did, and I tried getting closer to them during missions, and connecting with them over the breaks, but I was never there when they needed me to be there. I never got to experience what it was like to have the family that you build within these walls."
"But you were there! You tried, and you guys got to be huntsmen, and huntresses together!" Jaune shouts
"I wasn't done Mister Arc." The teacher chides, "Allow me to tell you a story."
"Sorry professor."
"A week after graduating from Beacon, we had our very first mission. We went to investigate a sighting of a hoard of grimm close to the border between Vacuo and Vale. The people in that village that saw the grimm had said there were 'a ton'. We being young huntsmen assumed they only saw fifty, maybe one hundred at the most. We guessed wrong. The first wave came, It was a little larger than expected, but we were officially huntsmen now and we got through it easily enough. Then the second wave hit. This one was bigger than the last one, and we were fairly tired by the time we got through it, but it's fine right we've been training, and have been on more than a few missions from Beacon. Finally there was the third wave. I wouldn't even call it a wave of grimm. It was a wall of them. Blacking out the sky. I knew there was nothing we could do but delay it long enough for the people to evacuate. I told my team, and they agreed. We called desperately for bullheads, and any other form of transportation to arrive as soon as possible to help empty the settlement. The second the answer came through on how long it would take. We knew that we would more than likely be dying there today we could probably evacuate the civilians, but the chances of being able to escape unscathed were near impossible. Our team was the strongest one to ever come out of Beacon at that point. It would only take us a single year to lose that title though." Glynda laughs sadly. "Maybe if I was focused on being a good teammate, and working on letting us be a single unit like most other teams were we would still be the strongest team to come out, but instead we were two separate groups. There were the other three, and then there was me. We fought together, but they didn't trust me to have their backs, and I didn't know if I could trust them to have mine. Hour after hour the grimm poured in, and we would ever so slowly push them back out over and over again, but then it happened. My partner went down. I remember exactly how they looked at me when it happened. I went over to help, but it was too late. I was supposed to have their back, but he didn't trust me and we had grown too far apart. I didn't even get a chance to get them to safety. They died right there in that spot, because they couldn't trust in their own partner to have their back. Our first mission, and we were already down one team member. Someone who I considered my friend, the closest person to me even if they didn't feel the same. We held out for 18 hours or so they said. I remember nothing, but the grimm, and my teammates dying. Our team leader died making sure the last two of us got back into the final bullhead that was leaving. 'I'll be right behind you.' are the last words he said. When we got into the bullhead we watched his aura break. Even through the windows, the jets, and the deafening screaming of all the grimm you could hear the faintest sound of glass shattering. He kept on fighting after that. We didn't get to see him die, but when the ocean of black overtook him we knew that he was gone. His partner ripped into me for allowing him to stay out there. Asked why I didn't just use my semblance, and drag him to us. She never liked me, but maybe she would've if I had taken the time to just get to know her when I first had the chance. When we made it to Vale we went our separate ways. I contacted her. Told her I was sorry, told her that she was right, and it was my fault, and maybe if I had been there for them instead of focusing all my time into making sure I was the best instead of making sure we were that we could've been an actual team. I tried to be there for her. I made sure to visit her, talk to her, and try to be her friend, but I guess she never trusted me in the end. She killed herself five years later. I never got to build the relationship in this school that is so important to teams working together, and living for one another. I threw that away because I thought that if I worked to be the best then I could be there for them, and then I would be the best teammate I could be. I was like you are now. Training, and studying every spare second. Never spending enough time with my team to learn, and build the most important skill. Trust in one another. The thought that I know this person so well that even in the worst situations, even when we're mad at eachother I know they have my back. I want you to remember this lesson. The best huntsmen are rarely the ones who go out alone."
"That wasn't your fault at all. You said you tried to connect with them over breaks, you did the best you could. It's different for me. I will be the reason my team dies, and it won't be because they can't trust me. It will be because I am too weak, and too far behind to help them. I'm a burden to this team. I don't belong here right now, but I will, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to earn my place."
"Jaune. If you didn't belong here, you wouldn't be here. I don't see a burden when I look at you, I see a young man who can be an excellent huntsman in front of me. I know it can be stressful to be a team leader, and I know better than anyone how it feels to be a burden. As long as you do your best, and show that you care about not just improving your own skills, and expanding your knowledge, but care about your team, and try to build a relationship with them as well then you will be a spectacular huntsman, and an even better leader. Being the leader isn't about being the strongest. If it was then Miss Nikos, and Miss Xiao-Long would be leaders, and if it was about who came in with the best grades, Miss Schnee, Miss Scarlentina, or Mister Tate would be team leaders. You were chosen because you have the potential, and ability to be what your team needs, to care about all of them, and to be there for them. Try to take better care of yourself, and spend some more time with the three other people who care about you just as much as you care about them. This is not an invitation to neglect your studies though. I expect you to be one of my best students, and that means to do your best, not work yourself to an early grave. Try not to let me down."
"Of course. Thank you professor."
"You do not need to thank me, it's my job as a teacher to help the students, and it's my job as a huntress to provide support however, and wherever it is needed." The teacher looks up at the clock on the wall through her glasses. "We have seem to spoken for a while now. You may leave, and please take my advice to heart. Do not forget that all of the staff at Beacon are here to help you grow. If you ever need help you don't have to do it on your own, even if you don't want to go to your team."
Jaune nods, and stands up from the chair he had seemingly fallen into while listening to Goodwitch. "Thank you again."
"Of course. I will see you in class tomorrow. Make sure to stop by the nurse's office as well. You were on the wrong end of a fairly nasty explosion, and I would be a poor teacher if I didn't at least send you to be checked out."
Jaune nods, and exits the classroom. Leaving the lone huntress with her memories.
When classes finished on Friday Jaune hadn't immediately left as he usually did. He spent the free/training period hanging out with his team and team RWBY. He tried heeding Goodwitch's advice, and tried getting closer with his team, working together with them on some team manuevers against Ruby, and her team. Unfortunately he couldn't stay completely focused as he laughed, and worked with his friends.
How was he going to do this with Neo? What was he going to say? Would she still be his friend? Would he still be able to get stronger if she wasn't training him? How could he repay her if he couldn't be there?
When the time came to go, Jaune left without a word to his friends. Too lost in thought to notice that they had stopped what they were doing as soon as he walked away. He didn't even remember the trip from the training rooms to the bullheads. His motion sickness didn't even act up besides a small deepening of the uncomfortable pit in his stomach that was already there from his worry.
He was at the warehouse before he even realized, and for a while he just stared at the building. Maybe he should just let the training go on as usual and not question anything. Jaune entered, and saw Neo sitting on one of the crates one leg over the other. She swung the top one lazily. When she noticed Jaune she pointed at her wrist in a silent 'where were you? You're late.'
"Sorry. Must've gotten caught up."
That was bullshit. Both of them knew it, but neither would admit it unless prodded. She had been watching Jaune through one of the high windows for a good 15 minutes.
When they started to fight there was something there that wasn't before. Hesitation from both of them. Their fear, and negative emotions showing in every move they made. Uncertainty in their rhythms. Usually when they fought there was always a sense of honesty in the flow of their movements. Something showing that they were being open with eachother even when they couldn't with words.
Now each blow was weak, and guarded in a way that an action as intimate as this should never be. The want to say something, but not knowing how or if they should. Secrets between friends could divide the closest people by chasms too wide to be filled with anything but the truth.
When Neo had gone to Junior's on Wednesday for a drink, and information gathering she had ran into the Malachite twins. When they asked to speak to her alone she was concerned, but decided to see what they needed. Maybe it could end up helping her. But, when they threatened Neo with telling Jaune about her real life unless she told him herself, her week immediately went to shit. That day was followed by failed dinner plans with Roman due to a surprise meeting with Cinder that she wasn't invited to.
"What is going to happen when you get him killed, because he didn't know who he was getting involved with? A dead huntsman in training isn't good for any of us. If you tell him then at the very least he knows what he's involved in due to association, and can leave before you unknowingly involve him in whatever fucked up scheme you've got going on."
The words of the twins kept running through her head. What if she did get him killed? Sure he was already going into a profession with an astoundingly high mortality rate, but dying saving people from grimm, and dying because you made the wrong friend were two very different things. The twins were also right when they said a dead huntsman in training especially a dead first year would be bad for business. The academy, the city, and freelance huntsman would be combing the city for months.
The spars between Neo, and Jaune ended differently tonight. Both of them panting, and sweating. His sword still gripped tightly in his hand as he prepared for Neo to make the next move. Jaune's aura was low, and the bruises from their previous bouts didn't disappear from his face. Even Neo had a few light scratch marks and welts from where she was too distracted to move out of the way in time.
Could she tell him without him hating her? Was the truth worth possibly losing the only person she had outside of Roman? Was he already too involved to leave even unwittingly? Cinder knew about him after all.
Neo wouldn't admit it to him or anyone else if asked, but Jaune was already the second closest person in her life. Sure they only met up once or twice a week, but he was always trying to be the best friend he could be. He deserved to know at the very least.
The two fought until Jaune's aura was gone, and the bruises turned to cuts. Both of them looking much worse for wear. They didn't know how long they had fought.
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably when he finally spoke, "Neo. I need to ask you something…" His voice was soft, meek, like he wasn't completely sure that he should be even talking right now. "I need to know who you work with, and what you do. I talked with a couple other people who I'm close to in Vale, and they told me that I need to know for my own sake. If they really are serious then please tell me."
Even if Neo could speak she didn't know if she could find the words. She couldn't even meet the knight's eyes. Too deep into her own head to notice Jaune was still speaking. Neo shakily reached for her scroll. Slowly typing the mute sends the message.
'I work with Roman Torchwick. We're thieves. Few people know I'm his partner, and your now one of those people.'
"Neo…" Jaune looks up from the message to see the girl standing perfectly still. He knew immediately what it meant.
She's gone.
Author's Note:
The weeks seem to fly by, and I though I would've had this chapter out sooner even if March is a fairly busy month for me. I'm sorry for the wait, and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and some of the new things I've introduced.
Not much meat to this chapter besides the end, and for that I apologize. I did give Jaune a fight outside of him and Neo though even if it wasn't the one between him and Yang. I didn't give him and Yang a fight this chapter though. Maybe I'll do that in a future chapter.
I did give some others a bit of shine though. Those being primarily Goodwitch, a tiny bit of Cardin, and one of the other background students I created. Coming up with the characters was extremely fun. I hope you guys liked Nate, and I want to know what you guys think of the background characters. Don't worry I'm not giving Cardin away to Nate, I just wanted to show that Cardin can get on everyone's last nerve.
I decided to give some Goodwitch lore, and I thought her having a message behind the story, and being able to help someone with her own experiences would be nice. Will her message about spending time with his team stick with our resident fraud knight after his best friend in Vale left him though?
As always though I hope you enjoyed the chapter and enjoy the story. Feel free to leave a review, and tell me what you do and don't like as well as any theories or ideas you have. I love reading all of the reviews and I hope you all have a great day, night, morning or whatever time it is.