Chapter Text
It had to be the hundredth set of stairs they had him walk up. Even after beating the hell out of him for the tenth time for his ‘smartass mouth’ he still had plenty of aura to work with. There were four of them, at least now there were. They started with two, and when Jaune had tried to take them out in an attempt to escape he found they had way more backup than he expected.
It was hard to tell if they were working for Salem or someone else. They barely talked to one another, only giving him harsh glares as they kept leading him on and on. His hands were cuffed behind his back. They were the real thing, having tried more than once to simply break them only got him a few chuckles from the men surrounding him. His armor and weapons and even scroll were all taken. Where to? No idea. This was all his fault. His stupid fault.
There was a fight, or no, it wasn’t a fight. He called Weiss something he really shouldn’t have. That was on him. So was the slap she gave him. He deserved it. Rushing out of his sister’s place like some sullen kid. He felt like shit, angrier, at himself than anyone else. What was wrong with him, why did he even say it to begin with?
After walking the streets of Argus till nightfall he was still hot in the head from what had happened. That’s when they came down on him. Eight, maybe ten? He tried to fight them off. Even as strong as he was, being outnumbered by well equipped men was not something he could handle well on a good day. It had been far from a good day. He should have run, bolted, called for help.
Instead, he stood and tried to fight all of them. He did well enough, till one got a good hit at the back of his head with something and he was out. Now he was their prisoner. Why? Why would they take him? He wasn’t important. No that was probably the vey reason, they would use him to get to the other, or to just ransom him off.
He wasn’t the important one. He never was.
“Get in.” On of the men was holding an old-fashioned looking prison cell open motioning with his gun.
“What don’t I get a phone call?” He sniped. His tongue was the sharpest thing still on him.
The one behind him shoved him into the small stone cell with the butt of his rifle “Oh we’ll take care of that for you, smartass.” The man’s tone was nearly as sharp.
Stumbling into the room he could feel the cuffs being pulled off of him, then the long rough groan of the metal barred door slam shut with a very obvious click at nearly the same time. He was here for the long haul. Maybe he could finally cool off. Doubtful that anyone was looking for him. Not with how he had stormed off. Now with what he had said.
Rubbing his wrists that were finally free Jaune took stock of his new ‘accommodations’. Basic stone cell, high barred windows. With how many steps he had walked up he had to be in some kind of tower. An old watchtower maybe? Or even one of those frontier outposts. If either was so he was a long way from Argus. There weren’t any places like that near the town.
There was a wooden barrel with water in it in the corner. Probably rainwater. Better than nothing, and a few thin mats with blankets haphazardly tossed about. The only light was the moon outside, showing through the high bars and the one light in the hall showing through the barred door “Wonder how long they’re gonna keep me here.” He talked mostly to himself as he went to the barrel.
Dipping a hand in he scooped up a handful of water and gave his face a quick splash before wiping the rest away. It was cold, but clean. Drinkable, probably. Rubbing his wrists after that he took stock of anything else that could possibly be used to help him.
That’s when he noticed the small shivering bundle in the far corner “Hello? Are you okay?” He asked as gently as he could, taking slow steps towards the small figure wrapped in one of those threadbare blankets “It okay, I’m not going to hurt you.”
The small figure turned looking out from under that covering. A single golden eye stared back at him. Their hair was dark though there was something familiar about the face. Jaune couldn’t quite place it. Probably just a trick of the shadows, that’s all. Holding out a hand he waited “I’m Jaune, Jaune Arc, I’m not going to hurt you, promise.”
The small girl spoke, her voice was meek, trembling “H-hi…” She barely moved, only gingerly reaching out till she took his hand. She was cold to the touch. It was odd.
There was something in her voice, Jaune couldn’t quite place it. She seemed so familiar it was strange “Are they keeping you here too?” He asked once again, doing what he could to be soft and gentle. They must of put her through a lot. It wasn’t just him they were keeping. He wondered just how many others they could be “Did they hurt you?”
She started to stand; he could see her having trouble. Her legs trembled even as he aided her. One step and then another as she walked into the meager light. Her hair looked a mess. A dark blue black held only the barest luster, her golden eye locked to him. Her other eye was missing, and as she stumbled into him he felt that her left arm was also missing.
It was the least of his concerns. No. When this frail woman looked up at him, he found the face of Cinder Fall. Staring up at him. Afraid. Weak. Helpless.
Helpless.
She was helpless here.
“I… they said I’m here because I did something, horrible.” Her voice was, painful to listen to, so weak, timid almost. She was still shivering in his hold. He couldn’t help it. Nearly automatic as he wrapped his arms around the woman to keep her warm “A-are… are you a p-prisoner too?” she asked still with that forlorn stare.
A million things were running in his head all at the same time. She was missing the grimm parts. No grimm arm, and missing her eye on that same side. Salem must have ripped it all out of her, somehow. She was such a pitiful thing now. It was sad.
He could say anything, anything at all and she was at his mercy. The one that took everything from him. His partner. His home. Nearly took so many others. The hate roared to life as he looked down at her. He was holding her in his arms. She felt so frail, fragile. He could probably end her right there, it would be so easy. Choke the life out of her, snap her neck, and so many other ways.
She moved, her hand came up and took hold of the soft cloth of his hoodie and pulled so slightly. Jaune had no idea what she was doing till she leaned in, resting her head against his chest “Y-You’re warm.”
He should want to end her, kill her, get his final revenge. She was right there. Now, now seeing all that was done to her. He. Just. Couldn’t. The heat, the fire in his chest that always drove him on and on, the fire that pushed him to do the insane, the same fire helped him fight Cinder at Haven, cooled. There was no way this would be revenge.
It was clear that Cinder had already been punished and left to rot by Salem. “Yeah, I’m a prisoner. I was caught meddling in a witch’s plot, and she had me tossed in here.” Was it a lie? Not totally, no.
“W-Witch? D-Did she h-have me thrown…thrown in here too?” she asked with that constant quiver to her voice. It was as if she had to relearn how to speak.
How long was she here for? It had only been a few weeks since Haven, was it that she ended up here not long after? Salem must have been pissed as hell losing that relic to Ruby. “Probably. What do you remember?”
The woman held tight to his hoodie as she stared right at his chest her single eye darting this way and that. Steadily getting more panicked “I…N-Nothing but t-this cell…” Again, there was something so entirely sad in the look she gave him.
Her single golden eye nearly seemed to glow in that dim light. Her left eye, scarred shut, it was probably that way from before too. Her arm, the grimm being gone, was Salem truly done with her? “It’s okay, well… lets start with something easy, what is your name?”
Jaune waited till he saw that same panicked look. Her eye darted this way and that and then locked gaze with his “I…. I… I-I c-can’t… I don’t k-know…” She rattled on “I d-don’t… r-remember” she clung even harder to him. He could see the tears starting to well up in the corner of her eye.
This was so divorced from the fierce and defiant woman he had fought not so long ago. How was this really the same woman. There was no way, the Cinder Fall he knew would have given up so easily. Could this all be some kind of act? Then what was the plan? To get him to feel sorry for her? Pity her? No, she would never lower herself to something like that.
He knew her too well. Probably better than anyone say Salem. The memory of her and him together. It stung. Hard.
He had fallen for her. Like an utter idiot, he fell for her. They were dating and then. The Fall. He was a fool to believe that she actually loved him, cared about him at all. He was such a tool. A woman like her interested in him? He was an utter moron to think it was real.
Self-pity could wait, now, he had to figure out something, anything at all that could help this woman. It was clear that the Cinder Fall he knew, they all knew, wasn’t there. Least not right now. Did she have some kind of amnesia from all the pieces being ripped out of her? Not unreasonable.
“Easy, hey, its okay. Here.” He moved, gently pulling her along till he sat with her on a few of the piled-up mats. Even taking one of the better-looking blankets and covering her over with it. She was still shivering ever so slightly but it was better “I don’t know what they told you but…”
He had a choice. Tell her that she was there because she did so something terrible or, or he could lie, lie that she was actually innocent. It didn’t take long for him to decide. He knew what he wanted to do, and what he should do.
“I think they lied to you. See, the evil witch threw me in here because I kept foiling her plans. So I don’t think you did anything wrong. I think the evil witch wanted to keep you here.” He finished with a light huff.
He was proud of himself. The little hopeful look to the woman’s eye was something sweet. The world didn’t need more cruelty. Right then this woman wasn’t Cinder, not anymore. How much did she really remember? He would have to find out somehow.
“W-Why? I… I d-don’t have a-anything.” She clung to his hoodie with her one hand as if he was the only thing keeping her alive “T-They keep c-calling me a… a-a monster.” Her shining amber eye darted to him, there was the tear, rolling down her cheek. Then there was the tiny sniffle.
“How could anyone call a pretty girl a monster? Nah, now I know they’re lying.” Did he just say that? Call her pretty? Well, she was, is pretty. More than pretty for sure but that wouldn’t be very appropriate to mention.
The woman stopped. Staring at him with her mouth just slightly hanging open. It was as if she had never heard those words said to her “P-Pretty? You think I’m…pretty?” the quiver to her voice calmed only long enough to ask that single question. Her golden eye returning to some of that warm luster Jaune had always seen.
He answered instantly “Well, yes.” Brushing some of her messy hair away gently he let his hand run down her cheek and held her “I can only imagine what you will look like once we get out of here.” He laughed more at himself than anything. A small chuckle. What was he doing? Comforting this woman?
Half of him wanted nothing to do with her, simply on what she looked like, the other half saw someone that was so lost, nearly helpless, he had to do something. It was who he was.
The woman buried her face in his chest and let out this little whine. Clinging to his hoodie she refused to look at him. It was cute. He could admit that much “What? That can’t be that much of a surprise. Afterall in the fairytales, doesn’t the evil witch only imprison the prettiest princesses out of jealousy? Maybe that’s what’s happened to you?”
There was a much louder and longer whine this time. Her curled fist left from clinging to him to ineffectually thumping on his chest like she was upset by his words. Making a weak effort to try and stop him.
He couldn’t help but laugh softly “Alright, alright I’ll stop, but I’m still going to get you out of here, promise. No one should be a prisoner to an evil witch.” Reaching around he held the woman against him. Petting her hair even as messy and tangled as it was. “Then I’ll help you get your memories back.” He went on then.
Her head snapped up to look at him, “Y-You would do that? F-for me?” Her thoughts seemed to mull for just a moment “I-If… if I’m r-really a p-princess… does t-that make you m-my knight?” the quiver in her voice came and went with no right rhythm. This time the tiniest upturn in her tone came through, hopeful.
“Well, I mean, I guess so. Doesn’t help that I fight with sword and shield.” He laughed at the idea. Him a knight. As if. Knights don’t pick fights with their own friends. He still had to deal with that. No idea how long he had really been gone though it couldn’t have been that long. Right? Maybe a few days so far.
Were they looking for him? Of course they would be. How could he even think they wouldn’t. They were better than him like that. They were probably going to be so pissed once they found him. Making them worry. Maybe if he was lucky, they managed to get that airship to Atlas. Then he wouldn’t really have to deal with all of it. Hell with Cinder in tow his goal was effectively accomplished.
If she was truthful and her memories were gone somehow, did that mean Cinder was gone as well? She didn’t seem cruel or entitled, no in fact she came off as, scared, terrified.
“For right now, I’m going to need a name for you. If you can’t remember your old one, how about we find you a new one? Till you remember your old name.” He saw the small smile starting to form on this woman’s face. She was sweet, maybe this is who Cinder was supposed to be?
Would it be so horrible to hope she turned out better once they escaped? Would it even be right? He knew her before her lost memory; would it be messed up to nudge her into being better? If Salem didn’t want her maybe she could join him. If she did get her memory back, maybe, just maybe it would be enough to treat her right to sway her to stay.
“A…A n-name? A n-new name? I d-don’t… don’t know.” She quivered out snuggling into his chest as she laid there atop him. She felt so light, almost frail.
Jaune nodded still as he petted the woman laying against him “Well… would it be okay if I gave you one?” It was a selfish thought, but he couldn’t help it. Maybe, just maybe this woman didn’t have to be Cinder Fall anymore.
She stared at him. The tears had long since stopped as did her shivering. She had that look of disbelief again; long stare with her mouth hung open just the slightest. It was cute. She seemed to try to start a sentence a half dozen times before she started to fervently nod at him “Y-Yes! Yes I w-would like that, Jaune.”
Jaune found that he couldn’t help smiling. She was so sweet like this. It really was such a selfish thought; to keep from becoming who she used to be. He would be lying to her, lying through his teeth for who knows how long. Would it be worth it? To mess with someone’s head like this? Jaune conceded, yes, it would me messed up, fucked up but, so be it. Maybe she didn’t have to be awful. Wouldn’t that just be saving her and all the people she could have hurt as Cinder?
“Well… I’m going have to think.” His head was a mess, there wasn’t a whole lot in the way of actual names in-between the moral war going on in there. The one thing that stuck out to him was her remaining golden eye.
He loved the color of her eyes, Cinder’s eyes. A burning golden amber that churned something magical as the sun traveled across the sky. Now, now this woman had a singular golden eye that shone with a simple luster. A long lost polished gemstone staring up at him “I know! How about, Auria? Where I come from it means golden or golden song in an old language, and well your eye makes me think of shining gold like the dawning sun.”
Jaune had no idea if she was going to like it. He hoped so. He was never going to have a line that good ever again. He was sure of it.
“G-Golden?” She watched him before, once again burying her face into his chest. The long whine again present before her head snapped up. There was this little pink creeping into her cheeks “I… I love it… A-Auria… Auria… A-Auria…” She said her new name as if a mantra.
“T-Thank you J-Jaune.” she said then before laying her head against his chest. After a long sigh he could feel her legs curl up tighter to her chest as she got comfortable. Seems like he was going to be her bed for the night. He didn’t mind.
It was all a mess, what was a little more?
He laid his head back against the wall as he continued to pet, Auria till he was sure she was asleep. There was this squeak she would make when she slept, when Cinder slept that had always tipped him off that she was out. Seems like some things aren’t just learned habits.
“Don’t worry Auria, you’ll never have to be her again.” he whispered more to himself than her “My legs are going to fall asleep… oh well.”