'I do not own RWBY. It was created by Monty Oum, and is owned by Roosterteeth.'
Note: It seems as though without meaning to, I've gone towards a bi-weekly schedule for my chapter releases. Honestly, I'm liking it a lot. Makes things far easier for me, and keeps me much more relaxed, even if I feel like I'm neglecting you all a bit sometimes. (Ah shit, need to update 'Augmented' really badly. Will be sure to work on it tomorrow.)
Report cards are out today, technically within nine minutes of me writing this exact sentence. Meaning of course that I get to once more prove my superiority over my cousins! (Haha, take that Aunt -redacted-)
Also, I'd just like to say thank you. All of you. You guys are absolutely great, and without a doubt the reason I have so much passion for writing. When starting out, I could've never imagined getting this far, but I have, thanks to all of you. Here we are, almost at two hundred thousand views, and seven hundred reviews. The only thing which can make this better is me getting a girlfriend.
;-;
Criminal Mastermind!
Chapter XXIX
Jaune could feel the wind in his hair, the comforting smell of sea salt carried even to the airport. Stopping at the top of the ramp, he took a moment to push his glasses back onto his face and straighten his tie.
Now done holding up the angry line behind him, Jaune placed the briefcase sitting at his side back into his hand before hustling down the stairs. Walking with purpose down the glass and and metal tube leading from the stairs off the plane, Jaune looked very business like in his custom made suit.
Now, all he had to do was make it past security.
Stepping past the throngs of people and into the airport, Jaune looked around quickly taking it in. He'd gotten a couple of tips from Mercury and Watts about infiltration just before leaving, and was now puttings things to work.
'I'm counting twelve cameras at least. Three hundred and sixty degree swivel, and judging by the bulletproof most likely shrapnel proof shell I'd say they cost at least twelve thousand dollars each if not more. All are likely able to withstand handguns so I won't be getting that ten extra points for shooting it, but oh well. One towards the metal detectors, others spread around likely being controlled from a room in the back.'
Stepping forwards into the line with a easy smile, Jaune was sure to look down at his watch and raise an eyebrow. There was nothing of importance there, but it was better to be seen as a businessman surprised at the time and running late than someone dressed so expensively with nowhere to be.
'There's eight guards in the immediate vicinity counting those operating the metal detectors and terminals. The person driving the shuttle around the airport is more than likely carrying a gun as well, and therefore could probably shoot the broadside of a barn at least. There's no auto turrets ready to drop out of the ceiling, but I'd best be prepared.'
Stepping up to the metal detector, Jaune was handed a large plastic bin to put his things in. Reaching into his coat, he gave the female security guard a guilty smile as he took out his pen, cigarette box, lighter, and pocket watch.
Taking off his other normal watch, he tossed in his wallet and keys before stopping and asking whether he needed to take off his glasses or not. Getting a solid no, Jaune kept them on before stepping through with his arms up.
Moving to the side, he grabbed his stuff out of the bin before holding onto his suitcase and tipping his imaginary hat. Now was check in, getting a stamp on his newly provided passport, and making his way back home.
He was close!
Stepping into the line, Jaune waited until he was called up and placed his passport on the counter. Looking him over before looking at the passport photo, he kept it. "Enjoy your trip to Vacuo?"
Jaune shrugged giving a small smile. "I can say that it was interesting that's for sure. I'd say that Vacuo is wonderful this time of year, but let's be serious. No season makes Vacuo wonderful."
The man gave a small chortle before stamping the passport and giving it back to Jaune. "I'll have you know I'm originally from Vacuo."
Jaune gave an equal chuckle before putting his passport back into his coat. "I'm sure you know what I mean then." Giving a cheeky smile and a wink before walking away and waving over his shoulder at the chuckling man, Jaune made his way through.
He had no baggage to claim, so thankfully that was done for him. The round conveyors always stressed him out far more than they should. Stepping forwards, he moved past the ebbing tide of people as they searched for their cases, and freaked out when the dogs sat near them.
Pushing his glasses further up his nose, he was fairly disappointed when he saw there was no sign saying 'Arc' or 'Rogue' on it. While yes, it might've been highly out of place, suspicious, and stupid, he's been gone for maybe a week now, and Roman hasn't done so much as called!
Well sure, maybe he had, but Jaune's scroll was broken! How was he to know?
Stepping past the sign bearing family members and scowling as one of them found their friend or family member, Jaune stepped out of the automatic doors. Calling over a cab with a whistle, Jaune opened the door and put in his briefcase before sitting inside and putting on the seatbelt.
Undoing the glass partition, the driver looked back at him. "Where will it be today sir?"
Giving the man his address, Jaune reclined into the soft leather seat taking in the lovely smell of fresh pine. Some people didn't like car fresheners, but he's personally always found them nice. No matter how bad they smelt, they would always smell the same.
Sitting in relative silence for the next few minutes, Jaune eventually tapped on the partition. Pulling over, the man looked over his shoulder. "It's right here thanks, how much do I owe you?"
"Thirty seven lien." Handing over the man his money in cards, Jaune stepped out of the taxi and grabbed his briefcase before looking up at his building. Man, it would be nice to get home! Finally he'd be back into a nice smelling, relatively tidy apartment which has been waiting, untouched for him for the past couple days!
Ah, his mattress would be so nice! He's spent thousands on it, so it was hopefully as good as advertised.
Straightening his suit from where it had crinkled in the car and on the flight, he waved his keys over the scanner getting a beep before stepping into the building. Taking note of the cameras within his own lobby, Jaune looking into the reflective elevator doors before they opened and he stepped inside.
Hitting the button for his floor, he tapped his foot in time to the elevator music, humming along and going over the words in his mind. Fun fact: Most elevator music is based off of Frank Sinatra's 'The Girl From Ipanema'.
Stepping out and onto his floor, Jaune opened the door expecting to come back to a relatively clean apartment. Apparently, he was kind of correct, and kind of… Well, 'not'.
While indeed, the living room for the most part looked okay except for a couple of used looking blankets on the couch, the kitchen was a mess. His freezer was open and burning a hole in his pocket thanks to the electricity bill, while there were tubs of eaten ice cream laying around on the counter and the floor.
That… That had to honestly be the only reason he wasn't freaking out right now. Ice cream tubs? Blanket on the couch? All signs pointed to-
Whirling to the side when he heard the bare smacking of feet against his hardwood floor, he dropped the briefcase before feeling a large object impact into his chest. Stumbling to the side, Jaune turned before falling and sliding up against the wall.
Giving a groan before blinking his eyes open, Jaune looked down into his arms where they'd instinctively grabbed ahold of whatever it could to stop falling, dropping his briefcase in the process. Naturally wrapped in his arms instead, even as she pressed her face further against his chest, was one nice warm Neo.
"I missed you too Neo." He said with a smile.
Dropping his head into her hair as she sunk in further and took in a nice breath, Jaune pulled her closer giving her a tight hug before letting go and waiting for her to let go. Letting go of him after a couple seconds, Neo pouted before getting up and offering him a hand.
Taking it, Jaune dusted himself off. "So, it seems as though you've been bunking here while I was away eh?"
She nodded, ad Jaune shrugged before picking up his briefcase and putting it onto the kitchen counter. "Oh Well, I can't fault you. My pad is pretty sweet. But did you really need to make such a mess of the kitchen? I use this sometimes!"
Neo rolled her eyes before walking back to the living room and hopping on top of the couch. Curling under her blankets, the nymphet pulled them up to her chest in which he just barely had time to eye what she was wearing.
"Uhh, is that my hoodie?" He asked before grabbing some of the ice cream cases off of the floor and tossing them into the trash. It wasn't that much work! Looking over to the living room, she seemed to wiggle her eyebrows when he noticed before giving a mischievous grin.
Note, that hoodie is no longer his.
It's too bad too, since the warm and soft fabric of the signature Pumpkin Pete hoodie had been there for plenty of moments in his life. When he was denied a scholarship to Beacon, when he was denied entry to Signal academy-
Wow, his life is really depressing now that he thinks about it!
"So, did I miss anything? I was gone for a week, and there's got to be something about me in the news by now." Jaune said before Neo just shrugged. Sighing and reaching towards the remote, Neo grasped at the air in between her and it for a few moments before slumping and sinking back into his couch.
Rolling his eyes at what he did for this woman, Jaune walked over to the living room. Grabbing ahold of the remote, he sat down on the couch next to her as she leaned into his side. Turning to channel one hundred and four, Jaune let the news play as Lisa Lavender's voice came over the speakers.
"... While not much is known about the recent week's terrorist activity in either the airport, or in the capital of Vacuo, it is safe to assume we will be getting these details shortly." Jaune huffed at that. Terrorist? Him? Pfft, don't be ridiculous! The White Fang are terrorists!
"However, what we do know so far, while likely nothing on the inside workings of the investigation against the Rogue, we know this. He had appeared in the airport, checking in with security before going ballistic and escaping to Vacuo where the criminal escaped off the grid, for what appears to be four or so days before causing this scene in the hotel he was presumed to be staying in." She said before looking straight towards the camera. Switching views, there was an overlay of some ground footage taken back in Vacuo.
Spilling out of the building came smoke, as the shaky camera centered in on the figures clad in black which seemed to rappel into the windows. Hearing the gunshots and the censored out swears of the person holding the camera, Jaune winced.
Looking up at him, Neo raised one of her elegantly trimmed eyebrows. Looking into her changing eyes Jaune grinned a bit sheepishly before rubbing the back of his head with one hand.
"What happens in Vacuo stays in Vacuo?" She rolled her eyes but seemed to accept that explanation for the most part. He knew for a fact that she hid things from him, so he understood that she was simply repaying the favor in kind.
Sometimes, you just let people keep their secrets.
"We have however managed to catch Specialist Winter Schnee, leader of the task force created for catching the Rogue after the tragic death of her father. Specialist Schnee thank you for joining us today."
Jaune's eyes lit up as the screen peeled in half and his precious Snow Succubus' face appeared on half of it. Looking rather annoyed and like she'd do anything to not be doing this, Winter's strained smile seemed to shatter even as she spoke.
"Well it's a pleasure to be here Lisa."
"Auaw-" Whatever inhuman squeal of excitement Jaune was about to let out as she talked about him of all people was cut short as Neo drove her elbow into his side from under the blanket. Wheezing out in pain before looking over in her direction, Jaune coughed. "What was that for!"
Crossing her arms Neo just turned away, apparently finding the world outside his large floor to ceiling windows more interesting than answering his question.
"Now, you seem to be one of the only people alive who's actually interacted with the Rogue and lived to tell the tale… Do you have any reasons as to why this may be? Guilt on his part perhaps? Or is there rather something we do not yet know about your special relationship with the man?" Lisa asked, her purple hair bobbing as she posed the question towards the specialist.
Grabbing his own blanket, Jaune vaguely wished he had a bunch of popcorn. God, the anticipation was killing him!
"Well Lisa, I wouldn't quite say we have a special relationship unless you count that in which I have him in chains every night in my dreams. As for how I've survived so many encounters? I believe that personally that can be attributed to the enhanced training and standards imposed upon me by the Atlas military. Any other similarly trained specialist too would've survived." She said before looking off camera making Jaune pout. Stop looking away! Look at him!
Chains? Bedroom? Scandalous relationship? Was that what she truly thought?! Oh how his mind raced. He had money left! Plenty of money after that first bank job! Savings too! Oh man, if she wanted chains he'd get chains? Tentacles? He'd get those too!
Oh god, he doesn't even care that his future soulmate is into some really kinky stuff, he was willing as long as they ended up together! That right there is what his sisters would call true love!
"My my Miss Schnee, what you deem to do during your time in the bedroom during this scandalous relationship of your must surely be kept to yourself! I'm sure no one would like to hear about how you nightly have him in chains!" Lisa said, a bead of sweat running down her brow as her eyebrows raised in shock.
"W-Wait! No! I don't believe you understood what I meant corre-" Jaune's mind broke as her next sentence was cut off with an annoying beep and a colourful screen before some commercials filtered on.
Looking at him again, Neo tapped him on the shoulder bringing his mind to the little shortstack of pancakes currently occupying his couch. Raising an eyebrow as she raised hers, Jaune looked back to the news before flushing and attempting to weakly raise an argument.
"W-What happens in Vacuo s-stays in Vacuo?"
~o0o~ Criminal Mastermind! ~o0o~
Giving an explosive sigh once he was done cleaning the apartment, Jaune tossed himself onto the couch face first. He'd convinced Neo to leave by promising she could bunk there whenever else he was gone, and by letting her keep the hoodie, but that still left the mess.
Cunning girl she is, Neo left before he could add that to the terms and conditions.
Looking around after taking a brief break of just smelling the newly washed couch, Jaune smiled to himself. He did a pretty swell job if he said so himself! Grabbing his briefcase, Jaune set it onto the coffee table in the center of his living room before flicking the tabs and opening it.
Inside, was a bit of paper, and a trio of metal triangular pyramids. Taking out the papers and setting them out according to information about location, people, and security, Jaune let the paperwork for the databank slowly accumulate out of the case and onto the table instead.
Leaving it in several neat piles, Jaune took out the three triangular pyramids. Tossing them onto the coffee table, he watched as they landed, bounced harshly against the glass, and eventually started shuddering.
There was a bright light and a beeping noise before they shot away from each other, until each was about five feet away from every other one in a perfect triangle. Each of them has opened up, projecting the floorplans of the building onto his ceiling.
There was also a hologram mode, but let's be serious. That's a bit cliche!
Snapping his fingers when he remembered he'd forgotten something, Jaune quickly made his way over to his office. Closing the door, Jaune opened his desk drawer before opening the drawer and taking out the file and the USB before tucking the USB into his pocket and heading back to the couch.
Setting the USB down into the center of the triangle so that it would await reading, Jaune opened the file, keeping it on his lap. He's already combed over this how many times… Seven? By now he's got some of it memorized!
So, in turning to the first page Jaune didn't remember seeing a set of sticky notes across the entire top being there before.
Get a safe or something. I burned some things resembling these closely in the docks last night in front of Roman. While Roman's probably trustworthy, his bosses are a bit nutso. If they ever look for or need this file, he can now say he was witness to it burning without technically lying to them.
Your secrets are safe with me dumbass.
-Neo
Well. Seems like he does need a safe after all doesn't he? Could've been quite unfortunate had Neo not found this, and instead she had been replaced with the authorities, or worse… A journalist!
Sighing and leaning back into the couch, Jaune assorted the sticky notes in front of himself before smiling at the little nickname she gave him. 'Doum-Bass' in ancient Atlas meant 'Powerful Salmon', which is something odd for her to know considering as far as he knew she'd not once picked up a book from that library!
Sighing, Jaune looked at the file.
So… Neo knew about the maidens. She said 'Your secrets are safe with me Dum-Bass' which implies she knows some secrets he may want to be kept secret. Meaning that yes, it was most assuredly true that she knew about it.
But now, was it something worth worrying about?
Sure, Neo was a psychopath. Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh. High functioning sociopath? For sure. But did that mean that her knowing the information would change her life? It wasn't actually all that likely.
What would Neo do with it? Get more money?
He's seen her apartment. Neo was loaded. More loaded than he is if he was being honest. Yet even then, if she ever needed anything all she had to do was ask. She was precious enough to him that it would be worth it if she wanted something he had.
Neo couldn't do all that much with it.
All it said really, was that there was a group of people monitoring four people who are from a fairy tale. Would it in anyway lead to Salem's existence being revealed to the general public? Don't be stupid. All parties involved would like to keep that away, and even should the entire file be put onto the internet it's unlikely any would actually find it legitimate.
No… The file was as good as useless to people like Neo, who can't do anything with it.
She didn't have to do what he did have to do. She wouldn't need to use the file to find people scattered across Remnant. While yes, all that one file talked about was really just the fall maiden specifically, he already knew where that maiden was.
Or rather, her powers were under the control of Cinder, and she was being held somewhere in Vale for safekeeping. Most likely Beacon if he had to guess. After all, if you had a army of warriors at your beck and call, why not put them on top of something as precious as a maiden?
No no no, Neo had no use for the maidens.
Raising an eyebrow at the message again, Jaune couldn't help but wonder. Just who were Roman's bosses? As far as he knew, Roman worked for himself and only himself! Well, occasionally the odd girlfriend would fall into there, but that's just because Roman's spine seemed to evaporate when given a chance at love.
Maybe though… It was better not knowing them. If they were Roman's boss, they must be some kind of monster. A true demon of a criminal! Just despisable as a human being!
May he never meet his mentor's bosses.
Putting the document onto the table and leaving it there as he reclined onto the couch, Jaune smiled up at the ceiling. No, he was not thinking of the floor plans. Flashing into his mind, his Snow Succubus appeared flicking by before there was the sound of rattling chains and he shuddered.
Things are going to get so strange soon.
Getting up, he turned off the pyramids of projection as he so called them, and left the papers out. There was nothing there important, and even should Neo read all of them all she'd know is that he'd have to break into another place.
That's apparently what he did now, so nothing new there.
Walking to his bedroom, Jaune stripped putting his suit onto the floor nicely folded before kicking it into the laundry corner. Throwing his socks after it, Jaune thought about putting on his onesie but decided not to.
He was having breakfast with Neo tomorrow morning, and it was probably best he didn't get his photo stapled onto the wall of everyone in his building again. Jaune still couldn't believe that he got kicked out for 'indecent exposure' after that.
He'd been wearing a onesie! How was that indecent exposure of all things!?
Laying back in bed, Jaune pulled up the covers before laying on his side and looking out the window. Seeing the city lights out there, from so high up, Jaune felt like a king. He had a new purpose, an new employer, someone who could fund him, trust him, and use him to his full capability!
Though, what capabilities he had might or might not be complete flukes in the first place.
Rolling onto his back, Jaune looked up at the ceiling. After breakfast with Neo, he'd be heading into the hunter's shopping district in town to pick up some weapons. Thankfully, the holidays were approaching so there would be some sales, but some things might not be.
What he needed was a gun, some sort of melee weapon, and some new gadgets. His old ones were good, but it took far too much. Some of them could be combined, or attached to one another and be more space efficient.
Sadly, he would have to search around the darknet if he wanted 'The Foundation For The Criminally Sane''s contact details again, and he knew that it didn't end well when he went on there. Last time he'd been promised some sort of 'Gamer' power, but that had never been delivered!
No… He needed to wait for Watts to send in his new custom made gadgets before pulling off the heist. On the bright side, it gave him plenty of time for the planning. Now, as far as they knew, the server was on the fifty second floor.
So, too high for his suction cups...
Sighing and looking upwards, Jaune smiled to himself again as Winter's face came into his mind again. Humming softly to himself, he finished the last words he said to himself that day as he buried his face back into his pillow.
"...Sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me~..."
~o0o~ Criminal Mastermind! ~o0o~
Note: Personally, I think this is my best chapter in a while ladies and gentlemen! I added comedy, plot development, and some planning for future chapters, all of which are apparently needed for a 'good story'.
Now, have a wonderful night! I know I am since my grades are damn epic! Please, stay in school, read some fanfiction, try getting with your maybe-almost-kind-of-maybe-girl-friend-thing and don't give up like I did, and have a wonderful day!
Review Responses:
Umbrardor: Thoroughness is key!
FateBurn: Thanks!
infadinityfollower: Here's more!
ZacFF: If I knew how to play Backgammon, I would've told you their every move.
NyaNyaKittyFace: I've looked at the image gallery on the wiki, it's unclear whether she has legs or not. Uhh, also, I meet lots of people online because of FanFiction, and it never once occurred to me that 'NyaNyaKittyFace' might be a woman.
X3runner: Indeed! Also yes, the VA's for RWBY are in themselves waifus. Nice to know I make you laugh friend :)
Zaralann: Here's more!
J0K3R Of Monday: How? No idea. Did it happen? Totally.
R-king 93: Hush… Everything pertaining to Persona 5 is classified here for reasons I can't say.
Josh Spicer: Haha, thanks.
Benthino: I'm supposed to make you guys laugh, but here I am laughing!
Colonel Sarge: I hope I made it obvious enough that no, the USB and the file aren't the key to everything he could ever need ever.
DuplicateUserName: Sienna Khan? For sure. Can't be leaving someone like that out of the harem! (I kid… Or do I?)
littlejason8: 'Jaune need semblance' and you need a grammar lesson my friend!
NHarem Foreva: Hid it because he couldn't think of a way to get rid of it perhaps?
Austin0: Haha, thanks for that.
TalonIbnLaAhad: Noted. Coven, good idea for a name. Insanity? This story isn't insanity, it's controlled chaos! No, don't ask me how it works.
Flametusk: Sadly I don't live in Winnipeg. I'd love to have classmates who watched RWBY and I could converse with though! My Destiny 2 is for the PC. I really like the MECs.
Snowyassas1n: I don't know if you noticed, but they reunited about five minutes ago.
Trey of the rebellion: Apparently everyone did!
SeaZZor: I'm a man of culture my friend.
Guest: I too put myself at the top of writers in RWBY. Surprisingly, since in the beginning I thought I would be a complete failure. Yet here I am, somehow popular.
96hanzo: She doesn't know he hid it though does she? He's never said one word about it to her.
point: Shh… No spoiling my plans!
Alrighty well I'm out! Time to watch some KonoSuba and prepare for my KonoSuba self insert! Oh shit, did I say that out loud?
-DragonManMax
