38Well time for a new story as some of you know I've been working with Blaiseingfire on some projects and seeing as they have had such a positive reaction I thought why not try a new idea and ask him to co-wright it with me and here is the result if this as popular as you can expect monthly updates for this story.
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Jonathan Arc opens the door and breathes in the familiar smell of his ancestral home. He looks around at the warm welcoming presence of the living room. From the wooden panelled walls to the wooden flooring with a carpet running up the centre of the hallway, and up the stairs that follow up the side of the grand hall way ending on floor that runs along a balcony. Then the stairs continue up the wall to another balcony until it reaches the third floor. The stairs and balcony have hand carved banisters and guardrails and the walls are lined with family photos and portraits. Jonathan lets out a sigh of relief as he walks into the centre of the grand hallway and drops his equipment. It's been three month since he was last here. He felt bad about that, it was only supposed to be a month long mission.
He's broken from his thoughts when he hears a cry "DADDY!" Looking up in the great hallway he sees little Jaune leaping off the third floor balcony. He quickly puts his arms out and catches Jaune as he falls down towards him. "Hi dad."
"Jaune." Jonathan smiles and pulled his son in for a hug, he missed him so much. "How many time have I told you not to do that? It's dangerous."
"A lot, but you lied," Jaune pouted as he pulled away from the hug.
Jonathan looked hurt. "I'm sorry. I know I promised I would be back in time for your fifth birthday last month, but there were just so many Grimm and your old man just couldn't leave the job half done." After a moment Jaune smiled and hugged him again to show that he still loved him. "Hey I have an idea, how about the two of u-"
"Jonathan!" Joanne shouted with joy as she rounded the corner to see her husband holding Jaune. She then quickly runs over and pulls her two favourite boys into a tight, loving hug. "It's so good to have you back."
Jonathan put Jaune down lifts his head and quickly captures his wife's lips in a kiss. "It's great to be back. But um, as I was just telling Jaune… since I was not back in time for his birthday I want to take him into the city and have some guy time, just the two of us.."
Jaune perks up at this. "You mean away from my sisters so I won't be dressed up in girl's clothes and having to have my hair done and where makeup?"
Jonathan cringes. "Ok that's a definite. We need to do some manly stuff today, and maybe have a talk with your sister," he muttered the last part.
"Yay!" Jaune threw his arms into the air in excitement and ran away to go get his shoes.
Joanne looks annoyed. "I'm not against you spending some quality time with our son, but you literally just got back, now you're going out again so soon?"
Jonathan smiles sheepishly. "Yeah, but I did break my promise to Jaune so I think a day out with his old man would make up for it. It's the least I can do for him." He put a hand on her shoulder and leaned closer to her. "Besides, the bedroom isn't going anywhere," he whispered.
Joanne gasps, playfully slaps him on the chest, and then looks away in embarrassment. A second later she turns back with a small blush and smile. "I'm keep your word on that."
"Daddy! I need help tying my shoes!" Jaune called from across the hall.
"Just don't get home too late." She kissed her husband on the cheek and smiled as he two went to go help his son.
Half an hour and a sick bag, later Jonathan is giving his son a piggyback ride off the airship. "Are you feeling better now?"
Little Jaune took his hand off of his mouth and gave his dad a thumbs up. "Better." Jonathan puts Jaune down and takes his hand as he leads him down the sidewalk.
"So where would you like to go first?"
Jaune jumps with excitement. "The toy store, and then Burgertown… please."
Jonathan chuckles "Ok, that's two places but that's fine."
A little bit later as they are walk down the sidewalk, Jonathan stops as a women with glasses and platinum blond hair step out of the book store they were about to pass his eyes widen and a huge smile appears on his face. "Glynda?"
The women in question turns around and smiles when she sees him. "Jonathan? Oh it's been so long, how have you been?" She then notices a little boy hiding behind him. "And who is this adorable little guy?" She knelt down and held her hand out
"Oh that's right, you've never met Jaune before."
"This is the little guy you've told me so much about? Aww he's so cute." Still knelt down at his level. "Hi come on no need to hide, I don't bite." She held her hand out to try and encourage him to come out from behind his dad.
Jaune looks up at his dad. "What's the matter Jaune? Go on, say hello," his father encouraged.
Jaune tightens his grip on his dad's leg. "Daddy who is the pretty lady? Is she an angel?" Jonathan and Glynda's eyes widen at his question.
"Is she a what?" Jonathan asked just to be sure he heard what he thought he heard.
"An angel." Jaune was no longer hiding behind his dad. "While you were away mommy told us a story about a brave warrior, and during his adventure he came across angels that helped him kill a giant monster. Mommy said angels are the most beautiful girls in the world. Is she one of them?"
The normally stoic and unflappable Glynda Goodwitch blushed brighter than she has ever before. Jonathan erupts into bellowing laughter. "Hahaha! Well I'll be never thought I would see the day, someone could stun you Glynda, especially my son."
She grabs Jaune and pulls him into a huge hug. "Oh my goodness, you are just the most sweetest, adorable thing ever."
Jaune is blushing like crazy. He was used to being fussed over like this by his sisters, but this has never happened before with a stranger. It felt nice. After a few moments she let him go and Jonathan crouches down to him. "So little guy shall we go to the toy store." Jaune nodes back excitedly. "We'll see you later Glynda, I promised to spend the day with my son."
As they turn to leave, Jaune holds his hand out. "Can you come too?" Jaune gave Glynda the most adorable smile she has ever seen. It made her heart melt in an instant.
Jonathan sighed. "Glynda probably has more important things to do."
"Aww, ok." Glynda saw a sad look form on Jaune's face and it almost broke her heart.
"No it's ok," she responded immediately. "In fact this is my off day. I don't mind coming along. We could catch up, it's been ages since we last chatted." Glynda reached out and took Jaune's hand. His mopey frown was instantly replaced with a happy smile as he drags her towards the toy shop with Jonathan following closer behind, chuckling at the site.
/
The three entered the toy store a few minutes later. The shelves are lined with all sorts of toys, from stuffed animals to action figures to construction sets and board games.
As Jaune walks round the large toy store looking at all manner of toys Jonathan turns to Glynda. "So how's things been?"
Glynda thinks for a moment. "Well... kind of boring actually. I miss the days where I used to help my classmates at beacon."
Jonathan raises an eyebrow "Really, what brought this on?"
Glynda smirks "Well, Ozpin got in contact with me. He's looking for new staff members since some have now retired. He remembered how I used to help fellow classmates and volunteer as a teaching assistant, so he asked if I wanted the job."
"You going to take him up on the offer?"
"I'm seriously thinking about it."
"You should take the offer," Johnathan encouraged. "Even though you were a first year at the time I doubt I would have passed finals without your studding help. I still can't believe you were advanced four year students at the time, you even made some of us fourth years look bad."
"Comes with being a child prodigy. It also helps I can tear Grimm apart with just a flick of my wrist."
"Yeah, I guess that does help too," Jonathan chuckled.
"Daddy," Jaune calls out and points at a figure high up on a shelf, "Can I have that one?"
Jonathan walks over and sees that Jaune is pointing to a figure of a fox faunus huntsmen who had twin crossbows on his wrists. He frowns when he sees there's lots of them on the shelf compared to the human huntsmen and they are also on discount. He can guess why, people still haven't really accepted faunus. Granted things have improved significantly in Vale, but there still was a way to go. "You sure you want this one?"
Jaune grins. "He's a faunus and I don't have a faunus huntsman figure. No one got me one on my birthday. I don't know why he looks awesome! I bet he can hear Grimm trying to sneak up on him really easily and be like bam bam bam bam bam," he throws his hands around in the air in front of him as if shooting a horde of Grimm with wrist mounted crossbows, "and shoot them dead with his crossbows!"
Jonathan smiles. 'You can always trust Jaune to be so innocent and open minded.' "Tell you what, seeing as they're 75% off you can have three other fanus huntsmen as well seeing as that would cost the same as buying one of the other ones."
Jaune's eyes light up. "Wait, I can have four of the cool looking ones?" Yippie!" He jumped in joy and then looked over the self. "Can I have that one," he points to a female snake faunus in a Minstral style dress and has a staff, "and that one," he points to a wolf faunus dressed in a long black jacket that goes almost down to his ankles and is equipped with a sniper rifle and a katana, "and... that one." He points to a female bunny faunus that has wrist axes with interchangeable dust blades.
Jonathan smiles "Sure thing son." He picks up the other three off the shelf and heads over to the payment desk. On the way there, Jaune stops for a second and glances at the shelf with stuffed animals. He's about to follow his dad when Glynda stops him. "Do you want one?"
Jaune put up a weird look and points to himself. "I'm a man." The way he said it almost made Glynda chuckle. "I'm not interested in cute adorable teddy bears, like that one over there." He points to a lifelike one with black fluffy that's has brown patches around the eyes and ears. It's just over half as tall as Jaune.
Glynda grinned, all too familiar with the same game she played with her parents. "So if I buy you it you would not want it."
Jaune has a poor innocent look on his face. "No, I would take it, as it would be a gift and gifts should be treasured."
Glynda's grin grew. "Right, well I'll get you the teddy bear."
Jaune's face lights up but then he quickly hides the expression. "If you want to, that's ok."
They arrived at the counter as Jonathan is placing the four figures on the counter. The shop clerk raises an eye. "You sure you want these ones?"
Jonathan ignores the condescending tone of the shop clerk. "Yes my son wanted these ones." He gives the shop clerk an obviously fake smile.
Glynda places the teddy bear on the counter. "We will take this as well."
Jonathan sighed. "You don't have to get him anything."
Glynda smiles. "Well it was his birthday last month... besides he won't admit it but he really wanted it. He just thinks it's not manly to ask for a teddy bear, right Jaune?"
Jaune looks away and blushes in embarrassment. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Definitely takes after his mother," Jonathan chuckled.
After they pay for the items, Jonathan passed Jaune the bag. He hugs onto the bag as they walk to the shop exit. "Oh come here," Glynda giggled as she knelt down in front of Jaune and took the bag off him. Before he can complain she takes the teddy bear out of the bag and hands it back to him. "How about I just carry the toys for you whilst you hug the teddy you're so obviously wanting to hug." She says with a smile.
Jaune looks down a bit embarrassed but then takes the teddy bear and hugs it tightly with a smile. "Ok."
/
Jaune, Glynda, and Jonathan are sitting down at a table at the Burgertown diner. It's a typical sort of diner. Plastic seats, unhealthy food, a lot of noise, but a welcoming atmosphere. They sat over at table by the window. Glynda got a salad and chips, Jonathan got a steak burger, and Jaune got a happy meal which had a burger and chips with a drink of cola.
"So Jonathan how's the rest of the family been?" Glynda asked.
Jonathan smiles "Joanne's happy being a mother. The triplets are still being a nightmare and poor Jaune here is unfortunately not smart enough to avoid them when they decided to give him makeovers."
Jaune is not paying attention to the conversion as next to him, as he's having trouble deciding whether he wants to eat his happy meal or hug the new teddy bear.
"Jaune put the teddy down and eat you meal." Jaune just look at his dad with a sad expression
Glynda smiles. "You don't want to get him dirty do you Jaune?" He shakes his head, puts the teddy in the empty seat next to him, and begins to eat his food "See Jonathan he's an intelligent boy. He saw my point very quickly. I suspect he's just too kind to refuses his sisters demands."
Jonathan's scroll goes off. He smiles when he sees it's his wife and quickly answers the video call. "Hello dear. What's up?"
"How's the manly day going?" Jaune waves excitedly and his dad passes him the scroll
"Hi mommy! Look, dad got me a new action figures and we met his friend Glynda. She's pretty and nice and she bought me a teddy."
"Wait, Glynda? Oh I've not seen her in ages. How is she?"
"I'm doing fine," Glynda responded.
Joanne gasped. "Wait, she's with you?"
Jaune passes Glynda the scroll. "Hi Joanne, it's been awhile. How could you not tell me how adorable your son is?"
"I know he's just so adorable but you did not need to buy him a gift."
"Nonsense, a sweet boy like him... I was happy to."
Jonathan sniggers. "Especially after his chat up line."
"His what!?"
Jonathan took the scroll off Glynda. "Apparently our son thinks Glynda is an angel since she is so pretty. I've never seen Glynda blush like that before ,or ever for that matter." He looked away from the screen and started to laugh. "It was just like that." Jonathan spins the scroll around so his wife can see Glynda's red face.
Hysterical laughter can be heard coming from the scroll. "Oh I'm sorry Glynda but it's just too funny." The laughter continues for a few more moments. "Well, have a good day out. Oh and Glynda, stop by sometime. It's been far too long."
"I will. We really need to catch up."
Jonathan passes Jaune the scroll and he holds it close. "Bye mommy."
"Bye Jaune, mommy loves you." And with that the call ends
Before Jonathan can bring up the embarrassing experience again Glynda turns to Jaune "So Jaune what do you want to be when you grow up."
"I want to be a hero like daddy," he gleefully points to his dad.
"Awwww, he really looks up to you Jonathan." Jaune was becoming too much for Glynda, he was just too cute.
Jonathan flinches. "Jaune, you mother and I told you before told you before you can't be a huntsman. Your mother would be worried sick you, don't want to make mommy sad do you?"
Jaune frowned slightly. "No daddy, but all the stories you tell me sound so cool, like the Nevermorph you beat by taking its head off."
"That's a Nevermore." Jonathan corrected.
"Oh my, such stories sound terribly frightening. Don't they scare you?" She asked Jaune.
Jaune looks back at Glynda and shakes his head. "Nope. I love daddy's stories, it's why I want to grow up like him to be a hero and go on adventures."
"Well I think that's a fine dream." Glynda said with a soft smile.
"Oh please don't encourage him, it's not a life I want for my kids-" Jonathan's scroll began to ring, but it didn't have his normal ring tone. It had a ring tone signalling he was getting an emergency message from the Huntsmen Association. He quickly pulled his scroll out, and his eyebrows narrowed as he read the message. He then looked up at Jaune and Glynda. "Jaune stay here and don't leave the diner, Glynda I need your help with something important."
"Wait, what's wrong?" Glynda asked.
"What the matter daddy?" His son asked in curiosity.
"I got an emergency message from the Huntsmen Association," Jonathan explained as he stood up, "we need to move now." Glynda nodded and stood up. Jaune did as well but was forced back down by his father. "Jaune stay here."
"Awwwwww but I want to see daddy be a hero."
Jonathan had a very stern look. "Jaune, please do as you're told. Besides this is an emergency, huntsmen only."
"Yes dad," Jaune said disappointed. Jonathan and Glynda head for the diner's exit and start walking in a fast pace.
"Jonathan what is this about?" Glynda asked in a serious tone.
"Have you heard about Homau Dacam?" Jonathan asked as he drew his sword and shield, glad that he forgot to leave it at home. Glynda quietly gasped and took out her crop in a tight grip. She heard that name before.
Homau Dacam was a faunus tigress that ran a band of murderers, thieves, and cannibals in Vacuo that just missed being classified as a raider group. One of their attacks went badly for them, and most of the group was wiped out and Homau was taken into custody. Vacuo was deemed too dangerous so she was being transported to Vale for trial and questioning, but late last night the convoy was hit just outside of Vale and she and several other criminals were set free.
"Yeah I have..." her eyes widened as she put the pieces together. "She's here?!"
"She was spotted in Vale, and the address in the message is close by. I want to get her before Jaune or anyone else is put in-" Gunshots and broken glass are heard further ahead, down the street and around the corner. While everyone ran away in a panic, Jonathan and Glynda took off in a sprint towards the carnage, where Homau no doubt was right now.
The pair rounded a corner and saw a van parked unevenly on the sidewalk, in front of a dust shop with smashed windows. Jonathan raises his shield up and takes point with Glynda close behind. They moved in front of the store, the sound of them walking on broken glass gave them away to the occupants inside.
The store was ransacked and trashed. Dust was spilled everywhere. The body of the cashier was tossed aside, her chest riddled with bullet holes. Seven people started back at the two hunters with surprise and anger. Four men, three of which were faunus, and two women, one faunus, stood in front of the counter. They all were in dirty prison jumpsuits and they were armed with pistols, one armed with a sub-machine gun.
Behind the counter, looting the register, stood their target: a tiger faunus with orange skin, slanted yellow eyes, platinum blonde hair, cat ears, and unnatural sharp fangs. She had on a feminine green chest piece that had 'VPD' on it as well shoulder pads. Both sets of armour were stained with dark red dried blood, it looked a little big for her figure, and looked like they could be in better shape. Her armour also had ammo clips and a grenade belt with three grenades attached. Underneath the armour she had a regular prisoner jumpsuit the others had on.
"What the fuck are you all doing?!" Homau shouted. "Shoot them!" They all raised their guns and opened fire. Jonathan and Glynda crouched behind his shield for cover. Glynda brought her riding crop up and used her semblance to lift up the one with the SMG and throw him into another criminal. She then picked up an empty display and threw it at another group of two, forcing them against the wall.
Using this as a distraction, the slight pause in gunfire allowed Jonathan to charge forward and bash the head of one of the crooks with his shield. He would have used his Sword but he didn't want any bloodshed with Jaune around. Two more of them tried to rush him from opposite sides, but he backhanded one of them in the head with his shield and swiped his feet making the other one trip and then knocking him out with a blow to the head.
Five of them were knocked out, just Homau and another cook remained. She started at the hunters with shaky hands. "What are you waiting for? Shoot them!" Homau yelled. The cook didn't move. A second later her head exploded from a shot from Homau's rifle and her lifeless body fell to the floor.
"Useless!" She shouted and vaulted over the counter with great speed. Jonathan and Glynda didn't have time to react. Homau jumped in the air and forced Jonathan back with a dual kick and then grabbed Glynda's ankles and threw her sideways into a shelf housing dust on the wall. She transformed her rifle into a chainsaw blade and charged her, her blade revving loudly as if crying for blood. Glynda shook her head and tried to raise her crop to stop her but Jonathan beat her to the punch and body checked Homau.
He lent Glynda a hand, helping her up, they readied their weapons. They had to be careful now, dust of all types was scattered all around the store which could accidentally be ignited with just a spark. They also had to keep Homau contained, preferable in the store so minimize the carnage and keep people out of harm's way. They braced themselves as Homau revved up her chainsaw blade and charged them again.
Meanwhile, the rest of the block has been evacuated. Police had set up a barricades around the other blocks to keep people out. A crowd gathered nearby around the barricades. Jaune was having trouble seeing over so many tall people, and he knew the nice police officers wouldn't let him through. He was about to turn and walk away when he noticed an alleyway nearby. He ran to it and paused when the alley split into three different ways, but then he heard the sounds of battle from the left and ran there.
He knew his dad would be mad at him for leaving the diner. But how could he not? He snuck out right after them and heard that they were going to catch a criminal. He could see a huntsman, his own dad in action! He could see his dad being a hero! How could he miss that? And at least he brought the bag of his things with him so no one could steal them.
He slowed down once he neared the end of the alley. He stopped when he heard the sound of metal and gunshots coming from the store to the right. He dropped the bag in a fright when he saw a orange faunus come flying out of the front window and crash into a car on the street.
Homau quickly shook the daze out of her head and rolled out of the way to dodge a strike from Jonathan. She charged and roared a battle cry as she quickly swung at him with her chainsaw sword. Jonathan blocked her attacks as quick as she could dish them out. When he blocked a strike with his shield, he saw an opening and slashed her with his sword. Her aura protected her from harm but she was pushed back.
She saw Glynda rushing towards her and transformed her chainsaw sword back into a rifle but she wasn't fast enough to get any shots out. Glynda hit her with several hard punches before using her semblance to fling her backwards, towards the alleyway.
Homau crashed against the brick wall and fell on her back with a grunt. She opened her eyes and saw something peculiar. She saw a little blond boy. She almost chuckled when he dropped his bag and tripped when he tried to back away from her.
"Jaune?! What are you doing?! Get out of here now!" Jonathan screams at him.
Homau got a twisted glint in her eyes. "Jaune… your son..." Jaune tried to run away but Homau was faster. She rolled over and pounced towards and grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up, holding him hostage.
"Back the fuck up!" she shouted. When they hesitated she fired a warning shot near them.
"Daddy, he-ack!" Jaune tried to scream, only for Homau to transform her rifle back into the chainsaw sword and press it to his neck, having several of the blade's teeth dig into his skin.
"Back the fuck up or he dies!" She shouted again. She knew she was only buying herself time, and not much of it. Despite how horrified the two hunters looked, she knew that they were looking for an opening, an opportunity to strike. The kid she had still being alive was the only thing stopping them, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they found an opening or reinforcements arrived.
A thought quickly came to mind, and she smiled.
"Hey, let's play a little game shall we?" Homau said with a grin. "It's simple. Just make a choice. Me," she dropped Jaune, "or him." Before any of them could react she swung her chainsaw sword, that she didn't have enough time to rev up, and slashed Jaune on the back, sending him flying into the dust shop's side window. Not even a moment later, Gynda and Jonathan heard three soft, high pitched metal pings and Homau tossed the grenade belt into the store with Jaune and quickly ran further into the alley way.
"Jaune!" They both shouted in panic worry as they ran into the store to try and save him. With Glynda's hand in his he drove to try and grab hold of Jaune while Glynda used her semblance to throw the grenade belt away.
It didn't get far before exploding and igniting the dust in the shop. As this happened, Jonathan activated his semblance. It was an impenetrable barrier that he can summon to surround himself and those he touches to protect them. Several seconds later, he deactivated the barrier when he couldn't feel any heat from the explosion anymore. He gripped his hands to make sure he had Glynda and Jaune in his arms, only to gasp in horror when he realized that one of his hands was empty.
He quickly looked to his right hand and saw Glynda's hand still in his hand. Then that means… he quickly turned to his left and saw something no parent should ever see.
Jaune laid motionless on the ground belly first. His clothes were burned and cut. His body bled from a large gash on his back and from smaller cuts scattered all over his body. Muscles on his arms and his legs from above the knee were liquefied into a mush of skin and blood.
Neither of them said anything when they sprang into action. Glynda tore strips of fabric off her cape and attempted to make tourniquets for Jaune's arms and legs while Jonathan tore of his shirt the wrap around the large gash on his son's back and got on his scroll, screaming at it in despair. "This is hunter guild squad leader Arc calling for emergency medievac!"
"Arc?" the voice operation questioned. "Reports said you were on leave for two weeks. What happened?"
"We encountered Homau and she… she got my boy."
"By the gods. Alright hold on…. Ok, I got bullhead routed to your scroll's signal but it will take a few minutes for it to arrive."
"Thank you." He put his scroll down and kneeled next to Glynda. "Glynda is there anything else we can do?"
Glynda looks up. "There is one thing, but it's risky. It will either save him or it could kill him. He's so weak right now, I don't know."
"Glynda I know what you're thinking. My aura's too low to do it." He looked at her with pleading eyes.
Glynda nodes. "Right." She places her hands on Jaune's forehead and chest. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I releases your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee." Jaune shimmered brightly with aura for a few moments.
Jonathan came closer and placed his hands on Jaune's chest and poured in what little remained of his aura.
Glynda puts her hands on Jaune's chest. "There not much left after unlocking his aura but I will also give what little I have left."
Jonathan offered a soft smile. "Thank you Glynda." He then tore off part of his shirt and, with Glynda's help, wrapped it around Jaune's body to try and cover some of the smaller injuries. The medivac arrived ten minutes later.
/
It's been eight hours since the incident. In a corridor with a blue polished floor and white walls that is lined with wooden chairs with leather cushions sat the Arc family. Jonathan was going over the day's events, wondering how he could have stopped this while his wife had finally fallen asleep after crying so much in his arms. Joan, Jaune's oldest sister sat by the door, a look of complete terror plastered on her face as they wait for news about Jaune. The triplets Jessica, Jemima and Jenny are looking after Jaune's twin sister, June. Glynda sat a few seats down, still covered in Jaune's blood.
A door opened next to them. Joanne woke up and she and Jonathan stood up as the sisters watched a faunus doctor walk out of the room Jaune is in and up to the parents. His expression didn't give them hope. The doctor sighed as he tried to maintain eye contact. "We did our best but, well... he's stable but barely, and were not sure he's going to hold on much longer. You...you should probably say your goodbyes."
Joanne falls to her knees and began to cry. "No , my baby boy, why….."
With tears starting to stream down his face, Jonathan helped his wife up. "Come on Joanne we have to be strong for Jaune. We should make the most of what little time we have left." It honestly scared Jonathan on how easily he said that. Granted he got used to it out in the field whenever a fellow huntsman or huntress fell in battle. But to say it about one of his children, his only son… it made his stomach knot up.
Everyone stood up and walked into the room. They all stood around his bed. It was a hard sight to look at. He was covered from head to toe in blood soaked bandages with IV blood bags plugged into his arm. He is linked up to various life support machines, the main one being a breathing mask attached to his face.
The doctor sighed. "I'm going to be honest, he's probably not going to ever wake up. Almost every bone in his body was broken or fractured in some way, his spine is fractured in nine places, multiple puncture wounds to his internal organs... his heart was lucky though, it is unscathed but in all honesty at this point we..." the doctor paused, unsure how to word what needed to be said, "we feel it would be best to terminate the life support."
Joanne looks at the doctor with a look of sadness and pure rage. "How... how can you say that?! You have no idea what we're going through! This is my son, my baby boy! How can I just accept his death so easily?!"
The doctor took a step back and sighed. "Look, I have children myself. I know this is a tough decision, that no parent should have to make, but in my honest opinion even if he ever recovers from the head trauma and becomes conscious again, he would have to be on machines for the rest of his life, which even then would be short. I-It would be nothing but suffering in agony for him. He can't even breathe without the life support system."
He paused for a moment to check his now beeping scroll. "I'll be back in a few minutes, I would take the time to think about it." And with that he left the room.
The silence that enveloped the room was deafening. The reality of the situation sinking in, and the Arc family and Glynda did not like it. They stood in silence, quietly thinking over everything that had happened and what they were told. The silence is finally broken when Joan comes over and hugs her mom "We… we should let him go. I don't want to see Jaune suffer anymore."
"What!" June shouted almost immediately. "Are you crazy?! We can't kill him!"
"Didn't you hear what the doctor said?!" A five way shouting match soon ensued among the five sisters. Jonathan, Joanne, and Glynda watched and listened to the arguments happening. They all had good points but it was an argument that would yield no winner. There was no right answer.
"Girls." Joanne tried to get their attention, but failed. "Girls?" She said a little louder. "Girls pleas-"
WHIP-CRACK
The girls stop arguing and snap their heads towards the source of the sound. Glynda had her riding crop in both hands. She let out a sigh and nodded towards Joanne.
"Thank you," she said softly before turning her attention to her daughters. "I don't want this anymore than any of you do," her voice started to crack ever so slightly, "But...we have to face facts. Jaune..." she didn't want to say it, "Jaune's not going to come back from this." Jonathan held her hand to try and comfort her.
"Your mother's right," he said. "From what the doctor said Jaune's not going to make it either way." He was disgusted with how he was able to accept his own son's death easier than everyone else. "I-It doesn't seem right to prolong it if he's going to be inconstant pain and suffering for the rest of it." Just by the looks on his daughters' faces, he knew that they understood and didn't need to press further. "If there's anything you want to say to him, a final goodbye, say it now."
After a few moments, Joan walked over and tried to smile. "Hey there squirt. I'm…. I'm..." she broke down into tears. "I'm going to miss you so much. Even though I yelled at you every day for messing with my stuff you always made me smile. I wish you didn't have to leave us so soon."
Jenny walks over and stands next to Joan. "Hey there little buddy. We had some good times right? Like when we flooded upstairs trying to turn the stairs into a water slide."
Jessica joined in next. "Yeah like the time we ate mom's freshly baked cakes and cookies and then blamed it on the dog."
Jemima walked up. "Or the times we played dress up. We know you hated it but you would always play with us and never complain, and no matter what trouble we got into you would never tell on us you even took the blame."
The three sisters lean down in turns and kiss him on the forehead, while tears stream down their faces. "We love you Jaune and we will always miss you."
June stands on a chair to reach the bed and wraps her arms around him. "Pleases don't go Jaune! You're not just my brother, you're my best friend! I-I-I don't know what to do without you please don't leave!" June began to ball her eyes out. Joanne came over and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back as she sobbed into her mother's chest.
Glynda walked up next and took the teddy bear out of the bag and placed it next to Jaune. "I'm so sorry Jaune. I failed to protect you. How can I call myself a huntress if I can't even protect the people I care about?"
Jonathan put a hand on Glynda's shoulder. "No, don't say that. It's not your fault this happened. If anything you're the reason he didn't die on the spot and had a chance. That's more than any of us could ask for."
Jonathan walked up, sat next to Jaune's bed, and gently placed a hand on his son's head "Hey there little guy. Now I know you have to leave us, but when you get to the other side you best be on your best behaviour. Don't mess with great grandma and grandpa arc up there too much, though I know they'll be happy to see you." He tried his best, but he failed to suppress his tears.
Joanne came over and held Jaune's right hand. "Be brave my baby boy. Remember, we all love you so much and we'll miss you." She leaned over and gave one last kiss on his forehead and tightened her grip on Jaune's hand. She didn't want to let go.
The door behind them opened a moment later revealing the faunus doctor from before. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" He asked softly.
Jonathan shook his head. "No, we uh… kids, could you please go wait outside the room?" The five sister hesitated but the slowly made out of the room and closed the door. "We've… made our decision." He stared into the doctor's eyes and the doctor stared back. The doctor understood immediately.
As the doctor walks towards the machines, Jonathan pulls Joanne into a hug as he strokes the back of her head as she sobs into his chest. Glynda puts a hand on Jonathan's shoulder as he lets a river escape from his eyes. The doctor pulled out a key and inserted it into machine command monitor, typed a command code in, and then looked back at Jonathan. He gave him a sad node and then the doctor clicked one final button, turning off the machines.
Everyone could only look at Jaune. The only sound that could be heard was Joanne's quiet sobbing. The doctor then walked up to the grieving parents. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"You people did all you could, there's nothing to be sorry for." Jonathan said.
The doctor could only sadly nod. "I'll…. wait." All three of them looked at the doctor and noticed that the furry pair of ears on the top of his head were twitching. He quickly turned to Jaune. He placed his head against Jaune's chest and one hand on his wrist. "No way. That's impossible. They said he shouldn't be able to breath without the life support."
Behind him, three people gasped.
.
.
Blaiseingfire: Homau Dacam was an OC I had for another story that I wrote and I was glad to be able to use her again and not have her killed off in the first chapter :)
Imagine my surprise when Cyber asked by to beta and co write a story that DIDN'T involve smut of any kind. Still, it was fun working on and I can't wait to see where this goes.
Cyberleader: well this certainly has changed since we first started throwing ideas at each other I am a little sad we could not work in the scene when Homau rips out Jaune's left eye with her teeth but the flow of the story would not have gone as well.
If you did enjoy Homau Dacam then I highly recommend reading Blaiseingfire's story The Things We Go Through