Author's notes here!

I've gotten some good critiques about my transitions in the story, and so I'm going to try to fix it! Basically, there will be less jumping around and such... or at least I'll try. It won't be perfect, writing so many characters and scenarios and plots at once is difficult ;-; Just to be clear, though, at the beginning of usually every chapter will be a little section dedicated to small ideas I've had. Usually they foreshadow events in the future or show some of Jaune's alternate upbringing in this AU. Sometimes though, they get pretty abstract, and can show things that may have been, or ideas I had once had planned for this fanfiction before scrapping them.

ANYWAY, IMPORTANT:

I want your opinions. I have two different branching storylines planned out for this story. Without spoiling much, one is a more heroic route (though still being the anti-hero type of character), while the other is more of an evil route (with all of the edginess). I want to know from you guys what you want to see, so let me know! ^^ Thanks!

Chapter 10

Business

"Why do you think you were made leader, Jaune?"

Jaune scratches his cheek quietly, eyes focused on nothing as he thinks. "Well, I always figured it was to make the team names fit the color rule."

"Well, I suppose that is one reason, yes!" Doctor Oobleck admits with a small smile, darting over to the chalkboard in the empty classroom, taking a quick sip of his mug. "I myself cannot think of any appropriate team names, but I am not Ozpin!"

Doctor Oobleck begins writing, the poor chalk wasting away as his arms blur across the board. Various qualities were quickly listed, such as valor, strength, spirit, and loyalty. "Tell me, Jaune, what do these qualities create?"

"Huntsmen."

Oobleck nods. "Yes, Jaune, but more specifically – or perhaps more broadly – it makes heroes!"

"Okay…? That still doesn't help…" Jaune replies, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't have many of those traits."

"You will learn them in time, I am sure, but that is unimportant. These behaviors, traits, they form wonderful huntsmen and huntresses who will learn to make the world a better place."

Oobleck then writes a second set of words, such as sacrifice, pride, bias, and gullibility. "With every positive trait, Jaune, there is a negative. Many heroes can make for incredible leaders, but the decisions that are to be made as a leader are not always easy. To save a village, while also risking one of your own lives? These choices, and their consequences, have led to almost every mistake in history."

Jaune sighs, pushing his hand through his blond hair in exasperation. "I do feel empathy, you know. It's not much, but it's enough to make your reasoning flawed."

"As with every mental illness, there is a scale, Jaune! I am merely explaining that, in some ways, you are better suited to leadership! Of course, Psychology was only a minor of mine, and I had several minors, and I may have only skirted through it with all Cs, but no matter!"

Jaune pinches the bridge of his nose in pure exasperation.

Roman Torchwick often considers himself a humble gentleman, despite many of his former employees saying otherwise. Why, he's the humblest, kindest person he has ever met! Only fools would think otherwise, and obviously he's surrounded by plenty of them. Animals, kids, a woman he despises…

What is this, a divorce?

Ha, that's a good one, he'd have to find a chance to use that later.

Roman sighs and shakes his head as he leans back against a crate of dust, impatiently tapping his cane to the floor of the dark, bustling warehouse. "Let's move it fellas! There's more Dust where this came from, and you all make such great pack mules, no offense to any actual mules, of course!"

Roman smirks as the grumbling White Fang lackeys start to pick up the pace. Such useful muscle, really. As soon as Roman allows himself to relax, though, the roaring of an approaching motorcycle makes him freeze. He pulls out his scroll and reads the date. Shit, that was today, wasn't it?

"Roman!"

Suppressing a victorious chuckle, Roman puts on a practiced smirk and stands, leaning on his cane and looking to the voice. "Kid! Love the new outfit!"

Jaune grins, walking up to Roman with his leather jacket and boots, his motorcycle helmet in one hand. "Thanks! I figured that I wouldn't be recognized with the helmet on. Clever, eh?"

"Very," Roman says, trying his very best not to sound sarcastic. He fails. "So, how'd it go? Give me all the little details!"

Jaune smirks, putting his hands on his hips. "Apparently, I've been told to clean up one of your messes, Roman! That must feel rough, huh?"

Roman moves one hand to his heart and the other behind his back, leaning to one side with a grin. "And here I thought Cindy was on my side. I'm hurt!"

"Even you aren't that naïve, Roman. I'm wondering though," Jaune said with a small smile, tapping his chin in mock thought. "Since we're both working for the same person now, does that make us equals?"

"Not a chance, kid," Roman replies immediately, poking Jaune in the chest with his cane. "It's a nice thought, though, eh?"

Jaune chuckles and replies with so much sarcasm Roman has to bite back a guffaw. "Yeah, yeah, I guess so. I could never be on the level of the Roman Torchwick, now could I?"

"Ha! Smarter than the lot of these animals at least, kid."

Jaune grins, looking around the dark warehouse and the busy White Fang grunts. Roman's eyes narrow as he studies Jaune's face for his reaction to seeing the terrorist group. Amusement. "Speaking of, Cinder's got you working with the White Fang? She didn't tell me that!"

"Yeah, she has a habit of not telling people things, kid, best to get used to it now."

"We all keep secrets, Roman!" Jaune says with an overly obvious wink.

Roman responds with a soft chuckle, moving back to rest against a large crate. "Speaking of, mind explaining this job of yours?"

"Tukson's Book Trade, apparently. Wasn't told anything about it, except the guy up front needs to die."

Roman scoffs, twirling his cane. "That's what she wants you to do? Didn't think that was a problem. Tukson's an animal like the rest of these," He says, waving towards the criminals around them. "Heard he's got claws."

"What, like a puma?"

Roman shrugs and lights a cigar casually, eyes narrowing in thought. So, Tukson's still a problem? Why wasn't he told about it? Sure, he's been busy stealing every speck of Dust in the kingdom, but making some inexperienced kid do it? "What's the reward?"

"Oh, I got it in advance," Jaune says with a small smile and a look that Roman knows meant he'd been hoping for that question. Without another word, Jaune reaches into his heavy jacket and pulls out a long white sheathe. Roman recognizes it instantly, and he bites down on the cigar still in his mouth.

"That bitch… Now I have nothing to give you, eh?" Roman asks with a bitter tone, leaning against the crate further.

Jaune shrugs, attaching the long sheathe to his hip. "I'd have expected your boss to treat you better. She treats me swell!"

"Just wait kid," he says, waving his finger. "Just wait until she has something on you, something that means you can't back out anymore. She won't treat you too swell after that. Video footage of you killing Tukson, for example."

"Oh, I'm aware," the kid replies with a sly grin. "That is why I'm here, Roman."

Roman smiles, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yes, it is. Thanks for that, by the way."

"No problem," Jaune responds with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. "Loyalty is not exactly my strong suit. Still, though, the both of you are putting an awful lot of trust in me."

Roman scoffs, taking a long drag from his cigar before blowing it in a White Fang soldier's face. "A kid at Beacon Academy that isn't full of himself or stupid enough to run his mouth, but also willing to work with criminals? You're not exactly the run-of-the-mill minion, you know."

"What can I say? I'm just too unique."

"Okay, so maybe you are full of yourself," Roman amends with a small smirk.

"Are you proud, fathah?" Jaune asks him in a child's voice.

Roman snorts and almost coughs on cigar smoke. "Kid, we need to hang out sometime."

"Only when mommy stops making you work so hard."

Roman shakes his head and sighs. "Yeah… What do you think she even needed with that information, kid?"

Jaune rubs the back of his head, frowning. "Well, Rose interrupted one of your robberies, but I doubt that was the entire point. That's why I'm with you, not her, Roman. It's just…"

"It feels like there's something bigger going on," Roman finishes, shaking his cigar softly and sighing. "I know, kid, I know. Apparently the both of us are going to have an important part to play in Phase 2."

"Phase 2? I don't like the sound of that."

"Yeah, as if all of my work up until now is just some kind of set up? Still, I haven't gotten the details yet."

"Makes you think, though," Jaune replies, tapping the crate behind him. "Obviously the White Fang needs all this Dust, and the robberies skyrocket Dust prices, but they aren't moving it out of the kingdom. Just… around, to avoid police. Like they're just stalling, either until you steal enough or 'Phase 2' gets started… maybe both. Is the White Fang going to strike Vale? It'd be the start of a war."

Roman nods. "Seems like it, kid. One thing's for sure, I'm glad for now we're on the winning side."

Jaune squints. "But are we?"

Roman raises an eyebrow silently, and watches as Jaune looks around the room. "All I'm saying, Roman, is that this is bigger than us. You know that, obviously. We have important parts in Phase 2, apparently, but what about after that? If that's where our importance ends…?"

Roman nods, sighing and inspecting his cane. "This is why I work with Neo, kid, you talk too much."

"I find it endearing," Jaune replies nonchalantly.

"Truly charming, yes, how you can talk about betrayal in front of Roman Torchwick himself," Roman drawls, rolling his eyes. "I have a plan, kid. For right now, things are good! Great, even! I get to order cannon fodder around while sitting pretty on a mountain of Lien, kid, and let me tell you, that's the best feeling in the world."

"Funny," Jaune says with a smirk, "It seemed to me we're the cannon fodder for Cinder's mountain, actually."

Roman looks down at his cigar with a grimace. "Yeah, you and Neo would get along great…"

"She not a fan of another woman stealing her boy toy?"

Roman laughs, brought out of his darker thoughts rather quickly. "You know she'd gruesomely murder you for saying that."

Jaune shrugs, "I'm a liar and a thief, but I'm not a liar."

Roman rolls his eyes.

Tukson sighs, hefting up a large pile of books needing to be sorted. He nearly drops them in surprise when the sound of the bell ringing comes from the front of his shop. He quickly makes his way back out to the counter, setting down the pile in a huff. Looking up, he finally notices the state of the shop, with the windows dark and the sign set to 'closed.' In front of him stands a tall blond man in a leather jacket with a bitter expression on his face.

"Uh…"

"Tukson," the man starts, putting on a small smile. "Heard you were wanting to leave."

Tukson glances to an upper corner of the shop, where there's a security camera. His hope fades when he notices it already destroyed. "What do you want from me?"

"Oh, I'll get to that. You do know why I'm here, after all."

Tukson narrows his eyes, glaring and taking a step back, noting the large weapon on the man's hip. "I do."

"Actually," the blond says casually, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't think you do. See, I'm supposed to kill you, but…"

Tukson raises an eyebrow, eyes wide.

"A friend and I have come to an arrangement. We want what you know of the White Fang."

"'Welcome to Vale', huh? Original, I guess." Jaune deadpans, looking up at a sign in the street. The rest of his team stands behind him, but Nora bonks him on the head.

"Don't be a spoilsport Jauney! We get to FIGHT these people, break some limbs!"

Ren walks over and puts a hand on Nora's shoulder. "In the arena, Nora. Not out here."

"I knoooow, I was just saying, we should be excited!"

"I agree," Pyrrha says with a cheerful smile.

Jaune rolls his eyes but smiles regardless. "Alright, alright. Ren, don't you and Nora have panc-"

Before he can even finish the word, realization strikes Nora, and Ren's eyes narrow in betrayal. In a blur, Nora drags Ren out of sight, giggling maniacally.

"Oops," Jaune says, rubbing the back of his head and smirking. He turns to Pyrrha, chuckling awkwardly. The redhead smiles at him politely, dressed in a cute red hoodie with Pumpkin Pete on the front and khaki shorts. Jaune tries not to look at her gorgeous, toned legs. "Well, uh, I was considering us going with them, but I don't know which place Nora's kidnapping Ren to, so uh… Want to go eat somewhere?"

Pyrrha smiles brightly, clasping her hands together. "I'd love to, Jaune. Where would you like to go?"

Jaune taps his chin and starts to walk, with Pyrrha close behind. "Not sure. Any ideas?"

"Perhaps somewhere Mistralian?" She politely asks.

"Homesick?" Jaune inquires, slowing his pace dramatically.

"No, no, I simply enjoy that food slightly more." Pyrrha's stomach rumbles loudly and her face goes red as Jaune suppresses a laugh.

"Right, right, well then, onwards, I know just the place!" Jaune exclaims dramatically, speeding up just a bit and smiling at Pyrrha's cheery giggle. The two end up in front of a small shop advertising a sale on Mistralian foods due to the new students. Jaune looks over to Pyrrha with a big grin, but is surprised to find it not returned. Pyrrha is looking at the shop with a small frown, and when Jaune follows her gaze, he notices that she's looking right at a large poster of herself. Apparently the shop is also advertising many of her own merchandise due to her participating in the Vytal Festival soon.

"You okay, Pyr?" Jaune hesitantly asks. Please no life story no life story no life story-

Pyrrha's smile comes back, but Jaune immediately recognizes how forced it is. Strangely, Jaune doesn't feel the intense pang of anger that he feels when Ruby does the same. "I am alright, Jaune! Would you like to eat here?"

Jaune rubs the back of his head and frowns. "I mean, we can find somewhere else. I think you're hungrier than I am right now."

Pyrrha moves to deny him, but is interrupted by her grumbling stomach. She blushes and pouts cutely, making Jaune chuckle softly and pat her shoulder. "Okay, Jaune, let's eat here."

"Can do!" He exclaims with a thumbs-up, opening the door to the small shop for her and immediately noting the intense smells. He'd never say it out loud to his mother, but he quite honestly adores food from Mistral more than her cooking. Wiping drool from his face, he follows Pyrrha up to the counter.

"Oh my!" The woman behind the counter exclaims with a practiced smile, "Thank you for choosing East Winds, Miss Nikos! How can I help you?"

Pyrrha's smile strains, but she motions to Jaune, who is currently trying not to make some kind of sarcastic remark about the name of the shop. "He and I would like a table not by the window, please."

The woman nods and leads them to a table, with a few costumers looking on in envy at Jaune being alone with Pyrrha Nikos in the flesh. Jaune is mainly just annoyed at the attention, especially so when the waitress approaches them quickly, ignoring the rest of the shop. "Hello, I'm Mist, here to serve you. You're a lucky man, to be with such a skilled huntress-in-training! Would you two like drinks?"

The two order drinks quickly, and Jaune rubs his temples silently as the two are finally left alone. Pyrrha frowns at this, and clears her throat. "Jaune, I hope you know I'm just happy to be your friend and partner."

Jaune raises an eyebrow. "Well yeah, of course. I mean, do you want me to treat you like the rest of those dopes, Miss Nikos?"

Pyrrha blushes and waves her hands around, looking rather flustered for once. "No, no! I just don't want everyone to pressure you into treating me like that!"

"Pfft," Jaune snorts, shaking his head. "Pyr, you and I both know there's more to you than that tournament shebang."

"You have such a way with words," Pyrrha mutters quietly, quickly blushing in embarrassment.

Jaune blinks. "Did… Did you just tease me?"

"I, uh, I don't mean any offense!" Pyrrha quickly flusters as Jaune stares incredulously at her. Her panic quickly fades into further embarrassment as Jaune guffaws loud enough to draw the entire shop's attention, had it not already been on him.

"W-wow! I'm rubbing off on you! Pyrrha, teasing me, Yang and I are such bad influences!"

Pyrrha giggles uncontrollably, a hand over her mouth as the waitress sets down their drinks. She calms, red in the face and sniffling, before the two order their food.

"Jaune… Thank you for everything."

"No prob, Pyr," Jaune replies happily, grinning. "But I've got to thank you too, this isn't a one-sided thing."

Pyrrha smiles, but before she can respond, both of their scrolls vibrate. Sharing a worried glance, they both check to see a new group message to all of Team JNPR.

Ruby Rose - [Blake ran away last night and she's still not back, could you guys be on the lookout? Thanks!]

Pyrrha frowns. "Oh my! That's not good. Should-"

Nora Valkyrie – [Yes ma'am!]

"Should we-"

Nora Valkyrie – [Renny and I will look!]

Pyrrha sighs. "Should we look-"

Nora Valkyrie – [I'm sure Jaune n Pyrrha will look too!]

Jaune snickers, but Pyrrha tries one last time. "Sh-"

Nora Valkyrie – [Or we'll break their legs!]

Pyrrha sputters while Jaune chuckles loudly. "Yes, we should look too Pyrrha, but after food."

Pyrrha, red in the face from frustration and embarrassment, nods and softly giggles. Jaune shakes his head and chuckles, leaning back in his seat.

"Thanks though, Pyr, for coming with me. Today's going to be a good day, I can feel it!"