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Amber sighed as she leaned against the brickwork of the building, her mother was inside getting supplies and she cared little for it. She could take care of it alone, why Amber had to start close to the shop and annoyed her. The sun rising into the morning sky but it didn't blaze its heat onto the residence below. It was the nice warmth for the summer, the kind everyone hoped for, and she was standing in a buzzing market place unable to do anything from her spot but watch. Everyone else had a place here, a destination in mind, and other kids her age were out enjoying themselves. Was it so much to as her mother if they could just stay for a day or so? They had arrived close to midnight and barely had the time to rent a room and flop into bed but now they were rested and maybe they could wait a day before moving on. Apparently not, they couldn't stay in major settlements for long. Amber had been so preoccupied with her thoughts that didn't notice as someone approached from the side.
"Hello," The greeting had her startled for a moment before she could turn to see who was talking. "Why are you doing over here?"
It was a girl the same as her but had a more casual appearance with a blue skirt that touched her knees, something she felt imminent envy for. Taking her gaze back up she saw a more pale individual than she had ever seen and Amber had to wonder if she had to bathe in a tub of sunscreen before going outside. The red pigtails seemed to pop because of the color it was sitting on and it was at that point that Amber wondered if she was staring too much as the girl shifted uncomfortably under the critical look.
"Um.. hey." She waved.
"Hey," The two stood around the same height except Amber was standing more straight against the wall than the newcomer that shrank a bit. "I'm just waiting for my mom to be done in there."
"Uh-huh, well I'm Thalia." Her extended hand was graciously accepted, and Amber felt her hand weakly grasp her own. She always noticed that how everywhere she'd go people her age always had a weak grip when comparing to her own.
"I'm Amber, nice to meet you." She gave her best smile to help come off as friendly, she didn't want to chase anybody away. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
"I just saw you over here and wanted to know why you're standing here. The park is right over there." Thalia pointed across the market to one of the main roads in town and although Amber couldn't see from here she decided to take the girl's word for it.
"My mom doesn't like it when I get too far away from her, she doesn't even like that I'm outside the store right now." She groaned, it was so ridiculous to her why she couldn't explore the places they went to without her mom hovering ten feet away.
"That sucks," Thalia added her own voice to the discontent in the air now. "The park's not far away, why you just go there for a bit?"
"I can't my mother will get mad at me..." Although once the suggestion came in it quickly overtook her mind, Amber never stopped thinking about stuff like that but now that someone added their voice to her own the idea seemed to get stronger. "It's just right over here?"
"Yeah! I can show you my favorite spot too, come on!" Thalia extended her hand intending to drag her there apparently, Amber would usually meet with few people her age and typically it was never for long and always inside Inns and outside shops like this.
Today was the first time anybody had insisted on spending time with her. Amber cautiously extended her hand, she almost expected the hand to retract and some excuse to come up with Thalia leaving. It didn't come as their hands came within a hair's breadth before fate decided to step in and ruin it. The bell over the shop rang except the door was pulled open rather than pushed. Exiting was a towering figure, relative to the two girls that is, who stepped out and spared a moment of sadness at the sight of Thalia holding Amber's hand before directing the look towards her daughter.
"It's time to leave." A bulging bag was handed off and Amber sighed, this really couldn't wait until tomorrow? She asked even if the response she'd get was predictable.
"It's time to leave, this isn't up for discussion and especially not now."
Rhea, you could tell she was Amber's mother because the resemblance between the two was uncanny, Amber always felt she was looking at what she would look like in the future. Rhea was always this firm when they had to leave. Gotta keep moving no matter how nice the place looked to live, how nice the people that lived there were, or how Amber felt about going or tried to protest how unfair it was they needed to leave on short notice. It was always the same explanation, they had to leave because she said so. Rhea took Amber by the hand and began leading her out of town, if needed Amber and her pack would be carried over her shoulder if she tried to stand her ground. So amber just learned to accept that it was time to go and seemingly no force on the planet would stop her mother.
"Well... bye Amber. I'll see you around?" She waved.
"Bye Thalia." She waved back sadly, knowing full well she wouldn't be coming through here again.
"That was, in essence, my childhood. Ever since I was able to walk the two of us were on the run." Amber said. "Go here for a day or two sometimes we'd be there for almost a week then we'd move on. Always going forwards, changing directions lacking a true destination, I hated it as much as I didn't understand it."
"You never stopped?"
"Oh we did just never stayed anywhere but isolated homes or farms that needed help when winter hit. Can't travel well in the snow you know."
"So you never had a chance to do anything fun?"
"We danced, that was the main thing my mother taught me. Ballroom was always my favorite, never got to try it with someone other than with her but it was... nice." Amber's voice dipped and Jaune hesitated for a moment before asking.
"This Salem sent people after her and they found you in a Cabin?"
"An old place in the middle of the woods was abandoned and the interior was coated in dust. Had plenty of firewood stacked on the side though." She laughed but it was devoid of any humor. "I was so tired of walking, didn't want to move the few more miles to the next, and I insisted we stayed there."
"Oh gods." Jaune whispered when it hit him.
"My mother wasn't too surprised when they smoked us out of the house."
"Rhea was this Fall maiden, " Jaune thought back to the storm he saw brewing when Amber was ambushed. "She had all this power."
"Yeah, but it's hard to learn how to use and control, it has limits to what you can do. It's not just throwing lightning like we've been doing, you need to practice how to create it on the spot which I had but..."
"You had some teaching from Ozpin and Rhea didn't get that chance." He guessed correctly enough
"Yeah, gave them one hell of a fight and pounded them into the dirt. That magic is not something to mess with once you start using it... Aura on the other hand only makes you invincible so long as you have it..."
Pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding, that's what her mother always said when Amber got a bad cut on her arm or leg. This was different though, the hole was made by a bullet and it wasn't large but blood was pouring out too fast. It didn't deter Amber from trying as she pressed her own shirt against the wound. The winter breeze had her shivering but it was the only thing she had on hand.
"A-Amber..." A hand came up to caress her cheek and she gripped it with a blood-soaked hand.
"Mom! I-I can fix this, like you do all the time it's going to be fine... right? I know it's going to be fine!"
Rhea gave her a weak smile as she rubbed a few tears off Amber's face. "It's okay my dear, you remember how to read a map? Go and get it and the compass, quickly."
"B-But-" She stammered unable to get how calm her mother could be at a time like this.
"Amber please, do it for me?" The young girl scrambled to her feet and rushed back inside. "Don't forget to grab your coat!"
Amber did her best to ignore the scorched body sizzling in the snow. It didn't take long for her to find the tube that held their maps and the compass. Both we're always hooked onto the side of her mother's bag for easy access. It took some trying for Amber's shaky hands to finally unclip the two and she didn't bother grabbing her wool coat and bolted out the door. Thanking the Gods, she crouched next to her mother and scattered several sheets onto the snow, and separate the one on their area.
"Where-" Rhea coughed and hacked a storm for a moment before continuing like it didn't happen. "Now then where are we and how would you make it back to the road and make your way to town?"
Amber peered into the map and instantly recognized their marked position. Straight north than just following it and road signs were the best way, the path was always marked for travelers so they merely needed to get there. Checking the compass Amber pointed into the treeline.
"T-That way!"
Her mother's grin grew and she weakly lifted her hands off the shirt that failed to aid the blood clotting. Amber moved to place her own on it but instead found her stained hands take into Rhea's.
"I know this is going to be difficult but I need you to pack your things and make it to town." Her breathing strained and needed a moment to suck in air before speaking. "Remember to put on layers and only stop when you need to, keep moving forwards. The weather will always get worse before better."
"I-I can't leave you here, no one would come out here in time!"
"You're not going to come back."
Amber stared at her mother's dimming eyes then paled as she realized what was being asked. "T-Then I won't leave."
"Amber please-"
"I'm going to stay!" She declared sternly. "Y-Your going to get better and then we'll leave here together!"
Amber expected Rhea to relent or give in to her demands then she would drag her inside. Heat up the place with fire, make a soup her mother taught her then everything would be fine once she had healed and they would travel together.
The laughter that followed was so mind-boggling Amber froze as stiff as the snow falling around her.
"I know how you're feeling, and I'm sorry, but this is a moment I knew we were going to have from the day you were born."
"G-Getting hurt isn't your fault." Tears that were pooling at the edges of her eyes for some time finally streamed down her cheeks like a dam finally breaking.
"It's not... that..." Her voice began to crack and fade. "You never should have been out here, this isn't a life for a child."
"W-What are you saying?"
"Its-" She coughed and a glob of blood squirted out from her mouth. "I tried so hard to keep you safe from these people, with me gone maybe you... have a chance to... Get out of there and just live, for me." Rhea settled into the snow like she was lying down in a bed for a night's rest. "I love... you Amber..." Her mother let out one final breath, it was visible from the temperature and Amber stared.
She waited for... anything to happen. Another cough, her chest to rise, more air to be seen coming from her mouth. Even as snow began to pile around them, tears seemed to freeze, and Amber's chattering teeth filled the silence she still waited for any signs of life. She didn't even register the sounds of footsteps until someone spoke.
"Oh gods." Amber's head whipped up to see a man, perhaps her mother's age standing a yard away. Without hesitation, she leaped on Rhea's discarded blade and hefted it the best she could at him.
"G-Get away! I'll cut you!"
"Hey, it's okay kid," The sword he was carrying retracted and was placed on his back. "Leo get over here!"
He crept forwards calmly but Amber remained up, the sword she was holding shook with the rest of her body. Not because of the cold, she wished the winter air was to blame as the snow was continued to be dyed red.
"The name's Qrow kid, what's yours?"
"Jaune?" Blake seized his arm and Jaune suddenly realized he was back at the docks again. "You walked right past us, is everything alright?"
"Uh yeah, just got lost in thought for a moment."
"What did he say?" Yang asked eagerly.
"I explained what we're trying to do and he said it would be cleared with the front desk-"
"Yes," She pumped a fist triumphantly into the air "Don't know how you did this but I owe you one!"
"I did some digging and there have been multiple kidnapping of children between fifteen and eight across the cities." Blake explained. "All with calling cards from the White Fang."
"Yeah that's why Headmaster Opzin is locking everyone in. To keep it from spreading to students." There didn't seem to be and end for what she was will to do to win.
"Think it could be Cinder?" Pyrrha asked.
"Wouldnt be surprised, they got Ruby and more hostages to us against us," Yang growled. "Well, what are we waiting for. Let's get going!"
"There is a condition though," Her grin dropped as quickly as it came. "We have to come with your Uncle."
"He's here!? Where is he, when is he going to get to the docks?"
"Already here firecracker." A gruff voice called out with impeccable timing and Yang whipped around at lightning speeds.
"Uncle Qrow!" She slammed into the man a minute later and looked to be crushing his lungs. "Oh thank the gods, you know about Ruby right? What am I saying, course you would!"
"Need air kid." He wrestled out of her grip and sighed. "Came as fast as I could and got news from Ozpin that you guys want to see an information broker in the city?"
"Yes," Yang said unwaveringly. "He could have something or not but it's better than sitting around waiting for an update."
"Good on you guys for the initiative, but those guys don't go cheap."
"We have a way to pay him off." Blake added.
"Hm." Qrow glanced around at everyone's gear and nodded approvingly, everyone knew how dangerous the city was becoming. All they did in the past few months didn't stop the
"The Headmaster already cleared us, we just need to walk to the other side of the city."
"Well here's hoping we don't have to get into a fight today." His flask came out a second later as he took the lead and Yang quickly followed. Blake shot Jaune an odd look before continuing on and letting him take up the rear. Once he was certain no one was paying too close attention he spoke.
"I'm sorry about your mother." He wouldn't try to imagine what that could feel like, to do so felt impossible. "So they figured out you were the maiden based on the scene then they took you to Vale?"
"No, Haven first, they wanted to give me time to process what happened. I met Ozpin a week later, they knew I was the new Fall Maiden. He explained exactly what was going to happen."
Amber spun the spoon around and around, the soup she was given began to form a steady whirl with bits racing one another to follow the flow. It was good but she didn't have the appetite for it at the moment. Those men easily managed to disarm and pick up a freezing thirteen-year-old, she wouldn't leave without the body and they agreed to the condition if it meant she'd stop trying to bite them. There was no funeral or anything, not that people would come Amber knew no other family or friends much to her rescuers surprise and sadness.
The city of Mistral looked beautiful when she looked out the window of the airship and saw what little she could of the place. Leo and Qrow didn't want her to leave the room and that was fine as she had no interest to go anywhere. Until today that is.
"Get out of there and just live, for me." Those were some of her mother's final words to Amber and she wanted to stick by them.
A soft knocking redirected her attention to the door. "It's open."
In came a man wearing a green suit and taping a came as he walked, although it didn't look like he needed.
"Hello, I am Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy," He said softly before taking hold of a chair at a nearby desk. "May I?"
The question was odd, if he wanted to sit he could she didn't care. Nodding he dragged the seat next to the bed she was laying on.
"I'm Amber." She said meekly to the stranger.
"I know, my condolences for your mother it was our intention to help Rhea against the people that were hunting her." He explained. "Sorry, we couldn't do more to help."
Amber couldn't help but note that he looked deeply regretful for some reason. He also mentioned helping her mother against those people, did that mean he knows why they were running all the time? Ozpin sighed when she put the thoughts to words.
"I suppose it makes sense you wouldn't know, Rhea got it randomly and wouldn't know what was going on herself." He said. "Do you recall that day my associates found you? Your mother performed some incredible feats wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, it's her semblance."
"It does seem that way, but it's not." He leaned forwards in his chair and asked the most damnable question there is. "What's your favorite fairytale?"
"The most 'damnable' question?" Jaune muttered.
"It's the first step in taking a person into this world of magic and desolation." Amber hissed. "One that should keep being a fairytale."
"The Maiden's are real I can assure you of that," Ozpin said calmly enough as she stared. "Your mother was the Fall maiden and now you are."
"H-How do you know?"
"When a Maiden does the last female she thinks of receives the powers unless they don't think of another woman. Rhea's predecessor thought of no one and the power ended up becoming randomly given to your mother over two decades ago."
"My mother... we had to run because something happened to jump into her...?"
Ozpin nodded. "That is a way you can look at it, we'll have enough time to discuss your powers and responsibilities in Vale."
"What do you mean...?"
"Soon I'll be taking you to Beacon, answers will come eventually. Training you in how to use this power is going to be rough but with perseverance, you will learn how to control it. We'll prepare you for what the future holds"
"I don't understand..." Not did she feel like trying, all this happens to Amber and her mother because of some power arbitrary decided on the ladder.
"You will in time," He smiled warmly. "You've been given an extraordinary gift and one day you will do amazing things with it."
Amber didn't look up when he left, or acknowledge his footfalls or cane tapping on the ground. All she could think about was her mother. This power was given to her without her knowledge or consent and she had to run across the continent with Amber because of it. Her mother was now dead, Amber was surrounded by strange men she didn't know and this one was talking about training and controlling this thing. She was already being locked up here, would Beacon be any different?
"He said this is a gift so maybe it won't be all bad, just gotta wait and see what he means later."
"When exactly did you decide to leave?"
"Not too long after I got to Vale and found out about Salem, then learned I was about to live the rest of my life at Beacon. Isolated from the majority of people my age at the school. Unlike before I was static, didn't have my mother, and Glynda was more focused on having me learn combat than anything else, it was important sure. Although it made me feel more alone than I was before."
Jaune nodded slowly. "You didn't like being isolated, especially to one place."
"I didn't want any part in this! Never got to have a choice as these powers suddenly made me a target. I just stayed a few years to learn how to fight and how to control this power, then left to live how I wanted to."
"You never went to a combat school."
"I learned at Beacon it's the closest thing there is and it fit for a decent enough lie," Amber explained. "I never stayed anywhere for long, it was the same thing as before but I was alone. Lingered at times but had to keep on the move, got to see two kingdoms, and met some nice people but I knew I couldn't get too attached or close. Would've made them targets." She sighed. "I always knew death was coming for me, knew I had to keep moving like before and the trouble with becoming too close to those around me. I wanted to make sure I never intentionally placed this burden on anybody else. I didn't die on that road thanks to you, except now you'll have to deal with the same life as me..."
Jaune remained silent, it wasn't that he had nothing to say but the group round the corner and the club was right there.
"We're here, well discuss this better later."
They approached what Jaune expecting to find a buzzing clue but there didn't seem like anyone lead going in or out. One of the guards at the door placed a finger to his ear and said something as they approached and then helped opened the door. Inside there was no music or crowd, it was pretty dark except for a few dimmed lights to help someone see. Junior approached them
"Why is this place so empty?" Yang asked aloud.
"The city is cutting power to some nonessential businesses at certain intervals, ours is going to be this week so starting two days ago."
"If you're closed why bother letting us in?" Qrow asked cautiously.
"A friend of yours paid me to, said he you were coming for a private meeting." He jutted a thumb behind him.
"Friend...?" Everyone followed Junior's finger to see Neo leaning casually against a wall. Her color scheme made it easy to make her out from the distance she waved towards them and everyone deployed their weapons a second later. Jaune included.
"Hey, he said you guys were here to talk!" Junior said angrily.
"Now?" Jaune asked and Qrow turned to lock gazes, he shrugged at the questioning look the older man gave. "I don't know, he never calls me about it..."
"Jaune what are you talking about?" Pyrrha asked concerned.
"Keep your weapons handy," Qrow said. "Let's see what Roman Torchwick wants."
The darkness of the building didn't help calm any nerves as they moved as a unit across the dance floor and to the private booth. Neo went inside and didn't bother holding the door for anyone, Qrow took the lead and kicked it open. Gun mode for his weapon ready. Inside Roman sat puffing a cigar.
He gestured to his cane leaning against the table. "The safety is on."
Regardless of his declaration Qrow kept his blade leveled up as everyone piled into the room. It got a bit awkward as no one could find move room to move with all their gear prepared and trying to maintain a combat stance. Jaune decided to be the first to stealth Crocea Mors although he didn't clip it back on his belt.
"Think you could have given me a heads up about this?" He asked.
"This meeting was never my idea." He glared daggers at his partner who merely smiled back and shrugged. "I've just agreed to make lemonade out of this situation."
"Jaune... how you know him?" Pyrrha asked concerned.
"He saved me when I fell into that hole at Mountain Glenn, he doesn't like working for Cinder and wants to stop her." Jaune explained.
"Then why don't you go to the authorities about this?" Blake asked. "Also why is this the first time we're hearing about this?"
"I told him to keep our meeting secret or else he'd lose an inside man," Roman explained, which didn't make Jaune feel any better under their gazes. "Anyway, we need to talk about your little problem-"
"How did you know we'd come here?" Blake asked suspiciously.
"Neo gets around kitty cat, it's a special talent she has." Roman pushed out his cigar into a pan and his smile dropped. "Cinder's been busy lately and not paying close attention to the two of us. She's got that little friend of yours locked down pretty tight."
"Ruby," Yang growled. "Where is she?"
"I'll get to that in a minute. Now has everyone heard about the recent rise in kidnappings?" He didn't wait for anyone to respond. "Well that is Cinder and it comes with a point. More hostages to keep Hunters and even Atlas from barging into the place and to better prepare her abused for these kiddos here."
"Yeah, I think we already figured that part out." Qrow added.
"What you don't know is that Cindy has gotten her hands on some Atlesian Knights, I saw around thirty of them. Could be more though." Roman let that sit for a moment before adding. "Newest models straight off the assemble line and each is packing enough fighting power and combat programming to fight an Ursa."
"How could she possibly get something like that?" Blake asked. "The White Fang has a hard time just stealing a few crates of guns from Atlas military shipments."
"Well, she was able to steal more than a dozen of those Paladin mechs." Roman added.
Qrow couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Yup, Atlas security at its finest ladies and gentlemen."
"Cinder's getting her hands everything she can, even got the local leader of the White Fang here. A tough bull with a katana, he doesn't mess around either."
"Adam..." She said aloud and everyone turned towards her. "He is dangerous, I knew him back when I was with the White Fang. Makes sense he'd be working with Cinder the general lack of success would've created disillusionment in the ranks."
"It has, but Cinder managed to convince some benefactor of hers to throw in some firepower. She's painting all of the hate onto you four, it's making for some seriously pissed-off animals." Roman explained.
"Is my niece okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, got plenty of company at the moment too. Look Cinder has got this whole ambush plan in the works, you are going to breaking in expecting to surprise her. Then end up getting surrounded and outgunned."
"So you want us to attack before she's ready?" Jaune felt surprised when the man shook his head.
"If you guys bust in like that she'll expect and mole. That's not a risk I'm willing to take for you guys, she'll roast me like a piece of venison." Roman explained. "No, you guys might get killed and I'll lose my little investment. You'll walk into the ambush except you'll know what's your up against and can plan whatever contingencies for it. That way it'll just look like you and Ozpin are just good at preparing."
"How can we even trust you here?" Blake hissed. "For all we know this is a setup."
"Well, I wouldn't expect you to trust me as that would be stupid." He chuckled. "No, trust that I want to save my own skin from what Cinder is planning on this city. Before you ask I really don't know what it is, she runs a tight ship with me around." The man leaned forwards and put on the most serious expression he could. "Look at what she's doing to the city, it isn't good and I sure don't wanna go through with whatever she had planned."
Jaune stilled as he knew why Cinder was heard from Ozpin, she suspected correctly that Amber's body is at Beacon. She was ready to trash the city by stealing dust then sending packing it on a train to accomplish that goal. She deprived the city of dust during the Vytal festival and has it closing on the edge of chaos. The negativity was going to attract a lot of Grimm and with more tourists coming in the situation can get a lot worse and fast. Sure he can claim they've been winning out against her but never stopping Cinder in her tacks, not until she was behind bars or maybe dead.
Yang hummed. "Well if that's the plan where is Cinder planning his trap at?"
"I think I'll maintain my monopoly on that answer for now." Ember Cilicia was deployed in an instant and Yang looked like she wanted to rush forwards before Qrow pulled her back.
"Hold it here firecracker!" His arms locked around her in a tight hold and Roman stuck out his arm to stop Neo from making a move with her umbrella.
"I don't want you guys to get any troubling ideas beforehand. If you lot take her down now then I'll be all the more grateful for it. I will tell you what to expect but you'll learn where when Cinder wants you to."
Yang audible sighed and replaced her Uncle's grip but the man still maintains a decent enough hold. Neo on the other hand lowered her umbrella as Roman spoke.
"So you guys gonna be in or out?"
"We're in!" Yang said quickly and stilled when no one else added their voice to the mix.
This was a terrific lead for them but it was out of the blue and from a questionable source. Jaune had to admit that Torchwick is a bit of a wild card here, yeah he liked the idea of knowing what Cinder had in store for them. Although he was less sure if the man lounging around in front of him could be trusted when this wasn't exactly the deal they made. This whole thing didn't put him in the line of fire that much and he didn't strike Jaune as being one to put himself in too much danger like that. Torchwick did put an if when mentioning use taking down Cinder like he wasn't too sure of their success in this.
"We may not get another chance, we need to know where Ruby and definitely where those other children are at." He thought grimly.
"I'm in too."
The walk back to Beacon was a quiet one, for Amber that is. She tried prodding Jaune to explain why she needed to keep Salem and this war away from him. Tried to tell him this wasn't a fight he should be running into but it felt like he was listening but never responding. Walking back and even on the shuttlecraft, Jaune focused only on getting back. Once JPBY was at the school they said their goodbyes to Qrow and then Jaune shut himself inside the bathroom at the dorm.
"Jaune?" Amber meekly asked when he stared into the mirror there was an annoyed look on his face. "Please, I am trying to help you, leaving aside your family making connects will be impossible when Cinder or Salem knows about that power you-"
"You don't think they're not already in danger?" She took her time to think about the proper response as this is a serious question.
"They are but only because Cinder wanted revenge and not because she knows you have the Maiden powers." She explained. "Ignorance is bliss here, Cinder doesn't know and once she's dealt with there is a chance to move on with your life. Telling you about Salem... I feared you'd try and help get involved when you're a first-year and not even qualified for it."
He sneered at his reflection or more likely wanted her to see it. "They tried to get thrown out of Beacon, bait me by hurting Blake, and now they've kidnapped Ruby."
"I know..." Amber sighed, this was not how she hoped everything would turn out, reality was often disappointing like that. "I never got choice in this you know, didn't know what was being dropped at my feet but you did. There was shot for you to walk away and-"
"Do you know what you are Amber?" Jaune leaned forwards like he was trying to get in her face. "A hypocrite."
She was taken aback by the harsh emphasis he placed on the word and the hard frown plastered on his face. "What do you...?"
"You didn't like that you were dragged into this fight and I get that. Nobody should be forced to make big decisions or made to do anything against their will. Except isn't that what you're doing to me?" He growled into the mirror- no at her. "It was your choice to leave this behind and live the way you wanted to, that's fine, but you don't have any right to make the same choice for me."
"You don't know what you're heading into-"
"How could I? You never told me anything, hid the truth from the start even when I made myself a target, you kept trying to pull me away from fighting Cinder. Kept trying to block me from going to Ozpin for help when there is honest to gods danger to me and my team." Jaune groaned. "You're infuriating!" He stopped realizing that may have been too loud and began dialing back. "I am involved in this, the whole city practically is and Cinder is slowly throwing it into chaos. You talk about 'protecting me' but you've just been keeping me blind to the situation."
"You have a chance to walk away from this!" She desperately cried.
"What made you think I want to?" That question combined with his stern expression gave Amber paused.
She didn't know really, it was assumed that Jaune would rush into this then later want out like Amber once did. Except wasn't something she knew would be the case nor ever elected to ask for his thoughts on the matter.
Jaune sighed and his head hung low, vision was filled by the sink. The anger he felt had slowly dissolved away until he gazed back into the mirror with weary eyes.
"This is my problem and I want to be involved." He started firmly. "You didn't drag me into this so please don't think that way. Cinder was never going to do anything good with this power, she will hurt people in Vale, and intention or not I am not going to let it happen."
"Jaune I..."
Was all this just pointless projecting? Amber was just trying to help him avoid what she experienced, the lonely nights with nothing but a horse, always keeping an eye open at night and wondering if someone was following her on the road or in town. Was she creating danger under the belief of aiding him? She almost tried talking him out of seeing a doctor about his arm after all...
"By the Brothers... I wanted to keep you safe from what happened to me, to my mother."
"Ruby and some other kids are being held captive by Cinder and we need to take that woman down before she brings harm to the city." Jaune mimicked locking eyes with her as he drawled on. "We need to work with Ozpin to save them and stop Cinder. That is my choice. Now I'm asking you to please help me."
His choice, that's what it was and that's what she wanted him to have. Amber traveled, saw parts of two continents, and helped her fair share of people. She experienced the world and all the while Opzin never tried to stop her did he...
"I'm... What do need help with?"
"Tell me everything you know that Ozpin didn't mention."