AN: First off, let me apologize to the guest reviewer, who is hopefully still here, and say I am a stupid hypocrite. I let an oversight pass and didn't change headmaster to headmistress which led to some confusion on my part. I am sorry and hope you can forgive me for my arrogance. At some point soon, I will go back and change it, most likely by the time of the next chapter. For now, I just want to give you a chapter after so long.

Next I wanna address a comment about Jaune being a "Strong Female Character" stereotype. That is not what he is. As this fic goes on you'll see that Jaune is far from strong in the beginning and for many reasons. And I don't mind you not liking him, in fact, I think it's great. I love everyone's varying opinions on this drama, it's what I'm striving for, what we're striving for. But with that being said, don't look at this from the perspective of the cannon world social structure, men ARE second class citizens in this fic. And keep in mind, Jaune was neglected and even abused, as I'll reveal later on, and thus, has a reason to be the way he is. For him to not have any flaws and be too nice right off the bat would ruin the drama, which is what this fic is about. Again, It's not like Jaune doesn't have a reason to be a cunt. This is also why saying Jaune needs to change his attitude quick is actually a bad idea. I want to him grow naturally. And hopefully, you'll enjoy both the journey and the destination. And let me be clear, I'm not telling you how to feel about Jaune but look at the situation.

Now here's the Joe of Coffey:

Hello all, I am actually not dead! Since RWBY has disappointed me at almost every turn, I have since moved on to other media. I do not think I will be updating any of my stories, but I will be staying on as a beta reader here for as long as necessary.

If you wish to see me writing again, head on over to Spacebattles and look up user King Jerry, which is my new moniker.

XOXOXO

CoffeyJoe

"Jaune, know that your sisters and I will always protect you." Bianca said lovingly to her 9 year old brother. Jaune had ended up cornered by some bullies but his sisters got him out of it, and here they were, Bianca, Amber, and Melody, all surrounding him to make sure he was ok.

"Thanks big sis! You really are the coolest!" cheered Jaune with a smile on his face, if there was one pure, innocent thing in this world it was Jaune's smile. Bianca smiled and picked him up in a loving hug.

"We'll always be here you little brother."

Six years later…

Jaune woke up, nearly a half hour earlier than his alarm, and he could tell already his face was wet, 'Dammit, why do I always go and do that?' shrugging off his blankets he turned to see his partner, Blake, getting ready for her shower.

"From the way you tossed and turned last night, it must've been quite the dream," Blake didn't look up from her uniform while she spoke, preparing ot to be worn, "Yang was about to wake you up but I managed to convince her to leave you alone."

"Thanks." Jaune mumbled, he could feel it in his bones that this day was already off to a bad start. He let Blake into the shower first, and decided to spend the rest of the time getting ready.

Today would be the day they were introduced into combat class with Miss Goodwitch. No doubt most students today would be on edge given her less than cuddly demeanor. Jaune couldn't blame them for that, those poor first year fools.

'Man, Qrow I wish you were here, you'd know what to do.' Jaune hated it when he thought like this. He sounded weak, dependent, like he was when he was a child. Like he was supposed to be. But he hated the resurfacing feeling of isolation more than that. He wouldn't mind having at least team CVFY to talk to, even if he found Coco irritating. He at least disliked them the least out of everyone else in this school. Even if he didn't want to talk to these huntress or really any huntress for that matter, he still found himself in need of some social contact from the people he grew used to.

Still, that didn't mean he wanted to befriend these huntresses. They weren't trustworthy and even then, Jaune only liked CVFY because most of the team kept others at bay and understood his wish to be left alone. That's why, despite the sting to his newfound pride and Coco being a nuisance, he went out of his way to be around them during his free time.

At the very least, Blake, out of all the new students, knew better that he came to sense a sort of kindred spirit between himself and her. Odd but not unwelcome.

"Alright gals and guy!" Yang's boisterous voice as she emerged from the steamy restroom with her only her undergarments on. Her loud voice broke him from his thoughts, "Shower's open to anyone who wants it!"

"Go ahead." Blake told him as she reached for her book, "You probably need it more than me right now."

Alright, another point for Blake. He might be able to get used to her, emphasis on might. He gave another mumble of thanks and swiftly gathered his clothes before rushing to the bathroom, paying no mind to Yang's underdressed form.

This left Yang and Blake alone since Weiss had already gotten ready earlier and decided to take a brisk walk. A few minutes of silenced past between the two as Yang proceeded to dress herself, deciding to try and break the ice, "So, he seems to like you." She chirped from beside the other girl.

"Hm." A simple response. A little too simple for Yang's taste.

So she decided to continue, get the conversation ball truly rolling, "I mean, compared to everyone else. Seriously, it's amazing Grimm weren't swarming all over him back in the forest."

"Indeed." A little more of a response, an actual word, but it was hardly a conversation.

"Don't you wish he'd just lighten up a little?" Yang decided to ask a question this time, hoping to garner more from the second most closed off member of the team, "It's like the guys got a bone to pick with every lady he sees."

"Considering what he has to go through, I don't blame him for his attitude." Blake briefly turned towards Yang, almost glaring, "You shouldn't either."

Yang was caught off guard by that. "Hey, hold on," She couldn't finish her protest due to Weiss suddenly barging in, a sour expression on her face.

"I take it our... team leader, is not ready yet," she almost spat out the word like poison. She figured that a confrontational ruffian like him would prove less than satisfactory in his timing but still couldn't help let her contempt show, "Typical, spoiled male. Can't even wake up at a satisfactory time."

Yang held up her hands in a placating manner, "Easy there partner, we've got a little less than an hour. He'll be ready soon, I'm sure," then she muttered in a slightly more annoyed tone, "No need to be so harsh."

Blake kept her face towards the book so neither noticed the roll of her eyes. They barely heard her mutter, "Says the typical Schnee."

"I beg your pardon?" Weiss folded her arms and gave Blake a questioning look, bordering on a glare. She definitely heard her family name being spoken with that familiar bitter tone, just like her father's.

Blake chose to say nothing else. Both out of spite and caution as she didn't care to acknowledge the heiress nor endure the headache of her ire. She found Weiss rather annoying to listen to.

"Whatever." Weiss scoffed, deciding that whatever Blake said wasn't worth her notice. Why did she care about another person insulting her family name?

'She wouldn't be the first or the last.' Weiss thought to herself.

After that short and unpleasant exchange, the group waited in silence for Jaune to ready himself for the morning, no one saying a word and letting the stifling air remain. Yang internally groaned at the atmosphere, the thick fog of utter dislike permeating through their room, especially from the special boy and Weiss-cream. When Jaune was ready and the team ventured out to the mess hall for breakfast, Yang had to restrain herself from sprinting down the halls in order to separate from her group.

The very first thing she did was locate Ruby and release a breath she didn't even know she was holding before retrieving her breakfast. Then an idea hit her: the group didn't get along too well by themselves but with Ruby and her team...

'Hey, buddies," Yang moved towards the center of her team, getting between her partner and the broody duo, "What do ya say we sit over there?" She pointed to a table where team RNNR was seated, her little sister and the redhead in pink enthusiastically waving them to come over.

Blake shrugged, Weiss huffed, and Jaune said, "Pass."

Yang rolled her eyes at her team's responses, "You guys plan on sitting somewhere else?" she asked before she looked to Jaune, "And you really don't need to be by yourself."

"I can handle myself." Jaune replied coldly, narrowing his eyes at his fellow blonde. He felt it should've been plainly obvious by this point he didn't fear any of his peers. He wouldn't be bullied nor would he be coddled.

"I'm speaking practically here, Mr. Independent," The busty blond clarified with sass, unimpressed by his little display yet again, "You don't want wanna deal with another headache from CRDL do you? Or deal with anymore girls, right?"

In response to that, Jaune's glare lightened and with a grunt, his eyes darting away. A clear sign that he acknowledged that Yang was correct.

She gave him a smug grin, much to his distaste, and then she turned to the heiress, "How about you, do you have anywhere else you'd rather sit?"

Weiss scoffed but made no further comment, proving Yang correct, "Then let's go."

She didn't bother turning to Blake. She didn't seem to be bothered by team RNNR in the slightest since they mostly let her read in peace and thus, Blake had no problem sitting with them. That's what Yang believed at least seeing as how Blake made no protests.

In truth, it was her opinion that the less people she socialized with people, the better.

With reluctance on Jaune and Weiss' part, apathy from Blake, and Giddiness from Yang, team ABYS took its place next to team RNNR on the lunch table. Yang sat next to her little sister of course, Blake next to Lie Rin and Jaune next to Blake, and Weiss begrudgingly next to Yang. He hoped little attention would be given to him and -

"Hey Jaune," dammit, never mind. Ruby began to speak to him and several sets of eyes followed. "so how was your first day?" she asked eagerly.

"Decent." He gruffly answered, choosing to ignore a quiet scoff from Weiss. His sentiments were shared.

"Just decent?" She continued and he nodded, "Aw, I was hoping for more than that."

"Same." Chirped Nora, "As a team leader of ABYS, you should be way more cheerful than that." she struck a pose with a hand on her hip and fist on her heart before she spoke with a more gruff tone which could be taken as anything but serious, "When all hope seems lost, we look towards the light beyond the abyss," she then gestured her arms to team ABYS and said, "Which is you guys, You're the light beyond the abyss, hence your name."

Said team looked at her with befuddled stares, Jaune even stopping halfway to take a bite from his pancakes before he blurted out his thpughts, "What? Is that your actual take away from our team name?"

With a bright grin, she said, "Of course!"

"She's an optimist," Rin piped up in a stoic manner.

"Right," Jaune said slowly, not voicing his thoughts on correcting Rin's term with idiotic. At the very least, the grimm probably kept far away from her. She could probably scare away a Nuckelavee with her attitude.

"Ain't nothing wrong with a little positivity. It's how you keep the team spirits up." Yang's "subtle" barb to the rest of the team wasn't easy to miss. Jaune rolled his eyes.

"Indeed. Some people should learn to grasp it." Weiss' subtle comment really wasn't easy to miss, especially with the way her eyes went to Jaune at the end.

That he couldn't ignore and decided to toss a barb of his own, "Totally agreed. It'd be easier with less annoying snowflakes in the world."

Weiss's nose crinkled in distaste.

"So how are you, Blake." Pyrrha decided to blurt out the second question on her mind in hopes of elevating the tension that was choking the life out of her. Had Ruby not been first, she would have tried to ask Jaune, but now there was no way she was putting her hand in that bear trap. No matter how gloomy the poor guy seemed.

"Fine as always." She replied in a dull fashion, eyes glued to her reading material. "You?"

Everyone, including the feuding duo albeit reluctantly, turned to the crimson head. Her face was quickly becoming the same shade as her hair with all eyes on her, "I too am fine as well. I like my team. Very enthusiastic." She said quite nervously.

Team RNNR and Yang smiled at that while Blake kept her eyes on her book. Weiss and Jaune both grunted, sparring quick and hateful glances towards each other. They definitely wouldn't be saying the same to each other anytime soon.

"Hey, stop it!" Everyone turned to the sound of an accented cry which was followed by the sound of laughter. Surrounding a particular brown haired rabbit faunus were team CRDL, Cressida and Sky pulling on both her ears and laughing there asses off with Russet and Dove beside them, also cackling with glee over the faunus' torture. Soon a chorus of laughter was beginning to echo off through the lunch room with only a few people, mostly faunus, turning away in disgust. Most of the table sat glaring at the scene, with only Jaune and Weiss ignoring it for the most part.

For a second, Jaune contemplated helping the girl. On one hand, he didn't particularly care about any faunus, let alone a female one, but, on the other hand, he did hate Team CRDL, and a chance to beat them up was always welcome. And maybe he did have some respect Velvet... but certainly not enough to get involved, this was her problem after all, she should defend herself as a huntress in training. Besides, helping her would no doubt start an entire shitstorm he had no desire to be in the middle of, rumors, ridicule, and all. Before any of his teammates could act, the rabbit girl retaliated.

"Knock it off!" Velvet yelled, slapping the bullies' hands away in her fit of agitation. Everyone went silent.

That didn't go over well with Cressida. She grabbed Velvet tightly by the scruff of her uniform and sneered, "You trying to start something, you little bitch!?"

"Enough." The single utterance could be heard from across the cafeteria, causing the human bullies to turn their attention to the speaker. "Put her down and walk away." Jaune commanded as he rose from his seat. His mind briefly said to hell with what the rest of the vultures thought after this. This foolish little spectacle would not go on. Jaune's hands folded across his chest, "Let it go Cressida, all you're doing is making an ass of yourself."

Everyone was shocked at his outburst, none more so than his own team. A light smile tugged at Blake and Yang's lips until they heard Cressida begin to cackle in a nearly maniacal way, "Holy shit! This is too precious!"

She continued to laugh with her team soon joining her, Russet being the last one to join in albeit it with less noticeable glee, not that Jaune differentiated her laugh from her teams, "Freaks and weaklings coming together! Haha, don't like the way I'm handling your pet Jaune!?" She laughed harder before turning to said pet which she dropped after her laughing fit, "And you! Having a man defend you!? That's so pathetic!" After that, the lunchroom was bursting with condescending laughter yet again.

Jaune wanted to roast almost everyone in the room. He hated their laughter. He hated their stupidity. He hated all of them.

*CRACK*

A ball of light appeared above the table RNNR and ABYS sat on, blowing away the plates and cutlery. People flinched, and everyone turned to Jaune, many swearing they saw electricity flow through Jaune's hair which seemed to be more spikey and flowing.

He spoke again, "If you don't walk away, you're all going to be sent to the infirmary."

His voice held an eerie calm to it, an utter certainty and belief in his threat. Cressida felt a shiver go up her spine though she refused to show it and glared right back at Jaune. She wouldn't back down, not to this male, this lesser being, it was her right to bully the weak, the inferior.

She walked towards him, her teammates close behind, and he met her halfway before they got in each other's faces, "You don't scare me." She hissed, ignoring the tingling sensation she felt on her hair being so close to the target of her ire.

"I don't have to, I'll break you," He hissed right back. Everyone waited with bated breath for action to follow suit.

Many who had been spurned by his bad attitude were ready to see Cressida slaughter this man and put him in his place while others were just excited to see a hopefully promising fight for the sheer entertainment.

"Children!" Another unexpected interruption came in the form of a teacher, namely Glynda Goodwitch, who looked none too pleased and held her wand like a ruler some matron would use for discipline. Of course, her wand was much more frightening. "I do not know what is going on here but I will remind you all that your classes are about to commence soon. Hurry up and finish your breakfast! Am I understood!?"

Everyone simultaneously responded, "YES MISS GOODWITCH!"

"Excellent!" Her stern gaze turned to Jaune and Cressida, the former impassive while the latter flinched, "Mr. Arc and Ms. Winchester, return to your seats!"

Neither moved for a moment before they went back to their seats to finish their meals. Cressida spared Jaune one last heated glance that intensified as she noticed him ignore her right after, 'this isn't over, man.'

Jaune went back to eating without a word, "You're a good man." Another surprise at the table, a compliment from none other than Blake though she didn't take her eyes from her book.

Jaune looked up and saw most of the group giving him approving gestures and expressions, Ruby and Nora with wide smiles, Yang giving him two thumbs up and a grin, Pyrrha gently smiling, and Rin nodding. Weiss said nothing though she stopped glaring at him even when her eyes momentarily looked towards him. Jaune snorted dismissively and returned his attention to his breakfast.

'No I'm not, Blake... that was just another form of my selfishness.'

History class with professor Oobleck. Today, they began to learn of the history of Remnant's races and what led to their "coexistence". Human men could have it rough and so did female faunus. Goddess forbid someone be born as a male faunus, for there was no worse luck.

History gave Jaune insight into the ways of people, mostly giving him more reasons to loathe them.

"... Now can anyone tell me the advantage the faunus had over General Lagune in the battle of Fort Castle?" Oobleck asked as she sped around the classroom in a green blur, nearly a year at Beacon and he could not, for the life of him, find out what unholy concoction existed in that infernal thermos of hers. However, he and Qrow both agreed that is was most likely illegal in Atlas, and probably originated in Vacuo.

The class had spent some time talking about the faunus wars several decades ago and it had turned into Oobleck diving into the controversial topic of race and the White Fang group. She had asked for a show of hands of how many faunus students had been discriminated against in their lives and unfortunately every faunus in the room raised their hands.

Jaune liked to think Oobleck and the rest at the school were above such racist tendencies but it was obvious that people such as Cressida were not. When Jaune caught her ugly sneer towards a few of the faunus students near her, he felt the urge to "accidentally" short out the lights above the big thug.

Despite not caring about a person's race, faunus rights hadn't really mattered to him either way as there were only female and male really. The oppressors and the oppressed, no matter what Faunus propaganda might say. Too much time spent crying over themselves, yet not a single thought spared for all the men under the boot of their female overlords. He found it wildly hypocritical.

"The faunus could see in the dark due to their enhanced vision; Lagune knew this but still decided to attack at night." Blake piped up, he could still see Cressida glare at the girl but she continued. "In the end, her massive forces were routed because they couldn't see and Fort Castle remained under faunus control."

"Hmm, quite!" Oobleck said between another sip of her drink. "Would anyone else like to add anything? Miss Winchester?"

Cressida scoffed but still answered. "I know that it's easier to train an animal than a human." A round of snickers came with her little "joke".

Jaune couldn't help but leer at her voice even as Yang and Blake scowled. "You talking from experience, you albino gorilla?" Jaune asked angrily, Cressida stood up abruptly looking to fight the young man.

"Miss Winchester, please sit down." Oobleck said tiredly, she then added on when she saw her secretly-favorite pupil smile at the girl's misfortune. Favorite student or not, she wouldn't show favoritism. "And you Mister Arc, don't cause disruptions during class."

Jaune stopped smiling and returned his attention to his book and Cressida, though growling to herself like a pissed off Ursa, sat down as well. Jaune could feel the daggers she was glaring into his head but ignored it; as far as he was concerned, he had won this round.

"Juveniles." He heard Weiss mutter alongside Yang's soft snickering. Snowflake was most likely referring to all three of them. Jaune didn't care, juvenile or not, he wouldn't take Cressida's bullshit lying down.

The bell rang and people were nearly rushing off to the next location. Combat class was next. But there was some distance between the arena and Oobleck's class which gave a team some time to talk.

"You need to stop egging her on." Weiss hissed out from Jaune's right side. She found his confrontation with the Winchester girl unnecessary and Jaune figured she was going to put more of the heat on him. "Start acting like you have some class."

Jaune didn't bother turning to face her as he sarcastically retorted with, "What, should I nod my head and take it with a smile?"

"I don't think that's what she means." Yang chirped out from his other side, once again inserting herself into the conversation as to make sure it didn't get too heated.

"Though that is what he should do." Weiss muttered to Jaune's irritation.

The young man growled, "You got something to say, speak up."

Yang responded quickly as to keep up damage control, "Just ignore her when she says stuff. Words don't mean jack shit." She said sagely.

"You'd think that," Blake decided to pipe up, directly behind Jaune, "But words can carry a lot of weight."

"What Blake said," Jaune drawled, giving her a nod. Words inflicted the type of hurt you can't simply bandage up, which made them all the more important to defend against. Yang didn't have to deal with the bullshit he did, all those scrutinizing looks and whispers. Defending Velvet this morning certainly didn't help.

"Faunus loving freak." A girl growled out, throwing Jaune a quick and distasteful glance.

"How could a male so good looking be so unclean." One whispered to her group.

"His parents must be so disappointed." One girl cackled.

All those little wretches whispering and mocking him. Some didn't even bother hiding it, saying insults aloud and proud. Blake placed a hand in front of Jaune when he started towards them as Yang flipped them off, "Ignore them, dude. They're a bunch of petty little runts."

"She says as if I don't already know that." Jaune mumbled as he went back on course to the next class, his pace increasing with his team only momentarily lagging behind.

Weiss made a low growl in irritation directed at both Jaune and those other students, "If they bother you that much then don't make your presence so well known by being so outspoken."

Jaune stopped before he slowly turned to face her. They locked eyes, practically boring holes into each other with their gazes. Jaune spoke with venom in his tone, "Not everyone can just sit back like a little plastic doll."

He turned around and hastily walked into the arena. Glynda's classroom. One of the many places his combat skills were forged and honed by his teachers, especially Qrow and the teacher of this very room themselves.

He needed to beat someone within an inch of their aura to get his ever rising anger out of his system, a volcano waiting to go off and rain down the impending death to those below. He hoped for either Weiss or someone CRDL would be his selected opponent.

"Oh my, they actually let you in here with us!?" Cressida hollored.

Cressida, he decided, he wanted Cressida.