Chapter four: Leaving the nest

Jasmine didn't know how she'd ended up here.

She was in a small room, her brother and Julie sitting a few feet away on a nearby bed. Julie was asleep, leaning against his arm as he was typing on his scroll. She remembered leaving the hospital. She remembered taking her father's arm and guiding him away towards the town. She remembered comforting him as he did the same for her. She remembered the two of them getting absolutely plastered… then what? What had happened after her third drink? She didn't remember. She wasn't sure she wanted to remember. All she knew was that Jaune was walking over to her, Julie was sleeping, and her head wanted to kill her.

"Are you awake?" he asked, his voice a whisper as his hands lay on her forehead. Jasmine nodded a few times, groaning as she sat up. Everything hurt, not just her head. How many drinks had she had? What had she done while she was drunk anyway? Jaune reached over, gently pushing the hungover Jasmine back down. He leaned in, almost unconsciously planting a kiss on her forehead. The second he did, Jasmine felt her mind slipping away. She felt her muscles relax, her pounding headache all but gone as she felt a wave of tiredness and calm wash over her. She shut her eyes almost on reflex, her breathing evening out. Yet she wasn't asleep. She could hear everything Jaune was doing, every word he was saying.

"Hello? Qrow?" Jaune asked, speaking into his scroll. He heard what sounded like some liquid (likely alcohol) splashing against something, a bottle breaking, before at long last something roughly grabbed the scroll and belched into it. "Who the hell is this?" he asked, his voice slurred and harsh. Jaune was suddenly glad he'd waited on Julie to fall asleep before making the call. "It's me, Jaune Arc? You told me to call this number yesterday afternoon." he said. He could hear the muttering, and could picture the look on the drunkard's face as the gears started turning in his mind… if he had much of a mind left after all the alcohol that is.

"Oh uh… Jaune? Oh right, Mother of Lost's-" he belched again, "Champion. Where are ya? I'm supposed to… supposed to… what was it again!?" he asked, seemingly leaning away from the scroll to yell at someone else. It seemed the two people on the other end (Qrow and this mystery person) had the span of a full conversation while Jaune was waiting for Qrow to tell him what to do. When he finally returned, Jaune was two seconds from just ending the call and going to bed. Given it was two in the morning, he'd very much like too. "Right right, thanks Oz. Sorry about that. Anyway, boss says he'll be coming to see you personally in the morning, at the train station. Just look for the old, gray-haired guy with the cane. Can't miss him." he said. Jaune would've asked more but… that was when Qrow decided to end the call before unceremoniously passing out in the bar he was currently at.

Jaune sighed, setting his scroll away. He leaned back, hearing his back popping, muscles tensing and untensing as he stretched. He was wide awake, but at the same time exhausted as can be. His body was refreshed and ready, but his mind drug along like it was in the drunken stupor his sister was in (though hopefully with more clothes on). He walked to Julie, effortlessly sliding into bed beside the freezing cold girl and letting his eyes fall shut. He felt her arms wrap around him, her face nuzzling against his arm as she clung to him. He pulled her closer, a smile on his face as he cracked his eyes open, wrapping his arm around her back. He felt his own body warming up in response to the cold on his skin, his flesh growing warmer as he leaned back.

"We could very well be walking into a trap, Jaune." he heard Mother of Lost say in his head. He felt his smile shift into a frown as he slowly opened his eyes. The room he was in just a moment ago had faded away, replaced instead by the large, cylindrical room he'd first found Mother of Lost in. He was standing up now, Julie nowhere to be found. There was Mother of Lost herself standing there, easily twice his height. She looked just the same, having not changed her appearance in the last ten thousand years or so. He nodded, "What choice do we have? Besides, I have you, Khione, and Jasmine with me. We'll be fine." he said, giving her a reassuring smile.

She smiled right back, skidding across the floor and wrapping her arms around him. He didn't hesitate to reciprocate the gesture, burying his face in her shoulder as she lifted him up. "It doesn't help me from worrying about you Jaune. Promise me you'll be careful?" she said, frowning down at him. At that moment, Jaune could feel a stab of pain in his heart. He could hear echoes of his own mother's voice reverberating through hers. He could feel the love and care of a mother, one that hit a bit too close to home for him to ignore. He let a few tears slip down his cheeks as he nodded, forcing a smile up at her.

"I promise."

…

"Are you sure this is a good idea Jaune?"

Said Arc shook his head at Julie. He wasn't sure this was a good idea. In fact, he was almost certain this was a terrible idea, but what choice did they have? His father was so hungover he could hardly walk, his sister was just hungover enough that her combat effectiveness would be down to almost nothing, and the only other sibling of his that could help them (that being Saffron) was at the hospital tending to his catatonic siblings. He looked up, holding Julie close to him as he saw the train pulling into the station. He was wrapped up in a thin coat, fresh jeans replacing his bloody pants from before. His hoodie beneath among his favorites (that being a Pumpkin Pete's one he'd gotten from sending in box-tops).

As the crowd began flowing from the train, the noise washed over Jaune and Julie like a river. The two stood motionless rocks, silent against the overflow of noise and voices. A snapshot of shouting here, lovers reuniting there. Stories were everywhere at the station, but only one did Jaune and Julie care for: Their own. As the rest of the crowd slowly dispersed over the span of twenty minutes, Jaune easily figured out who he was looking for. Even if Qrow hadn't given him the 'gray-haired guy with a cane' hint, it wouldn't have been hard to figure out. Compared to all the young huntsmen and tourists that came pouring out of the train, the older man stuck out like a sore thumb. Not to mention the fact he was the last one off the train, casually leaning on his cane and against a pole.

The second his eyes met Jaune's, he started walking over to him. Jaune reached down, gently gripping Julie's hand as he forced a smile. The older man walked over, his own face set in a disarmingly neutral smile. "You're Jaune Arc, I presume?" he asked, voice thick with something Jaune didn't want to identify. Jaune held back his flinch from the man's intuition. Had Qrow told him what to expect? Or was he just as obvious as the older man was? He nodded, "That's my name." He hesitated to commit much more than that, eyes still looking around, Mother of Lost influencing him to search for any unknowable horrors the old man may have intentionally or unintentionally led right to them.

The man held out his hand, "Well Jaune Arc, I'm professor Ozpin, of Beacon Academy. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Jaune shook his hand without hesitation. Something about the man both set him on edge and -at the same time- put him at ease. It was so strange, almost like mixing the powers of Ragnarok and Mother of Lost into a single being. They shouldn't have worked but, somehow they just did. Ozpin got on one knee a moment later, holding out his hand to Julie. "Now, I don't believe I know who you are. What's your name, little girl?" he asked, his voice and smile distinctly reminding Jaune of his now late grandfather. Julie slowly held out her hand. If Ozpin's strange vibe set Jaune on edge, it almost petrified Julie. The little girl's motions were robotic as she shook his hand, gripping to Jaune's leg almost the second he let go.

Ozpin stood, a few inches taller than the Arc himself. He looked around for a moment, fingers tight on his cane as he pushed up his glasses. After a few moments, he finally turned back, giving Jaune a smile. "Let's head somewhere more private to talk. Fewer ears that could be listening in." he said, eyes flickering to a nearby man seemingly asleep on a bench. Jaune nodded, following Ozpin as he led them off the train station platform, heading deeper into the town. They walked through the busy marketplace, some men over on one corner shouting at one another over the price of beef while on another a street-brawl was happening. Ozpin ignored them all, briskly walking into a small bar near the edge of town. If Jaune was right, it was the same one his sister and father had gotten hammered in last night.

He walked to a table right next to the rear exit, pulling two chairs out for them. Jaune sat down, but Julie just sat in his lap, reaching over and gently sliding the other chair back. Ozpin only chuckled at the display, sitting down across from them. He felt Julie scrunch up on his lap, her head buried into his shoulder as she leaned down. "Bit of a clingy girl isn't she? Or, perhaps that's because what happened… my condolences, Mr. Arc. June-" Jaune had to resist from shouting at him, as if there was something so wrong with Ozpin saying his mother's first name. "-was one of my best students. A shame what happened to her… but I suppose an old man's kind words won't ease the pain, will it?" he said, frowning at the two. Jaune could feel Julie's hands gripping tighter, teeth on edge as he heard the little tinks of frozen tears. She was angry about something, hell so was he. He just couldn't understand what. Why was he mad? What about the old man was pissing him off so much!?

"Regardless… let me talk with her, Jaune. Take a breather, as it were." he said, his eyes boring into Jaune's… right into Mother of Lost. Jaune shut those eyes for a moment, leaning back, relaxing a bit as he fell into that familiar state of observance, eyes flashing green as Mother of Lost took over. "What could you possibly want with my children?" she asked, her voice her own despite the body she shared. Julie looked up, raising an eyebrow as she saw a drunk patron… watching them. He was just… watching them. He wasn't moving an inch, it barely looked like he was breathing. Sunglasses shrouded his eyes, but Julie could still feel the crawling on her spine, under her skin, the way the man's eyes trailed along the two of them.

"I want to protect you, Diana. To keep you and Khione safe from Ragnarok. You know as well as I do what will happen if he destroys young Jaune…" he said… then Ozpin's eyes, at last, turned to Julie. He saw the girl's unflinching stare, traced her eyes to the fallen man. He held up a finger, slowly standing up and walking towards the only other patron in the bar. The bartender looked over, raising an eyebrow at Ozpin. He knew the man, of course, he'd known Ozpin since before he'd became headmaster -before he'd been a huntsman even. Yet now… something was off. He only ever stood like that if… silently, the bartender reached for the shotgun beneath the counter

"Sir? Are you awake?" Ozpin asked, slowly lifting his cane in front of the man's face. The man didn't move, but Julie could feel his eyes getting wider. The man was nervous now, even more so when Jaune turned around, looking over at the two. Ozpin leaned over, gently plucking the sunglasses from the man's face.

"Damnation…" the bartender whispered.

"Uh oh…" Julie muttered.

"What the hell?" Jaune thought.

"As I thought…" Ozpin said. What they were all wondering and swearing at, of course, was the drunk man. More specifically, his eyes. Black, bulbous pits sat where eyes may have once been, dark orbs gazing out at the four observers. Knowing he was caught, the drunk leapt up, dashing for the exit. Ozpin was faster, his cane slamming into the man's stomach before a leg swept his feet from beneath him. The bartender sprang into action, leaping over the bar and aiming his shotgun at the man's head. He would've pulled the trigger had the drunk not sprung away. He bounced against the doors, a green barrier keeping him in. Black pits gazed over, narrowing on the outstretched hand of Jaune, the green of the barrier matching his eyes.

An inhuman screech flew from the man's lips as he leapt at Jaune. The bartender tried to help, firing a shot into the man. He blew open his side, his intestines, stomach, and other internal organs flying out. Yet he pushed on, even as his body began falling apart, the force behind the man's eyes sent him into an unstoppable frenzy. Time slowed as Jaune stepped back, Ozpin dashing towards him. The bartender had fired another round, but it would hit it's target far too late to stop it -if a simple shotgun even could stop it. The creature was fast, but Khione was faster. Julie's eyes were icy blue crystals in an instant. Then, it got cold.

So.

Very.

Cold.

The beast stopped in its tracks, falling over, frozen in place. Time seemed to return. Julie's eyes were back to normal. She fell against Jaune, sleeping. The bullet crashed against the frozen figure. Jaune looked down, eyes wide at the makeshift ice-sculpture. His mind struggled to register what had just happened, his mind couldn't comprehend it. To Ozpin and Mother of Lost, however, what happened was very clear. Khione had taken over, she had dropped the temperature around them so quickly the man's exposed blood and organs had frozen, all the water in his body held stiff. Jaune had felt the burn, the burn of the beginning stages of frostbite. His aura had protected him, but it could only do so much against the great cold. Khione had returned to dormancy, but that single act was all it took to drain Julie of her energy.

That was how fast Patrons could move. Blink, and you miss it.

Ozpin's heart slowed as he stood, looking at the two. In just a span of thirty seconds, everything had come unraveled. The Shroud beings that searched for Khione would know now. Perhaps not today. Perhaps not tomorrow, but they would know. Only two being's of the Shroud could cause death the way she just had, and one of them was imprisoned in the heart of a volcano. Jaune lifted Julie over his shoulder, turning back to Ozpin and the bartender. The man holding the smoking gun aimed it at the frozen corpse. "Should I shoot, Oz?" he asked, looking at the younger (not by that much) man. Ozpin merely shook his head, walking over and casually slamming his cane on the figures head.

Nothing but shards remain. Little bits of ice torn to pieces. Khione hadn't taken any chances. She hadn't just frozen the man's heart and blood, but his entire body. Ozpin knew that. Ozpin knew what Khione had done, and he knew that the man was dead. Though there was never any harm in being certain, was there? He turned to Jaune and the sleeping Julie, "A watcher. They know you're in Mistral, Diana, or at least they know Khione is. They'll come for you. More powerful beasts will breach the veil to get you now that they know you're here." he said. Jaune looked at Julie, his eyes flashing green as Julie slumbered on. He looked back up, watching as Ozpin sat down next to him, laying his hand over his own. "Come with me, to Beacon. They won't be able to sense you within Beacon's walls, you can train your powers in peace. Please, Diana." he pleaded, holding out his hand.

Jaune took it. He didn't trust Ozpin, but Mother of Lost's memories told him he was right. He could be trusted… about this, at least. Ozpin let out a sigh of relief, tossing a few cards of lien at the bartender to cover the damage the watcher and himself had caused. The bartender gave a curt nod, setting his shotgun behind the bar, exchanging it for a broom. Sadly not the weirdest thing to happen in his bar… maybe it was time to consider retirement. Ozpin dashed out the door, Jaune just barely keeping up with him as he cradled Julie in his arms. The three departed the bar in seconds, dashing back through town towards the hotel Jasmine and Jonathan were both sleeping off their hangovers in (or so Jaune thought, at least). As they entered the lobby, Ozpin quickly reached into his coat, throwing what looked to be a small card on the ground. It was a simple, blank piece of paper, one that flashed blue twice when Ozpin laid it down.

He picked it up, shoving it back in his coat with a curt nod before gesturing to Jaune. Jaune wasn't sure why… then he remembered that he was the one staying at the hotel, and the professor likely had no idea what room he was staying in. He took the lead, heading for the staircase. Eyes gazed side to side, flicking at anyone that even looked remotely suspicious. A random faunus? A baby pushed in a stroller? A little kid roaming around? Each got that look… though, Mother of Lost softened it a bit when gazing at the baby and the kid. He had to resist the urge to ask the child what they were doing. Instead, he pushed on to the stairwell, walking up the two floors he needed to before moving back into the hallway.

He felt Ozpin lay a hand on his shoulder, tossing that same, blank card on the ground again. Again, it flashed blue twice. Again, he picked it back up and nodded to Jaune. Jaune turned -more than a little suspicious- before opening the door to his room. He saw Jasmine still lying there, sleeping off her hangover. He saw his father had finally arrived as well, laying back on the floor with a beer bottle in his hand. Jaune frowned at the sight, Ozpin shutting and locking the door behind them before finally noticing. "Jonathan… here I'd thought you'd given up the bottle." he muttered. Jaune raised an eyebrow… had his father been a drunkard before? His mother did complain when her father would go on missions alone… was he a recovering alcoholic that had just managed to hide it all these years?

Jaune turned to Ozpin, tearing his eyes and thoughts from his father to the question he'd wanted to ask. "What's with that paper card you keep throwing down anyway?" he asked. Ozpin turned, seemingly just realizing that Jaune was talking to him. He ran a hand back through his hair, pulling out said card and tossing it to the ground. Again, it flashed blue twice. "Detection. Every flash is a creature of The Shroud. The color is what kind. Blue are friendly to humans, gray are docile, and red are hostile." he said, picking it up and shoving it in his coat once again. Jaune nodded… made sense. If there were deadly beings coming to kill you you'd probably want to know it wouldn't you?

Ozpin walked to the center of the room, turning around and facing the two Champions. "If the two of you want to come to Beacon, gather your things and meet me at the train station in three hours. I'll explain things to the rest of your family, don't worry." he said, smiling at them. Then… he just walked away. Right out the door and down the hall to the exit. Jaune turned to face Julie, the two of them frowning as they turned to face the sleeping Arc's. Jaune walked to his father, planting a small kiss on his forehead. Julie copied him, doing the same to the adopted father she'd known only a few years. She struggled not to gag on the scent he was emitting. Neither knew the truth. Neither knew how much they should've savored it.

They didn't know it was the last time they'd ever meet face-to-face.

Next, the two walked to Jasmine. The girl Julie had met for only a day. A day of disaster, tragedy, revelations, and death. Yet still, she could feel nothing for the girl but empathy. Julie had known June Arc. She had been raised by her when Jaune wasn't the one doing it, and she'd been a good mother by every standard she could imagine. What she couldn't imagine was how it felt for her. Her mother, who she'd known all her life, such a strong figure and no doubt role model -gone. Vanished like a vapor. She planted a kiss on Jasmine's cheek, a little blue imprint on her skin for a few seconds before heating back up. To Julie, it was saying goodbye to a new friend. Someone she'd wished she'd known more.

To Jaune? It was losing his mother all over again.

Better, of course, since he knew she'd still be alive but… he couldn't shake that feeling. The feeling that when he saw Jasmine again, nothing would be the same. That special spark that the two had when he'd shared his secret of being a champion with her? When the two had done so much together, even before that day? How he'd always looked up to her, and how he'd always gone along with her almost no matter what? That wouldn't be there. The spark would fade and die without the two of them together -of that he was near certain. It was as if he'd given Jasmine a part of him, and he'd never be the same if he left her behind. He'd known this day would come of course. When she left home -when he left home…

"Time… I want time… I don't have it."

It was funny -in a sick, twisted, cruel sort of way. Just a few days ago he was counting the hours until Jasmine came back, wishing for it to come faster so he could see her again. Before that, he was wishing for time to speed up so he could get through his tests at school. All his life it seemed as though he wanted to speed things up. Wanted to grow up, wanted to become a huntsman, wanted to help people in ways a 14-year-old couldn't. He'd wanted time to go faster… now he'd give anything to turn it back. To savor those years with his mother more, to savor the time he had with his sister. He felt a few tears sliding down his face as he leaned in, wrapping his arms around Jasmine, nuzzling against her shoulder.

He nearly yelped when he felt her wrap her arms around him. He pulled away, seeing Jasmine's face a few inches from his own. "You're leaving, aren't you?" she'd heard everything. Everything Ozpin had said, she'd heard. Everything they'd done since they walked in the room, she'd heard. In some part of his mind, Jaune had probably figured that out too. He nodded a few times, tears falling a bit, "Yes." his voice was shaky, cracking, just a few seconds from tears. Jasmine pulled him back into a hug, pulling as tight as she did when their mother died. She felt a few tears slip down her own face as she spoke. "I can't get you to stay, can I?" she asked.

"No." it was all Jaune could do to keep his voice steady. It wasn't so much he was sad to leave. It was fear. Fear of Jasmine dying when he wasn't there, fear of something else horrible happening when he was away. He didn't want Ragnarok to come after his family, but he couldn't keep an eye on them and keep Ragnarok away, could he? He wasn't strong enough, even with his blade that inexplicably terrified Shroud dwellers. Jasmine pulled back, hands holding Jaune's shoulders. Both blue-eyed Arc's were tearing up as Jasmine spoke. "Then promise me you'll be safe. That you… that you, won't… that you'll live." she shook the fear from her voice, eyes hardening.

"I promise." Jaune said, voice a high whisper. Suddenly he was a little kid again, gazing at Jasmine as he swore not to tell anyone her crush. He was that little kid playing house with her when none of her sisters' would. He was making the stupid joke to make her laugh when she broke up with the boy from earlier. He was healing her with Mother of Lost powers, he was calming her down in the middle of a fit, he saw every good moment he'd ever spent with her suddenly go through his head. "I love you." he said, tears running free. Jasmine leaned in, pressing her lips against his forehead. The two embraced again, Jaune struggling to hold back his sobbing, hiccuping into her shoulder. Jasmine let her tears flow over Jaune's shoulder, a small smile on her face. "I love you too… here," she placed a small book in his palm, "mom… she wanted you to have that when you were old enough. Read it on the way to Beacon, okay?" she said, still smiling at him. Jaune smiled back,

"I will."

…

"Ready to go?"

Jaune and Julie looked up at Ozpin. The man (along with Qrow) were both in the train, holding the doors open. The two walked in, unreadable expressions on their faces as they sat down across from the two older men, setting their suitcases beneath the seats. Jaune reached into his pocket as the train started moving, pulling out the little book. He opened to the first page, eyes widening a bit as he saw his mother's handwriting. He'd know it anywhere, that god-awful handwriting of hers that may as well have been a different language. He started reading, eyes tearing up as he did so. He could almost feel the warm touch on his shoulder, sense the smile at him as he started reading. It wasn't until the near the last one that he started to cry in earnest. It read:

"Dear Jaune,

To think it's been ten years since you and Ora were born. I'm starting to feel like an old woman now you know. Saffron's actually talking about marrying (NO! MY BABY IS TOO YOUNG!) and Jasmine's already wanting to go off to Haven. Time flies -something you'll understand someday. I decided to write today because you told me your dream: To be a huntsman. I guess I shouldn't be surprised -you ARE your father's son- but I can't help but be afraid. I don't want any of my baby's getting hurt, ESPECIALLY out fighting grimm! I know I'm hard on you, and at this point, you're probably asking why. Why why why is mommy so strict with me and not Indigo? It's not just because she's younger Jaune, but because there's this SPARK in you.

I've seen it so much. When you play, when you talk, when you play with your baby sisters. You may not believe me when you read this, but I know you're going to grow up and do great things. Change the world. You'll be the greatest huntsman in the world, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Stand up for what you believe in Jaune, and stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves. You do that, and you'll be an even better huntsman than me. Better than your father, better than ANYONE! Even if I can't always be right by your side when you're out saving the world, know that I'll always be watching, protecting you any way I can. Just remember that no matter how hard on you I get, how difficult things seem, that Mommy always loves you.

Indigo's calling, I better go. Be good my little huntsman!"