Remorseless (RWBY x Neglected Abused Reader)

Chapter 5 - Acceptance

-3rd Person POV-

The scene opens up to Y/N walking around Beacon, on his own. His hood is up, to cover his face, but his face is something to be concerned about. His eyes are dull and emotionless, along with being bloodshot, and he has tear stains on his face. He eventually ends up in Forever Fall, where he climbs up a tree and sleeps on it for a while. Though it sounds rough, bear in mind that he's survived in the forest for most of his life.

The scene changes to Professor Goodwitch, along with Team RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL, who have been instructed with collecting Red Sap from the trees. Though obliged to this, Team RWBY and JNPR have two concerns: The first, which is what concerned JNPR, mostly Pyrrah, was being Jaune getting bullied by Cardin and being forced to do his bidding. The second, more focused on Team RWBY, was Y/N's whereabouts. One day, he was laying by Blake's side, the next, he's disappeared without a trace.

Stricken with grief and worry, Team RWBY had gone and collected the sap as ordered, whilst at the same time, went and looked for Y/N.

Meanwhile, Team CRDL is making themselves as comfortable as possible by leaning on stones, trees, and the ground while Jaune returns to the group with six full jars, setting them down just as he collapses face-down. The surrounding team gets up in response.

Cardin: "Hey, great work, Jauney boy! Now that wasn't too hard, was it?"

Jaune: (still on the ground, cross-eyed and sounding dizzy) "I think I'm allergic to this stuff..."

Cardin: "Greeeeat, great, great. So, Jaune, I bet you're asking yourself, 'Why did my buddy Cardin ask me to collect six jars of tree sap when there's only five of us?'"

Jaune: (nodding, still exhausted) "That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes."

Cardin: (as Jaune sits up) "Well, come with me, and you'll find out."

Jaune moans and gulps in worry.

Now perched on a hilltop overlooking the other students, team CRDL - plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and Russel Thrush - peak their heads over the crest and watch as everyone is retrieving their samples of sap. Ren, kneeling to collect it from a tree, passes a full jar to Nora, who "Mmmm!"s at the gift as Ren trades it for the other jar in her care. He turns back to the tree and starts filling it up while several licking sounds are heard off-screen until the camera pans back to Nora, now with an embarrassed smile covered in red and an empty jar in her hands.

Jaune: (turning to his left) "Cardin, wh-what's going on?"

Cardin: (still staring at the unsuspecting group sharply) "Payback."

Jaune: (widens his eyes in understanding) "Pyrrha...?" (watches her gather more sap from a tree) "Wh-what are you-?"

Cardin: (pounds his fist on the ground) "That's the girl. Red-haired know-it-all thinks she's so smart. Alright, boys..." (pulls out a buzzing cardboard box with a large "W" written on its sides) "Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're gonna put him to work."

Russel grabs Jaune by the shoulder, who barely laughs in nervousness.

Cardin: "Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets." (Pyrrha is seen finishing her sap collection) "I'm thinking it's time we teach her a thing or two."

The members of CRDL get up. Cardin offers his hand to Jaune, only to painfully yank him up to his feet and shove the jar into his grasp.

Cardin: "And you're gonna do it."