[RWBY] Jaune BS Self Insert

[AndrewJTalon]

A lot of people asked for this to have its own thread, so... Here we go.

I think work broke my brain because this is what popped out this morning:

- - -

A familiar scene. Pyrrha Nikos walks up to the tree she pinned a young Jaune Arc to in order to save him. She smiles up at him.

Pyrrha: "Hello Jaune... Is there still room for me on your team?"

Jaune: "... Yes."

Jaune looks pretty distressed. Pyrrha frowns. She helps him down. Once on the ground, he starts panting and wheezing and shaking.

Pyrrha: "Um... Sorry about the-?"

Jaune: "Saving me? No, thanks, that was great, holy shit what was this idiot thinking?! That was terrifying! And why do I have sneakers?! WHAT FUCKER BECOMES A HERO IN SNEAKERS?!"

Jaune continues to mutter and rant to himself as Pyrrha stares in deeper concern.

Jaune: "Shit shit shit is this Hell?! Is this God's punishment?! If I died I wanted to go to Heaven, not start over in this show! Did I not pray enough?! HOLY SHIT WAIT... GETTING MEMORIES...!"

Jaune groans and holds his head.

Jaune: "... Holy shit... So that's canon. I don't even know what the hell to think about that..."

Pyrrha: "Um, Jaune?"

Jaune starts and looks over at Pyrrha. He coughs.

Jaune: "Ummm... Look. I know we just met and I was kind of a douche but... Can I please have a hug?"

Pyrrha: flush "... Okay."

She hugs him. He relaxes and sighs.

Jaune: "Thanks... Oh crap now this feels creepy." He gently pushes her away and clears his throat "An-Anyway... Um... Pyrrha? I'm gonna level with you here... My Aura is not unlocked."

Pyrrha: "Oh?"

Jaune: "Yeah. My mom was... Holy shit that's canon too?! I just made that up! How-Questions for later. Anyway! My mom was going to unlock it for me when I went to medical school... Which is where I'm supposed to be right now, but I wanted to be a Hunter and so, uh... Here I am."

Pyrrha: "I... I see. Defying your parents is... Is difficult."

Jaune: nods "Yup... You do have parents, right? Like, you know their names? Faces? History?"

Pyrrha: deeply concerned "Yes?"

Jaune: "Oh thank God... Anyway! If you could do me a solid and unlock my Aura, I promise I will not slow you down. I just... I really want to be a Hunter and help people, like my family before me. Can you help me, please?"

Pyrrha: confused, but smiling more genuinely "I'd be happy to, Jaune."

Jaune: smiles back "Thanks."

- - -

Upon fighting a Grimm...

Jaune: "WHY THE FUCK DO THEY LOOK SO MUCH SCARIER?! IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FREAKING ANIME CGI!"

- - -

Upon meeting up with the others...

Ruby: "Hey Jaune!"

Jaune: "Oh, hey Ruby." Catches Weiss "Hey bitch who left me to die."

Weiss: "Wha-Excuse you-?!" Jaune drops her and steps over her "ACK! HEY!"

Jaune: "Sooo, we've got the Relics, I vote we all run for it. Any objections?"

Yang: "Nope!"

Jaune: "Cool!"

- - -

Jaune: "HOLY SHIT DIE YOU OVERGROWN ARACHNID! DIIIIIE! DIIIIIIIIIE! NORA! SQUISH IT SOME MORE!"

Nora: "CAN DO VIOLENT LEADER!"

- - -

And at the dorms, later...

Jaune: "Ohhh geez... How did I end up the leader?! Ohhh we are so fucked... I couldn't even handle being a supervisor at Amazon, how's this gonna work out...?"

Ruby: "Hey Jaune! You okay?"

Jaune: "Just... Rethinking my life choices. Or death choices."

Ruby: "Oh... Can I help?"

Jaune: "I don't really know... But thanks for being here for me. You're just as sweet and kind as... Uh... I thought you'd be!"

Ruby: beams "Awww...!" hugs him

Jaune: "HURK! Ruby... Loosen your grip a little?"

Ruby: "Sure!"

- - -

Later in the dormroom bathroom...

Jaune: Okay... So there are two almost legal super hot girls in my team. One is Nora and she's with Ren... And just because I'm a teenager doesn't mean I'm a horny idiot, right? Right. Plus, he's my bro. Bro code applies. But unfortunately, that leaves...

He steps out. Pyrrha beams in her pajamas: A very tight T-shirt with panties.

Pyrrha: brightly "Ready for bed, Jaune?"

Jaune: "... Sure..." I am so going to hell... Or maybe I'm already there.

- - -

Yeah, it's crap, but 99.9 percent of anything self insert-like is. So meh.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

- - -

Jaune calls his parents.

Jaune: "Hey Mom... Dad... Um... I know this is a little awkward-"

Isabel: "Are you going to come home and go to medical school?"

Jaune: "No. No I am not."

Isabel: scowls "Jaune, we've been over this a hundred times-"

Jaune: "Yes Mom, I know. You saw a lot of terrible crap as Hunters. I get it. But I want to help and protect people like you two! So please, at least let me try? If I fail, I'll come back and study. I promise."

Isabel: "... Well... I mean... I suppose you're being mature about this..."

Jaune: "Also? You know those medical techniques you were going to teach me with unlocked Aura? I kind of need them now."

Isabel: sighs "What makes you think I'll teach you them now-?"

Jaune: "Well..." Looks contrite and mumbles "This big guy's been bullying me in combat class..."

Isabel: eyes narrow "Who?"

Jaune: "Oh! Uh, nothing! I mean, it's no big deal-"

Isabel: "WHO IS BULLYING MY BABY BOY?!"

Jaune: Sheesh, no wonder he had such low self esteem! "Uh... Mom, you know that calling the school about it only makes it worse, right? Besides... If I do learn these medical techniques and I fail? I'll be a shoe in for medical school?"

Isabel: "..." sighs "Well... I suppose I can give you the basics..."

Jaune: "Thanks!"

- - -

The next day in combat class...

Jaune: Seriously, that fanon is canon? I have to face Cardin until I win? What bullshit is this?

Cardin: "All right Jauney Boy, ready to lose?"

Jaune: all smiles "Hey Cardin. Funny thing. Did you know my mother invented a few medical techniques with Aura that are stupidly easy to use? I don't know why I didn't ask her to teach me sooner, ego issues probably, but I picked up one or two last night!"

Cardin: "So what?!" He swung his Mace... Jaune sidesteps it and then flares his Aura

Jaune: "So this."

He shield bashes Cardin so hard he flies out of the ring and slams into the floor.

Jaune: "... Shit... Did NOT mean to go that hard... Sorry Cardin! So, that means I win, right?"

Goodwitch: "Uh, yes! Good work, Mister Arc."

Jaune: "Thanks Teach!"

With his friends...

Yang: "Nice bash, VB! Really left an impact!"

Jaune: "Thanks Dragon Girl."

Yang: "Eh?"

Jaune: "Well, why should you be the only one with pet names?" winks

Yang: gapes "Wow... One win and you're smooth?"

Jaune: "Looks like!"

Jaune: Wait, shit... They're all still underaged to me. It's so creepy. WHY ARE YOU BEING CREEPY?! STOP BEING CREEPY!

Pyrrha: beams "That was... Pretty good, Jaune..."

Jaune: "But?"

Pyrrha: "Um, well..."

Jaune: "I need honest feedback to improve. So... What did I do wrong?"

Pyrrha: wince "Well... Your dodge was good, I can tell you've had dancing experience. But it had too much flair: That wastes energy. And your shield bash needed more motion from your hips and a better stance. You're lucky that Cardin wasn't taking you seriously, but now he will."

Jaune: Well... There goes my confidence... "Thank you Pyrrha. I mean that. Really."

Pyrrha: "Sorry... You just need to train to get better."

Jaune: "That's what I'm here for!"

Ren: "It is impressive you were able to learn an Aura technique in one night."

Jaune: yawns "Yeah... Though to be fair, I knew the basics very well thanks to my mom's instruction. I bet you guys could all pick it up way faster and better. You wanna learn too?"

Nora: "YES! How much does it boost your strength?!"

Jaune: "Like... Ten times in short bursts? My mom can go to a hundred times though."

Yang: "A hundred times?!" Grabs his arm "You're training with me!"

Pyrrha: "He-He is on my team-"

Ruby: "I WANNA STOP BEING A PIPSQUEAK!"

Jaune: "How will being stronger help with that?!"

Nora: "HE'S ON OUR TEAM! TEACH ME! I WANNA LIFT A PANCAKE HOUSE OVER MY HEAD!"

Jaune: "Mayyyybe we'll wait on teaching you, Nora."

Jaune: Shiiiiiit... See, this is why Jaune didn't train. It just causes so many issues... Fuck. I'm a smartphone away from being a shitty isekai protagonist... Well, at least I don't have a token animal girl love interest...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

When Blake runs off... And they fight the White Fang... Jaune finally takes Blake aside.

Jaune: "Okay, Blake? Real talk. Don't do this again."

Blake: "What? But I have to-"

Jaune: "Blake, why is it your job to go on a one cat crusade against the White Fang? It's not in your job description, is it?"

Blake: "I, I don't have a job-"

Jaune: "Princess is technically a job."

Blake: gapes "J-Jaune, you... How-?!"

Jaune: "Grew up with Faunus in Radian. One of them was a huge fanboy of yours. It was honestly kind of weird and unsettling. He was devastated when you joined White Fang."

Blake: "Wha-You're blackmailing me?!"

Jaune: "I'm telling you... If you do this all on your own and get captured, or worse? One, you'll make Ruby cry. Two, you'll make your parents cry. Three? You'll be playing right into their hands because as long as they had you as a hostage? They could keep your parents from getting directly involved. You want to stop the White Fang? You're going to need help."

Blake: "How... How do I know I can trust you?"

Jaune: "I've kept my mouth shut from the moment I met you. But if you keep trying to pull this tragic heroine shit on us, your friends? I will do more than talk."

Blake: "Like what?"

Jaune: "I will tie you up and gag you if I must."

Blake: blushes "... Y-You wouldn't dare-!"

Jaune: "I dropped Weiss Schnee on her small but well toned ass. Do I look like I'm the kind of man you want to mess with? I care about you all, Blake. That's why I'm going to push back on this. So if you want to fight the White Fang? Sure thing. But we're doing it smart, and we're doing it together. Got it?"

Blake: "..." licks her lips "No man tells me what to do-"

Jaune: "Do NOT pull that shit with me, Blake. Your dad may have been permissive, but I'm not. He's not here. I am. You keep this up, I'm bringing the hammer down. But only because I care. We good?"

Blake: scowls "... Fine. But you'd better not forget to keep me in my place, Jaune."

Jaune: "Don't worry. I won't."

Blake walks off. Pyrrha, Ren and Nora approach Jaune.

Pyrrha: "What was that all about?"

Jaune: "Just making some things clear." She'll probably still run off at least once... But maybe I can at least check her worst impulses for now. She'll probably hate me but... We can work that out later.

Meanwhile, in Blake's mind...

Blake: Who does that human think he is, ordering me around?! Blackmailing me?! He... He threatened to tie me up! Is he really... Does he really want to... To make me his pet?!

Blake blushes severely.

Blake: No... No... I can't give in too easily... He has to work for it... Put me in my place... Then take me and make me his~...!

Ruby: "Blake? You okay?"

Blake: "... I might need to buy a collar."

Ruby: "Eh?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Pyrrha had noticed that Jaune spent a lot of time just staring at the stars by himself. She didn't mean to intrude, but she was curious about it.

Pyrrha: "Jaune? Are you all right?"

Jaune: "Hm? Oh, yeah." He smiles sadly at her, before looking back at the stars

Pyrrha: "I just... You seem so sad when you look at the stars."

Jaune: "Oh. Well..." He shrugs and sighs. "Life... Isn't quite what I thought it was. A lot of my conceptions for how things worked were... Well... Shattered."

Pyrrha: "Oh?" She sits next to him

Jaune: "Yeah."

Silence.

Pyrrha: "Um... If you need to talk... I-I'll listen?"

Jaune: "I appreciate it but... I don't want to worry you."

Pyrrha: "I'm worried about you anyway. You seem... Older, somehow."

Jaune: nervous "D-Do I?"

Pyrrha: "Yes... Like you've seen terrible things. Things that have aged you."

Jaune: sighs "... I guess I kind of have. It's... Complicated."

Pyrrha: "I'm still here."

Jaune: "... I thought that was it. That this was my end, my release. That I'd get my eternal reward... And here I am. It's a fantasy to some, but... To me? It's... Not what I was hoping for. It's just living someone else's dream with a lot of responsibility I didn't ask for."

Pyrrha: "Oh... My..."

Jaune: "But... I mean... Since I'm here? I have to use what I know to help people. Because you are people. You're not just... Characters in a story. You're real. You have hopes and dreams and fears and... And I have to do what I can do help you. But I don't know if I even can help you. If I can do anything to change things. Even this knowledge I have is incomplete. I only got a tiny picture of what this world was like and there's so much I don't know."

Pyrrha: "... Then... Then you are no different from anyone else." She smiles gently "You're just another mortal doing the best he can. There's... There's no shame in that."

Jaune: "I wish I could think like that... But I'm not quite that either. There's so much on my shoulders and... And all I can do is try to help others with their burdens. Because they wouldn't understand mine."

Pyrrha: "Isn't that presumptuous? Egotistical? Maybe we'd understand better than you think."

Jaune: "..." laughs softly "Maybe... I just know that... This is kind of a second chance for me. One I didn't want... But one I won't squander. Because... Well... I love you."

Pyrrha: Bright red "L-L-L-Love me?!"

Jaune: "All of you. Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake, Ren, Nora... You're all dear to me. Even more so now. I... I can't let anything happen to you. Any of you." He hugged her "And I won't. Just... Help me do the best I can, please."

Pyrrha: "I-I... Y-Yes, of course..." Hugs him back, feeling giddy

Ruby: "Wait... You love us?!"

Jaune and Pyrrha look up in shock. RWBY, Nora and Ren are there on the rooftop.

Yang: blush "W-Wow... Kind of forward of you, huh VB?"

Weiss: "Geez... Like anyone would believe that!"

Blake: "You're blushing."

Weiss: "Shut up!"

Nora: "Awww... So can we be adopted, Jaune? I can't marry you but adoption is totally on the table!"

Ren: "... I also love you, Jaune."

Blake: happy look

Ren: "In a brotherly way."

Blake: Disappointed

Jaune: "No, I mean, I love you all but I mean, uh... Er..."

Jaune's Brain: Goddamnit, you KNEW that kind of talk would get you into trouble but you had to get all poetic! Idiot!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Later, Jaune meets with Ozpin. The Headmaster was very busy, but Jaune had pressed the issue and so Ozpin had agreed to a meeting in his office.

Ozpin: "Please, have some hot chocolate, Mister Arc."

Jaune: "Thanks but I just had breakfast."

Ozpin: "Suit yourself." sips his mug "Mm. I find it better than coffee."

Jaune: "Depends on the coffee, I suppose. And how it's prepared."

Ozpin: "Mmm. To each their own, but my personal experience is that humans just keep trying to make coffee and alcohol taste better just to make the experience of imbibing it more pleasant."

Jaune: "I suppose you would know best, sir. After all, you were around when it was invented."

Ozpin: chuckles "A crack about my age! And a very good one."

Jaune: smiles "No. I mean that very literally, Ozma."

Dead silence. Ozpin stares at Jaune and slowly sets down his mug.

Jaune: "I'm going to guess you're going for your cane, which is filled up with energy from you constantly doing stuff. You really should make better use of it."

Ozpin: "How could you possibly-?"

Jaune: "I just hit my head and... I had a vision. A vision of the future. I know that the sword my Nana keeps in her closet is actual magic. I know that the moon wasn't fractured on accident. And I know about you... And Salem. I saw the Fall Maiden's powers taken by one of Salem's agents. Vale and Atlas, destroyed. And the Ever After. How?" shrugs "Got me. Maybe it's my Semblance. Maybe it's magic. You got any Arcs in your body hopping family tree, Ozzy?"

Ozpin looks absolutely flabbergasted. Outwardly, Jaune is smirking. Inwardly, he's doing his best to keep himself together.

Jaune's Brain: Shit shit shit... Why do I have to play it like an asshole Independent Harry Potter fic?! TONE IT DOWN!

Ozpin: "... And what is it you intend to do with this information, Mister Arc?"

Jaune: "A lot of people I care about died in this future. A lot of it due to mistakes. Mistakes we could avoid. I want to avoid those mistakes, Headmaster. So... I'm going to give you as much information as I can to help you. But... I have to be careful about it. The second we use this information, the future changes and a lot of other things become worthless. And for all I know, I got a lot of things wrong."

He shook his head.

Jaune: "All I know is... I think I've got the memories of a much, MUCH older man in my head. One who has seen horrors. Horrors beyond comprehension. If I can save my friends, my family... Just people in general from it? Then it's worth it. So please sir... I am asking you to help me."

Ozpin: "... I will." He shook his head "... Thank you for surprising me for the first time in a long, long time. It's... A unique experience."

Jaune: "I can imagine. Anyway, first off... I have some questions since the vision wasn't entirely clear. Can I ask some?"

Ozpin: "If it does not compromise anyone's safety, I can try to answer it."

Jaune: "Don't worry, this is ancient history. Namely: Why hasn't Salem steamrolled Remnant already? She's immortal and has incredible magic. She controls the Grimm. She should have already won."

Ozpin: sips "Did not the vision show you the Moon breaking?"

Jaune: "I mean, it did, but I saw a war between Salem and the Gods and... Uh... Stuff."

Ozpin: "Hmmm... Perhaps it interpreted things in a metaphorical sense. Something easier for your mind to comprehend. Salem... Well... You saw how we met and fell in love?"

Jaune: "Rescued her from a tower, yeah."

Ozpin: nods "Our magical abilities were so in tune, we revolutionized it. We brought about wonders... But even with all our power, I was still prone to mortal failings. I died from a disease. Salem... Used all her magic, all her knowledge, to bring me back. But in doing so? She unleashed the greatest evil this world has ever known."

Jaune's jaw drops.

Jaune: "You don't mean... The Grimm?!"

Ozpin: "The story got twisted and altered over thousands of years in many religious traditions. The Table Breakers hold that Man brought forth the Grimm due to temptation by Evil herself to gain power over life and death. The Pathists believe that desperate desire, unchecked and unmanaged, brought forth a darkness to consume the light. The Dharmists believe it was a battle between the arrogant humans and the saddened gods as humanity sought to gain eternal life. In the end... They each have a piece of the truth. Salem brought forth the Grimm to save me."

Jaune: "Holy shit..."

Ozpin: nods gravely "This act made us both immortal, and powerful. We united man and Faunuskind together into a grand magical civilization. We fought the Grimm, made the world safe... But all the while, the price of ripping through the barriers of reality to the afterlife was paid by my wife. She was consumed by evil. She wanted to eliminate all death, all suffering... By making us all like her. Grimm."

Jaune: gapes

Ozpin: "I fought her. She gathered followers, promising them immortality. With the combined might of our armies? It was very much like a war between the gods. The world was devastated. She... She killed our daughters. I had only one chance: An ancient ritual to seal her away, as death had no hold on her. I managed to do it... Sealed her away into what was our home on the Dragon Continent... But the backlash of it shattered the moon, destroyed almost all magic, and sealed most of my power away into the four souls of our daughters, and four other items of great power."

Jaune: Holy shit... This is better than the original by leaps and bounds! How did this not get through to Monty?! Ah well...

Jaune: "So, if Salem gets her hands on the Maidens and Relics-?"

Ozpin: "Her full power will be unleashed. Even as she is, after centuries, she can manipulate through dreams and at times, project her image. She can control the Grimm but not as she once did. Even so... She has kept up this war for thousands of years. If she were to be released with her full power, and in possession of mine...? Remnant would be doomed."

Jaune: "Damn... So... Yeah. We totally want to stop that from happening."

Ozpin: "There is another problem... Her seal is weakening. There are still safeguards she cannot overcome without my power thanks to the ritual, but her power is growing. Enough that she's been able to take physical form in her castle for a few centuries. Even without her full strength she is formidable."

Jaune: "And I guess we can't just nuke her into oblivion?"

Ozpin: "I have considered it... But frankly, unleashing that much energy against the very thing keeping her sealed is probably not a good idea."

Jaune: "I kind of have to agree... Though I think General Ironwood still wants to try that strategy. Maybe you should tell him why it's not a good idea?"

Ozpin: "I have, though I didn't tell him the full details. However, if we're talking about the fate of billions, I may need to rethink that. Among other things."

Jaune: "Wow... You're... Uh... No offense Headmaster but you're way different from in the visions!"

Ozpin: "I am?"

Jaune: "Yeah."

Ozpin: "How so?"

Jaune tells him. Ozpin pauses a moment to digest this, and shakes his head.

Ozpin: "If I did make such decisions, Jaune... No wonder we were losing in the future."

Jaune: "Yeah, I kind of agree... I don't know if I got a bad transmission or something but... Even if only bits and pieces of it are true? I hope it helps."

Ozpin: "Prophecy has always been a difficult and complex subject, Jaune. Don't feel bad about not getting a complete picture. The future is always in motion."

Jaune: snerk "... Uh, sorry. Little in-joke."

Ozpin: "Indeed. Also... Rest assured that even if I did inhabit a teenaged body? I am unlikely to ever 'mack on' Miss Rose."

Jaune: "Oh... That's good."

Ozpin: "Though do take care with your own romantic endeavours? Miss Xiao-Long would be most put out."

Jaune: "Uh, n-no! I'm not-I'm totally not-!"

Ozpin: "Unless you intend to emulate your great-grandfather and go for a harem ending? It's not uncommon in the Arc line, you know-"

Jaune: "WHAT?! NO! I-I didn't even know that was an option-!"

Ozpin: "Of course it's an option. And if it gives us a better chance for survival, perhaps we should take it. I could give you some advice-"

Jaune: "NO! NO! I AM GOOD! TOTALLY GOOD!"

Ozpin: smirk, sips

Jaune: sigh "That's really not funny, Headmaster."

Ozpin: "Who said I was joking?"

Jaune: "Fuck. I am a terrible isekai protagonist."

Ozpin: "Language."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: Okay... Look. I'm a teenaged boy with a bit of an old man's brain in my head. That doesn't make me a creep, right? Right! I'm totally not a creep. Besides, my years of wisdom mean I'm not just ruled by my hormones. Right? Right!"

Yang walks into the common room, toweling her hair off after a shower. She's only wearing a towel. She beams at Jaune.

Yang: "Hey VB. Staying in too, huh?"

Jaune: "... Y-Yes."

Yang: "Any... Plans?"

Jaune: "Uhhh..."

Yang: "You know..." smirks, leans in "Maybe I could... Fit you in, huh~?"

Jaune: Why is she flirting with me holy shit you pervert you gotta stop yourself this is a fantasy come true NO DAMNIT SHE'S GONNA END UP WITH THE SHITTY KITTY YOU KNOW THIS DAMNIT FUCK SHIT BALLS BOOBIES-!

Yang: Heh, he's always so serious and now he's completely off guard! He's kind of cute when he's blushing. Maybe I'll lean in a bit closer and really spook him...

She does so... Her lips breathing hot air against his.

Yang: "What do you think~?"

Finally those years of experience crystallize.

Jaune: "..." Deep breath "... I dunno. I don't think you could handle me."

Yang: blink "... Oho? Vomit Boy's got some pride, huh?"

Jaune: "Not pride. Just honesty."

Yang: "That's a very bold claim to make. You wanna prove it?"

Jaune: "... You first."

Yang: "Huh?!"

Jaune: "You first."

Yang: "... Are you asking me to drop my towel, VB?"

Jaune: "Do I need to ask? You started this, after all. Do you want to see where it goes?"

Yang: Blushes bright red "Y-You... I uh..."

Jaune: shrugs, turns back to his book

Yang: Wha... THAT'S NOT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO GO! HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A STAMMERING, BLUSHING MESS DAMNIT! HOW COULD HE JUST IGNORE ME?!

Jaune: "You're right. We're probably rushing things. Dinner and a movie first before we get to that point. You're a classy lady, I'd like to treat you right."

Yang: Even brighter red "... You... Um..."

Jaune: Heh. So she is a blushing good girl... That's great! Now maybe she'll back off and-

Yang: "...This Saturday good?"

Jaune: "Huh?"

Yang: "This Saturday. Dinner. Movie... And maybe..." She's suddenly very shy as she holds her hands in front of her towel clad body

Jaune: Shit that's even hotter...! "... S-Sure?"

Yang: "Great! S-See you then!" She flees back to her room and shuts it tight

Jaune: "... Wait, what?!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune ponders how to break the news to his team-

Nora: "JAUNE-JAUNE! You're going out with Yang?!"

Ah, right. He'd forgotten that he had to plan around Nora, not with her. As she announced this at the breakfast table. Weiss spat out her food in shock while Ruby gasped. Yang blushed. Pyrrha STARED. Blake blinked rapidly.

Jaune: "... Yes. We're going on a date. It's going to be fun and just us." He smiled at her. Yang smiled back.

Jaune's Brain: Good. I can't just say it's 'just a date' or it will hurt Yang's feelings. Like I'm not taking it seriously.

Jaune: "No reason to flip out, everyone."

Jaune's Brain: But I also need to not look too eager or I'll upset everyone-

Weiss: "I really don't know what you see in him! He's a brute, a ruffian!"

Yang: "You know, you saying that makes me want him more." winks at Jaune "I think I can take some roughness, how about you?"

Jaune: "I've seen you ride your motorcycle. I fear I may be in danger."

Yang: "HA! You wish I rode you like I did Bumblebee!"

Jaune: smiles and winks "Who knows? Maybe I'll find out."

Yang: bright red, but recovers with a giggle "Geez, you wax often, VB? That was a little too smooth."

Jaune: "Maybe not the best choice of words when it comes to riding a motorcycle. Good to know you're taking care of yourself though."

Yang is blushing so hard she might have steam coming out of her ears. She's covering Ruby's ears. Blake is very interested. Weiss is scandalized. Pyrrha looks very sad while Nora grins and Ren raises an eyebrow.

Jaune: "Gotcha." winks

Yang: "Geez!" snickers "Tone it down until after the kids are asleep, mister!"

Jaune: "Fair enough, Ma. Wouldn't want to scar them mentally."

Weiss: "YOU TWO ARE DISGUSTING!"

Ruby: "I don't know why you two are acting like this. I know all about sex."

Yang: "RUBY!"

Ruby: "What?"

After breakfast... Jaune meets with Pyrrha outside of the cafeteria.

Jaune: "You okay Pyr?"

Pyrrha: "Hm? I'm fine... Totally fine. You uh... You two seem very close."

Jaune's Brain: Oh shit... She loves Jaune still?! I am literally the opposite of a golden retriever! I'm like a grumpy terrier or something!

Jaune: "I mean... We're messing around. It's a date, yeah, but... We're not getting married. I do care about her, and uh... If we do get into a romantic relationship, then that will happen. If not? We'll stay friends."

Pyrrha: "O-Oh! I mean of course! I knew that."

Jaune nods.

Jaune: "Just in case you were... Concerned. About... Anything. I uh... I get the feeling you didn't have many friends. I-I mean, I could be wrong and I'm sorry if I'm presuming too much-"

Pyrrha: "You're... Not wrong."

Jaune: Bingo. "Well... I just want you to know that however things go, I do care for you Pyrrha. Very deeply."

Pyrrha blushes.

Jaune: "I mean... I care about everyone but uh... You're my partner." He takes her hands in his "I don't want to lose you."

Pyrrha: confused "You're not... H-Honestly? Um... I'm sometimes scared of losing you."

Jaune: "Me? Why?"

Pyrrha: "Well, uh... You talk a lot about... Um... Death. Like you nearly died. And you're so sad sometimes. I don't think you're suicidal or anything... Unless... Are you suicidal?"

Jaune: "I mean..." He sighs and rubs the back of his head, the memories from two people mixing and matching "... I thought about it once."

Pyrrha: eyes widen

Jaune: "It-It's okay. It's okay. It was a very dark time in my life. I just... I felt so helpless and useless and a burden on everyone. I wondered... I wondered if my family would be better off without me?"

Pyrrha: stares in shock

Jaune: "I'm much better now, Pyr. It's okay." smiles and hugs her to reassure her "All right? I won't give up my life unless there's literally no other way to... I dunno, save Vale. Or you."

Pyrrha: hugs him very tightly "I'll make sure that never happens."

Jaune: "Th-Thanks... Also... You can let go... Hard to breathe..."

Pyrrha: "O-Oh!" lets him go with a blush "S-Sorry!"

Yang: "Ahem."

Jaune: "Hey Yang." Wasn't doing anything wrong, don't act like you were! "Just talking with Pyrrha."

Yang: "Good... Let's go shopping!"

Jaune: "Huh?"

Yang: "Come on, would you rather go to a boring lecture on our light day or hang out with me?" wraps her arms around his and pulls him away significantly "Trying on clothes?"

Jaune: "When you put it that way, I'd have to be an idiot to turn you down."

Yang: "Yeah, and you're definitely not that!"

Yang and Pyrrha stare at eachother intensely. Jaune blinks.

Jaune's Brain: No way... Come on... They're not jealous of me. They're not. Come on...

Jaune: "See you tonight Pyrrha?"

Pyrrha: "Sure. Goodbye Jaune. Goodbye Yang."

Yang: "Later."

Yang drags Jaune off.

Jaune's Brain: Probably best to just tease her, clear the air

Jaune: "Didn't know you were the jealous type but it does fit."

Yang: "Wh-What?!" blushes bright red "No I'm not!"

Jaune: smiles "Didn't think so. But if you were jealous, we were just talking some personal stuff and we needed hugs. Hugs are pretty awesome, ya know?"

Yang: "Yeah. Totally."

Jaune's Brain: Okay so she might be a little jealous... Fuck.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was meeting Ozpin in his office again, relating what he knew of the future.

Jaune: "... And Lionheart's been a traitor for a while. Not sure when he broke or if he was always a scumbag. He says he was just a coward but I was kind of emotional at the time."

Ozpin: grave look "Understandable. I would ask you to try and get your godfather to assist us in this matter. I don't want to move against Lionheart too soon and tip our hand: If he could give us intel on Salem's plans, we might be better able to deal with them."

Jaune: "My godfather...?"

His memories came to him. He blinked rapidly.

Ozpin: "Yes. King Arjun Sarkara of Pandu?"

Jaune: "Ah, right. Sorry, I think the visions are messing with my mind..."

Jaune's Brain: I only came up with like half of that worldbuilding! Why isn't my co-writer here instead of me?! Oh well... Good to know, I guess. Maybe I was getting a clearer transmission from Remnant than Monty. Not that I want to be presumptuous in thinking I was the better writer, cause I'm NOT.

Jaune: "Still... He's going to want Lionheart dead since he probably had a hand in the coup that made him an exile and orphan in the first place. Exile-orphan."

Ozpin: "True, but he can be patient and cunning. He can keep in control of himself. Or his wife will rein him in."

Jaune: "Speaking of... My parents and my godparents were a very powerful team, right?"

Ozpin: "Indeed. Expert heavy combatants and disaster relief specialists. I was very proud of them all."

Jaune: "So... Why didn't you make them your strike team instead of STRQ? Nothing against Ruby and Yang's parents and uncles... Well okay, a LOT against Raven."

Ozpin: "For a few reasons. Summer's Silver Eyes made her a natural counter to Grimm and Salem's agents. The others all had skills very useful as a covert strike team. Whereas your parents and godparents... Were not covert. At all."

Jaune: "But... My mom can shapeshift and Uncle Arjun is like a ninja archer-"

Ozpin: dryly "Yes, and your father is a wrecking ball in human form and your godmother fires death rays. Your mother can shatter buildings at full strength and your godfather is, shall we say, VERY liberal with Aura-powered explosive arrows. Approximately 80 percent of their missions in urban areas ended in property damage so extensive the insurance companies had strokes. And of course, they also overthrew a dictatorship-Granted, wIth the support of a multi-national alliance, but overthrowing a government is not something anyone can call inconspicuous. Your family are many things, Jaune Arc, but covert and subtle are not among them. It's not much of a victory if in defending Remnant, you reduce most of it to rubble."

Jaune: "I... Guess I can't argue with that."

Ozpin: "Indeed. As for the Ever After, do you recall what fruit you ate?"

Jaune: "Ummm... I think it was a mango? But again, it's all really fuzzy."

Ozpin: "So possibly a peach then."

Jaune: "... Was... Was that a dad joke?"

Ozpin: "I think I'm entitled to make them."

Jaune: "Fair enough. Joke away."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was in what Yang assured him was very fashionable: White shirt, khaki pants, black jacket with his hair cut to her specifications. He supposed simplicity was best.

He knocked at the RWBY dorm room door and waited.

Jaune's Brain: Shit... Should I have gotten flowers? Or chocolate? NO! No, this is just a friendly date. Ease up. Wait, the dating rules are different between worlds! What if she thinks I want to marry her?! I mean... That would make sense in a civilization fighting Grimm that ISN'T totally fucked up by gender politics and what not. Crap, crap, why didn't Jaune pay attention to any fucking thing but nerd shit and HUNTING HISTORY?! Yes it's cool that his great-grandparents took out an entire army but THAT DOESN'T HELP WITH DATING!

Yang emerged in a nice white dress with a stylish yellow jacket. She smiled at him.

Yang: "Hey."

Jaune: "... H-Hey."

Offers her his arm

Yang: smiles and takes it

Jaune: "Cool." He heads off, leading her to the Bullheads

Yang's Brain: Wow... He's so calm and confident... Not what I expected, to be honest. I kind of like it... Though I like when he's a spazz, too. Still, why isn't he trying to look down my dress? I wore it low cut for a reason, damnit!

Jaune's Brain: OH MY GOD HOTNESS I WANT TO BANG YOU-URK! No... Calm down... CALM... Boobs are incredible but we're not going to stare at them...!

They go to a local street carnival. They play games, laugh, eat, and have fun. Yang won him a prize from the strongman game (hitting it with the hammer so hard the bell flew off) and Jaune won her a prize back at a shooting gallery (He did have experience with guns as a farmboy, after all).

They ended the evening in a Ferris Wheel and just relaxed and watched the city lights.

Yang: "... I had a really great time tonight."

Jaune: "Yeah, me too."

Jaune's Brain: I've been so used to school, training, trying not to panic... It was nice to just relax for a while.

Yang: "You don't relax very easily, do you?"

Jaune: "I, well... I always feel like I'm behind. Like I need to work harder than everyone else, I guess. I don't want to let anyone down."

Yang: sad smile "I believe you... I dunno, I-I'm not used to the men in my life being reliable."

Jaune: "Oh... Ex-Boyfriend?"

Yang: "Nah... My dad and uncle. I... I mean, I've kissed a boy or two but I couldn't go any further. Not with Ruby to take care of."

Jaune: "Oh..."

Yang: "So, um... Thanks. Thanks for that. Being her friend."

Jaune: smiles "It's not an issue. She's like my little sister and I really care about her."

Yang: smiles back "Yeah..."

Silence.

Jaune's Brain: Okay... It's a nice moment... But I can't really read her. What's going on here?

Yang: "How about you?"

Jaune: "Hm?"

Yang: smiles "Since we're on the subject... You have any girlfriends?"

Jaune: "I mean... One. She was my neighbor, childhood friend. We were close, but... We decided we were better off as friends."

Yang: "Oh? Why?"

Jaune: "I wanted to be a Huntsman. She wanted to marry a rich doctor." shrugs "And well... Our parents were trying to push us together. My Nana finally had to step in and tell my mom off for trying to matchmake so hard."

Yang: "Big family?"

Jaune: "Huge. I've got seven sisters."

Yang: "Seriously?!"

Jaune shows her pictures on his Scroll. She laughs at many of the funnier ones.

Yang: "Geez... And yet I had to dress you for our date?"

Jaune: "Well, I wanted to match." smiles

Yang: "Yeah... Heh... Still..."

She looks wistful.

Yang: "It... Must be nice. Having a big family that looks out for you."

Jaune: "... Most of the time. There were bad times and good times. Fights and arguments and all that. But... I do love them. Even if we don't get along sometimes."

Yang: nods "Mm..."

Silence falls again. The ride ends and they get out. They head back towards the Bullheads. Jaune reaches out for her hand... And Yang takes his.

Jaune's Brain: Okay... Okay... Calm down... Just because she's quiet doesn't mean she's mad... But it might also mean she's into me which... Is also bad? It could be... Argh, I don't want Pyrrha to go kill herself just because she feels like she has no chance! I mean I don't want her to die period! Would she still make the same decision if I didn't know how she felt?! Does she still like me even though I have isekai knowledge?! Would she be okay with sharing?! I DON'T FUCKING KNOW! WHAT DO I DO?!"

Yang: "Hey, Jaune? You okay?"

Jaune: "Huh? Oh, uh... Just... Thinking. A lot."

Yang: chuckles "Maybe you should cut down on that a little. I mean, I'm starting to think that you don't like looking at me~." winks

Jaune: "No, no, I really like that... And the date... And the holding hands and uh... I liked it all. A lot."

Jaune's Brain: Smooooth...

Yang: "Me too. I dunno... I-I mean, I was the most popular girl in school back in Signal and I had all these guys after me. But the second I started putting Ruby ahead of them, they fell away. I was kind of like the single mom, ya know?"

Jaune: "Well, they were idiots. Because you'd be a great mom, Yang."

Yang: "I'll never be as good as Summer-"

Jaune: "So? You'd still be great. I mean that."

Yang blushes brightly.

Yang: "S-So... You think I'd be a great mom?"

Jaune's Brain: Shit, too sincere, too sincere...!

Jaune: "Yeah."

Yang: giggles "Geez... For someone who got in via fraud, you're way too blunt, ya know?"

Jaune: "Well... I mean... Forgery is very different from lying. It's a different kind of lying, uh... I mean..."

Yang: smiles, leans over to kiss his cheek "I get it."

Jaune: "Oh... Yeah." nods

Yang: "Just uh... Oh crap. I mean... Um... I don't have to marry you now, do I?" She looks worried

Jaune: "Eh?!"

Yang: "Blake and Weiss looked up your family tree... Royals tend to be picky about who they romance, right?"

Jaune: "Arcs haven't been royals for centuries. We don't-We don't need to get married... I mean if you wanted to, it's a bit fast! It-It's just been one date! Not that-I mean, if we go on more dates and we connect and-and stuff then absolutely but uh-I mean-!"

Yang: giggles "Okay... I thought I was nervous. You're like this stoic snarky badass in a fight and now you're stuttering like a preteen! It's hilarious!"

Jaune's Brain: Teasing me? Oh, I will not let that stand. Pride and hormones, unite!

Jaune leans in and kisses her lips. She's shocked, but she returns it... They make out for a bit... Before pulling apart, gasping for breath.

Jaune: "I... Haa... Um..."

Yang: "Oh... Oh... Wow... Uh..."

Jaune's Brain: ... SAY SOMETHING!

Jaune: "... Wanna go on another date?"

Yang: "... Yes."

Jaune: "Cool. Me too." He smiles "Night."

She nods and goes into the dormroom... He turns and walks into the JNPR dorm.

Pyrrha is up, and smiles nervously.

Pyrrha: "So... Um... How did it go?"

Nora's head pops up from under her covers.

Nora: "Did you suck face?"

Jaune: "Nora, you're grounded."

Nora: grins "That's not a no~!"

Jaune: "We're going on another date."

Pyrrha winces. Nora looks at her in concern.

Jaune: "B-But we're not getting married or anything. Just friends having fun."

Pyrrha: "R-Right... Right..."

Jaune's Brain: If she just SAID SOMETHING... ANYTHING... Goddamnit, how is she this fucking meek?! She could break me in half without trying! Her parents must be fucking horrible, there's no other explanation...

Jaune: "... Pyrrha? We're starting some special training tomorrow."

Pyrrha: "Oh? What kind?"

Jaune: "You'll see. But I expect you to do your best, understand?"

Pyrrha: "Absolutely!"

Jaune: "Good. I'm counting on you."

Pyrrha: "You always can, Jaune."

Jaune's Brain: Fuuuuuuck... I'm going to get her to be honest about her emotions if it fucking kills me!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Nora tries to sneak into the kitchen in the common room after hours. She opens the fridge... Reaches for the frozen pancakes...

SNAP!

Nora: "OW!" She waves her hand, where a mousetrap is stuck on "Owowowow!"

Jaune: Glares at her "I told you, Nora. You're grounded... Also how does that even hurt? You have Aura."

Nora: "It was funnier?"

Jaune: "... I guess I can't argue with that."

Nora: "PLEASE JAUNE-JAUNE! GIVE ME PANCAKES!" Falls to her knees in front of him and sobs "I'LL BECOME YOUR SLAVE!"

Jaune: "I-I don't need one of those and I'm not gonna NTR Ren!"

Nora: "HE'S INTO THAT!"

Jaune: "I... He's what?!

Nora: "Well... He might be!"

Jaune: "WELL I'M NOT ASKING HIM!"

- - -

Cardin is grumbling to himself... When Jaune walks up to him.

Jaune: "Yo, Cardin."

Cardin: "What do you want, Arc?"

Jaune: "I have beer and guns. Wanna go do something stupid?"

Cardin: "... Sure thing!"

Later, at a campfire, Team CRDL, Ren, Jaune and Sun are chilling out with beer.

Sky: "I just... I think she's kind of neat, ya know?"

Jaune: "Then ask her out, dumbass."

Sky: "But she's with Team NDGO!"

Jaune: "Wait, that's who you're talking about? Fuck, no, do not stick in evil and crazy, bro."

Dove: "I have been telling him the same thing."

Russell: "Totally. I don't even know why Adel is hitting on me. She's supposed to be a lesbian!"

Sky: "Statistically speaking, she's more likely to be bi than lesbian given how few true blue lesbians there are. Or true blue gay dudes there are. It's like a spectrum or something."

Russell: "Yeah and you're a rainbow gaywad!"

Sky: "I AM NOT!"

Cardin: "So... Uh... Jauney... I wanna ask your help."

Jaune: "Me? With what?"

Cardin: "Well you went on a date with Xiao-Long... Can you help me with the girls?"

Sun: "Why aren't you asking me? I went on a date with Blake!"

Jaune: "That was more like you both being temporarily homeless."

Russell: "Plus, you want that chick? Really? Her?"

Sky: "Her booty is amazing though!"

Russell: "It's more that she's part of Arc's harem."

Jaune: "I don't have a harem! Fuck's sake, just because Great-Grandpa had three wives does not mean I will! My dad only has my mom!"

Sun: "She-She totally isn't into Jaune anyway! She wore that collar for me!"

Dove: sips beer "I take back what I said, Sky. You're not a simp next to him."

Sun: "I'M NOT A SIMP!"

Cardin: "Anyway, come on Jaune! Help me with the girl!"

Jaune: "Who is it?"

Cardin: "Um..."

Ren: "If it's Nora, I will have to murder you."

Cardin: "NO IT'S NOT NORA!"

Jaune: "Though good on you, Ren! You made a move?"

Ren: "... Kind of?"

Russell: "OI! Come on, Pinkeye! Just tell her you wanna be together!"

Ren: "I don't want to ruin thirteen years of friendship."

Sky: "She's your childhood friend too?! Why do you guys get all the luck?!"

Jaune: "Who is it, Cardin?"

Cardin: "... Um... Well, uh, she's in the year ahead of us... Has a really neat Semblance and um..."

Jaune: "... You're shitting me. Velvet?! You pulled on her ears, dude!"

Cardin: "Well I got nervous and my family's got some history with the Faunus and-and I don't know what the fuck to do!"

Dove: "Ask her out."

Russell: "Ya damn pussy!"

Cardin: "Says the guy running from Adel!"

Russell: "She's terrifying! I'm not gonna be her dress up doll! Even if she hot as fuck and bisexual!"

Jaune: sighs "Cardin? Just go ask her out. Hand her flowers. Say you just wanted to get her attention but you went overboard. Maybe she'll give you a chance."

Cardin: "That worked for you with your harem?"

Jaune: "I DON'T HAVE A HAREM. I just asked Yang out on a date after flirting with her! It's no big deal! And I don't know why Blake is wearing a collar!"

Sun: "She's doing it for me! ME!"

Russell: "I really fucking doubt it, Abs-Boy."

Sun: "LEAST I HAVE ABS!"

Ren: sips his beer "... Why did we want to hang out with guys again?"

Jaune: "Because Ruby got into my childhood photos my sisters sent and I'm not crossdressing again... Unless it's to save the world or something."

Ren: "Or if your harem is into that."

Jaune: "Et tu, Ren?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

When our heroes try to infiltrate a White Fang meeting... They bring the police with them. Unfortunately, Roman whips out the Paladin mech and chaos ensues. Roman blasts apart the warehouse and JNPR and RWBY barely escape the falling rubble.

Or at least, most of them did.

Pyrrha: "Jaune?! JAUNE! WHERE'S JAUNE?!"

Nora: "JAUNE?!"

Ruby: "JAUNE!"

Yang: "JAUNE!"

Roman's Paladin strides out, carrying the limp body of Sun Wukong.

Blake: "SUN!"

Roman: "You girls gotta get tougher boyfriends if I can wreck them like this. Oh well! Time to die~."

BEEP BEEP!

Roman: "What the-?!"

A heavy semi-truck rams into the Paladin at high speed. Jaune, carrying a large backpack, jumps out of the driver's seat just in time before it hits and explodes.

Jaune: "SHOOT THE FUCKER!"

Everyone opens fire on the mech as it tries to free itself from the wreckage.

Roman: "HAHA! CLEVER, BRATS! BUT YOU'D BETTER BE PACKING SOMETHING EXTRA BESIDES A TRUCK TO TAKE ME DOWN!"

Jaune: "Actually? We did."

He pulls out an anti-armor rocket launcher and takes aim as everyone else keeps firing on Roman.

Roman: "Oh. Well shi-"

Jaune fires. The armor piercing warhead punches through the armor on the mech's drive system. With a massive explosion, the mech goes limp and loses all power.

Jaune: "... Bit of a design flaw, that."

Yang: snerk "Remind me to send a complaint to the Atlasian Military."

Jaune: "Totally."

Ruby: "Awww... Jaune!"

Jaune: "What?"

Ruby: "I wanted to have a cool fight with the giant robot!" pouts

Nora: "Me too!" Also pouts

Jaune: "Well then, next time make sure it's not in a heavily populated area. And bring anti-armor weapons with you."

Ruby: "Maybe I will!"

Nora: "Can I have an advance on my allowance?"

Jaune: "Only if you're good."

Blake and Weiss give Jaune suspicious looks.

Jaune: "... Yes?"

Blake: "How did you know there would be a giant mecha here?"

Jaune: "I didn't know. I just figured that if the White Fang are getting a lot of weapons from somewhere, it wouldn't hurt to prepare for the absolute worst case scenario. In this case, having a giant armored weapon to deal with. At most I thought it would be like one of those cheap-ass Mistralian tanks with the legs that kind of work: Not a Paladin!"

Weiss: "... I suppose that's sensible." nods "You were right to be paranoid."

Jaune: "It's only paranoia if they're not out to get you."

Blake: "Who?"

Jaune: "Well gee, given that Weiss is numero uno target for the White Fang and Blake left them, it seems like they'd be all too happy to go after you two! Also your friends! Speaking of, Blake? Your boyfriend is badly injured, maybe we should tend to him?"

Blake: "O-Oh! Right!"

Weiss: "So self centered."

Blake: "You didn't notice until Jaune pointed it out!"

Weiss: "I was a little preoccupied!"

Pyrrha smiles warmly at Jaune as he starts first aid on Sun.

Pyrrha: "You did very well, Jaune."

Jaune: beams "Thanks Pyrrha. Anything to keep the ones I love safe."

Much blushing from the women around ensues.

Sun: "Ugh... Hey Jaune... Thanks for the save."

Jaune: "Hey, I'm not letting my friends get killed by a giant robot. It'd look bad on my resume!"

Sun: "Can't say I'm uh... I'm comfortable with a dude saying they love me."

Jaune: "It's friendly love, bro. You know, bro-mance? Like what you have with Neptune, except I'm straight."

Sun: "Heh. Funny."

Weiss: "NEPTUNE IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT!"

Jaune: "His dress sense says otherwise."

Weiss: "Y-You're just upset he's manlier than you!"

A pause... Then much laughter ensues.

Weiss: "HEY!"

Jaune: "Sure Princess, sure."

Blake: "Wait, I thought I was the Princess?"

Jaune: "You both are."

Sun: pained scowl "Bro..."

Jaune: "Oh relax Sun, I'm not stealing another man's girl."

Blake: quickly "I'm not his girl."

Sun: "Urk... The pain...!"

Jaune: "I think those are your ribs. Also geez Blake, ya gotta be all tsundere when he's like this? At least give him a lap pillow while he's injured."

Blake: "I-I'm sorry! I'm not good at this stuff!"

Sun: smiles "I like you for it anyway."

Blake: "Now is not the time to flirt!"

Yang: "It's always the time to flirt!"

Sun: "Oh, also... Where did Roman go?"

They search... But the red haired criminal is long gone.

Jaune: "Oh wow, we are bad at this."

Sun: "Urgh... I'm never gonna be a Junior Detective at this rate..."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was brooding over some things as he often did in the common room. The door was open and he could see many of the exchange students wandering the halls. This was part of the reason for his brooding.

A few hours ago in Ozpin's office...

Jaune: "You do realize what I mean by 'Lionheart's a traitor', right?"

Ozpin: "Yes Mister Arc, I am not deaf. However, we cannot simply arrest people based upon nothing more than visions of the future."

Jaune: "You do extra-legal stuff all the time! How is grabbing and taking them into custody for something else not an option?!"

Ozpin: "Because things can quickly get out of control and I do not want to tip our hand to Salem too soon. If she knows her operatives are compromised, that loses us valuable intel. While we are in a position to feed them false information until we can either turn them, or eliminate them at a time of our choosing."

Jaune: scowls "... I hate that you're so reasonable."

Ozpin: smirks "I have been told that many times. In any event... Didn't you say that several operatives of the enemy switched sides to aid us in your visions of the future?"

Jaune: "Well... Yeah... But there's no guarantee we can repeat that!"

Ozpin: "Did you not say that if Miss Fall had just had one person in her life who wasn't 'hilariously over the top evil', she might have turned out for the better?"

Jaune: sulks "... Yes..."

Ozpin: "In that case? You are to make contact with her and try to guide her into thinking what we want her to think. You're already so adept at deception I do not think it will be a serious challenge for you. Besides... If you do it while she's at Beacon? She's in our power and the risk to you or anyone else is minimal."

Jaune: sighs "... All right. I'll give it my best shot."

Ozpin: "That is all I ask. Also, one other thing?"

Jaune: "You're asking a LOT of favors of your only oracle, you know."

Ozpin: "An oracle who wishes to prevent the terrible future, correct?"

Jaune: sighs "Yes sir."

Ozpin: "I want you to help me with your parents and godparents. While in their youth they were too... Destructive to recruit, I believe that if things get as bad as you say, it would be good to have some of the most powerful Hunters and Huntresses around united and organized on our side."

Jaune: "I mean, that'll be a tall order. Mom never trusted you because of how Nana saw you, and Dad goes along with her. And Uncle Arjun-"

Ozpin: "I believe evidence of Lionheart's treachery will suffice to get him on our side. Not that I'll have you relate that to him."

Jaune: "... I'll see what I can do."

Ozpin: "Thank you."

In the present, Pyrrha sits down with Jaune as he strums his guitar.

Pyrrha: "Hello Jaune."

Jaune: "Oh, hey Pyr. You okay?"

Pyrrha: smiles "Just fine. Are you okay? You seem to be waiting for something... Or someone. Are... Are you meeting with Yang?"

Jaune: "Not today. I've got a-"

Cinder walks down the hallway, looking like she's lost. Emerald and Mercury are with her.

Jaune: Crap... It's go time but with Pyrrha here...!

Jaune: "... Pyr? I need to ask you a favor."

Pyrrha: "Anything, Jaune."

Jaune: "You seriously need to stop answering like that... Just... Do you trust me?"

Pyrrha: "With my life."

Jaune winces.

Jaune: "We'll... Work on that too. Just follow my lead and go along with whatever I say or do for now. I promise I'll explain... And apologize."

Pyrrha: confused, but nods "Sure."

Jaune: "All right... Come with me." Here we go...

Jaune gets up and walks over to Cinder. Pyrrha follows a step behind. Jaune smiles at Cinder.

Jaune: "Hey! You appear to be lost."

Cinder: "Yes, we are. Could you direct us to dormitory A7?"

Jaune: "Would love to, but there's a much better view in dormitory A12." winks "You can see the whole campus from there."

Cinder: raised eyebrow, humoring smile "I'm sure there is, but we're assigned to A7 and our luggage-"

Jaune: "It'll be fine..." He leans in close and whispers in her ear "Hail Salem."

Cinder's eyes widen in shock. Emerald and Mercury look at one another askance. Cinder recovers first and smiles warmly, but with a hint of menace.

Cinder: "I see... Why don't you show us to A12? I'll take you up on your offer after all."

Jaune: "Sounds great to me."

They all walk into the dormroom, Jaune and Pyrrha going first. Cinder shuts the door behind her while Emerald and Mercury flank her, ready for a fight.

Cinder: "All right, talk. Who are you and why are you here?!"

Jaune: "That's my question. I can't believe...!" He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose "Of course... Hang on, let me make sure we're clear."

He pulls out a fidget widget toy and clicks it. Pyrrha helpfully increases the magnetic field strength around them with a noticeable hum.

Jaune: "Okay. I checked this place for bugs before but it never hurts to be careful. I'm Jaune Arc. I'm Salem's source inside Beacon."

Cinder's eyes narrow as Emerald scoffs and Mercury smirks.

Mercury: "Seriously?"

Jaune: "Your prosthetic legs need some work, dude. Your father was truly the biggest asshole imaginable if he thought those were decent replacements."

Mercury's jaw drops. Jaune looked to Emerald.

Jaune: "Vacuo, the market street. You figured out your Semblance there."

Emerald's eyes widened. He then locked onto Cinder.

Jaune: "Cinder Fall of the Glass Unicorn. Half the Maiden powers are in your possession, and you're here for the other half and the Relic."

Cinder sucked in a breath. She looked over at Pyrrha and then at Jaune. Jaune shook his head.

Jaune: "Relax... She's with us."

Cinder: "If you know all this then... Then why are you here? Why didn't she tell me about you?"

Jaune: "She didn't tell me about you, either! I didn't know we were supposed to be here at the same time!" Jaune groans "Great... Maybe the old crone is going senile after thousands of years."

Cinder: "... What was your goal then?"

Jaune: shrugs "I was sent here to gather intel and get the Maiden candidates wrapped around my finger."

Jaune reaches out and cups Pyrrha's cheek.

Jaune: "As you can see... I've got one under my spell~... Don't I, Pyrrha dear~?"

Pyrrha flushes bright red, and smiles lovingly at Jaune. She leans into his touch and nuzzles his hand.

Pyrrha: "Mmmm... Master~..."

Jaune: "Sit."

Pyrrha doesn't even hesitate, sitting like a dog on the floor.

Jaune: "Roll over."

Pyrrha rolls over.

Jaune: "Sit up and beg."

Pyrrha again doesn't even blink, sitting up on her knees panting with her hands up.

Pyrrha: "Master~!"

Jaune pats her head.

Jaune: "Such a good girl."

Pyrrha: beams

Cinder gapes in shock. Mercury flushes and smirks, while Emerald gapes and looks... Almost longingly?

Cinder: "How-?"

Jaune: "Just some old fashioned psychology. Helps that my mom's a doctor. It turns out that she was the ideal Maiden candidate for Ozpin: Incredibly powerful, well trained... And with barely a will of her own. She latched onto me the moment I showed her some true kindness and love. The rest was easy." He affectionately rubs Pyrrha's head "But she's not the only candidate. Ruby Rose, the girl with the Silver Eyes, and her team are others. I'm working on her and her sister, too."

Mercury: "Woah... So she's totally into you?"

Jaune: "Pyrrha? Tell them how you really feel about me."

Pyrrha: brightly "I love Master. I feel safe and loved with him. I'll die for him, and kill for him. He only needs to ask~."

Jaune: Okay, that sounded worryingly intense... But it looks like they're buying it.

Mercury: "Man... Slick."

Cinder: "It is impressive... To see the mighty Pyrrha Nikos so humbled." She smirks at her, and then gives Jaune a considering look "Why this thorough?"

Jaune: shrugs "Imagine Ozpin's face when his pet Maiden Candidates all turn against him."

Cinder: "Yes... But I want the full Maiden powers. Where is she? And where is the Relic?"

Jaune sighs.

Jaune: "That's trickier... Ozpin's tower is the obvious location. Getting access to it is difficult, but doable. He's got a special relationship with these Maiden candidates, after all. You just need to keep raising hell and keep Ozpin distracted. As for the Relic...?"

Jaune shook his head.

Jaune: "I don't think it's here anymore."

Cinder: "What?!"

Jaune: "I managed to snag these photos." He pulls them out and hands them over. Cinder looks them over. They do indeed show Ozpin, Glynda, and Qrow moving an item out of the tower at night to a Bullhead. In a crate just big enough for a Relic to be held inside. "Now, I don't know one hundred percent that they removed it, but they went to a LOT of trouble to move this thing in a clandestine manner."

Cinder: "But-How did they open the Vault?"

Jaune: "Magic, I'm guessing. I'm working on getting more intel." At Cinder's scowl he holds up his hands "I know, I know. But this can't be rushed. Ozpin's already trying to use me to get my parents and godparents to work for him. I'm under a lot of scrutiny. He's not dumb."

Emerald: "Maybe we can take the heat off you. You've done MORE than enough-"

Jaune: "Not how it works, Sweetheart. I got this far without raising any suspicion. It'll take too long to get you up to speed. Like it or not? We have to work together on this."

A long pause ensues. Before Cinder sighs.

Cinder: "Very well. This isn't the first time she hasn't told me her full plans."

Jaune: "Heh, I bet that's a feature, not a bug."

Cinder: "Indeed. Do you have intel on the CCT Systems at least?"

Jaune: "What for? You gonna get in there and do something nasty?"

CInder: "Something like that."

Jaune: "Give me a week or two and I'll make it so you can just walk right in. Deal?"

Cinder: "... Deal." She reaches out to him "I did not expect the last of the Arc family to work for our mistress."

Jaune pauses, then slowly reaches out to take her hand.

Jaune: "It's a long story."

Cinder: "Perhaps you can tell me it sometime... Over dinner?"

Jaune: "I'll have to convince my girlfriend but... Doable."

Cinder: smirks, raised eyebrow "You are ambitious?"

Jaune: smirks and shrugs "It's in my blood."

Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury leave. Jaune and Pyrrha follow. Jaune guides her outside, and they walk out of the grounds.

Jaune: "Okay... I don't know for sure if they have someone tailing us but-"

Pyrrha: "I can't sense anyone around with my Semblance. No one in earshot, anyway."

Jaune: "Oh... Cool. You can do that?"

Pyrrha: nods "I can."

Jaune: deep breath "Pyrrha... I am very sorry I had to humiliate you like that. Thank you so much for going along-This is really big. These guys... They're big trouble. All the recent bad shit going down? They're behind it, and they're aiming for something even worse. I... I wish I could tell you everything but-"

Pyrrha: smiles "You asked if I trusted you, Jaune. I answered. That answer hasn't changed. I know you'd only go to such lengths to protect people."

Jaune: "Oh... That's good."

Pyrrha: "And uh..." bright red "Um... Well... Strangely... All my life, I've... Resented others being in control. But with you? I... I'm all right with it. Because... I know I can trust you completely... I-I think I-I might-"

Jaune: "Woah woah woah!" Jaune waves his hands "Look. Pyrrha, I... I care deeply about you, too. But I'm not some jerk making a harem. I love Yang too. If... If we break up, give me two weeks to recover and then we'll try dating. But please... I don't want you to trade one master for another!"

Pyrrha: blush "I... I see... Though, um... If... We could all be in a relationship... Even if I was just the side piece... Wouldn't that help your mission?"

Jaune: "... No offense Pyrrha but I kind of want to beat the shit out of your parents."

Pyrrha: beams "Really?!"

Jaune: "Yes." sighs "We'll... Work on that later. For now though? Let's just keep this quiet, okay?"

Pyrrha: giggles "As my Master wishes~."

Jaune: groans "Please tell me you're just messing with me?"

Pyrrha: "That's my secret."

Jaune: "I've created a monster."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang: "Jaune! Pyrrha."

Yang runs out to them. Jaune smiles.

Jaune: "Hey Yang!"

Pyrrha: "Hello Yang." Polite smile

Yang: "So... Those exchange students, huh? Pretty crazy bunch of bananas-And I don't just mean Sun."

Jaune: "Ha! I get it!"

Yang: "Heh..." Looks between them "So... Doing some training?"

Jaune: "Maybe later. We were just out on a walk."

Pyrrha: "Yes! Since we're partners and all."

Yang: "... I see."

Yang's smile becomes a bit scary. She walks up and grabs Jaune's hand.

Yang: "Mind if I join you?"

Jaune: "Of course not!" smiles

Yang: "Good. Oh, here." Pulls Jaune into a kiss

Jaune: "Mmph! Mmm..."

Pyrrha: twitches

Yang: "Mwah..." Is definitely eying Pyrrha as she breaks the kiss "Good luck kiss before we start on our walk. Wouldn't want anything to happen, now would we?"

Jaune: "N-No, of course not..." Okay... So... She might be a little jealous... Just a little.

Pyrrha glares daggers at Yang even through her smile.

Jaune: And so is Pyrrha... Great. Could things possibly get worse? ... Why did I think that?

- - -

At some point, Weiss storms into the library where JNPR is studying, grabs Jaune, and drags him out.

Jaune: "Ack! Hey, wait a minute-!"

Weiss: "Shut up!"

Weiss drags him out to an empty classroom and slams him against the wall.

Jaune: "Uh... Weiss? What's up-?"

Weiss: "Neptune says you threatened him!"

Jaune: "Eh?"

Weiss: "Yes! Right to his face!"

Jaune: "Huh? Wait, no! I didn't threaten him! I mean, not overtly-"

Weiss: "What did you say?!"

Jaune: "He didn't tell you?"

Weiss: "Well... No!" glares "What was it?"

Jaune: "I just told him to take good care of you and not abuse your trust, okay? And then I... Might have implied bad things would happen if he did abuse your trust! That's all!"

Weiss: "Wha-Why?! You don't even like me!"

Jaune: blinks "Wha-Of course I like you, Weiss!"

Weiss: "Oh please! You made such a big deal out of me leaving you pinned to a tree-"

Jaune: "Which you apologized for when you realized what a bitch that made you-"

Weiss: "You keep insulting me and calling me crude things-!"

Jaune: "You admitted you were being a bitch-!"

Weiss: "And-And what, you don't want me to to be happy-?!"

Jaune: "WEISS! Seriously, shut up for a second, huh?!"

He rests a hand over her mouth. She glares in shock and anger. He pulls his hand away and holds both of them up to appease her.

Jaune: "Weiss, I do care about you. Sure I will be rough from time to time and sure I'll joke with you and be crude on occasion, but I do care. So I just told Neptune if he abused your trust or took advantage of you, bad things would happen. Because you deserve better than that."

Weiss: "I..." blush "... You really think so?"

Jaune: "Yes! Despite everything, you are a good person on the inside. I just know this isn't easy for you."

Weiss: scoffs "How could you know-?"

Jaune: "Your dad's an uncaring sadistic monster who sees you as at best a business asset, your mother is an alcoholic too consumed with her own issues to do her job, your older sister left the family and your younger brother is turning into a mini version of your dad. I leave anything out?"

Weiss stares in shock and disbelief.

Weiss: "You... H-How-?"

Jaune: "My aunt has has followed your family drama for a while. She knows things. How she does? No idea. But I asked her about you and well... I put together the dots. The fact you're still a good person even after all that is a testament to your will, Weiss. You're a strong, good person and you don't deserve to have some jerk play around with and break your heart. That's all."

Weiss: "You... You really think so...?"

Jaune: smiles "I know so."

Weiss is trying not to cry. He hands her a handkerchief. She dries her eyes and blows her nose.

Weiss: "I, um... Thank you... I..." She holds the handkerchief out

Jaune: "Um... Keep it. There are always going to be more tears in the future, but some of them will be joyful." Oh God why did I say that? That's so corny!

Weiss: sniffles, smiles "... Thank you."

Yang enters the classroom, smiling scarily again.

Yang: "Hey Weisscream. Heard you dragged Jaune off."

Weiss: "I uh... It was-"

Jaune: "She just wanted to yell at me for something. You know, the usual."

Yang: angry smile, wraps her arms around Jaune "Oh?"

Jaune: "But we resolved it. Things are cool now, right Weiss?"

Weiss: "Y-yes... Very cool."

Yang: "Good. You had studying to do with Ruby, right?"

Weiss: "Y-yes! I'll get right to it!" She dashes off and shuts the door

Jaune: "... You're hot when you're jealous."

Yang: bright red "I-I'm not jealous!" She kisses him "Mmm... And this is just because kissing is fun!"

Jaune: "It sure is... Heh..." Oh boy...

- - -

Jaune was studying with Nora in the common room.

Nora: "So, you use a 1 to 45 ratio with this mixture of Dust. Any more and you'll set off the entire batch prematurely!"

Jaune: "Wow! I didn't know that, Nora!"

Nora: "Yeah, I learned that the hard way a few times!" grins

Blake: "Ahem. Jaune? May I speak with you?"

Jaune: "Huh? Sure. I'll be right back, Nora."

Nora: "Sure thing Fearless Leader!"

Jaune and Blake walk off to a secluded part of the dorms, a hallway with windows looking out on campus.

Blake: "... I took your advice. I called my parents."

Jaune: smiles "That's great, Blake!"

Blake: "I... It wasn't easy but... But they... They want to meet with me."

Jaune: "Even better!"

Blake: "You-You think so?"

Jaune: "Blake, they love you. They're just people, like you and me. So they make mistakes. But they do truly love you and want you to be happy."

Blake: "Could... Could you go with me to meet them? I-I mean at first? I don't want to overwhelm them and... And I trust you."

Jaune: blinks "You do?"

Blake: "I do."

Jaune: "Are you sure you don't want Sun there?"

Blake: "Sun's nice but... Well... He's a bit... Immature. He's got a boyish charm but... But I think I prefer someone who acts like a man. You're so... So mature for your age. But in a good way. Compared to..."

Jaune: "... Your last boyfriend?"

Blake: nods "Y-Yes. I see that he was... Angry. So angry that there was nothing else. You though... You care. You take charge. You're, well... You grasp the stakes and handle things like-like a man. And I appreciate that."

Jaune: sucks in a deep breath "I mean... I will be there, Blake. As a friend. Because we're friends and I'll support you." Geez, did I turn her straight or something? What the hell is going on?

Blake: smiles "That would be appreciated-"

Yang appears out of nowhere and wraps her arms around Jaune.

Yang: "Hey Kit-Kat. Sup?"

Blake: quickly "I was just asking if Jaune could accompany me when I meet my parents? He did tell me to contact them."

Jaune: "Just as emotional support, Yang."

Yang: "Oh. Any reason why it's not Sun?"

Blake: "Well... Jaune is less... Um... Flighty."

Jaune: "Sun is a lot more fun though. I'm like a cranky old man in a young man's body according to Blake."

Blake: "I didn't say that!"

Yang: "She didn't have to, we all know it. But... Sure. As friends."

Blake: "You're awfully overprotective of him for not being boyfriend and girlfriend."

Yang: glares at Blake "... Jaune?"

Jaune: "Yes?"

Yang: "Wanna be my boyfriend?"

Jaune: "... Sure?"

Yang: "Great! It's official." Deadly smile "Everything clear, Kit-Kat?"

Blake: scowl "Completely. Thank you again, Jaune."

Jaune: "No problem."

Blake walks off, leaving Jaune and Yang alone.

Jaune: "Yang, uh... Before you worry, I'm not gonna cheat on you-"

Yang: "I wasn't worried!"

She totally was

Yang: "But um... Good to know, huh?" Smiles

Jaune: Great. What have I gotten myself into?

Yang: "Wanna make out?"

Jaune: "Okay!"

Jaune: Stupid hormones...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune and Ruby were baking in the kitchen, just the two of them.

Jaune: Man, I forgot how relaxing this is. Just me and a cute fun girl baking... Didn't get to do that a lot in my old life, but when I did, it was great!

Ruby: "What's your thing about pumpkin, anyway?"

Jaune: "What can I say? I love pumpkin spice throughout the year. Especially with chocolate."

Ruby: "Hmph! I don't like these soft cookies. They seem like muffins but cut short."

Jaune: "What's wrong with muffins?"

Ruby: "I don't like mixing my desserts!"

Jaune: "But what about that cookie cake-?"

Ruby: "It doesn't count! Cookie cakes are just big cookies, not cakes!"

They giggle a bit. Jaune beams at her.

Jaune: "It's been a while since we did this. I'm glad."

Ruby: "Y-Yeah, well, um..." mumbles "I'm used to it."

She turns back to the oven. Jaune frowns.

Jaune: "Used to what?"

Ruby: "Ohhh geez I said that out loud... Um... Don't panic, maybe he can't hear this-"

Jaune: "Ruby?"

Ruby: "EEP!" She tries to shoot away with her Semblance... But Jaune catches her in a hug.

Jaune: "What did you mean, 'I'm used to it'?"

Jaune: I've never heard Ruby sound so bitter... Not until the later seasons. Oh God, did I do something to make her suicidal?! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

Ruby: looks aside "I... W-Well... I-I mean... You're dating my sister now."

Jaune: "Yeah... And?"

Ruby: "Well, uh... Ya know..."

Jaune: "I don't."

Ruby: "C-Come on! You acted all socially awkward when we met but now you're like this-this super friend having... Person!"

Jaune: Oh shit that's right... I guess it would come off as kind of weird and scary, me getting the memories of some guy from another universe...

Ruby: "And before Beacon... People at Signal were friends with me just so they could be friends with Yang! But they didn't want to be friends with me! So, you know, I get it! Why bother with plain old baby sister Ruby when you can just have-!"

Jaune: "RUBY!"

Ruby started. Jaune flushed: He didn't mean to yell that loudly.

Jaune: "Ruby... Look. I'll admit I've... I've gone through some... Changes. When I unlocked my Aura, I... Well... Things changed. Maybe it's my Semblance, maybe it's something else. I don't know. But if I've been neglecting you, my best friend? I'm sorry. That's my fault."

Ruby: "I... Y-You haven't-"

Jaune: "And if I am? You should call me on it. Yes, I'm dating Yang. That wasn't my intention-She asked me out, remember? But I am happy with her. But I'm not going to use that relationship as an excuse to neglect you. You're my bestie. So get that out of your head: I care about you both, and I value you both."

Ruby: flush "You... You said you loved us."

Jaune: "Yeah... And I meant it. That means all of you. Just... Please remember I'm not psychic, okay? I screw up a lot. But I never want you to think you're just a means to an end, Ruby. Ever."

Ruby is bright red. She sniffs the air.

Ruby: "AH! THE COOKIES!"

They yank them out. Fortunately they're not burnt-It was just some crumbs that got overheated.

Jaune: "Phew..." He smiled at her. "No harm done."

Ruby: "We... We really need to have these big emotional talks when we're not baking something."

Jaune: "Yeah, yeah we do."

Ruby: "Still, I mean..." smiles shyly "Thanks."

Jaune: smiles back "You're welcome."

Ruby: sigh "Now I just have to deal with all my other psychological baggage."

Jaune: "It's a journey, not an instant fix. But hey... You're brilliant and amazing at Huntress-ing. I'm doing okay at leadership and other stuff. We'll help eachother."

Ruby: giggles "You're... You're like so corny! Like a character out of Blake's non-porn Mistral stuff!"

Jaune: sighs "Here you people tell me I'm too negative, and now when I'm being positive, you're still not happy. Women, honestly."

Ruby: "Hee!" hugs him from behind "You're stuck with us!"

Jaune: "Don't I know it."

He pats her fondly on the head. She blushes.

Ruby: "So... Um... Speaking of... Sort of... You and Yang."

Jaune: "Yeah?"

Ruby: "You uh... You gonna get married or-or something?"

Jaune: "Why's everyone in such a rush? We just started dating. Yes I care for her very much but until we both decide to go that route? No."

Ruby: "Oh... So there's still a chance for a harem ending?"

Jaune: "... I'm going to burn Blake's books."

Ruby: "HA! Shows what you know! I got the idea WAY before I met her!"

Jaune: "Well, I'll say this for you, Ruby: Your sense of humor has nothing on Yang's."

Ruby: Blush "HEY!" She huffs "You know, I was going to-to pick you up on the rebound if things didn't work out with you and Yang, but now maybe I won't!"

Jaune: Geez, like mother like daughter...

Jaune: "Please, you said I'm a harem protag. You'll be joining in before you know it."

Ruby: "HA! In your dreams!"

Jaune: Or nightmares...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune and Yang met in a nightclub downtown one night. They danced and had fun... But Yang's mind was elsewhere.

So they took a break and sat down at a table to talk.

Jaune's Brain: Weird, I'm not deafened. I can actually listen to dialogue in a loud place. Huh!

Yang: "Man... Didn't know you had good footwork on the dance floor too!"

Jaune: "Seven sisters. Endless dancing lessons when they needed a partner."

Yang: "Heh! It shows!" She beams

Jaune: "You self-taught?"

Yang: "I mean I got some lessons from Sister Lavender at the church."

Jaune: "Really? You're a Table Breaker?"

Yang: "I mean... Sort of? Mom... Summer... Was devout. Dad? Not so much. We went when he was... Not well. Free meals every Sunday and Ruby loved her little dresses."

Jaune: nods

Yang: "You?"

Jaune: "My dad is a Paladin in the church. Mom goes and encouraged us to join too but she's less devout. Comes from being a doctor, I suspect."

Yang: "Heh... Does it bother you?"

Jaune: "Nah. And relax, I'm not gonna try to convert you or anything."

Yang: "I know."

They sip their drinks.

Yang: "Hey... Uh... Ruby wanted me to apologize."

Jaune: "For what?"

Yang: sighs "I uh... Well, when she mentioned you two were baking I uh... I got a little..."

Jaune: "Come on Yang. You being shy is cute sometimes but I also like my gal to be her fiery self."

Yang: sighs "I was a little jealous of my little sister. So, you know... She said I should sort my shit out." Glares "She didn't cuss until she met you, Sergeant Sewermouth."

Jaune: "I learned from my father that it's the only way to command. A leader who doesn't curse isn't fit to run a burger joint according to him."

Yang: "He's a Paladin of the Church?"

Jaune: "Well he never takes the Lord's name in vain, everything else just requires some penance and prayer. It's how he became a Paladin!"

Yang: giggles "You know... I am sorry if I've been a little, uh... What's the word Blake used?"

Jaune: "Yandere?"

Yang: "Yeah, that."

Jaune: "Nah. Weiss and Blake's heads aren't in a trash bin, you're okay. Still... Am I doing anything to make you worry so much, Yang?"

Yang: "No! ... Well..." grimace "I mean, I've... Gone out with boys before. Some real jerks who changed their tune the second I hit puberty. Some sleazebags who made friends with Ruby just to get a chance with me. But the second I didn't want to go all the way because of Ruby, well... They just ran off. You... You're just... Different."

Jaune: "Good different?"

Yang: grins "You're like... Well... A man."

Jaune: "Good start."

Yang: "Heh. You know what I mean. You don't strut like Neptune or try hard like Sun. You keep your cool in a fight and... I dunno... Do dad stuff. Or what a dad is supposed to do."

Jaune: "Well... Thank you?"

Yang: "You really need to learn how to take a compliment. But yeah... I just saw how the others started to eye you. Blake started sniffing around. Weiss, well... She's in denial but she clearly likes you. And Pyrrha..."

Jaune: "Yeah, she's... It's complicated."

Yang: "And well... One's a rich heiress. Another is a Faunus princess. Pyrrha's a celebrity champion-"

Jaune: "And you're you, Yang. You're a kickass fighter and biker chick who loves her little sister and is a great cook! You can be feminine, soft and warm and fiery and smashy! I mean... I love that you don't fit into a box. You're you, Yang. And I'm an old-fashioned guy: You don't have to worry about me straying."

Yang blushes deeply. She looks deeply into his eyes.

Yang: "I know. I'm... Not so worried about you."

Jaune: "Listen. We've just started dating." He squeezes her hands "All right? I care for you."

Yang: "You also love the others."

Jaune: sighs "I'm never living that down, am I? I mean philia, friendship or family love. Though..."

Yang: "Though?"

Jaune: sighs "I mean... It's not like I haven't noticed. I swear, there isn't a single bad looking woman here. And well... Urgh... Headmaster Ozpin's got me schmoozing with female transfer students... And Pyrrha well. She kind of confessed to me."

Yang: tenses

Jaune: "I made it clear we're together, and she accepted it. I just want you to know so we don't have any stupid misunderstandings. You are my girlfriend, Yang, and I'm your boyfriend. That's not going to change unless we decide to break up or..."

Yang: "Or?"

Jaune: smiles "Or we get married."

Yang: flush "Heh... With a dozen kids?"

Jaune: blush "Er, it's... An Arc thing... Only if we get that far. I'm not in a hurry and... And I want to build a future together. With someone who wants that with me, too."

Yang: "G-Geez... You know... If anyone else said that, I'd say it was corny as hell."

Jaune: "And... So?"

Yang: "It's still corny as hell..." She slides up against him and nuzzles him "But it works for you."

Jaune: "Heh, thanks." He nuzzles her back

Yang: "Still... You know, with all this female attention, another guy might be tempted to try and make a harem."

Jaune: "One, that kind of shit works ONLY if everyone is in the know and agrees to it and even then, it would be hard. Two? Only an idiot would cheat on women who could beat the shit out of him with superpowers."

Yang: giggles "I'm not hearing a no to the harem part though."

Jaune: "You're also not hearing a yes."

Yang: "Heheh... Like I said. Dad energy."

Jaune: "I have only just begun to tap into it. For instance: I tried to date two women named Kate and Edith. They found out and we broke up. Which just proves you can't have your Kate and Edith too."

Yang: "HAHAHA! Did you hear about the new dating site that matches women up with construction workers?"

Jaune: "Nope!"

Yang: "It's called Studfinder."

Jaune: "Hahahaha!"

Militia and Melanie stare over at them.

Militia: "Can we kick them out?"

Melanie: "They aren't starting trouble."

Militia: "But those puns!"

Melanie: "I don't know... Her boyfriend's kind of cute. Maybe we could steal him from her?"

Militia: "I like my teeth where they are, thank you very much."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune did have more cooking skills than me, but I had more experience. So together, we-I mean, I-was able to cook breakfast for the teams pretty successfully almost every day.

Bonding with food was a great way to help solidify bonds, and hopefully it would help Ruby out with her team, too. Especially since I invited her to help me cook a lot.

Today's breakfast was crepes... And at Ruby's insistence, we made some of them into dessert crepes.

Nora: gasp "You made like... A thin pancake and transformed it into a burrito for fruit, ice cream, and chocolate?!"

Jaune: "Yes."

Nora: eyes shining "What is your church so I may worship the creator of this amazingness?!"

Jaune: "One step at a time, Nora."

Nora: "Oh, so there's an initiation thing?"

Jaune: "Something like that..."

Weiss: "I think I'll take one with yogurt, fruit and nuts please? My teeth hurt just looking at them."

Jaune: "Sure thing, Weiss."

Ruby: "That's how you know it's tasty!"

Weiss: "Do you know the LD50 for sugar, Ruby?"

Ruby: "Ugh, no! And why do people keep asking me that?!"

Nora devours the crepe eagerly. She looks to Jaune.

Nora: "Can I have seconds, Jaune? Please? Pretty please?"

Jaune: "Sure!" He prepares another... And notices that Ren is a bit tense.

Jaune's Brain: Shit... I've got to be a bro to Ren. I'm not some NTR protagonist, no thank you!

Jaune: "And I'll teach Ren how to do it for you too."

Nora: gasp "REALLY?!"

Jaune: "Sure will!" smiles "He's your number one guy for breakfast, after all."

Nora: "In general!" hugs Ren "Will you learn how to make these fancy pancake tacos for me, Renny? Will you?"

Ren: ghost of a smile "I will."

Nora: "YAY!"

Nora eats happily. Ren takes his own crepe and nods gratefully to Jaune. Jaune just smiles back.

Jaune's Brain: Screw those ArcNora shippers. This is too precious to ever want to break up...

Yang: "Hey! Your beautiful girlfriend wants breakfast, Jaune~!"

Blake: "Mmph..."

Pyrrha: "Please don't forget me either?"

Jaune: "Hang on, hang on..." He gives Yang and Pyrrha crepes with some ham, eggs and fried veggies "There you go, perfect protein starter pack for my beautiful girlfriend and partner, and..." Blake perks up at her crepe "A salmon egg and potato hash for our resident cat ninja."

Ruby: "Should have put in more syrup!"

Jaune: "I didn't put in any."

Ruby: "Exactly!" pouts

Jaune: "Easy Ruby. You're starting to sound like Nora."

Nora: "What's wrong with that?"

Jaune: "Nothing... But it would get confusing."

Nora: "How? I mean, I'm an actual ginger and she's just a pretend redhead!"

Ruby: "WHAT?! I am too a redhead! Just... Um... A dark one!"

Nora: "Nuh uh! I'm gingeriffic! I have gingervitis!"

Ruby: "That's not a real thing! Just like LD50 or whatever!"

Weiss sighs. She eats her breakfast and looks at Jaune.

Weiss: "You know... It's actually pretty good."

Jaune: "Thanks."

Weiss: huffs a little "My father would have a conniption if he saw me eating this fare."

Jaune: "So... Seconds?"

Weiss: small smile "If you please?"

Jaune turns to the stove... And Mint is standing there.

Jaune: "GAH! How'd you get in here?!"

Mint: points at Ruby's ice cream laden crepe, then at herself

Jaune: "Oh... You want some?"

The disguised Neo nods. Jaune sighs and switches to sign language.

Jaune: "<Just give me a minute. What toppings do you want?>"

Mint blinks, then signs back:

Mint: "<All of them.>"

Jaune: "Makes it easy..."

Ruby: "Oh! Hey new friend! Welcome! Do you like crepes too?"

Mint: smiles

Jaune: "Nuts about them."

Weiss: "You can't just come in here uninvited-!"

Jaune: "It's cool Weiss. I take it as a compliment when random people come in to ask for my cooking."

Ruby: "Ooh, me too!"

Pyrrha has a wary look on her face. Yang scowls as Mint seems to hover all over Jaune.

Jaune finally finishes the crepes with icecream and toppings, and hands it to Mint.

Jaune: "Here you go."

Mint takes a few licks... Bites... Then finishes it all with gusto. She beams at him.

Jaune: "Another?"

Mint nods.

Jaune: "Sure..." Jaune prepares another, and his own crepe. He then finally sits at the table across from Yang... And Mint slides into his lap. "Uh..."

Mint smirks and takes her time eating her crepe, as Yang, Ruby, Weiss, Pyrrha, and Blake scowl. Nora and Ren are busy with their breakfast.

Jaune: "Um... There's another chair over there."

Mint: "<I'm fine here. Aren't you?>"

She winked. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "No."

Mint: "<Tough.>"

Jaune's Brain: Goddamnit... I had to get the universe with the flirty Neo, didn't I?

Sun: "Hey! What smells so good?"

Neptune: "Yeah, we were stopping by and..." He gapes at Jaune "GODSDAMNIT! I TOLD YOU! HE'S A DAMN HAREM PROTAGONIST!"

Jaune: rolls his eyes "Shut up Neptune."

Neptune: "But-But-!"

Jaune: "Don't hate me for your lack of skill."

Neptune gapes like a dying fish.

Mint waves her hand in front of her face with a smirk.

Yang smirks a bit... But her eyes are still red as she glares at Neo.

Jaune's Brain: Hoo boy... Gotta nip this in the bud quick... Freaking chaotic shortstacks...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune sighs. Blake is holding his hand tightly as they sit in a nice restaurant.

Jaune: "Why am I here?"

Blake: "You promised. On your word as an Arc."

Jaune: "FUCK! Why did I do that?"

Blake: "Because you're a good person despite you trying to pretend otherwise? Hiding your pain behind sarcasm and almost fatherly quips..." leans in "A caring soul who knows the pain of this world and wants to protect others from it-OW OW OW!"

Jaune grabs one of her cat ears and tweaks it.

Jaune: "No. Bad kitty. None of that erotica stuff."

Blake: "It's porn-I mean-Ugh... When I called my parents, you promised to be here with me."

Jaune: "I know, I know... Just... What have you told them about me?"

Blake: "What? Nothing!"

Jaune: scowl "Blake..."

Blake: "I just told them you're my friend. That's all. A very good friend."

Jaune: scowls harder

Blake: "Honest!"

Jaune: "Okay."

Blake: "What? Did you think I told them you were my fiance and that we had a baby on the way?"

Jaune: "I... That's weirdly specific. Wait, you didn't tell them that, right?"

Blake: side eyes "Of... Course not!"

Jaune: "Blaaaake..."

Blake: "I did not use those words... Specifically..."

Ghira and Kali Belladonna enter the restaurant. Kali pounces like a panther on her daughter and hugs her tightly.

Kali: "Blake dear! You look wonderful! And such a healthy glow! How far along is the baby?"

Ghira: growls "You Jaune?"

Jaune: "Y-yessir?"

Ghira: hugs him "HAHAHA! Welcome to the family!"

Jaune: "URK! What?!"

Ghira: "You're not Adam so that means you're instantly acceptable as a son-in-law!"

Jaune: "BLAKE!"

Blake: "I PANICKED!"

Some time later, after they got mozzarella sticks and fried brussel sprouts...

Jaune: "Yes, Blake and I are just friends. We're not dating. I have a girlfriend I care for very much. I do care about Blake, despite how much of a pain in the ass she can be." glares

Blake: "I said I was sorry?"

Jaune: "What if Yang had heard all this?! Are you trying to mess things up for us?!"

Blake: "I'm very sorry?"

Kali: "Oh, it's quite all right! I did train her to get people's hopes up and dash them. I can only blame myself for how good she is at that."

Blake: ears droop

Jaune: "Hey... Look. Blake's made a LOT of mistakes. She's impulsive and overthinks things and somehow doesn't think enough. But she's really, REALLY sorry about everything and I know she loves you two very much."

Blake: "I... I do... I'm so sorry, Mom, Dad... I really screwed up..."

Ghira: "We all make mistakes, Blake. Your mother and I have made several when it comes to the White Fang and you... But we still love you, Blake."

Kali: "And we forgive you."

Blake: sniffles "Are... Are you sure... I did so many terrible things-"

Ghira: "Our own hands aren't free of blood, Blake. That's why we understand the need for forgiveness." sighs "While you make your own decisions... We influenced them. We could have been more clear, more supportive, done more for you. We are sorry."

Kali: "But we love you so much we'll do what it takes to work this out." She smiles and squeezes her daughter's hands

Blake: "M-Mom... Dad..." sniffles

Jaune's Brain: Aw... Oh man... I feel like I should go... This isn't a place for me-

Ghira: "Jaune?"

Jaune: "Uh, yes sir?"

Ghira: "You are a good friend to our daughter."

Jaune: "I... Thank you sir."

Jaune's Brain: I'm mainly doing it to keep her from fucking up everyone's lives and becoming the Shitty Kitty but hey...

Ghira: smiles "Also... Since she is technically a Princess of Menagerie-"

Blake: pouts "Dad, I'm not a princess! That's a backwards archaic term-!"

Ghira: "-There's nothing stopping her from having a husband and wife."

Jaune: "Wha...?"

Kali: "Ooh, is this Yang?" Holds up a Scroll with a picture of Yang on it "Oooh, she looks amazing! What do you say, Blake? If you marry her and Jaune, twice the grandkittens!"

Blake: "MOTHER!"

Kali: "But it would be wonderful! ... So I absolutely forbid you to do it!"

Blake: "Wha-You can't tell me what to do!"

Kali: "I just did!"

Jaune: "Um, that's really not necessary-"

Ghira: low voice "Sorry son, but we're not losing our chance to get a stable son-in-law and grandkittens. Just uh... Keep an open mind?"

Jaune: "Sir, I love my girlfriend-!"

Ghira: "What, my daughter's not good enough?"

Jaune: "No! No I didn't say that but-!"

Ghira: "Then maybe just think about it for the future, hmm? I know some ways to convince your girlfriend, as does Kali."

Jaune: "Sir, your daughter told you that we were engaged and she was pregnant with my child. Without telling me!"

Ghira: sighs happily "Just like her mother!"

Jaune: "Is every feline faunus in this world insane?!"

Ghira: "The world is already mad, so why fight against the current?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Afterwards... Jaune, Blake, Kali and Ghira walk in a Valean Park.

Ghira: "Honestly? This is the best thing that's happened to us for a long time. You're no longer a hostage of White Fang-"

Blake: "Wait, I was a hostage?!"

Kali: "They strongly implied that you were with us, and if we tried to interfere..."

Blake: sniffles "I'm... I'm so sorry...!"

Kali hugs her.

Kali: "It's all right, Blake. It's all right..."

Blake: "I feel so stupid... I trusted them...!"

Ghira: grumbles "We trusted Sienna Khan and Adam Taurus once, too." He hugged his daughter

Jaune stands there a bit awkwardly.

Kali: "Jaune... It's much safer for Blake here than in Menagerie. Can we trust you to look after our daughter?"

Jaune: "She can kick my ass. Regularly does, too."

Blake: "We're a bad match-up. He's a close range Tank fighter, I'm stealthy and agile-When he gets a hit on me it's like I'm being pounded by the fist of God. A few hits like that and I'm just finished. I can barely keep up! I only finish him off with my full skill and even then I'm left mindbroken-"

Jaune: "You are doing that on purpose!"

Blake: blush "... Maybe a little...?"

Kali: "Aw. She did learn from my kunoichi teachings!"

Jaune: "And anyway, she has a team that looks after her-"

Ghira: "But we are asking you, Jaune."

Jaune: "I..." sighs "I will. I will keep your daughter safe."

Kali: "Wonderful!" She cuddles Blake "We're gonna talk with Ozpin about some diplomatic things. We'll leave you and your knight alone for now~!"

Jaune: "Have a girlfriend! Cannot emphasize that enough. Have a girlfriend whom I love!"

Kali: "So do I~. Later!"

Kali and Ghira head off after a few more hugs, leaving Jaune and Blake alone. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "... Parents, huh?"

Blake: "Y-yeah."

Silence.

Blake: "I'm sorry Jaune. I... I still messed up and I'm sorry! I just-When I'm scared I... I overthink and underthink...!"

Jaune: "Hey, hey..." He hugs her "I get it. Okay? You feel so much, you want to do so much... And you feel so guilty for every mistake you ever made. And... They're some big ones. But I know you care so hard about everything. That's your strength, Blake. It's also a weakness... But you can learn to make it your full strength. Or... Something like that. My dad says stuff like that all the time..."

Blake: "... Can you help protect me... From myself?"

Jaune: "Until you can do it yourself? Yeah."

Blake: "That... That's going to be a long time."

Jaune: "I'm not going anywhere... As a friend. Again. A friend."

Blake: "... Are you sure-?"

Jaune: "Blake!" He pushes her away "I'm with YANG. All right? I know your parents are desperate for you to have a boyfriend other than Adam Taurus. Again, I get it. But I'm not some... Some harem protagonist!"

Blake: flush "... You could be."

Jaune: "What."

Blake: "It's not illegal. It's not very common but there are polygamous relationships. And your great-grandfather-!"

Jaune: "I just got a girlfriend, okay? Slow down! Besides, she's your partner! And I will NOT let you betray her! Got it?!"

Blake: "... You're right." ears droop "I'm sorry Jaune. I just... It's been so long since I felt cared for. Safe. You make me feel safe!"

Jaune: "So will your teammates. Develop your friendships more with them."

Blake: "What about the harem?"

Jaune: "NO! N! O! I! LOVE! YANG! Okay? And so should you!" Sighs, turns... Sees Yang standing there "YANG!"

Yang is bright red... Though not out of anger.

Yang: "... You love me...?"

Jaune: "Y-Yeah..."

Yang: "Like that filia stuff or...?"

Jaune: "Um... More the other kind... Eros."

Yang: "Oh... I get that now!"

Jaune: "Yeah. It's all connected and-"

Yang kisses him possessively.

Jaune: Oh wow... Kissing. Kissing is amazing. So amazing... And she's grabbing my-Brain? BRAIN!

Jaune's Brain: Howa... Humwha... Boobies... Groping...!

Jaune: "Mwah... Haa..." He breaks the kiss "Haa... Haa... W-Wow..."

Yang: "Y-yeah..."

Blake stares with a red face. Yang turns and glares at her.

Blake: "Yang? I'm sorry. I just... I'm a little starved for affection, I suppose. And Jaune is... Well..." blush "He's like Prince Naofumi~! He loves and cares for his wives and fights to right the wrongs of a world that hates him!"

Jaune: "When did the world hate me? Also wait you've read Shield Hero?"

Blake: "You mean Shield Saint."

Jaune: "Oh, of course. Like Spruce Willis."

Blake: "What does that have to do with him?"

Jaune: "I... Nevermind."

Blake: "The point is, Yang... I-I care deeply for him. I also respect that you care for him. And we're friends, so... So I want to do right by you."

Yang: "Good... So... Stop sniffing around my man?"

Blake: "... I can't promise that."

Yang: "What?"

Blake: "I can promise that I will find a solution for all of us to be happy though." smiles

Jaune: "That sounds ominous."

Yang: "What kind of solution?!"

Blake: smiles "You'll find out." She vanishes

Jaune: sighs "... Yang, I'm sorry. Look, I don't do this on purpose-!"

Yang: "I know! I know... You care. I bet you nursed wounded animals back to health all the time on your farm!"

Jaune: "It was a farm, I kind of had to..." At Yang's look "But yes. I did. I just... I became a Hunter to help people. To protect people. To... Give people hope. And I can't just ignore someone who needs help. Even if they are a perverted catgirl princess with major psychological issues."

Yang: "Heh... Or a juvenile delinquent with some issues being abandoned?"

Jaune: smiles "Yeah..." He hugs her "I swear, Yang. I will never abandon you."

Yang: blush "Just... Coming right out with that?"

Jaune: "Yeah. You like it when I'm sincere, right?"

Yang: "Dorky was the word."

Jaune: "You still like it though."

Yang: "Yeah..."

She kisses him again.

Yang: "Mmm... But you really need to stop making girls fall for you. I'm not into girls... I mean... I don't think so?"

Jaune: bright red

Yang: glare "... Okay, who are you imagining me with?"

Jaune: "Pyrrha."

Yang: "Not Blake?"

Jaune: "She basically hits every one of your trauma buttons right now."

Yang: "But if she didn't... You wouldn't mind me getting it from the cats meow~?"

Jaune: bright red "Damnit woman!"

Yang: "Heheheh~!

Jaune's Brain: She's just joking... She's getting over her anxiety, which is good. She would never want a harem, and... Neither would I! ... Okay I would but I'd be stupid to want that. And insane. And I'm definitely neither of those things...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune wasn't sure how much of his fanon was true to this world and how much wasn't. That made things delicate. There was also the fact that a lot of other information about this world wasn't something he'd even dreamed up. There were hundreds of students at Beacon all with their own histories, identities, families, and so on. He was also unsure of what his early changes to the timeline might cause later on in the future.

But as much as he might try to deny it... He was still Jaune Arc. He was going to help people, and deal with the consequences. So, it was time to test another bit of fanon.

He bumped into May Zedong outside the library, accidentally knocking her books out of her arms.

Jaune: "Oh! Sorry! I'm so sorry!"

May: "N-No, it's fine! I was a little distracted, sorry!"

Jaune knelt at the same time she did... And their heads bonked together.

May: "OW! OW OW OW!"

Jaune: "Urk... Oh geez, I'm so sorry... You okay?"

May was out, complete with anime spinny eyes.

Jaune's Brain: Oh great going, genius! Any other amazing plans, Hannibal?!

Jaune: "Craaaap!"

He got her to the nurse's office. Funny enough it was manned (womanned?) by a Racoon Faunus nurse named Tsune. And yeah, she was definitely hot. And fawned over him a bit.

Tsune: "Are you sure you're okay, Jaune? I mean, you both hit your heads-"

Jaune: "It's fine, I'm used to it, how is she?"

Tsune smiles and does some scans with medical devices Jaune is familiar with thanks to his mother.

Tsune: "Oh, she's just fine! I would wager it was more shock than the impact."

Jaune: "That's good... Hmmm..."

Tsune: "Mm? What is it, Jaune? Do you know her?"

Jaune's Brain: Gotta do this just right...

Jaune: "Well... She looks really familiar. Like, ridiculously familiar."

Tsune: "Hmm... Now that you mention it... She does."

Jaune: "Like, say... The spitting image of Saia Sarkara?"

Tsune: eyes widen "Y-Yes, actually! I was a field medic a few years behind them!"

Jaune: "Hmmm... And their daughter was kidnapped and presumed dead almost two decades ago..."

Tsune: "I... Wow..."

May: wakes up "Hwah...? Oh... Oh dear... What happened?"

Jaune: "Um, I kind of accidentally knocked you out. Which is strange since that's what you are." cheesy grin

May: blush "H-Huh?"

Jaune's Brain: I've been hanging out too much with Yang, shit... "Er, just a bad joke. So uh... I'm Jaune Arc. You are?"

May: "M-May Zedong. Team BRNZ." gasps "Oh no! I have to get the textbooks to them or they'll fail the next test!"

Jaune: "Woah woah woah! You're not going anywhere." He gently pushes her back "You took a nasty fall. Nurse Tsune needs to examine you."

Tsune: "Well..."

Jaune gives her a pleading look. She sighs and nods.

Tsune: "I do think it couldn't hurt. Also, I've been going through your records. Your genetic scans aren't on file. Do you mind if I take some samples?"

May: "I-I mean, um..." wince "I... I don't think that would be a good idea... Uh... M-My parents told me never to get one of those."

Jaune: "What happened to your parents? If you don't mind me asking?"

May: "Oh, um... Well..." looks aside "A Grimm attack on our village when I was... I was seven. I was orphaned."

Jaune: reaches out to squeeze her hand "I'm very sorry about that. You didn't get a DNA test ever though?"

May: "Um, Shade Academy doesn't require it for anything... Er... So um..." She frowns "Why is that important?"

Jaune: "Well... Strange as this may sound? My godparents lost their daughter when she was a baby. And you're the spitting image of my godmother, except for your eyes."

May: "I-I am?!"

Jaune shows a photo of the Arc family with the Sarkaras during a holiday visit. Arjun and Saia are out of royal regalia, as is their son Abhimanyu. Yet it is clear that Saia resembles an older May almost exactly. Right down to the, uh... Measurements. May's eyes however are greyish-blue... Exactly like Arjun's.

May's eyes widen in disbelief. She shakily holds out a hand and touches the screen.

May: "Who... Who are they?"

Jaune: "Arjun and Saia. Their son is Abhimanyu. Their daughter's name was Maia. They lost her a while ago... When's your birthday?"

May: "I... I mean my parents celebrated it on August 15th..."

Jaune: "That was also Maia's birthday."

May: shakes a bit "... But how...?"

Jaune: "I don't know the full story. Their daughter was kidnapped and after a while, presumed dead."

May: "... I-I... How...?"

Jaune: "May. It might be that you are their missing daughter. It might just be a fluke. But... Well..." smiles at her kindly "Wouldn't it be nice to know for sure?"

May: sniffles "... W-Why would you...?"

Jaune: "Because I knocked out a girl who might be, well, family. And family helps family." He smiles warmly at her.

May blushes deeply. She considers it.

May: "... I... I think I would like to do the test please, Nurse."

Tsune: smiles "Of course."

May: looks at Jaune "You're... You're very kind."

Jaune: smiles back "It's how I was raised."

Ruby: "Hey Jaune! We were supposed to study, right? Why are you..." She gasps at Jaune holding May's hand "ACK! ANOTHER GIRL'S FALLEN IN LOVE WITH YOU?!"

May: "W-Wait, no, I-"

Ruby: "WHAT IS WITH YOU?! YOU'RE LIKE THOSE HAREM HAVING GUYS IN BLAKE'S MANGA! YOU-YOU STUPID HAREM HAVING JERK! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEDUCED ME YET?!"

Jaune: deadpan "Not until you're sixteen."

It does take some yelling but Jaune is able to explain the situation to his friends. May agrees to the test. She meets JNPR and RWBY at their breakfast table the next day.

Pyrrha: "Won't your team worry about you?"

May: sighs "They're... Kind of useless without me. I insisted that they had to get to class and they all just snored."

Ruby: "Wait, I thought Brawnz was your leader?"

May: "He is... On paper. I have to handle the paperwork, the supplies, the schedule, the training-"

Jaune: "So you are the leader."

May: "I, well..." wince

Nora: "You need to stand up for yourself! If you're the leader you gotta bust some heads sometimes! Like Jaune-Jaune!"

Jaune: "I have never had to bust anyone's heads. I've yelled and dopeslapped but never busted heads."

Nora: "It's like a metaphor, or something!"

Weiss: scowls "Plus, he was mainly doing it to our team?"

Jaune: "I'm just helping Ruby. Her pimp hand is still developing."

Ruby: "YEAH!"

Weiss: "What's a pimp hand?"

Blake: evil smile

Yang: sighs "So, hey... Look May. From what Jaune's said, your possible family really misses you. And... Well... I hope you get to reconnect with them."

May: blush "I... I don't know what they would want with me."

Jaune: "Hey: They searched for years. They still ask for any sign of you."

May: "I-I might not be their daughter!"

Pyrrha: "No... But if you are? You'll have a family."

Ren: nods "Believe me. It's not something to take for granted."

Nora: "Yeah... And even if you aren't? We can be family for you." She hugs May "Mmm! Maybe you can join Jaune-Jaune's harem?"

Jaune: "I don't have a harem!"

Yang: "Damn right he doesn't!"

Weiss: "I-I feel zero attraction for him at all!"

Jaune: "Thanks, feeling's mutual."

Weiss: "Wha-NONE AT ALL?!"

Ruby: "Hey! If you're gonna have me, Pyrrha and Yang in the harem, you gotta have Weissy too!"

Jaune: "Don't have a harem, but even if I did, that's up to me."

Weiss: "Oh what, I'm not good enough?! N-Not that I'm interested!"

Blake: "I'd be fine with it."

Weiss: "Of course you would, you perverted cat!"

Blake: "Prude!"

Weiss: "Deviant!"

Blake: "Tsundere!"

Weiss: "WHAT?!"

May: "S-Still... I mean... You're only being kind because I look like your friends-"

Jaune: smiles "I'm being kind because it's the right thing to do."

May: blush

Jaune's Brain: Even if she isn't family... I'm not letting her or her team die like they did in the canon. I just... I want a future where everyone lives. Except the bad guys...

May: "H-How long do you think it will take?"

Jaune: "Well, the results were probably ready this morning but Nurse Tsune would have to inform your parents if you were their child first. Beacon policy. Or it could be taking a while for other reasons."

Ren: "There's no reason to be tense. What will be will be."

Weiss: "I'm sure your parents will find this just as strange a situation as you do. They'll approach it calmly, rationally-"

The roar of airship engines fills the cafeteria. The windows are blocked by an airship in red and golds-Resembling depictions of vimanas in ancient Hindu literature. The double doors are kicked open, and two figures stand there.

One is a tall hirsute and handsome man with black hair and grey-blue eyes. A short, well trimmed beard highlights his noble features. He wears the blue and gold embroidered shirt of a royal and a red and blue turban with white feathers decorating a red jewel in the center, with silk white pants, leather boots, and a blue/purple cloak that waves dramatically. He has a curved sword at his belt and a bow and quiver of arrows on his back.

The other is a beautiful curvaceous woman with long dark red hair and green eyes in a heart-shaped face-Almost exactly like May's. She wears a red and white sari inlaid with gold. Over this is a white cloak and hood, covered in red and gold designs, which is also waving dramatically. She wears stylish leather boots and a red gem in the center of her forehead. She holds a black staff that glows faintly with Aura, and Dust slots that decorate the top of it like a crown.

The couple strides into the cafeteria, so imposing that all conversation has ceased. They walk up to Jaune's table. Jaune is the only one who stands up to greet them willingly. He pulls May along with him, though she immediately hides behind Jaune in fear.

Jaune: "Uncle Arjun! Aunt Saia! You got the news?"

Arjun: "We did... Is that...?"

Jaune: "Yup!" He carefully pulls May out from behind him and holds her in front of himself by her shoulders. "This is May."

May: terrified beyond rational thought "H... H.... H... H-Hello...?"

Saia... Immediately hugs May, bawling like a baby. Arjun hugs her other side, crying manly tears.

Arjun: "Our daughter! You-You're alive!"

Saia: "Oh Maia! Maia! You-You've grown up into such a beauty!"

May, overcome with emotion, also begins to cry as she hugs her parents back. Jaune smiles happily.

Jaune's Brain: All right! That's one sidequest out of the way, and one happy family reunited... I do wish they'd shown up in a more private place but they are both really melodramatic...

Arjun: "Jaune! Jaune..." He hugs Jaune "You are the finest godson a man could ask for!"

Jaune: laughs and hugs him back "Anything, Uncle! I'm glad I'll get to know my godsister!"

Arjun: "Godsister? HA!"

Jaune: "Eh?'

Arjun: "Your father and I made a pact, as men do, over liquor and while listening to Irony Dan, to become brothers in every sense of the word! So we pledged to marry our children together!"

Jaune: "What?!"

May: "Wh-Wh-What?!"

Arjun: "Admittedly, we still haven't convinced your mother to let Abhimanyu marry one of your sisters yet, but surely she'll agree to marrying our firstborn!"

Jaune: "I uh, um-!"

May: "B-But-But-!"

Yang: "HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" Yang growled and grabbed Jaune's arm

Jaune: "Y-Yes, that!"

Blake: "And he's gonna be my consort!"

Yang: snarls "BLAKE!"

Jaune: "WHAT! I DIDN'T AGREE TO THAT!"

Pyrrha: "OF COURSE HE DIDN'T!"

Ruby: "YEAH!"

Weiss: "Exactly! Besides arranged marriages are-are barbaric! I would never want that with Arc!"

Nora: "SHE HAS TO JOIN JAUNE'S HAREM! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!"

Jaune: "NORA STOP HELPING!"

Jaune's Brain: Me and my generous impulses!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang ran off. Jaune manages to track her down. She's punching and kicking through solid stone ruins on the outskirts of Beacon. He decides it's wisest to let her get her anger out of her system first before approaching her.

Yang: "Haa... Haa... Haa..."

Jaune silently hands her a water bottle. She glares at him.

Jaune: "Hydration's important."

She grabs it and downs it. She then bows her head.

Yang: "... Do you want to break up with me?"

Jaune: "WHAT?!"

Yang: "Do you?! Is... Is that why this keeps happening?!"

Jaune: "Yang, no!" He grabs her hands. She tries to pull away but he holds on... She tightens her grip until it's painful but he doesn't let go "Yang, did I look happy about this happening? At all?!"

Yang: "... No... B-But it just keeps happening-!"

Jaune: "I don't know why it does! Okay?"

Yang: sighs "... Maybe I'm... I'm just not enough woman for you-"

Jaune: "BULLSHIT!"

He grabs her around her waist and looks her in the eyes.

Jaune: "Of course you're enough for me, Yang! Why the hell do you think I'm fighting so hard against all this crap?! I love you!"

Yang is bright red.

Yang: small voice "... Really?"

Jaune: "YES! Look... I want a girl I can spend the rest of my life with! So I'm gonna take it slow! My mom and dad took years to fall in love and get married! And they're insanely happy! That's what I want! I don't want a giant harem! How would I even manage it?!"

Yang: "But... But Blake said-"

Jaune: "Blake has issues. LOTS OF ISSUES. I'm not sticking it in crazy, okay? Not unless you agree, and clearly, you don't!"

Yang: "Pyrrha-Pyrrha says she loves you-"

Jaune: "And I do care about her but unless we break up or you're okay with her, nothing's gonna happen!"

Yang: "Weiss-"

Jaune: "Weiss, again, has major issues. I'm fine being her friend and helping her with them!"

Yang: "You threatened her ex-boyfriend-"

Jaune: "Which I would do for ANY of my female friends! I had seven super hot sisters! Do you think I don't know the old ploy of cozying up to me to try and get with them? That's habit for me! Same as you would do for any guy who got close to Ruby!"

Yang: "And Ruby-"

Jaune: "Is underaged! And your sister! Sure I like her a lot but I'm NOT A CREEP. And once again, you're MY GIRLFRIEND."

Yang: "I-I just..." She bows her head.

Jaune hugs her more tightly.

Jaune: "Yang. I am not going anywhere."

Saia: "Ahem."

They turn and look at Saia. She is standing there with May... And a very contrite looking Arjun.

Saia: "Husband? You have some things to say?"

Arjun: bows "I'm sorry Jaune. I was so overcome by emotion that I lost my head. I shouldn't try to force my daughter, whom I just got back, into anything. I was simply so... Overjoyed. I want what's best for my family, and the Arcs have been that. So forgive my selfish impulses."

Jaune: "Of course I do, Uncle."

Saia: nods "May? Go ahead."

May: "Um... Jaune? Thank you so much for this. This... This is the happiest day of my life. Even better than double soup Tuesdays at the orphanage!" smiles "And... And um... I understand why you wouldn't want to get engaged. It-It's too much, too fast. You are an amazing man and I-I would love to marry you but... We barely know eachother and um... You're taken."

Yang: "Very."

May: blushes "But um... I would like very much to get to know you better as a friend. If-If that would be all right?"

Jaune: "... Yes. I would like that."

Saia: "Wonderful!" Beams at Yang "I'm also very glad to see you have a supportive girlfriend, Jaune. One not willing to compromise on any stupid ideas."

Arjun: grumbles "I only floated a harem once as a joke, dear. Please, forgive me?"

Saia: "I will... In the fullness of time."

Arjun: "Hmph!"

There are some hugs and further exchanges before Saia, Arjun, and May head off to bond. Leaving Yang and Jaune alone with the mid-day sun.

Yang: "... Jaune, I-"

Jaune: "Yang-"

They stare at eachother.

Yang: "Let me go first?"

Jaune: "Sure."

Yang: "I... Look. This is a little crazy but I mean... Jaune, will you marry-?"

Jaune puts a hand over her lips. He shakes his head.

Jaune: "Yang... Acting just as crazy as the world isn't the answer, okay? My parents took it slow. They knew each other for years before getting married and they're very, very happy together."

Jaune's Brain: Maybe too happy, urgh. Thanks, I needed more childhood trauma.

Jaune: "Okay? All of this is happening fast but we don't have to do anything we don't want to do. I care for you. If you don't want to be involved in all this crazy... Well... I-I mean, I'd understand if you wanted to break up-"

Yang pulls Jaune's hand away.

Yang: "No! No I don't! I-I like being with you! I just... It's pretty overwhelming."

Jaune: "I know. But that doesn't change how I feel. All right?"

Yang: "Y-Yeah... Same... Just... I mean... I'm not exactly less crazy than these other girls."

Jaune: "No. But you're the right kind of crazy for me."

Yang: smiles and hugs him

He hugs her back.

Yang: "That said... You keep saying only if I'm okay with it?"

Jaune: "About what?"

Yang: "Other women."

Jaune: "Well, yeah."

Yang: "So... Even though it's stupid and would probably be a massive disaster, you would be fine with a harem if I was okay with it?"

Jaune: sighs "Yes Yang. Yes I would. Because damnit, I'm a man and my stupid instincts go 'You know what would be better than one hot female having your kids? Multiple hot females having your kids!' But I'm not gonna let my instincts rule over me."

Yang: "... So... I mean, what would that even look like?"

Jaune: "Huh?"

Yang: "You imagining me with Blake... Pyrrha... Both~?" winks "Maybe Weiss and May as our cute little submissive maids~? My sister~?"

Jaune: nosebleed

Yang: "HAHA!"

Jaune: holds a tissue up to his nostrils "That's not funny... It's a medical condition... Stupid Fuujin genes..."

Yang: "Yeah... But now I have a whole new avenue of teasing you~."

Jaune: rolls his eyes "Then I'll have to shut you up whenever you do."

Yang: "And how will you do that-?"

Jaune kisses her senseless.

Jaune's Brain: Finally I'm doing something productive with my mouth today...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Things did calm down a lot after that, which gave Jaune time to do actual school things: Study. Hang out. Make out with his girlfriend (which she was very keen on).

It did however also let Jaune notice a few things he hadn't been paying a lot of attention to but now he questioned. To wit, as he looked around the cafeteria...

Jaune: "How did I not notice so many couples? And where did those kids come from?"

Weiss: "You dolt. How did you not notice that?"

Jaune: "Well, I mean, I did but I was a little preoccupied..."

Weiss: "Well... Um..." bright red

Yang: "What do you expect to happen with a bunch of fit young men and women in close quarters?" She smiles at a baby a few tables over being rocked by an upperclasswoman "According to my dad in his day? Half the class graduated late due to pregnancies and weddings."

Blake: "Yes. Life persists even in the face of adversity."

Ruby: "How have you NOT noticed all the cute little babies, Jaune?!"

Nora: "I KNOW RIGHT?!"

Pyrrha: "They are very adorable."

Jaune: pouts "I have noticed them, I just didn't put it all together until now."

Weiss: sighs "They're all so adorable...!" Coughs at everyone's looks "I mean... It is good that there are so many responsible adults taking good care of their children."

Ruby: "They are super adorable!" beams

Jaune's Brain: Well I suppose it makes sense. And I guess Monty couldn't render so many kids. Geez, is that why everyone's so pushy about romance? Thank goodness Yang is fine with taking it slow...

Yang nuzzles his neck.

Jaune's Brain: For the most part...!

Cardin approaches, looking a bit exhausted but smiling. Velvet is alongside him, and she's practically glowing. Their teams trail behind them.

Jaune: "Hey Cardin, hey Velvet. What's up?"

Cardin: "Er, well... Um... I'd like to ask you to be my best man, Jauney."

Jaune: "Best Man?"

Velvet: smiles "At our wedding!"

Jaune: "Wait what?! It's only been around six months and you're already-?!"

Velvet: beams and nuzzles Cardin "We're having babies! Triplets at least!"

Coco: "And Cardin here actually stepped up to the plate and proposed right on the spot! Didn't need to shoot him or anything."

Fox: "Yet."

Cardin: winces

Russel: "HEY! Cardin's a stand up guy you jerks! He'll do the right thing! Seriously though, why ask him to be Best Man?"

Cardin: sigh "He did give me the advice that let me ask her out, Russel."

Velvet: "Besides, you're already gonna be godfather!"

Russel: "True."

Cardin: "So uh, what do you say, Jauney?"

Jaune: "Well, sure! I'd be honored!"

Cardin: "Thanks!"

Jaune: "I uh... I hope your parents are as cool with this?"

Cardin and Velvet look at each other worriedly before looking back.

Cardin: "We... Had some issues..."

Velvet: "But we're working them out! Oh, I hope you'll all come?"

Ruby: "Of course! Weddings are awesome!"

Cardin and Velvet hand out some wedding invites (Cardin hands out some cigars) and their teams head off to spread the news. Jaune smiles a little.

Jaune: "I suppose life finds a way..." He looks over at Blake "Blake? You okay?"

Blake: sniffles "Once... I would have hated the idea of a human and a Faunus marrying. I thought it was nothing more than slavery... But they seem so happy."

Jaune: smiles "Yeah! I'm glad they do."

Blake: "And gives me hope for the future~." Warm look at Jaune

Jaune: "As... Friends. Totally friends."

Yang: "The best of friends." Grabs Jaune's arm and pulls him close

Blake: "For now."

Ruby: "Blaaaaake! Stop being all weird and seducer-y!"

Weiss: "Indeed! Have some self respect not to go after a taken man!"

Blake: "Says the woman who scribbles hearts with Jaune's name in them."

Weiss: "I DO NOT!"

Pyrrha: bright red "O-Oh my..."

Jaune: sighs "Thank God summer break is coming up... Nothing ever happens during that time... Except hot girlfriends in swimsuits."

Yang: "You're aware you're saying that out loud, right?"

Jaune: "Yup."

Yang: beams "Just making sure~."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

As it turned out, a lot more time and things happened in the real version of Remnant than was depicted in the show. Which, to be fair, had a limited runtime and budget. This was the full world.

That said, the show served as a rough timeline for most of the major events and even if it had been a while, Jaune did remember most of them.

He'd gotten the timing down just right for Cinder's team to get into the CCTNet Tower. They had still run into Penny and Ruby, but had escaped. This meant Ruby learned that Penny was a gynoid, just like in the original timeline. Ruby had been fixing Penny when Jaune "accidentally" barged in.

Ruby: "Um... Uh... J-Jaune! This isn't what it looks like-!"

Jaune: smiles and closes the door behind him "Relax Ruby, Penny. I can keep a secret. It's what friends do."

Penny: "We... We are friends, Friend Jaune?"

Jaune: "I think so. Do you?"

Penny: "Of course!"

Ruby sighs in relief.

Jaune: "Don't you worry about a thing, Penny. We're friends and anything you don't want revealed? Won't be. I promise."

Penny: "Are... You certain you are fine with being friends with a... A robot?"

Jaune: "I've always wanted to be friends with a robot! Or rather, gynoid."

Ruby: "Really? Me too?!"

Jaune: "So you don't have to... Try so hard around us."

Penny: blinks "Am I not supposed to apply 100 percent of my efforts to all things to learn, grow, and become the best person I can be?"

Jaune: "Well... Not every aspect of life requires 100 percent effort and how you apply that effort is just as important as how much you use."

Penny: "Really? Sensational!"

Ruby helps Penny fix herself up. They wave goodbye as Penny heads back to meet with her team.

Ruby: beams "Thank you so much, Jaune. That... That means everything."

Jaune: "I meant every word."

Ruby: "So... Um... There is a dance before summer break."

Jaune: blinks "... Oh. Shit. Right. I forgot."

Ruby: "You forgot?" giggles "Yang's not gonna be happy about that!"

Jaune: "I just have a lot going on."

Ruby: "Yeah, about that: Why are you going off to meet with Professor Ozpin so much, anyway?"

Jaune: "I can't tell you. It's... Important."

Ruby: pouts "Yang's already got a lot of worries... Ya know... With your harem and all-"

Jaune: puts her in a headlock and noogies her "You're not helping with that either!"

Ruby: "ACK! EEP! O-OKAY OKAY! SORRY!"

She dashes away with her Semblance and pouts at him.

Jaune shakes his head.

Jaune: "Seriously Ruby. I would tell you if I could but... I can't. It's very important."

Ruby: sighs "All right... Just... It's not anything I did, right?"

Jaune: "No, of course not."

Ruby: "And... We're still going to Radian for Summer Break?"

Jaune: "Wha-" groans "How did you find out?!"

Ruby: "I hacked Yang's Scroll."

Jaune: "Seriously?!"

Ruby: "I do it all the time!"

Jaune: "That doesn't make it better! But... Yes. We're taking a trip to Radian. You, Nora and Ren can come along. And so can anyone else who wants to. But it was going to be a surprise."

Ruby: "I thought you wanted to take things slow with Yang?"

Jaune: "What?"

Ruby: "I mean, your whole family is in Radian, right? We're gonna meet your parents?"

Jaune: "... Okay... So it could look a little... Fast, but that's why we're all going. It'll be a fun trip with my friends and family. And besides... I can't just leave you all alone here for the break."

Ruby: "Yang's hoping you two can suck more face together."

Jaune: "Yeah, that's accounted for."

Ruby: beams "And the rest of your harem? Is there room for sucking face with me-?"

Headlock and noogie

Ruby: "OW OW OW OW OWWWW OKAY I'M SORRY!"

Jaune: "Seriously Ruby! I love ya, but until you're actually legal and unless Yang goes insane, we're NOT going that far, okay?"

Ruby: pouts a little "... Okay... But... If I was legal and I'd asked you out first...?"

Jaune: long sigh "... I would have said yes."

Ruby: beams

Jaune: "Now... I've got another appointment. I'll see you later, okay?"

Ruby: "Sure!" hugs him

Jaune leaves and heads to dorm A12. Pyrrha was waiting dutifully outside.

Jaune: "Sorry I'm late."

Pyrrha: "It's all right. I got to get out of a magazine shoot, after all." smiles.

Jaune smiles back. They both enter the room. The lights flick on as Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald all stare intently at them. Cinder for her part looks annoyed.

Jaune: "How did things go?"

Cinder: glare "According to plan... Except for the part where Rose and Atlas' pet gynoid intervened."

Jaune: shook his head "Random chance is as much a part of this job as anything else. On the plus side, you delivered the package?"

Emerald: "We did, but how do we know it wasn't a trap?!"

Jaune: "Hey. All you had to do was switch out one of the general system holodrives for another that I prepared with the virus. That holodrive has the exact same maintenance schedule, wear and tear as the original. Unless they were specifically looking for the few manufacturing differences between it and thousands of others, they will miss it. The little hack my friend did to the system will include documentation to explain any anomalies and I personally forged paperwork that I slipped into the maintenance archives. We're in the clear."

Emerald: glares "I don't trust him, Cinder. Not one bit-!"

Cinder: "Quiet Emerald."

Emerald: "Y-Yes ma'am."

Cinder: eyes narrow "... Rose and the gynoid happening upon me in the middle of the operation could be a bit of bad luck. But you can understand why we thought it was a trap. You said you were working on her."

Jaune: "Well I can't have her on a leash all the time, can I? She's underaged, it would attract too much attention. Plus her sister has abandonment issues. I'm playing no less deadly a game than you are, Cinder. There are going to be little set backs from time to time. The important thing is, you got the virus into the system, yes?"

Cinder: "... Yes. The first half."

Jaune: "Oh?"

Cinder: "It's a binary virus. Both sets of code are meant to look benign on their own, but when the activation code is issued, they link together and give us total control of Vale and Atlas' computers."

Jaune's Brain: Wow, that is ingenius and I have no idea how it would work. Wish I was a computer programmer in my past life. Still, Ozpin assured me that Penny's Dad and Atlas' cybersecurity guys can unravel the virus since they know what to look for from the holodrive I got them. So hopefully that will work..."

Jaune: "I see. Forgive me, I'm more of a people person than a technical guy."

Cinder: nods "I can see that. In any event the most opportune moment to deliver the second half of the code will be the Beacon Dance. I assume you can come up with a good cover?"

Jaune: "Lemme work on that."

Cinder: "Good... Mercury? Emerald? You're dismissed."

Mercury gives Jaune a savage but approving smile, while Emerald scowls at him. They both leave.

Cinder: "Your pet can go too."

Jaune: looks over at Pyrrha. He reaches up and pats her head

Jaune: "I'll be fine, go."

Pyrrha: smiles "Yes Master."

She exits, leaving Jaune and Cinder alone.

Cinder: "How did you get the security systems to drop for us?"

Jaune: "Hacker friend again. The security systems are run on a different server than the rest of the systems. I was able to use a drive she gave me to send it into maintenance mode from Ozpin's office terminal. He went to get some coffee and I ran it."

Cinder: nods approvingly "Smooth. Very, very smooth. The old wizard must be going senile."

Jaune: "I don't know. He's suspicious. That's why I've played it so carefully... But there is one incident in my past that is why he looks so closely at me."

Cinder: "Oh?"

Jaune: scoffs "Don't pretend you don't know. Any competent operator would have researched everything they could about me."

Cinder: "... You got me. I believe it has to do with your childhood illnesses?"

Jaune: nods "Officially my mother figured out how to beat it with conventional, if ingenious, medicine."

Cinder: "... And unofficially?"

Jaune: "Queen Salem offered my parents a deal: Save my life, and in exchange serve her."

Cinder: eyes widen "Quite the price they paid."

Jaune: "They did it gladly. And you can appreciate how delicious Salem found it. After all, the founding matriarch of our house, Joan D'Arc, defeated her servant the Witch Queen of Argus. She hasn't forgotten about that."

Cinder: "Indeed... But you'll forgive me if I don't entirely trust you."

Jaune: "I appreciate the honesty."

Cinder: "Still..." She walked up and rested a hand against his chest "Perhaps when this is all over... I might re-evaluate a few things?"

Jaune: "Such as?"

Cinder: "Our relationship, of course~."

Jaune: smiles "... I'm a professional, ma'am. After all... We're in the middle of a deadly operation. No matter how tempted we might be... We have to keep our eyes on the prize."

Cinder: sighs, draws her hand away "True. Pity. I wonder if either of us can ever truly relax with another person?"

Jaune: "That's the price we pay... But... You never know. Maybe one day, we'll find out."

Cinder: smiles "I suppose so. Goodnight, Mister Arc."

Jaune: "Goodnight, Miss Fall."

She leaves. Jaune heads out... And meets Pyrrha on the roof. Pyrrha channels her Semblance again.

Pyrrha: "We're clear... This is kind of exciting! Like a spy movie!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah..."

Pyrrha: "Jaune?"

Jaune: irritated "Just... Ugh. I hate this spy shit. It's much more fun to watch it than be a part of it."

Pyrrha: "... Jaune? I um... I hope you don't mind but... I was listening in. So was Emerald. Nobody else though."

Jaune: "So... What did you want to talk about?"

Pyrrha: "... Your childhood. What you said... Was it true?"

Jaune: "Nah. I mean... Yeah, I was very sickly and spent a LOT of my childhood in the hospital or my room. But my mom was the one who saved me. Not Salem."

Pyrrha: "I see... I'm sorry."

Jaune: "No! No, it's good. I mean you shouldn't be too paranoid when you're dealing with this stuff but... It's good that you're keeping me honest."

Pyrrha: "One... Other thing."

Jaune: "Sure?"

Pyrrha: "Something that's been bothering me since we met, Jaune. You've acted so strange. Like you're... Older than us. It doesn't match up with what you've told us. You immediately knew so much more about me when we fought in the Initiation than had revealed... And you knew what my Semblance could do. Nobody knows that except for my trainer, my mother, and me. You've had incredible knowledge about people you've never even met before, not just me."

Jaune's Brain: Oh boy...

Jaune: "So... What do you think is going on?"

Pyrrha: "Well... I entertained a few possibilities. I-I do actually like to read scifi, have since I was a little girl... I thought about it. And I guess... I just have to ask..." She stared at him "Are you from the future?"

Jaune's Brain: Ah, right, I forgot she's not just a pretty face with a good sword arm...

Jaune: "... Sort of. I..." sighs "I'm not at liberty to tell you the whole thing. You can probably guess why... But I do have knowledge about the future."

Pyrrha: "... Was it bad?"

Jaune: "Is there another reason people might try to send information back in time to change things? Yeah... It was bad. Very bad."

Pyrrha: "... And what happened to me?"

Jaune: takes a very deep breath "... You died trying to save me... Save us all."

Pyrrha: "... Did Cinder do it?"

Jaune: "... Yeah."

Silence falls. Pyrrha sucked in another breath.

Pyrrha: "Did... Did I ever tell you how I felt?"

Jaune: "..." sighs "Just before you died."

Pyrrha: staring out into the night "... I see..."

Jaune: hugs her "Pyrrha. It's not going to happen this time. I promise."

Pyrrha: "... Is that why you... You've been so open with me? In most things. And well... So caring?"

Jaune: "... Partially. I do genuinely love Yang... You? I care for you too but..." sighs "I guess part of me blamed myself for... For your death."

Pyrrha: "What?!"

Jaune: "If I'd gone with you, Pyr, I-I could have at least been a distraction-I could have done something, anything-!"

Pyrrha: "Jaune! If I did go to fight and I did leave you behind... It wouldn't have been because I was sure I was going to die. It would have been so I wouldn't have worried about you. It wasn't your fault!"

Jaune's Brain: I can't believe that... I just can't...

Jaune: "Yeah well... You promise me if things get bad, you won't send me away."

Pyrrha: "Jaune, I-"

He grabs her shoulders and stares into her eyes.

Jaune: "PROMISE! I will NOT lose you or anyone else ever again. You're not sacrificing yourselves for me. Never. Again. Understand?"

Pyrrha slowly nods.

Pyrrha: "I... I promise."

Jaune: nods "..." sighs "I'm... I'm sorry."

Pyrrha: "... You keep telling me I say that too much. For things that aren't my fault."

Jaune: "Yeah, well... I never claimed to not be a hypocrite."

Pyrrha: "... Can you tell me anything else about the future?"

Jaune: "Only that we need to stop Cinder. So much is... Is different, Pyrrha. If I tell you too much, everything might change. I just... I just ask that you trust me."

Pyrrha: smiles with tears in her eyes "I do... I always will."

Jaune: "Thank you..." sighs "And... Well... Again. Same thing, okay? If I break up with Yang... Give me two weeks and... And we'll try."

Pyrrha: "... The future was incredibly hard on you, wasn't it?"

Jaune: "On all of us... But... Yeah."

Pyrrha hugs him tightly.

Pyrrha: "... We'll find our happy ending. I promise."

Jaune: "..." hugs her back "Yeah... Yeah. We will."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune and Ren were relaxing out on the quad after doing some Aura training together.

Jaune: "Phew... So... There isn't a wrong way to meditate?"

Ren: "There is, but there are many right ways to do it. I believe making progress in Aura control is a universal sign of doing it properly."

Jaune: "And I'm doing that?"

Ren: wry smile "Yes."

Jaune: "Thanks! Geez... I mean I can charge up to smash things like the Incredible Hulk-"

Ren: "Who?"

Jaune: "Don't worry about it. Point is I can charge up but it's like... I dunno, dumping a bunch of Dust nitro into an engine. It's not very controlled, just full power with no nuance."

Ren: "You have an enormous amount of Aura. Learning to control it will take time. Your combat role does allow you to be less... Controlled than others, but the ability to control your Aura better means you will manage that and fight better overall."

Jaune: "Thanks Ren. I really appreciate all that you do for me and-"

Neptune: "ARC!"

Jaune: "Hoo boy..."

Neptune storms up, along with Sun who looks concerned.

Jaune: "Can I help you, Neptune?"

Neptune: "Yeah! You're a ratfink bastard who stole Sun's girl! And my girl! AND ALL THE GIRLS!"

Jaune: "... I... What?"

Sun: "Bro... Tell me it isn't true."

Jaune: "It's not! We're bros! I have ZERO interest in Blake! She's all yours! I think your sunny disposition would help brighten her up! Though you really need to stop being such a simp, bro-"

Sun: "I'm not a simp! I just agree with almost everything she says and nod enthusiastically while trying to suggest better alternatives to her plans!"

Neptune: "Yeah, and Arc here just tells her to not do something and she obeys! She chose HIM to meet her parents and said she was pregnant with his baby!"

Jaune: "Yes, yes I do. Yes she did. I didn't knock her up or touch her in any way! She panicked, she's got issues but we're still friends! Just friends!"

Neptune: "YOU SPANKED HER!"

Silence.

Jaune: "... Yes! Yes I did! It was not how you think Sun, I swear! You should try spanking her, it would help a lot!"

Sun: "Really?"

Neptune: "NONONO! To make matters worse, you-WEISS BROKE UP WITH ME!"

Jaune: "Uh, yeah. That was inevitable. You're a playboy, Neptune! You hit it and quit!"

Neptune: "W-Well... Yeah... BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT! You don't steal another man's girl!"

Jaune: "I DIDN'T STEAL ANYONE'S GIRL! I'm NOT stealing anyone's girl!"

Neptune: "You know what I had to put up with on our date?! Weiss talking constantly ABOUT YOU! 'Jaune did this! Jaune did that! He was such a ruffian! He was so uncouth! He beat up a White Fang scumbag with his bare hands!'"

Jaune: "So?"

Neptune: "So clearly she's into you!"

Jaune: "Well maybe you should try beating up some White Fang scumbags with your bare hands from time to time. Makes for such interesting dinner conversation!"

Neptune: "And of course, you got YANG XIAO-LONG AND PYRRHA NIKOS!"

Jaune: "One is my girlfriend, the other is just a friend! Seriously, why are you angry with me? It's not my fault girls can sniff that you're a fuccboi!"

Neptune: "A what?!"

Jaune: "A. Fuccboi. A boy who plays at being a man."

Neptune: growls "Say that again... I dare you, motherfucker!"

Jaune: "Fucc. Boi."

Neptune: seethes "We're going out to the ruins and settling this right now-!"

Jaune splashes his water bottle all over Neptune.

Neptune: "AHHH! AHHH! WATER! WATER-YOU FUCKING DICK!"

Jaune: "Sun? Please get your bro under control?"

Sun: "Sure thing Jaune... You're uh... You're absolutely sure you and Blake-?"

Jaune: "YES. SHE'S MY FRIEND. If she's got feelings it's all one sided, believe me."

Sun: "Thanks Bro."

Jaune: "Don't mention it."

Sun drags the ranting Neptune away.

Ren: sips his tea "... Your romantic endeavors are rather... Distracting."

Jaune: "Tell me about it. Just because my great-grandfather had three wives makes everyone think I'm a casanova out to steal everyone's girl! I'm not! You and Nora are adorable!"

Ren: "... Well... Yes... Ahem..."

Jaune: "I mean... You will be. When you figure it out."

Ren: "You think we will?"

Jaune: "Absolutely! I just hope I can be a good uncle."

Ren: small smile "I think you'll do fine."

Jaune: "Thanks..."

Brawnz: "ARC!"

Jaune: "Oh for... Yes?"

Brawnz: "WHAT'S THE IDEA OF FINDING OUT MAY'S A PRINCESS?! NOW SHE WON'T DO OUR LAUNDRY ANYMORE!"

Roy: "Seriously!"

Nolan: "What else are girls good for?!"

Jaune's Brain: Wow. Suddenly I don't feel quite as bad about how these guys died in the original timeline...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Classes were relatively easy to keep up with, thanks to the fact that RWBY and JNPR were banned from vigilante excursions. So Jaune was able to keep up with his school work. He was also doing a lot better in Combat Class thanks to training with everyone.

Helping out with Cardin and Velvet's wedding was also fun... Mostly. Jaune, Sun, Ren, and Cardin were chilling out at a sports bar.

Cardin: "Thanks for going out to relax, Jauney. It's been rough. Don't get me wrong, I love Velvet but... I need some guy time, ya know?"

Jaune: "No, no, I absolutely get it." sigh "Ren and I needed some time too."

Ren: "Indeed. Though I am very happy with Nora... I find solitude with guys is quite relaxing."

Cardin: nods "Yeah..."

Sun: "Tell me about it! Blake's just been non-stop riding me! If you know what I mean!" winks and grins

Jaune: "... Uh, Sun-"

Sun: "It's not like my friend JAUNE is the actual object of her desires, now is he?! That would be crazy, hahaha... Ha..."

Cardin: "... Are you okay?"

Sun: "I'M FINE!" shakes his head rapidly "I-I just... It's just like one of her doujins, right? Haha! I just have to NTR her away from you!"

Jaune's Brain: You know, I did want more depth for Sun's character but I'm not sure this is what anyone expected...

Jaune: "We're not in a relationship... But if it helps you two get into one, by all means, please."

Sun: "What's that supposed to mean?!"

Cardin: "He means she's crazy, Sun."

Ren: sips tea "Indeed."

Sun: "That's why I love her!" sighs happily

Jaune: looks around at the others "... Okay, maybe we need to find him a better love interest."

Cardin: "Wouldn't that just leave Blake to chase you though?"

Jaune: "One problem at a time!"

Ren: sips his tea "Indeed."

Mercury arrives, grinning in a fake way.

Mercury: "Hey guys! What's up?"

Jaune: "Hey Mercury. How you doin'?"

Mercury: "Just glad to be away from my team for a while. Mint's either doing fingernail painting or she's plotting my death." sits down with them at the table "Probably both."

Jaune: "Yeah. Well, the more the merrier." scowls at the holoscreen "Oh come on! The Lutetia Franks are losing again?!"

Cardin: "Heh. Should have backed a winner, Jaune. Gallia's terrible in all manly sports."

Jaune: "No we're not! We're great at basketball and tennis and sort of okay at soccer-"

Cardin: "I'm not seeing it."

Sun: "Yeah dude, the Franks are a joke team in the Valean League. Even Mistralians know it."

Ren: "The memes are quite devastating."

Jaune: "Ugh... It's not about winning or losing, it's how you play the game and... Okay fine, they suck but they're the home team! I gotta pull for them!"

Mercury: sips his drink "Your loyalty is commendable, I guess."

Jaune: "Yeah well... The Valean Wizards only win because the refs are bribed!"

Cardin: "Are not!"

Jaune: "Are too!"

Nick Arc jumps in with a big, happy grin.

Nick: "HOWDY SON!"

Jaune: "GAH! DAD?!"

Nick hugs Jaune tightly.

Nick: "HAHAHA! How wonderful to see you! You look great! And these are your friends, right?"

Jaune: "R-Right! What are you doing here?"

Isabel Arc walks up, raising an eyebrow.

Isabel: "Well! You went and found our long lost goddaughter so of course we're going to visit our son while we check up on things."

Jaune: "MOM?!"

Sun: eyes wide "... Wow your mom is pretty."

Jaune: "DUDE!"

Sun: "SORRY!"

Introductions are made. Nick happily shakes everyone's hands, while Isabel does the same... She pauses at Mercury.

Isabel: "Hmmm... May I see your legs?"

Mercury: "Eh?!"

Sun: "What the hell-Why not mine?!"

Jaune: "I swear Sun I will punch you-"

Isabel: "Your artificial legs! May I examine them?"

Mercury: "I-How can everyone tell?! I've worked so hard to conceal them-!"

Nick: "Ha! You can't fool one of the world's best doctors!"

Isabel: blush "Aw, thank you Nick! But seriously, may I?"

Mercury scowls but relents, pulling up his pant legs. He thinks Jaune is on their side but still...

Isabel: "Hmmm... Who got these for you?"

Mercury: darkened expression "My dad."

Isabel: "Well he did a terrible job. These are totally inadequate and the surgeon who did the connections was completely incompetent! Hang on..."

She pulls on her fighting gloves and puts in Dust capsules. Her hands light up white and Mercury gulps.

Mercury: "H-Hey, hang on a second-!"

Isabel: "Don't move."

Isabel puts her hands on where metal meets flesh. Mercury yelps... But slowly relaxes as nothing bad happens. Isabel pulls her hands away.

Isabel: "How do they feel?"

Mercury: "I..." He stands up and walks around a few steps "It feels... Great! The pain's practically gone!"

Isabel: nods "I just healed up some of the nerve connections and dulled the pain in a few places. You're going to want better prosthetics though, this is only a temporary fix. You have health insurance through your Academy, right?"

Mercury: "Er, I think so? But isn't it going to be expensive-?"

Isabel: bright smile "I can take pro-bono work from time to time. Especially if it's for one of my son's friends!" Smiles at Jaune.

Jaune: smiles back "Anything to make you be your best, man."

Mercury: "..." frowns and shrugs "Sure. Why not?" He clears his throat and drops his pant legs "Of course, when I kick your team's asses at Vytal, you'll regret it."

Jaune: "Ha! Nah, just making sure you have a fair shot!"

Some more good natured banter ensues. Nick congratulates Cardin on his upcoming wedding. He tells the boys about some of his adventures. Jaune gets pulled away by his mother to talk in private.

Jaune: "Mom... I know you don't like me becoming a Huntsman-"

Isabel: "No. I don't."

Jaune: "But it's my choice. And I'm not changing it. You don't need to hold that return ticket for me: I won't fail."

Isabel: "..." sighs "I don't like it... But if you're dead set on this course, I suppose I can only do my best to support it."

Jaune: "Good..."

Isabel: "And... If it helps? We... Could have phrased that better." sighs "We were not expecting you to fail. You're an Arc, after all."

Jaune: "O-Oh... Then... Why?"

Isabel: "... Because we wanted you to be spared what we had to go through."

Jaune: "Mom, you and Dad are heroes! You liberated a kingdom! You saved so many people-!"

Isabel: "And we paid a terrible price, Jaune. A price we wanted to spare you!" She shook her head slowly, looking very sad "We wanted you to be someone who promotes life, not someone who will have to bring death."

Jaune: "You and dad brought life, Mom! You saved it!"

Isabel: "And we had to take a lot of it, too." She sighed and looked to the side "There's... A lot of things we never wanted to do, but had to, Jaune. I just... We wanted to spare you that. All of that..."

Jaune: "You can't protect me forever, Mom. I'm not a baby anymore." He hugs her "I know... There's a lot of pain coming my way. Just... Just help me to face it. That's all I ask."

Isabel: "..." sniffles, and smiles "We will... Oh..." She cups his cheeks "When did you start growing up? You're so different from how you were before."

Jaune: "Having to keep people I care about safe and alive can age you."

Isabel: "Heh... So it does..."

Jaune: "You still look great, Mom."

Isabel: "Oh stop!" laughs "Well... Your friends seem to think so?"

Jaune: groans "Mom...!"

Isabel: "What? It's nice for a woman to be appreciated by younger men! A little. Makes your father work a little harder!"

Jaune: "MOM!"

Isabel: "I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah... So... How long are you guys staying?"

Isabel: "Well... I was going to tell you when we got to Beacon but... Headmaster Ozpin asked us to stay on as part-time teachers!" She beamed "Given all the criminal activity, he thought we'd be great as backup! Isn't that wonderful, Jaune?"

Jaune: "I... Y-Yeah... Sure..."

Jaune's Brain: Oh God... Is this how things went in the original timeline that wasn't the show or what?! I don't even know what I did anymore! Crap crap crap crap craaap...!

Isabel: "Besides... I do have to look after my son, don't I?"

Jaune: "We just established that you don't have to-"

Isabel: "At least to see if any girls have caught his eye, hm? And make sure they're good enough for my boy? Ozpin said you had quite a LOT of female attention!"

Jaune's Brain: I'm gonna kill that immortal bastard...!

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang was out doing some shopping in Vale. She looked over a cute top in a nice store... When she felt a familiar presence. She lowered the top and saw Pyrrha standing across the clothing bin from her.

Pyrrha: "H-Hello."

Yang: "Hey P-Money."

Pyrrha: "Can... We talk?"

Yang was wary, but Pyrrha looked very sincere. So after she checked out, she went with Pyrrha to the mall food court. They sat down and had some food. On Pyrrha, which was nice of her.

Pyrrha: deep breath "I just... I want you to know? I'm not going to steal Jaune away from you."

Yang: "I... I mean, that's good to hear..." Eyes narrow

Pyrrha: "And you shouldn't doubt him. He had many opportunities to cheat. And... And I'll admit, part of me wanted to take those opportunities. But he never did. He never will."

Yang: "I don't doubt him."

Pyrrha: flush "Which is... Which is what I would like to try and change. I haven't had a lot of friends in my life. I-I want... I want to change that. Even if I have feelings for Jaune... If we're friends, close friends... It will make it so you can trust me not to do anything to jeopardize your relationship. Besides... I want to stay friends with Jaune. I can't do that if I... If I'm making you afraid you'll lose him."

Yang: "I..." sighs, grumbles "It's not... Just you, ya know?"

Pyrrha: nods "I know. But I want to at least... At least clear things between us. I do love Jaune, but he loves you. And he doesn't want you to be hurt. It would hurt him. So... If it's all right... I-I want to be your friend."

Yang is silent for a while. She then holds out a hand to Pyrrha. The Amazon takes it with a small smile. Yang manages to smile back.

Yang: "... I'd... I'd like that."

Pyrrha: "Thank you. Besides... Um... Things are getting complicated."

Yang: "What do you mean?"

Pyrrha: "It's something Jaune has to tell you himself. I won't betray his secrets."

Yang: eyes narrow "What secrets?"

Pyrrha: "Nothing bad! I-I mean... Nothing that you're afraid of. I promise, Yang."

Yang: sighs "..." nods "All right. Still... Must be big for you to make the first step like this. Usually you just go along with whatever anyone else wants."

Pyrrha: smiles softly "Part of the reason I'm doing this is because Jaune... Jaune taught me I needed to be more honest. With myself, and others. It's... It's part of why I do love him. And want him to be happy... Even if I'm not the one doing it."

Yang: frowns, feels a bit bad "P-Money, I... I mean, I didn't mean to steal him from you-"

Pyrrha: "I know. I know..." sighs "Just... Treat him right, please. If you don't? I'll be there for him. If you do? I... I'll be happy. For you both. Or... Or at least I'll try..."

Yang sighs again. She squeezes Pyrrha's hand.

Yang: "I will... Also, damnit. Do you have to make me feel bad about having him?"

Pyrrha: blush "Sorry..."

Yang: "Still... Thanks for coming out with it and being honest. Blake is, well..."

Pyrrha: small smile "I think she thinks we could all work out as one big relationship... Judging from her reading material."

Yang: bright red "You're... Familiar with it too, huh? And come on... Only crazy people would think that could work!"

Pyrrha: "Well... We don't seem to be the sanest, do we?"

Yang: stares "... What?"

Pyrrha: "I'm just saying... Um... If it made Jaune happy? If it made you happy?" blush, smile "I-I know it's a fantasy but... Given how lonely I've been my whole life... I-I can... See the appeal."

Yang: bright red "G-Geez, P-Money... I guess it is the quiet ones..."

Pyrrha: "N-Not that I'm saying we do that! He wouldn't unless you agreed! And um, it would be... Complicated..."

Yang: sigh "I can't believe we're even talking about this..."

Pyrrha: smiles and shrugs "Better than fighting over it? I don't like hurting my friends."

Yang: glares "What makes you think I wouldn't be doing the hurting, P-Money?"

Pyrrha: smile becomes a bit dangerous "I believe our combat class record speaks for itself, Yang."

Yang: dangerous grin "Oh? What about outside the class, hm?"

Pyrrha: "I-" She pauses as she sees Jaune "Jaune!"

Yang: "Jaune!"

Jaune smiles and waves. He walks up to them, carrying some bags from some stores.

Jaune: "Hey!" He kisses Yang deeply, which she really gets into "Mmm... What's up?"

Pyrrha: "We're just having lunch. What are you up to?"

Jaune: "Oh, doing some shopping for the wedding. I got my tux fitted already so I'm getting some stuff for Cardin. And trying to dodge-"

Nick: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: twitch "My parents..."

Nick and Isabel walk up. Nick smiles brightly as Isabel smiles politely.

Jaune: "Dad, Mom, this is Yang Xiao-Long, my girlfriend, and Pyrrha Nikos, my partner. Yang, Pyrrha? These are my parents, Nick and Isabel Arc."

Yang: "O-Oh! Um, hello! It's nice to meet you!" She's a bit shy all of a sudden

Pyrrha: "Y-Yes, hello! A pleasure to meet you both!"

Nick: "Wow... You're dating them both?"

Jaune: "Wha-No! Pyrrha's my friend and partner but Yang is-"

Nick: "HAHAHA! No need to be shy, son! Good on you!" He hugs them both "Welcome to the family! The more the merrier!"

Yang: "Ah? No, wait-"

Pyrrha: "R-Really, we're just friends-!"

Nick: "Now now, you can't fool me!"

Jaune: "DAD!"

Isabel: chuckles "Hello! It's nice to meet you two. And relax, Jaune, your great-grandfather did the same."

Jaune: "But I didn't! I don't-!"

Isabel: "Oh I'm just teasing, sweetie!"

Nick: "I wasn't!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Weiss was having some tea with Ruby, Blake, and Nora in an effort to be "less of a meanie". So far, it seemed to be working. Ruby was kept at bay with a multitude of cookies. Nora was stuffing her face with pastries. And even Blake was well behaved... For once.

Weiss: "So... As much as I enjoy a good soap opera, I am slightly concerned for Velvet. Is she really happy marrying that brute?"

Blake: "I thought that too at first, actually. Rabbit Faunus are easily bullied. That's why Feline Faunus rule."

Weiss: "You do realize how racist you sound, right?"

Blake: wince "Sorry. Old habits die hard."

Ruby: "I think it's great! Cardin was a jerk but now he's a good guy! Well, sort of. He's still grouchy a lot of the time and macho."

Blake: "I do... I do like the potentially tragic nature of the romance. It's like that old Albion play: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Venona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean...'"

Weiss: "I'm hoping it ends better for them than it did for Jomeo and Ruliet."

Blake: "Oh, of course! Just that it's rather romantic..." Starry eyed "A big, strong human, defying all societal rules, falling in love with a Faunus girl-Even if she is a Rabbit Faunus-Defying their social status..."

Nora: "Weiss, why is this called a 'Danish'? I don't feel like going viking any more than I usually do!"

Weiss: deadpan "Good question Nora. I shall have to ask Klein about it."

The door to the common room opens. Jaune enters, along with Ren, Yang, Pyrrha... And Jaune's parents.

Jaune: "Hey guys, we're back."

Ruby: brightly "Hi Jaune!"

Nora: "Jaune-Jaune! You brought... Older people?"

Jaune: "These are my parents, they're going to be teaching at Beacon for a while."

Weiss blushes.

Weiss: Oh my... I suppose that's a very nice future for Jaune to look forward to...

She sees Blake blushing as well, and scowls.

Weiss: Oh of course she'd think something like that too!

Weiss rises... And glares at everyone else to do the same. They do so. Weiss curtsies.

Weiss: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Arc. I am Weiss Schnee."

Ruby: "Ruby Rose!"

Nora: "Nora Valkyrie!"

Blake: "Blake Belladonna."

Isabel: "It's a pleasure to meet you all, truly." smiles and shakes everyone's hands "Also, brace yourselves."

Weiss: "Why?"

Nick then begins to hug them.

Nick: "HAHAHA! Nice to meet you too!"

Weiss: "Eep! Oh my!"

Weiss: Hugs? Oh wow... Hugs are amazing! Especially from a strong, strapping older man-STOP THAT!

Ruby: "YAY HUGS!"

Nora: "WOO!"

Blake: bares with it stoically

Weiss: "So, er, what will you be teaching?"

Isabel: "We'll be taking turns giving Glynda a break from Combat Class, with some Survival and First Aid classes."

Nick: "Yeah! It's been a while since we got to cut loose!"

Ruby: "Woah! Is that a railgun sword?!"

Nick: "Sure is!"

Ruby: "SO COOL! Can I examine it?"

Nick: "Certainly! But you have to marry my son!"

Jaune: "DAD!"

Ruby: "SURE!"

Jaune: "RUBY!"

Nick: "HAHA! Just kidding!"

Blake: "Indeed. After all, I'm Jaune's fiance."

Jaune: "BLAKE!"

Yang: "SERIOUSLY?!"

Isabel: "Eh?!"

Jaune: "She's joking, Mom and Dad!"

Nick: "I dunno, I keep hearing a lot of joking about that and she doesn't seem the type."

Blake: blush "Ah, s-sorry. When we met my parents I um, I panicked. We... We're just friends."

Jaune's Brain: Oh thank God, she can learn...

Blake: small smile at Jaune and Yang "For now."

Yang: grinds her teeth "Blaaaake...!"

Jaune's Brain: She hasn't learned anything!

Later... Jaune is trying to relax on his own in the library. Just reading some comics.

Jaune's Brain: Wow... Shield Saint is awesome! It's like Shield Hero but with a little more editing to really make it work. And Bitch is even more horrible! I didn't think that was possible...

Blake walks up and sits down next to him.

Blake: "Hello Jaune. Um... Sorry about that with your parents."

Jaune: sighs "I'm beginning to expect it from you."

Blake: "Well... You shouldn't. I'm... I'm working on getting better."

Jaune: "I know... Thank you. I appreciate that. Sorry if I haven't been keeping my promise to help you-"

Blake: "No, no, we've been busy! It's understandable. I just... I know you probably think it's me panicking and all that. Or... Or my books."

Jaune: "I don't think it's just that, Blake." sighs "But again... I love Yang. Okay? Besides, Sun's a better choice for you-"

Blake: "Why? Because he's a Faunus?"

Jaune: "No, because he's relentlessly cheerful and sunny. You need that optimism in your life to get better."

Blake: "He also... Has this idealized form of me in his head. He doesn't call me out on my problems, just says I'll get better. Or that I shouldn't think of them as problems but opportunities to get better. He always brings up all my good points but never gives me pushback on my bad." She looks at Jaune "Adam... Adam did the same thing, just differently. Like neither of them could be entirely honest with me. You though? You actually tell me the truth, even if it hurts."

Jaune's Brain: I'm literally just pointing out all the flaws the viewers noticed... Not that I can tell her that...

Jaune: "Yeah. I mean... If people told me I was fine where I was as a person, I'd get killed. Or get other people killed. I'm direct and honest because I don't want that to happen to you, Blake."

Blake: nods "That's... That's why I am honestly attracted to you, Jaune. It's not-not a fetish..." blush "Entirely... I-I mean I did fantasize about a strong, kind human being my master... A lot... Read several books... Wrote some fanfiction-"

Jaune: "I get it, Blake, I get it. But: One, I don't feel that way about you. Two? I love Yang."

Blake: "... I wouldn't like you as much if you did give in."

Jaune: "So... Will you please stop?"

Blake smiles and leans in to kiss his cheek.

Blake: "No... I'll just take a different approach."

Jaune: "I-No, no, Blake, come on. Sun just needs to grow up-"

Blake: "But I've already seen what you'll grow up into, Jaune. And I think that's worth a lot of hard work... And sharing."

Jaune's Brain: Oh goddamnit I am a shitty NTR harem protagonist!

She rises and heads off... Just as Yang storms in.

Yang: "Blake, I swear I-"

Blake hugs her.

Blake: "Sorry about that. Honest. I'm working on it. And some other things. So... Please be patient."

Yang: blinks "I... Okay...?"

Blake kisses her cheek and, with a smile at Jaune, turns and heads off.

Yang: blush "... Wha...?"

Jaune's Brain: Ohhh Goddamnit... No, no... Yang is not thinking... She is not thinking about a harem, she is not, she is NOT. Blake's just messing with us because she's a damn cat. That's all... However... I do have a duty as a boyfriend to attend to...

Jaune gets up, takes Yang's hand, and pulls her into a deep kiss.

Yang: "Mmmm...?" They break "Mwah... Haa... Did Blake kissing me make you-?"

Jaune: "I'd be lying if I said 'no', but it's mostly because I get you now. I'm making sure you know who's woman you really are."

Yang: grins "Maybe you should remind me thoroughly~..."

Mombi: "Excuse me? None of that in the library!"

Jaune and Yang: "Sorry!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune did love his friends. He loved his girlfriend very much. That's why he was going to so much trouble to try and save them all from a terrible, nightmarish future, after all. He would do anything for them...

Well. Almost anything...

Jaune: "No."

Yang: "Come on, Jaune! It's the Achievemen! They're giving half off tickets to Hunters and Hunters-in-Training! What's not to love?"

Jaune: "They're a corporate manufactured boy band whose musical talent could fill a thimble. Their composer's birth certificate is an apology from the condom factory that failed."

Yang: "I know, I know, but come on! It'll be fun!"

Jaune: "No. Not going."

Yang: "It's Ruby's first concert!"

Jaune: "So take her to one featuring a good band!"

Yang: pouts "... You can feel me up afterwards?"

Jaune: "I do that anyway."

Yang: "Oh, now you decide to act like the big Alpha Male?"

Jaune: "I do when it comes to music. I love you Yang. I would fight to the death for you and never abandon you-"

Yang: "Except when it comes to an Achievemen concert?"

Jaune: Takes a long, long breath, and lets out a long sigh "... Fine."

Yang: "Hee!" She nuzzles and kisses him "Mmm... Knew I could guilt you into it!"

Jaune: "Just for that, I'm naming our first and secondborn."

Yang: "Ha! Isn't that a little premature?"

Jaune: "Ha. I get it."

They go to the concert... And after the first set, Jaune's eyebrow is twitching.

Jaune's Brain: Wow. They somehow made 98 Degrees look like the Beastie Boys. The Backstreet Boys would be laughing at these guys.

Ruby: Oblivious, she just waves her glowsticks in the air "WOOHOO! THIS IS GREAT! COME ON JAUNE! DON'T BE GRUMPY!"

Jaune: sighs "Woo!" Waves his hands in the air

Yang: "Haha! That's the spirit!"

Jaune: "They totally suck though."

Yang: "I KNOW! But it's great!"

Blake: "How is it great that they suck?"

Ruby: "Aw, why are you so grumpy, Blake?!"

Blake: "Because I have two sets of ears!"

Weiss: "Wow, and I thought I was cursed."

Nora, oblivious, just cheers along with the music. Ren stoically waves glowsticks as well. Pyrrha is as well, though her smile is more plastic than usual.

Jaune: sighs "... It's all for the sake of people we love."
Blake: grimace... Sighs "Woo."

Jaune: "Woo."

The concert mercifully ends... But Nora insists on making use of their VIP access to meet the band. Which they do.

Jack: "Hey! I'm the leader!"

Ryan: "I'm the sensitive one!"

Micheal: "I'm the tough one!"

Gavin: "I'm the shy one!"

Ray: "I'm the manly one!"

Jeremy: "And I'm the nerdy one!"

All: "Together, we are... THE ACHIEVE MEN!"

They pose like the Ginyu Force... Yang and Ruby squeal. Nora beams and squeezes Ren's hand.

Nora: "You forgive me for ogling them, right Ren?"

Ren: "Yes."

Gavin: "Woah... Pyrrha Nikos?! You're here too?!"

Pyrrha: "N-No! I'm uh... Um-!"

Jaune: "She's Hera... Cleese. You must have her mistaken for someone else."

Gavin: "I mean... Uh, sure dude. Still, can I get your autograph, 'Hera Cleese'?"

Pyrrha: "I mean... I guess so... Ahem..."

Nora: "How is there a manly one and a tough one? Doesn't that overlap?"

Ray: "No. I have a beard. He doesn't. See?"

Nora: "Ohhhh! No, I still don't get it."

Ruby makes a beeline to Jeremy with a big smile.

Ruby: "Oooh! What did you think of Concordance?"

Jeremy: "Um... I have no strong feelings one way or the other!"

Ruby: "Wha-How could you not?! It was a disaster! An utter dumpster fire! How did Wony spend that many lien on it and get such a terrible game?! You can't be serious!"

Ruby harangues the poor guy until Jaune pulls her back.

Jaune: "It's cool, sorry Jeremy. She's a spitfire."

Jeremy: "Th-That's fine!"

Jack: "So, Miss Schnee... You seeing anyone?" smiles "I did really enjoy your last concert performance."

Weiss: "O-Oh? I uh... Thank you!" blushes "But uh... Well, at the moment I'm not interested in romance..."

Jack: "Are you sure? It could be a great way to get back at your dad... Within corporate allowed limits, of course."

Weiss: "I think I'll pass, thank you."

Blake: "She's with me." Takes Weiss' wrist.

Weiss: "BLAKE!"

Jack: blush "Oh... Um... Er... S-Sorry!" He scurries off

Weiss: "Blake?! What was that?!"

Blake: "I was helping."

Weiss: "No you weren't!"

Ruby wanders over to the actual band. Jaune follows. Ruby beams at the guitarist, an attractive girl with teal hair in twintails with pink stripes, a pink tank-top, yellow short-shorts, and pink/white stockings under tough leather boots.

Ruby: "Piper Minke?"

Piper: "Eh?" Gasps "How'd you know it was me?!"

Jaune: Oh right... The pink rocker punk girl in the year ahead of us. She wasn't in the show but... I'm not complaining.

Ruby: "Your guitar scythe. I've seen you working on it! It's a really great weapon!"

Piper: blush "Oh, well, thank you! I got this gig to help supplement my income. Their usual guy is out sick."

Jaune: "Woah. So you're a huntress-in-training by day and a part-time musician by night?"

Piper: "Yeah! After I got in a fight at a night club, my agent let me rebrand as a Huntress-Singer! It's pretty awesome!"

Jaune: "Sure is. I could see some Rendrix and a little Ryan Johnson in your performance."

Piper: "Oooh yeah! They're big influences! Well, when I'm not playing crap." wince "Sorry, shouldn't be ungrateful..."

Jaune: "Nah. It's cool. Secret's safe with me. Still, it is nice to meet another musician."

Piper: "Oh yeah! You play guitar! You're not too bad, for an amateur."

Jaune: smiles "Thanks."

Piper: "It might be nice to jam once in a while, ya know?"

Jaune: "Really? I'd love to-!"

Yang stands next to Jaune, her smile once again terrifying.

Jaune: "-As friends."

Piper: "Oh! Right... Hey Xiao-Long, relax. He's a little young for me." winks

Yang: "Eh? Oh, no, I was just letting Jaune and Ruby know it's time to go! ... But thanks."

Piper: "No sweat!"

They leave the concert venue. Jaune and Yang holding hands while Ruby talks about things with Nora happily.

Yang: sighs "Sorry... I guess I am a little hypocritical gawking at the pretty boys then get anxious over you connecting with a girl-"

Jaune: "Yang, Yang... Relax, okay?"

Yang: "I'm trying... I'm sorry."

Jaune: "Hey, you didn't threaten her this time. That's progress."

Yang: sighs "Yeah... Still. Thanks for not being a grump the whole time."

Jaune: wince "Sorry..."

Yang: "Nah. It's fine." grins "I think I'm growing out of it. I just wanted Ruby to have a great time, ya know? And you made sure she did."

Jaune: smiles and nuzzles her "Mmhm..."

Pyrrha: sighs

Jaune: "You okay, Pyr?"

Pyrrha: "I suppose I can empathise with them. They are a product, packaged to the world. Having to be something they aren't. It made me feel a little sad... And very blessed that I'm with you all."

Silence. Nora tears up and hugs Pyrrha. So does Ruby.

Weiss: "Wow... That was very profound, Pyrrha!"

Pyrrha: "Uh... I didn't mean to make you cry-?"

Nora: sobs "Pyrrrhhhaaaa~!"

Ruby: "We're sorry!"

Jaune: laughs "It's all right, Pyr. They're just overcome with emotion. Right Ren?"

Ren: deadpan "Yes, I am very moved. Almost to tears."

Jaune: "See?"

- - -

Piper Minke is a fan character for RWBY I decided to use on a whim:

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Of course things couldn't be Slice of Life forever. That would make for a very boring anime...

Jaune met with Cinder in a secluded part of the Library Archives.

Cinder: "We have a major operation commencing soon-"

Jaune: "Yeeeeah, about that... Cinder? I don't think it's a good idea."

Cinder: scowl "What do you mean?"

Jaune: "I mean... Whatever you've been stealing all that Dust for? It's best to wait to use it. Any terrorist activity now will just heighten security. We've already got Atlas deploying a substantial force here for Vytal. We don't need to put them even more on guard. What if they increase their cybersecurity or something?"

Cinder: "Heightening fear and uncertainty is a key part of the operation-"

Jaune: "True, true, but it's better to save that Dust for the main thing. Unless we could achieve some kind of strategic victory with... I dunno... Rigging a bunch of Dust bombs? Better to save it for Vytal. Plus, Roman's got enough heat on him. We lose him, we lose a vital asset."

Cinder sighs in extreme annoyance.

Cinder: "... I suppose you have a point." scoffs "However... The main proponent of the operation are our furry little friends. In particular, a certain bull wants to show the world they mean business."

Jaune's Brain: Huh. So Cinder isn't totally braindead in this universe. Aw shit, I gotta be even more careful now!

Jaune: "I see. Can't you tug on his leash? Make him heel?"

Cinder: sigh "I've been trying but he simply refuses to obey. I think the loss of his little girlfriend has really hit him hard."

Jaune's Brain: Ugh, and he's a total simp still. Wait, I want him to be a simp! That makes him predictable! Or do I? If he's got dimension to his character then maybe I could reason with him at some point? Ugh, which would be more helpful? Badly Written Canon Adam, or Adam who is actually written like a human being? Er, Faunus.

Cinder: "Anyway, I will do what I can... Just as long as you provide me with a distraction for the Dance. You'll be my date, of course."

Jaune: "Wait what?!"

Cinder: "It's the perfect cover-"

Jaune: "No. Sorry, but if I suddenly break up with my girlfriend to go out with a random girl, especially one with a lot of attention on her? That will look REALLY suspicious. Not that I'm not flattered, but mission first."

Cinder: scowls "... I see..."

Jaune: brightly "Don't worry though! I found you a date!"

Cinder: raised eyebrow "Did you?"

Jaune: "Eeyup! He's a good guy." Pause "Well he's... Okay. He's... A bastard, actually. He's my cousin. He's an idiot and a scoundrel and you are free to beat him up afterwards because he deserves it. But! As I said, he's an idiot. And as long as Emerald and/or Neo give him some illusions that he actually made it with you, he'll be the perfect cover."

Cinder: grimace "Must we?"

Jaune: "Trust me, if he thinks he made it with you, he'll run off out of fear of a second date. He's a total scumbag."

Cinder: "Hmmm... All right. Still..." Leans in and whispers in his ear "You don't know what you're missing out on."

Jaune's Brain: Gahhhhhhh! Why does she have to be so hot and so evil?! THIS SUCKS! I know she's a total failure but she's actually really seductive! Wait... I know what to do!

After the meeting... Jaune goes to the RWBY dormroom. He slams the door open. Yang jumps from where she was chilling out.

Yang: "Jaune? What are you-?!"

Jaune pounces on her and kisses the HELL out of her. He then pulls back, panting.

Jaune: "Haaa... Haaa... Wanna go to the dance?"

Yang: "Hwah... Ah... Y-Yes?"

Jaune: beams "Cool!"

Yang: "Um... G-Goodwitch is making me organize it and so I might not get to dance-"

Jaune: "I'll help you. I just want to spend my time with you."

Yang: giggles "Maybe if you kiss me again like that, it'll make the time go faster~?"

Jaune: "Maybe! Let's find out!"

They continue to feverishly make out... When the door opens again.

Nick: "JAUNE!"

Jaune: "GAH! DAD!"

Nick: "Hm? OH! Sorry son! Sorry Yang! You should put a sock on the door if you're going to do that!"

Jaune: "I... Y-yeah?"

Nick: "Heheheh... I used to make out with your mom all the time in-"

Jaune: "GET THE HELL OUT, DAD!"

Nick: "RIGHT! SORRY SON!" He shuts the door.

Isabel walks up to him.

Isabel: "Nick? Did you tell Jaune about-?"

Nick: "Yes, yes! All that junk! He's with his girl, Izzy!"

Isabel: "Oh... OH!" bright red "Oh... Well. Ahem... We should just leave them to it."

Nick: "Yup!"

Isabel: "... He is using protection, right?"

Nick: "I didn't ask. But hey! If they aren't, we get grandkids! I say it's win win!"

Isabel: scowls, raises her voice "Jaune! Are you using protection-?"

Jaune: "YES MOM! NOW PLEASE GO AWAY!"

Isabel: "Hmph. Just trying to help-"

Nick: "WE'RE GOING!" He pulls Isabel away

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune, Yang, Isabel and Nick meet some time afterward in a park on campus. Yang and Jaune are rather mortified. Isabel is a bit uncomfortable.

Nick keeps shooting his son thumbs up when Isabel isn't looking.

Isabel: "Ahem... I am sorry about uh, all that. It was rather thoughtless. I just wanted to make sure you two were being careful. You don't want to start a family before you're ready, after all."

Jaune: "Mom, it's okay. We're being very careful and taking things slow."

Yang: "Y-Yeah..." mutters "Maybe too slow..."

Jaune: flush

Isabel: "Honestly, that's probably for the best. After all, Nick and I have eight children. I think it's safe to say you two should be very careful."

Yang: bright red

Jaune: "Er... Y-Yeah... Eheh..."

Nick: "Yes. I hope you're the one for each other, but if you're not? You don't want to give away your first time to someone you'll just break up with." nods sagely, and takes Isabel's hand "Izzy is the only woman I have ever loved in every definition of the word. When your souls meet with a person who loves you more than anything else in the world? It's... Like magic."

Isabel blushes, deeply pleased.

Isabel: "N-Nick..."

Jaune's Brain: Wow... He really is my father... It's weird but, when I invented this fanon? I just wanted a nuanced take on things. My own take. But it feels so right. Am I the dreamer, or the dream? Either way... I'm glad he's my father. However this happened.

Nick: brightly "Of course, if you two settled down right now, I might have to come out of retirement to train Jaune right! And Adrian could use a cousin for a playmate! And Izzy was back up and fighting in like, a week or two after every pregnancy so it's not big a deal-!"

Isabel: elbows him "NIIIICK!"

Nick: "OW! I'm just saying, Izzy!" pouts "I wanna be cool for my grandkids!"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah, I get that Dad."

Yang: "Heh..." smiles "You're dad a complete dork."

Jaune: "Is that really a surprise?"

Yang: "Not really." leans in closer "Still. It's a nice heads up for when we do go all the way."

Jaune: bright red

Jaune's Brain: WHEN! SHE SAID WHEN! YES! WOO! WOOOOOOOOO!

That said, Jaune had a lot of other things to deal with in preparation for the dance. He and Yang worked to decorate, get a band, set up snacks and the punch, and many other things.

For instance...

Jaune: "Okay, Sun? You're trying WAY too hard."

Sun: "How do you mean?"

Jaune: "You flirt non-stop with Blake constantly. She's got the message. You can't just batter her defenses down, you gotta be more subtle."

Sun: frowns "I dunno Jaune... I mean, she keeps saying she's into you and you'll give in-"

Jaune: "No no no! Ugh. Look. She's my friend. My friend. Period! Which is why I'm gonna help you with her. I mean... Blake thinks like a cat, acts like a cat, and so on, right?"

Sun: "Right..."

Jaune: "The best way to get a cat to want something is to make it look like she might lose it. You need to make her chase you, with me so far?"

Sun: nods "Oh... I see... So, me showing up in her dorm room in just speedos is like... Giving a cat a treat? They still prefer getting their own food?"

Jaune: "... Yes."

Jaune's Brain: I wondered why Blake looked so mortified last Monday...

Jaune: "Anyway... If you go along with my plan, you'll also A: Be making up for something Neptune did, B: Getting Blake interested, and C: Piss of Jacques Schnee AND the White Fang."

Sun: "That's quite the trick, Jaune. How do we pull it off?"

Jaune just smiles.

Cut to the Star Maiden Memorial Garden, where Weiss is waiting. Jaune approaches.

Jaune: "Hey Weiss. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice."

Weiss: "Well, I wouldn't mind a break from planning Velvet's baby shower. It's all so adorable and wonderful and-" She coughs and hides her blush "Ahem. Well, what do you want, Jaune?"

Jaune: "About the Dance. You see-"

Weiss: bright red "O-Oh! Well, um, if you wanted me to go with you... I-I mean, I suppose if you wished and Yang was all right with it, I wouldn't mind it too much! You are a bit of-of a degenerate but honestly in a sort of endearing way if you squint-"

Jaune: "Er, no Weiss. I'm going with Yang."

Weiss... Looks rather sad, but hides it quickly with a blank expression.

Weiss: "O-Oh... I see..."

Jaune: "I mean, I'm very flattered of course. But I love Yang, and neither of you would deserve me if I was the type to cheat."

Weiss: growls "Like Neptune. He flirted with every attractive girl he could on our dates! Right in front of me!"

Jaune's Brain: Well, that's not the story he told me... Geez. I gotta keep him from ending up Ron the Slytherin. One problem at a time, focus!

Jaune: "I see. Well, there's someone here who wants to make up for what he did."

Weiss: raised eyebrow "Oh? You're trying to set me up?"

Jaune: "Yup. He's a good guy, trust me. It's just as friends but it beats going along and being unhappy. Besides... If you go out with him? Your dad will be pissed."

Weiss: "Who is it?"

A pause. Jaune looks at a column.

Sun: "... Oh, that was my cue. Right."

Sun emerges, holding a single yellow flower-Which means "friendship" in the floral language of Atlas. He smiles, walks up to Weiss, and holds it out.

Sun: "Would you like to go to the dance with me, Miss Schnee?"

Weiss: "I... Um, well..." scowls "You're usually all over Blake."

Sun: "Yeah, but if she's not interested, why go to the dance alone?" shrugs "Besides, Neptune really screwed up. He thought you didn't want anything serious. He's uh... He's got some growing up to do. As team leader, I should try to make things right. I just want to go to the dance and show you a fun time, that's all."

Weiss frowned deeply.

Weiss: "You're not just trying to make her jealous are you?"

Sun: "I mean... Um... A little?" He winces "But I also think you're really cool. And pretty."

Weiss: "..." sighs "I... I really want to be the better person. Honestly. And... As much fun as it might be... I-I think I'll just go alone. But... I'll save a dance for you?"

Sun: "Oh..." sighs and smiles "Sure. I get it." He hands the flower over to Weiss. "Keep it. Flowers aren't my thing anyway. Later." He heads off, leaving Weiss and Jaune alone

Weiss: "... Did you think this up?"

Jaune: wince "... Yes. I did. Ya know... I just thought that maybe-"

Weiss: sighs "I... Appreciate the thought, Jaune, but... My heart's not that strong. And... You're the last person who should be doing this."

Jaune: "Huh? Why?"

Weiss: groans "You are a complete dolt, aren't you?!" She stormed off

Jaune's Brain: Ugh. Great going, genius. Well... Could have been worse. Maybe I'll just stop trying to matchmake for a while. I clearly just got lucky with Cardin and Velvet...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

After that, Jaune decided against any more matchmaking. It just wasn't going to end well. He couldn't get a Nat 20 every time, after all.

So he helped Yang and Ruby with setting up the decor for the dance in the Grand Ballroom. Hanging streamers, setting up the lights, and the bandstand...

Jaune: "Okay... We didn't get the Achieve Men, thank God, but we got a nice Fuujin band on their Valean tour to perform."

Yang: "A heavy metal maid band?"

Jaune: grins and shrugs "They're pretty awesome to listen to, gimmick aside. Also, nice color choices!"

Yang: "Thanks! I did actually learn some charm school stuff from Sister Lucy on Patch."

Jaune: "Wow... What's she like?"

Yang: "She's pretty awesome for an old lady. She helped Ruby and I with our homework when Dad couldn't do it, taught us cooking, cleaning, knitting, all sorts of things. She helped Uncle Qrow get Dad back into shape too... Mostly by yelling at him and waving her cane."

Jaune: "Heh... She sounds incredible."

Yang: "You wanna meet her? I mean... I did meet your parents."

Jaune: "I'm uh... I mean, sure. Shouldn't I meet your dad first?"

Yang: "I thought we were taking it slow? You wanna start picking out rings, VB?" winks "I could give you a ring right now~."

Jaune: "I-You-But-!"

Yang giggled. Jaune sighed.

Jaune: "Geez..."

Yang: "Gotta keep you on your toes, VB." She nuzzled him "Mmm..."

Jaune: "Thanks. I just... I mean... How do you feel about this? I feel like I'm making a lot of decisions here and maybe I'm not listening to you as much as I should."

Yang: "You act like this stern alpha male in battle but now you're asking about my feelings?"

Jaune: "Says the biker chick who knows how to make amazing pancakes and has an apron that says-"

Yang punches him lightly in the side with red cheeks. Jaune snickers.

Jaune: "Owww...! What? It's cute!"

Yang: "Just-Not so loud, okay?"

Jaune: "Why? I like that you don't fit into any one box."

Yang: "Y-yeah, well... I like that about you, too." Smiles and nuzzles him "Hmmm... I mean... I'll admit I kind of... Worry... About you getting stolen away."

Jaune: "Yang-"

Yang: "But the fact you actually care about me so much and aren't just rushing to... To the good parts? That means everything."

Jaune: genuinely confused "These are the good parts, Yang."

Yang: bright red "..." She kissed him deeply and wrapped her arms around him "Mmmm~..."

Jaune: "Mmph?! Mmmm...!"

Jaune's Brain: Holy shit this is amazing I love this so much...! MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE-HOLY SHIT!

Glynda: "AHEM."

The two blonds separate, blushing brightly.

Glynda: "I believe you two have work to do? Which doesn't involve making out?"

Yang: "C-Come on, Professor! We were just uh... Getting in the spirit of things!"

Jaune: "T-Totally!"

Glynda: "That requires your tongues to be in eachother's mouths?"

Yang: "... Yes."

Glynda: "Please Miss Xiao-Long... Wait for that until your senior year at least?" Glares at Jaune "Even your parents were able to graduate before full consummation."

Jaune: "Shows what you know. My oldest sister Saphron was born exactly nine months after the liberation of Pandu. So she was at the graduation ceremony too."

Glynda: "And if you want to see your own graduation ceremony, you'll both get back to work!"

Yang and Jaune: "Yes ma'am!"

They do get back to work. Jaune is under a LOT of scrunity by Goodwitch... While Yang watches him with a dreamy look in her eyes.

She recalls a fairy tale Sister Lucy and her mother read her... About a Knight and a Princess.

"Take my hand," said the knight to the princess, "for the world is a big and scary place. I will protect you from all danger, and you will protect me when I fall. And we will walk this world, hand in hand, together."

It was just a childhood story and so much in her life made her doubt it... But when she was with Jaune? She wanted to believe.