Professor Arc

Chapter 41

His mother knew.

That fact struck him like a hammer. Fear coursed through his body as though ice ran in his veins. For the longest moment he couldn't speak, mouth opening and closing yet with no words coming forth. "I can explain," he said at last.

He couldn't.

"Explain why you're on the television?" his mother asked, "Or why they called you a Professor at Beacon Academy?"

Both... neither. His eyes clenched shut, breath coming out in short gasps as he tried to find the right thing to say, something that would help him out of the mess he was in. The house of cards upon which he'd built this life... he could feel it teetering. "I did say I was taken on as a teach-"

"Don't give me that!" she snapped, "You told us you were teaching children - young children. Instead I find out you're working at a school for hunters?" Juniper's face twisted, "Tell me you're teaching mathematics or something..."

"I'm a support teacher. I don't actually teach anything."

"And that line about you being 'the youngest huntsman' to ever work for the academy?"

The sound of breathing was the only response he could give. It was enough for her.

"Oh my god...what have you done?"

"I tried to get into Beacon."

"As a teacher!?"

"No," Jaune rubbed his forehead, the hand coming away slick with sweat. "I tried to get in as a student but the records were too good. I couldn't say no and once I was in there was no way I could back out."

"Perhaps the truth would have been a good first step."

"The truth wouldn't have gotten me anywhere."

"Gotten you somewhere!? Look where you are right now!" Juniper Arc roared. "You're up shit-creek without a paddle. Did you actually think a lie like this could last? What are you going to do when you're asked to prove yourself? What will you do when they find out – or did you think they never would?"

Jaune scowled, falling back onto his couch as he looked up towards the ceiling. "Of course I don't expect it to last forever," he sighed, "I've screwed up, mom. I know. But I've gotten better too. I don't need to prove myself. I've already done it."

"Already done it?" His words were proved the wrong ones, her green eyes widening. "What do you- You've fought against Grimm!?"

"I came out on top," he shrugged.

"What were you thinking, young man? You can't fight against Grimm! You don't have training, you don't even have aura."

"I do now," he said, "To both of those things."

"Less than a year," she snapped, "Don't be ridiculous. Your father trained for four before he even graduated and for ten or more before he even attended Beacon. What do you hope to have achieved in just over six months?"

"I know what I'm doing."

"Clearly, you don't." She paced back and forth, the background behind a blur as she moved. "I'm coming to Vale," she said at last.

"You can't!" She would reveal him. She would end up ruining everything!

"We'll all be coming," she said, ignoring his outburst. "If we're lucky your father and I might be able to beg for clemency on your behalf. I can't believe you'd be this stupid."

"Don't come to Vale," he said again, "Don't come to Beacon, please. I've got this under control!"

"Control? Is that what you call this?" His mother gave him a long look. "We'll be there before the end of tomorrow," she said, the screen flashing black a moment later.