Two chapters today.
Usually, I'll be posting one chapter per update. The exception to this is when several chapters fit together thematically and I don't want to merge them into one, massive segment. I strongly believe that each update should conclude in a natural fashion, otherwise, I wouldn't feel comfortable posting this story as a web novel, update by update, expecting you to follow along.
As always, suggestions/criticisms/complaints/typos/errant thoughts, are all welcome.
Jaune was exhausted when he boarded the Bullhead, collapsing into a seat in the back, entirely ignoring the other passengers. He'd missed his flight and had to wait nine hours for the next one out of Patch, finally departing in the middle of the night. He was lucky to find another so soon, and after sundown nonetheless. All the major airlines tended to avoid Night-time commercial flights unless they were transcontinental and escorted by a heavily armed guard.
The atmosphere on the ship was oddly subdued, with sporadic whispering he easily tuned out. Lit by dim yellow bulbs, and mostly quiet, it was pleasant enough, yet he couldn't get a wink of sleep. Staring out the window into darkness, he rubbed at his eyes repeatedly, seeing dark shapes in the clouds that seemed to disappear when he blinked and appear at the edges of his vision a moment later.
When his ship landed at Ansel's docks the sun was still down.
It was a quiet walk to town, down a trail that curved around pockets of wooded areas. The forest surrounding Ansel was rather sparse, purposely so, its edges shadowy and illuminated by standing, elongated lamps on one side of the path. Though Jaune was aware of how well-defended the region surrounding Ansel was, his skin still crawled with alarm and his eyes darted from one tree to the next. Thankfully, He wasn't alone, and he nodded blearily to familiar faces, unwilling to engage in more than the mandatory greetings. He recognized a trio of Huntresses, as well as a young couple he'd seen at the local grocery store. He pointedly ignored the curious looks thrown his way, possibly wondering what he'd been doing in Patch and why he was alone.
Ansel was a mid-sized frontier town, yet despite its size, it was home to a surprisingly close-knit community. The Arcs were especially well known here, as Nicholas had been a respected Funtsman, known for his humble manners and a presence that exuded serene confidence.
But those times had long passed.
After her husband's death, Juniper Arc refused to participate in any form of social event that even remotely resembled Huntsmen's business. She cut off all ties with her late husband's colleagues, separating her children from their childhood friends.
'Half the battle against the Grimm is fought inside the mind,' Nicholas Arc had written in an open letter to Beacon's Headmaster,
'and the surest way to lose that battle in the collective consciousness of tens of thousands of panicking citizens, is to have them contend with it in the first place. Time after time, my humble experience has demonstrated the failure of modern siren alarms.'
Ansel was surrounded by three concentric rings of defense, comprising of volunteer lookouts and at least five Huntsmen on call at all times. A ten-miles radius around
that was regularly patrolled and cleared out of any straggling Grimm. It wasn't perfect. A Wyvern had once slipped through and had caused a panic, drifting lazily over the town for a quarter of an hour before it was taken down by a Huntsman with a flight-adjacent Semblance. As far as Jaune knew, that was the closest Ansel had ever come to a brush with the Grimm. Nicholas had been furious, as the panic of a false alarm, even a short one, could result in months, years, of measurable increase in Grimm activity around the town.
As a result, they conducted yearly town-wide drills, and attendance in psychology classes was mandatory. These classes usually involved long, somber discussions, skirting around the importance of both long-term and short-term emotional management.
Grimm's attraction to negative emotions was a wildly accepted phenomenon. It was also the second most polarizing issue in current politics; an age-old question of short-term, versus long-term negativity in relation to Grimm aggression. Most notable figures in the international community claimed it was a fundamental right of every citizen, to be alerted to an imminent threat of possible physical harm and death.
'Fools.' Nicholas Arc had slammed his fist on the couch, the one and only occasion Jaune had ever seen his father in a fit of fury. The monitor showed the Vale Council standing in front of a clapping crowd. A middle-aged man with tousled silver hair, holding a cane in both hands, was speaking about personal responsibility, and his trust in the capability of the common man, woman or Faunus to rise above the darkness of their minds.
'Keeping them in darkness will save their lives, you senile artifact." Nicholas had raged until Juniper laid a hand on his back, whispering comforting words.
At the time, Jaune had been too young to comprehend the matter. Now, he was too conflicted to formulate his own opinion. Something in him inherently rejected the idea that non-combatants were so useless they were better kept in the dark. Yet, he'd witnessed the look of absolute defeat on his father's face after every mission. Who was he to argue with the assessment of a professional?
Those memories played in his mind with bizarre undertones, as Jaune crossed through a scruffy park and onto a gravel road that led to his neighborhood. It was hard to square the image of monstrous behemoths posing a threat to civilization with the peaceful row of residences laid in front of him.
He was miserably drained when he finally climbed the steps to the front door of his home. Yawning and shivering, Jaune braced himself against the doorframe as he fumbled with the keys to his family's two-story house.
"Jaune?" Sapphire Cotta Arc was half lying, half sitting on the stairs to the second floor, her head resting on one curled arm with her neck bent at a painful-looking angle. "You're back?" She mumbled, eyes fluttering open.
"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" He asked, bewildered.
Jaune expected shouting, maybe a slap, followed by a long list of punishments. He did not expect her to rush toward him and wrap him in a tight hug. He stood there awkwardly with his arms splayed out at his sides.
"We were so worried," Sapphire breathed into his neck.
"I apologize, but…why? I texted you back this morning." Jaune paused. "Or was it yesterday?"
She stiffened, her fingernails suddenly digging into his shoulders. "Your text, right. Very informative."
"Sapphire, you're choking me," he protested, trying and failing to shove her off.
"What were you thinking?" she accused in a taut voice. "Flying alone all the way to Patch, not returning our calls, lying. You
lied to my face, Jaune."
He winced at the hurt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Jaune said, "you weren't supposed to find out like that. I had to turn off my scroll during testing."
"Oh, I get it now." Sapphire let go of him, though still standing uncomfortably close. "It's
my fault for exposing
your lies, isn't it? How inconsiderate of me, sticking my nose where it doesn't belong."
"Technically…" Jaune trailed off when she raised her hand to pat his face. "…it's all my fault and I'm ready to receive my well-deserved punishment."
Her eyes bore into him, azure bright in the semi-darkness of early morning. "I thought you'd give up on this nonsense by now." She picked up her tossed scroll and slumped on the stairs, massaging her temples.
As tired and disarmed by her initial reaction as he was, her dismissive tone still managed to annoy him.
"With respect, I'd like to believe my resolve is not as fragile as that." Jaune made sure to keep his voice low. He'd hoped to sneak in and crash into bed before anyone could notice him, failing that, he'd preferred not to wake up the entire house.
"
Resolve is irrelevant!" Sapphire snapped, jumping to her feet. "You don't have the training or the talent. You can't just pick up a sword one day and become a Huntsman. If it were that easy, everyone would have been walking around with their Aura unlocked!"
"I do not wish to become a Huntsman."
The words came to him automatically, as he'd repeated this sentence more times than he cared to remember over the past months. Trying and utterly failing to assuage his family's ceaseless investigation into his newfound hobby.
It stung. That they would think so little of him to accuse him of something like that. He'd sat through Dad's lectures more times than any of them. Nevertheless, they wanted a better answer, and he couldn't give them one, because he didn't even have one for himself. Would he tell them about the Look? About his all-consuming need to become stronger? It sounded stupid even inside his own head, and so he'd stayed silent. Besides, if he told them, Derek's body would never be found. They'd always been overprotective.
"You what?" She glared at him.
"I do not wish t- "
"I heard you the first time, you oaf. Start making sense or I promise I'm going to scream and wake up the entire house."
That got his attention. He swallowed nervously. "Well, what is there to explain? I'll freely admit I wish to unlock my Aura, but I assure you, it's unrelated to the Grimm or being a Huntsman."
"But why?" Sapphire asked, probably trying to determine how truthful he was being. "You know as well as I do how useless it is for normal people."
"Then I see no harm in making the effort."
"There
was no harm while you kept this childish
fantasy limited to your leisure time," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "But recently it's all you've been doing. Mom told me she hardly ever sees you studying anymore or visiting your friend. You don't even spend much time with your sisters. Frankly, it's gotten out of control."
"I'm tired." He suppressed a yawn and rubbed his face. "Do you mind if we talk about this later?"
"Yes, I mind!"
Jaune winced at her raised voice.
"Tell me what you were doing in Signal," she demanded.
"I believe I already explained it in my text." Jaune frowned, annoyed. "I needed to get my Aura tested by a professional- "
"You don't have Aura!"
"Pardon, but in fact, I'm in possession of Aura like every other living being. Though It's yet locked."
"Don't get smart with me," Sapphire warned, "I'm well aware of how Aura works."
"Of course. My mistake," Jaune dipped his head lightly. "If so, I presume I don't have to explain AEM reading."
"Maybe explain how you were let in through the front gates."
"Forgive my confusion," he puzzled innocently, "but are you not familiar with the concept of gates?"
"Jaune, I swear- "
"Qrow," he quickly interrupted, "one of the teachers there, saw me lingering near the entrance. I convinced him to test me."
"A teacher…" Sapphire trailed off, obviously struggling to make sense of what she was hearing. "….at one of the most well-known and well-regarded combat schools, wasted his time on some naïve boy who doesn't even have his Aura unlocked?"
"Correct." Jaune nodded with assured confidence. "And I was worth his time, as it turned out." As cheap entertainment.
"Oh, really now," Sapphire scoffed. "Show me his glowing recommendation then."
Jaune wavered, unsure how he should respond to that. His body decided for him; before he realized what he was doing, his hand reached into his pocket and handed her a neatly rolled sheet of paper, much to Sapphire's mocking amusement.
"What's that?" She scrunched up her face in concentration, no doubt trying to decipher the dense print.
"My results of the AEM reading," Jaune explained patiently. "it's my predicted Aura profile."
"And?" Sapphire stared at him.
"And Qrow gave it to me."
"And?"
"And what?" Jaune frowned. "He gave it to me. He wants me to improve. You see, there are dotted ranges, where- "
"Did he say that?" Sapphire pressed.
"Well…"
"Jaune…" Her lips tightened into a thin line. "Exactly what were his words?"
Jaune sighed in defeat.
"That I suck." On a second thought, Jaune added, "or that I'm in luck." He paused for effect, but Sapphire did not look impressed. "Truthfully, I couldn't hear him over the screeching racket of the AEM, seriously, you wouldn't believe- Hey! Careful with that! "
The sound of crinkling paper was painfully loud in the quiet living room.
"Shut up," she said in a small voice.
"W-what?"
She rolled back the sheet of paper and clutched it roughly in both hands. "You insist on keeping up with this foolishness? Fine! But don't you dare lie to me again. I don't know what's going on with you, because you never
talk to me." His once immaculate Aura profile was now a crumpled heap. "Whatever your problem is, I promise you, unlocking your Aura isn't going to solve
anything."
Her raw anger surprised him.
"I appreciate your advice, but I prefer to be the judge of that myself."
"Of course you do," Sapphire gritted through clenched teeth.
"Um, so…" Jaune fumbled for a distraction, anything to stir the conversation away from himself "…is Terra staying with us for the summer?"
Sapphire and Terra had come to visit a few days ago. Apparently, Terra was sick of Vale city and was in desperate need of unwinding.
Sapphire closed her eyes, visibly trying to get hold of herself. Finally, her glare softened, and she let out a strained breath. "Terra left for Vale yesterday. Work emergency. Something's going on with the CCTS."
Lazy rays of early morning sun now streamed through a window, shining directly on Sapphire's face. Her blond hair seemed to sparkle in the light. There were dark circles around her eyes and her face was even paler than usual. His gut twisted, seeing her like that. She looked like Mom on a bad day, and he hated it. He should have called right away.
Called.
Wait, what was that about the CCTS? Something probed at his subconscious, an itch in his brain he couldn't scratch. On his flight back, a conversation he'd overheard. He struggled to recall the details, but the more he grappled with his brain, the vaguer they became.
"What's happening with the CCTS?" Jaune asked.
"You know I can't grasp all that techy stuff Terra won't shut up about. I think she mentioned…field disturbances?"
'Different types of Dust produced different types of fields' about summed up the extent of Jaune's knowledge on long-distance communications. He'd received and sent some messages and had logged into Remnant Wide Web during the flight, so whatever the problem was, the Cross Continental Transmit System was evidently still operational.
"Jaune, I know how hard the last year of high school can be. Choosing a career, leaving Ansel."
"It's not that- "
"Let me finish," Sapphire interrupted, though not unkindly. "What I'm getting at is, times of change are always difficult. And I know you haven't been trying at scho- at
anything- since Dad died." She choked on that last word. "We've all thought it was just a phase, that you'll…. well, not get over it,
obviously, but... I don't know, that you'll come back to us."
"But I am, I assure you," Jaune said. "Me being lazy at school has nothing to do with Dad."
Sapphire shook her head sadly. "You don't even notice it. How could you?"
"Notice what?" He frowned.
"Remember when I used to read you those old Huntsman comics?" She said, running a hand through her hair with a faint smile. "Dad hated them, but he allowed it, seeing how happy it made you."
"Of course," Jaune nodded, "and I still read them sometimes."
"But you don't enjoy them anymore, do you?" Her smile faltered. "It's more like hate reading."
"Excuse me?" She wasn't wrong, but how could she know that?
"Jaune…?" His little sister stood at the top of the stairs, sporting a rough case of morning hair and rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"A-Amber," Jaune stammered, raising his arms in a peaceful gesture, "If you will please remain calm- "
"THE TRAITOR IS BACK!" Amber shrieked at the top of her lungs, tearing back down the hallway.
This crisis called for a strategic retreat, but first…
"May I have my Aura profile back?" He asked Sapphire.
Her eyebrow twitched. "You may not."
That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all.
He needed his results. There was something in there that made him feel…relief. He must see this through, wherever it might lead him.
"Jaune, your hands are shaking."
"What?" He heard her voice, but the words didn't make any sense.
"I said your hands are shaking," Sapphire whispered with a worried tone, gently taking his palms in hers.
Jaune looked down at his hands, perplexed, curling his fingers into fists to stop the tremors. "Excuse me, I haven't eaten since yesterday." He smiled at her weakly, then flinched back. "M-Mom?" He cringed at the ghostly sight of Juniper Arc, pulling away from Sapphire and shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Jaune." Juniper's smile shined disturbingly bright and wide, standing at the top of the staircase in a white nightgown. "You're back just in time for breakfast. How lovely." She stepped daintily down the stairs, her eyes locked on his.
"Lucky me." He chuckled nervously. "I should get to bed though. You wouldn't believe how uncomfortable Bullhead seats are these days."
"Oh yes," Juniper said sweetly, "your trip. I'm ready to hear all about it..." She wrapped him in a tight hug and kissed his cheek. "Over breakfast."
Jaune shuddered. "Can we make it lunch? I'm really exhausted and-"
"You have fifteen minutes to take a shower and get down here."
"Yes, ma'am." Jaune nodded dutifully.
"Sapphire honey, help me set the table," Juniper said pleasantly, turning her back on him. "The girls are eager to get an early start on the day."
He wondered why…
Sapphire gave him a complicated look, hesitating for a moment, but she nodded and headed for the kitchen.
"Your time is running out,' Juniper kindly reminded him.
It was going to be a long day.
***
"…have received reports of unusual weather patterns in Atlas, and now Vacuo. Mrs. Andrews, how likely is it to affect flights from Val-"
"Excuse me, I was listening to this," Jaune complained when Juniper casually flicked off the radio.
"Sorry sweetheart." She didn't seem very apologetic, and she also didn't bother to turn it back on.
He'd withstood the vicious verbal assault commendably, sticking to dry, boring responses and his typical civility. Naturally, a guy living with seven controlling sisters was bound to develop some sort of a defense mechanism. Though Jaune had to admit, his honed technique couldn't take all the credit for this lucky break, since it was only him and Lavender that could stay for an extended breakfast; the others rushing off to work, and Sapphire offering to drive Amber to school, despite the latter's vocal protests.
"It was delicious Mom." Lavender smiled pleasantly.
Delicious? Jaune had experienced better meals than
'bland, overly-dense shitcakes', as Hazel so astutely put it, yet he supposed Lavender would have said the same for grass served in a bowl of mud.
He watched her across the table as she caressed her hair absentmindedly. Plated into a hefty braid and thrown over one shoulder, it was one of two hairstyles she'd alternated for as long as he could remember; the other being several high-placed ponytails. He'd always wondered if each held its own unique meaning, hidden on display.
"I concur." Jaune nodded resolutely.
"But you've hardly eaten anything," Juniper chided, her voice suspiciously high-pitched, "you're a growing boy. You need sugar."
That…didn't sound right.
She grabbed the Maple Syrup bottle, ignoring the sticky paste that had crusted over its surface, and proceeded to pour copious amounts of the thick glop onto Jaune's lone pancake, so much so that it was rapidly spilling over the sides. Juniper held his gaze until the last of the goo drizzled sluggishly down, to the final drops that produced that familiar squirting sound all plastic bottles made in their death throes. She slapped the flap shut and slammed the spent, shrunken plastic on the table.
"Eat," Juniper commanded, leaning on the table with both hands at the sides of his plate.
He chuckled anxiously. "I'm grateful for your concern, but really I'm not… hungry…"
It had to be done.
Where was…? Oh.
His fork was crammed between the table and Juniper's fist.
She looked at him expectedly, deadly serious now.
Gingerly, he dipped into the soupy mess to grab the edge of the pancake between his thumb and forefinger.
It tore.
He could practically feel her growing impatience, so he quickly scrubbed it off the surface with three fingers.
He glanced up at Juniper, silently asking how he was supposed to consume the greasy coating around his fingers.
"Do you need my help?"
"N-No!"
He cupped his palm, and plunged his mouth into it like he was lapping from a pond; eyes immediately watering from the mushy, sugary assault on his senses.
Lavender pushed her chair back, standing up. "Umm, Mom, I was planning to go shopping today. Clothes. Books. I'll be leaving now, actually…"
Jaune coughed loudly, grasping blindly for his cup of water and coming up empty.
"Nonsense, sweetie," Juniper scoffed. "You're not going alone. Jaune will accompany you."
"I don't need an escort." Lavender sighed.
"I'll be more than happy," Jaune squeaked through dense syrup stuck in his throat, stumbling to his feet, "It's not like I have anything better to do." Except for sleep, or eating something that wasn't trying to kill him.
"I'm sure you will." Juniper patted his arm. "After you finish your breakfast."
***
Jaune was hot, sore, and nauseous.
He staggered after Lavender through the crowded shopping strip. With his head bowed low, hands shoved into the pockets of his faded jeans, and eyes trailing her swinging braid groggily, he must have made a pathetic sight. Not that anyone was particularly interested in him as everyone's attention was occupied with measuring wary steps to avoid bumping into strangers.
It was quite a rare sight for Ansel, where active bustle was mostly contained to yearly festivals or the early mornings during peak commute hours.
"Are you really alright? Your face is pale," Lavender said, not for the first time since they'd left.
He followed her under an arched alcove into a flower shop he'd never been to before. It was tucked behind a short stretch of grass and an ornate pond, creating an empty pocket of fresh air, maybe purposely designed to provide a desolate haven. "I'm well, thank you. Just tired."
They moved to the side, near a shelf of potted dandelions and a pile of potting mix bags, where they wouldn't block the exit.
"Let me carry one shopping bag, at least," she tried.
Jaune had insisted on carrying everything she'd bought, which was currently threatening the seams of her pink backpack. Sliding one strap off, he swung the bag around his torso to pull out a water bottle from the side sleeve, taking large, greedy gulps before passing it to Lavender.
"I rather not test the zipper again." They shoved all her new books and one puffy jacket into a single compartment. "Though if it breaks and everything spills out, I promise I'm out," he joked, and Lavender nodded in understanding as if she found it perfectly acceptable to be abandoned right there. "Please excuse my ill humor," he added, "I've had a difficult day." A day that had begun yesterday morning and had yet to end.
Lavender sipped once and returned the bottle. "I should have backed you up earlier," she said, surprising him.
"Why didn't you?"
"I was angry." She shrugged.
Jaune nodded. Of all his sisters, Lavender was the easiest to talk to. She said exactly what she felt and meant, and she was nice about it. Never manipulative or vindictive. "I apologize for worrying you."
"And I forgive you." She smiled easily. "But I don't think you understand why we were so mad."
"Please," he lowered his head, "enlighten me."
"It's simple, really." Lavender flipped her braid over her shoulder and leaned back against the lid of a huge vase. "Dad left one night and never came back. We were all old enough to remember that. Well, except Amber."
"This is ludicrous!" Jaune sputtered, exasperated. "I'm not allowed to leave the house for one day without informing everyone of my exact whereabouts? I had an excuse."
"Your dear old friend?" Lavender raised one eyebrow. "You haven't talked to Liam for months. You do realize we go to the same school, right?"
"I wish you'd called me before telling them."
"I called." She shrugged. "It's your fault you didn't answer." Not a hint of remorse in her voice.
"Please remember that I had to turn off my scroll- Ugh, never mind."
"As I said, I forgive you. We all make mistakes." Lavender smiled, and he couldn't help but return it. "But you should tell me what's been bothering you."
"I prefer not to," Jaune responded immediately. With Lavender, he'd learned that it was much easier and preferable for all involved to get right to the point. As honestly as possible.
"Is it because you don't trust me?" she asked.
"No. Not at all."
"You don't think I can help?"
"Yes… Maybe," he hesitated. "I'm not yet sure what the problem is, really."
"Maybe I can help you figure it out?"
Jaune contemplated her offer, for she deserved no less than his full, honest attention. "I don't believe it to be possible. I may have to work through it by myself."
Lavender shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry to hear you say that. I'll do better in the future to gain your trust."
"I said It's not about- "
She silenced him with a raised hand. "I believe that you believe in your own words. Doesn't make it The Truth."
"Noted. So why are we here?" He waved half-heartedly to the general vicinity.
"You needed a break," she explained kindly, "and you need to buy Mom an apology gift."
"I imagine I've already paid my dues in the form of sugary-induced torture. Wouldn't you agree?"
She giggled. "I would. Mom wouldn't. Hence flowers. Come on, I'll help you."
They ended up with a huge bouquet that cost way more than what he'd expected to pay for, or truth be told, more than what he felt comfortable paying for, but he figured the benefits were well worth the investment.
Both quite exhausted by that point, they spent an hour searching for a place to eat lunch, in the end finding a free table in a loud diner.
"Dust: Properties and Manipulations. A Rigorous Approach." Jaune leafed through the thick tome of a book while they were waiting for their orders. "Don't take this the wrong way, but based on what I'm seeing here, I don't envy your impending workload."
"It's interesting enough if you have the right mindset," Lavender said, staring out the window adjacent to their booth with her legs tucked under her, "and it's not the kind of reading you do idly, anyway."
"What kind of reading, then?" He asked, though he already had a good guess, knowing her.
She hummed to herself, turning to look at him briefly. "Page 57."
Jaune opened the requested page, not bothering to ask how she was so familiar with a book she'd bought two hours ago. "Theory of Convergence. Possible implications," he read, "…and a wall of math rubbish."
"By comparing different measurable properties of Dust, researchers have proposed the Idea that all Dust types stem from a single ancient source," she said in her quoting voice.
Jaune grimaced at the offending mathematical formulas. "I did learn about it in school. In normal human language, no offense."
"This is one small part of a long rigorous proof. Not just an imprecise summary."
"Truthfully, I'm more than satisfied with imprecise summaries."
"I know you are." Lavender smiled warmly at him. "You've never cared for the
why. Or
how, really
."
"But you do," Jaune said, shutting the cover. He would have to carry it in his arms back home. "The first Arc to study higher education. Pardon, but should I mock or congratulate you?"
"You're happy for me, and that's all that matters."
He was. Lavender had a difficult childhood, more than any of them. Frequent medical evaluations and long periods of dealing with sickness had become a normal part of her life. Juniper had been worried sick about her; all her siblings were, except Jaune. Not a silver of concern. He'd always known what she was capable of.
"Please try to remember that when Mom inevitably kicks me out of the house at the tender age of forty-five. I may be in dire need of immediate accommodations."
"Idiot." She giggled, unaware that he was perfectly serious. "Don't sell yourself short. You just need to apply yourself."
"Your confidence in me is appreciated, but I believe it's too late for that." They were both in their last year of high school, a couple of weeks from turning into respectable, adult members of society, though the former was probably true for only one of them.
"It's never too late, Jaune," Lavender said gently. "You can take a gap year. I'll tutor you. Terra offered to get you an internship in her company if you do."
"Did she now?" He grimaced. It seemed his future plans had been discussed without his presence or input.
"It's just an option," Lavender shrugged. "You'll be fine regardless."
Jaune nodded stiffly, electing to stir away from this subject, and leaned back in his chair, gaze sweeping around. As if stepping out of a silent bubble, he suddenly recognized how swamped the diner was. Clusters of young children running around between hurrying waitresses, boisterous laughers from a group of teenagers -thankfully, no one from his class- and whole families cramped inside two-person booths with shopping bags strewn at their feet.
He was about to ask Lavender about it when he saw
her. And sitting across from
her, looking as smug as ever, Derek, waving lazily at Jaune.
"Excuse me. Restroom."
Lavender said something, but it was faint and far from him. He winced when a kid bumped into him as he awkwardly side-stepped out of the booth. A woman from a nearby table apologized, but he ignored her. He moved in the general direction where he remembered seeing a restroom sign, and almost crashed into a server.
What was he doing?
The path was now clear, but he stayed put.
"Jaune, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." He smiled weakly but didn't sit back down. "False alarm."
Rooted in place, Jaune watched Derek leading Ellie towards their table. He had his arm wrapped around her, oblivious to her unease navigating the narrow aisles walking side by side. She bumped into a corner of a table and Jaune winced in sympathy.
"Jaune?"
"Yes?" He answered absentmindedly.
"Did you just change your mind about going to the restroom?"
"Yes."
"Oh." Lavender shrugged and returned to leafing through her book.
Jaune was still frozen in place when the approaching duo arrived. He was opening his mouth to greet them when Elie knocked over a juice box on a kid's plate.
"Whoa babe, you're so clumsy," Derek chuckled, ignoring the parents' glares pointed his way. "Jaune! no need to stand for our arrival, you can sit, man."
Jaune nodded and began to side-step into their booth.
"No, wait!" Derek snapped his fingers, grinning. "Do the thing."
Bent halfway to a seated position. Jaune frowned quizzically. "Excuse me?"
"You know man, that weird greeting thing you did to me when we first met."
When they first…? Oh.
"Derek, Elie." Though awkward in this position, Jaune bowed lightly, his arms straightened at his sides.
"Ha! The bow, the weird manners. I like this guy," Derek smirked at Elie. "You're the sis, right? I've seen you around in our classroom. Mind if we join you?"
Lavender closed her book delicately and stared at Jaune, not sparing a glance at Derek. Clutched in an odd four-way stare down, Derek's smile never wavered, eyeing Lavender patiently while Elie watched Jaune, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
Jaune only had to signal her, and Lavender would find an excuse to get rid of them. Instead, he nodded imperceptibly. Lavender watched him for a moment, confused by his unvoiced response, before turning to Elie, smiling.
"I don't think we've met. I'm Lavender Arc, I go to the same school as Jaune." Lavender held out her hand, then added, "well,
went to the same school, given that we are practically graduates already."
"Elie, nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
Side-stepping into Jaune's side of the booth, Derek pushed the thinner man with his considerable bulk. He didn't like being ignored, and Jaune could practically feel his masked irritation.
Elie plopped down near Lavender, her cheeks flushed and skin glossy with a thin sheen of sweat. Evidently, shopping took its toll on everyone. "I can't believe most of our year will be leaving Ansel in just a few months. It's not going to feel the same when I'm visiting on the holidays."
Derek stretched his arms above his head so high that his shirt strained to contain his bulging muscles. "Yeah, gonna miss this old place. Feels like only yesterday was my first day in Mrs. Dove math class."
"I'm not surprised. You do have the emotional maturity of a 6-year-old."
Lavender giggled, Elie smiled behind a cupped hand, and only then did Jaune realize he'd spoken out loud.
"Er, I mean, not to say that- "
"HA HA, relax bro, I deserved it." Derek clapped Jaune's back so violently that his teeth audibly rattled. Clearly a warning shot. "So say, sis, what're you reading?" Derek nodded to the monster of a book in front of Lavender.
"It's Lavender for you. And I've been accepted to the Academy of Sciences and Dust Studies in Vale City. I'm pre-studying."
"Oh, that's amazing!" Elie exclaimed; her eyes wide. "I heard they accept fewer applicants than Beacon! Congrats!"
"That's sweet of you," Lavender smiled kindly, "but it's really nothing to- "
"Pfft, no way babe." Derek slammed the table. "My cousin was barely accepted into Beacon, and the man's a legend. No offense Lav."
"It's
Lavender, and as I was saying, Beacon's candidates are sorted from childhood. Not anyone can apply, so that's hardly a fair comparison. Beacon really is in a league of its own."
"I guess…but still, ASDS? My parents would have been ecstatic. I'm so jealous," Elie gushed.
"You see that?" Derek nudged Jaune with a not so friendly elbowing, "I keep telling her she's got nothing to worry about, my girl, but she goes on and on about job opportunities and grades. You need to relax babe, just learn from Jaune here."
"From me?" Jaune had a feeling where this was going, but he played along. Mostly because he had no other choice.
"Yeah man," Derek said, "you don't have any future prospects, do you? Nah, with your grades, no way. I bet you'll stay at your mom's. Hey, I'm not judging. Some guys take longer to get their shit together. No shame in that."
Jaune Inclined his head in polite agreement. "I presume so, yet I suspect she'll demand I get a job."
"No problem bro. Do chores around the neighborhood. Plenty of bored housewives looking for errand boys these days." Derek wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Maybe it'll come with extra perks, if you know what I mean."
"Excellent suggestion, I'll keep that in mind." Jaune nodded, not failing to notice the look of disgust on Lavender's face. But again, words poured out without his control. "Please let your mom know I'm available."
The smile hadn't completely wiped off Derek's face, but it was a close thing.
"Hehe, guys and their egos," Elie mocked-whispered to Lavender, her glance shifting around the diner. "Where's our order anyway? It's been ages."
"Nah babe, we're just joking. Told you Jaune's funny guy." Derek punched him in the shoulder with a coy smirk. It hurt terribly. "No worries, bro, I'm sure my family will be here for you. I know your mom hasn't been the same since Nicholas died. Must be hard living around all that constant negativity." Lavender's book snapped shut. "Uh, of course, terrible tragedy, er, is what I meant to say," Derek quickly added.
Lavender rose to her feet in such a sudden motion that Derek visibly flinched back.
"Restroom," she said calmly.
"I'll go with you!" Elie quickly slid out of the booth. Lavender followed her, rapidly disappearing within the throng of diners.
By all rights, Jaune should have been upset. Or angry, for Lavender if not for himself. And if not even that, then at least embarrassed for the disrespect shown to him by a classmate in front of a girl he'd once fancied, and his own sister. He wasn't though. He felt empty, exhausted, and frustrated. Unsatisfied with… himself?
It was an odd, disquieting feeling. Ever since that incident with Elie months ago, he couldn't help but thinking he wasn't doing… something, or being someone he needed to be. Part of it was that need to become stronger, but recent events had made him consider the possibility that it was bigger than just that.
No, he…
He
cared.
Derek was speaking, but the words evaporated before ever reaching him.
For the first time in years, he cared. but he didn't know what he cared
about.
What would his dad have said? He would have been furious, no doubt, had he suspected Jaune was considering Beacon. Nicholas Arc had fought so that his family wouldn't have to. He'd fulfilled his duties to society so that no one could ever accuse the Arcs of not contributing enough. An Arc following in his footsteps would have destroyed his entire purpose.
Was Jaune seriously considering it? Unlocking his Aura, and then what? He'd have to get a job, obviously. Derek was a complete dullard, but he wasn't wrong about Jaune's future prospects. Jaune wouldn't be living with Juniper forever, yet his grades were a problem.
He wouldn't take a gap year.
Just the thought made his gut tighten into knots. Being left behind in Ansel, all alone, while guys his age were moving up in the world. No. He'd be leaving for Vale with everyone else, even if he'd have to get a low-paying, back-breaking job to survive. He would be there for Lavender. Maybe they'd get an apartment together? Yes, that sounded nice. He was sure she'd prefer him over the Academy's dormitory-
"Hey, are you fucking ignoring me?"
"Uh, what?"
Derek was half turned towards Jaune, one leg curled beneath the other and his arm stretched along with the backrest. Jaune could feel the heat from Derek's swollen biceps prickling his neck. Instinctively, he shied to the side, but he was already pressed uncomfortably against the wall.
"You don't look so good, Jaune." Derek eyed him curiously.
"I apologize, I think I need to get some air." Jaune rose from his seat, but he was trapped unless he'd be willing to crawl beneath the plastic table. Derek's bulk was completely blocking his exit route.
"Sure bro," Derek said, "let's just have a word before the ladies get back." He wasn't asking. Holding no illusions of winning any sort of physical altercation with a man twice his size, Jaune reluctantly nodded. "So, trying to impress the girls, are we?"
"Forgive me, but I'm not sure what you're implying."
"Come on bro, I get it," Derek said easily. "Don't get all defensive on me. Girls are watching, your blood is pumping. You can't help but take that one solid hit at your fellow bro to make yourself look better." He leaned so close that Jaune could smell his breath, whispering covertly as if sharing a precious secret, "tell you the truth, I might have done it once or twice myself. I get it, really. But let's try to be civil from now on. What do you say?" He offered his hand in a sign of truce.
Huh, a surprising demonstration of the bare minimum of self-awareness Jaune definitely hadn't expected. Not that he cared. As far as Jaune was concerned this would be the very last time they would be sharing the same air. Still, he wouldn't be one to reject a genuine, if somewhat misguided, offer for peace.
Jaune clasped the raised hand in a half-hearted shake. Now, where was Lavender? He scanned the crowd bunched up near the restroom. It really was packed today, and their orders were probably long forgotten, missed in all the chaos. He would grab Lavender and leave.
"Come on dude, what's with that embarrassing flappy grip. Give your friend a good
shake." Only then did Jaune realize their handshake had been extending far longer than what was customary. In fact, the pressure just kept increasing, and he felt himself involuntary squeezing back to protect his hand.
"Yeah, that's more like it," Derek grinned. "Let me tell you a little story."
"Of course, but I really need to take a breather first-"
"It won't be long my dude. Promise." The handshake showed no signs of ending. Jaune locked eyes with a server. She paused, hesitating, then shook her head in resignation and moved on. Jaune felt his face heating with embarrassment. "So you've heard of my cousin Cardin."
"A-aforementioned legend," Jaune gritted. His hand was starting to hurt.
"Damn right he is," Derek said. "So, anyway, the bastard calls me one night, three in the morning. Tells me to turn on the video and lower the volume. Wanna hear what he shows me?"
"I rather not."
"At least five twisted bodies tossed around like cheap hoes in some dirt alley." Derek paused, as if expecting an applauding response. When none came, he resumed, his voice colder. "Mind you, five that I could
count. A total bloody mess. So naturally, I ask him what the fuck's going on.
'Criminal scum,' he answers,
'cleaning up the streets.' Later, I'll learn good boy Cardin wasn't being totally honest." As the force kept amplifying, Jaune's vision narrowed to nothing but Derek and his abusive grip. His heartbeat hammered in his ears. "I bet Daddy Arc hasn't told you this little nugget, so I'll do you the favor. How do you think Aura gets unlocked?"
"A-alright that's enough Derek."
"What was that?" Derek asked innocently. "I'd answer the question if I were you."
"Meditation," Jaune gasped out in pain.
"Wrong. Try again."
The pressure increased.
"Years of physical training and- "
"I'll just have to tell you, I guess," Derek interrupted, his grip was like a vice around Jaune's hand. "Violence. Really quite simple when you think about it. Humans have not evolved to survive the Grimm. Well, some of us haven't, even though nature has provided us with a perfectly serviceable tool." He smiled a disturbingly wide smile. "And that's all Aura is. A survival tool, triggered by a response to stimuli."
"ENOUGH!" As if of its own volition, Jaune's free hand lurched to claw at Derek's eyes.
Derek caught him with his own free hand. "Whoa bro, that's dangerous." The pressure increased. "All those fancy prep schools with their showy matches and elaborate equipment. It's the biggest farce since Faunus lovers started pushing for equal rights. Truth is, any shit-stained back alley will impart you with the highest quality education."
"Stop! STOP!"
Jaune Jerked back and forth, his knees hitting the underside of the desk in a painful crunch that he barely felt. The back of his head connected with the wall behind him. He was trapped between the wall at his back, the table digging into his side, and Derek looming in front of him.
He couldn't stand up. He couldn't fight back.
The pressure increased.
Some part of his brain that wasn't totally occupied with the all-consuming pain must have understood his hand was surely broken by now.
The pressure increased.
Jaune screamed and felt something covering his mouth. That freed up his other hand, and he immediately used it to punch Derek in the stomach as hard as he could.
It was like hitting a brick wall.
"I see you're already taking the lesson to heart."
Jaune punched him again and felt his knuckles crack. He saw nothing but Derek's expansive bulk covering his own smaller frame.
The pressure increased.
He
heard the bones in his hand grinding against each other.
Derek had his Aura unlocked.
The corners of his vision slowly blackened…
"Let go of him!"
A brushing sound of a scuffle, followed by an angry, high-pitched response. When Jaune could see again it was no longer Derek over him, but a freckled nose and brown curls framing a concerned expression. He focused on her, gasping for breath as if the air was void of sustenance.
"Gods, what did he do to you?" Elie whispered. A cool hand pressed against his burning forehead.
"Relax babe, he's fine."
The pain was gone.
"No, he, " Jaune mumbled. His head was spinning. "My hand." He pushed Elie away, leaning heavily against the backrest. "He broke my hand."
Soft fingers brushed his right palm, squeezing gently. "Does it hurt?"
"No."
How could this be? Gingerly, Jaune curled his fingers. Other than a slight tremor, no hint of the recent agony he'd endured.
"We were shaking hands," Derek said, frowning, "and he…nodded off? I think you passed out."
"You wouldn't stop. I asked you to stop."
Derek shrugged. "Didn't know you have such delicate digits."
Jaune vomited. Goo of syrupy mash splashed all over the booth. Elie's steadying hand flinched back and he stumbled forward. He wiped his mouth on the back of his arm and slid out of his booth.
"Drank too much orange juice," Derek told a concerned older lady.
He had to get out of there.
Lavender caught up to him on the way to the exit. "Hey, where are you- Wait up!"
Slamming open the doors to the diner, he barely acknowledged his surroundings, turning to a less crowded side street.
"Jaune!"
He ran until a hand grabbed his arm.
"You said you wouldn't ditch me-" Lavender gasped, trying to catch her breath. He immediately felt bad.
"My mistake. Let me take the bag."
She slapped his hand away, still panting.
They walked in silence until they arrived at their neighborhood. "Do you want to tell me what happened back there?" She finally asked.
"I threw up."
"I saw," Lavender said gently, hugging her massive book to her chest. "Why did you run?"
"I was embarrassed."
She searched his face.
"Jaune..."
"I've had a terrible day if you haven't noticed." He thought that was the end of that, but the words poured out. "I feel awful all the time," he heard himself saying. They stopped walking, standing near the entrance of an alley, where huge dumpsters were overflowing with trash bags. "I hate it. I don't know why I suddenly care. But I do."
"Care about what?" Lavender asked.
"I don't know. I just know that I'm not satisfied with myself anymore. I was perfectly content to keep going through the motions until- " he stopped, lips thinning.
"Tell me Jaune," Lavender said softly. "You can trust me."
"I know. I know that." He bent over with his hands on his knees, back to a wall. "Excuse me."
She touched his cheek with her fingertips. "You're burning up."
He only nodded, staring at his shoes.
Lavender sighed. "Come on, let's get you home."
