And here we are on Friday afternoon with Criminally Good.

Enjoy.

[Chapter 14]

He said soon. I thought that would've meant a day, maybe two if he was pushing it.

I wasn't expecting a week of waiting and stressing and worrying about this.

Neo and Roman both helped to keep me busy with training and spars. I was still woefully outclassed by both of them, but it was a step in the right direction that I could hold my own for a few minutes, going so far as to be able to land a lucky hit or two against them.

The new Crocea Mors felt off for a while, the blade being weighted just slightly differently, the length being just a bit longer than I was used to. It took time, but sooner rather than later I got used to it and the sword felt just as natural to use as it had before Ruby's upgrades.

Then there was the rifle.

Gods, for as much as I wanted to be competent with that weapon, I just wasn't. Junior was doing his best to teach me how to shoot straight, but it was painfully slow going. Some times I'd be able to hit my target at ten meters, others I'd miss completely when I was sure that I'd not changed a thing about how I was shooting.

Regardless, that didn't matter. Not right now, at least.

The call from Baxton had come earlier today, giving me only a place and a time to be there. He had issued the threat that I come alone, or she dies.

Even though I had been expecting it, knew that he'd make a threat like that, I still felt my heart jump into my throat. Whatever happened now was in my hands.

And here I was – alone in the middle of a warehouse district that was squarely in Area 37's territory. I had yet to see any signs of their goons, but I knew better than to think that they'd not be watching me.

I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly as I waited for Baxton to show himself. I was sweating, nervous, on edge.

I knew that my team was here with me, even if I couldn't see them. Neo had used her semblance to an impressive degree to keep everyone cloaked. Not only did Junior bring the Twins with him, but he had brought a few of his more trusted goons along as well. Namely among them was Not-Jerry, and even though I screwed with him a lot, that helped to calm my nerves. He was a good guy, just going from day to day and making the best of it.

Across the desolate stretch of cracked and shattered concrete, a familiar face stepped into the dull light of the shattered moon above.

Alexander Baxton, the same slimy old fuck who thought himself the king, and damn near untouchable when it came to combat. He, however, had not come alone. Off to his right was a woman of average height with bronzed skin and long black hair done up in a braid. She was wielding a rather wicked looking barbed spear.

On his left was a kid who couldn't have been much older than I was. He was a fair bit shorter than me, and had skin about as light as mine. His hair was buzzed recently by the looks of it, and he had some nature of firearm in his hands.

"It is so good to see you again, Mr. Arc. I was under the impression that you had been avoiding me all this time." Baxton said smugly as he stopped about twenty feet away from me. He looked completely at ease with his hands clasped behind his back.

I pursed my lips and tightened the grip on Crocea Mors. "Where is she? Where's Ruby?"

He just chuckled at my questioning. "Straight to business, are we? Well, that's no fun, but if you insist." He whistled loudly, and two goons came out from around the same corner he had, dragging Ruby with them.

She was awake, though gagged and bound still. It looked as though she had been roughed up in her time of captivity. Her gaze tracked to me, and my breath caught in my throat. She looked afraid. Terrified, even.

I managed to smile weakly at her. "Hey, Red. Don't worry, I'm gonna get you out of here." I called out, shifting my attention back to Baxton then, who was smirking as he watched the two of us.

"There's the girl – still in good condition, too. You have no idea the trouble I had to go through to keep my boys away from her."

I grit my teeth and glared at him.

The man only chuckled and shook his head. "Now that you've seen she's alive and well, we can make this trade and go our separate ways. How about it, Mr. Arc?"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Alright, Jaune. This is it. I opened my eyes and nodded, unclasping Crocea Mors from my hip.

Baxton grinned. "Very good." He glanced over to one of the goons who had helped to drag Ruby out. "Go, retrieve Crocea Mors from him."

The goon nodded and made his way towards me as I walked forward into the middle of the concrete flat that was about to become a warzone.

I approached the goon who was looking at me nervously, and I grinned at him. "You afraid to die, bud?" I asked quietly.

The goon went white as a sheet at my question. He made to shift backwards, but he wasn't nearly fast enough.

I ripped Crocea Mors from its sheath, slashing the poor goon across the chest, sending him down to the ground in a heap.

I heard Baxton laugh as I deployed the shield. I looked up to see that he was now standing alone. Not good. "There's what I was expecting." He drew his own sword and cracked his neck. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"

Behind me, like shattering glass, there was a small squad of people. Junior, the Twins, Not-Jerry, Neo, Roman, and a few other goons I didn't know the names of all emerged, wielding their weapons in hand.

"Well, now isn't this a surprise? You brought some friends." Baxton's gaze tracked to Junior. "You even brought me Junior on a silver platter. How thoughtful."

I growled and charged at Baxton, though was rather quickly intercepted by the woman with the spear. Her lips had twisted into a psychotic grin, her eyes screamed of bloodlust. No words were exchanged between us as she took a minute to look me over, and I her.

Behind me, shots and the sounds of battle started to echo out into the night, though I didn't have a chance to look back at what was happening.

The woman charged at me like a speeding bullet and unleashed a flurry of blows that I only just barely managed to block. She's fast, just like Neo. I noted, slamming my shield forward to knock the tip of her spear away from me. I brought my sword down in an overhead arc towards her shoulder, though the woman deftly dodged backwards.

She didn't give me even a moment to breathe before she was on me again, shoving the tip of her spear into my face, getting me to dodge back and away from the attack she had levied against me. Right as I got to my feet, again she made a swipe at me, this time for my legs.

Seeing that she had left her upper body unguarded in the process, I let my Aura tank the blow, feeling the pain radiate from the point of impact sharply. I pressed on, making a cut for her chest that landed pretty hard.

The woman flew back and glared daggers at me, though she kept herself ready for anything I might have up my sleeve.

I took my chance to take the offensive against her, rushing at her with my shield in front of me. I made an attempt to bash her, or to at least get her spear out of the way, but she quite simply dodged out of the way. I skidded to a stop and turned to face her right as she was leaping towards me.

I brought my sword up and caught the haft of her spear with it, deflecting the blow off to the side. I bashed her in the chest, catching her jaw as well, with my shield. That had her stumble, and I pressed the advantage.

As long as I kept in close quarters with her, the spear becomes useless. If she can't make use of the range it provides, it becomes a weakness. With that in mind, I brought my sword around and dug it into her right shoulder.

The woman cried out in pain and tried to disengage from me, though I kept step with her every time she tried to get away. I drove my shield up into her face once again, bashing her and letting her stumble backwards.

Before she got a chance to recover, I was on her again. I kicked her in the chest, sending her down onto her back. She struggled to try and get back to her feet, though I took my sword and drove it down into her right shoulder, shattering her Aura after the second stab.

I brought it down again and it cut into her flesh, the woman howled loudly in pain, tears forming in her eyes. I stepped down on the wrist of the hand that was still holding her spear, kicking it away once she eventually released the weapon.

I drew Crocea Mors from her shoulder then and watched as she lay there, bleeding and in immense pain. I didn't even hesitate to drive my heel into her right hand, putting as much pressure as I could until I heard something break, the woman wailing once again.

Content that she'd not be rejoining the fight any time soon, I turned to face the battle that was raging behind me.

The Twins were back to back, fighting off a rather impressive swarm of goons all at once. Junior was engaged with Baxton, seeming to be on roughly even ground with his opponent. Roman was fighting off a different group of goons, while Neo was dancing around what I presumed was another lieutenant for Baxton. Not-Jerry and his team of goons were crowded together, several firing into packs of other goons while Not-Jerry and a few others held them off in the front.

I scanned the area then for Ruby. That's what we were here for. That's why I was here.

I eventually spotted the girl being dragged off by the guy I had seen with Baxton at the start. To her credit, Ruby wasn't making his life any easier.

I growled lowly and charged at the kid dragging Ruby. As soon as he saw me charging at him, he dropped the girl and drew his weapon once again.

He took a solid stance and before I even saw him take a second to aim, he fired off three shots at me. Luckily for me, they impacted my shield and didn't chunk my Aura to nothing in seconds flat, but I wasn't so sure I'd be that lucky again.

I wasn't.

He fired another two rounds, one impacting my right shoulder, radiating a fire like pain across my body. The second missed, if only because I stumbled slightly at the sudden pain.

Despite the pain I grit my teeth and charged forward once again, making contact with him.

I slashed at him, making the guy dodge back away from me. He seemed to be panicking now, not knowing what to do with me as he tried to bring his rifle up to fire at me again.

I closed the distance once more and slammed my shield into the underside of the gun, pushing it up and away from his chest. I brought my blade down over his chest then, landing a blow and sending him stumbling backwards breathing heavily.

I was breathing heavily myself, my head feeling fuzzy thanks to the pain, but I pressed on, charging the guy again. He didn't even take time to aim, firing off his rifle in an attempt to slow me down. The bullet crashed harmlessly into the concrete behind me.

This time, I knocked the rifle out of his hands completely, sending the weapon skittering across the concrete.

The guy tried to turn and run, though I was right on his heels.

I slashed low, around the back of his knees. He toppled to the ground shortly after that, though spun to be on his back, facing me. His eyes were wide, terrified. He thought I was going to kill him like I had that goon at the start of the fight.

Still breathing heavily, I delivered a hard kick to his crotch, getting him to yelp loudly and stop scooting backwards. I pressed my foot to his chest then, putting weight down on it. I glared down at him, a certain anger in my eyes that must've made him regret every decision he'd ever made to get here.

I knocked him unconscious, ensuring that he too wouldn't be rejoining the fight any time soon.

I looked back to my friends, and things had definitely worsened.

Despite all of those we had brought with us being respectable fighters in their own rights, Baxton didn't seem to have a care in the world for how many of his men he lost in this battle.

The swarms of hostile goons had only grown, making me wonder how he hadn't already taken over Vale with this kind of manpower.

The Twins were slowly starting to see themselves facing more than just the two of them could handle, each taking a hit here or there. Roman too, seemed to be focusing more on the crowd around him than he had at the start of the fight. Neo was still engaged in relatively even combat with her opponent, both of them moving faster than should be possible.

Then there was Junior.

Junior who was on even ground with Baxton before appeared to be having a rough time of it now. A few lucky shots from Baxton had put Junior in a bad way, and in desperate need of help.

Seeing as I was the only one not occupied, the responsibility was left to me.

I didn't even spare a glance for Ruby as I leapt over her and charged at Junior and Baxton.

As I neared, Baxton glanced over his shoulder and grinned, vanishing from view.

Remembering all too well from my previous fight with him, I spun and lashed out. I hit only air.

Now behind me, Junior shouted out in pain, and once I turned, I saw Baxton behind him still with a wide grin on his lips.

Junior swung his bat back, and landed a solid blow on Baxton, sending the older lithe man skidding backwards.

Baxton didn't even hesitate to launch into a charge at us then. Just before he would've made contact with me, he vanished, and again I spun to face my rear. I caught his blade with my shield. I growled lowly and knocked the blade away, slashing for his chest.

I hit nothing but air again, and he appeared a few meters away. "So, you do learn. Consider me pleasantly surprised."

I glanced to Junior and kept close to him. "Get rid of his sight. Without it he won't be teleporting." I called over to my friend. The broad barkeep grunted his response.

I laid eyes on Baxton once again and charged at him. The man vanished before I made impact, as I had expected him to.

He made an attack on Junior which landed, though not without getting shot by Roman's cane. I glanced over to him to see that Neo had helped him clean up his goons – her own opponent now laying in a pool of blood, clutching at his neck.

Before I even made a move to charge, Baxton pulled his vanishing act again and went for Roman. He was met rather quickly by Neo, who had seen him fight just the same as I had. She caught Baxton's blade in the air with her parasol, glaring at the older man.

She delivered a solid kick to his knee then, sending the man down onto one knee as he pulled his semblance out again.

He appeared a short distance away from us and started backing up, eyeing the crew I had brought along with me.

Roman didn't hesitate to fire his cane several times at the man, with only two of the five fired rounds landing. It was enough, though.

Baxton's Aura shattered. Despite that though, he was still moving.

He crouched down and dragged Ruby up to his height, holding his sword at her neck.

"Well, Mr. Arc, I can say I underestimated you. Well done." Baxton said through heavy breaths. "But I do think that it's time I bid you farewell." He said as he continued to slowly back up. Ruby was frozen, afraid.

I bit my lower lip as I thought. No, this can't all be for nothing. If he gets away now, who knows what he'll do to Ruby. I looked down at Crocea Mors and hesitated for a moment. It's the best chance we've got.

I sheathed Crocea Mors and collapsed the shield, shifting the weapon into its rifle configuration. I've got one shot at this. If I miss… He'll probably kill her. I swallowed nervously and brought the weapon up to my shoulder.

Thankfully, Junior and Roman were ahead of me, taking Baxton's attention as I made this shot in the dark. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. You can do this, Jaune. You have to.

I took aim down the sights and lined up my shot, keeping it leveled right at his head. I took in another deep breath and let it out slowly. It's do or die.

I squeezed the trigger.

The gunshot rang out in the otherwise quiet night, echoing against the walls of old warehouses around us.

I heard something collapse to the ground, and I opened my eyes.

Across the battlefield, lying in a heap of limbs and a growing pool of blood was none other than Alexander Baxton.

I let out a sigh I didn't know I'd been holding, dropping Crocea Mors to the ground.

Junior smiled as he looked back at me, nodding. "Nice shot, kid."

I nodded, not responding as I made my way across the field to the now dead Baxton who had collapsed, falling forward on top of Ruby.

I pulled his body off her, tossing it to the side. I drew one of the knives that I had on me and cut Ruby's bonds free.

She sat up and looked at me, her eyes wide and hands trembling. "J-J-J-Jaune…?" She asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.

I smiled slightly and nodded. "In the flesh."

Ruby scooted away from me ever so slightly, her eyes still wide as she stared at me.

She's afraid of me. Pain shot through me at that as she continued to skitter backwards slowly. "It's okay, Ruby. You're safe now." I said quietly, trying to calm her down.

She started shaking her head, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Another lance of pain shot through me. I opened my mouth to say something, though closed it a moment later, realizing that I didn't know what to say.

I pursed my lips as I sat crouched in front of Ruby who was absolutely terrified.

Junior came up behind me and rested a hand on my shoulder gently. Sirens could be heard in the distance, making their way closer to us. "We've gotta go, kid."

I nodded at his words, rising to my feet. "What about Ruby?" I asked, looking back to Junior.

He shrugged. "Up to you. This was your rescue mission. We can take her with us, or she can wait for the police."

I nodded and looked back to the red reaper who was quietly crying, holding herself in a tight ball. I crouched down again so I wouldn't be towering over her. "Hey, Red? Look at me, please." I asked gently, getting her to peek up from where she had buried her face in her knees. "We're leaving. You can come with us, or wait for the police to arrive. It's your decision."

Ruby sat there for a time as she thought, tears still streaming down her face.

Ever so slowly she got to her feet, though didn't say anything.

I nodded and stood back up. "Alright, if you're coming, let's go."

I turned back to the group of friends I had, looking them over. I had a lot of explaining to do.

[-/-]

We arrived back at the Club, each of us exhausted and tired. Roman and Neo both took off before we got there, likely heading back to the apartment to cool down and relax.

I didn't have the choice.

Not-Jerry guided Ruby out of the main floor of the Club and to one of the side rooms so she could take a shower and feel a little better. He'd also promised her food when she finished.

Junior and I were sat at the bar, both of us tired and drinking already.

I glanced to the older man. "So, now what? Baxton is dead. This whole war business done with?"

Junior nodded. "Yeah, it's done. The news will report that he's dead come tomorrow, and that'll be the signature on the dotted line for the Red Axe coming out on top. From there, I've got to get everything in line and take over their operations as well as their territory."

I tossed back a shot. "Sounds like you'll be having fun these next few weeks." I joked.

Junior rolled his eyes. "Definitely. Gotta love doing paperwork and all."

I arched a brow. "Paperwork? For a criminal organization?"

Junior shrugged. "Gotta keep organized somehow. It's a pain, but I'll be damned if it doesn't work."

I chuckled and shook my head. "Whatever you say."

Junior tossed back his own shot and sighed. "What're you going to do about your friend?"

I pursed my lips at his question. "If I'm honest? I don't know." I shook my head and poured another shot. "We can't keep her here. Qrow will find out sooner or later. But if we let her go, she knows everything. We're criminals, even if we saved her life. We killed a lot of people, and I don't think she's going to let that slide."

Junior looked over towards the back of the Club and got up from his seat. "Well, figure it out quick. She's headed your way." He clapped me on the shoulder. "Good luck, Jaune."

I nodded to him, tossing back my fresh shot as he left. I looked down at myself and found that my goon suit was covered in blood and torn in more than a few places. I had a noticeable couple of bullet holes in the suit as well.

I glanced over to her as she took a seat on the stool next to me.

Ruby was missing any of her usual attire as she had been when we found her, instead dressed in a blood red tank top and torn jeans. I suppose one of the twins leant those to her. She wasn't looking at me, her gaze focused intently on the bar top before her.

I poured another shot for myself and pursed my lips as I thought. "I… imagine you've got a lot of questions." I said, glancing over to her.

She nodded minutely.

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Ask away, then. I'll answer what I can."

She mumbled something so quietly that I couldn't hear her.

"Say again? I can't hear you."

"Why?" Her voice came out as a quiet murmur, just barely audible to me.

I tossed back another shot. "Why what?"

She was quiet for a moment before she answered. "Why… everything? Why did this happen?"

I sighed and bit my lower lip. "That's…" I poured another shot for myself, staring at the amber liquid in the glass. "To make it short? It was all for Crocea Mors. That guy – Baxton, he wanted it. He knew that you and I were close, and used you to get to me."

She nodded, fidgeting slightly in her seat. "You're not private security at all, are you?"

I chuckled quietly and shook my head. "Can't say that I am."

"You had Torchwick helping you."

"I did."

She turned to look at me. "Why, Jaune? Why lie? Why turn to… to… to this?" Her eyes had tears once more, and I wanted to reach out to comfort her, but had a distinct feeling she'd just jerk away from me.

I sighed and tossed back another shot as I thought. "Because I had to." I set the glass down and shook my head. "When I came to Vale, I wanted to go to Beacon. I didn't have what it took – no Aura, no training. Nothing. Roman found me when I was at a damn low point in my life and helped me. He taught me how to fight, unlocked my Aura, acted as one of the few friends I had here in Vale."

"This was the life that was presented to me – either this or slink back home in defeat to be a nobody for the rest of my life. I wanted to help people, I wanted to protect people I cared about. That's why I wanted to become a Huntsman." I let out a sigh as I thought. "I'm still doing that, protecting people I mean."

I gestured out to the Club and the goons celebrating the victory they had just won. "These people would've gone to die against others if I hadn't stepped in and done what I did. I put you in danger, and I'm sorry for that. You're an innocent, you didn't deserve to get caught up in this shit." I ran my fingers through my matted hair, shaking my head. "But when it came down to it? I came to protect you."

She didn't respond, or look at me for that matter. She kept looking at the bar top in thought.

I poured myself another shot and downed it just as quickly. "So, you've figured it out. I live a life on the other side of the tracks, so to speak. What're you going to do now that you know?"

She shook her head. "Nothing." She looked back to me. "You're not the Jaune I thought I knew, but you still stepped in and risked everything to get me out of there." She managed a weak smile. "I won't tell anyone… Just…" She shook her head again. "Don't do anything to make me wish I had, okay?"

I nodded, smiling slightly in return. "Thanks, Red." I relaxed slightly and leaned against the bar top. "In a couple days we'll have your scythe and your clothes back, I think. At least, Junior will."

She nodded. "Thanks."

I shrugged, pouring another shot for myself. "You'll probably want to be getting home soon, right?"

"Yeah… Dad is probably worried sick."

I nodded again. "We'll drop you off at a police station and they can take you home, okay?"

"Works for me." She responded quietly.

Not-Jerry and friends came back from his mission to go get pizza for the whole Club. That is to say that they had about thirty boxes of pizza to go around for sixtyish people.

Ruby was quick to rush and get in line for said pizza, being one of the first to get her food and come back. She looked to me quizzically. "Not gonna eat?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Not hungry."

She didn't press me on it, and we sat in relative silence, listening to the cheering and partying going on around us as the goons finally felt like a weight was lifted off their shoulders.

Ruby and I left after she had finished her food and made for the nearest police station.

The walk, much like her dinner, was completed in silence. I was lost in thought as we wound our way through the streets and back alleys I had come to know like second nature.

Once we were a block from the station, I stopped, turning to Ruby. "It's a block that way. Just walk in the door, and tell them your name. They'll take care of it from there."

The red reaper nodded as she looked back to me.

I took it as her knowing what I meant, I turned on a heel and started walking back towards the apartment I called home.

I was stopped, however, by a pair of small arms wrapping around my torso. I looked back to see Ruby hugging me. "Thanks for saving me, Jaune." She murmured quietly.

I chuckled and ruffled her hair, getting her to let go of me. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat, Little Red."

She nodded and turned to leave for the police station. I sighed and jammed my hands into my pockets and made towards the apartment. I needed a shower and some sleep.

Once I got back home, all was quiet. Nobody was out in the main room watching TV, nothing. I shrugged a shoulder at that and went to take a shower.

Feeling infinitely better after a warm shower and not being covered in blood, I made for my room.

As I was about to settle in to get some sleep, I heard a quiet tapping on the window. I frowned, but ignored it.

It persisted, and grew more frequent and louder.

I sighed and went to the window, seeing a small bird perched just outside, practically glaring at me. I never knew birds could glare, but this one definitely can. "Shoo, go away." I said, waving it off, hoping that I could get some sleep before Neo woke me up that morning.

The bird shook its head in response and pecked at the glass again, still glaring at me.

I sighed. "Just my luck… I get a bird here that doesn't know the meaning of fuck off." I grumbled quietly as I opened the window.

The small bird hopped in, and then on to my floor.

The next thing will be burned into my mind for as long as I live.

I watched as this small crow that had been glaring at me from my window transformed into a human, and not just any human – it was none other than Qrow Branwen. The older huntsman was stood in the middle of my room, arms crossed as he glared at me.

See, I'd like to think that I've grown numb to insane things that shouldn't be possible, but this is on a new level. Someone's topped Neo.

I opened my mouth to shout for both Neo and Roman as I reached back for Crocea Mors.

Qrow raised a hand and shook his head. "Don't. I'm not here to hurt, or arrest you or your housemates here."

I didn't believe him. We were some of the most notorious criminals in Vale, it didn't make sense for him not to be after us. "Why should I trust you?"

"If I were going to, I wouldn't have knocked on your window to be let in." He said, digging out a flask and draining the last of it.

I licked my lips and nodded. He had a point. Sorta.

"So, what do you want exactly?" I asked, still on edge and ready to bolt.

He glanced to me. "Vodka, if you have any." He paused then. "Also, to thank you."

I arched a brow at that. "Thank me? For what?"

Qrow rolled his eyes. "You're all as dumb as a box of rocks, I swear…" He grumbled to himself. "For saving my niece."

I blinked a few times. He knew about that? How? It only just happened. I doubt if she's even at the Bullhead docks yet. I frowned as I thought more on it. Wait. He was a crow just a minute ago… And suddenly, the pieces clicked together in my head. He had been watching. "I wasn't about to let her be left to the wolves."

Qrow nodded. "Which is good. Means I've got no reason to hate your guts and hunt you down. Yet." He glared at me. "Just keep in mind that I'm not the only one watching you, kid."

I was about to ask what he meant, though he had already shifted back into his bird form and taken off through my window, leaving me alone and baffled as to what exactly had happened.

I shook my head and closed the window, blinking a few times. What does he mean that he's not the only one watching me? Is he referring to Area 37? But they're dealt with… So, who does he mean?

I sighed and got into bed, brushing it off. It was nothing to worry about. Hopefully.

[-/-]

It was late one fall night when Jason Arc came home from a mission.

I had stayed up late waiting for him because I wanted to hear from him how it went.

However, he wasn't alone when he got home that night.

I was sat at the top of the stairs and struggled as hard as I could to hear the conversation going on downstairs, curious as to who Dad could be talking to.

"I'm done. I won't do it anymore." The voice I recognized to be Dad stated.

"Don't be like that, Jason. We did what we had to, and you know it." The unfamiliar voice responded.

"… I never agreed to… but you dragged me in anyway. I'm done." Dad said again, sounding frustrated.

At this point they were talking more quietly, so I could only make out parts of their conversation despite how hard I tried.

"You said it yourself… Are you going back on your word now? After as much as we've done?"

"… Damnit it's all over the news… You said we'd do this quietly."

"And we did."

I frowned at that. They would do what quietly? I didn't think it mattered much if you tried to use stealth on a Grimm, they could sense your negativity, or something like that. Maybe they were dealing with bandits or something?

"Get out." Dad said, loud enough for me to hear without straining.

"I said get out!" He shouted now. I heard the front door open and close, and whoever he had been talking to had left.

I saw that as a good a time as any to go downstairs and talk to Dad.

I found Jason Arc slumped into one of the chairs in our living room, a bottle of something foul smelling in hand. "Hey, Dad." I said, getting him to look over to me.

"Jaune, what are you doing up this late? You've got school tomorrow." He said, drinking from the foul-smelling bottle.

"I wanted to ask how your mission went? Mom always tells me, but I wanna hear it from you."

He just chuckled and shook his head. "Everything went tits up, son. But, despite that I'm here and I'm fine." He paused to take another swig from his bottle. "Now, go to bed. You're going to be tired for school."

"But Dad…" I whined, hoping I'd get more than just what he'd told me.

"None of that. Go to bed, Jaune." He said sternly, making it clear that I didn't have a choice in the matter and pushing him would end poorly from experience.

I sighed and nodded. "Good night." I said, turning to go back up the stairs. I didn't even hear him respond as I retreated to my room, still wondering what happened on his mission.

And that's a wrap.

We've saved dear Ruby who seems to be taking this all rather well, surprising Jaune a load. Then, of course, we have Qrow showing up randomly and leaving just as randomly. Interesting.

That said, on to the reviews.

Greer - Well, hope was confirmed. Sorta. She was roughed up a bit in her week of captivity, and probably traumatized in more than a few ways that we didn't see, but physically she's fine, so that's a win... right?

TheoMidnight - Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it enough to read through all in one go and I hope to see you again in future chapters and review sections, if you are so inclined.

ItCanOnlyGetWorse - The poll is still up on my profile, and will be until the 31st of May, so any votes put in will still be good and valid. That said, the poll was more a curiosity for me wanting to see what people were shipping because I love me some ship wars.

Moonryu - If you say so chief, I'm just amazed we've gotten this much traction at all.

TheRaazgriz - Glad you're enjoying, my friend. And you are perfectly welcome to enjoy whichever of the two ships you support more, and I agree to some degree that the hero and the villain might be pretty fun to see, though who knows, other than me that is? As for Jaune becoming similar to John Wick, that may yet be in the cards, just depends on development.

Josh Spicer - Right you are, friend. Once I said something, Silent Knight came up in force while Lancaster was just behind.

Engineer - Jaune isn't stupid. I never saw him that way, not even when I first watched the show. He's a doofus, but not an idiot. I definitely don't think an idiot would be able to grow and learn as quickly as he did in the show. As for him saying within reason for Neo, there was a lot of reasoning going that if I didn't put that there, Neo would push it a little too far to be considered a T rating. And I'm not about to change the rating halfway through because that's just mean, in my opinion. The information on Qrow will probably come into play, just depends on how much of a problem Jaune sees the old huntsman as. Oh god, Jaune Arc, team therapist. That sounds like a comedy fic that needs to be written. And Jaune really will do what it takes when the chips are down and it's do or die. Glad you're still enjoying my friend.

Crash Spectacular - And you know what, friend, you are plenty welcome to ship Jaune and Ren all you like. I welcome the support for Golden Lotus because it's one of the ships I don't see represented much.

Pharos - More Ren soon™. More of everyone other than the main cast + Ruby soon. I've been focused on them as I clean up the last of this arc. Glad you're enjoying, and thanks for the support.

X3 - Ren's race just gets harder and harder as more contestants show up. Poor Ren. And right you are, Roman does benefit here which is why he's helping. Makes his life easier.

Javi - It's on my profile, should be right at the top if I did it right. And as far as how Lancaster works or doesn't work, you've got a point. Rushing it would kinda hurt not just her but the whole story. That's why I'm keeping everything kinda slow, even the main arcs as well as the romance side. As for a harem, that's never been in the cards really. I'm not a fan of harems or poly ship, but if it's been well written they can be enjoyable.

Imperial Germany - Awkward coughing. What? No, I have no idea what you're on about. More awkward coughing.

And that's all my reviews for the last chapter, thank you all friends.

For those who are curious, Lancaster has pulled ahead of Silent Knight in terms of support. And since Monday, Golden Lotus has doubled it's support. It's a start at least, you can do it Golden Lotus. I have faith. That aside, I'm surprised it's this close at all. I know I said when I started I expected Silent Knight to win, but holy hell Lancaster has a lot of loyal fans. Nice to see.

I swear, you all are fantastic. Every time I come back and see how much support this story gets it makes me smile to see all the favorites and follows continue to grow like this. Thanks for all the support, guys. It keeps me writing and writing on schedule to boot.

Next Chapter: Monday, May 17th

Till next time, this is Valres signing off.