Sorry it took me so long, but the writing contest I took part in has finally ended.
I know I said I would've focused on Dragon Blood now, but I can't control inspiration: right now I'm writing another fic yet. I don't know if I'll publish it, but it's good to just write ideas.
I'm this kind of crazy.

"After all, it could've gone worse".

"How it is that listening to Port's stories for six hours on a Sunday morning isn't the worst?".

"Well, at least we're still in Beacon".

"How optimistic".

"...She's not wrong, Weiss".

"Yes, but that pun on riding our partners... she really shouldn't have said that".

"Hey, it was funny!".

"No, Yang", everyone replied. "It wasn't".

The eight of them were just at the start of Goodwitch's detention. Professor Port was bragging on with his story of how he once bit an Ursa Major's head off when he was younger. The portly professor was currently describing the foul taste of the Ursa's flesh before it disintegrated in his mouth. Silently, all the present students were wishing him to have choked on that Ursa's flesh.

"So, Jaune, will you tell us what happened, now?", asked Ruby, turning to face the taller blond. Pyrrha turned too, her expression severe.

"Yes, Jaune, I too would really like to know why in the world you had such a stupid idea", she pressed on.

"Hey, your idea of having Weiss kiss me was far more stupid!", he defended himself, and Ruby almost nodded. Pyrrha was unrelenting. "Still... it worked".

"Unlocking your Aura through fear shouldn't have been the right way", retorted Pyrrha.

"You know, I've been thinking about that. Fear wasn't the right way, that's right. And it actually didn't work", continued Jaune, earning a confused stare from his partner. "I was terrified, but it wasn't working. I would've died of fear in there, but then something came up and unlocked my Aura".

"Do you remember what was it?", asked Pyrrha. She wasn't hoping too hard for it, though. She had read that many Dragonbloods didn't remember what happened right after unlocking their Aura.

"Yes, I do. At a certain point the fear just disappeared. I mean, I still was alone in a dark cage, but I wasn't afraid that way. Not any more. I just... couldn't leave you guys". He managed a weak smile. Speaking the human language was still new to him. "I mean, it would've been cowardly to leave you all with the guilt to weight you down. I... you were too important to just do that to you. You needed me, not as a fighter but as a friend, and I couldn't let my Life get wasted just because I wasn't good at fighting".

"I... I think I cared too much about you to let you live with the sorrow for my death. You needed me to live and I had to survive. Yeah, that's how it went", he finished, his eyes distant. Port's blah-blah-blah was still functioning as background noise for the conversation. "I think it was the care, the affection, I had for you that unlocked my Aura. I never felt like someone needed me until yesterday. I guess my Aura just... reacted to that".

The seven other students sat in a stunned silence for a little while, before Ruby jabbed Pyrrha on the shoulder with a grin. "You were right! The mineral correlation works! Care, affection... love! It worked!".

"Students, are you paying attention?", asked Professor Port.

"We were just deciding if asking you to tell us one of your stories about a nest of King Tajitsus or about a swarm of Nevermore", innocently replied Yang, and the Professor was distracted immediately.

"Of course. Let me tell you about that time in Vacuo where blah blah blah". They zoned him out as soon as he began.

"Well", said Yang, playfully punching Jaune on the arm. "Next time we'll just have Pumpkin Pyrrha here kiss you instead of Weiss. You two seemed to be having fun yesterday".

Both of them blushed and punched Yang in the stomach, making her let out a huff as the air was robbed from her lungs. Scowling at them, she returned to her Scroll, chatting with her friends.

"Jaune, you shouldn't have done that", Pyrrha scolded him. "You could have died".

"I would've died during training, hadn't I done something", he replied flatly. "You guys go easy on me, but you're the only ones".

"Guys", said Nora, an expression of pure awe on her face. "Guys, now we can break Cardin's legs...".

"...and neck", added Yang, and then winked. "...and groin".

Everyone winced. That was a painful place to be hit for everyone, males and females alike.

"Let's not plan to earn another detention before even finishing the current one", interjected Ren, calmly. "I have a better idea. Jaune, why don't we all give you extra training lesson for the next few days? So, next time you go up against Cardin...".

"He'll break his legs?", proposed Nora, hopeful.

"...you'll show him not to blackmail your friends".

"You know?", asked Pyrrha. "How?".

"I heard you in the library", replied Jaune. "We were watching over you. Okay, we were kinda stalking you, but we did it because we were worried. Especially after you lost to Cardin".

"And in just a day you noticed I was down, stalked me, overheard Cardin's blackmail, organized that madness and unlocked your Aura?". He nodded. She took a deep breath and then punched him, hard, in the stomach. He grimaced and doubled in pain. "Now we're even", she said evenly.

"Jeez, Pyr, you're violent", he moaned as he straightened just in time to fool Port. "During the extra training try to control your temper".

"Sorry", she said, now feeling guilty for the force of the hit. He shot her a puzzled glance and, upon realizing she had really just apologized, he broke in a snicker. "What-".

She was cut off as Jaune hugged her, laughing, and whispered in her ear. "Now, we're even. That's my way to fix my debts with friends and family".

She smiled and hugged him back, parting before Port could notice. "I think I like your way better", she chuckled in her fist, disguising it as a small fit of coughing. "It's nice. I really like hugs".

With a sly smirk and a dirty look, Yang elbowed Jaune in the ribs, getting it back immediately. Partially following her counsel, Jaune scooted his chair closer to Pyrrha's and snaked an arm around her waist, careful not to be noticed by Port. "Is this okay?".

She hummed her approval, although she didn't hug him back. That would've been a bit too obvious even for Port in mid rant to miss.

#####

"Cardin Winchester, of Team CRDL, and Jaune Arc, of Team JNPR, please walk on the stage".

The two Half Dragons took position on the platform and fell back in their guard stance. At Goodwitch's signal, the fight began, and Cardin bolted forwards, swinging his mace horizontally to catch his midsection and, hopefully, end the fight at the first hit. He was utterly shocked when Jaune, using his dancing skills and the newfound way to implement them in his fighting style, jumped over his attack and cartwheel-kicked him in the face, sending him staggering back a few steps. Before the larger Dragonblood could regain his footing, Jaune charged and shield-bashed him square in the face, taking ulterior advantage of Cardin's surprise to sweep him off his feet.

However, by then the bully had regained his bearings, and he rolled away to avoid the likely incoming attack from Crocea Mors. Jumping back on his feet, he decided to go back to the offensive. With a single step forwards, he swung Skullbreaker at Jaune, determined to end the fight and, possibly, teach that weakling a lesson. For the second time, the blond dodged the mace, this time by ducking under it, and then shot back upright, slashing upwards with his sword and hitting Cardin's arm. Yet, he wasn't finished. With a roundhouse kick, he made a half-spin, and found himself in the perfect position for another kick. Drawing back his front leg, he then kicked out at the bully's face, for the second time during the fight making him stagger and lose his balance. After sheathing Crocea Mors back in his shield, collapsing it and putting it away, he darted toward Cardin, trying an action he had seen only done by his sisters or Yang.

Just as Cardin swung Skullbreaker to hit him, he jumped over the mace, using a wingflap to gain a bit more height. Somersaulting over Cardin, he reached out and grabbed the sides of his head. Then, using his strength, his wings, his speed and especially his Aura, he finished the movement, lifting Cardin and then bringing him down again to crash on the floor. The effect was that Cardin dropped into red Aura level, and Jaune felt an indescribable satisfaction at the sound of the bully breaking through the pavement. With a huge grin, he turned and walked back to his team.

"You were a bit sloppy, your attacks still needs better aiming and strength", said Pyrrha, but she was smiling. "But overall you did great".

"I'm feeling great", he nodded with a grin. "It was very satisfying".

"I bet it was", snickered Yang from behind him. "Although it was also too easy. I bet Cardin spends his time messing around and being a jerk. He's not that much of a fight".

"Well, maybe one day I'll be able to land a hit on you", laughed Jaune, sitting beside Pyrrha and one-sidedly hugging her. "Or on Pyrrha".

"You already can land a hit on Pyrrha", snickered Yang. "It's enough for you to offer her a hug and she's defenceless".

"I would never trick her that way", he protested, although he was blushing. "That sounds like something you would do!".

"Probably", she admitted without missing a beat. "But neither of you denied the fact that it would work".

Even then, they didn't deny it. Also because they knew it was true.

#####

Team JNPR was stopped in the corridor by no less than Cardin "soon to be pancake" Winchester (that was Nora's nickname for him) and his team. Actually, Nora had a nickname for every member of Team CRDL, but nobody had listened to her long enough to hear the other nicknames. And it was a pity, because Nora was great at silly-yet-menacing nicknames.

"Hey, Jauney boy", the bully greeted him with an unpleasant smile on his face. "Nice fight, back there. Took me by surprise, I have to say. Didn't expect a weakling like you to do that".

"Well, I didn't expect you to come and praise me", replied Jaune, wary. "So I guess we can both part ways and head to our dorms?".

"No, we can't yet", spat Cardin, his smile turning to a grimace. "That hurt, Jauney boy. It's only fair for me to pay you back".

"Cardin, are you thinking about suicide?", snickered Jaune. "Because let me tell you: going against Team JNPR is suicide, for your team".

"But that's the point", laughed Cardin. "I'm not going against Team JNPR. I'm going against you. And if your teammates do something, I'll make a call... I'm sure Nikos understands that".

"Oh, Cardin, I thought you realized it after the beating Jaune gave you in class!", cheerfully shot back Nora. "Do you want to fight? Perfect! Jaune's Aura is active, now, so if you want to can both turn into Dragons and fight like that, but beware because you'll have to fight his Knight, too, and your teammates will have to fight Ren and me, of course!".

"I... You... Your Aura?", stammered Cardin, now confused. "But... but you...?".

"Ops", grinned Pyrrha, feigning innocence. "I guess we did find a way, eventually".

"I... You... He... B-But his A-Aura...?", the bully continued, shocked. "It... It was... locked... how...?".

"We know about your little blackmailing, Cardin, although I personally don't think you'd ever do something like that. You're a jerk, but not a murderer", replied Jaune, cocking an eyebrow. "Still, even though it was likely you'd never have really reported one of your kind to the Council, the action wasn't nice".

Cardin exchanged a glance with the other members of Team CRDL. Jaune was right, he would never have reported him to the Council, but the fact that he knew and was just standing there, grinning alongside his team, was unnerving. Cardin could almost feel the mischief hanging in the air. Somehow, it seemed to him like this was a complex and dangerous trap.

"You see, Cardin, there is something we need to tell you", continued Jaune, this time serious. His teammates sobered up as well. "Get lost".

And with that, they all walked past CRDL and headed off to their dorms.