Chapter-54: ''You got my little sister pregnant''

Jaune's week was fairly routine. He woke up, had breakfast, then made the trip to the hospital to undergo testing. After that, he would hit the gym alone or with his friends, depending on how busy they were that day before having lunch in the mess hall. After that he was free to do whatever he wished, time he usually spent simply observing the happenings in Atlas. He wasn't cleared to take any missions yet. It wasn't a hard rule, Huntsmen didn't need to obey any such thing but he wasn't about to upset his girlfriends by getting back into work before the doctors said he could, no matter how good he felt. But that didn't mean he couldn't do his own missions, so to speak.

Mainly just checking in on Cerise.

She was due to return to Mantle in the coming days and he'd promised to help her pack their things which was surprisingly a lot. They hadn't been able to take anything but the clothes on their back when they'd fled the lower city but the Atlesian people had been very generous in their hour of need. She'd been gifted all sorts of things from food to clothing to electronics to help keep her daughters occupied. Jaune had a feeling that her benefactor probably had a crush on the beautiful woman and was attempting to woo her with his wealth, though he had heard of other families receiving similar treatment.

People were just in a giving mood these days.

Jaune couldn't say he disliked it.

As the days went by, though, Jaune started to feel... odd. Not restless, exactly – but almost like he was meant to be somewhere and he had forgotten where, or when, or even who he was supposed to be meeting. It was a strange sensation, having the urge to be somewhere but not having a clue where that somewhere was. It only got stronger as the week continued, leaving him perplexed.

As far as he could remember, he hadn't made plans with anyone. While he still had things to do, like talk to Fiona, he was waiting for her to make first contact. He didn't want to push.

Still... he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd missed something important, and it was beginning to drive him a little insane trying to think about it. Like those times you tried to remember a name and it was on the tip of your tongue, yet you still couldn't figure it out. It was maddening.

Another thing he had been doing was avoiding certain individuals for the sake of his health, namely Qrow Branwen and Winter Schnee – but that was never going to last forever. It was only a matter of time before he was called upon or tracked down and one Thursday afternoon, just after lunch, Jaune felt his scroll vibrate against his thigh.

It was General Ironwood.

He would have much preferred a picture from Neon Katt.

The man had been busy and so Jaune hadn't seen him since the night they'd taken down Cinder. Amity was due to launch in the next few days, reestablishing world communications. It was a big deal and required Ironwood's complete attention. Also the situation with Tyrian Callows and Arthur Watts was another matter that needed him to oversee. They were being transferred to a real facility this time. That was where Team RWBY was currently, helping the Ace-Ops transport the two prisoners to their new home.

He'd barely stepped through the door of General Ironwood's office when he felt the piercing glares of disgruntled family members stab into him. Jaune paused, a feeling of dread rushing through him as the unnerving red eyes of Ruby and Yang's uncle pinned him with a look sharp enough to cut.

"Ah, James – look who decided to show up," the older man drawled. "Hey kid . It's been awhile."

"Qrow," Ironwood sighed. "I asked him to come."

Winter Schnee didn't say a word, simply giving him a look cold enough to freeze his blood. In contrast, Penny rocked back and forth, waving at him happily like a little ball of sunshine.

He had at least one ally in this room.

"Hello Jaune~!" she chirped, uncaring of the tense atmosphere around her. "How have you been?"

"Er – I'm good," he answered, eyes darting from the cheerful android to the pair of very dangerous, very angry Huntsmen trying to bring about his death by glaring alone. "You know, just a little bored... haha?"

"Bored, was it?" Winter's voice cracked like a whip. Jaune cringed. "I am sure I can come up with something to keep you sufficiently occupied. Some of our outlying outposts are due for a roster change. Perhaps I can recommend your name?"

"Winter," Ironwood palmed his face. At first, Jaune took his tone for exasperated until he saw the grin he was sporting behind his hand.

He was going to receive no help there.

"Better make sure the crew you send are all men," Qrow snarked. "Or you might find yourselves down a few soldiers."

Jaune thought that was a little unfair... but really, he deserved it. He tried to imagine being in their position, finding out that some guy had knocked up one of his sisters, or two of them – and several of her friends. Thinking about it like that, he knew he'd be pretty steamed about the situation. Even if he knew about the special circumstances his own situation could claim, it would definitely make him feel a certain type of way.

They were just worried about their loved ones.

That was something he could understand completely.

"Now, now," a voice from behind him said, and turning, he saw that Oscar had arrived – or rather, Ozpin. "I do believe that Mr. Arc has been through enough recently without the added pressure of aggrieved family members coming for their pound of flesh."

Qrow scowled. "Oz."

Winter sniffed but held her tongue.

"Oz," Ironwood greeted, nodding. "Now that everyone is here, we can begin."

Jaune felt a little out of place. Just what were they discussing that would require his presence?

"The Temptation," Ironwood said – and at once, everything made sense. "With the defeat of Cinder Fall and the return of the Fall Maiden's mantle, we have struck a significant blow against Salem. In just a few short days, Amity will be operational and the world will be told what the people of Atlas and Mantle already know. Things will be stressful going forward, the world is in turmoil and the revelation about Salem's existence will only make things worse in the short term – but we cannot focus our efforts on quelling the unrest when such a dangerous foe remains unchecked, so close to home."

"The Temptation must be destroyed," Ozpin continued, giving them all a somber look. "A Grimm such as this cannot be allowed to remain, especially so close to one of the great kingdoms. The damage it could cause could be catastrophic. More so, as it is a being twisted by magic into something more. I cannot stress this enough."

They wanted to hunt it down.

The Ace-Ops had already been looking into it but they hadn't been able to find a single trace. Jaune blinked, a sudden thought coming to him.

"Ah," the sound of surprise escaped him, drawing their attention. "I – er, may have stabbed her... I think."

Five sets of eyes blinked at him.

"I beg your pardon?" Ozpin asked.

Jaune felt his cheeks burn. "I forgot to mention that all my memories have returned – or, well, most of them. From when I was attacked, I mean."

They stared at him in disbelief – all except Penny, who clapped her hands together in a pleased manner.

"That is really good news, Jaune," she said enthusiastically, not reading the room at all.

"...when exactly were you planning to inform us of this?" Ozpin asked.

"I... don't know," he said, feeling exceedingly foolish all of a sudden. "It was while I was in the hospital, after Ruby blasted me with her silver eyes... I managed to impale her on Crocea Mors, it should have been fatal..."

Ironwood heard the doubt in his voice at once.

"You don't seem convinced."

Jaune frowned. "She was surprised... but then she started laughing. That was the last thing I remember. I didn't see her... dissolve like Grimm usually do. She just... laughed."

Ozpin hummed in thought.

"There is a possibility that she perished," he reasoned slowly.

"Fat chance of that," Qrow grumbled. "When have we ever been so lucky?"

"Indeed," Ozpin tapped his cane against the floor. "No. If she was gone, those parasites found in your body would have followed her in death. They were a part of her and as we all know, Grimm leave nothing of themselves behind when they are slain."

"Even those touched by Salem?" Winter asked.

Ozpin nodded. "Yes. Even those touched by Salem."

The question on Jaune's mind was this; how do you find a single Grimm when it could be anywhere on the continent? There was no guarantee that it stayed close. It could have moved away from the kingdom and further into the icy tundra, but Ozpin was confident that it was still around.

Hiding. Waiting.

It had infected Jaune for a purpose. It was intelligent, capable of speech. Whatever it was planning, Ruby had unintentionally foiled it.

It would be back.

It was just a matter of finding it and stopping it.

They went over some plans, utilizing the robotic soldiers to their advantage. Unfeeling machines, the Temptation could not enthrall them with her wicked power. They would be immune to her and were their best bet at first contact. A huntsman team would destroy itself, overtaken by lust and their animalistic drive to breed. That didn't mean huntsmen wouldn't be used, though.

"We will assign each squad to a platoon of synthetic soldiers under their direct command," Ironwood pressed a button on his desk and a holoscreen lit up, providing a detailed map of Mantle and the surrounding land. "We will begin our search in the immediate vicinity and branch out from there, in a perfect ring around the kingdom. Every cave, every hole and tunnel will be searched. Even operational dust mines will be halted and combed over thoroughly. No stone will go unturned."

"I guess those tin cans will be good for something," Qrow said with his usual sarcastic tone. Winter shot him an annoyed look.

"We could send you down each hole first if you prefer," she said, a smirk tilting her lips.

Qrow scoffed.

Now that things had been settled on the Salem front for the time being, with the election over and Amity completed, Ironwood could now bring all of Atlas' resources to bear for this task. It would be a massive undertaking, utilizing thousands of robotic soldiers as well as all of her huntsmen, trainee or otherwise.

"Once Amity is in the sky, this operation will begin," Ironwood then paused, eyes settling on Jaune. "Due to... your particular circumstances, you will not be permitted to join these efforts."

"What?" he asked, startled. "Why? I'm perfectly fine now. I feel great. All my tests have come back positive, and I've even been working out."

It was Ozpin that spoke up. "It has nothing to do with your health, Mr. Arc. Rather... your connection to this Grimm."

Did they not trust him? The thought was sudden and cold, worming its way through his mind. Toxic, it bled into him, a dark reminder of his recent activities.

He opened his mouth furiously but caught himself at the last moment, his outrage bleeding away just as quickly as it surged.

Could he blame them?

It was complicated but it didn't change the fact that for months now, he had been... compromised. Unknowingly, unwittingly, he had acted in a way that benefited this Grimm. How it benefited it, they didn't know. But now several huntresses and a civilian were pregnant, he was about to be a father and his life was about to change forever.

"It isn't a matter of trust," Ozpin quickly cut across his thoughts, knowing what he was thinking. "But even with those parasites removed from your body, we are dealing with magic. No matter how small, there is always a chance that this Grimm could influence you much more strongly than other people due to your prior encounter. We don't wish to take the risk."

"This is for your own good as much as it is for others," Ironwood's expression was soft, open. He wasn't being condemned. "I understand that this may be difficult for you but we cannot take that chance."

As frustrating as it was, Jaune understood.

He didn't like it.

But he understood.

"Fine," he said, voice rougher than he intended. He sighed. "I don't – I wouldn't want to cause this operation to fail because of my own ego."

Things wrapped up quickly after that but as Ozpin, Qrow, Winter and Penny filed out, Ironwood asked him to stay.

When they were left alone, he watched as Ironwood reached into his desk and pulled out a bottle of scotch. He didn't know much about alcohol but the bottle certainly looked expensive, the amber liquid sloshing as it thumped against the hard flat surface. Jaune blinked, taken aback as he then fetched a pair of glasses from below, as well as some ice.

The older man saw his expression and smirked.

"Surprised?"

"Uh... yeah, a little bit," Jaune said truthfully. It wasn't that he didn't think Ironwood drank, it was just that he never thought the man had a bottle stashed away in his desk, along with glasses and – wait, was there a mini freezer in there? Where did that ice come from?

Ironwood chuckled. "I may seem stoic but let me assure you, Jaune – I am just as much of a man as anyone else."

"I know," Jaune said seriously and he saw a brief look of surprise filter across the General's face. "I know you were having a hard time with everything that was happening, and people were constantly second guessing every move you made. Even I didn't agree with everything you were doing," he revealed. "But... I never doubted your reasons. You just wanted to keep your kingdom safe."

Ironwood stared at him for a moment and Jaune started to wonder if he had overstepped in some way before the man smiled, perhaps the first genuine smile he had seen from him that didn't have the weight of the world hidden behind it.

Uncorking the bottle, he poured some into each glass before holding one out for him to take. Jaune made his way up the steps to his desk and received it gladly, peering down at the attractive amber before giving it a sniff. It held notes of spice and something woody, deep and earthy.

"I wanted to apologize," Ironwood began slowly and when Jaune looked back up, the man seemed troubled.

"Apologize?" Jaune asked, confused. "What for? Oh – uh, if this is about asking me to sit out, don't worry about it. I get it."

Ironwood shook his head. "Not for that."

Jaune watched as he took a sip of his drink so he followed suit, the sharp taste flowing over his tongue. He fought to keep the grimace off his face. It wasn't bad, per se – just strong.

"You've been honest with me and it is something that I respect about you. You didn't try to hide what happened to you, even though I know it must have been difficult for you to talk about. And while... certain proclivities were left out, that is more than understandable. They were private... and no doubt, the influence of the Grimm upon you compelled you not to look into your actions too deeply. Indeed, despite what occurred, you have been an invaluable help. If not for you, I may not have taken the step to bridge the gap between Atlas and Mantle, between myself and Robyn Hill. I can not thank you enough for your advice during those troubled times."

"I was just doing my duty," Jaune said, shrugging.

Ironwood chuckled. "You did much more than that. But your honesty was repaid with dishonesty on my part, through omission. That is what I wish to apologize for."

Jaune frowned.

"What?"

"The Relic of Knowledge," Ironwood said before elaborating, "Well – the fake relic, as you now know."

"Oh..."

Jaune wouldn't lie. The deceit had caused a sliver of worry to manifest, knowing what people would do to gain a hold of such a power. The Maiden's were some of the most powerful beings on the planet and if any kingdom managed to get their hands on two of them, it could seriously skew the balance of power on Remnant. That worry had all been extinguished, however, by Nora's revelation.

Perhaps if Ironwood had been unwilling to part with the mantle of Fall, things would have been much different. His actions would have come across as a power grab. But that wasn't what was happening.

"Nora said that she will be the next Fall Maiden," Ironwood nodded solemnly at his words. "I think she will be a good choice."

"Ms. Valkyrie has been a pleasant surprise to me," the General confessed. "My first impressions of her were of a reckless individual who held little regard for the consequences of her actions but I was wrong. She is well aware of the consequences and chooses to be reckless anyway."

Jaune snorted.

"Yeah, you aren't wrong."

Nora could come across as unintelligent to some but she was much smarter than people gave her credit for. Much more observant, as well, not to mention level headed. Don't get him wrong; she could be a total spaz when she wanted to be, but that didn't mean she couldn't be serious when it was warranted.

"But she has been... very understanding of the situation, and volunteered herself for this task. Many in her position would do it for the power this position would bring them... but I don't sense ambition from her, or a drive for self gain. She is doing this for others – for you and your friends," Ironwood slowly rotated his glass, swirling the drink within. "I find that commendable."

Jaune smiled.

"She was inspired by the best."

Ironwood took a moment to gather his meaning.

"You mean Pyrrha Nikos."

"The one and only."

Ironwood looked away, his face troubled.

"I regret... what happened to her."

Jaune wanted to say that he had nothing to do with it, but that wasn't true, was it? Ironwood had a hand in convincing his partner, just as Ozpin did, and Professor Goodwitch, and even Qrow to a certain extent. These secret keepers of knowledge dumped purpose and destiny at Pyrrha's feet, and because they knew the type of person she was, they were confident that she would take up the mantle with little question.

But in the end, it was her decision.

It was her belief in destiny that drove her to accept.

And it was her morals and values that drove her to confront Cinder Fall atop that tower, a true Huntress in all but name.

Jaune had come to terms with that.

"Me too," Jaune sighed. "But she wouldn't have been Pyrrha if she had allowed Cinder to go unchecked. Even knowing that she could die, she went anyway. That was the type of person she was," Jaune finished off his drink then, upending the glass as his throat burned. "That is the type of person Nora is. I worry for her. This will make her a target for the rest of her life... but we are already targets, aren't we?"

Resisting Salem already put all of them in great peril. Being the Fall Maiden may make Nora a bigger target but he would be right there beside her, willing to defend her with his life if that is what it took to keep it out of Salem's hands. Jaune knew he wasn't alone, either. Ren would be first in line, and Team RWBY would be right beside him.

"That is a very mature way of thinking about it."

Jaune shrugged. "I guess we've all grown up a little the last few years... but even though I don't think you needed to, I accept your apology."

They talked for a little bit longer, even sharing a second drink before Jaune took his leave. When he stepped out into the hall, he had only moved a couple of steps before he noticed that he wasn't alone. Someone had been waiting for him.

"Crap," he muttered.

Thankfully, it wasn't Qrow. He knew that conversation had a high probability of becoming physical. Unfortunately, he was more afraid of this person than Yang and Ruby's uncle.

Winter's face may as well have been carved from ice, her expression blank as her ice blue eyes pinned him with an intense stare. Jaune paused, meeting her eyes and waited.

"You got my little sister pregnant."

Her voice was even, calm. He almost wished she would have shouted it, it would have made him less nervous. Winter and Weiss looked so alike that he was taken back a couple of years, to those wonderful months he had been so smitten, acting out for any scrap of attention and being rebuffed by Weiss' sharp tongue and cold eyes.

Yeah – Winter was pissed .

"I did," he said, because what else could he say?

"She isn't the only one."

"...no, she isn't."

He saw a subtle shift in her jaw, the clenching of teeth.

"My sister assures me that everything is well, that she did not engage in anything she did not wish to engage in. That she knew about the others, and was okay with it."

It was clear that Winter had a hard time believing that.

"If I find out that you forced her in any way, that you knowingly led her astray and manipulated my sister into accepting this – this – farce of a relationship, if you break her heart ..." she trailed off but the threat was clear.

Glaring at him in a final warning, she turned swiftly and marched down the hallway.

Jaune grimaced. "Well... that could have gone worse."

"It certainly could have," a happy voice chirped and Jaune jerked around in surprise, heart racing. Winter hadn't been the only person waiting for him. Penny beamed at him, giving a little wave. "I believe her concern for her sister is causing great distress, so please excuse any rudeness on Winter's part."

"Yeah, yeah – I know Penny. I know."

Green eyes blinked at him innocently for a moment, and for some reason Jaune felt like something shocking was about to leave her lips.

"Forgive my lack of knowledge concerning relationships, Jaune – but would you consider dating someone that could not conceive?"

He was right.