Jaune the Imperishable or how Settra got his Golden Body (RWBY/Warhammer Fantasy) ch.13

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People used to say that Atlas's religion was not capitalism but suffering; courtesy of its dreary weather and not really having much to do which in turn made it produce suicidal novelists. Tossing and turning on her bed, Weiss Schnee had more than enough reason to think she was inside one of those novels for today, she was living in a nightmare. 

Sitting by, Ruby helplessly watched as Weiss refused to look at her, a massive pillow covering most of her face. Ruby did not understand why Weiss was so upset. Jaune was clearly talented and showed leadership material. Why not let him be their team leader? 

"Weiss? Come on, this isn't very..." Ruby paused, trying to find a word that would fit the rich girl's vocabulary. She settled on one. "Dignified." 

Weiss knew of course. But she did not care. It was over. It was so over. And Ruby's attempts to comfort her only made her feel worse. 

"This is a humiliation," Weiss moaned through her pillow, her misery muffled slightly. "It's over...It's over!" 

"Why is it a humiliation?" Ruby asked gently. Weiss shot up, bloodshot and tearful. 

"He is clearly unsuited for leadership!" Weiss cried. "He had us stay and fight for what? Just because he wanted to? That was stupid and dangerous! A leader takes risks, yes, but to make us stay and fight just because it tickled his fancy?" 

​Now, Ruby did not know what it meant to be a leader. She was always a follower, she could not lead not in the way Jaune could have or heck, even her sister could do. She was the type to sit back and let older more experienced people say what to do. But she was not totally lost that she could not think for herself. In hindsight, there really was no tactical benefit to the fight. But, and there was massive but to it...

"It was awesome though," Ruby defended. "You got to admit that too, right?" 

Weiss held her tongue. She could not deny that. She could not say no to how her heart pumped with blood and thunder, how her veins seemed to be alit with battle ecstasy and how she fought with so much passion, she felt like she had been reborn again. But Atlesians were not a passionate people. Atlesians were calm, collected, and weighed their options. 

"What if we Jaune hadn't activated his semblance? What if we ran out of aura?" Weiss criticized. People had begun talking about what Jaune's semblance might have been. Others had suggested it was a amplification one, as they had felt lifted while fighting. But how could they explain the bursts of light his sword had? 

That was valid questions, Ruby thought. "But we won," Ruby replied. 

"What if we hadn't won, hm? Would that still be cute?" Weiss pointed out. 

Ruby felt nothing but sympathy for Weiss. She had done nothing but raise valid questions. If anything, she had a fairly reasonable crash-out.  

Weiss lied back on the bed, hugging her pillow. "We...we could have benefitted from a sensible leader. A good leader, trained and raised in that department..." she muttered. 

​Ruby patted Weiss gently on her shoulder to comfort her. Weiss did not resist. 

"But no, we have Jaune instead. Where did he even come from? He doesn't have a good name, he's a nobody," Weiss sniffed. 

Ruby stopped patting her. Silver-eyes narrowed in suspicion. 

"Okay, I was putting up with your crying because you raised some good points," Ruby levelled accusingly. "But now, it just looks to me that you're jealous of Jaune." 

Weiss immediately sat upright, chin raised, and glared down at Ruby with all the poise she could muster. "Jealous? Me? Of Jaune Arc? Don't be ridiculous. Weiss Schnee does not feel jealousy." She crossed her arms and sniffed indignantly. "I simply believe that the headmaster should have thought about his decision a little more carefully. That's all."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Sure," she said, clearly unconvinced.

Weiss huffed and flopped back onto her bed. "It's true," she muttered into her pillow.

Ruby didn't bother pressing further. Instead, she glanced around their dorm room. While Weiss had been busy sulking, Ruby had taken the liberty of making some changes. Weiss hadn't noticed or hadn't cared enough to protest when Ruby rearranged their single beds, adjusting them to form makeshift bunk beds. It wasn't exactly professional craftsmanship. It was makeshift after-all, with rope and a few strategically placed books holding the structures together. It violated some standards somewhere but Ruby thought it gave their dorm a bit more personality. It felt homier this way, at least to her.

The dorm hadn't been much when they moved in. They had private tables for studying and single-person beds, but it all felt so sterile and impersonal. Ruby hoped that Jaune, at least, would appreciate the redecoration. With a satisfied smile, she stepped back to admire her work.

"You're going to break the bed," Weiss muttered without looking up.

"It's not going to break," Ruby replied confidently. "It's sturdy. And it looks cool. You'll thank me later."

Weiss groaned. "Why would I thank you for turning our room into a hazard? If it collapses, I'm blaming you."

"It won't collapse," Ruby said, brushing off Weiss's complaints. She climbed up to test the top bunk, bouncing slightly on the mattress. "See? Totally fine."

Asides from the little creak, it held together. 

​Ruby smiled. 

Nailed it. 

"I am one hell of a engineer," Ruby praised herself. 

"You do not deserve to be anywhere near a construction site," Weiss snarked. 

"Of course. I would just steal their jobs," Ruby scoffed. She sighed. This was the first time she wasn't with her sister. It was honestly terrifying. But the idea that she was with Jaune comforted her somewhat.

"Man...I wonder how Yang is doing," she whispered.

"Who?"

"My sister, Yang. The blonde," Ruby deadpanned. 

Weiss blinked. Then shrugged. "I am sure she is doing okay." 

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Chaos gripped their room.

Total, unrelenting, glorious chaos. The walls seemed to vibrate with raw energy as growls and drums thundered through the space. Battle-lust fueled their movements, and Yang and Nora were in their element, shredding their throats as they belted out heavy metal lyrics together. Nora was completely lost in the moment, throwing herself into a wild air guitar performance, her imaginary instrument as animated as she was. Yang, on the other hand, supplied the guttural growls, her hair whipping around as if the sheer power of the music was alive and coursing through her veins.

All their attention focused on the comically small Scroll supported by a pair of books.

"AND I KNOW I WON'T DIE ALONE!!!!!" Yang roared, her voice almost shaking the ceiling.

"I'LL STOP YOU FROM BREATHING AND ALL YOUR DECEIVING!" Nora bellowed in response, headbanging so hard that it was a miracle she hadn't broken her neck.

In the corner, Ren sat. Blake sat next to him.

The two shared a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Ren's face was calm, as always, but there was something in his eyes that suggested he was long past the point of being surprised. Blake's expression was neutral, though a faint upward twitch at the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her scroll, unraveling a set of earbuds. Without a word, she offered one to Ren.

Ren accepted gratefully, slipping the bud into his ear. The soft, soothing notes of classical music filled his senses, drowning out the unholy racket coming from Yang and Nora's impromptu concert. 

"You read?" Blake asked. 

"Mhm," Ren nodded. 

"Classics?" 

"Mhm mhm." 

"Cool."

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It was then the door opened. Weiss and Ruby turned to see a mop of red hair and blonde stepping inside.

"Jaune!" Ruby yelled excitedly as she leapt down from the top bunk. Weiss rolled her eyes but remained seated on her bed as both Pyrrha and Jaune entered. Jaune was wrapped in bandages and smelled faintly of gauze and medicinal oils, but he looked alright, which instantly soothed Ruby. She ran up to him, practically bouncing on her heels as she looked him over.

"What happened to you? Are you alright? Are you sure you're okay?" Ruby spoke so fast she sounded like a machine gun, her rapid-fire questions leaving Jaune struggling to keep up. Pyrrha stepped in to answer for him.

"He's been released from the infirmary," Pyrrha said gently. "He just needs to let his aura do the rest of the work, and he'll be good as new."

"Yay! Our team leader is back!" Ruby cheered, throwing her arms in the air. "Yippee!"

Weiss raised an eyebrow at Ruby. "Yippee? What are you, five?"

Ruby gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "And what are you, Weiss? No whimsy in your heart?"

Weiss scoffed. "I need nothing of this so-called whimsy. I deal only in facts and logic."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever, facts-and-logic girl," she said dismissively before turning her attention back to Jaune. Without a second thought, she rushed forward and hugged him, pressing her head against his chest. Jaune froze, looking completely shocked. He had never been hugged like this before. Well, he had, but only by his sisters, and this was...different. His eyes darted over to Pyrrha, silently asking for help. Pyrrha only smiled warmly and gestured for him to respond.

Settra? Jaune called out nervously in his mind. What do I do here?

A frustrated groan echoed in the depths of his thoughts. "Hug her, you fool," Settra growled.

What if she doesn't want a hug? Jaune asked, panicked.

"If you ask me such a foolish question again, I will personally break your knees," Settra snapped, massaging his non-existent forehead. The ancient king's tone left no room for argument. Before, Jaune could only really humor his threats. But now that Settra could legitimately form himself in the physical world, Jaune was sufficiently motivated and cowed. He wrapped his arms around Ruby though he had to lean down slightly to do so. Ruby sighed in satisfaction, melting into the warmth of his embrace.

Meanwhile, Weiss shifted her attention to Pyrrha, her expression sharp. "And where were you? You do know what time it is, right?" Weiss asked pointedly.

It was morning now, and Pyrrha was still clad in her armor from the previous day. They had classes later in the afternoon, but Weiss found her appearance peculiar.

"Oh, um...I was sleeping outside the infirmary," Pyrrha admitted, fidgeting slightly under Weiss's scrutinizing gaze.

Weiss's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Pyrrha felt her confidence falter under Weiss's piercing stare. "W-well, I was...sleeping in the infirmary waiting room," Pyrrha clarified. "Professor Peach wouldn't let me sleep inside the wards, so..."

"Yes, yes, I get that," Weiss cut in, waving a hand dismissively. "But why would you do that?"

"I was worried about Jaune," Pyrrha defended herself.

"There's worry, and then there's whatever you did," Weiss pointed out. Even Weiss, who wasn't exactly the most socially adept person, felt that Pyrrha's actions were excessive. Despite her sheltered upbringing, Weiss could recognize when someone was going overboard. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

Pyrrha felt differently. She couldn't exactly explain that she had sworn an oath to protect Jaune, an oath demanded by the ancient god-king now residing in his head. No, she couldn't say that. Only Jaune could announce that. But then an idea struck her.

"It is what I would do for any of you," Pyrrha said firmly, her voice steady. Jaune and Ruby turned to look at her, their curiosity piqued.

"Really?" Weiss asked, crossing her arms.

"Yes!" Pyrrha added quickly. "We're teammates now. We're comrades. Companions. Hetaireiai. We must be there for each other, or this team will fall apart. That's how my people survived in ancient times and it's how we'll survive now."

Weiss studied her carefully, her expression unreadable. Pyrrha stood her ground, her determination unwavering. Ruby, still hugging Jaune, grinned brightly.

"That's so cool, Pyrrha! We're gonna be the best Heh...Hetah-!" Ruby tried. Pyrrha giggled, and the little Valean flushed. 

"Hetaireiai. He-te-ri-a," Weiss supplied. "It means 'Companions' in Southern Mistrali." 

"Yeah! Whatever she said! Hetherya sounds awesome!" Ruby exclaimed.

Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're all ridiculous," she muttered.

Ruby grinned then turned back to Jaune. "You heard that Jaune? We're Companions now!" she beamed. 

​"Yeah, uh, um, can you let go Ruby?" Jaune asked. 

Ruby blinked up at him, her arms still firmly wrapped around his torso. "Huh? Oh!" She quickly stepped back, her cheeks tinged pink. "Sorry! Got a little carried away." She scratched the back of her head, trying to play it off with a nervous laugh.

Jaune smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "No problem. And, uh, thanks. It's...good to know our team has each other's backs."

Weiss rolled her eyes, her patience clearly wearing thin. "If we're done with the hugging and declarations of camaraderie, perhaps we could move on to something productive?"

Jaune winced but nodded. Settra growled inwardly but said nothing. Jaune honestly thought that the ancient king was going to make a snide comment but with his lack of words, Jaune figured that he was on his own for a little. So, he was going to do this his way. "So. I..." 

Pyrrha leaned by the window, arms crossed. Ruby sat on a chair, legs swinging as she looked upon him. Weiss glared, but looked ready to hear him out. 

Jaune took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I…I have to admit something," he began, his voice slightly shaky. "I don't know anything about being a leader. I wasn't trained for this. I wasn't raised for this."

"That much is clear," Settra snarked inside his mind. 

Settra. Shut up.

Weiss folded her arms tightly, her expression sharpening. "Well, that much is obvious," she muttered, earning a small frown from Ruby and an exasperated glance from Pyrrha. Jaune, however, didn't flinch. He kept going.

"But," Jaune continued, his voice growing stronger, "I'm not going to let that stop me. I know I have a lot to learn, and I can't do it alone. I want to do right by all of you. I want to make this team the best it can be. And to do that, I'm going to need your help."

Ruby clapped enthusiastically, her grin as big as ever. "That's the spirit, fearless leader!"

Pyrrha gave a small, approving nod.

Jaune smiled back at her, but his eyes shifted to Weiss. She was still glaring at him, but there was something different in her gaze now, something searching. He paused, locking eyes with her.

"I mean it," he said, his tone lowering but holding firm. "A leader isn't someone who barks orders and expects everyone to fall in line. A leader listens, learns, and makes decisions based on the wisdom of their team. A leader is only as good as the advice they get, and I want all of your voices to be heard." He took a step forward, his gaze unwavering. "That includes yours, Weiss."

Weiss blinked, her expression briefly faltering. For a moment, she said nothing, just staring at him, as if analyzing every word. She was so used to people from Atlas offering her empty flattery, trying to curry favor with her because of her name. But there was no flattery in Jaune's words. No false charm. He was raw, honest, and, to her surprise, sincere. 

Sincerity. 

[SPOILER="End Credits: Soldier, Poet, King"][URL unfurl="true" media="youtube:uedJx6hkKS0, list: RDuedJx6hkKS0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedJx6hkKS0&list=RDuedJx6hkKS0&start_radio=1[/URL][/SPOILER]

She...she did not know how to feel about it.

"Well," she finally said, looking away and crossing her arms tightly. "I suppose if you're going to be so desperate for input, I can offer mine. I wouldn't want this team to fail because of your…inexperience."

Ruby giggled, earning a sharp glare from Weiss.

Jaune, however, smiled brightly. "Thank you, Weiss. I promise, I'll do my best to make sure our team is one we can all be proud of."

Weiss huffed, but her cheeks were faintly pink. "We'll see."

Ruby leaned forward, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Don't worry, Jaune! You've got me and my engineering skills! Crescent Rose is already top-tier, but I can totally help upgrade everyone else's weapons! Oh! Do you think we could add rocket boosters to your sword?"

Jaune blinked. "Rocket boosters?"

"Yeah! Like, a giant explosion every time you swing it! KA-BOOM!" Ruby miming a massive explosion.

Pyrrha chuckled softly. "And I'll be here to help you with combat strategies. Training, sparring, anything you need to improve in battle."

Jaune's smile widened as he looked at his team. "Thanks, you guys. Really. It means a lot to me."

Weiss cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the moment. "If we're done with the emotional speeches, can we at least get proper introductions out of the way? Formality is important, after all."

Jaune nodded. "You're right, Weiss. And, well, since I'm the leader, I guess I'll start." He cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. "I'm Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue and the ladies love it." 

Three eyebrows rose at that. Jaune did not back down. 

"Dork," Weiss shook her head as she stood up. "Weiss Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, I sing at the Opera sometimes, and I am the only person here with any sense of decorum."

Ruby sprang to her feet next, practically hopping in place. "I'm Ruby Rose! Weapons geek, Crescent Rose enthusiast, and future Huntress extraordinaire! Oh, and cookies are my favorite food. Just putting that out there."

Pyrrha stepped forward next, her posture relaxed but confident. "Well...you all know me. Pyrrha Nikos. Champion of Mistral and...well, I'm here to become a Huntress, just like all of you." She smiled warmly. "It's an honor to be part of this team."

Jaune looked at each of them in turn, his chest swelling with pride. 

This, Settra watched, deep inside the recesses of Jaune's soul. This was touching, moving even. But Settra thought of the funniest thing but...he saw the camaraderie on their faces. This was not his moment but Jaune's. 

He was not going to get in the way of that. There was much to be done. But sometimes, they could afford a little levity.

​...

For now.

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A/N: First off, apolocheese for the absence. I was doing my thesis defense AND I PASSED YALL. Now that is over, I will be returning back to schedule soon, frfr. 

Secondly, thank you so so much for being in this journey with me. You, the glorious Kings reading this, have changed my life for the better. Because of you, and you alone, there is food on my table and my cats can remain spoiled little shits. You, your glorious majesties, have the massive penises in the planet. And if you are a woman, you are the most beautiful and amazing gal in the entire world. 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 

This year was great. Next year, we shall be even better. 

Merry Christmas and Happy new year, ya'll!!!!!