Black Diamonds

by ShorelineHorizen

Jaune Arc wanted to be a Huntsman, just like his Grandfather. At the age of ten, however... he witnessed true despair. In response, he threw away everything in pursuit of freedom, and to search. More than seven years later, he's hounded by his former Father and given a proposition, and also info on the perpetrators. Is Vale, or Beacon, ready for the 'Big Bro' of the Black Diamonds?

1. Big Bad Boss

*Cover art credited to the wonderful and talented rocketmeron on Tumblr. Give em' a look*

Welcome to an actual story of mine that I feel I have planned out pretty well. I'm not gonna take too much of your time, so don't worry. Most of you have read my first story High Tides if you're coming to me from my account, and I'd say it's gonna be of similar quality to that if not greater.

If you're coming to me from the other… you're probably gonna be disappointed, honestly. That was basically a crack fic given body, and just a test for personalities more than anything substantial.

For everyone that's new to my little universes, then howdy! You can call me Shore, if ya want. I hope you enjoy what I've started with this one, because it's gonna be a very nice read in my opinion.

Have at it, boys.

Chapter 1 µµµµµµµµ Big Bad Boss µµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ

It's dark. Just how I like it.

Light, however, sees fit to ruin my peace. Though covered with make-shift curtains, it still manages to find and pour through every hole in the fabric, lighting up the room more than enough for my tastes. I sink further into my chair, slumping down even more as I take in the sight around me. Directly ahead are a pair of thick wooden doors, made with artsy craftsmanship that shows off exactly how rich the previous owner was. Time hasn't been too good to them however, as the wood is laden with deep scratches and dents. Beyond that, the room itself also shows the promise of riches through woodwork on the walls.

A queen-sized bed is crookedly set in the room, facing the door just like my throne. The knickknacks of the previous owner lay untouched by me, cluttering up shelves and side tables without so much as the dust being out of place. Gold plated silverware, exotic looking urns, even a few ancient looking coins and books lay scattered around the room like confetti.

Without having to look, I know exactly what's on the wall behind me. A piece of art, probably clocking in at thousands upon thousands of lien is hung up directly on the middle of the wall. The landscape in it, in my honest opinion, is a bit nice to look at…

But I actually find the graffiti sprayed over it to be much more pleasing. I can't even stop the smile on my face at the thought. Frost really does have a way with those paint cans.

Just as I'm about to think on the piles of lien cards and dust crystals left pouring out of a massive wooden chest about half the size of my bed, the doors open and catch my attention. Slowly, I shift my gaze from the pile of goods to instead rest on the person now in the room.

"Big bro, we got a problem." The woman says in a nervous tone, trying to hide that by looking me in the eyes. Grey eye shadow covers the lids of her own, and pink hair frames what's visible of her face past the black bandanna covering her mouth and jaw. On top of her head is a white beanie, and that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of her outfit. Tank top, wrist warmers, shorts, socks and even the sneakers were all black and white.

The finishing touch for what has somehow become the standard outfit for the ladies? A monochrome zigzag patterned band around her thigh, barely an inch below her frayed white cut-off shorts.

To her statement, I just slump even further into my chair and groan with my hands resting on top of my head. I can already guess what she's gonna say, and I can't possibly think of a more annoying way to continue with my day.

Before I can ask, another grunt slides through the door to rest beside her with a furrowed brow. The uniforms are practically identical in my eyes, the only difference being the shin-length black shorts and lack of a thigh band on the guy.

They might be some fuckin copycats… but at least they copied someone with good tastes, right?

"Ain't that the damn truth! Jackass hasn't moved an inch outta place since he got here!" He complains loudly, left eye twitching at just the thought. I'd bet he was working gate duty when the annoyance showed up if I were a gambler.

Time to face reality, I guess. Just kill me now.

"Please don't tell me he's back AGAIN! Tell me it's someone else, for the love of fucking Oum…" I trail off, scrubbing my hands furiously at my scalp. No matter how many times I ignore this guy he ALWAYS comes back! It's like he can't take a hint!

The two share a look as if seriously contemplating my order before turning back towards me, the guy crossing his arms.

"Hate to say it Big Bro, but it's definitely him. There ain't no mistaking that armor of his." The male grunt confirms, driving my mind even deeper into annoyance at the situation.

"It's pretty recognizable." Pink hair tacks on, looking more confident than she did at the start just from the presence of her brother in arms. It's made more obvious than it would usually be by the pink monkey tail waving calmly behind her, instead of keeping stiff. Ahh, the benefits of having people nearby that you trust.

"Well, shit." I sigh, already feeling a headache coming on. This ain't gonna be fun, I can tell for sure. Nothing much to do but face it head on though.

With an annoyed groan I heft my weight up onto the arm rests of my chair and get up to my feet. Slowly, I stretch my back, letting pops sound off throughout the room from the cracking of my spine. Next, I just shove my hands into my pockets and I'm ready to head out.

"Big Bro?"

"Out front, right?" I ask, ignoring the question completely.

"Like always, yea." The blue haired man answers, resting a hand on his hip as he does so. The pink monkey faunus keeps her eyes on me, probably curious about what my plan is. Believe it or not, it's a pretty simple one.

"Moreno, Cotton, you're comin' with me." I order, watching as they straighten up and throw each other a wide-eyed look. I'm not sure when it started, but recently I began noticing that every time I tell one of my lackeys to come with me they get star struck. Don't ask me why. Kinda makes me feel self-conscious to be honest.

I don't give them time to respond. Instead, I start walking towards the beat-up wooden doors they came through to start on the journey outside. Automatically they slide out of the way once I come close enough, and as soon as I get passed the barrier of the door they fall into step behind me. I'm sure you could've guessed, but the rest of the mansion matches the master bedroom. AKA: Rich. Once upon a time this belonged to the wealthiest man in the village, basically the mayor and resident 'royal'. It's probably worth a good amount of lien, as well.

Now though… it belongs to me and my family.

Walking through the long halls on rich red carpets, I walk past room after room, and painting after painting. Along the way are familiar burn marks and piles of broken glass from what once were windows or expensive vases. Large gouges are carved into the wood of the walls, and I can't help the smile it brings to my face. On our way to the main room, we pass by various other people in identical clothing to the two behind me, marking them as part of my group. I pass by silently, paying no mind to the wide eyes of my grunts. The two behind me however, get praise from the various faunus and humans that we pass by. A nice display of camaraderie, in my mind.

"Is that Cotton? You go girl!"

"Moreno, how the hell'd you get to walk with the boss?! I'm so jealous dude!"

"You think I'll ever get the chance to help the boss? I wanna prove to him that I appreciate what he's done."

"I'm sure we'll all get our chance. He's our Big Bro, there's no way he'd push any of us away."

While I stay silent at the comments, my mind doesn't.

'Maybe there are a few new faces in the team after all. I'll get to em' eventually. I got all the time in the world anyway, so there's no rush.' I think to myself, suitably surprised with how many people I don't recognize. Silently I listen to all the whispers and comments as we pass by, each one making it harder to keep my expression schooled in my typical glare.

The walk continues like this for a good while. Along the way, I just admired the art on the walls and the amount of people around. Art courtesy of the spray can of Frost, obviously. Lots of regular people without knowledge of this place would definitely be unhappy with our 'artistic inspiration', but who the hell is gonna stop us? Everyone here not only knows what these people did, but many were their victims. Not a single person stood against the vandalism, and for a hell like this, I encouraged it. Finally, we come up on what people call a 'foyer'. A massive crystal chandelier rests just above eye level to the balcony we come out onto, covered in lengths of black and white fabric in a creative fashion for just a bunch of 'delinquents', as the people of some settlements like to call us. Continuing on my path, I come to rest directly in front of the splintered wooden railing of the balcony and decide to take in the sights.

The chandelier is obvious, but beyond that on the same level as us is the front of the mansion we're occupying. On this level a wall of windows greets me, giving a pretty nice view of the sky and courtyard outside. The foyer itself is a massive room, a curving staircase on either side of me and with tiled floors that weren't cracked when we arrived. Doors, some untouched and others completely broken off the frames, line the walls at the bottom of the room, with two corridors extending further back into the house. All of this is nice… especially the team paraphernalia that's scattered all around with the colors and symbols of my members. Thing is though, none of this can be called the best decoration in the house.

The thing that holds that little title rests directly behind me.

With a leisurely air, I wheel myself around to look the way we came. Not the hallway, no. My prize rests just above that. My eyes flick ever so slightly above the doorway, and a great smile spreads itself across my face. Both members of my entourage follow my gaze, and matching laughs echo out into the massive room. Just above the doorway is a tall area of wall, easily enough for another floor in its entirety. Instead of springing that far however, the original owner decided to use the space to display a massive tapestry that I can't doubt may very well have cost a fortune and a half. When we first arrived, it was a massive historical rendering of the events of the Great War, something probably valuable to any historians that exist on Remnant. As soon as I laid my eyes on it though, I felt the tug of hatred at my heart.

The scene depicted on the tapestry was of one event in particular of the Great War. Many things happened during it, but there was one specific event that called like a beacon to shitty people everywhere during those times. The relocation of the faunus to Menagerie. Racists from all over the world piled an entire species onto a fucking island in the middle of the ocean and called it square. Even today, there are very few places that are free of subjugation towards them… and that goes against every fucking thing that I believe in. There's nothing more important to me than freedom, after all. The scene on the tapestry was an obviously racist depiction of that, with members of the faunus population being shipped out on a boat in heavy chains.

Over all of that, however… was a truly massive depiction of a diamond. Colored in the blackest paint we could get our damn hands on.

Not only did it ruin whatever this massive piece of shit is worth, it makes me feel happy every time I see it. And I see it pretty often.

A chuckle escapes me, synching up perfectly with Moreno and Cotton in that regard before I turn and start my way down the right-hand set of stairs. Glass and porcelain crunches under the soles of my sneakers with every step, and memories of exactly how this all came to be began to invade my mind at the noise. Needless to say, I toss those thoughts out immediately. I've got other stuff to focus on. The walk to the front doors was monotonous, but not in a bad way. It had the effect of calming my nerves before I face whoever this guy is and tell him to get lost, so I'd say I appreciate it.

As I reached towards the gold-plated handle of the door however… I catch sight of the glass inlayed into the frame. Despite being cracked, it's still more than enough to show me my reflection.

To show me what it is I've become after all these years.

Familiar blue eyes look back at me, having darkened just a bit over time. An angular jaw line tenses up as I look, still a feature of handsomeness in my own mind. A white headband covers my forehead completely, casting a shadow over my brow and to some degree my eyes as well. Above that is a head of short spikey hair, bleached so as to distance myself even further from the life I'd thrown away. Kept short and swept back, I'd say I did a good job of it in my own opinion. Further down, my reflection is wearing a short-sleeved white fishnet shirt. Now, it's true that to pull of fishnet you should probably be somewhat fit. It's also true that I pull it off flawlessly. Over that, I wear a black short-sleeved jacket with a hood. Down the shoulders, sleeves, and sides are thick white lines holding a single black zigzag pattern along the length of it. Left unzipped, of course. To match, I wear a simple pair of baggy black athletic sweat pants with white X designs around the ankles. White sneakers and two black and white bracelets on my left wrist finish off the basics of the outfit everyone else has been trying their best to copy.

I won't admit it to anyone, but I feel a bit of pride when members of my team started trying to imitate me. It really started a movement that brought them all closer together, and a tradition for new members to try and follow.

But those are thoughts for another time. The reflection of myself still has a few aspects to focus on, after all. Around my neck is one of my most prized possessions, but you wouldn't guess it from just looking at it. Laying comfortably attached to a piece of leather cord is a large chunk of amber, polished to a shine and laying framed in golden wiring. It might not look like much to someone else… but I can safely say that I'd hurt someone very, very badly if they ever got stupid enough to try and take it from me. Moving on, the next attribute rests on my hands. On the digits of my fingers live tattoos of the very same black diamond that watches over us from above the balcony, all in jet-black ink. You don't even want to know how hard it was to stop these idiots from jerry rigging their own tattoo guns. We can't really afford people getting metal poisoning or even something like tetanus, so I shut that down REAL quick.

And that sums up the man staring back at me through the glass. The only details left out, would be the diamond in white on the back of my jacket, and the one I hate thinking about the most.

That being the scar, starting at the bridge of my nose and extending evenly barely an inch underneath my left eye.

"Uh… Big Bro? You alright?" The sound of Cotton's voice snaps me out of my mind, and makes me realize exactly where I am once again.

Putting on a feral scowl for the jackass in the reflection, I throw the beat-up door open and give her my unwavering answer.

"Better than ever! I'm just excited to give this damn clown a good beat down…" I trail off with a throaty growl, slipping back into reality easily now that my thoughts are back under control. Without a second to waste I walk through the door with a purposeful swagger in my step, immediately being greeted to the sight of the massive yard and brick path leading to the rest of the village. Overgrown and green as hell is about as descriptive as I can get with what was once a lawn and garden, and for good reason too. After all, there are much more impressive sights to look at than that. From the crumbling and fractured fountain we're advancing on in the middle of the brick path, to the multitude of reasonably sized buildings that were once houses and shops just outside of the mansion's fence. As we move around the massive stone fountain that probably has more algae than water in its' pool at this point, I'm greeted to the sight of the massive gate, long since broken off its hinges. Just before that though, is a much more welcomed sight.

Multiple members of my little family, judging from the clothes and stances, all with various weapons pointed at our esteemed guest as an attempt to get him to bail.

The closer we get, the more I realize that whatever our guest looks like is completely covered up by the group of lackeys surrounding him. However, with every step I can also make out my members much clearer than before… and that brings a smile back to my face. A feral one, but a smile nonetheless.

"Who the hell do you think you ARE, gramps?" A young man with visible scaring on his shoulders shouts, waving around a spiked club as he does so. Despite being a dog faunus, that golden retriever tail of his remains steady, proving just how hostile he's feeling towards our guest.

"That's what I'm tryna figure out, man! Who the hell is this guy?!" Another male grunt tacks on with a stomp of his foot, pointing at the man just inside the gate with a wicked looking machete in hand.

"Forget who he thinks he is, boys. Why the hell has he been showin up every day this week?" A horned member asks, resting a fucking sub machine gun of all things against her shoulder. She does make a good point though; we all know from experience just how annoyingly persistent this mystery man is.

"Wait, what? Man, this guy's even more of a creep than I thought! Just get lost already old man!" My thoughts exactly. If only it was that easy to get him to fuck off!

"Yeah, you just wait until Big Bro gets out here! He'll kick your sorry old ass for sure!" A new grunt chimes in, bumping a modified baseball bat in the air as a cheer at the last part and showing just how much trust she has in me. Despite her short stature… I have this feeling she might be the most violent one here.

Not bad at all. Guess it's time to take the stage, then.

"Everyone back off him!" I bark, now more than close enough to the action to make a stand. "I'll be takin' it from here."

From where I am, I can't even see the man past the people surrounding him. In all honesty, I don't even know who he is or what he even looks like. Never seen him before… but that's because he's never gotten this close. Before we got here, my members and I would jump from village to village, something we put on hold for now. During that time, my contacts would always mention to me something about a guy in armor passing through town only days after we moved on. That wouldn't usually be important when mentioned the first time, I mean Huntsmen pass through towns all the time.

By the time he passed through a previous village we were at just days before for the FIFTH time, I was convinced he was following us.

Here, he'd finally caught up to us without a doubt. It took him longer than usual, but he made it to us once we finished fixing this hell hole, and I was the first person to be told. Naturally. Instead of choosing to deal with it myself, I sent some of my stronger members directly to him as a way to get him out of the village. Needless to say, that didn't work. He never fought them, and they never instigated. He took all the verbal beatings they threw at him and never did so back. The only thing he ever said, time and time again, was a request. That he wanted to talk to me.

Seeing a heavily armored man walk into your town and ask for you directly? Yea I'm pretty sure he's lookin' for a fight.

So I guess I'll just have to give him one. He's been a thorn in my side for more than long enough.

Immediately, every team member we'd found at the gate froze up. Some were mid-wave of their weapons and others might've been changing position, but they all stiffened up just the same. Silence rested for a good solid moment with no one moving until the scarred faunus broke it with a chuckle.

"You're in trouble now, big guy…"

Gradually, my boys and girls backed off him. With every inch, more of the mysterious armored man was revealed. In just a few seconds, all of the grunts were lined up next to both Moreno and Cotton at my side, weapons now held at ease with my appearance on the field. I feel pride at that, but that's a story for another time entirely. Instead of focusing on something like that… my eyes are locked onto the man just in front of the dented and bent remains of the gate.

A tall man indeed, he stood about three inches taller than myself, putting him at a respectable 6'4". A head of light blonde hair was proudly displayed, cut relatively short and matched by a beard of a similar color. Beyond the face warmer of his, deep blue eyes look back at me. Covered by plate armor pretty much every where besides his head, he cut an intimidating figure in the white and gold metal. Around his waist he wore a leather belt with multiple pouches and a broadsword hung from it. On his back, something massive and obscured by cloth was left hanging, nearly as tall as I was from the looks of it.

I feel my jaw threaten to drop as I look at the man before me. The eyes and the hair are already a dead give away as to his blood, but that's not all. That sword is directly from the family armory, and the two familiar golden arcs displayed prominently on the breast of his armor left no room for mistake about his identity.

Someone I never thought I'd find here.

"Pops? The hell you doing here?" I ask obliviously, completely confused about his presence in my village.

Confusion shoots across the mans face at the words I threw at him, and the hand gripping the handle of his sword tightened ever so slightly. Slowly, he stapled his eyes to me and soaked in my appearance. The hair, the clothes, the eyes, I watched as he committed everything he saw to memory, but still the confusion on his face didn't leave. Then he froze.

The grip on the handle of his weapon was lost completely as the arm went limp. His mouth was agape… and his eyes were completely and utterly locked onto one key aspect about me. Less than an inch below my own eyes, his gaze was lasered in on the scar I will forever have marring my existence.

"… son?" The man mutters out to me, still flabbergasted at the sight before him. That's right. Apparently the man that's been tailing my group has been none other than Acacius Arc, current head of the Arc family and father of seven young ladies.

Also the husband to the nastiest, most miserable bitch in the fucking galaxy.

"Once upon a time I was. Why've you been following me old man?" I ask straight to the point. I'm in no mood or mindset to get acquainted with the Arcs again. If I had my way, I'd never have to deal with any of them for the rest of my fucking life. I can clearly hear the intakes of breath from my family around me at the new knowledge, but I pay it no mind. This isn't anything I need to hide… just something that I'd like to.

"Is this guy really your dad, Don?" Asks Cotton from my side, nervousness barely hidden in her voice. Before I can answer, Acacius pops his fuckin top.

"Don? What the hell is going on here Jaune?! Are you telling me this entire time that you've been the leader of the Black Diamonds?" He asks incredulously, more or less demanding an answer from me.

'Here we fuckin go…' The thought crosses through my mind just as I let out a tired sigh, my head hanging in complete resignation.

"You could say that. I'm the leader around here after all, so I'm pretty sure that also makes me the boss of the Black Diamonds. You should be able to tell just from the way I dress, since they all emulate my style. Unless your eyesight's going, old man." I admit freely with a parting jab before rocking my head up and staring pointedly directly into his eyes. "As for the name… you should know why it ain't Jaune, pops. When I bailed, I left behind everything. Especially the family."

I watch him flinch at that, but can't bring myself to feel sorry for such a weak man.

"So… when did the Don thing happen?" Once again, I sigh in response. I can tell there's gonna be a lot of talking today. I'm already over it, honestly.

"For the longest time after I left, I considered myself completely nameless." I ignore another flinch because of my bluntness and continue anyway. "My entire trip to Mistral, actually. While traveling people kept recruiting themselves left and right around me for their own reasons, and one day we just became the Black Diamonds. Never once have I said my name, or even given myself a new one. I was completely fine with not having one at all. One day though, the people that I'd been leading just started calling me different names. Aniki, Big Bro, and Don are the only ones that stuck, and I just got used to it. That answer it?" I explain with distance in my voice, eyeing the armored man coldly.

"I understand that… but I still can't figure out why you left in the first place, Jaune. Why would you run away, especially so soon after what happened?" He's keeping surprisingly calm… even a bit rational. I can hardly believe it, but it's almost like he changed for the better over the year. Understanding used to be the downfall of the entire Arc family before I set out on my own. I wonder if maybe that's changed?

…

I have to suppress an honest snort at the thought.

"You remember how she treated that entire thing right?"

"How could I forget…" A surprising amount of distaste colored his voice as he said that.

"Her ideas and wishes went against every single fucking thing I believe in. She wanted to keep me locked away from the world forever, and control every god damn thing I did! Then the second that I have my aura, she just up and declares that I'll be a damn Huntsmen! That bitch wanted me to have the EXACT opposite of freedom, and that's the most important thing in this world!" I shout at him, pissed off at just the memory of those days. Ya think you can just choose for me? Yea right, I'd rather die than have people making my damn choices!

"Preach it, Big Bro! Life is nothing without that!" Cheers the machine gun toting grunt, sounding supremely happy with my defense. For some reason, a smile sprouts up on my father's face. A chuckle soon follows, and his gaze turns to a far warmer one.

"You really took Dad's words to heart, didn't you?" He asks, nearly under his breath.

"Of course I did! Gramps was my hero. Saved me from that rotten ol' lady of yours all the time." I comment, now crossing my arms over my chest comfortably.

Surprisingly, a genuine laugh bubbles up from the man. Deep and joyful, you'd think I didn't just insult his wife. What a weird guy…

"Probably why she hated him, now that I think of it!" He says with another belt of laughter following. Try as I might, a sick smile falls onto my face at the joke. It's a true one, that's why it got to me. Even as a kid, I could see just how much she disliked gramps.

"Fun as this is, I think it's time we get down to business." I say, turning the tone of the conversation on its head. "Why were you looking for the boss of the Black Diamonds?"

Immediately, a sharpness enters Acacius' eyes, proving the fact that he's a real Huntsman. His posture straightens up near automatically, and I'm calling it right now that his tone has changed too.

"I have the same thoughts, but you'll probably be surprised." He says in a much steadier voice, completely proving that I would have won if I placed a bet. "I was planning on asking if any of his contacts had seen you, son. I found logs for your ticket to Mistral nearly a year and a half ago at the port. Every bit of free time I had between missions was spent looking for you out here."

My jaw truly drops this time, showing just how much of an impact these words have on me. The old Acacius wouldn't dare step out of the influence of his wife… and you don't need a scientist to know what she must think of me. For a solid moment, the gears in my mind were left to turn before I finally regained my composure, my arms that had fallen limp now resting on my hips.

"Bet Ma and her little girls aren't too happy about that, pops. How'd ya manage to convince them of that?" I ask him seriously, flippant attitude nearly completely gone at this point. Even if they'd changed their ways, I don't think I can forgive them. I'm damn sure not gonna risk falling under that sour woman's thumb again, I'd rather dissolve Black Diamond than come anywhere near her.

In other words, never gonna fuckin' happen.

A lost look washes over him, his eyes dropping just a bit before he answered my question. "I didn't."

"What?" My instant reaction was that of confusion, but still he continued.

"Ever since you'd disappeared, your mother and I have been fighting. It came to a head a while ago… and I haven't been in contact with her in nearly two years. Right before I set out to search Remnant for my son." He explains further, a stoney look taking over him at his own words. I, for my part, feel nothing but shock.

This man broke free of his wife's will? The same man that went along with every one of her wishes since before I was born?

For me? A runaway? I can't help but be not only impressed… but also suspicious.

No matter how shady I think it is though, the fact that he's even out in Mistral looking for me is enough to inspire some trust in his words. If my contacts are right, he's been trailing us for months as well. All in an attempt to find some info about his son from the big bad leader of the Black Diamonds.

Imagine that.

Silently, I turn from side to side and take stock of my supporters, seeing all of them completely off of their guard now. Shock is present in many of their eyes, and in some cases confusion takes that place. Not hard to find out why, but still I find it pretty amusing. I take just a moment to think about my next plan of action… and resignation fills my heart as I realize what my mind is pointing to.

I take a deep breath just to steel myself for what I'm about to do. I'm not too proud of giving him this chance either, after years of hating on the Arc name. Sometimes though… I guess people can grow some spine.

"You… wanna grab some food from the restaurant in the village?" I ask, trying my best to sound confident and uncaring. "For old times' sake."

He just gives me a smile. One I haven't seen since I was ten years old.

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"So I noticed that everyone in your gang has their aura unlocked…" Acacius trails off as a conversation starter, now sat at the table of the single diner in town with a bowl of stew in front of him. The mansion isn't the only place we have occupied in the town, after all. Besides, having a hub for meals like this is good for the group in my opinion. I'm sat across from him with a similar bowl, and I roll my eyes at his shitty segue.

"Course you'd notice, mister sensor." I say with no venom in my voice. "It wasn't always that way… but after we came to Po village, I felt it was a good step. Feel me?"

"A dangerous one… but it looks like it worked out. What made you decide to unlock everyone?" He asks with honest curiosity as he eats a spoonful of his meal. Not a bad question, but I doubt he'll like the answer behind it.

I know I don't.

"You remember the heavy shoulder scars on my guy outside, right?" He pauses at my question, but answers after a second of thought.

"The one with the club and the dog tail, right? Yea I remember the guy." I nod, and continue on.

"He's pretty much a walking example of why. My people and I came to Po village because there were some rumors that I was interested in. Everything seemed pretty normal at first." I state truthfully, with a large amount of distaste filling my voice towards the end. This tale isn't a pretty one.

"I feel there's a but coming…" And you'd be right, old man.

"But, then I saw the people in this town for what they really were. While I was hunting for the info I wanted, I heard screams from under the ground. Everyone I asked about it got shifty and changed the topic, so naturally my boys and I stormed the biggest house in the town to get some answers." He nearly spits out his stew at my logic, but that's his problem. "The one you found us at, actually. I found Shiko tucked away in one of their back rooms with his arms cut to the goddamn bone, bleeding out for trying to fight back." I say, growing more into my normal attitude with every word. I'm still pissed about this shitty town.

"Fight… back?" Despite the confusion in his voice, I can see him gripping the table quite hard. Seems he's got an idea about what's coming.

"Yep. Apparently this entire fuckin' place was just a front for an underground faunus slave market." I feel hatred bubble up in my heart as I say the words. "Literally. I gathered up all my people and we razed the place. In the end, we managed to drive all those sick motherfuckers out into the wild where they belong. I unlocked the aura of the slaves so their injuries would heal easier, and to give them a better chance at surviving the torture… I guess I just didn't stop with them."

He was silent for a very long time after that. That time was spent with him watching the steam rise off the surface of his stew, obviously battling with the information he just learned.

"You've been busy." He says, still lost in thought, but trying to move past himself. "And recruiting." He finished, taking another spoonful of his stew. His assessment makes me stop right before eating a spoonful of my own to correct him.

"Busy, yeah. But I haven't recruited shit. Black Diamond isn't a gang like you think. We're just a bunch of sorry motherfuckers that ain't got anywhere else to be." I see a shadow pass over his eyes at this, but continue anyway. "People that don't wanna be home, that got dealt a shit hand, that are out here looking for something, and people that just want somewhere to belong. They look out for each other… and follow me for some reason. Can't figure that out no matter how much I think about it."

What's so special about a guy like me?

"Don't look now, but I think I can see what they do." Acacius says, putting a light scowl on my face from the amount of cheek he's giving me. "You've been looking for those two, haven't you? The woman and that faunus boy."

"No shit. They deserve what's comin' to em'." My answer was swift and brutal. Just what they deserve. A wave of contemplation washes over him as he continues eating. I do the same myself, all the way up until he speaks again.

"I have a proposition for you, son." He says seriously, setting the tone for what he says next. With a twinkle in his eye, he spits it out. "The new year at Beacon Academy in Vale starts next week."

"No." I put my foot down, completely stomping the shit out of the idea in my mind. "That would be letting her get her way."

Wordlessly, he gets up from the chair he was sitting comfortably at. He stands to full attention, and just as I'm about to ask what the hell he's doing, his armored hand reaches for the covered thing on his back. Instead of interrupting, I let the scene play out by itself. Hate to admit it, but I've been curious about what it was this entire time.

With a firm grip on what I'm assuming is a handle, Acacius hefts the item off his back and presents it in front of himself, resting the bottom of whatever it is on the floor with a loud metallic clack on the tile. His other hand grips the cloth covering the obvious weapon, and in the span of a second he rips the covering off and tosses it to the side.

My breath hitches at the sight. Something I never thought I'd see again in this lifetime rests in his hand, and I feel a tug at my cold heart just looking at it.

An absolutely massive example of a greatsword rests before me, metal gleaming in the light streaming through the window next to us. Just a few inches shorter than me, it stands as an imposing weapon. The blade was long and I'm sure matte black once upon a time. Decades of use and wear has left countless scratches along its length, and small chips line the edges. Every one of them reveal silvery metal beneath, obviously something with titanic strength and composition. That's an Arc weapon, after all. I doubt anything short of a full-on kick from a Behemoth Grimm could even so much as pit it, so I can't even imagine what caused the damage to it. The handle was a two-and-a-half grip, just a simple pole of black metal wrapped in worn royal blue leather. In the place of a pommel on the end of the handle was nothing more than a thick ring of metal, around which was tied a small length of white silk. The blade itself was thick and intimidating, with the width of the blade being even more than my forearm. The real kicker though, was the complete lack of a guard at all. Nothing but a tapered area melding the blade into the handle rest where it should have been.

"Th- that's-"

"Yours." He interjects, grip lax on the handle of the massive sword in his hand. "If you consider what I have to say."

…

"I never thought I'd see it again."

"You're not the only one. They ended up finding it in the rubble of the village though, and now here it is." I… I need that. I can't bring myself to push everything aside for it though. Instead, I remain silent. I'm sure the conflict still made it to my face though.

"I also managed to find some of his notebooks in the library. I'll give every one of them to you if you agree." Still, I stay silent in the face of temptation. "When you were young, all you would talk about was becoming a Huntsman just like your Grandfather. I was a stupid man then, and gave into your mother far too easily. It took the death of my father to knock me out of it, and by then you were gone." Longing in his voice quickly turned to self-loathing, all the while he gazed intently at the blade in his hand.

"If I were a stronger man in the past, I'm sure you would be starting as a student of Beacon Academy next week." He's probably not wrong… but that's just not what I want anymore. What is the point in dying for people I couldn't give less of a shit about?

"I know you hate the idea, and I don't blame you in the slightest… but more than anything, I'd like to see you there. The place you would have been, if I hadn't failed you as a father. I don't expect you to agree… but I'd be in your debt if you helped an old man like me live out one of his foolish dreams." His hands are shaking, but I'm too busy thinking to really pay any more attention than that. The facts pile up quickly as I go over them.

"This… is a lot. And your leverage means a lot to me." I say slowly, a scowl gradually forming on my face at the idea of what would come.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. I wouldn't force you through four years of misery on your part for something like your Grandfather's things, especially since you care so much about them. Even a single semester would be more than enough to make me happier than I've been in years." He says with guilt in his voice… as there should be. Cheeky motherfucker, he's a lot smarter than I had him pegged for. "Aside from that, I think I have information about one of the people that you've been searching for."

At that, my ears pricked up and all previous thoughts and turmoil were thrown out the window.

"That is…?" I prompt, leaning in to hopefully hear what he has to say. To my relief, he didn't see fit to also hold the information above my head.

"Nothing on the woman. I've heard things about the boy though. Word is, he ran off and bunked up with the White Fang sometime after the attack." I give off a heavy groan and run my hands through my hair at that.

"Perfect. Now I got two goddamn targets to look for!" This day just keeps getting better, doesn't it? Now not only are a gang of bandits on my hit list, but apparently I'm gonna be going up against a group that spans continents.

That's just my luck though, isn't it?

"Maybe not." Interjects my meal partner, cutting me out of my thoughts. "Heard some whispers. Apparently, there's been Fang sightings in Vale recently. I think they're about to move into the neighborhood, if you catch my drift."

I cast an eye down at my stew after that, taking a moment to think before commenting.

"Vale, eh?" There really is more to this old man than I thought. I think I can honestly say I find myself pleasantly surprised.

I watch wordlessly as he leans the sword in his hand against the edge of the table and sits back down, already back to eating his meal without any indication that he just put a massive decision on my shoulders.

"Exactly."

Naturally, I find this weird as hell.

"Not gonna wrap your leverage back up pops?" In response, he simply shakes his head in the negative.

"Nope, you can keep it." Excuse me? "Believe it or not, dads' sword is gonna be staying with you no matter what you choose. While I do want you to take my offer for Beacon… this entire time I just wanted to see my son again, Jaune."

…

Huh. I never would have believed that if I didn't hear it myself. Heartfelt or not… I can feel a devilish smile sprout on my lips as an idea pops in my head.

"Call me Don, old man." I demand, naming myself for the first time in more than seven years. "Why don't ya enlighten me… what's your plan to get me into Beacon? Gotta be a good one if ya brought it up, yeah?"

A matching smile was on his face in seconds, nothing but deviousness and cheek. A chuckle escapes me as I realize just how similar our thoughts are.

Ya know… he ain't too bad for a pansy with a weakness for women.

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The hours are late now. My father left out for his campsite just outside the walls of Po Village. With me, he left the very leverage he tried to use.

In front of me, sits every member of the Black Diamonds. People of every shape, size and style imaginable… a good chunk of them former slaves of the very town we broke at the seams. Not all of them joined obviously, but those that didn't outright flee from this nightmare of a town were offered a place with us. The others are people from every shithole village and town I'd been to over the years in Mistral, some even from between them. Between all of us, we have too many differences to count. All the way from race or even orientation, to what salad dressing we think is the best. For all that we differ though, we all have something powerful in common.

"Oi! I got somethin' to say, so you mugs listen up!" I shout out above the loud chatter of the crowd. Nearly ninety people are splayed about in the massive foyer of the mansion. Some were resting on the ground in groups, others clogging up the stairs and some just leaning against walls. As for myself, I'm sitting on the railing of the balcony, watching everyone mingle with a blank face. One by one, they all settle down and in time the eyes of everyone is on me. Quietly, I look around the room, making eye contact with members here and there. Everyone was armed with their weapons, makeshift or otherwise and were having a good time.

In the past, I'd just let everyone do whatever they damn well pleased. Today though… I called a meeting for every member of Black Diamond for the very first time outside of announcements that we'd move towns. Today is a different day, after all.

"I guess I should start by greeting all the new people around the group." I start off normally, right before plastering on a nasty smile. "So how all you motherfuckers doin'?!"

My shout pumps up the entire group, a wave of sound being blasted back at me with much of it being cheers and chants of the team name. First thing I do is gesture them to get even louder than that, throwing in my own yells and shouts until eventually it all died down and the atmosphere was less tense. I rest my elbows on my thighs and leave my legs to dangle over the drop to the ground floor as I take in everyone in the room.

"Two weeks ago, my group and I came to Po village looking for information." I start off, not paying any mind to the wave of nods from the older members. "Not only did I not get that info, but I found out that this entire village was made up of racist, slave trading, jackasses. The next move we made was to beat em' down and throw those motherfuckers outta town." I say seriously, getting silence from everyone in the room.

"Think they got mauled by some Ursai?" At least until that, it did. After someone in the crowd mentioned that in a stage whisper, a wave of snickers washed through the room… even some cat calls sounded off for the joke. Despite the smirk on my face at that, I continue.

"We can dream, can't we?"

"Hell yeah!"

At that I gave a real laugh, something echoed by many of the members.

"Seriously though, a lot of you joined Black Diamond then… but not all of you know how the group started in the first place." The eyes on my increased to the max, and I felt interest peak at that. "So I'll tell ya."

Gradually, everyone in the room quiets down entirely, the attention now completely on me. Once I felt I'd left them waiting long enough, I start the story.

"I'll say right now that it ain't nothing amazing or special. Nothing like that at all. When I was ten, I managed to sneak into Mistral all the way from a settlement at the edge of Vale. It was a fringe settlement, actually." Not a single eye left me as I spoke. I took time to shift my weight just a bit before continuing on. "Once I landed, I spent all those years up until now traveling around the Mistral country side… village after village, and town after town. With each place, someone new followed when I left. In the beginning, it was because none of us had anything… or that we didn't want to be tied down to whatever shit we did have."

My gaze flicks down to my shoes, already too engrossed in my own thoughts to realize.

"That lasted for a very long time. Somewhere along the way though, that thought changed into something else." In a flash, my eyes were back towards the crowd, intently gazing into the eyes of every person I could find. "People stopped following us because they had nothing else, and started joining because they wanted to be a part of what we had. They wanted to be free from their lives to find a way and do what they want… and in some way, help us as well." The attention on me wavered… but not the attention on the topic. Many of the older members of Black Diamond are looking at me now with clouded eyes, stuck in the memory of the past. I can't deny that at the moment, I am too.

"And just like that change… somewhere along the way we stopped being a gang of strangers, and became something like family." After my heavy statement, I hop up and swing my legs back onto the floor of the balcony. With stable footing, I rest my weight on the splintered railing I'd been sitting on only seconds ago.

"Beyond all our differences… I feel that is something that everyone in this room has in common."

I can't bring myself to look at them anymore, but still I continue on.

"Because of that fact, all of you make it onto the very short list of people that I respect in this life. Many of you set everything aside to chase after a dream of freedom, just like me. The rest of you took a gamble on something you weren't sure was gonna work out, and joined us anyway." My hands grip the wood of the railing even tighter, and splinters fall to the floor from the crushing force of it.

"That's why, since I respect you all… I need to tell you something."

Silence still reigns in the room… but there's a light tapping noise that I can't place right now. My head is too much of a mess. I'm too focused on what I'm about to say next.

"This entire time, I've been scouring Mistral for information about the location of two people. A woman and a man that I have nothing but hatred for." I caution a glance back up at them from the splintered wood, and all I see is worry in their eyes. I know they'll hate me for this… but I need to tell them instead of just leaving. "I've gotten nothing but cold trails. Until today."

Interest sparks around the foyer in the form of whispers, but they die as soon as they started once my voice sounds off in the room again.

"Apparently the man joined up with the White Fang… and there's a good chance they'll be setting up shop in Vale soon."

This time, there is no whispering.

"A contact has offered me a position at Beacon Academy as a student so that he won't come even close to suspecting me if he's snooping around town. The semester starts in a week… so I'll be shipping out for Vale in a few days."

The members of Black Diamond aren't even looking at me anymore. Some are looking at their feet, others their weapons, and others still are gazing at each other with unsure looks. Quickly, before I get discouraged from saying what needs to be said, I throw my gaze back at the now ruined railing and prepare to grind out my last line. The tapping is closer now, but I can't be bothered to focus on that.

"I can't ask all of you to not only abandon a town you took and made your home, but also the goddamn kingdom you were born into just to follow me." Why does this hurt so much? "That's why… I feel it's time for me to step down as-"

My announcement was cut off abruptly, but not by anything that I caused. Just before I could finish my statement, a small hand gripped my shoulder tightly and spun me around. Before I could get even a glance at the person that fucking interrupted my shit, I felt the unmistakable sensation of a set of knuckles getting intimately familiar with the side of my face. While my head snapped to the side from the unexpected force, the hand gripping my shoulder only got tighter.

As is natural, the bitch switch just got flipped.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, FUCKER?!" I bellow out of fury as I turn to eye the jackass that thinks he can just get away with that, only to be shocked silent when my eyes lock onto them.

Pink. The first thing I noticed was the color pink. It's in the eyes, it's in the hair… and it's in her tail as well.

"Cotton…?"

"JUST WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, IDIOT?!" She bellows right back at me with righteous fury I've never seen her have. With her hands planted firmly on both my shoulders now, she shakes me as hard as she can and tears into me.

"What the hell do you think you're about to say?! We all chose to follow YOU, stupid! You think that just cuz' we gotta change scenery that you can stop leading the Black Diamonds?" She drills into me with her words, but I'm more focused on the sweat trailing from her eyes.

It couldn't possibly be tears, after all. No way.

"LAY SOME KNOWLEDGE ON THIS IDIOT!" That was all the warning I got before I was spun back towards the room.

"You tell his ass, Cotton!" A blue haired member near the bottom of the stairs yells up in support. Moreno, one of the new people I now recognize that joined from the remains of Po village. He apparently isn't one of the many Faunus that joined up after the fact. Instead, he's a regular human that got caught smuggling slaves out of the village, and was then enslaved himself for the trouble.

"Yea, what the hell are you thinkin', Big Bro?!" Another male grunt shouts in question from against the far-left wall. Pale skin, long golden blonde hair that falls under the beanie… that one's Parish. He joined up two settlements ago, in Yumat. If I'm not wrong, he was one of the people that tried to make their own tattoo gun.

"You can't get rid of us THAT easily, Don!" A womanly voice comments admonishingly, leading my eyes to one of the more comfortable groups settled into a sitting area off to the side of the room. In a white wicker chair she sat, dressed up in the same getup as everyone else, but missing the beanie. Long locks of familiar jet-black hair, curled to perfection, marked her as someone I definitely remember. A former escort all the way from a port town we'd visited briefly. She's one of the ones that took a gamble and came with us for something more than what she had. Over time, Melody settled into a mother-hen role that we never really expected to have among us.

She doesn't really stop us from doing dumb shit, but it's the thought that counts.

"What's it matter if we take a little trip, anyway?" Yet another female voice sounds off, much more girlish and coming from the direct middle of the room. The speaker, a panther faunus with long, snow-white hair that reached all the way down her back. On her arms were chains that, while they confused me, were apparently her weapons. Her name I remember as Noir. She was one of them that we found between the settlements, with nothing and no one at all.

I've long suspected that she was a Schnee because of her features since her hair is natural… but I've never come even close to asking out of respect. It's not any of my business.

"Who the fuck even wants to stay in Po village?!" A massive man was responsible for that question. Measuring in at about seven feet and five inches, he's easily among the tallest in our number. I remember him as the unhappy son and apprentice to a blacksmith in Retruna, a farming village. Never really gave a reason as to why he followed us and left the town when we moved on… but I strongly suspect it has to do with the glares his father gave to some of our members. Despite wishing to remain secretive, he was allowed to join like all the rest of us, and with no prying. Mochi's a compassionate one, that's something that everyone here has learned.

"I'm tired of this place anyway, Big Bro. Besides, I'm sure Vale has LOTS of nice places to tag!" A man I know very well was the perpetrator behind this. Frost Sera, one of the few without the face mask. A big smile is on his face, and even from this distance he shows excitement in his eyes. Naturally curly hair practically spilled out from his beanie and puffed up massively around him, leaving the mocha skin of his face barely in view. He is the one responsible for most of the art in the town, and impressively the depiction on the wall behind me. I remember him very well, because he was one of the very first to join. Years ago he was forced to be a farm hand for his family in a farming community only known as Shiki Flats. Before I passed through the area with my few followers from the other villages and stretches of land, he aspired to make art in any way he knew how. From paintings to sculptures, he spent his free time making whatever his mind could think of.

His parents set fire to every single attempt at art, calling it 'time-wasting trash'.

I remember him saying how he felt dead to the world, like everything was gray after years of this. He practically told his parents to keel over when he found out about us and has been around ever since. Eventually, with a lot of support from the other members, they managed to convince him to pick up a bit of spray paint… even though he was terrified of the thought.

He never put it back down after that.

The next thing I know, the noise in the room exploded into a cacophony of shouts and admonishment for the idea of resigning. For every person that spoke, I remembered them or committed them to memory. Line after line, shout after shout, a scowl spread across my face. My hands once again rest on the wood of the banister, and the deeper the furrow in my brow got the more pressure was put on it. More and more words were yelled, spat, shouted, and cried… until eventually the pressure grew too great.

The wooden railing completely shattered under my hands, and in that second I yelled at them.

"YALL ARE STUPID!" I roared out furiously, slamming my foot onto the balcony for good measure. The vehemence in my voice quieted everything down completely and totally… but I had a question in my mind at the same time.

'When did I start… smiling?'

Wordlessly after that, and with a smile so wide I felt my face was gonna crack in half, my hand shot to the handle of my weapon over my shoulder. My grip tightens considerably on it, and without any hesitation I tear it off the magnetic backplate holding it in place and wield it straight in the air, over my head.

The sword of my grandfather, the man I respected more than anyone else in this world, had every eye on it at that moment. As everyone observed the light gleaming off the slab of metal in my hands, I spoke again.

"But, if you're serious about following me to Vale… then I guess I can't stop you." My statement was serious and full of nothing but resignation in my mind. "ARE YOU READY?!"

Quickly, weapons were brought to arms. In just seconds, everyone in this room was equipped with weapons in hand, staring intently at me before shouting their response.

"HELL YEAH!" The roar was near deafening, but it brought a deeper smile to my face.

"THEN LET'S GET READY TO SHOW VALE WHAT WE GOT, EY?!" I roar out, giving my weapon a single pump up into the air as punctuation. What I got back in response was something I'd come to expect from them. As one, they followed my example and pumped their weapons as well, cheering loudly at my own shout. Soon, the cheering turned to more statements.

"Let's show em' what we got!"

"They won't know what the hell hit em'!"

"Let's kick some Fang ASS!"

I let the cheers go on for a while, listening to each and every one of them as they grow bolder by the second. I take the time to attach my sword once again to my back, and instinctively the members of Black Diamond do the same. After a few minutes though, I'm hit with the memory of what I have to do… before I lose the nerve. Stepping up once again, I address the crowd with a shout.

"YO!" It takes a minute, but gradually they all have their eyes on me once again. Taking a deep breath, I cross my arms over my chest and speak seriously. "Don't get too fucked up tonight, boys. Tomorrow… we pack up for Vale."

All was silent for just a second. After that, the noise picked right back up with cheers and chants of 'Vale' and 'Aniki' echoing through the room. I continue watching as drinks were passed through the crowd, and before long I turn to go attend to my matter. I make it a couple steps before my eyes lock onto Cotton, standing still to the left of me with her eyes locked onto the floor below the balcony. I can practically read her mind as to what she's thinking, so before I take off I give her a small pat on the shoulder. Her eyes shoot to me, wide and bright… and I give her a single nod before allowing my signature gait to whisk me away. Walking through the entrance to the hallway, over the noise of the gang and the chanting, I hear light taps that I now recognize fully as footsteps backpedal a good ways, nearly to me. In the next moment, those footsteps speed away and disappear completely. A loud whoop of joy replaces the sound, and immediately after that a massive round of cheering shook the room, matched by loud laughter and general excitement.

I have no doubt in my mind that Cotton took a stage dive worthy of a rock star just then.

A smaller smile than before finds its way to my face as I continue on my walk, even as I shake my head in amusement at the action. The smile stays firm on my face as I traverse back through the hallway that's become so familiar to me over the past weeks. Slowly, I make my way past the same shattered glass, splintered wood and gouged walls as I did this morning. The only real difference between then and now, being that it's all lit up by candles and lanterns rather than generator power. The light of the various miniscule fires make shadows dance over the ruined walls and light up artistic impersonations of various members of the group spray-painted on the walls via Frost. Just as before, I stare at the people on the wall as if they were the real deal. Gradually, the cacophony of shouting and noise fades to a much quieter level with each step further back into the mansion… and the realization of what just happened becomes clearer in my mind.

Despite many of them not really knowing me, every member of Black Diamond agreed to stay with me. In the face of barely numbering in ninety members, they unanimously agreed to go up against the White Fang at large with me if they needed to.

They were excited to go up against them with me, even.

Worry threatens to enter my heart and mind at the thought of just how outclassed we are… but in the end I force it to be washed away. If they weren't completely prepared to face the consequences, then they'd have chosen to stay behind or leave the rest of us. They know that, and they wouldn't face any hatred or repercussions for doing so. Black Diamond is all about freedom after all, and if they wanted nothing to do with us or my search, then that's completely fine with me.

Still… I can't help but feel pride for their dedication to something, even if that something happens to be helping this foolish quest of mine.

After what felt like a longer trip down the hall than ever before, I finally reach the familiar beat up doors of the place that's become my room. One was still left ajar from earlier in the day when we rushed out, so all I had to do was slip through it. Immediately, the darkness takes me. The difference from the light of the hallway to the calm darkness of my room was a bit much at the moment. So with a deft hand I fish around in my pocket, while the other grabs and opens the lantern on the wall next to me. With the item from my pocket in hand, I grab and flick it. A dancing flame bursts from the cheap lighter quickly, lighting up the room just enough for me to see. Carefully, I light the wick of the candle in the lantern and put everything back as it was, with the lantern door closed and the black plastic of the lighter back in my pocket.

With light now coating the room, I stare blankly for a few seconds, obviously procrastinating my next move more than I thought I would despite my earlier bravado. Eventually, a shaky hand reaches into my opposite pocket and grips the casing of my scroll. I take it out and flick it open, quickly moving to the call screen and for another moment, just stare at the numbers through the blue light of the device. A second of further hesitation is all I give it before my fingers fly across the keypad on the screen, punching in a number that I'd memorized only earlier today.

I watched intently as it rang. Anxiety bubbled up in my chest as it continued to do so. For nearly ten long, agonizing seconds the droning tone of the call continued… before it was picked up by the recipient.

I release a breath I didn't know I was holding, and before they can say anything I speak.

"Hey pops."

"Don… is that you?" The voice that burbles out through the speakers is unmistakably that of Acacius Arc. From his voice I can tell that I'd probably woken him up, but I feel what I'm about to say is a bit more important than sleep at the moment. He'd been waiting for years, after all.

"Yea it's me, old man." I confirm, my gaze shifting to the tattoos on my fingers only momentarily as I lost myself in thought. Almost instantly I snap myself back out and do my best to steel myself for what's to come.

"What's up?"

There's no admonishment or yelling like there would've been all those years ago… and I feel that is what truly pushed me over the edge.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer."

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Chapter 1 µµµµµµµµµµµµµµ END µµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ

Eh? EEEHHH?

Not too shabby, right?

I think you can see where the obvious influence of Team Skull is present here, with Jaune taking up the mantle of Guzma. Even still, there are some very obvious differences as to the character behind the team and the leader himself. In all honesty, I guess I just kinda liked the look of them and when I took inspiration, they just evolved into something different with a similar shell. The clothes are epic, and I guess that's pretty much the only thing that stuck around from Team Skull.

The story will focus heavily on Jaune, or Don, rather, instead of the dynamic of Black Diamonds. That might be a project for another time, but I digress. I'm pretty good at revealing stuff as I go along with a story, so you can expect many hints and cryptic references about what might have happened up until I reveal it entirely.

Unless you can figure it out before then. If you CAN, don't spoil it or anything for the others pls.

Moving on, I find myself very pleased with how this story is shaping up in my mind already. I'm eager to know what everyone thinks about it, so please leave a comment or something for me if you feel like it. Comments really make me feel closer to everyone, and I greatly enjoy reading them and responding in the next chapter.

Also, let me know what you think about the music. In my story High Tides, I usually try to set the mood with songs and stuff, but since this is a more serious story in tone, I'm not sure if I should keep that up. Let me know if you like that or don't like it, it would really help in the long run.

Anyway, I guess that's all for now. I hope all of ya had a good time reading this, and are eager for more to come!

For now, Shore out.