Entry 7: Vigil

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"Jaune?"

"Weiss. How are you?"

"I'm… quite fine, thank you for asking. About that… I'm given to understand that it was you that convinced Neptune to change his mind about dancing with me the other night."

"Oh, he told you? Eh, don't worry about it. Guy just needed someone to help straighten out his priorities."

"Jaune… why did you do it?"

"What?"

"Why? Why help me? I've treated you with nothing but disdain ever since we met. Before that, even! Why, after all of that, would you go through the effort?"

"... I don't understand the question."

"What?"

"T-the question. I don't understand it."

"What is there in that query of which even… of which you could possibly be confused?"

"Well, I should have taken no for an answer the first time. I was probably super annoying, with all the stupid flirting. No, it went beyond annoying and into disrespectful. So everything you dished out, I had it coming. Probably more, even."

"Jaune… okay, so it was annoying, and you absolutely should have stopped after the first time I rejected you, but…"

"Eh. Don't worry about that. You just need to hit me real hard to get the point through."

"I'll bear that in mind for the future. It's just… with the two of us on such poor terms… Jaune, you could have had revenge. Watched the mean girl who kept rejecting you sit on the sidelines, alone and miserable with the same rejection she put you through."

"Isn't knowing how it feels to be rejected an even better reason to help someone going through the same thing?"

"... "

"Besides, why would I ever want to see you suffering? Sure, I would have been thrilled to take you to the dance, but would you really have been happy with a backup date that badgered you into going with him? Nah, making your night by checking Nep made you much happier, and that's more than enough for me."

"... I don't know what to say… thank you. "

" Like I said, it's nothing. Anyways, I gotta get to class. See you 'round, Weiss."

"S-sure. Good afternoon, Jaune."

"..."

"..."

"... Jaune… "

[/]

"Jaune."

"Weiss. How are you?"

"We're all just… doing the best we can, I suppose."

"Right."

"... "

"... Was there something you needed from me, Weiss?"

"You've become… much more reticent in our time apart, Jaune."

"... Goodnight, Weiss."

"Jaune, wait!"

"What is it?"

"I… I know what you've been doing out here. The late night training sessions with… Pyrrha."

"... "

"... Jaune?"

"... "

"Jaune, please say something?"

"What do you want me to say, Weiss? I screwed up. I screwed up bad. Pyrrha's dead, and it's my fault."

"How is it-"

"Because I cheated Beacon! I wanted to be some big damn hero, and because of that, Pyrrha wound up partnered with me. Not with someone like you, or Ruby, or… anyone would have been better than me!"

"That's -"

"I was weak, Weiss! Weak, foolish, a fraud, everything you ever said about me was absolutely right, and because of that, Pyrrha went to that tower alone! Remember the first time we met? You pointed out exactly how much greater than me she was, and you asked by what possible measure I could dream of being worthy as her partner. Well, guess what, you were right. As always. Must feel pretty damn good, huh?"

"... I...I…"

"... "

"..."

"... Weiss?"

"... Why would I ever want to see you suffer?"

"Ah hell, don't cry! I'm sorry, Weiss. I didn't… I didn't mean to -"

"You're not the only one hurting, you big… you overgrown dunce! How do you think the rest of us feel watching you torture yourself every night? We all miss Pyrrha, miss her so much it aches, but that doesn't mean that you tearing yourself to shreds is somehow going to make that any better! It just means that we're watching ourselves lose another friend!"

"..."

"..."

"... Did the punching help?"

"A little, yes."

[/]

"Jaune."

"Weiss. Is the wound acting up?"

"N-no! Quite the opposite, in fact. That healing maneuver was nothing short of miraculous. You should be very proud of yourself, Jaune."

"... Sure."

"Jaune Arc! Are you insinuating that I am somehow mistaken in my assessment of your abilities and their effects vis a vis the prevention of my sudden and untimely demise?"

"... I broke even at best."

"What?"

"It's my fault everything went as bad as it did. I rushed Cinder, didn't think, didn't plan. I just charged her out of pure, unthinking rage."

"Excuse me? My performance in battle, for good or ill, is my responsibility, Jaune Arc, not yours, not anyone else's, but mine. Had I not had my Aura depleted by dint of being summarily annihilated by a lowborn bandit, I would not have been so vulnerable to Cinder's attack."

"... I had her."

"Explain."

"Cinder. When Ruby did… whatever it was that Ruby did, it dropped Cinder. I had the perfect shot. The one-in-a-million shot. I went to gut her, but I couldn't make out that she had fallen to her knees. Instead of stabbing at her torso, I ended up just deflecting off the side of her mask. My one great shot, and I blew it. Because of that, she lived. Because of… "

"What is it?"

"It's nothing."

"..."

"..."

"...You can either tell me or continue to feel the wrath of my finger pokes, Jaune Arc."

"You do realize that the armor kinda takes the threat out of the finger chest pokes, right?"

"How much, precisely, are you willing to wager on that notion?"

"..."

"... "

"... Ow! How did you manage to do that?"

"You foolishly underestimated the dread Schnee Finger Poke. You continue to do so at your own peril."

"You know, if we could weaponize your finger pokes, we'd have Salem licked in a week."

"And now you're deflecting. Out with it."

"... It was something that I said to Cinder."

"...Well? I'm waiting."

"I… I told her that it doesn't matter if she killed me. If I died buying time for the rest of you… then it would be worth it. Because you're the ones that matter, not me."

"... Jaune…"

"Look, it's… she took that as a challenge, I guess. The point is, she tried to kill you as a way to hurt me. Me, some dumb failure with a deathwish that she didn't even remember. I don't know why. Nothing about her makes any sort of sense. It's just… cruelty for the sake of cruelty. I don't know what destiny has in store for you, Weiss. But I do know that you're meant for more than just… collateral damage in the sadistic games of a madwoman."

"I… Jaune, you matter too."

"Not from where I'm standing. I'm the weak link. Always have been. At least with this Semblance, I was able to keep you alive."

"Your life is more valuable than just buying time!"

"... Is it?"

"Jaune! Don't say that!"

"My Semblance makes you all stronger by using my own Aura. That's the reflection of my soul, Weiss. It's who I am on a fundamental level. I can tell you that, as I was watching you, helpless as you bled out… Weiss, you weren't breathing."

"..."

"If the only way my Semblance had worked would have been for me to take my sword and cut my own heart out to keep yours beating, I would have done it. Without a second thought."

"You listen here, Jaune Arc! You are not going to throw your life away on suicidal death charges! You are not going to sell your life so cheaply! And you are not going to lay down your life for mine!"

"Why?"

"...Because I value your life more highly than that. We all do. And we will not sit back and watch as your embark on a guilt-induced death march, do you hear me?"

"I don't know that we have much of a choice there, Weiss. Pushing my Semblance to the limits and leaving myself vulnerable might make the difference between life and death, or the success or failure of our entire mission."

"Promise me that you won't kill yourself that way."

"I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But I can't make a promise that I know I might not be able to keep. Goodnight, Weiss."

"..."

"..."

"... Jaune… I wish you could see how beautiful you are…"

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"Jaune Arc!"

"Hey, Weiss. How are you?"

"Don't you 'how are you' me, mister! Did you truly think I wouldn't notice you falling to the back of the group? Or the way you're favoring your side?"

"Are you training to be a medic or something?"

"I might as well be, if you're going to insist on taking wounds like that!"

"It's just some bruising. I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"Jaune, you were smashed into a boulder by an Atlesian War Machine that's bigger than most buildings."

"And because I was, Nora wasn't. As a nice bonus, I'm even up and kicking - yowch!"

"Look at that, the big brave Huntsman is on the floor because a ninety-pound girl poked his back."

"Seriously. Week, week and a half tops. Those finger pokes are the most dangerous weapons to come out of Atlas that we've seen so far."

"I'm the deadliest weapon to come out of Atlas, for the record."

"And so modest, too."

"Of all my qualities that caught your eye back at Beacon, Jaune Arc, I highly doubt that it was my humility."

"It's true."

"What?"

"I think it's because I have a thing for bossy - ow, sorry! - I mean, assertive women. A real take-charge kinda girl. Well, that and you're stunning. The brightest star in the night sky, shining brightly from the heavens. I look at you, and it's just kind of hard to believe you're even real sometimes. I mean, if someone told me that you were some otherworldly magical being, like a shard of the moon that turned into a girl, I'd believe it, no problem. It's like you belong up there, with the rest of the wonders."

"...I…"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to be inappropriate."

"I mean, you can -"

"No, no, it's okay Weiss. Let's just change the subject."

"..."

"...Weiss?"

"...You dunce…"

"Hey, I said I'm sorry. Anyway, this is my room for tonight. Nice of the General to comp the rooms at the Academy, huh?"

"..."

"...So...goodnight?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Jaune Arc! I still need to examine your injury to determine its extent."

"I'm fine!"

"Take off your armor and shirt. S-so I can see the injury."

"Well, yeah, why else would you want me to take them off?"

"..."

"...Uh, Weiss?"

"Yes?"

"I...kinda need a hand with the armor. I, uh, I can't seem to bend the right way to reach the bottom right latch."

"Oh, right. Let me just… here?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

"I might as well assist with the rest of the latches. No need for you to strain yourself if your injury is limiting your range of motion."

"Thanks, Weiss. But, shouldn't you be checking on Ruby? I mean, she got blasted out of a cannon today, after all."

"And she had people there to catch her. You… you don't."

"Well, I mean, there's Ren and Nora."

"Yes, Ren, who failed to notice you falling behind our group, and Nora, whose thoughtlessness in combat resulted in your injury in the first place!"

"Uh, Weiss, are you okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, I'm fine. I just may need to have a… a 'word' with your teammates in the near future."

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why? They're fine."

"I beg to differ."

"Why do you care so much?"

"Why would I want to see you suffer?"

"Not sure this counts."

"Oh no? Then let's see you remove your shirt under your own power, hmm?"

"..."

"..."

"...I appear to be stuck."

"Mmhmm."

"...Is this the part where I admit you're right and ask for help?"

"Mmhmm."

"..."

"..."

"...Uh, Weiss?"

"Yes?"

"The injury is to my back?"

"Yes! Right! Of course. But, you see, I'm merely inspecting the sternum to ensure that it was not displaced by… pressure to the anterior...back."

"Well, that makes sense. Figures you'd know a lot about medicine too. Is there anything you don't know about?"

"Of course. That doesn't mean that it will remain that way forever, though. We're always learning, Jaune. But, for now, lay face-down on the bed so I can examine the injury."

"Sure thing."

"Oh, Jaune! Why didn't you say anything?"

"Huh? It's not so bad, is it?"

"It still looks painful."

"I can deal with just painful. I could still move, more or less, and walk. Could probably fight, too, if I had to."

"...Stay there. I have a topical anaesthetic in my bag."

"'Kay."

"Now, this is going to be a little cold."

"You weren't kidding!"

"Oh, you'll live, you tremendous baby."

"Wow, way to switch moods."

" It's a lady's prerogative to adapt as best pertains to the situation."

"That sounds like Weiss-speech for 'tough.'"

"See? It's just as I said - we're always learning."

"It's working, though. The stuff on my back. It already feels better. Or just numb. Sometimes numb is good enough."

"Well, this application should suffice to reduce swelling and numb the pain until your Aura can completely heal you."

"Thanks, Weiss. You're amazing."

"...I… it's nothing, really."

"..."

"...Jaune?"

"..."

"Goodnight, Jaune."

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"Jaune."

"Weiss."

"Would you care to accompany me to the dance floor? I daresay that we will learn precious little more from the assorted high society sycophants tonight."

"It's good cover to go over what intel we've gathered, too."

"Ah. Yes. Cover. Of course."

"Well, who am I to deny the lady a dance?"

"I must say, you clean up very well, Mister Arc."

"Tragically, I was forced to leave my dress behind at Beacon, depriving the fine citizens of Atlas from the good show."

"A loss from which we may never recover, I'm sure. The Kingdom will note this day with all lamentations."

"You look great, by the way. The braid suits you."

"Thank you. It took a great deal of time and effort to wrest it into position."

"It shows. Your hair puts Yang's to shame. It always has, really."

"..."

"...Weiss?"

"Hmm?"

"We were going to review the intel?"

"Intel? Oh, right, of course. Don't mind me, I was merely ensuring that I was close enough so that we would not be overheard. A difficult task to manage with the waltz."

"No problem. You've got this down anyway. So, what did your sister have to say about the General's staff?"

"She was entirely complimentary of everyone on it, which would not be such an unusual state of affairs but for the fact that we know that the enemy is fond of suborning allies, or those perceived to be allies, to work against us."

"It's a good thing she'd talk to you. All I could get from her were glares."

"Well of course. She's an older sister. Glaring at handsome young men in my retinue is not only one of her duties, but it's something of a hobby for her."

"Huh. Well, if I see Ren, I'll let him know to look out."

"..."

"Weiss?"

"...You dunce…"

"Anyway, if there is a spy, or a full-blown saboteur, it wouldn't be difficult to mask their intentions. No offense, but you Atlesians are very big on the stoicism. Even Ren's kind of weirded out by it."

"You're telling me."

"..."

"..."

"...Want me to say something to them?"

"No, thank you. I doubt their intentions are hostile. Or, at least, overtly hostile in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Those are merely the typical vapid socialites and dead-eyed trophy wives that follow scandal like jackals to a kill."

"What's their problem?"

"You attack one woman with a summoned Boarbatusk and get removed as the heiress to the most powerful company on Remnant, and some people tend to make a fuss of it."

"C'mon. Let's not focus on them. Do you want to dance to something a little more...upbeat?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"Do you know the tango?"

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"Weiss."

"Jaune."

"Do you… do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't see what there is to discuss on the matter."

"Whatever he might have done, whatever he might have… become, he was still your father."

"Was he? I hear Yang, Ruby and Blake talk about their fathers, good men who care for the well-being of their daughters. My… father… he cared nothing for me. I was literally a tool for him to use to extend his wealth and power even further. He was manipulative, spiteful, arrogant and cruel, and worst of all, he raised me to be that way too."

"You're not any of those things, Weiss."

"How can you, of all people, say such a thing?"

"Because it's true, of course."

"...and suppose I don't believe you."

"Then you can believe all of us. If you were as awful as you seem to think you are, none of us would have met you at all. A truly selfish person in your position would have never gone to become a Huntress at all."

"I…"

"It's okay."

"Jaune!"

"I'm here. Just get it out."

"My father is gone, and I'm relieved! What kind of daughter is glad to know that her father has died?!"

"The kind who was neglected and abused, and grew up to be so much more than her father had ever intended her to be. Had ever dared dream she could be."

"..."

"...It's okay. I'm here. You're not alone."

[/]

"Jaune Arc!"

"Yo."

"What were you thinking?!"

"That if I took that hit, you wouldn't have to."

"And where did that thinking land you?"

"...This would appear to be a hospital bed."

"Indeed."

"You sound angry."

"Of course I am, you dolt! You knew you were low on Aura! You knew that you might not survive that hit! But you went and did it anyway!"

"Did we win?"

"..."

"...I'm going to interpret your unwillingness to answer that question as a 'yes.' In fact, I bet it's not just a 'yes,' but a full-blown 'we only won because Weiss didn't take that hit.' Am I right?"

"…"

"...Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm right."

"That doesn't make it right."

"It kinda does, though."

"Do you think I like seeing you hurt like this? That I enjoy watching you get carried off on a stretcher? Do you think waiting for word to come of whether or not you'll pull through is just the highlight of my day?"

"...Then why are you?"

"What?"

"Why are you here? I mean, the battlefield thing, not really any way to help that. But no one said you had to come to the hospital, and wait around while I'm in surgery, or be here as soon as I woke up. So, why did you?"

"...You really don't get it, do you?"

"Not really, no."

"Jaune, I need something from you."

"Name it."

"I need you to promise me, to promise me as an Arc, that you'll answer this next question with the truth. The entire truth."

"...Okay."

"Do you love me?"

"...I never stopped loving you."

"What?"

"I loved you from the moment I saw you. I loved you when I was being obnoxious back at Beacon. I loved you when I set you up with that guy at the dance. I loved you from afar when Beacon fell, and we were scattered across the world. I loved you every time you tried to save me from myself. I loved you when I unlocked my Semblance, and I saw you open your eyes and immediately resume snarking. I loved you every moment of every day for years."

"...Why didn't you say anything?"

"I did, remember? And you weren't into it, so eventually - and to your great relief, I might add - I dropped it."

"Jaune, that was years ago. We aren't the same people we were back then! Gods, we were only seventeen! Of course you didn't know how to talk to women! Of course I was a mean little brat who was contemptuous towards you!"

"...I didn't think I deserved - mmmf!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"And that's what I think you deserve."

"...Wow."

"Indeed."

"...You're gonna have to give me a minute. It's not every day you get kissed by the angel of your dreams."

"I'm not going anywhere. You'll have plenty of time to grow accustomed to the idea."

"Are you sure about this?"

"I love you, you dunce."

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Entry Endnotes: I do think that White Knight could be a thing without too much reaching, if the writers cared to make it one. I kinda doubt they will, though.