Screw It, I'm Going Out to Find It!

Chapter I: Acting Odd

Jaune smiled, marching through the halls and striding through the soft rays shining from the windows. Nothing in the world could drag him down on a day like this. He couldn't bring himself to care about the odd looks the other students gave him as he passed by, a goofy smile plastered onto his face. He wasn't worried about Port boring him to death, Oobleck's tests, or an unfair fight in Goodwitch's class. No, he felt like he could take on the world and nothing else mattered. When he eventually made it to the cafeteria, grabbed a tray, and sat down, the others noticed his mood immediately, not that he tried to hide it at all.

"Someone looks happy. Who was it, vomit boy?" Yang teased, but Jaune ignored her the best he could.

"Did something cool happen?" Nora joined in, leaning over Ren in order to face him. "Oh oh, did you get us a pet? Is it an ursa — no, an ursa major?"

Jaune simply shook his head, focusing on his food as Ren listed the many reasons why team JNPR would not be getting an ursa major or any grimm as a pet. Ren was duly ignored. Instead of answering right away, Jaune decided to let the news simmer, hoping it would be more dramatic the longer he waited. Not that Weiss or Blake would care, though the latter was less a case of disinterest and more so one of reading her book instead of paying attention. He was also aware that Yang would likely lose interest, Pyrrha might only be humoring him in waiting, and Ren — he wasn't sure of Ren, that was yet to be seen. Though, if Ruby's rapid glances were anything to go off of, he had taken enough time.

Jaune considered standing, placing one foot on the seat and the other on the table, raising a hand skyward and shouting his news for the world to hear, but that would be too much. Especially when he might need to keep this a secret. Might.

He settled for dramatically clearing his throat, earning an equally melodramatic eye roll from Weiss, but drew the attention of those around him nonetheless. Satisfied he spoke as nobly as he could. "Dear friends and Weiss," he ignored the harumph down the table, "It has come to my attention that my name is a lie."

His friends were confused, and rightfully so. Ruby led the questioning. "You're name's not —"

Only for Nora to loudly interrupt her. "Your name is Lie too?" She gasped. "Are you Renny too?"

Deciding to answer most of the questions there could be at once, Jaune pulled out an old document and threw it on the table. It was his birth certificate which he had found recently and written on it in thick, black, calligraphic letters was 'Jaune D'Arc.' The table was silent, though it came from varying reactions. As he had expected, Blake only pushed herself deeper between the pages of some novel and Weiss was trying to tune them out waiting for the situation to blow over. Ruby was confused, his partner was trying to find what significance there was, both Yang and Nora looked disappointed, but it was Ren that truly reacted.

He was the first to speak, his pink eyes meeting Jaune's. "Jaune D. Arc?"

A silent conversation passed between them, Ren throwing out a challenge and Jaune meeting it. It was ended promptly with a sigh.

"That's not how it would be pronounced," Weiss commented, revealing that despite her best wishes, she had paid attention. "The D. is not an initial for another name, it simply goes with his surname. I didn't expect that mistake from you."

Ren did not argue with her, but he also did not concede to what she said. Yang took the opportunity to put in her two cents. "So, there's another letter on your last name? That's cool, I guess. It just doesn't sound that big of a deal if you ask me."

"It's a very big deal," Jaune countered. "It means I was born an enemy to the gods."

He received several flat looks, and Pyrrha gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Jaune, are you feeling okay?"