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"So where were you yesterday?"
When Jaune covered Blake in the halls on their way to lunch, the disguised Faunus knew an explanation would be due at some point. It wasn't that she didn't was to explain Jaune her crisis in detail but immediately trusting him with everything wouldn't be wise. A bent truth was better than none at all, in her eyes at least.
"I was looking into the dust shop robberies, trying to find some proof that said he White Fang wasn't responsible."
Jaune stared at her incredulously, understandable in a away.
"So did you ask police around town? Or shop owners about it? I don't get why you wouldn't want to be seen..."
"With all the recent robberies the SDC was sending a freighter full of dust from insurance companies." Blake sighed, how he reacted to this and his subsequent actions could break her chance at Beacon. "To know for sure I needed to be at a place the perpetrators couldn't help but try and steal, so I..."
Blake leaned in the close before whispering. "I snuck into the Vale docks, specifically where cargo comes in."
"You broke onto the docks?"
"No one spotted me." It wasn't the first time Blake had to sneak past security, not that Jaune needed to know that.
"I supposed you could phrase it like that..."
"You really want to know if it was the White Fang don't you?" He wasn't going after her for breaking the law, yet anyway.
"I need to leave this weekend so I can observe what happens to the dust, if anything goes down, and need you to back up my excuse for it."
Jaune narrowed his eyes, Blake had seen he look before and knew he was thinking. To what conclusion was going to be reached was anyone's best guess at this point... she needed to know and whatever his choice would be going
"Don't agree to it, tell a teacher." Amber said for the third time.
Jaune had already decided to ignore it the first time. She wouldn't be doing this just because of a store owner she barely knew, what happens with Weiss yesterday seemed like it had more of an impact. The bow wearing girl was looking into dust robberies right before.
"Blake must have some family that are Faunus and didn't appreciate what Weiss said, I'd probably feel much of the same if one of my sisters was being discriminated against... who shouldn't I do anything here..." Still, there were holes in his story.
Like an angel on his shoulder, Amber interjected, as if feeling his confliction. "She shouldn't be doing this, despite what possible motive she might have, telling Goodwitch or better yet Ozpin would land Blake in less trouble then she's already in!"
"It was you who said I should focus on helping the people I could!" Jaune wanted to cry back, not doing something for Blake, a person that was going to be apart of his team for four years almost felt like an injustice to him.
"Blake," She looked up, seemingly ready to bolt out of there if the situation turned for the worst. "I won't tell anyone about this and you can watch over the docks for trouble."
"Thank you-"
"I'm not finished, it's all on the condition that I come with you."
"What?" Amber cried.
"What..?" Blake asked more calmly confused.
"If you're set on heading out to see if the White Fang is really behind all these robbers I want to make sure you're alright, I mean breaking onto the docks is serious here."
"Knowing who's doing all these robbers is important to me."
"Yeah, and I won't ask if more when you don't want to say anything." If Blake was willing to run off to investigate this by herself then Jaune doubted saying no here would've stopped her. "We're on the same team here Blake, I'm not going let you head into potential danger without help. I'd be a bad leader."
Blake sighed, in more relief than any resignation. "I can understand that and wasn't planning on a fight Saturday but I'm fine with you coming along in case something does happen and we can even call it an outing to Pyrrha and Yang."
"Sounds good, why don't you head-on in, I'll wait here." Blake's grateful look turned to suspicion, not hard for Jaune to see why though he just agreed and now wants to lose more lunchtime.
"Just go, trust me a little here."
She kept her incredulous look all the while but moved on all the same and once he was certain the distance down the hall was enough to where she wouldn't hear him he prepared for a verbal assault.
"Why would go along with this? This is just as ridiculous as going to Beacon untrained!" Amber cried.
"Blake's on my team and needs help," Jaune shrugged. "I'd like to see what I can do rather than judge her for it."
"Blake admitted to breaking onto the docks and stealing the information, that's illegal and can land her into not just explosion but jail time you to as an accomplice."
"If I don't then wouldn't Blake just, you know, do it anyway like she already did?" Jaune strained himself trying to come up with any sort of logic to back himself up, Amber was probably right about how illegal this was and what would happen if the two got caught.
The girl none the less groaned. "Sometimes I wish taking over your body was a viable option..."
"Since when had you two start dating?"
The weekend came far sooner than it ever had for Jaune and making an excuse for leaving was easy, actually going by themselves ended up being the hard part.
"It's not a date Yang," Blake's head shook at her partner, this could go down a silly lane. "Just heading into town as friends."
"Seems odd though, a sudden training session and getting all defensive about each other..." The blond boxer nodded off for a moment. "I'd say it was cute if he wasn't already seeing someone... what did something happen between you and her?"
Amber groaned. "Of course she has to ask that."
Jaune shook his head and Yang sputtered for a moment.
"W-Whoa, I didn't expect a no for that..." She sat up on her bed, legs hanging over the side. "Wait are you taking Blake out... in spite of seeing someone?"
"What? No!" Jaune cried while it was nice to know the girl was into teasing to a point, this was a misunderstanding he'd rather nip in the bud fast.
"My... girlfriend is still seeing me. Blake and I are just heading into the city to hang out, there's nothing to it but a team bonding experience."
"Then why not involve everybody?" Yang shot Pyrrha a look, the redhead had spent the talk remaining quiet. "What do you think Pyr? Shouldn't we tag along if this is a team thing?"
Jaune sent his partner a pleading look, he was going to the docks with Blake and that plan would be compromised if Yang managed to get the two of them coming along. It was likely the girl would try and find some way to slip off by herself when the chance arose.
"I think... we should make plans for tomorrow," She said through a grin. "Best not to invite ourselves in and ruin any plans they've already made."
Yang eyed her suspiciously but inevitably resigned in defeat. "Alright, but we're all going out tomorrow."
"Sounds good, pick a nice place, text me about it later." Jaune nodded towards Pyrrha and she smiled oddly back.
"Have fun Jaune."
"'Fun' yes breaking the law is always a good past time..." Amber thought.
Getting over the fence and climbing onto the building was difficult for one of them... Jaune couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy when Blake managed to jump over the use her weapon to easily avoid both obstacles. They were here though and was a bit surprising no how easy it just to get in. Jaune expected a lot more seeking but apparently someone could hop over the razor wire and get atop a building without causing a fuss easily.
"There it is," Blake pointed towards the cargo crates covered with SDC logos as Jaune knelt next to her.
"It looks like they've already unloaded it."
A few robots were standing guard over the shipments of the dust, their red visors scanned the area carefully or remain still with their visor mask off signaling those were on stand by.
"Well there's no way whoever's stealing dust would make a move on something guarded, all that's been robbed so far were unprotected stores without fatailites-"
Before Amber even finished the two robots went down in sparks. The rest barely had enough to switch on and enable their swords before being cut down by a few well-placed shot. As it would turn out two figures in White Fang garbs slid out of the shadows as Blake now sat up, as a bullhead flew overhead and landed.
"I... can't really say I'm surprised..." She looked down, Jaune could swear the fabric of her bow seemed to strain under some kind of force.
"You really didn't want it to be them, did you?" Jaune asked noticing several members stepping out with cables and hooks in hand.
"Yes... Come on, we can contact the police to tell-" Blake stopped herself when a new figure emerged from the Bullhead.
Although it took Jaune a second he recognized the white trench coat paired with the hat even from atop the building.
"We're on a bit of a tight schedule here so why don't you animals pick up the pace!" He said loudly and without shame.
Blake stood up with a hardened expression. "This isn't right..."
"What are you doing?" Jaune asked.
"Grab her! Jaune grab her!" Amber cried as a katana was drawn.
"I'm going to confront them." She was quick to leap off the roof before he could even reach out.
"Well come on now you animals! Get a move on!" Roman grunted in annoyance.
"Never with a human," Blake thought as she crept closer. "Especially not one human that acts like this."
"Is this the rope you need?" asked the cloaked faunus girl as she handed Roman the wire rope.
"No you animal, this isn't a leash!" He grunted before suddenly a blade was pressed to his neck, his arm twisted behind him, not in a painful way but enough to threaten. "Oh, what is it now?!"
The girl directly in front of them was first to draw a blade was drawn as she cried out to the others, who were quickly rush to her aid.
"Hopefully it was only concern for their comrade..." Blake thought as her bow was torn off. "Brothers and sisters of the White Fang! Why are you aiding this scum?!"
The contingent lowered their weapons but Blake felt no end to the hostility present. They definitely had no love for the man she was holding hostage, good and bad in its own rights, but enough form them to hear her words.
"Why are you working with a human?" she again asked. "Tell me?!"
"Gezz kid, the White Fang, and I have decided to work on a joint business venture," Roman explained. "Is supposed this means you didn't get the memo?"
"Tell me what it is, or I'm going to put an end to this little operation of yours." Blake pressed her blade harder to threatened just before two more aircraft filled the sky above them.
"Oh I wouldn't exactly call this a 'little operation'" Roman smirked and with his cane still behind his back, shoved forward, escaping Blake's grasp at the cost of her weapon scrapping his aura. A shot landed at her feet with the explosion launching her into the air.
Jaune cursed as an explosion echoed past the engines above roaring above. "I should have told a teacher!" Pushing himself to run further, regret was all he could feel, was Blake hurt? Or worse dead?
"We'll dwell on it later!" Amber cried back. "Sword, shield, out!"
Jaune equipped them just as he turned the corner past the cargo containers to see Blake pick herself up off of the ground only to have to dodge another shot fired from Roman Torchwick's cane. She dodged that one, backflipped from the next one, and left a copy of sorts behind to take the next hit.
"Semblance probably, gotta fight now."
"Hey!" He called out, not a good idea in retrospect as everyone went from backs turned and unaware to facing him.
"Get him, I'll be hunting down kitty cat!" Roman ordered.
Jaune quickly found himself ganged up on by half a dozen White Fang soldiers. He recalled the fight on the road with the three assailants. Out matches by skills there he'd never been more frightened in before, right now felt close by being outnumbered. Running away was an option Blake was still out there being chased.
"What do I do?" He asked under his breath.
"They have basic swords without armor or shields and running towards you without any coordination in their efforts." Amber's voice sounded like she knew the answer already. "These guys won't be nearly as tough as anyone you've fought before." Amber's face appeared in his mind, her eyes felt like they were fixed with his in a sense with sympathy and determination. "I believe in you Jaune."
Not being as tough was certainly the correct description as hit after hit pinged off the shield when the first Faunus closed in. There wasn't much force behind the blows, Jaune came to realize and the metal heater slammed into the Grimm mask, rather painfully if the grunt was any indication. Staggering the guy back, Jaune didn't see a flash of aura and instinct expressed him the need to hold off by much.
Another tired to slashed at Jaune's right flank with this sword just coming to the cross blades with him, pressing into it wasn't an option as Amber ordered an immediate disengagement. A good thing as the rest caught up and one could've easily hammered at Jaune's exposed back.
"When outnumbered keep as many as you can in your field of vision, take advantage of their lack of coordination too!"
All but one looked just as hesitant as Jaune was to attack, they stepped forward brandishing their sword in a threatening manner.
"Beat it, kid! Or we'll send you back home in a body bag."
Still nervous Jaune tightened the grip on his sword. "I can't leave, why don't you guys step aside and I'll take my friend back?"
Unimpressed he lurched forward, swinging his blade diagonally. The impact traveled harmlessly against the shield. Oddly enough the guy did seem to move at a far slower pace than anyone Jaune faced before. Grunting in frustration, the Faunus pulled back to strike again.
"Come on you filthy human-"
"I don't think so!"
To his opponent, Jaune seemed to close the minor gap between them with an almost uncanny level of speed and the hilt of his sword connect with the side of his mask. Immediately, he fell to the ground, groaning in pain, As he tried to get back to his feet, Jaune swung his shield down, catching his opponent on the back of the head with an audible crack. This time, the man didn't get back up.
"That was... actually easy?" Jaune felt astonished by it, accomplished with how he managed to knock them down, and abhorrent by the sound it made.
If the White Fang personnel were hesitant before then, petrified was a better word for the contingent.
"They probably weren't even expecting a fight tonight..."
"The initiative is yours!" Amber cried. "Press it now!"
Jaune weaved and slash while they ducked and rolling away, a few managed to find the courage to try and stand their ground, even trying to press against him. The hilt of Crocea Mors became improved to knock the White Fang grunts in the face, jaw, head in general and the force held the same pain for all.
"Is this because I have aura and they don't?" Answers would need to come later as another explosion echoed throughout the dock, Blake was still in trouble and he needed to hurry this along.
Swiveling out of the way, Jaune spun his shield around, ramming the end directly into the rib cage, a small cracking sound filled the air. The Faunus mask slid off slightly as she fell to the concrete floor desperately gasping for breath.
More than half of them were either down or nursed a bruise on their head. Jaune smiled with confidence, he could fight them and did too. The moment of triumph was quickly dashed as the one of the two Bullheads overhead flew down and out came at least a dozen more White Fang members leaped out and rolled onto the ground. Bringing a handgun in their left-hand taking position in a more skilled manner that the six Jaune currently faced.
"A-Amber...?"
"I'm thinking..."
What frightened Jaune more was when a thud came from behind, turning to see the most ripped Faunus, or human for that matter, stand straight.
He was easily a foot or two taller, sleeves looked torn at the shoulders, perhaps a long sleeve shirt like the rest before this man tried it on. Despite the full face mask, Jaune could feel the man was staring into his eyes, the intent couldn't be more clear when an equally massive chainsaw was brought off his back. The blade on the thing was twice the size of a normal one and the fact such a thing could be obscured by someone's body had Jaune stomach-turning.
"He's mine, attach the cables to what you can." No arguing, complaints, or even a sigh of irritation from the army surrounding them.
"Doubt anyone is stupid enough to try..."
Jaden jumped back when the chainsaw roared, the beefy man snickered with glee.
"Here I thought this would be boring! Then again I doubt that about to change back in a moment." While a taunt intended to insult Jaune couldn't help but find himself agreeing with the man.
"That's a big guy... I shouldn't try blocking anything from him."
The Ursa was larger than this man and likely stronger, but this man held aura, a chainsaw, and Jaune felt like it was too sudden a shift in difficulty to what he just faced... In Forever Fall he had to protect Cardin and felt like he could take it on. Here running away was on the table with every instinct screaming at him to do exactly that. The way he talked, stood, snickered felt far more fierce than when he faced down the Ursa or Deathstalker...
"Jaune, lightning big!" Amber said as her semblance grew in size more quickly than it ever did before and boy did it hurt.
It wasn't the same pain he had felt when Amber was first forced inside him but the longing for release had Jaune disregarding his sword and reached around to close his shield up. A snap aim was taken, he was both large and a mere yard away to miss.
The attack was instantaneous much like a few times before, the only warning was the sparks flicking outgiving him mere seconds to winder what was happening. The man's bulky form was launched back into the metal container, aura was stained to block the damage, an audible clank sounded from the impact. The over encompassing weapon was thankfully separated from him as the gods were praised when the body hit the ground, twitching with the sparks before going still. Relief flooded every portion of Jaune's body as soon as the knowledge of the threat was pacified reached his mind, Jaune's arm was sore but he was at the very least safe.
At least that's how Jaune expected it to go down.
The man dodged the attack with unnatural speed and movement, so instead of disabling him it juster left Jaune with a discarded swords and biting arm. There wasn't any surprise or shock as the lightning impacted and scorched the metal container, no one should be able to run with such a colossal tool but there they were. Everything went into slow motion as death closed in on Jaune, the chainsaw hummed was audible even with the Bullheads still flying overhead as it spun the teeth and Jaune reached behind him to grasp the wooden staff. Like Amber tried to teach him the two ends extended out and twirled in hand until the far larger red crystal glowed and unleashed a ball of fire just as the chainsaw tried to fall on Jaune's shoulder.
"Gha!" His cry of pain was like an incantation to restart time, instinct screamed out and Jaune side stepped just in time to avoid being crashed into.
This wasn't the end of it, aura was still a concept barely understood by Jaune as the fire wrapped around his assailant and disappeared into the air while the man rolled into his back then feet.
"Damn human!" The gruff yet deep voice boomed as he brought the weapon back over to strike.
"Jaune!" This time it was Blake who saved him, ribbon wrapped around his body and yanked the blonde just as the blade fell to grind into the concrete.
June never felt happier to hit the ground at Blake's feet Amber let out the most relief filled sigh someone without lungs could muster.
"T-Thank you..." His smile faltered as eyes rose towards the top of his teammate's head. "Cat ears?"
A coarse laugh prevented him from questioning further as Blake took a position in front of Jaune with her cleaver. "Belladonna, so nice to see you." He spat.
"Bane, what are you doing working with Roman Torchwick of all people?!" Blake called out to him with frustration clear in her voice.
"None for you concern traitor."
"Traitor...?" Amber asked.
"Hey!" Roman cried out from the inside of a Bullhead, all of them including his had cargo container hooked up to it. "Seeing as how you're blind we're ready to leave so why don't you hustle up and get in the airship Bane!"
"This doesn't concern you human, it's a matter of White Fang-" Band paused, and although Jaune was left wondering why as he untied Blake's weapon from around himself until he heard the sirens.
Jaune flinched when the mask turned towards him, in spite of the face covering the glare somehow managed to bleed through and onto Jaune.
"Until next time."
It was only after he boarded the airship and it had flown well out of hearing range did Jaune truly relaxed. Blake, on the other hand, moved in a panic, scanning the aa off. With a speed that was certainly practiced, a fresh new bow no different from the last covered her ears. Only then did she sigh and offer Jaune a hand, accepting the help back to his feet he stared awkwardly at the silly yet effective disguise.
"You're a Faunus..."
"Yes."
"That was with the White Fang...?" The question sounding came from the through of her just denying that happened but to the man's two souls mounting surprise she nodded.
"Yes."
"What-"
"After the police." Blake tosses her cleaver away as the cars pulled onto the scene, these weren't regular officers, however, they were the guys sent into hostage situations and the like.
Jaune had heard of them on TV when he was younger but being on the receiving end didn't sit right, still, the staff and sheath followed Blake's example. As the authorities swarmed over the docking bay to arrest the two.
"I wonder if this will become a theme..." He thought as cuffs locked his hands together.
It won't seriously, this will be the last time Jaune has to deal with the police. Just wanted to take the time to be clear on that part.