That break felt like forever, at least for me.
Welcome back, friends, to Criminally Good.
Enjoy.
[Chapter 12]
"You don't want to see the things I've seen, son." Jason Arc said as I sat across from the dinner table with him. It was only us tonight, Mom and my sisters had gone off to do something that didn't involve either of us.
"Dad, you're a Huntsman. A hero of Vale, if not the world! I want to do that. I want to protect people, I'm tired of letting my sisters fight my battles for me!" I shouted back across the table at him.
To his credit, he only sighed and looked up at me, his glare only slightly noticeable. "I am a Huntsman, but I'm no hero, Jaune. No more than any other Huntsman." He dug back into his dinner which was rapidly growing cold much like mine had.
"Yes, you are! You help people, you protect villages, you kill Grimm! That makes you a hero, dad!" I countered, not seeing the point that he was trying to make.
Dad didn't respond and took a bite of his chicken, chewing slowly as he thought on a response to me. "Tell me, Jaune. Could you live with yourself if you failed? If you didn't make it in time. If you showed up and the village was destroyed, leaving only mangled bodies behind as a damning reminder of your failure?"
I blinked once or twice as I thought on that. It was a risk, that was part of being a hero, I supposed. Try as you might, you can't save everyone.
Before I could respond, however, he pressed on. "What if you couldn't save them, Jaune? If you watched them die right before your eyes as you were left powerless to do a damn thing? What then? Would you still be a hero if you just stood by and let thousands of innocents die needlessly?"
I swallowed nervously as I thought on his words. "I wouldn't just stand there. I would save as many as I could, damned if I die trying. If I could save even one more life it'd be worth it."
He laughed mirthlessly and shook his head, pushing his plate away from him. "But what of the man who stood and watched as they died? Is he still a hero?"
I frowned as I thought on his question. "I don't know. He watched as innocents needlessly died when he could've done something."
Jason nodded once as pushed himself up out of his seat and collected his plate as he made to leave.
"Is that man a hero, dad? The one who watched those people die?" I asked, watching as he moved to the kitchen.
He stopped in the doorway as he thought. "I don't know, son. I suppose it depends on who you ask." He said quietly as he pushed through the door and into the kitchen, leaving me with my thoughts.
[-/-]
I woke up a few hours later, at least I thought it was a few hours later. Time gets real weird when you sleep, and most of the time makes absolutely no sense. Whatever.
I shifted slightly, stretching my arms over my head, blinking the blur out of my eyes. It was pitch black outside, meaning it was still the middle of the night. There was a weight against my right side, and I glanced down to see none other than Neo fast sleep against my side. Or at the least she appeared to be fast asleep, I wouldn't put it past her to be faking it again.
At some point, the TV had been turned off, and a blanket had been thrown over the two of us, granted that didn't do much considering Neo was still mostly sitting up as she used my chest for a pillow. Only my legs were covered, and most of Neo's lower body considering she was stretched out over the couch.
I hummed quietly as I looked down at the sleeping assassin, debating on trying to wake her so that we could go to our own beds. Granted, that involved waking up Neo if she wasn't already awake and watching me. That went one of two ways, really. One, I piss her off and I get stabbed for waking her up. Two, she's been awake this whole time and… And then what?
I didn't particularly know. If she were awake and watching me, what would she do if I tried to leave? Stab me is probably the natural response, but the more I think on it that doesn't seem quite right. She's not been stabby with me recently. She's been more on the tame side I've found, which seemed odd. Huh.
I sighed and leaned back into the couch, looking up at the ceiling of the apartment, finding that the white shapes seemed to be following some kind of rather vague pattern that I couldn't place at all though found entrancing none the less.
"I don't know, son. I suppose it depends on who you ask." His words still echoed in my head. What did that mean? Who was the man we were talking about? Could it be Dad? That doesn't sound like him, though. Dad would always intervene if someone was in danger, he wouldn't just leave people to die, would he?
What would he think of me now? What would he say? His only son, the heir to the Arc family, nothing but a petty criminal. A thief, a liar. A killer. I frowned as I closed my eyes once again and tried to relax as thoughts swirled through my mind. Would he be disgusted? What about mom, and my sisters? Their brother; poor, weak, defenseless Jaune Arc now a criminal. They'd laugh. They'd call you a liar. They wouldn't understand.
I let out a slow breath through my nose as I let an arm fall across the back of the couch. They always tried to protect me. The fought my battles for me. They only wanted to see me safe. They wouldn't believe that their innocent little brother turned to a life of crime. They'd hate me. They'd hate themselves. They'd think this was their fault.
What about Ruby? As far as she knows I'm just another guy who wants to be a Huntsman. I lied to her. She's forging my weapon; the weapon of a killer. Would she understand? Could she understand if I explained it to her? I let out a quiet snort at that thought. She wouldn't get it. She'd tell me I could've done something, anything. Anything but what I did.
Neo shifted a little in her sleep, and I had decided that she was asleep. She'd probably have confronted me by now if she weren't. I couldn't help but to chuckle quietly to myself, leave it to me to make friends with people who would only become enemies if they ever found out the truth about me. They'd hate me, each and every one of them.
I opened my eyes once more and looked back down at Neo who was peacefully asleep against my chest. She knew, and she didn't care. She understood why. I couldn't help but to smile slightly as I looked at her. Sure, this isn't what I wanted. I didn't want to become apprentice to Vale's best criminal, but it happened. Here I was, and I wasn't afraid. I wasn't ashamed. I was content.
Roman, Neo, Junior. They weren't bad people, at least not to me. They were my friends, and they would stand by me when I needed them. They didn't hate me for what I'd done, they understood. They didn't hate me for what I'd become, they helped me understand it. They were there when I needed them, they took me in and set me straight. They took a risk taking me in, teaching me, helping me, housing me. I wouldn't make them regret it.
I sighed and closed my eyes once again, feeling sleep call out to me once more. I felt as my arm fell from the back of the couch and come to rest across Neo's back. I swore I could hear a small, nearly inaudible sigh of contentment in response.
I didn't pay it any mind and let myself drift off once again.
[-/-]
I woke up again, feeling far more rested this time around, graced with the bright light of the sun beating down through the window in the room. I glanced to my side, and Neo was still laying there, though clearly awake as she played a game of some nature on her scroll.
I arched a brow at her as she continued to play her game, finding that she was ignoring me completely. Off to one side, I heard Roman chuckle. "Well, looks like Sleeping Beauty here finally woke up on her own." He teased as he took a puff off his cigar.
I rolled my eyes as I looked to him. "Mhm, good morning to you too, Roman." I said through a yawn as I stretched my arms over my head again, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
Neo looked up from her game, her dichromatic gaze meeting mine. Her eyes changed colors a few times before she looked back to her game, clearly having lost any interest in me. Off to the side I heard Roman mutter something to himself, a small smirk on his lips.
I arched a brow at him. "Something you want to say, Roman?"
"Not particularly."
I narrowed my gaze at his comment though shook my head, muttering quietly to myself. "Why do I even bother…"
Roman shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know, kid. You'd think that you'd learn eventually, but that has yet to be seen."
I shook my head at his teasing, shuffling slightly in my seat to find my scroll. It was relatively early, only being three in the afternoon. I wasn't all too sure what time I had fallen asleep last night, but I was well rested.
I took a moment to look through my messages, and there was nothing. I doubted I'd hear anything from Ruby for another day, and the others didn't seem to message much at all. At least, not me.
I pocketed my scroll once more and looked to Neo. "Mind letting me up, Neo? I'd like to take a shower."
Neo put her scroll down and frowned, tapping her lips as she looked up at me, tilting her head slightly, pointing from me to herself. I arched a brow at that. "No, Neo. You can't join me for the shower."
Neo pouted at that, though shook her head. She took her scroll in hand once again and typed out a message for me. Not what I meant, but if that's an offer, who knows? ;) What I was asking was what's in it for me?
I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know, Neo." I didn't particularly want to play her games right after I'd woken up.
She tapped her lips once more. You could take me out for lunch?
I sighed and nodded. "Sure, if that's what it takes for you to let me up so I can shower."
She grinned and nodded, sitting up properly so that I could get up easily. Roman just chuckled and shook his head off to the side as he puffed on his cigar, reading something off his scroll. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's so funny, Roman?"
He looked up at me with a bemused smile on his lips. "Oh, nothing. If you don't already know, it's not nearly as amusing."
I threw my hands up in the air in defeat. "Whatever you say, Roman." I said as I made my way back to my room, grabbing a clean set of clothes and making my way to the shower.
I emerged a few minutes later, and neither Roman nor Neo had moved much since I had left, at least not that I could see. I had outfitted myself once more in a goon suit, the red sword hanging from my hip while my daggers were stashed away, strapped to my belt.
Roman looked up at me and frowned. "We really need to get you out of that suit." He commented offhandedly.
I shrugged a shoulder. "Probably. Maybe that way I'd stop causing trouble for Junior." I paused for a moment as I thought. "Though I'd say we let it go until after I've helped Junior finish off this shit show I caused."
Roman shrugged a shoulder. "I can see why. Don't want to get something flashy until after you've dealt with this. Gives you a degree of anonymity from this whole incident."
I frowned at that, coming to take a seat across the table from Roman. "That it does." I drummed my fingers against the table as I thought. "I did neglect to tell you something last night. Something that's got me a bit weary."
Roman arched a brow, setting his scroll aside. "And what's that?"
I started to chew on the inside of my cheek. "Well, it's a huntsman." Roman narrowed his eyes at that. "He's got more than a little bit of info on me. Knows of my family history, knows a bit about Crocea Mors."
Roman nodded. "And this matter why?"
I sighed. "Just… Seems odd to me, I don't know. I'm a relative nobody, just a guy with a famous sword, but this huntsman seems interested in me. He put it as protecting his niece, the girl forging Crocea Mors for me, but still. He knows more than I'm particularly comfortable with."
Roman sighed and shook his head. "And here I thought that it was an issue. Kid, you're a criminal. One with a famous sword from a line of heroes and defenders of Remnant. You're not a nobody, by merit of wielding Crocea Mors, you are somebody." He sighed and took a puff off his cigar. "Seeing as this huntsman didn't kill or arrest you, he's got nothing to warrant it. Until he makes an attempt, you've got nothing to worry about."
I continued to chew on the inside of my cheek. "More what I'm worried about is that if he's tailing me, he'll know about you and Neo."
Roman waved a dismissive hand. "Don't sweat it, kid. If he pins you to us, great, your ability to move around freely during the day is restricted. Big deal."
I hummed as I thought on his words. That was true, the worst that would happen was that I'd lost freedom of mobility, as well as my friends, but that was bound to happen eventually, right? "You've got a point, Roman." I conceded.
Roman nodded and leaned back in his seat, puffing on his cigar. "Anything else you wanted to harass me about?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so."
Roman nodded. "Good, 'cause Neo and I have somewhere to be." He looked to Neo who pouted at him, pointed to me, and then herself. Roman rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know he promised you lunch. He'll pay you back later. Boss wants to talk to us."
Neo made another series of gestures that I struggled to follow. Roman growled out. "Yes, Neo. You do have to be there. No, you can't get out of it by making an image of yourself." Neo crossed her arms and pouted at that. "Last time she caught you doing that, her anger was directed at me. I was not a fan. You are coming."
Neo mimicked a sigh and nodded, getting off the couch and grabbing her parasol. Roman looked back to me then. "We probably won't be back until late tonight. You're on your own, kid. Go harass Junior, or something. I'm sure he'd appreciate it."
I shrugged. In reality, that was likely what I'd do. Without either Roman or Neo, I didn't have much of anywhere to turn other than Junior. Maybe he'd have something for me to do. At least, something more than sitting around and doing nothing with my time.
Roman and Neo left the apartment, and I was shortly behind them. I decided that I'd take Roman's advice and make for Junior's, see what he needed.
[-/-]
Junior was not in a good way.
The man I knew well and had come to trust always stood tall and looked unaffected by the events unraveling around him. At least, that's how he was when his goons could see.
That was how I knew something was wrong.
Junior looked to be a bit injured, leaning heavily on the bar as he delivered orders to a group of goons. He looked up to me and managed a nod. "Jaune, good to see you."
I frowned as I eyed the man. "What happened to you?"
He waved a dismissive hand. "This is nothing my Aura won't handle." He said even though he looked like shit and was leaning heavily on the bar still. "So, you need something?"
I thought about pressing him on it, though knew that'd get me nowhere. If he didn't want to say, he wouldn't. "A couple things, actually."
Junior nodded. "Those are?"
"First is my family. I want to know everything there is about them, more importantly, the heroes of my family. Anyone who would've wielded Crocea Mors." Junior arched a brow, but I pressed on. "Second is that old huntsman you were talking to a couple months back. Tall, graying black hair. That guy." Junior raised his other brow at that.
"Alright, kid. I've got a few questions." Junior started, drumming his fingers against the counter top. "First is why your family? I'd imagine you know more than I do."
I sighed and shrugged a shoulder. "I probably do, at least about my direct family. I'm more interested in the heroes. The ones who wielded Crocea Mors, including my dad. I know he's a huntsman, but not much more than that, and any of my extended family I was never really told anything about. Hoping that you might be able to dig something up for me."
Junior hummed as he listened to my answer. "If you want to know about your family and the heroes, you might want to try the Vale National Library. If it's written down, it's there. Just got to know what you're looking for." I nodded, and Junior returned it. "Second one. Guy you're talking about? Qrow Branwen, professional drunkard, trouble maker, and huntsman. What do you want to know about him?"
I frowned as I started to chew on my lip. "Who he is. Who he works for. He knows a fair bit about me, and I don't know shit about him. I'd like to change that."
Junior shrugged a shoulder. "Consider it done, then. I'll have something written up for you to look over in a couple days"
I nodded in response. "Thanks."
He shrugged a shoulder and took a bottle of rum off the shelf behind him, as well as a pair of glasses, pouring a drink for the each of us. "Don't sweat it, kid. Though you are aware that I don't work for free, right?"
"Not even for friends?"
"Not when I'm your supplier of free booze."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll pay since you're not willing to work for free."
Junior shrugged and downed his glass of rum quickly, pouring himself another. "Other than that, why're you here, kid? Haven't seen you with Roman or Neo much the past few days."
I hummed noncommittally as I downed my glass of rum as well. "They're busy, apparently. Roman's off working for someone who's quite demanding with his time."
"And your psychotic little girlfriend?"
I rolled my eyes as Junior filled my glass again. "First off, she's not my girlfriend. Second, she's with Roman most the time. Heard Roman say something about her needing to be at a meeting or something like that."
Junior just chuckled quietly to himself. "And with those two gone, you come running to me to keep you entertained. I don't know if I should be hurt or amused."
I shrugged my shoulders, and started to lean against the bar top. "You're one of the best sources of entertainment when I've got nothing better to be doing. Always able to give me something to occupy my time."
Junior shook his head. "Is that all I am to you?" He asked, his tone clearly joking. "Someone to come to when you're bored out of your mind?"
"That's what friends are for, right? Occupying time that would be wasted otherwise."
"Something like that." He paused to take another drink from his glass, refilling both mine and his. "We're also here to look out for each other, kid."
I frowned but nodded at his comment, eyeing the glass of rum in my hand. "That we are." I commented in an offhanded way.
"Just keep that in mind. I'm sure the same goes for Roman and Neo both."
I sighed and finished my glass of rum and set it down on the counter, stretching my arms over my head. "I will. Thanks for the drinks, Junior."
I was met with a smile and nod as I turned to leave the Club behind for the evening.
[-/-]
Another afternoon sat waiting in a public park as the average civilian fled their workplaces in desperate need of rest and relaxation after a long day of work.
I was sat under a rather large tree, my back pressed against the trunk as I watched for the distinctive red blur that I knew denoted Ruby wherever she went.
It wasn't all that long until I saw that same distinctive red blur rushing across the park at inhuman speeds. I smiled slightly as I got to my feet, eyeing the short red reaper as she came to a skidding stop in front of me.
As per usual, strapped to her back was Crescent Rose, though today she had one new addition. Crocea Mors was strapped to her hip, though the blade looked far to long and bulky to be hers. Then again, she was the one who wielded a scythe sniper rifle hybrid weapon, so what do I know about weapon to body size proportions?
"Hi, Jaune. You weren't waiting long, right?" Ruby asked cheerfully, smiling wide in greetings.
I shrugged a shoulder. "Not that long," I paused to check my scroll. "Though you are about ten minutes late."
She huffed and crossed her arms, pouting rather adorably. "The bullhead was late getting to Patch and I got stuck in the crowd for a little while." She protested.
I chuckled and shook my head. "Whatever you say, Red." I found myself scanning the crowd, and more importantly, anyone who was standing around. "Got something for me?"
Her face almost instantly lit up as she removed Crocea Mors from her hip and held it out to me. "Here, Crocea Mors new and improved."
I took the blade from her and drew it from the sheath. The blade was slightly longer than it had been before and felt as though it weighed slightly more as well. The blade itself appeared to be polished, rather than the dull gray it had been before I sent it off. Any of the notches and nicks in the blade were also nowhere to be seen.
I looked then to the sheath, and found that she had kept the same activation method, the sheath easily folding out into a kite shield exactly the same as it had been before, just with a new cover of paint and no scratches to be seen.
I grinned as I felt the classic weapon in my hand. It wasn't the exact same, but it still felt like Crocea Mors. "Very nicely done, Red. Nicely done indeed." I said as I swung the sword in an arc through the air experimentally.
Ruby beamed at me, bouncing on her heels. "Now shift it into it's rifle form!" She all but shouted, the excitement pouring from her was palpable.
I chuckled and sheathed the sword, finding that the method for collapsing the shield was still the same.
I handed the collapsed weapon back to her. "Show me how it's done, Red."
"Alright!" She came to be standing next to me and held the sword out before the both of us. "So it's really pretty simple – you see that switch right there?" She asked, pointing out a metal switch on the handguard. "Just flip that, and watch as it changes before you."
She flipped the switch, and in her hands Crocea Mors began to whir to life, the weapon shifting parts all over the place in a way that baffled my brain and left me lost as to what exactly was happening. To my eye, it mostly looked like a mess of metal plates moving and gears showing where there definitely weren't gears before.
After a few moments, the weapon finished shifting, and it was clearly a rifle. It had the same bright white coloring with gold accenting the metal much like it did the shield. Ruby was still grinning wildly as she looked to me. "Pretty cool, right?"
I nodded as I looked at the rifle form of Crocea Mors. "Definitely."
She held it out to me, her smile threatening to split her face in two. "Here, take it. See how it feels."
I took the rifle from her, and it definitely felt odd. Not in a bad way, just new, I suppose. I rose it so that the butt of the rifle was against my shoulder, and I was looking down a simple set of iron sights. "Feels good, though I'm going to need practice before I can use it at all." I paused to think a moment. "What kind of ammunition does it need?"
"Dust rounds, duh."
I deadpanned. "What size bullet, Red."
Her cheeks flushed as she laughed awkwardly. "Right, definitely knew that was what you were asking…" She dug into one of the pockets and produced a bullet. "One like this, it's a 5.56. You'll be able to find these in just about any weapons shop loaded with most any kind of dust you'll ever need."
I nodded, finding the magazine, dropping it from the rifle. On one side was the Arc family sigil, and on the other was her own sigil, a rose. Though just like mine, it was gold. I arched a brow as I looked to her. "Any reason you put your sigil on my weapon?"
She shrugged. "Good way to mark my work, y'know? Little show of pride, that sorta deal."
I shook my head as I slipped the empty magazine back into its slot. I struggled for a moment to find the switch to collapse it back into a sheath once again. One thing that I found nice was that the shift was quick, at least back into a sheath.
I turned it back into a rifle again, only to find that it wasn't nearly as fast. That was fine, just something I'd need to be aware of. I looked back to Ruby and strapped the shield back to my hip. "It's perfect. Thanks, Red."
Ruby beamed up at me still, preening slightly under the praise. "I'm glad you like it, Jaune."
Conversation trailed off for a few minutes after that, and I found myself resting my hand on the hilt of the sword, feeling far more comfortable with it strapped to my side rather than the one Junior had given me.
"So, are we still on for hanging out this afternoon?" Ruby asked hopefully.
I shrugged a shoulder. "Sure, I've got nothing to be doing at the moment."
Ruby looked like she was about to respond, though her stomach did so for her, getting the girl to blush heavily and look away.
I only chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I take it you want something to eat?"
"Nooooooo…" She said as her stomach complained once again. "Okay, maybe." She conceded, muttering something about traitor under her breath.
I shook my head and started off through the park, looking back over my shoulder at her. "Well, I'm going to go find something to eat if you're coming."
She looked up and bolted real quick to be walking next to me again.
I hummed a tune to myself as I thought. "Anything in particular you want, Red?"
Ruby thought for a minute and then looked to me. "Cookies?"
I chuckled at that and nodded. "Cookies it is. I'll see about finding us a café so I can have coffee for myself."
She beamed up at me. "Best friend ever!" She squealed.
Conversation lulled between us as we wandered through the streets of Vale in search of a café. The one I had been to a few times before wasn't awful, but it left something to be desired in their coffee, and their emergency Yang exits.
The silence between us wasn't awkward, just companionable as I found a small shop on one of the street corners in a quiet part of town. "Take a seat, Red. I'm going to go in and grab a coffee and cookies. Want anything to drink?"
"A hot chocolate, please."
I returned a few minutes later with a bag of cookies and a hot chocolate in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Ruby was leaning back in her seat, looking up at the sky, though she looked back to me when I arrived and smiled brightly.
I handed over her order and took a seat across from her, sipping on the tall cup of straight black coffee.
"So, Jaune, what's up? Why'd you need this order rushed? I mean, not that it was any trouble, I just had to stay up a bit alter than I normally do working, but I don't mind because, who really needs sleep? I definite- "
I chuckled and cut her off. "I needed it rushed because I've got something big coming up in a few days, and I'd like to have my own equipment on hand. The boss arms us all if we need it, but I'm more comfortable with a weapon I know."
Ruby bit down on a cookie, taking well over half of it in one bite. "What's coming up? You work private security, right? So, what would you need your weapon for so desperately that it had to be rushed?" She thought for a moment. "Oh, let me guess, its some sort of super awesome mission where you're charged with protecting something really valuable, like a person of interest, or jewels or something."
I shook my head, a bemused smile on my lips. "Nothing quite so glamorous." I said, taking another sip of the coffee that I found quite enjoyable compared to other shops around. "No, we're going to be assaulting a known criminal hideout."
Ruby frowned at that. "Really? I would think that's more a job for Huntsmen of the VPD, not private security?"
She has a point. Why would a Private Security Company do something like this? I shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know all the details, but we got paid by a client a decent bit of money to handle this ourselves."
Ruby frowned as she ate another cookie. "But that sounds dangerous, Jaune. Couldn't you get hurt doing something like that?"
I grinned at her. "Aw, is someone worried about me?"
Her cheeks flushed red as I leaned back in my seat and sipped my coffee. "Yes! These are criminals, they could kill you."
"I'm not helpless, Red. I've got enough training to get by just fine."
She pouted at me. "But Jaune, you could get seriously hurt… You're not even used to wielding Crocea Mors yet."
I shrugged a shoulder. "I'll be fine, Ruby. I promise." I smiled at her reassuringly. "They're nothing more than a load of two-bit thugs. I can handle that much."
Ruby relaxed slightly, though kept her silver gaze trained on me. "Just… Don't get hurt, okay? You're my friend, and I don't want to hear about you getting hurt badly on the job."
I nodded to her, leaning back in my chair as I sipped more at my coffee. "I'll do my best."
She nodded then, relaxing fully as she finished off her cookies. "So, I don't really know. What's private security like? It sounds like a really cool job to me."
I chuckled and shook my head. "Hardly. It's a lot of screwy sleep hours and jobs that've got you on edge constantly. Never know when the shop you're stationed at might get hit."
She frowned then. "Have you been at any shops that have been hit?"
I started to chew on the inside of my cheek. "Not initially, no. I've shown up to help clean up the aftermath though."
"What do you mean the aftermath…?" She asked hesitantly.
I sighed and waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing you need to worry about, Red. Just part of the job."
She frowned at me and cocked her head to the side. "It doesn't sound or look like nothing, Jaune."
I tasted blood in my mouth as I bit down on my cheek. "It's nothing, I promise."
Ruby smiled sympathetically at me. "You can tell me, even if just to get it off your chest."
"I…" What will she think once she knows I've killed someone? Will she hate me? Will she be afraid of me? I took in a deep breath and let it out. "I'm fine, Ruby. Don't worry about me. I knew what I signed up for when I took this job."
She seemed to think for a while on my response, and opened her mouth to respond before closing it and nodding meekly. "Okay, but just know that I'm here for you, alright?"
I smiled and nodded, raising my cup towards her. "I'll keep that in mind."
She attempted a smile and took a drink of her hot chocolate, letting silence settle between us once again.
You know she's going to hate us anyway when she figures out what we actually do. One part of my mind argued. She might, but that's a problem for future Jaune to handle. The other pointed out. No matter what though, she'll end up hating me for what I am. A killer, a criminal, and a liar.
The sun was falling quickly over the city when Ruby got up and brushed herself off. She smiled warmly at me. "Thanks for this, Jaune. It was fun."
I looked over and nodded, matching her smile. "It was. Thanks again for the upgrades to Crocea Mors. You did me a huge favor."
She came over to me and wrapped her arms around my chest, shoving her face into my shoulder. "Just don't get hurt on this mission you've got and we'll call it even, okay?" Her voice was muffled by my shoulder.
I smiled and wrapped an arm around her in response. "You got it, Red."
She broke away after a moment of silence and smiled at me. "I'll see you later, Jaune."
I nodded, taking another sip of my coffee. "Count on it."
She turned and wandered off down the street back towards the bullhead port, likely headed back to Patch.
I sighed and finished off my coffee and cleared off the table, dumping all the trash the two of us had created. I rested a hand on the hilt of Crocea Mors and made my way towards the weapons shop I had bought my knives from.
[-/-]
I entered the apartment to find that Roman was stood in the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. He looked up when he heard the door open. "Kid, good to see you. Get your sword back?"
I nodded and unclasped Crocea Mors from my side. "That I did, feels better than anything Junior could've given me."
Roman nodded, looking back to his sandwich. "Good for you."
I shrugged a shoulder and leaned Crocea Mors against the couch as I plopped down to take a seat in front of the TV, stretching my legs out to rest my feet on the coffee table. "Hey, Roman? Mind grabbing me the open bottle of whiskey back there?"
Roman joined me a few moments later, handing the bottle to me. He didn't say anything as he went to his usual recliner and sat back, flicking on the TV to some news station.
"Where's Neo, Roman? She's usually laying around doing nothing when you're not out on a job." I asked, taking a long swig of whiskey.
Roman shrugged. "Dunno. She's been out since this afternoon when she woke up."
I hummed as I took another long drink from the bottle in hand.
"Say, Roman? Did you have friends who weren't criminals?" I asked, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling.
"I did. Why?"
"How did they react when they found out you were a criminal? Someone who lied, cheated, and stole to get by?"
Roman didn't respond for a moment or two. "Most of them turned their backs on me. Tried to arrest me." He laughed bitterly. "Hell, even the one who stuck by me for a while stabbed me in the back. Tried to take me in."
I frowned. "So, you mean to tell me they all betrayed you?"
"Word to the wise, kid. Don't trust anyone. In this world, everybody is just out for themselves. They'll willingly stab you in the back if it meant they got ahead."
"That includes you, Neo, and Junior?"
Roman snorted. "Especially us, kid. We're criminals. We lie every day just to get even the slightest edge over those who stand in our way. If that means kicking someone to the curb, or throwing them to the wolves, it'll happen."
I took another long drink of whiskey at that. "Then why don't you get rid of me? Why doesn't Junior out you to the authorities?"
"Why indeed. Why don't I just kick you to the side and let you fend for yourself?" He asked right back.
I hummed as I thought on his question. "Because I might be useful. I might give you an edge over on someone." I drummed my fingers against the bottle as I thought. "I know Junior likes me, and because of that if you keep me around, he might be more inclined to help you."
Roman grinned. "Definitely not as stupid as you look, kid." He set his empty plate down on the coffee table. "That's why I keep you around. You give me an edge over people. You help keep me where I am. That's why Junior keeps his mouth shut. Because having friends like me goes a long way in this world."
"Breaking news. This just in: A Bullhead has been hijacked by a team of unknown assailants. Reports claim that there are at least three passengers on board."
I nodded, still drumming my fingers against the bottle. "So, it's all a web of how we help each other out, and give each other advantages that we otherwise wouldn't have."
He nodded at my point. "It's the closest you'll get to trust in our world."
I hummed as I thought. "And that's where you screwed up, isn't it? You trusted the people who betrayed you."
He nodded once more. "I did. I learned the lesson the hard way, damn near paid for it with being locked up for my whole life."
I hummed as I thought on that little bit of information he gave me.
Roman chuckled and shook his head as he turned his attention to the TV. "Morons."
I looked to the TV as well, and saw what Roman was talking about. In the Bullhead, there was a masked man who just shot one of his hostages and kicked them out of the door. "The hostages are more valuable alive than dead, though these amateurs don't seem to understand that." Roman commented once more.
The news feed cut from the chasing view of the stolen Bullhead back to the anchor woman. "We have received reports from our camera team in the air that the hijackers will kill another hostage if they are followed further. We will keep you updated as the situation progresses."
Roman hummed as he produced a cigar for himself. "Well, that's one way to get the authorities and media off your tail." He said as he lit up the cigar, taking a puff off it and sighing. "Though the Bullhead is basically shot at this point. They'd need to get rid of it if they wanted any chance of getting away clean."
I hummed quietly and took another swig from my bottle. "Then why hijack it in the first place? There's surely a better way to get a Bullhead without hijacking one in broad daylight."
He nodded at that, eyeing the TV still. "There are plenty of better ways that leave you untraceable until it's too late for the authorities to do anything."
I frowned and continued to think. "Then maybe it's the hostages they want? Someone important on that flight, maybe?"
Roman shrugged. "Doubt it. If there were, it'd already be on the news."
I shook my head. "Doesn't make any sense to me."
"Doesn't particularly matter. They'll get caught and dealt with in a matter of hours and it'll blow over." Roman said, taking another puff off his cigar.
I drained the last of the whiskey in the bottle and sighed, getting to my feet. "Well, whatever. I'm going to go get some sleep."
Roman grinned a bit. "Want me to send Neo in when she gets back?"
I rolled my eyes. "As if she'd actually do it."
Roman shook his head, puffing on his cigar. "You really are fuckin' oblivious, kid."
I shrugged my shoulders and made towards my room. "If you say so, Roman." I paused for a moment. "And no, don't send her in. Just let me sleep."
Roman didn't respond as I made my way back into my room and closed the door behind me.
I stripped off todays clothes and crawled into bed, relaxing into the cool sheets contrast against the heavy warmth I felt in my stomach.
Sleep took it's time in taking me. I must've been laying in bed for an hour or more, I couldn't really tell.
Right as I felt the pull of slumber start to drag me in, my scroll started to ring on the floor.
I groaned and got up to see that it was a call from Ruby.
I sighed and answered the call, yawning loudly. "What's up, Red?"
"Greetings, Mr. Arc." My blood ran cold at the sound of his voice.
I licked my lips, suddenly feeling far more awake than I had moments earlier. "What do you want?"
"Forgive me, I've been rude. Please, my name is Alexander Baxton, though you can call me Mr. Baxton." His voice was calm and measured as he spoke.
"Fine, Alex, what the fuck do you want?" I growled out.
A gunshot rang out on the other side of the call. "You would do well to call me Mr. Baxton, Mr. Arc. I am afraid that I am running dangerously low on captives." He paused a moment to let that sink in. "As for what I want, well, I would like my rightful property back."
"And why should I give you Crocea Mors?"
"Well, unless I'm mistaken, you want this girl to live, do you not?" He asked, turning on the front facing camera to show Ruby tied to a chair, gagged, and unconscious.
I grit my teeth. "I swear to god, if you hurt her…"
"Relax, Mr. Arc. I have no interest in hurting your friend here, only in getting what is rightfully mine." He paused to turn off the camera. "How about a trade? Crocea Mors for the girl. Sounds fair, no?"
I bit my lower lip and rolled it between my teeth. On one hand, I have the chance to save her, just at the cost of my sword. On the other, she has no value to me anymore. She upgraded the weapon. Roman would call this an easy decision and leave her to her fate.
"I am waiting, Mr. Arc." Alex said from his side of the call.
I let out a sigh. "When and where?"
"I just knew you'd see reason, Mr. Arc. We'll be in touch soon." He said, cutting off the call immediately after.
I growled lowly and stared at the scroll in my hand. This is my fault. "God fucking damnit…"
Dun-dun-dun. I'm pretty sure we all knew something like this was coming, but still bad things. Very bad.
Other than that, hello my lovely friends, how are we all doing? I don't know that you missed me and my writing for you all, but I missed doing it. It felt really strange not sitting down to write Criminally Good for two weeks, even though I've not been writing it all that long. On the upshot, though, I've got nothing to do all summer but sit here and write for you lovely people. And work at ungodly hours in the morning, but that's fine. I don't need sleep anyway.
But yeah, my ramblings aside I've got reviews to respond to, so here we go.
The Ancient Irish Viking - Glad you're enjoying the story, I absolutely love writing it. You are right, there's not much gay in RWBY, like at all. I won't say anything on the final ship that will sail, but the possibility is there. And keep in mind that I plan on writing a lot more in future, so even if your RenxJaune doesn't happen here, it may in a story later on down the line.
rockie - Glad you're enjoying it, man.
Guest (1) - Glad you like it
Guest (2) - Happy you're enjoying what I've got.
Ways - Alright man, holy mother of god. You are awesome for reviewing every chapter, but if I respond to them all I will easily double the word count for this chapter, so I'm only gonna respond to the one from last chapter. I did read them all, though. I promise. Yeah, I really enjoyed seeing Jaune have a hit on him, and, well, we see where it led us. Poor Ruby. As for Qrow, he is probably one of my favorites as well. Like, he's just awesome and fun, and just... I dunno, a great character, all in all. As for our little crime family setup we've got, it's great and cute. I'm a sucker for cute stuff.
JaviGrace - I will be delicate, for a time. Until the final decision gets made in the story, and those on the losing ships will cry sad tears for their sunken ship and destroyed feelings. I guarantee nothing, though if you're curious, read on. Your questions will be answered in time.
Witch King - While that is an interesting idea, I have no idea how well Neo would react to that. I sense some jealous stabbing if that were to happen, but who knows?
Guest (3) - Thank you, my friend. I hope your finals went well too. And I'm always happy to update.
Engineer - They want his head and sword indeed. Just an interesting way to get it, using Ruby against him. While Jaune did ask, it wasn't shown mostly because 1) I don't know squat about unarmed fighting. I can write it, but writing Roman teaching? Beyond my ability. 2) I felt that writing the spars as much as I do is just slow and painful, more than anything. Maybe that's just me, I dunno. Jaune did pursue some knowledge by way of Junior who just redirected him to the library. Fun. As for a story, yeah, he's gonna need a good one. As far as Qrow and Jaune's interaction go, that was dangerous, yeah. But Jaune was let off the hook, though not without Jaune getting more than a little spooked. Of course, it wouldn't be Jaune if he wasn't completely oblivious to every signal a girl gave him to do something rather than just sit there.
Greer - We have another man in favor of JaunexNeo, good deal. Glad you're continuing to enjoy my friend.
2AM Guest - Well, my friend. It made sense when I glanced over it that morning, or at least enough sense that I knew what you were saying. And you're right, Silent Knight is well ahead by almost every metric, with Lancaster not far behind, and then Golden Lotus walking the ship race because they're not in a rush. All I'll say is that they all still have a chance.
Specter - Well... Not completely accurate, but you had the general idea, sorta. So, can confirm that you took the false notes. Excellent. As for if Jaune gets a mask, who knows? Roman and Neo both don't have them, but maybe he'll take one up like my bois in the Payday crew.
Josh Spicer - Oz knows. Oz knows. Welp, if ever there was a time for Jaune to panic, it was now. Even though he has no idea how bad that is. And well, here's Ruby's trouble. Chekhov's Gun much? But yeah, you were right, friend.
X3 - It has sorta come out that way. Huh, I didn't even realize I was doing that. Well, the more you know. As for Neo turning Jaune into a proper house husband, it'll work as long as Jaune doesn't put it together. Maybe. Neo can only hope. And he is still in bouncer getup, though not for much longer. Just a few more chapters. As for the poor shmucks who kidnapped Ruby, well, it's not exactly pretty. Or it won't be once Jaune and co show up.
EiNyx - Well, your wish will soon be granted. See, in the first draft of this story I skipped over all of this and went into the next arc with Jaune just being better, but when it got around to it I thought this would be fun to write out, and here we are. Jaune is being led around to basically everything, but he's gotta learn. I thought showing that happening would be better for readers than just saying 'Yeah, he's competent now after a few month time skip.' Sorry if you think it's too slow, but things will be changing soon.
ShadowLeaper - Glad you like it man. And thank you, finals were hell, but I'm glad they're done. Now I can relax and write for fun again.
Exiled Darkness - I know you are, friend. But there was some Lancaster in here for you to enjoy. I agree that Lancaster is best ship, but here we are with SilentKnight leading the pack in terms of story space controlled. That may yet change, who knows other than me, your all knowing author?
And done.
Like I said, to Ways who reviewed every chapter, I appreciate that dude, but if I responded to it all, I'd be recapping the whole story and doubling this word count in responses, so forgive me for only responding to one.
Oh, and just because I'm curious, I am going to put up a poll on my profile relating to Criminally Good and the ships it contains. I just want to see how many of you fall into each camp or are ambivalent to the whole shipping wars deal at all.
Again, thank you all for the support this story has gotten. It's my first story published, and I'm glad you all are enjoying it this much. I never expected this kind of reception to a brand new author with a kinda out there story idea for the fandom's norms. I've got my Wolf sigil up for the cover art, though if any of you are artists and want to make something for me to use as cover art, I would welcome it with open arms.
Next Chapter: Monday, May 20th (We're back on schedule boys.)
Till Next time, this is Valres signing off.