Here we go

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 17

"So, on a scale of one to ten how angry is Ironwood going to be that I came to Mistral, captured Cinder and topped the headmaster of Haven, getting myself installed as interim headmaster of two huntsman schools?"

"I'd say a seven," Glynda said, stood in Lionheart's office with Jaune. The two of them were rummaging through the man's drawers for useful and incriminating information. "And interim headmaster really only means for a couple of days. If you tried to keep the power after that, I'm sure James' reaction would jump to a nine."

"Not a ten?"

"Oh no, it's going to be a ten in a few days when he realises you also met with and made a deal with the White Fang. Or maybe it'll be an eleven. Likely a twelve when he noticed Neo has a literal Grimm as a pet. He already considers you a dangerous criminal; you may as well add source of all evil to the list if he sees Grimm cuddling up to you."

He hadn't thought about that. To be fair, he'd had other things on his plate. "Well, I guess it won't matter once we have Ozpin back. How is he, by the way?"

"Safe and well. I've told Miss Belladonna she is to deflect any attempts he makes to convince them to leave by pointing out Yang and Qrow's injuries, and the importance of the transport from Beacon arriving for our prisoner."

"You think that'll work?"

"Ozpin is many things, Jaune, but a forgiving man he is not. Lionheart betrayed him and Cinder literally killed him. I think he'll be happy to delay his journey long enough to see them behind bars. Peter and Bart will be arriving in a few hours to collect her." Glynda opened a drawer, scanned through the documents and then left it there, sighing. "Keeping her imprisoned will be a little more difficult. Vale's facilities aren't strong enough."

"We'll be keeping her in Beacon."

"Is that wise?"

"No dumber than trusting her to a nearby prison. Honestly, I'd rather let Ironwood have her, but she's already shown her allies know how to hack their electronics. I want to see what information we can get out of her."

"And then what?"

"I don't know."

"We could always continue where Ozpin left off," Glynda suggested.

"Dying?"

"Not that. The aura transfer machine. It was going to transfer the original fall maiden's powers to Miss Nikos. Why not use it to take those powers from Miss Fall? If nothing else, we can make her less dangerous."

Jaune looked up. "I thought she destroyed that thing when she killed Amber. I assumed we'd gotten rid of it."

"Jaune, she shot an arrow through a glass pane. I would not call that `destroyed`. That's like throwing away a car because the windscreen is smashed. The thing is still in the basement."

"Did we… at least clean it?"

"Amber was given a full burial with honours if that's what you're suggesting. Do you really think we'd leave a dead girl in a tube? Really?"

"There was a lot to focus on," Jaune said, unwilling to admit that he'd forgotten about Amber entirely. "A-Anyway, I guess that's not a bad idea. If we have the hardware, we might as well use it. Even if she escapes, she'll be diminished without the maiden's powers. Or we could just kill her."

"Or that," Glynda allowed, not even trying to pretend it wasn't an option. "Who will handle the interrogation? You?"

"Maybe." He shrugged. "Or Roman. I'm sure it won't be easy to get her to spill, but I'm thinking we might be able to turn her."

"To our side? Are you mad!?"

"Not to our side. Just away from Salem." He saw the look Glynda was giving him and quickly explained, "I'm not saying she'll become a good person or anything but think about it from her point of view. She just failed. Massively. The Relic of Knowledge is lost, the questions have been used for the next hundred years, she got captured and she might end up losing the maiden's powers, making it impossible for Salem to access the Relic of Choice. If you were in Cinder's shoes, how sure would you be that Salem is going to welcome you back with open arms?"

"Ah. I see your point. You're talking more about witness protection."

"Sure. Part of me is honestly thinking the worst thing we could do to her would be to let her go free. Maybe. I don't know for sure. Guess we'll see when she wakes up, but I figure she might be willing to give us information if it means we keep her from Salem's wrath. Or not. She might be loyal, or maybe Salem is a lot more patient than we're aware of. Ozpin will be able to give us a better idea of her personality."

"I suppose you're right. We'll have to wait until we're back home." Glynda slammed a ringed folder down on the desk and flicked through it. "This might be what we're looking for."

"A signed confession?" Jaune asked, coming over.

"Yes. Because he would certainly have that in his desk." She rolled her eyes. "It's mission details of all the huntsmen and huntresses who have died in the last eighteen months. A lot of them were tasks set by Lionheart. It wouldn't be enough on its own but combined with the testimony of all the students and the fact that Lionheart was caught fighting us, it should be enough."

It was more of a formality at this point. Lionheart was already in custody, with the main arguments being over where he should be kept. They wanted him in Beacon for questioning but the authorities in Mistral wanted him tried domestically. He couldn't blame them; Lionheart had killed a lot of their people through action and inaction.

Cinder was the real prize. Lionheart probably didn't know much, and he could question him from a video link if he had to. He doubted Salem was going to waste time springing him out. There was a point to pushing for both, however.

"We found this," Jaune said, indicating for Glynda to come forward and hand the booklet to the Deputy of Haven, who was stood beside a police representative in the main hall of the school.

A cordon had been built around the area while evidence was collected, though it was hard to say there was any peace or order to it. Students and reporters and just about everyone else were around watching. The teacher's attempts to convince them to go to lessons were doomed from the start.

"Hm." The deputy flicked through the pages and handed it to the police. "I'm sure this will help, acting-headmaster. Thank you."

"This headmaster thing…"

"A formality, I assure you. We'll have it fixed by the end of the day and you don't need to do anything. It's just a fact that we have to list someone as headmaster at any given time, and all the staff need to be investigated before we dare place one of ourselves in the spot. Any of us could be compromised."

The police officer nodded, pleased with the precautionary measures and Jaune had to admit he was as well. They hadn't even considered the idea Lionheart might not have been alone. I doubt it, though. Another traitor would be a huge risk and they'd have probably joined in with the fight.

"The question still comes as to where the prisoners will go," Glynda said.

The deputy and officer stiffened. "They will be prisoners of Mistral, obviously," the officer said. "They were captured committing crimes here and are as such our prisoners."

"They were caught by Beacon, however, and the schools have always been autonomous from the city. If anything, this is Haven's jurisdiction." Glynda waved a hand toward Jaune. "And this is the headmaster of Haven."

"Acting, and we both know that is symbolic and nothing more."

"Symbolic or not, Cinder Fall is a wanted criminal involved in the attack on Beacon. She killed Ozpin, our late headmaster." How Glynda managed to look distraught, Jaune didn't know. Especially since Ozpin was in the crowd rolling his eyes. "We will only be filing an extradition request for her regardless, and Mistral is already in a diplomatic incident for allowing her to attend Beacon disguised as one of your teachers."

"Lionheart's work," the officer said. "That's clear."

"Be that as it may, it's still quite the incident. If she were to escape in your custody it might not reflect well on your Kingdom."

The man sighed. "Let's not beat around the bush. Tell me what you want and I'll consider."

"A compromise," Jaune said, answering for Glynda. It was the reason they'd pushed so hard for Lionheart, even knowing Mistral would dig their heels in and fight if they had to. "Both our Kingdoms have been wronged here. We'll let you keep Lionheart if you let us keep Cinder Fall."

The man considered it. "Will you extend access rights both ways?"

"Sure. We can question Lionheart and you can question Cinder. We're like you in a way; we don't want to go back empty-handed either. This way, we both get our crooks."

"Hah." The officer stuck out his hand. "Deal."

/-/

Jaune and Glynda made their way back to their students, all of whom had formed something of a perimeter around the downed Lionheart and Cinder, weapons at the ready. The circle wasn't just to keep them captured but also to keep the police out. Jaune strode forward with the chief of the police and motioned for the students to part.

"Move aside. They're taking their prisoner."

"But sir!" Blake almost howled. "She's too dangerous!"

"I didn't say Cinder. They're taking Lionheart. Miss Fall is coming back to Beacon with us."

Some of the police looked surprised and annoyed at that but a barked command from the leader saw them taking Lionheart away and no one else. The students allowed it, content to still have Cinder. Ozpin looked annoyed but not upset, apparently agreeing with the decision even if he would have preferred both be kept by Beacon.

"Ruby, how are Yang and Qrow?" Jaune asked.

"They're okay. Yang is awake and achy while Uncle Qrow woke up to shout about his booze, then passed out again. I think he swore vengeance on someone. Haven's doctor gave Yang some painkillers and burn salve." Ruby's eyes grew wide and she waved her arms, "Did you know you can get painkillers in pill form and not just injections!? Why do we have to take all our medicine from needles?"

"Because our doctor is a med-school dropout who delights in suffering. Where's Jinn?"

"Miss Jinn is… asleep in her lamp…?" There were a lot of questions in Ren's voice as he said that, as if he wasn't sure of what he was saying in the first place, why, or how a blue woman that slept in a lamp existed. "She said something about feeling too many eyes on her out here."

"Well she was naked," Velvet mumbled.

"And blue," Nora pointed out. "Very blue."

"Don't be rude," Glynda chastised. "Miss Jinn is a member of our faculty now."

"I wasn't being rude. She is blue!"

Coughing, Ozpin – or Oscar – stepped forward. "Mr- I mean, Jaune." Wow it sounded strange to hear his name like that. "Can I speak to you in private for a moment?"

"Sure." Jaune shot Glynda a look, getting a slow and meaningful nod in response. "Okay, I want you all to keep your eyes on Cinder. Neo, keep your sword on Cinder. Blake and Ren, I need you two to secure a spot at the Bullhead docks. We've got a carrier coming to take our prisoner back and I don't want them bogged down by paparazzi. Ruby, you keep looking after your sister."

Everyone hurried to obey while Jaune motioned for Ozpin and stepped aside. The two of them found a quiet alcove to talk in, Jaune trying not to look too uncertain about speaking with what, to everyone else, looking like a random little boy.

"So, is this Ozpin or Oscar I'm talking to?"

"Ozpin for now." The boy gave a familiar smile, one that didn't quite feel right without a mug in hand. "I'll introduce you to Oscar later. I'm trying not to monopolise his time but the current situation…? Well, this required my interference."

"Is he still there? Can he think and see?"

"He can. And he can talk in my head." Ozpin sighed. "My, can he talk. All the time…"

"Heh." Jaune couldn't begin to imagine what it must have felt like for the poor boy, but he felt he deserved some credit. At least recognition. "Nice to meet you, Oscar. Sorry for the trouble you've been dragged into."

Ozpin tilted his head back and then nodded. "He says `you're welcome` and that he's glad you were here to save us. As am I, of course. I didn't expect my old friend Leonardo to turn traitor." He sighed. "You think you know a man."

"Sorry we couldn't keep him prisoner."

"It's fine. I'd have preferred it, but you were right in prioritising Cinder. That said, I don't understand why you are here in the first place. I only requested Team RWBY and Qrow to attend."

And here it was, the dangerous part. "We're here to meet with the White Fang," he said, not telling a lie technically but dodging the question. "It was two birds with one stone and just luck we noticed the attack going on. Team RWBY and Qrow were sent in alone."

None of that was a lie per se and Ozpin nodded, relaxing a little.

"That said…"

Ozpin raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

This was where it got tricky. They'd really just planned to kidnap Ozpin, but with having to now look after Cinder as well, it would be hard to focus their attention in so many ways. Luckily, he had an easy out.

"I don't think Team RWBY and Qrow are going to be in much of a state to go with you right now. And I can't let you take Team RVNN. Pyrrha is the fall maiden and I just can't run the risk she falls into the wrong hands."

"I agree, and I'm pleased to see you're aware of the risks. I do need aid, however."

"Then wait until Team RWBY and Qrow are recovered. Come back to Beacon with us, give them a week to rest and then you can head out again. I know it's a delay, but the enemy has already shown they know who you are and where to find you. Hazel and Tyrian are currently in Mistral. It's not safe for you to wait here."

"I had not intended to return…"

"It's just for a while. You can get some more resources too, plus have a chance to question Cinder with me. If I try to give you Team RWBY now, we just run the risk of Cinder escaping. I need a team to stay with me while I meet the White Fang-"

"Not Team RWBY, surely," Ozpin said nervously.

"No, no. I wouldn't let Blake anywhere near it."

"Thank goodness."

Jaune was sure Blake wouldn't be pleased to know her knowledge of her tendencies transcended even death in Ozpin's case, but there it was.

"I need Team RVNN with me for that, which means I need Team RWBY to escort Cinder back to Beacon. Bart and Peter are coming to help, but she's a maiden. If anything goes wrong, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with you there."

Ozpin hummed and brought a small hand to his chin. Jaune was sweating profusely, at least on the inside. If Ozpin saw through his ruse, he'd be in trouble. If they got him back to Beacon though, they could talk to him and convince him to stay. He was banking on Ozpin's desire to see Cinder incarcerated being higher than the desire to get moving. He was banking on Ozpin's enmity for the woman.

The woman who killed him.

"A small delay won't harm me too much. And you did rescue me from a rather sticky situation."

Yes! Jaune grinned. "Thanks, Ozpin. I'll see about getting you a video interrogation of Lionheart as well."

"Good. I want to gloat."

"You mean question him?"

"I know what I said, Mr Arc." Ozpin pinched the bridge of his nose. "And I do need some coffee. Please tell me our secret blend survived the attack."

"It did…"

"Thank goodness…"

"But Ironwood has put a coffee embargo on the school. We can't get the ingredients."

Ozpin stared ahead calmly. Then, suddenly, his face fell slack, his posture dipping. His eyes scanned left and right, his breath suddenly coming out in a sharp gasp. Jaune's eyes narrowed, catching the change and making an educated guess.

"Oscar?"

"Hah-? Oh, that's me. Hello. Mr Arc, is it?"

"Mr Arc," he said. "Or Jaune, or headmaster. Whatever is easiest. Where's Ozpin?"

"He's… um…" Oscar's eyes were pinched. "He's screaming in the back of my head right now. S-Something about unfairness, robots and someone who is going to have to replace more than half his body with cybernetics when Ozpin gets hold of him."

"Yeah." Jaune smiled wistfully. "I know how he feels..."

/-/

When the Bullhead from Beacon came into land, Jaune wasn't all that surprised to find that Roman had conned a lift with Bart and Peter. Aside from a prime chance to laugh at Cinder, he wouldn't miss a chance to get out of work and no one wanted to be left in charge of the school. That technically meant Beacon was all but undefended, but with Tyrian, Hazel and Cinder all accounted for, there wasn't much to worry about.

"She's unconscious?" Roman sighed and lowered his `You got captured` banner he'd somehow made on the trip. There was even a brightly coloured paper hat stapled to it. "I was going to pose with this. Damn it. Oh, can we hang her upside down by her feet and do one of those fishing photos?"

"Maybe later," Jaune said, motioning for Blake and Pyrrha to carry Cinder into the Bullhead. "Okay, Team RWBY. You're going to be returning with the teachers and Oscar. Team RVNN stays here with us for the next part of the mission."

"Are you sure we can't help?"

He didn't even turn to see who had spoken.

"I am one hundred per cent sure, Blake."

"The meeting might go better with a faunus on hand…"

"Ruby."

"Sir?"

"If Blake tries to escape, knock her out. Put both her and Cinder in a cell if you have to."

"Okay!"

Blake huffed and crossed her arms, climbing into the Bullhead with a growl and sitting next to Yang, who was in obvious discomfort but conscious and able to sit down on one of the seats. Seeing him looking, she brought up a single hand, one thumb extended up.

Jaune nodded back. "I'm proud of you all. We all are. You went above and beyond what was expected of you all. Now go home and get some rest."

Yang and Ruby beamed. Even Blake smiled a little, though she tried to hide it behind a pout. Behind them and climbing in with them, Oscar let himself be strapped in by Peter, listening raptly as the large man talked about something or other. He'd probably regret that soon enough. It was a solid four hour flight to Beacon.

"How did you convince Ozpin to agree to return?" Glynda whispered.

"I told him it was just for a week. I sent a text to Qrow warning him to play along and delay until we get back. We can convince him to stay after."

Glynda nodded. "Assuming the meeting tomorrow goes off without a hitch, we could be back in Beacon the day after. We should stay in Haven tonight. Even if you're acting headmaster, they might want you to officially sign your resignation when they pick a new person. Keep everything official."

"Any chance we can keep that secret from Ironwood?"

"With all the media here? I doubt it. He'll have probably heard about it already."

"Yay…" Jaune groaned. "Handle the students?"

"Of course." Glynda turned around. "Team RVNN. Good performance today from all of you. We shall be resting in Haven tonight. Given the possibility of a counterattack, you will be bunking in rooms adjacent to our own. If you have any injuries, then please see the infirmary. There's no reason to hide them."

Easy for her to say. She'd never actually experienced Tsune's tender ministrations. There was a reason most students in Beacon learned first-aid on their own.

"If you want to spend time talking with friends in Haven, feel free to do so. Please do not leave the campus. We have no way of predicting whether they will return to try and free Cinder."

"Acting headmaster?" One of Haven's teachers approached him. "Acting headmaster, there's a call for you. Priority line."

"Who?"

"General Ironwood, sir."

His stomach fell. "Can you tell him I'm too busy to take the call?"

"I can hear you, Arc," the scroll he'd failed to note on the teacher's hip chimed.

The staff member winced, apologised silently and then held out the device. Jaune took it with a grimace, swallowing his panic and bringing it up to his ear. In a falsetto voice he answered, full of cheer.

"Ironwood! So good to hear from you. How are you? How's the weather in Atlas?"

/-/

"Ahhhh!" Nora collapsed onto one of the beds with a loud sigh. "So good! I'm pooped."

"It was quite the day," Ren agreed, laying down on his own and hooking both hands behind his head. He eyed Pyrrha, who hadn't been able to drop her ear-to-ear grin since the end of the battle. "Someone looks pleased."

"Hm? Me?" Pyrrha tried to look innocent and failed.

"I've not seen a smile like that since Cardin and Velvet came out of that closet together."

Velvet choked on a bottle of water.

"Oh, it's not like that," Pyrrha tried.

"Hah. Pull the other one. Were you itching for a fight that badly?"

"No, I… well, a little." Pyrrha ducked her head, though there was still no hiding her good mood. "It's more than just the fight. I wanted a proper mission and we got that. I shouldn't be so happy Haven was attacked. So many people were killed by Lionheart."

"And we've stopped that," Ren pointed out, slapping a hand on Velvet's back.

"True."

"I don't think it's about Lionheart at all," Nora teased. "Someone can't stop grinning because Cinder got her butt handed to her."

Pyrrha burst out laughing.

"See! I knew it!"

"Okay, okay." Pyrrha giggled and tossed a pillow at Nora. "I'll admit it, I can't stop playing the scene of Jaune carrying her up those stairs through my head. She tried to kill me. I really thought I was going to die when I faced her. To see her defeated and broken like that; it was the greatest feeling. Let's just say I've never agreed with Mr Torchwick before, but when he mentioned taking a picture of her, I almost wanted to ask if I could get one."

Her teammates laughed. Or Ren and Nora did. Velvet had only just gotten the water out of her airways and was glaring at Nora with a red face. She obviously thought she and Cardin had been a lot subtler about their make-out sessions.

A part of Pyrrha wasn't sure if she should feel good about Cinder's defeat or not. It wasn't her who had done it. If anything, the win belonged to the headmaster, Neo and Yang. Plus, she was supposed to be above such things. As a huntress, her job was to stop the Grimm, not worry about revenge or fighting bad people. There were others who could do that.

On the other hand, screw Cinder. The psycho tried to kill her!

"I doubt tomorrow is going to top this," Ren said.

"You think the White Fang are serious about peace?" Velvet asked.

"Cinder was the main reason they attacked Beacon. If they were going to try something, it would have been under her leadership. I think if they were planning to attack us, they'll think twice now she's gone."

"And if not, who is there to worry about?" Nora asked. "Tyrian Callows, Hazel Rainart and Cinder Fall. There's only Arthur Watts who wasn't here. That probably means he's not in Mistral or he'd have joined in the fight."

"Unless he was doing stuff in the White Fang."

"They'd use a faunus for that, wouldn't they?"

"Nora has a point," Velvet admitted. "That Tyrian guy is a faunus; if they were working with the White Fang, they'd use him. Even if they do try something, the fact we just fought them all off at once is going to make it seem like a bad idea. The White Fang might pull out."

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow," Ren said. "So… what does everyone think of our new student counsellor?"

"I think a lot of guys are going to suddenly realise they need counselling," Velvet grumbled.

"That better not be a hint, Renny!"

"I didn't mean-"

"Snrghhhh…"

Ren paused and looked over, spotting Pyrrha curled up on her side atop her bed, hands linked before her face and somehow still smiling as she lightly snored. In the background, Nora giggled.

"I guess Cinder being out there was really affecting her…"

"Not that she'd admit it," Velvet said, standing up and wandering over. She took Pyrrha's blankets in hand and drew them back, rolling the girl over and then covering her with them. "Can't cause problems or bother the team." Velvet tucked her partner in with a grumble. "Idiot."

Pyrrha murmured something in her sleep.

/-/

"Sienna, there's news from Haven."

"I've seen it already." Leaning back on a seat in her tent, she wondered what her people thought she got up to in her spare time that she wouldn't have heard the shock news being broadcast across Mistral. Their camp was in a forest outside it, which meant their scrolls picked up the same signals.

Cinder Fall, wanted criminal and terrorist, captured. Leonardo Lionheart traitor. Beacon headmaster scares off dangerous criminals.

"Should we call the meeting off, ma'am?"

"No. Why would we? Their actions have nothing to do with us."

"But we worked with Cinder Fall before. Adam said-"

"Adam is not the leader of the White Fang. Whatever agreements we had with them before are null and void. They were agreed by a sect of our group, not the White Fang as a whole."

If nothing else, this would go a way to showing those loudmouthed individuals calling for her to attack the Beacon delegation just how foolish they were. One did not become the headmaster of Beacon by being a snivelling and weak fool. This Jaune Arc was strong enough to take control of a school, strong enough to fight Cinder off once and now to capture her again, saving an entirely different school in the progress.

Once might have been an accident, twice bad luck, but three times? That was a pattern.

"We could strike at them while they're weak and cut off from Beacon."

"Are you mad?" Sienna snapped. "Beacon is in its ascendancy. They've come back from the brink and after this they'll be stronger than ever. We don't want to be the next target and we don't need them to be ours. Our foes are those who subjugate and use our kind, not a huntsman academy that keeps both humans and faunus safe from Grimm. There is literally no reason – ideolog or strategic – for us to attack them. Lose and we alienate everyone. Win and we both alienate everyone and endanger all faunus living in Vale."

There was just no point, no benefit. Attack the SDC to show them that they had to change their methods, attack Atlas because they enabled the SDC to reap the taxes. But Beacon? Why? They weren't their enemies. There was no advantage to it.

As a terrorist organisation, they relied on public image far more than most realised. They needed to appear as freedom fighters to the faunus, threats to their enemies but also honourable to those who were neutral. The only reason all the Kingdoms hadn't banded together to hunt and slaughter them was because the White Fang was the SDC and Atlas' problem. Or had been.

Adam had changed that. Him and his stupid desire to `send a message`. The idiot.

He would send a message alright, one that politely asked the Kingdoms to join forces and eliminate the White Fang once and for all.

"Nothing has changed; be sure to tell that to the others. We will meet with them in good faith and work out an agreement to cease hostilities."

"And if they demand Adam?"

"We'll give him to them. He's crossed a line and if they should demand he pay for it, I'll allow it."

"But Sienna-"

"But nothing!" she hissed. "We are on the brink of being wiped out. The only thing preventing that is the poor relations between Beacon and Atlas right now. If those are solved, they'll join forces and eliminate us once and for all. We cannot hold against the combined forces of a military Kingdom and a huntsman academy." Leaning back, she rubbed a hand across her face and sighed. "I like it as little a you, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made to achieve victory. Remember that."

"I'll remember it," the man said angrily. "If I may be excused, ma'am."

Sienna waved a hand, not upset about the anger. She wasn't much better herself, but Adam had dug this hole and if needs be, she would toss him in it. The cause was too important to risk for one man. Adam should have known that before he went off on his petty little crusade for his ex-girlfriend. She didn't expect the troops to like it.

Sometimes you had to do things you didn't like to win.

/-/

"How did it go?" one of the masked faunus asked.

"She wants to hand over Adam for peace."

"Why? We have them on the ropes. Beacon almost fell and we were at the forefront. They should be coming to us begging us to spare them."

Some of the others around the campfire mumbled their agreement.

"You think she's scared? They did just capture Fall."

"Ha. Stupid human probably got herself caught. What do you expect from them?" The faunus leaned forward. "Adam wouldn't have gone down like that. You know the Albain brothers have been talking about how he should be the next leader."

"Don't let Sienna hear you say that. She hates them."

"Maybe because she's afraid. How long has she been our leader? How much have we really achieved? Look at what Adam managed with just a small group of our people in Vale. He put us on the international news. He made us feared!"

"He made us hated," someone pointed out.

"Hate and fear. Aren't they the same thing? People hate the Grimm and still fear them."

No one argued.

"What do you have in mind?"

"I think it's time things changed."

I know some people were upset last chapter because Cinder was taken prisoner and said that was a stupid idea. I agree that there are risks to it and Jaune knows that, but there are also benefits, and a lot more benefits than you get for just killing her. Even if she refuses to give any useful information, it's at the very least a way to keep the maiden's power out of Salem's hands.

Killing Cinder removes Cinder as a threat but does nothing else. Taking her prisoner also removed her as a threat, with the added benefit (if possible) of being able to both interrogate her for information and use the same machine from canon to complete the process and put the maiden's power in Pyrrha.

Omake:

Jaune didn't normally go out drinking, let alone on important jobs, but after the shitshow the day had been, he felt he deserved it. Between media questions, the fight with Cinder, Jinn being cocky and teasing and then a tense call with Ironwood, he needed a way to unwind. Glynda and Neo were sharing a room, which cut off any hope of that kind of unwinding.

Haven was next to Mistral, though. Mistral was a major city.

It wasn't hard to find a bar.

He couldn't say how many drinks he'd had. Not enough to get blitzed but enough that he started to feel his worries slip away, or more specifically be buried under drumbeats, laughter and copious amounts of booze.

Somewhere along the way, he'd made a friend. He had the vague memory of her sitting down, groaning about her fucking day and ordering a drink. From there, they'd bonded in the best possible way, that of two people bitching about their mutual problems.

"And then they glare at me like it's my fault. I mean, it's not like I told Glynda and Neo they had to share a room. Neo wanted to sleep with me like usual and Glynda got angry."

"Why doesn't she just sleep with you as well?" his new best friend slurred. Her dark skin reflected the neon lights and her ears twitched atop her head as she downed another glass. "I mean, sounds like they both want it. Don't see why, no offense. You look scrawny."

"None taken. I am scrawny. But yeah, I'd be up for that. I mean, I get the feeling I wouldn't survive it, but I'd be up for it. Or, you know, we could just talk. Whatever happened to talking things out? Where did that go?"

"Tell me about it. My lot are useless as well. All bitchy and angsty." She adopted a whiny tone and said, "Why do we have to sleep outside? Why do we have to make deals with people? We should just use brute force to take what we want. Ha!" She snorted. "As if that could never go wrong. I mean, how could making enemies of literally everyone ever backfire?"

"I dunno. I make enemies of a lot of people. Or maybe they make enemies of me." Jaune tried to stroke his chin and missed, rubbing his eye instead. "I don't think it's my fault though. Maybe. I try to talk. It's just that no one believes me."

"Same thing," she groaned. "You can't be negotiated with; you're a terrorist. Pah. I still have a fucking mouth, you know. You'd think people would want to negotiate with terrorists. But nooo, it's all just `we'll not stop until you're all dead` one moment and then `you started this` the next. Like, what the hell? How are you blaming us for continuing the war when we've offered all these chances to stop!?"

"Yesh." Jaune considered the word, then shrugged. "Yesh, that's right."

"Idiots! But somehow still not as idiot as the people I actually have to work with. I have this one guy. Let me tell you, obsessed."

"Oh, I know the type." Jaune nodded quickly. "I have this girl. I swear, every time she hears the word `White Fang` it's like her head just snaps up."

"I know, right!?" His friend rounded on him, eyes wide. "Mine is the same. Real angsty guy. Wears dark colours everywhere and talks about how no one understands."

"Same! Mine is exactly the same!"

"And he just won't let go. Like, it's over. Let go. Move on."

"But they won't," Jaune said, nodding along. "I mean, it's been over a year now and she still won't accept that she just isn't a part of them now."

"Yeah. Refuses to listen, whines and just rushes in whenever he's triggered."

"Sounds just like mine."

"Idiots."

"Yeah," Jaune said. "Real dumb."

"Hey." His friend perked up. "We should set them up."

"Wha-?"

"You know, maybe they'll stop being such asswipes if they're distracted." She brought up both hands and poked her finger through a hole made of her finger and thumb. "You know, keep em busy on something more fun?"

"I dunno. She can be a little picky…"

"Eh. So can he. We'll set up on a blind date. What's the worst that can happen?"

Jaune tried to list the number of things that could go wrong but forgot how to count before reaching three. Since only two problems didn't seem like a lot, he nodded along, lost to the haze of good alcohol and good company.

"Wanna plan it at mine?" his best friend asked.

"Shure."

/-/

Jaune woke up with a splitting headache. Groaning, he tried to roll over, only to discover he couldn't because there were two arms wrapped around his stomach and a very warm and very naked body pressed up against his back.

He froze.

Okay. Sit-rep. Boxers are on. Didn't score. Damn…

That was about as far as he got before the figure behind him yawned and slowly came to. Her arms tensed, skin darker than that of anyone he knew with little stripes of darker skin across them. Her nails dug into his stomach before she, too, moaned, hit with the roaring hangover that had taken a look at two huntsmen-level combatants and easily clotheslined them both.

"Ugh," she moaned. "Who did I bring back?" Her hands dipped lower.

Jaune yelped.

"Boxers. Didn't score. Damn." The arms retracted and the person he was in bed with rolled onto her back, yawning loudly. She then froze, hands above her face. "Shit, the meeting! I'm late."

Jaune's eyes widened. "I'm late too!"

The two of them dove out of bed and scurried around on the floor, picking up clothing and tossing it to one another. His socks were over the back of some crates mingled with a skirt. His shoes were split, one by the door and the other in a fruit bowl. He peeled off a tank top wrapped around it and tossed it to the woman, who caught it and dragged it over her head. At the same time, Jaune hopped about on one foot, trying to pull his jeans on.

"Boss! Boss!" someone yelled outside the tent they appeared to be in. "Boss, the news! You seen the news!?"

"Damn it. I don't have time, numbskull! I have a meeting with the headmaster of Beacon in two hours!"

Jaune froze, trousers around his knees. "Wait, what?"

"But Sienna, that's what the news is about. Someone went against your orders. The headmaster of Beacon – he's been kidnapped!"

Jaune's stomach dropped.

"WHAT!?" Sienna Khan roared, tearing open the tent flap and dragging the faunus in. "WHO!? Who went against orders and took him? Was it Adam? Of course it was Adam, that damn fool! When I find him, I'll skin him!"

"I-I don't know who did it," the faunus yelped. "The only witnesses said he was taken out of Mistral last night, and that someone saw a White Fang member staggering into the woods with the headmaster of Beacon unconscious on her shoulder. And something about singing and blind dates and something. The Beacon contingent are going crazy. They're talking about combing the woods to find him."

Sienna turned slowly, eyes wide.

Jaune cringed and waved guiltily back at her. "Um. Hi…?"

"We're under attack!" someone screamed outside the tents. "It's Beacon. Oh gods, it's Glynda Goodwitch. It's Glynda-arrrrrghhhh!" The scream cut off with the sound of numerous bodies being telekinetically launched through the air. One crashed into the tent they were in, swiping it away and exposing those within.

Jaune stood with his pants around his knees, both hands gripping them as if to pull them up, his chest bare. Nearby, a naked-from-the-waist-down Sienna Khan stood with one hand over her face, hair wild and fuzzy. In her other hand, she had Jaune's shirt.

"I-I can explain?" Jaune tried.

Glynda slowly removed her glasses, folded them and then placed them in a protective case.

Neo cracked her knuckles.

A switch from the Team STRQ shenanigans. I'll probably go back to those. I'd love to write an STRQ comedy story but I doubt it would be popular, so I'll probably do it in omakes. I just liked the idea that Jaune and Sienna would bond over having Blake and Adam under their employ, both of whom, for all their differences, are still obsessed with one another.

Just in different ways.

Next Chapter: 11th July

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur