Chapter Text
Today was supposed to be a day of nothing.
Jaune had even scheduled it! A morning of absolute, glorious nothing just pure relaxation. Maybe some comics with Ruby, a bit of training with Pyrrha later, but the first half of the day? Completely, blissfully empty.
But when Deputy Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch knocks on your door, you answer it.
At least, if you want to keep your door.
Jaune really wished he had checked the peephole first though.
Because when he swung the door open, he was not prepared.
His hair was a mess, sticking up from spending way too long lying on his pillow. He was still in his hoodie and loose track pants—perfect attire for a lazy day, completely unacceptable for facing Beacon’s most strict and terrifying professor.
And there she stood.
Glynda Goodwitch, fully dressed in her combat leathers, looking tired, frustrated, and—oddly enough—concerned.
Floating behind her? Half a dozen weapons, idly spinning in her telekinetic hold.
And in her arms?
A small blonde child, her green eyes downcast, her little hands gripping the white blouse under her leather armor tightly.
Jaune barely had time to process before Glynda’s sharp, clipped voice cut through the air.
“Mister Arc.”
Jaune’s soul nearly left his body.
Thank the gods he hadn’t taken Yang’s advice and gone clubbing last night. Facing Professor Goodwitch in this state is bad. Facing her hungover? That would have been a death sentence.
“P-Professor Goodwitch!” He immediately straightened up, frantically trying to pat down his clothes and smooth his hair.
“There has been a series of unfortunate developments that require my personal attention,” Glynda said, her tone sharp but dripping with undercurrents of frustration. “Unfortunately, that means my plans for the day and tomorrow have had to be… delayed.”
Jaune understood immediately.
She had no one to watch her niece.
His eyes flicked back to the little girl.
Dorothy Goodwitch.
Jaune recognized her immediately. He’d babysat her before while helping out at Beacon’s nursery for extra credit. She was a delightful kid—sweet, curious, and incredibly well-mannered.
But right now?
She was clearly upset.
Dorothy was dressed in an adorable little blue dress, a neatly tied white bow keeping her golden locks in place. But her usual brightness was gone—her shoulders tense, her grip on her aunt tight.
Jaune’s expression softened.
“Hey there, Dorothy,” he said gently, his voice warm and inviting.
The girl finally looked at him.
Her face remained scrunched in a frown.
Yep. Not happy.
Jaune scooted closer, lowering his voice into a playful conspiratorial whisper.
“How about this—Aunty Glym Glam has to go do some boring grown-up work, but how about we go to the park? Maybe even the fair?”
Dorothy’s frown remained.
Jaune leaned in just a little closer.
“And if you don’t tell aunty, we can even get crepes.”
The little girl’s eyes flickered with interest.
Glynda’s eyebrow twitched.
Jaune wasn’t even trying to be discreet about the ridiculous nickname or the blatant bribery.
But — for the first time since she had broken the news to Dorothy — the little girl’s tiny fingers relaxed against her clothes.
And then—just barely—she smiled.
Jaune lifted his arms in a silent offer.
Dorothy hesitated for only a second before shifting toward him, changing carriers without a word.
He scooped her up with ease, holding her like he’d done this a hundred times before.
“Love your dress, little lady,” he said, grinning at her. “You’re looking sharper than Alyx herself.”
Dorothy’s eyes lit up.
Jaune remembered. She’d loved The Girl Who Fell Through The World. Had begged him to read it to her multiple times before nap time. And now, hearing that?
She beamed up at him. Jackpot!
“You think so?” she asked softly, her voice shy but sweet.
“Absolutely.”
Dorothy gave a small, pleased nod, finally settling comfortably in his arms.
Glynda, watching the exchange, let out a quiet sigh.
“Thank you, Mister Arc,” she said, her voice much softer now. “I will not forget this.”
Jaune smiled up at her.
He knew that if Glynda Goodwitch had been called in personally, it meant it was serious.
Rank S Huntresses didn’t get deployed for just anything. And for a school guardian Rank S? The situation must have been urgent, otherwise literally any other Rank S would’ve been called.
So, watching one of his favorite kids for a couple of days?
It was a no-brainer.
“Don’t worry, Professor,” he said sincerely. “I promise she’ll have fun and be safe with me.”
And Glynda, for the first time that day, felt a little less tense.
Glynda let out a slow breath, then leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her niece’s forehead.
“Sorry, dear,” she murmured. “Be good for Mister Arc, okay?”
Dorothy nodded obediently, though her fingers still gripped the fabric of Jaune’s hoodie tightly.
“How about this—when I get back, we’ll go to the museum. Just the two of us.”
That got a reaction.
Dorothy’s entire face lit up, her small hands loosening as she gave a bright, eager nod.
Jaune, standing beside them, smiled at the sight.
A few more goodbyes were exchanged, with Jaune assuring Glynda that everything would be fine.
Then came the part Jaune wasn’t expecting.
“Please be sure to keep track of all expenses and send me an itemized report for the weekend.”
Jaune had no intention of doing that at first. But then Glynda Goodwitch’s glare intensified.
“…Of course, Professor,” he quickly amended.
Once she was gone, Jaune retreated to the bathroom to change.
And as he stared at his reflection, pulling on a fresh shirt, he made a decision.
I’m treating this like a mission.
Dorothy absolutely adored her aunt. Glynda clearly adored her niece just as much. And Jaune knew, without a doubt, that both of them must have hated that their plans had been ruined.
He couldn’t do anything for Professor Goodwitch.
But he could do something for Dorothy.
So this weekend?
His mission was to make sure Dorothy had the best two days she could possibly ask for.
Which meant—pulling out all the stops.
The park, the fair, movie night, sweets—everything.
Leaving the bathroom Jaune scooped Dorothy up, effortlessly lifting her into the air before twirling her around and settling her onto his shoulders.
She let out a small giggle as he spun her, her tiny hands grabbing onto the sides of his face for balance.
“So, park first, my lady?” he asked in an exaggerated, gentlemanly tone. Angling for the door and grabbing his little emergency pack.
He knew Dorothy liked to pretend to be a noble lady just as much as Peper liked pretending to be a fierce Huntress. And Jaune?
Jaune knew how to handle kids.
Luckily for him, Dorothy was one of the easy ones.
She giggled again, nodding enthusiastically.
“You’re sure your head’s okay up there?” he teased, lightly bouncing her as he carried her out of JNPR’s dorm.
Dorothy just giggled more, resting her chin atop his head.
The two made their way through the halls, heading for the bullheads that would take them into Vale.
Jaune had learned his lesson.
He had nausea medicine in his pocket and had already taken a dose. The last thing he needed was to get sick mid-flight and ruin Dorothy’s day.
Not to mention—if Glynda found out he had gotten sick while watching her niece, she would skin him alive.
During the flight, Dorothy excitedly babbled about all the things she wanted to do.
Jaune listened attentively, asking little questions here and there to keep her talking.
And he never noticed the glances some of the other students threw his way.
The boys didn’t seem to care much.
The girls, on the other hand?
The blond was suddenly rising in their opinion.
Jaune’s luck was in full force today.
Because as soon as they arrived at the park, he spotted two familiar faces already playing.
Peper and Lavender. The redhead with pigtails running around with a wooden little hammer. While her friend just went along for the ride.
He grinned, tilting his head back.
“Hey, Dorothy!” he called, pointing toward the other kids. “Look who I found!”
Dorothy froze.
Jaune felt her vibrating before he saw it.
The excitement was palpable.
“Want to go play with them?”
She nodded so fast Jaune could feel it against his hair.
Laughing, he let her down, and she immediately bolted toward her friends.
Jaune, hands on his hips, took a moment to scan the area, his Huntsman instincts kicking in.
The other parents were already present, watching over their own kids. There were also a descent – but not overwhelming – amount of civilians just spending the day away at the park.
Which meant nothing shady was likely to happen.
Still, he kept an eye on his charge.
Though, realistically?
If some kind of threat did show up, Dorothy would be fine.
Because Peper’s mom was here.
And Jaune was fairly certain a full-grown Ursa wouldn’t stand a chance against her .
A warm voice pulled his attention away from the playground.
“Morning, Jaune! Babysitting today?”
He turned, spotting two older women seated nearby, watching the kids.
“Yup!” he said, flashing a smile as he made his way over. “Miss Goodwitch had an emergency to deal with, so I’m taking care of Dorothy for the weekend.”
Patricia Port—the woman who had spoken—nodded knowingly.
She was the definition of a traditional mom.
On the shorter side, a little chubby, but an absolute delight to be around. She always had something kind to say, always had a helping hand to offer.
Today, she wore a modest pink dress with white polka dots, her hair styled in a classic blonde bob with cascading waves and curled ends that framed her sun-kissed face beautifully.
She was also just as well-known a Huntress as her husband.
If Peter Port could wrestle an Ursa unarmed, Patricia could tear it apart.
Something that, according to Peter, was exactly how they bonded in their youth. And Jaune knew this because Peter never shut up about his wife and daughter. Getting caught by Peter Port while trying to say goodbye to the kids at the daycare was a recipe for at least an hour of stories or small talk.
“Yeah Pete got called in too.” Patricia mused, sighing softly. “Shame, really.”
She reached down, grabbing a thermos and holding it out toward him.
“Lemonade?”
Jaune took one look at the offered drink and politely declined.
“No thanks, Pat—”
He caught himself.
Jaune never used Patricia’s full name.
Because the first time they had met, she had grabbed him by the armor, brought him to a knee, and made it very clear that he was never to address her that way.
He was also never to call her “Miss” or “Ma’am.” At the threat of discovering why she was no longer allowed to bring her hammer to spars at Beacons arena.
And Juane was nothing if not smart.
…He had also learned that her “lemonade” had more alcohol than actual lemon in it.
And he was not about to risk that while watching Dorothy. Even if the diminutive woman could mix drinks better than Yang.
“Morning, Mister Arc. Nice to see you outside of Beacon for once.”
Jaune turned toward the voice and grinned.
Oriana Peach was married to Professor Peach, but unlike Patricia, she was a civilian through and through.
And the contrast between her and her wife was comical.
Professor Peach was a diminutive, energetic firecracker, an unstoppable ball of pure motion and enthusiasm. Jaune had once witnessed her hold an actual conversation with Professor Oobleck at his speaking speed—without a Semblance to enhance her.
It had been terrifying.
Oriana, however?
Oriana was tall, lanky, and soft-spoken. Where Peach’s hair was always neatly tied up in a tight bun, Oriana’s long, dark locks flowed freely in the wind. Where Peach had sun-kissed skin, evidence of countless hours spent outdoors, Oriana’s was flawless porcelain, untouched by time or the elements.
Two polar opposites.
Yet somehow, they fit together perfectly.
“Good morning, Miss Ori!” Jaune greeted cheerfully. “Am I intruding on Lavender and Pepper’s playdate?”
“Nah,” Patricia waved him off dismissively. “Our plans got squashed thanks to the Elder Call, so we just brought the kids to the park instead.”
Jaune paused.
Elder Call.
Capital E Emergency.
That meant all three of the professors had been called in for something truly big.
He glanced toward the kids playing in the distance, then back toward the two women.
Yeah. Even more reason to go all out today.
He had no doubts that Glynda, Port, and Peach would succeed in whatever mission they had been sent on.
But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t come back – at best – exhausted.
And Dorothy, young as she was, wouldn’t understand that.
All she would see was that her aunt had promised her something and broken that promise—twice.
Jaune clapped his hands together.
“Well, in that case—” He turned back to Patricia and Oriana with a grin. “Are you ladies up for the fair later?”
Patricia immediately giggled, shaking her head.
“Sorry, deary. I’m more than happily married.”
If Jaune didn’t already know how much of a tease Patricia was, he probably would have turned bright red. His ears did a bit, but he was growing accustomed to Patricia's nature.
So he just chuckled.
“Lucky man,” he said, flashing her a playful smile and a wink. “And I’m guessing I’m not your type, right, Ori?”
Oriana simply rolled her eyes. But let a soft smile grave her sculptured face.
Jaune let out a small laugh at her reaction.
“I promised Dorothy some crepes, and I figured I’d play a few stalls with her while we’re there,” he explained. “But I’m sure she’d love to spend more time with Pepper and Lavy if they’re up for it.”
“A delightful idea, Jaune,” Oriana said warmly. “But I’m afraid we’ve already made plans for lunch.”
She let out a small sigh.
“We’re meeting Pepper’s grandparents in an hour or two,” she added. “Had we known, we would’ve just had lunch at home so we could bring you both along. But I don’t think our reservation accommodates two extras.”
Jaune smiled, waving off the concern.
“Hey, it’s no problem, Pat!” he said, wrapping an arm around the smaller woman’s shoulders in a half-hug. “I’m sure Dorothy and I can have plenty of fun at the fair.”
Patricia patted his back fondly.
“I’m sure you will, sweetheart.”
The conversation flowed easily as they watched the children play, laughter and warmth filling the air.
Patricia Port, much like her husband, had a near-limitless supply of stories and gossip, effortlessly bouncing from one topic to another. Jaune found himself chuckling at her latest anecdote about how Peter once mistook a stuffed Beowolf plushie for a real Grimm and nearly obliterated it in a panic.
As Jaune watched the kids run and play, his gaze landed on a small boy and a young woman—his mother? No… sister, definitely.
They were both staring up at a tree, the boy’s lower lip trembling, eyes shiny with unshed tears.
Jaune immediately recognized the look.
Something important was stuck up there.
“Pat, Ori,” Jaune said, standing up. “Mind keeping an extra eye on Dorothy for a second?”
Patricia simply nodded, but Oriana followed his gaze, curious about what had caught his attention.
Jaune made his way over, tilting his head back as he got a good look at the problem.
A frisbee.
It was lodged halfway up the tree, tangled in the branches.
And it wasn’t just any frisbee—this one was bright red, decorated with a group shot of cartoon characters, the kind of thing a kid tends to treasure.
No wonder the little guy was so upset.
Jaune let out a low whistle.
“Wow. You’ve got a heck of an arm, champ. It’s almost at the top! ”
The boy’s sister turned toward him, one eyebrow raised. Clearly, she wasn’t impressed with his choice of words.
Jaune just grinned.
“Want some help getting it down?” he asked.
The boy immediately nodded.
But his sister?
She crossed her arms. “Ya really think you can get all the way up there?”
Jaune just smirked.
A few months ago, this would have been a real challenge.
But after training with his team?
While he wasn’t nearly as flexible or acrobatic as Pyrrha or Ren, but this didn’t require flips or fancy maneuvers.
All he needed was a bit of Aura and a solid foundation for a boost.
Taking a few steps back, he sprinted forward, planted his foot against the sturdy trunk, and launched himself up in a powerful, Aura-fueled jump.
For a second, he actually overshot the frisbee.
Luckily, he caught onto a thicker branch, steadied himself, and within moments, snagged the lost toy.
Then, with practiced ease, he dropped down, landing lightly on his feet. If he had to jump from branch to branch it would’ve been a problem, but falling down and letting Aura take the brunt of the weight was easy as can be. The reason my land strategy is just to coat myself with as much Aura and aim for something soft is pretty much that.
The girl’s eyes were wide.
“You’re a Huntsman?” she asked, interest sparking in her gaze.
Jaune knelt, handing the frisbee back to the boy.
The kid’s expression mirrored his sister’s—wide-eyed awe.
Beacon was nearby, which meant most civilians had at least seen Huntsmen before.
But that didn’t mean they were any less in awe of the fact that these people were superhuman Grimm-slaying warriors.
“Here you go, champ.” Jaune ruffled the boy’s already messy hair.
“Maybe try playing in the clearing on the other side?” he suggested, jerking a thumb toward a more open space. “You’ve got a stronger throw than some Huntsmen I know, but there’s way less chance of hitting a tree over there.”
The kid nodded furiously, grinning ear to ear before rushing off toward what Jaune assumed was the rest of his family.
Jaune stood back up, stretching slightly.
“Thanks, mister,” the older sister said, still watching her brother retreat.
Then, with a playful smirk, she turned back to him.
“You here with anyone? Or just enjoying the day?”
Jaune smiled, waving toward Dorothy in the distance.
“Day out with a friend’s kid.”
“Shame.”
Jaune blinked at her sly tone.
Then, with a cheeky smile, she added, “Maybe we can meet another day?”
“Sure!” Jaune said easily, completely missing the flirtation.
“Me and my team come here all the time. Just come say hello if you see us around.”
The girl’s smirk widened.
Jaune, oblivious as ever, simply waved before making his way back to the bench.
But what he didn’t notice was that his little tree-climbing stunt had grabbed the attention of quite a few passersby.
And some of them had noticed something else, too.
Jaune Arc. Cute. Responsible. Good with kids. Definitely strong. And—most importantly—single. As a distinct lack of a golden or silver band on his ring finger attested.
If he hadn’t been sitting next to two older women, Jaune would have been free game for half the single population in the park.
After a few more pleasantries—and several missed flirtations—Jaune finally returned to his seat.
None the wiser.
“Dearie, you are about as dense as my husband was.” Pat said, patting the younger man tight.
He looked from her to Ori, expression questioning.
The other woman just smiled and added. “Good winds to whoever tries.”
He didn’t get it. But Ori and Pat were not exactly normal, maybe they were just poking fun at him in their special little way. In a few moments they were back talking about their week, it seemed that Pat had discovered some new recipes and was just dying to get more peoples opinions on them. The amount of wine and peppers did seem insane for any living being, but she was doing a good job at selling the idea to Jaune.
But then, in a single instant, everything changed.
A piercing battle cry rang out.
Jaune’s head snapped up just in time to see Pepper launch herself off the jungle gym.
It was a bold maneuver, part of her ongoing battle against the ‘Evil Grimm Witch Dorothy.’
The problem?
She didn’t land properly.
Instead of rolling smoothly on impact, she scraped the ground, the rough surface tearing into her knees.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, her little face twisted in pain, her lips trembling.
To her credit, she tried so hard not to cry.
Jaune and Patricia moved so fast that half the civilians in the park swore they teleported.
Patricia was the first to reach her, immediately crouching down. “Oh, darling, are you okay?”
Through choked sobs and a half-hiccup, Pepper nodded.
Dorothy and Lavender were already by her side, the latter holding her hand tightly as if to ground her.
Jaune was already kneeling, pulling out a small medical pouch from his pack.
“Hey, Pepper,” he said warmly, offering a small grin. “That was an amazing finishing move. Seriously, no evil witch is getting up after that.”
A hiccuped giggle broke through her sniffles.
“But…” He held up a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, giving her a knowing look. “Landing needs some work. Think you can be a big, strong Huntress for just a little longer?”
Pepper instinctively scooted closer to her mom, but after a second, she nodded firmly.
Jaune worked as fast as possible, gently cleaning the scrape before reaching for his bandage pouch.
“Alright, we’ve got options.” He fanned out three different sets of band-aids like a deck of playing cards. Mighty Morphin Vale Hunters. Dino Squad. Power Princess Dhe-Ta
Pepper’s eyes widened at the selection before her tiny finger immediately pointed to the Mighty Morphin ones.
Jaune grinned. “Let me guess—Red Huntress?”
She nodded furiously.
Already pulling out the overly colorful bandage, Jaune couldn’t help but chuckle.
He’d never understood why, but somehow, cartoon-themed band-aids were scientifically proven to make injuries feel 20% better.
It had worked on him, his sisters, and every kid he had ever met.
It was a universal law of Remnant—like gravity, the inevitability of finals, or the absolute ban on giving Oobleck and Nora coffee.
As he tucked his supplies back into his bag, he shot a quick glance at Patricia, subtly showing her a few colorful treats hidden inside.
She nodded knowingly.
Jaune turned back to Pepper, grinning.
“And since you were so courageous, you get a prize!”
He pulled out three lollipops.
Instantly, Pepper’s teary eyes lit up, completely forgetting about her scraped knee.
Jaune laughed internally. Works every time.
From beside him, Oriana leaned over, peering curiously at his pack.
“Do you make a habit of carrying both a first aid kit and candy, Jaune?”
Jaune rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
“I actually have like half a dozen different packs for different situations… This one’s for sparring with my team.”
Oriana raised an eyebrow. “And why, pray tell, would lollipops be necessary for that?”
Jaune chuckled, shaking his head.
“Oh, those? Those are for Nora.”
Oriana tilted her head, curious.
“In case she needs a pick-me-up, or if she manages to control herself enough to not completely destroy the entire floor of the arena.”
Patricia burst into laughter.
Oriana, clearly amused, gave an approving nod.
“Positive reinforcement. Excellent idea.” She stretched back up and added. “I believe this to be a good moment for us to go. We still need to clean up before lunch.”
She extended her hand and Lavander quickly grabbed it. “It’s been an absolute pleasure Mister Jaune. Miss Dorothy.” Oriana nodded.
Patricia scooped her daughter up in a one armed carry. “ Have a good lunch dearies! I would love to set a proper playdate in the future.”
Jaune and Dorothy said their goodbyes – with hugs and a little fistbump with Peper and started walking in the direction of the fair. He extended a hand for Dorothy but the girl held both up. With a short snort he put her up his shoulders again.
“Where first my lady?” he asked in an exaggerated, gentlemanly tone again.
“Crepes!”
“As you wish!”