offdacabsav2

[offdacabsav2]

Jaune vs. Cinder

Up and up she went, propelling herself away from the battle below the shadow of the mountain. Landing, she watched the carnage. A desert tainted in red and a blanket of black, pulsing like the waves. A resistance hopelessly outnumbered, fighting tooth and nail to get to a dark castle surrounded by black clouds, and blacker lightning. Blood rained upon the land. Cinder swiped the crimson precipitation from her forehead, growling when she found a rose petal on her shoulder. Her aura flickered orange. She inhaled a wealth of air, smelling the corpse sickness even at her elevated position. With a golden crown clipped to her belt, she turned to walk on a metal surface, octagonal in shape. She stopped in her tracks.

An armored figure waited next to a Bullhead. White and gold plates scratched, chipped, and painted in black and red gore. A red sash ripped. His T-shaped helmet rendered his eyes unseen. From here, she could see his heavy breath and tight grip on his sword and shield. His hand went to his belt, tapping a small remote.

Cinder seethed as her neck was zapped. A small disk fell onto the sandy landing pad. She narrowed her eyes at the tiny de-

A whistle darting through the air urged her to swiftly turn. She summoned a scimitar and in a downward motion, deflected a golden knife. The blade dissipated into golden firefly-like embers. She looked back at him. A golden glow faded from his left hand. He rubbed his finger pads against his palm, then clenched his fist. Cinder: “You wanted this,” she muttered. The Fall Maiden launched to the sky, blowing a portion of the pad clean of sand. Fire licked her boots as she neared the knight. Her scimitar, aimed for his neck, ready to taste blood. Jaune suddenly leapt from his defensive stance, jumping and twirling. He brought his shield around as Cinder’s sword graced his back, and activated the gravity dust inside it.

His strength combined with the dust crashed into Cinder’s temple, slamming her into the ground and sending her rolling. She stumbled and tried lifting herself in the air to gain control, but this time the golden knife struck her. It smacked against her head, ensuring she fell again. She rammed through a stack of heavy boxes.

Her head rung from the blows. Before she regained her footing Jaune was bearing down on her. She threw a desperate slash which he promptly deflected to the side. She took to the air in a panic, trying to reassert her superiority. His shield pulsed purple and pulled her in. She landed against it, scrambling to evacuate with no luck. She tried again, but she failed to lift them both when Jaune’s boots also glowed purple, keeping them rooted.

Crocea Mors’ point went for her throat. Her blazing hand grabbed the blade, forcing it away. Cinder: “GET OFF OF ME!” She roared, an explosion within her body expanding outwards.

The hold on her released. Jaune slid back, his boots creating an outline on the pad. His shield dissipated in a shower of gold, turning to a rough point forming in a font of aura. Hurling the point across the arena, it neared Cinder. She readied herself. Jaune closed his fist and disappeared. He reappeared before her, parrying her blade upwards with his own and shoving his elbow into her chest. They tumbled to the ground, but Cinder kicked him off. Jaune threw the point again, and teleported to her while she was recovering. Crocea Mors slashed across her torso, tacking off a chunk of her Aura. She recoiled, and he turned his blade to slash diagonally. Deflecting his cut, she summoned a second scimitar and cut at his neck. His shield summoned on his arm, thwarting her attempt.

His counter was fast. So was she. Yet he foiled her plan to control the bind and sneak a stab, with a heavy downswing, cutting at her shoulder. Another piece of Aura. She backstepped before he impaled Crocea Mors into her forehead. But she had to duck again when his blade grew to a longsword, nearly stabbing her again. She attempted to gain distance, barraging him with a series of fiery bolts. This kept him busy blocking. Enough time for her to charge an attack. By the time he crashed through the brunt of the fire bolts with his shield, a dozen of her swords circled behind her back, pointed at him. A series of beams erupted from the swords, creating a shrieking cry.

The landing pad was ripped asunder, rock and metal superheated to liquid. Jaune emerged to her right in a golden hue, the mirage briefly creating copies.

Crocea Mors shifted into a poleaxe. He struck her aside the head with the pommel and poised to cleave her down the middle with the axe head. She stopped the weapon with her two blades, bringing her to her knees from sheer force. She prepared to-

Jaune’s metal knuckles collided with her cheek, sending her to the ground. He wound the poleaxe around, about to turn her skull into a pumpkin. She rolled and unleashed two beams of energy. He put up his shield, steadily being pushed back. Cinder got to her feet, maintaining her discharge, and increased the intensity. Two heated, glass edges materialized next to her, seeking their target. Jaune swiftly somersaulted from their trajectory, Cinder’s lasers tearing a wider hole in the landing pad.

A bow formed in her hands. Jaune teleported from the arrow. However, the projectile followed Cinder’s gaze and collided into his side. He skid along the pad, coming to a stop next to the Bullhead.

Cinder: “Dying for the righteous cause! That’s what heroes do!”

Jaune grabbed his shield, activated the gravity function, and tossed it into the air. Cinder watched, confused. Jaune’s left arm washed in gold, he sprinted to her. Cinder tried to force his submission via brute force. But her energy couldn’t break his Aura and he nearly planted his fist into her stomach. She weaved back, ducking to avoid the approaching shield, and raised her sword.

Jaune backhanded the shield back at her. It stuck to her forearm, obscuring her view. She attempted to gain height, but she was suddenly shocked. Lightning dust crackled from the shield, setting her nerves alight, eliciting a yell of genuine pain from the Maiden. Jaune grabbed her leg and slammed her onto the landing pad.

Her blade jutted at him. He swerved his head aside and wrapped her arm in his grip and planted his foot on her shoulder, using his other leg to trap hers to the ground. Twisting, her arm snapped and he made to bury Crocea Mors into her brain. The blade slid into the metal easily next to her head after she moved. Flicking her good wrist, a series of jagged glass tracers raced towards his back. Jaune jumped from her and strived to avoid the projectiles.

They tracked his every movement, and more than a few hit. His Aura flickered. Her foot stomped, sending three scorching trails of fire towards him. Although he barely avoided the flames, he was caught by a black limb. It was bony, scrawny, and ragged. Claws sunk into his chestpiece, stealing what little Aura he had left. Jaune was unable to move, helplessly watching as Cinder approached. She spit a wad of blood from her mouth, and lifted into the air, taking Jaune with her. He used all his might to pry her from his chest, but it was no use.

Blood swept down her nose, poured from her mouth, ran from the gash on her temple. Steam exited her nostrils as she eyed Jaune.

Cinder: “You just had to make yourself known. You just had to be remembered, to leave your mark on the world. A real hero. This is where vengeance gets you. This is what you wanted.”

Needles slipped into his flesh slowly, blood seeping from the surgical cavities. Jaune grunted.

Jaune: “Speaking from experience?”

He promptly detached his helmet and bashed her nose in. Her Aura shattered, like glass. He hit her again and her hold weakened. Jaune roared, beating his faceplate into her face. They started to lose altitude. She kicked him, but he was already clamped onto her. His hands latched onto her throat, squeezing as hard as he could. Between her gurgles, she opened her mouth. A stream of inferno nearly incinerated him, but he had twisted around her, and wrapped his elbow around her neck. Closer and closer to certain death. A devil and an angel falling from heaven.

Jaune flipped Cinder around so she faced the ground. Releasing his hold, he planted his feet into her spine, propelling her. Her body formed a crater in the ground, throwing smoke into the air. He wasn’t far behind, landing on top of her.

For a moment, there was no fight. No conflict to decide humanity’s fate. Just dust rising from impact and the distant rumble of thunder.

Jaune groaned, limping from the crater and toppling to the ground. Blood tainted his armor, his face, and tore pieces of armor from his body. He clinched his teeth as he ripped out a slag of glowing rock stuck in his thigh.

His breathing was labored and he clawed for a firm hold. The rocks stirred behind him. His knees wobbled while he drove himself to take the pain. He wobbled on his feet. Cinder stared him down, rising from the crater, nearly falling over. A chunk of her cheek was torn off, exposing a grimace of bloody teeth and mangled flesh. Her broken arm had pieces of skin flayed, hanging on for dear life. She exhaled, a waterfall of blood gushing onto the ground, creating a puddle.

Cinder: “…I’ll kill you.”

Jaune raised his fists. Cinder summoned a sword and lunged at him. He grabbed the sloppy attack, controlling her wrist, and peeled it to point elsewhere. Her Grimm arm rocketed at his face. He barely intercepted it, also controlling the wrist. The claws grabbed at his skull, wanting to plunge and tear. She aimed to kick him, but he stamped her foot down.

The Maiden spewed blood as he drove his knee into her gut. Cinder stopped his fist with her palm, a fiery dagger sliding between his knuckles. Her Grimm arm writhed in crazed motions. Jaune managed to stop it from ending the fight, but Cinder kept him locked here, her blade penetrating deeper into his hand every passing moment.

Jaune brought Cinder’s Grimm arm over to slam onto her remaining arm. Her fiery blade made sure to slice Jaune’s hand open before exiting. Then, he threatened her consciousness with a weighted punch. She stumbled, holding her nose.

Jaune slipped under her Grimm arm - hands up - stepping to her left and delivered a blow to her ribs, then ringing her skull. She managed to block a single punch, but promptly absorbed another. She struggled less after each strike.

Jaune roared, delivering a particularly titanic punch. Cinder stumbled and fell, but not before her Grimm arm grabbed a loose rock and slammed it against his head.

Both of them fell. Jaune went to his knees. A deep laceration above his ear leaking, painting one side of his face dark crimson. He huffed, glancing at Cinder. She contorted on the ground, barely functioning. He huffed, grabbing a piece of the same rock she used.

He marched towards her at a murderous pace. She spit blood in an attempt to talk, seeking to escape to the Bullhead. Her desperate selfishness is for naught. Jaune raised the rock and plunged it against her head. Her arm twitched.

So, he struck her again.

Blood spurted from her face.

He struck her again.

Her nose caved in, giving way to bone.

And again…

Her face was a mess of flesh, an eye dangling, another crushed.

And again…

And again…

And again until what was left was the sound of a sickening squish of rock against mangled skin.

Jaune stared to the sky, yelling and slamming down the rock one final time. His erratic breathing threatened to overtake him.

Cinder was lifeless. A flesh pie. Jaune threw the rock, and fell on his back. The dark clouds above wept gentle tears of joy. The sun, buried somewhere, deep in that coffin. Rain tapped his face, tapped his armor. Though he may try, sunrise he could not find. And thunder still boomed.

He sighed, gently getting back to his feet. Crocea Mors waited not far. He took it in his right hand and walked to the edge of the landing pad. The army of Grimm was being pushed back, kited by three Maidens. Winter efficiently cleaved entire columns, Raven sliced hundreds with an armada of flying swords, and certain huntress wearing a red cloak zipped to and from, a blur too fast to comprehend, sending petals over the ravaged land.

The knight sheathed his weapon and trudged to the Bullhead, grabbing the Crown from the coward’s corpse.

[offdacabsav2]

We’re All About to Die

Chaos.

Destruction.

Fire.

Screaming.

Alcohol.

Cheering.

Friendship.

And a celebration to end the world.

Inside the bar were the teams SSSN, CFVY, RWBY, and the newly formed RENO. If you weren’t getting shit-faced you were about to.

Yang danced and shouted atop the counter, Blake and Ruby egging her on. That attracted most attention inside the bar. SSSN lingered, partying away the dread. Oscar stay locked inside Ruby’s swaying grip. Nora sat on Ren’s shoulders, spurring him to run wild around the building.

Emerald and Yatsuhashi chatted with a noticeable slur. Coco interrupted every now and then with a miserably-placed flirt or joke.

It seemed as if everyone enjoyed their delusion.

However, there were two characters that remain absent.

Weiss weaved through the crowd, excusing herself if she bumped into someone.

Yang: “Weissy, Weissy, where have you been?” The blonde nearly stumbled, her grin lopsided as she held onto Blake and a cocktail.

Weiss: “Watching over you all to make sure something stupid doesn’t happen.”

Blake: “No fun in that,” She responded, downing a shot.

Weiss: “Well, one of us has to be a responsible adult. Anyway, where’s Jaune? Have you seen him?”

Ruby: “Balcony!” The Huntress yelled over the commotion, pointing to an open door that let in the night.

She glanced warily at her friends gorging themselves in delirium, but peeled off to find him.

It required a certain amount of grace to maneuver around the drunkards, whether they be on the floor or flailing their arms about as they danced.

There existed a noticeable lack of anyone near the open balcony that allowed a chill cold in.

She peeked outside, getting a glimpse of blonde hair tainted by white streaks on a couch.

Weiss: “Jaune?” She asked, fully exiting the party.

Jaune: “Hey,” He responded with a small grin “Thought you were enjoying the festivities.”

Weiss: “Festivities, I’m not sure I would call it that I never inherited my mother’s taste for alcohol. Besides, parties aren’t my thing.”

He exhaled, a half-hearted attempt at a laugh.

She gingerly sat next to him on the soft couch. Cozy enough to hit the hay in mere moments if it wasn’t for the icy wind and her heart beating faster in his presence.

She cleared her throat before speaking.

Weiss: “You’ve been avoiding us for hours.”

Jaune: “Parties aren’t my thing.”

Weiss: “Yes, but… Jaune…” Her icy sapphires locked to his blue eyes.

The Ice Queen’s expression faded into a frown.

Jaune: “I know. Just wanted some time to think.”

Weiss: “Am I interrupting?”

Jaune: “Interrupting some negative thoughts, so I definitely prefer you to stick around.”

Weiss: “Do you want to talk about it?”

She stared at his painfully blank face. No sign of emotion behind it.

Jaune: “No,” He replied softly.

She wouldn’t say it was tension between them, but more like situational tension.

A clock on the wall ticked to a new hour.

One hour closer.

Weiss: “It seems unfair.”

Jaune: “What?” He asked.

Weiss: “People with aura can avoid hangovers. Unfair to the people without aura, don’t you think?”

Jaune: “Maybe, but there’s a reason Yang’s a party animal.”

She chuckled at that.

A solemn chuckle.

She checked the clock again.

Jaune: “Me too. I’ve been watching time trudge by since I got out here. Swear to God tonight has lasted 18 hours.”

Weiss: “Just restless, I suppose.”

Jaune: “We all are.”

The party raged in the background. Weiss observed it, seeing mostly chaos. Amidst the chaos, Nora danced with Ren, tears running down her face as she smiled.

Jaune: “At first, I wanted it to last forever. Then I got sick of waiting.”

It shocked her how blank his tone sounded. It scared her more than the sunrise.

Weiss: “There’s still so many things I want to do,” She admitted, subtly scooting closer to him.

His peripheral caught her movements. He smiled.

Jaune: “It is unfair.”

She looked up at him.

Still, he faced the clawed moon.

Weiss: “I wanted to say thank you…”

He faced her.

Weiss: “… For helping with my family. I feel like I’m finally experiencing what that is supposed to be like, and I have you to thank.”

Jaune: “All I did was get you guys together. Everything else was you.”

Weiss: “My mother was so inappropriate, talking about how handsome you were.”

Jaune: “Really?” He nodded, contemplating something.

Weiss: “Never been more embarrassed.”

He hummed, leaning back.

Jaune: “She free Saturday?”

Weiss: “Jaune!” She reprimanded with a playful slap and a failed grimace.

Instead, she felt her smile widen as his charming grin appeared for the first time in… a long time.

Jaune: “You know I can’t help it. Older women flock to me.”

Weiss: “Worryingly so,” she bumped his shoulder, using it as an excuse to shorten the distance between them.

Jaune: “What about you?”

Weiss: “What about me?”

Jaune: “Are you free Saturday?”

She felt her insides tumble and fall onto a trampoline, constantly propelling them up and down.

Yet, dread set in.

Weiss: “Saturday’s a long ways away,” She said, her excitement dying slightly.

Jaune shrugged.

Jaune: “Guess we’ll just have to power through the week, huh?”

Weiss: “Is this another one of those conversations where we talk, but we don’t actually talk?”

Jaune: “What is there to talk about?”

Weiss: “A lot, Jaune, a lot.”

Jaune: “I don’t know. Fear’s gotta way of clearing your mind.”

Weiss: “My mind doesn’t feel very cleared.”

Jaune: “I could help.”

She nearly stammered on her next words.

Jaune: “Y’know, it’s always super easy to tell when you’re blushing.”

Weiss: “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jaune Arc. Frankly, I think you have truly lost it.”

Jaune: “Just saying,” His gaze returned to the moon and a swaying, blood red forest. “You cleared mine. I believe in returning favors.”

Weiss: “I believe you’re a dork.”

Finally, she worked up the courage to fully press herself against him.

Jaune: “A charismatic dork, for sure.”

Weiss: “Sure,” She teased, laying her head against his shoulder.

The Arc lifted his arm. Weiss suddenly panicked, thinking she had taken it too far.

However, her fear was erased once he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

Now, her head lay on the side of his chest, moving with his breathing and taking him in.

They remained this way for an unknown amount of time.

Jaune: “There is a lot of things I want to do,” He finally spoke, his voice vibrating against her ear.

Weiss: “Like what?”

Jaune: “This was on the bucket list. Safe to say it’s been crossed out.”

Weiss: “Anything else on your list? Anything… more than balconies and scenic views?”

Jaune: “It’s certainly a possibility. Man, if only I could remember.”

Weiss: “Sounds like I need to clear your head again.”

The Ice Queen adopted a suggestive smirk as she separated from his hold and sat forward to face him.

Jaune: “I think it goes both ways.”

He inched closer, feeling her permanently frosty breath dancing across his face.

Weiss: “Perhaps,” She replied, stopping mere centimeters from him.

Her eyes glanced between his eyes and lips.

Jaune, however, never lost sight of her eyes.

Jaune: “I want this to last forever, and I’m sick of waiting.”

The two closed the distance as the clock struck midnight. Their moon glowed bright, illuminating more than it ever had before.

Weiss’ hand came to rest on his face, bringing him flush to her body.

Neither wanted to stop. Letting go might have resulted in time speeding forward.

So, Weiss decided to cross a star off her personal achievements.

Weiss: “You haven’t asked about my bucket list.”

Jaune: “Kinda forgot as soon as we kissed. But, what else is on yours?”

Weiss: “I distinctly remember there being a vacant bedroom upstairs. I tested it and the walls are practically soundproof. Coming in and out.”

Jaune: “You’re telling me you mapped this out? All of it?”

A bark of laughter echoed on the porch. It developed into a long series of cackling.

Weiss: “Oh, shut up and follow me.”

Jaune: “I’m flattered, I really am.”

The others watched the two vanish behind the door to a stairway, knowing looks being passed around.

Yang: “Round 7, send ‘em my way!”

The moon fell and, eventually, the sun rose.

[offdacabsav2]

Neon Dread

An hour since he disappeared into the night. They tore Vacuo asunder, searching in a panicked frenzy. Each corner, each crevice, Weiss replayed the rage in his eyes.

The hurt, the loneliness, and the brink reaching to pull him in.

In the Ever After he wasn’t shielding his insanity in rusted armor. Is he now?

When they heard the sounds of a fight breaking out, they thought for sure it was another drunken brawl started for some petty reason.

Instead, it had been Jaune brutally dismantling the members of CRDL. Watching him fatally crush Cardin’s skull frightened her.

The confident leader who would never harm another human like that.

Compared to… compared to now.

She felt disgusting for this. It’s true, none of them can sympathize with 15 years of pure isolation, slowly losing your grip on reality every day while trying to cope with mercy killing a close friend.

She should’ve helped more, tried to warm him up to the idea of a group again.

The logical side told her he refused every time. That he was always alone now and wanted to be.

Her emotions crushed retaliation.

He didn’t want to be alone. But he didn’t know how not to be.

Eventually the chase became widespread. News of a missing huntsman who attacked another team spread rampant.

They needed to find him. There’s a very real chance he could be imprisoned for this.

Sprinting past glistening, neon billboards, advertisements, road signs, dancing holograms, Weiss rounded a corner, dipping into a dark alley.

Ruby showed up a moment later and inspected the area with her scroll’s flashlight.

Rain, trash, brick walls, smoke. The knight nowhere in sight.

Weiss: “Dammit!” She roared, picking up a stone and hurling it into the shadows.

Ruby: “Weiss, we’ve searched the entire south side. He’s not here.”

Weiss: “And? What, are you going to give up just because it’s a little harder than you expected?”

The Ice Queen retracted, hanging her head and squeezing Myrtenaster’s hilt.

Weiss: “I’m sorry. I… I’m scared.”

Ruby: “It’s okay. I am too. But he ran this way and there’s not a single trace of… anything.”

Weiss sighed, gazing at the heavens. Rain steadily fell onto her face, soaking her hair and dismantling the braid.

Weiss: “What about the others?”

Ruby: “Guys, how are we doing?” She paced as she gazed at her scroll.

Nora: “Nothing, nothing, nothing. He just vanished! Up and left!”

Ren: “No luck so far. If he turned around the authorities would have him by now. Either he broke into a building or he left the city.”

Ren, ever the voice of reason, had clear panic in his tone. Although Nora’s was obvious, he still tried to calm her.

Blake: “Yang and I just cleared the rest of the residential plaza. I don’t see where he could’ve gone.”

Oscar: “Emerald and I are following a subway tunnel right now. I doubt he came down here, but it’s worth a shot.”

Ruby: “Ok… ok, uh… k-keep looking. He’s around here,” she turned away, muttering. “Somewhere.”

Weiss walked further into the abyssal maw. It wrapped her in shadows the closer she got.

Weiss: “I think this leads to a different back passage.”

The silver-eyed leader joined her friend in peeking back the layers of thick gloom.

Black windows deepened the pit of anxiety in Weiss’ stomach. She imagined blank faces watching as they went.

Turning a corner, Weiss glimpsed a touch of red when Ruby’s light swept the narrow lane.

Weiss: “I-I see something,” She pointed. “Right there.”

The beam revealed unsettling information.

Weiss sprinted to the soaked fabric floating in a puddle. A memory torn, harboring different, darker stains.

Ruby and Weiss stared at it in utter fear.

Ruby: “G-guys, we… we found Pyrrha’s sash.”

Nora: “Where?!”

Ruby: “East Whittaker Street, in a side alley. I think… I think there’s blood on it.”

Oscar: “Do you think it’s his or Cardin’s?”

Ruby: “I don’t know, I don’t know. You’re coming up behind us, see if you can cut off the area near the subway exit. Everyone else, get over here as fast as you can.”

Weiss drew her blade and loaded a slot of ice dust into the chamber.

Methodically, the huntresses cleared their corners, watched the rooftops, and guarded their rear.

Further evidence.

A severed metal leg and a long ponytail.

Ruby raised her light up to see Crocea Mors stabbed into a wall, water washing over the blade. The duo dashed to the sword, inspecting its new cuts and dents.

Weiss nearly stepped in a pool, but withdrew her heel, noticing an odd tinge to the clear surface.

Blood.

Eyes and light uncovered a trail leading into a pitch-black, midnight doorway.

Carefully, they closed. In sync, ready to fight.

Methodical and smooth. Terrified and nervous.

Images flooded Weiss’ brain. Gruesome scenes unfolding, playing into her worst nightmares.

The scroll’s gaze hovered over a gloved hand. White and gold gauntlets. Deathly still.

Weiss doesn’t remember a time she ran so fast. She most likely never will.

He was propped against a wooden door. Head down, hair stuck to his forehead. His face veiled by darkness.

Blood ran down his armor. She tilted his chin upwards. His eyes were shut, mouth slightly open, a pained look on his crimson-stained face. Trailing down his neck was a deep gash. A purple splotch glinted.

Ruby: “We found him, but Tyrian and Mercury were here first! He got stung!” She rambled frantically, reviewing him for further injury.

Emerald: “We’ve got the ambulance coming right now.”

Everything else blurred. Weiss only focused on his sluggish breathing that slowed with every passing second. The cut across his cheek. The slashes below his armor exposing red flesh. A bullet hole in his thigh and the spreading venom.

At some point, Ruby and Weiss wrapped his arms around their shoulders and hoisted him to his feet.

He was incredibly heavy and his concussed state helped little.

The clock ticked away.

He grew weaker and weaker.

Weiss prayed for a miracle. For anything. She wasn’t going to lose him, too. Not after everything they’ve been through together.

She refused for death to take him. He needed to hear how much he meant to them and how bad it hurt to see him in pain.

He needed to hear how she truly felt.

The future where she isn’t able to confess… all of it…

She had to be strong. For him.

[offdacabsav2]

Requiem

He ripped his sword from her chest. Blood trickled from the blade’s scorched edge. Crimson leaked out of a long cut across his forehead. White and gold tainted by charred black and liquid red.

The Maiden’s final expression had been one of horror. Dried tears remain dormant. A red sash tied around her throat, incarcerating her to a jutting piece of metal.

Even now, she infuriated him. He wanted to stab her again and again and again and again until she was an unrecognizable mound of flesh.

Her cowardly, childlike terror made him shake in rage.

But… it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered anymore.

Raggedly, he clawed at oxygen, trying to force it into his lungs. The knight stumbled backwards and fell to his knees.

His mind should be racing, should be panicking, but he wasn’t. No, only two voices reached his bleeding ears.

Everyone’s gone.

We won.

The longer his eyes lingered on the growing puddle of blood reaching for him, the closer he slipped.

It didn’t matter.

His scream built deep in his soul. A guttural, shaky cry of torment. It shaped into sobs. His chest heaved violently, surrounded by his friends.

Burying them was torture. Pure hell.

It hurt.

God, it hurt.

It hurt so bad that his physical wounds went numb and all that remained was the crushing emptiness.

His final straw… Weiss.

Her cold, beautiful face… pale. He thought if he cried hard enough the universe would pity him and somehow, someway… bring them back.

Each excruciating toss of the shovel, each layer slowly sealing her body forever.

And he prayed he went with them, that he could join her in eternity.

He shut her eyes permanently with gentle hands.

Their graves were marked. In order. By team.

‘Heroes of Remnant.’ That’s what the carving in the oak read.

It cradled them, sheltered their souls. Large and full of life.

The sun soaked him in warmth. It’s counterpart fell below the horizon, making way for a new day.

He sat alone by the cliff, watching a miracle color the sky in cool yellow. If one studied him, they could tell no difference between his gaze and a corpses gaze.

Wind caressed the field of plush, emerald grass, weaving in between blades and branches, tenderly dancing with nature.

Below him, crystal blue waves washed over sand, overtaking the shore as it the tide came in.

He closed his eyes and felt…

Alone.

“Cleanup efforts continue as more injured and deceased are unearthed from debris. The death toll climbs every day, now reaching 200 with 500 more missing. But, today, a discovery was made. Nine named graves and a message: ‘Heroes of Remnant’. These heroes were the members of huntsman teams RWBY and RENO. Heroes… valiant and courageous… All of us, everyone; we should be thankful brave souls such as those men and women gave up their years, so we could live out ours. There is a missing marker, however. Jaune Arc is noticeably absent. Authorities mark him MIA and plan to begin searching in two weeks.”

Two years later.

A cloaked, bearded figure stands atop a hill overlooking Vale. Cranes and maintenance crews rebuild the city brick-by-brick. Wooden structures towering like skyscrapers, fields of rubble cleared in one fell swoop. Past the new buildings and heavy machinery, proudly displayed for passing travelers paying their respects… murals.

Decorated in ornate designs. Flowers cloaking the courtyard around their dirt beds. A rainbow assortment.

Pictures of the fallen behind their tombs.

The figure bent down to removed topsoil and placed his remembrances. A blooming memory for each. He looked on with a hard gaze and straight mouth.

In his hand, an edelweiss. Full of life and compassion. Strong, regal, beautiful.

Pale as the winter landscape.

His eyes glistened as the sun set. He placed her gently, curling his finger around a petal for the last time.

The figure allowed himself a solemn, ghostly smile.

And he left.

[offdacabsav2]

Neon Sorrow

Vacuo may have been nothing but dust and orange hue, however, that didn’t stop its night clubs from pumping the bass past the witching hour.

Mostly young adults drowning their pain in bourbon, or tearing up the dance floor with their partners.

The cheering and blaring songs could be heard all the way from Shade Academy. Conveniently, the school itself engineered most of the establishment’s regulars.

Not Jaune, though.

While teams RWBY and RENO celebrated, he sat at the bar, studying his drink with an unreadable stare.

Another round of pulsing bass and flickering spotlights made him flinch, involuntarily recoiling and spilling the golden beverage.

His eyes narrowed.

The glass absorbed neon shades flashing and sweeping the club. An image of jaded, dull blue orbs stared back. He scowled at the other person stealing his features.

A group of men, laughing boisterously, chose their spots next to him.

He kept them in his peripheral before tossing down some change on the bar.

Beckoning him, a dark corner lay seductively, away and isolated.

He promptly stood and walked. A curious gaze followed.

Acting as a sort of phantom, he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, shadows covering his face.

Glimpses of yellow, black, orange, red, brown, pink and green on the dance floor between shifting bodies.

Here, separated and alone, he felt comfortable and softly sighed in relief.

Occasionally, he observed the exit and how inviting the fresh chill of night seemed compared to the suffocating humidity of this hellscape.

It smelled like sweat, alcohol and drugs. An inner prisoner beat against his skull.

Why is he even here? Why should he stay? For his friends? To satisfy their constant worries of his wellbeing?

He wanted to tell them he was fine and receive nothing more, but they never quit.

His scroll rang in his pocket. Begrudgingly, he unearthed it, ignoring a legion of unread texts and unanswered calls.

Weiss: ‘Where are you?’

His gloved hand paused over the keyboard. Once more, he glanced at his friends sway in casual wear. Questionable, in Yang’s case.

Jaune: ‘Still here.’

His inhale of polluted oxygen was deep. It honestly hurt more than it should have.

Weiss: ‘But where?’

An alarm sounded. His heart hastened.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t bring himself to answer.

So he didn’t.

That’s when the ugliest familiarity stepped out of his negative thoughts and into real life.

?: “Is that my old buddy, Jaune?”

Now he definitely wanted to leave.

Flanking his right, another revolting expression.

Cardin: “You look different, man. Why are ya hidin’ in the corner? Not like you to be afraid of a dance.”

The Arc’s blood boiled. His signature restraint and calmness degraded.

Jaune: “Fuck. off.” He hissed.

Cardin grinned, feinting shock and hurt.

Russel: “Still an asshole, apparently.”

Jaune regarded him with an evil glare.

Cardin: “Woah, ok dude, uncalled for. I was just trying to make conversation. It’s been a long time. I can’t catch up with a fellow huntsman?”

Winchester puffed out his chest, displaying a white badge showcasing title and official status.

Jaune: “Not a big fan of you’re type of reunion.”

Cardin: “Oh, c’mon. A hug, maybe pat on the back?” He smirked, spreading his longs arms.

Jaune: “Looking for validation or attention?”

Cardin: “I’m looking for a good time… Arc.” He enunciated sharply.

Jaune: “I’m not, so get the hell out of the way.” He threatened as he barged into Cardin’s shoulder and paced to the door.

Wearing an expression of smugness, Cardin slowly turned.

Cardin: “I was gonna ask for your permission.”

Jaune: “What, you need help wiping your own ass?” He answered, stuck on the exit.

Cardin: “That’s good, that’s good. He’s a funny guy, funny guy. No, more like for a dance partner. You wouldn’t mind if I took Schnee for a ride, right?”

Jaune paused abruptly. Cardin’s enthusiasm billowed.

Cardin: “Hook a fellow up, yeah? I mean, she’s gorgeous. I’d really like to see her tear up the dance floor, if you catch my drift.”

He wished he hadn’t met their arrogant faces, but Winchester stoked a fire he wanted to stamp out.

Cardin: “See if she’s really as cold as people say she is.” He glanced beyond the knight.

Jaune caught his quick check. He looked up where a strip of metal revealed two figures stalking him.

Cardin: “I don’t know, always had a thing for long hair and heels. Kinda reminds me of a certain redhead, now that I think about it.”

It was at this point where Jaune’s fingers twitched, trying to wrap around a non-existent weapon.

Slowly, more bystanders stopped dancing and watched the escalating hostility. A crowd was forming.

Cardin: “Oh, my bad. Still a fresh wound, huh?”

Russel left Cardin’s side and approached. His shit-eating grin and lax sway ignited the fire in Jaune’s chest.

Russel: “Why don’t you let this one slide?”

The instant Russel’s hand rested on his shoulder, Jaune grabbed him, slammed his palm against his elbow, bending it unnaturally, and slugged the idiot across the face so hard, he crashed into the bar.

There was a sudden yell of surprise, gauging the hit in the crowd. Quickly, it turned to chants pouring oil on an inferno.

Jaune ducked the swing he knew was coming and flipped Sky over his back. Dove lunged with blurry speed. His fists flew fast, but Jaune broke his offensive with his forearms.

Dove’s leg launched at his mid-section. Jaune shifted, catching it and swept him off his remaining foot.

He prepared to hammer his fist upon his skull, but he was tackled.

Winchester and Arc rolled. However, the bully was ejected backwards as they tumbled.

Utilizing his momentum, Jaune shot to a defensive stance, intercepting Sky’s fist. He twisted the goon’s arm back, earning a cry of pain, and wrapped his hand around Sky’s face, violently slamming him through a table. Beer and splinters flew everywhere.

Affording no respite, Cardin and Dove attacked relentlessly. Jaune was pressed to the back foot, and retreated as he dodged and ducked.

Dove overextended, allowing the knight to side-step his attack and put a body in between him and Winchester.

He planted his fist into Dove’s ribs and knocked him cold with metal knuckles to the side of the brain.

He folded like a rag doll.

Cardin, with uncanny agility, rushed Jaune and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him high and slamming him against the bar.

The bully’s iron grip worked to crush Jaune’s jugular.

And as his vision faded and neon smeared over grey walls, he rocketed his knee upwards. Cardin howled from testicular trauma.

A swift one-two against Cardin’s temple, then a bone shattering blow to the stomach.

Unfortunately, Cardin’s aura only sparked. Jaune’s eyes widened.

The arrogant brute, ardently advertising shocking nimbleness, bashed Jaune with a backhand.

Stumbling from the raw weight behind the attack, Jaune dazed. Winchester grabbed his shoulders and planted his skull against the Arc’s temple.

Blood flowed free while he struggled to keep himself standing.

Barely, he avoided a fatal punch and the following series.

Jaune steadily backpedaled until the bar was no longer restraining his movements.

Missed opportunities piled on top of one another. Cardin roared in rage as Jaune expertly weaved in and out of his range.

Cardin: “You should’ve fucking died at Beacon!”

Right there and then…

He lost.

Seething anger clouded Cardin’s gaze. With 100% strength backing his swing, Jaune would surely die instantly or suffer a seizure so extreme he was bound to perish minutes later.

But, he dropped below him and spun. Cardin was off his feet and on the ground. Before he could register it, Jaune was there pummeling into him.

Each punch packed larger reserved energy than previous ones.

Eventually, the fight had been won, but Jaune kept going.

Bone crunched, blood coated his hands and face.

Flashing images played. Pyrrha between locker bars, Cinder’s infuriating smirk, Weiss dying on the floor, the feeling of his sword slipping past Penny’s flesh and into her heart, and the crushing, indomitable, unbearable loneliness of that damn fairytale.

Jaune wore rage well. Too well.

He couldn’t hear the bass or synths anymore. Same can’t be said for ear-splitting ringing.

A set of cold hands pulled on his shoulders. He whirled fast enough to induce tremendous whiplash…

…

Only to see horrified icy sapphires.

The world returned to him. No longer did the people cheer and yell. The dead silence led him to believe he’d hear the sound of lapping waves, or a sudden explosion of fire.

Weiss: “Jaune.”

What hurt most, was how she looked at him. Like… like he was some kind of demon.

The girl who picked him up after the Pleasers. The woman who shouldered his burden. The huntress he couldn’t stop thinking about; restless at night.

The only person who made him feel…

Wanted…

He tore from her gaze, examining the damage he had caused.

Cardin’s face was mangled. Nose cracked, forehead cut open, and jaw broken beyond repair. He was barely breathing.

Dove lay flat in a growing pool of blood.

Sky struggled to lift himself from the ground. Red poured from his mouth and nose.

Beyond the bar, two employees carried a screaming Russel. A bone protruded through his arm.

Weiss: “Jaune.” She muttered.

He darted to his feet, backing away. RENO watched in pure disbelief. RWBY mimicked that.

Weiss held out her arms, trying to calm him with a delicate voice.

Instead, he ran.

Blowing open the doors and into the night.

Indeed, the air was refreshing.

Weiss: “Jaune!”

Her calls grew distant.

Sirens drew closer.