Coming Storm - III

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By the next evening, Jaune's jaw had at least stopped aching, even if his head hadn't quite caught up to it. But then, Aura couldn't do a lot for stress headaches. And definitely nowhere near as much as it could do for conveniently right hook shaped bruises on the side of his jaw. Or at least, as far as Jaune knew about it, which admittedly wasn't a lot. His barely passing grade in Aura Applications' first month was proof enough of that...

But hey, that grade had been coming up!

Whatever the case, he smiled his thanks when his partner stepped out of their dorm and into the hallway, offering him a little packet of powder. He wasn't quite sure what the stuff was, but Beacon handed it out to anyone complaining of aches and pains. So it couldn't be that bad, he figured.

Taking it and the grape soda, he grunted, "Thanks, Pyr."

"Not a problem." The woman answered, leaning back against the wall beside their door and cocking her head to the side. "You're still certain, then?"

"Gonna need you to specify…"

"Jaune." She sighed, smiling in spite of herself. "You know what I'm referring to."

He did, because of course he did. But he'd just been at least half-hoping his joke would convince her to leave him alone about it, because he didn't want another argument. She'd already given him a couple ear-fulls today about it….

Still, he shrugged and repeated his point for the third time that day, "We don't know what he knows. And if he doesn't know you guys know, I want to keep it that way."

"Jaune…"

"I told you before, Pyrrha." He finally snapped, hissing, "You guys, them, I don't care. I'm going to fight to make sure you are all safe. At least as best I can. And right now, that means keeping him in the dark about your involvement until I know exactly what he intends."

"Jaune…" Pyrrha blinked and then flushed a bit, looking away and finally sighing. "I see. I suppose you shall not be swayed after all, then."

"No." He snorted, "I think I'm turning out to be a bit more stubborn than I used to be…"

"You are indeed far more assertive than when we met." Pyrrha smiled again, paying him a nod as she pushed off the wall and turned back to the door. "That is not necessarily a bad thing, to be honest… So long as it does not go too far."

"I listen." He defended himself, "Just… Not when it's about a principle like this."

"Mhm." She nodded, "Well, best of luck, fearless leader."

With that, she slipped back into their dorm, the sound of music fading in before the closed door cut it off. Sighing, Jaune stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned, headed for the Headmaster's office. He was sure the Headmaster wouldn't be happy about being kept waiting but, well...

Better late to a meeting than never coming at all, he figured.

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Emerald disliked a lot of things, but only really hated a little handful in that 'would happily shoot everything involved with it, light it on fire, and roast marshmallows over it' sort of way.

She disliked people that wore socks with sandals.

She hated people that assumed they had somehow earned the right to just… Ignore all the shit people like her had gone through just trying to survive growing up. Like, did they really not know? Or did they not care? Because one of those was worse than the other, and she honestly had a little trouble deciding which.

And of course, out of the two, Cinder stuck her with the second of the two…

Or, hell, maybe both.

The Schnee seemed like the type to wear socks with sandals…

But Cinder knew best. She had to. So Emerald smiled as the little brunette, Ruby, plopped into the seat beside her with two disgustingly over-sprinkles ice-cream sundaes with just… Just way too much chocolate drizzled over all of it.

"Here ya go!" The little Reaper wannabe beamed, pushing one in front of her and taking a huge spoonful of her own. When Emerald hesitated, she blinked confusedly, looking up at her and murmuring around a nasty mouthful of ice-cream related goop, "Was'wrong?"

"N-Nothing." She covered up her mistake with an awkward laugh and dug her own spoonful of ice-cream to shove in her gob. And just…

Dear fucking gods, were there too many sprinkles.

"So." Emerald started after the obligatory three bites of food to get people to not fuck with her about it were done, and she got over the diabetes she could feel growing in her. "Did you ever figure out that move you and Schn- Weiss, were working on?"

"Mhm!" Ruby nodded, and then grimaced and shrugged, "Or, well… We're still working on it, I guess."

"What's the problem?" Whatever interest Cinder held in Ruby Rose, Emerald was smart enough to keep an eye out for new fighting skills. And maybe 'help' with them, too. "I can maybe offer some ideas, if you like."

"That'd be great!" Ruby beamed excitedly, "Weiss and I have a training room booked for tomorrow night if you wanna hang out and help out?"

"Sue." She smiled, "Sounds like a plan."

Grimm, cinder owed her at least a hug for this…

"Anyway," she smiled and moved on, "what's up with Juniper? Last couple of days they've just been hiding out in their dorm."

"Yeah, I dunno what's goin' on with them." Ruby shrugged, focusing as much on talking to Emerald as she was on the next spoonful of too-sweet ice-cream. "I think it's something to do with Jaune, though."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." Ruby nodded, turning to her with almost wary eyes for a moment while she thought about… Something, obviously, but Emerald had no idea what. Whatever it was, she got over it fast enough and went on, "Jaune heads into Vale a lot. Yang says he goes to the bad parts, too. Maybe it's about that?"

"The bad parts…?"

"I dunno, you'd have to ask her." Ruby shrugged unsurely, "Someone mentioned... Warehouses?"

"Ah." That was enough for her to suspect a whole handful of different ideas, but… Well, she had to be sure. And unfortunately that meant talking to the blonde. At least she had nice tits to look at.

And Emerald had a Semblance that made sure she'd never notice, too.

"Yeah, I dunno what's up." Ruby finally shrugged, turning and smiling in spite of it. "But I mean, if Jaune, or Juniper, need something, then I'm sure they'll come and say something. So I'm not, you know, worried about it."

"Yeah, well, here's hoping it all works out." Emerald smiled, filing that little tidbit away in the list of stuff she'd need to put in her report at the end of the night. "Anyway, tell me some more about this new move…"

"I mean, it can wait 'til tomorrow…"

"Oh, c'mon." Emerald smiled, turning so their thighs touched and setting the brunette stuttering as always. Gods above, she was easy to play… Ignoring the flushed stammering, Emerald pressed, "I need info if I'm gonna help you out, don't I?"

"I-I guess, um, yeah, um…" Ruby stammered and blinked, but pretty importantly didn't try and make any space between them. After a moment, she held up her Scroll and offered, "I, um, recorded our l-last team meeting! If you, um, want to h-hear the whole idea."

"Sounds great." Emerald smiled for her, wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulders and leaning against her while the brunette fumbled with the little thing. More info was always useful, and who knew what Emerald could pick up from this that Ruby wouldn't even consider?

Gods, she was an easy mark...

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It was late enough that classes had let out, and that the cafeteria had even closed up its dinner service, offering only special - expensive - orders and whatever was left over from the day. But it wasn't quite late enough for the students to have turned in for the night, heading back to their dorms to hang out, shower, and eventually sleep. But it was early enough that people weren't quite done lounging out on the grass yet, or were only just coming out of private training rooms and study rooms, chatting to each other as they went.

All of which meant there was no way to hide him going to meet the Headmaster…

So, he didn't bother. Instead, he hung his head low and put on his best downtrodden look, playing the part of a student coming to be castigated for one thing or another. What it was didn't matter, he caught enough of the knowing smirks and barely hidden chuckles to know he'd sold the look. Even at Beacon, it seemed like no one was quite done maturing yet...

The Headmaster's elevator was a special elevator, one that ran directly to the Headmaster's office and his quarters and nowhere else supposedly, so one would think Jaune wouldn't have to worry about being surprised by someone on it when it came down for him. And they would have been painfully wrong, too.

"Mister Arc." The Headmistress smiled, but her eyes were narrow. Cold. Searching. What she was looking for, though, Jaune wasn't sure. But she didn't find it, simply bowing her head ever so slightly and asking, "You are to see the Headmaster?"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am."

"Odd." She hummed, stepping forward into the doorway so the elevator door wouldn't try and shut on her and then cocking her head to the side. "I do not believe you're in his schedule…"

"It's, uh, not that kind of meeting."

"Oh?" She cocked her head the other way and did the same with her hip for good measure, "And what kind of meeting is it, then?"

"A private one?"

"Obviously, Mister Arc." She hummed through a sigh, then stepped back after a moment and swept her arm out to the side, beckoning him in. He wanted to refuse her; someone else there was the last thing Jaune wanted, especially when it was someone like the Headmistress.

But after a heartbeat, the futility of that convinced him and he stepped in with her.

No sooner than the doors closed did the Headmistress sigh, cock her head, and almost wistfully ask, "So, your scores make all the sense now, I suppose."

"I-I'm sorry?"

"Oh, pardon me." The Headmistress' smile was a cold one that chilled him to his bones as she turned to him, eyes hard and unyielding. "Ozpin didn't tell me your name, but he did say he expected someone to come meet him regarding a few matters he did deign to share with me. Why, I was even sent out on errands to allow a 'private and pressure free' meeting all afternoon and evening yesterday."

"Oh…"

"So," Goodwitch reiterated meaningfully, "your scores make sense."

"I'm sorry…"

"You ought not be." Goodwitch answered quietly, and then sighed when he turned to her, confused and questioning. "Mister Arc, why are you here?"

"To be a Huntsman…?"

"Look under the title, Mister Arc." She chided him, "Why do you want that?"

"I…" He blinked, and after a moment, just offered the frankness of it all to her with a shrug. "I want to protect people. However I can. Whether that's fighting Grimm, or, you know… Just making people feel safe around me."

"And that's all?"

"Yeah." He nodded, confused by the question, "That's all I want. To be a Huntsman. A hero, I guess."

"Exactly, to be a Huntsman - a hero, as you put it. To protect those behind you and beside you both." Goodwitch nodded, turning back to face the door and sighing quietly, but seemingly satisfied enough. "Generations of Hunters grew and founded the Kingdoms without the Academies or their curriculums. They succeeded for grit and cunning and willpower. If you are willing to, quite frankly, very likely get yourself killed to pursue this…"

The way she trailed off made him answer, "I am, Ma'am. It's, uh, not high on my wish list, but I'm willing to risk it."

"Good. then, as I said, I see no reason to oppose you now that you're shown your will and wit in getting this far." She paused, blinked, and added, Well, so long as your team is willing, I should add."

"Really?"

"It's your life, Mister Arc." She shrugged - actually shrugged - it off. "If you wish to die young but at least hopefully glorious, that is your right. Your team does know, though, I trust…?"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am." He answered, leaving off how short of a time they'd known about it for… Probably good reasons. "I-I'm… I'm also getting extra training from Pyrrha and an, um, friend of mine, too."

"One of Roman's?" She asked, making his eyes big out a bit for the frankness of it. Still, he nodded, and she did as well, frowning just a bit. "Well… I suppose anyone he employs is certainly skilled enough to give you remedials."

"Honestly, Ma'am…" He chuckled, "I think Neo is better than almost anyone I know."

"Present company excluded, I presume?"

He… Didn't really have a very safe answer to that, and stammered for a minute for it, before he was saved by the elevator dinging open in front of them. Stepping towards the exit, he chuckled and waved the Headmistress off, "I-I'll, uh, see you in Combat Class, Ma'am."

A hand on his shoulder stopped him, and then turned him about to meet the other blonde's flat gaze. Pursing her lips, she sighed and said, "My office is free Tuesday evenings. Come by, and I will help you get proper certifications. At least in the academic listings. Your false transcript will have to stand for your combat specs, I'm afraid, but we can make you at least partially legal."

"Oh, uh…" He kind of didn't want to do that… Being trapped, alone, with the disciplinarian wasn't incredibly appealing for several reasons. But… Well, he could use the help, so he just smiled, nodded, and said, "Thanks, Headmistress."

"Mhm." She let him go and he stepped back into the office. As the door closed, she offered a parting, "Good evening, Mister Arc."

And with that, the Headmistress was gone. He'd hoped to dodge her on the way in, but part of him had expected to at least see her out on the grounds or something. Doing all the things she did. He'd never expected to get her approval, though. Or an offer of help...

"Criminals, champion arena fighters, and the Headmistress of Beacon Academy…" he murmured, chuckling to himself and shaking his head wryly. "With that kind of help, what can stop me?"

"Oh, I can think of a few answers."

Jaune was only a little ashamed of the girlish shriek that split the cool office air as he spun, backpedaled towards the elevator, palmed his hip where Crocea Mors would have been, and rattled out more swear words than he'd said all week long. Ozpin didn't move, though, standing a few feet from him with a tired but warm smile and a mug of something sweet smelling that he sipped at lazily while Jaune caught his breath. Lowering the mug, he cocked his head and raised a brow in an obvious question.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Jaune assured him, straightening and tugging his blazer straight, if only for something to do with his hands that wasn't pawing uselessly for his sword. "I, uh- Sorry. For yelling, I mean. I just- You're really sneaky."

"Oh, I know." The older man laughed, turning and striding towards his desk, cane tapping out a rhythm on the ground beside him. As he sat, he asked, "Would you like something to drink? I was considering ordering a steak delivered from the cooks."

"No thanks." So Ozpin was in a good mood, then… What did that mean? Whatever the case, he took the seat on the other side of the desk and smiled. "But, uh, thanks, Sir."

"No problem at all, Mister Arc." Ozpin smiled, steepling his fingers in front of him and bowing his head ever so slightly. Cocking his head to the side, then, he asked almost coyly, "May I call you Jaune, by the by?"

"Uh, sure, Headmaster."

"Ozpin, please." The old man chided him, waving it off and reaching for his mug again with the same hand. "We're friends, after all. Or soon to be, I hope. So please, feel no need to bend over to satisfy me or play the polite politics of society. Here, we are candid."

"Alright…" Jaune nodded, "Ozpin, sir."

"Good enough, I suppose." Ozpin chuckled, shaking his head and setting his mug aside again. Once more steepling his fingers, he sighed and said, "So, you can rest assured that dear Roman already told me everything. But, to be safe, as you can never truly trust a thief, I would like to hear the whole story from you. From the start of it, too, if you don't mind over much."

"Uh, alright…" Well, the start was the start, and he didn't want Ozpin to even think he was hiding anything. So… "Well, it started a fews years back. I wanted to be a Huntsman. You know, help people, fight Grimm-"

"I assure you, I know what Hunters do, Jaune." Ozpin chuckled, "But do go on."

"R-Right." He nodded, skipping the preamble and taking a deep breath. If he could kiss Neo, then damn it, he could talk to one old man! "So, because father wouldn't teach me, I… Made do. Exercised, read manuals, practice sword swinging with a big stick I found, that sort of thing. Then, when I was old enough, I, uh… Well, I stole Crocea Mors and came to the city. And, well, I needed a transcript, so I went looking for someone in the seedier part of town…"

"In comes Roman."

"Yeah." Jaune nodded, "In comes Roman."

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Jaune pushed open the door to the little apartment the barman's instructions had sent him to and looked around warily. It was normal enough, he supposed… Couch, television, chair, rug, half-naked woman laying on her chest in some weird yoga pose that had her bent over her own back, with her feet to either side of her head while she stared at him, one brow raised curiously.

"Oh." He blinked, waving nervously, "U-Uh, hi, are you Roman? I was sent here to, uh, pay a Roman for something…"

The woman blinked, looked at the door he was holding open, and then back at him and cocked her head in an obvious question.

"Oh, I, uh…" Jaune shrugged, stepped through, and shut the door behind him. "Sorry, I guess it must have had a draft? And, uh, it's rude not to shut a door behind you…"

"I think," a voice from the kitchen called in, "she's confused about you coming in without knocking. I mean honestly, where do yo country bumpkins even come from? Nowhere with manners, that's for damn sure!"

"I-I was told to by the bar guy!" Jaune defended himself, looking over to the bemused woman and asking, "Come on, help me out here, Miss Roman."

"...Okay, I'm sure Junior said I was hot, but I promise, he didn't mean I had tits." The voice called back while the woman fell over, hands around her stomach while she laughed silently and kicked her feet. WIthout even coming in the room, the man called in, "And don't you dare laugh, Neo! This little prank of yours was only funny once!"

Confused, Jaune sighed and asked, "Am I in the right place…?"

"Yes!" The man called back, "Sit down, and do not look at Neo's ass or she will stab you."

That was when the woman stood, turned on a heel, and did another pose… Bent over a few feet in front of him, and grinning at him from between her own ankles while a hand flicked into a dozen shapes he… Sort of recognized.

"No, that's not a view worth getting stabbed over!" He guffawed, falling onto the couch and sighing. A moment later, the woman was in front of him, mismatched eyes narrowed while her fingers flicked and moved again, and he shrugged. "Only a bit. I learned something a little different to what you're doing, but-"

She was gone before he could finish, vanishing into the kitchen.

A moment later, he heard a groan and the man, Roman he supposed, almost shouted, "No you cannot keep him! He's a customer!"

Jaune just sighed.

This was going to be a long night...

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So a bit on how Jaune met the two, and when and how and why. No, I won't be doing flash-back chapters. This is just some comic relief at the end of a somewhat dour chapter. Also, I couldn't not have Neo or Emerald in this chapter somehow.

Also, ah, Emerald… Doing her job, and doing an irony all at the same time.

Anyway, have a good one!

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Azrael Saint :

In what way…? If it's that he's a wee bit sinister, I was aiming for that.

Ente the Slayer :

Setting aside that precisely one character - Ruby - is a child at this time- Jaune would be a witness. Without him, as things stand, it's just Ozpin vouching for Roman's word, with little to no proof. Jaune is at least a witness.

Setting aside, you know, the coming plot.

Smokey Panda :

Yes!