Hiya, another chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY

Chapter 7: A Day in the Town

Wear your features proud…

Blake stared at herself in the mirror; Jaune's words echoing in her mind. It was so profound yet so simple. Never had anyone told her that since staying in the White Fang. Adam was proud of being a Faunus, but he was far prouder of the monster he was becoming. No one had said such things to her except her parents when the White Fang was first beginning. But Jaune, this man who had never met her before Beacon somehow saw through her every defense and wall set up.

She wiped her face, dragging her palm against her skin. Her bow rested against the sink edges, blowing in the soft wind coming from the window. A part of her wanted to leave the bathroom as herself but the repercussions, the reactions of her teammates. While none of them seemed discriminatory of Faunus or anyone of the like, that didn't mean they were accepting of her sudden revelation. Worse yet, Weiss was growing edgier and edgier with each Dust Shop robbery and subsequent blame on the White Fang.

While she never went off the deep end, ranting and raving about delinquents and ne'er do wells; it still hurt Blake to hear a friend say such cruel and unwarranted things about her former brothers and sisters. The Faunus's eyes trailed back to her reflection, bare and glaring daggers at what she saw. Her ears bent in defeat and even extended outwards, trying to catch onto the different sounds coming from behind the bathroom door.

Yang was playing a video game, Ruby was talking with Jaune and Weiss was growling as she did her homework. Wait. JAUNE?! Immediately, she whipped around, throwing her panties and braw on. His voice echoing in the back of her mind. Soon enough, Yang stopped playing games to face the one she constantly teased with pet names – it aggravated her that Jaune would continue playing along in the same fashion. It was like the two were having a secret relationship. Now, that she had her undergarments on, she slipped into her standard attire, accentuating her bust.

She looked back at the mirror but immediately scowled. Why am I freaking out that Jaune is near? Blake questioned. With an exasperated sigh; she ran a hand through her barely drying hair and quickly went to tying her bow to hide her ears. Slowly, she opened the door to reveal Jaune plopped against a pillow and smashing buttons on a scroll with Yang beside him doing the same. If she wasn't so caught up in her thoughts she would have giggled at Yang's insatiable fury at losing at video games as well.

"Oh!" Jaune called out, eyes never leaving the TV screen. "Blake! I was wondering if you wanted to come with me and JNPR to the city. While Pyr has some things to shop for with Ren and Nora, I was thinking of visiting my older sister, Violette while she works."

"O-Oh yeah." Blake nodded, sliding into her own bed. "She works in a book shop, right?"

"Yup!" Jaune smiled. "Tukson's Book Trade; home to every book under the sun. So…you wanna? It's cool if you don't."

Blake smiled softly. "I'd love to…I knew Tukson a while back."

"A story for the ride there, eh?" Jaune smiled.

Smashing his thumbs against the scroll screen and ignoring Yang's screams, the woman's character flew off screen and disappeared. A great raging explosion of light and energy was all that remained of her brave warrior. She cried out, eyes shifting from lilac to crimson, the blonde was the reigning supreme champ of Mega Bash Melee until he came along and beat her every move. There had to be a reason he always managed to one-up her. Yang threw her scroll into her bed and faced the blond knight.

Only to find he was missing.

Along with her feline partner.

"Are you sure leaving our weapons behind is a good idea?" Blake gave him a raised brow.

"I am absolutely sure." He smirked. "I doubt we'll get in trouble. C'mon, the airship will leave soon."

She wore her standard clothing, bow and all. But her companion, less so. He'd removed his armor pieces and was left in nothing but the body glove, creasing and following every bulge and dip of his muscles. While most hunters-in-training were buff, ripped and shredded – Cardin was a good case in point – Jaune was lithe yet lean. Much like Adam. The two were similar in speed and strength – neither depended on incredible size of muscle nor were they too broad shouldered. It was something she admired about Adam – something she respected about Jaune and his fellow JNPR member, Ren.

Something about him though really made the Faunus wonder. He knew things that most wouldn't know about life. A certain charisma that sparked pride within oneself and others. When he fought against Team CRDL about a week past, Blake saw something in the way he moved. It was more than a spar; it was almost like a lesson. Not a lesson born of hate and vengeance but more of a lesson to teach them something. He moved in a way that forced the group to move together and figure a way to take him down together – even the venerable Cardin Winchester was brought to heel unless he worked with Sky and his team.

Sure, it wasn't perfect but Blake came to realize that Jaune got the desired effect he wanted. Their teamwork was among the worst in the freshman class; but during that spar, he forced their hand, bringing them together in a cohesive unit. All he did was push their limits without the intent of beating them into the dirt senselessly. A smirk formed on her face hoping for a future team spar between JNPR and RWBY. The thought alone seemed to excite her.

The strength and power behind Nora; the grace and untouchable skill of Pyrrha; the ninja-like fluidity of Ren and the command, the surprising semblance and presence of Jaune. JNPR would be the best opponent for RWBY to test their teamwork against. While her own team was officially regarded as the most powerful team with incredible teamwork – no one could deny the unofficial title of best teamwork that JNPR claimed. Blake couldn't help but agree; Jaune was a hell of a leader.

Snapping from her thoughts, she found herself beside the Arc waiting for their airship to arrive. Running a hand through her black locks, golden feline eyes trailed over to the blond beside her. He was silent, face wrought with contemplation – though lacked the urgency and worry. He was lost in thought, enjoying the silence between them. But then he turned to face her, blue eyes glimmering and all. Now, it was her turn to look away, almost bashfully.

"What?" Jaune laughed. "Is something on my face?"

Blake immediately turned to face him, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "N-No! Nothing…I just thought of something."

"Well…our airship is here." He smiled and led her along. "After you, my fair lady."

"Thank you, my brave knight." She giggled, pulling him along.

The doors hissed and shut behind them, enclosing them within the great machine. The ship lurched forward for a moment before taking off across the great bay at the base of Beacon Cliff. Waterfalls danced and cascaded down the cliff face, splashing against the crystal clear, almost impossibly blue waters of the bay. Hovering along, the residential district of Vale was in full view, tall towers and high-rise condominiums and apartment blocks. In the distance, past the businesses and grocers, smoke rose high into the midday light, dark and thick.

"It's beautiful." Jaune spoke. "Been to Vale so many times…the sight hasn't grown old."

"I agree." Blake slowly reached up and hesitantly undid her bow. "I'm from a pretty populated place called Menagerie."

He hummed slightly. "What was it like?"

"Menagerie?" She asked. "Uhm…it was very crowded but it was home. While it wasn't as densely populated as Vale or the Four Kingdoms, nor did it look like urban sprawl, it still had its own fair share of overpopulation. It's kinda hard to sustain a population when two-thirds of the continent is made of uncolonizable desert wasteland."

Once more, he hummed and nodded his head, eyes trailing between her and the bright and beautiful day. "Well…putting aside Menagerie and other subjects; how'd you know Tukson? A former Fang member?"

"Yup; he's the one who introduced me to reading after all." Blake laughed softly. "When my…when the former leader stepped down five years ago; I was only twelve. I decided to stay in the fight even when the White Fang descended to violence. There was one man that looked after me; Tukson. He was a bit of a book worm despite his rather imposing image. When my former partner and I would return from missions, there was little he would do to ease my loneliness."

"Wow…" Jaune frowned. Adam Taurus is more of an ass than I thought. "What happened next?"

"Well, my former partner took off to recruit more men and left me at camp. I ended up running into Tukson; he was reading a book that surprised me. A man of his stature and strength along with his courage and charisma; I didn't expect him to be reading smut."

Jaune froze. My sister is working for a guy like that?!

"What?"

Blake giggled into her hand. "I swear! It was definitely smut! It surprised me so much I actually walked up to him; I was fifteen at the time, and I asked him, staring him in the eyes, what he was reading. He spit his drink from his mouth and choked for almost a minute. The man even tried to make lies about what he was reading but I could see the title of the book as clear as day. But eventually, he avoided my inquiry and handed me a separate book and told me to buzz off."

"A nice guy, that one." Jaune huffed with a chuckle. "What book was it?"

"Ninja's of Love." She smiled. "It was the first gift anyone had ever given to me since I decided to stay in the Fang. Sure, now that I think about it; handing a book most would consider smut to a fifteen-year-old is a little strange but, it really opened my eyes to the world of literature. It was such a good read, I went to Tukson as soon as I finished it for more books to read. I knew he had a book shop, I just wasn't entirely sure if he'd want to see me…"

"Well…worry no more." Jaune smiled. "You'll get to catch up and my sister won't have to worry about my wellbeing."

"I would have assumed your siblings would be proud of you." Blake gave him a confused look.

He quickly raised his hands. "No, I never said they weren't. It's just being the only boy and the middle child of eight; they baby me hard. Even Doré did the same and she's literally a few minutes older than me. It's life-threatening and suffocating sometimes."

"I can't say I can relate. But you have my dearest sympathies." Blake laughed softly. "The great Jaune Arc being babied by his sisters – that's a sight I can't wait to see."

"Please don't take a video – I'd rather Yang not knowing." The Arc pleaded. "She'd never let me live it down. It's bad enough as it is with her constantly teasing me!"

With a defeated sigh, the Faunus relented. "Fine. I promise I won't."

"You are doing me a real solid here, Blakey." Jaune smirked. "Oh – we're here. C'mon, it's not a far walk from the docks."

The two waltzed from the airship loading bay and were greeted by valets and men and women offering to drive them around town. The pair turned down offers and continued on their way, taking to the streets and sidewalks, dodging incoming traffic and pedestrians. They shared a few more stories of their past, home and family. While she did her best to keep the information as vague as possible, Jaune seemed to see through it. He never explicitly said it – Blake could see on his face that he knew what she was actually trying to say. It made her feel great.

Something about him, she just couldn't put her finger on it. It was intoxicating and refreshing all the same. He actually understood her and where she was coming from. Every vague statement and comment she made, regardless of the subject, be it personal or general, he knew what she was trying to say and responded accordingly, like he had a cypher in his head crunching number and letters, translating what she wants to say.

But her wonder stopped when they arrived to their destination. The fancy book store had Tukson's name and slogan emblazoned in gold decals and the windows were draped in a translucent curtain. Leaning against the glass door, he could see Violette and Tukson sharing a laugh and coffee. He sighed in relief – they were on break. Taking a deep breath, the Arc swung the door open, the bell ringing against the door frame. Immediately, the two book enthusiasts froze, their eyes landing on the pair that entered the store.

"H-Hey…sis." Jaune smiled crookedly, trying to hide his embarrassment. A hand rubbed the back of his head, trying to avert her gaze. "What's up –?!"

He was immediately whisked off his feet, bone crushing arms wrapped around his back. Without his armor to hold his body steady, the body glove only conformed to her embrace, crushing him further. He wheezed, begging to be released, Blake even started laughing at his displeasure. But soon enough, she too was lifted off the ground in a great bear hug, forcing the breath from her lungs.

When the two were released, the pair collapsed onto chairs, gasping for air. "Jauney! You should've called before coming here! I would've been more prepared and I would've planned something!"

"Sis, that's not necessary!" Jaune laughed. "I wanted to surprise you is all. I'm glad you're taking this job seriously."

"Of course, Jauney." Violette, pressed a hand on his head, ruffling his blond locks. "I'm just really happy you're doing fine. Beacon must really be all it's chalked up to be."

"You too, Blake." Tukson handed the Faunus a small cup of water. "I'm surprised you're not hiding your ears while in public…I'm guessing it's your doing?"

"Y-Yeah, I think." Jaune sheepishly responded. "She and I had a small talk one night and then, this happens. I'm not complaining though – she does look better without the bow."

A light punch collided with his shoulder. "Shut up, Jaune. And thank you."

"Then the most ridiculous thing happened." Jaune bellowed with laughter. "Just as I arrive into the scene, I catch Ruby, the girl with the red hood, as she's falling from the talons of a Nevermore! Behind me, Yang, her sister, is slowly losing her mind. Just as I land –"

"Nora, the girl with hammer." Blake interrupted. "Came in riding on the back of an Ursa with her partner chasing after her. It was only made better when Pyrrha Nikos, came charging in with a Deathstalker on her back. I know it sounds like we're making this up but I swear, it was one of the more exciting moments at Beacon."

"T-That's…incredible." Violette gasped. "That Ruby Rose is a crazy one. Catching a ride from the talons of a Nevermore."

"That Nora Valkyrie is far more insane." Tukson wiped his brow. "To ride on the back of an Ursa like that is suicide that some experienced Hunters wouldn't dare to do."

"Well…that's my marvelous teammate, Nora." Jaune gave a faux cheer. "Man…what time is it?"

"Just a little past five." Violette frowned. "You said you had to return to Beacon before seven, right?"

"Oh man." Jaune sighed in defeat. "I promise I'll visit again soon!"

"Oh, Jauney, we have poetry weekends – you two should come and bring friends!" Violette beamed. "There're going to be plenty of people gathered to share rhymes and hymn. Every weekend!"

"I'll think about it, sis!" Jaune stopped at the door, seeing the glowing twilight bathing the city. Turning his head, Blake was giving Tukson one last hug before taking off. The two shared a few words before she was shooed off to vacate the premises. Opening the door for her, the two finally left the store. It had been almost four hours of talking and enjoying one another's presence, the Arc wasn't entirely sure if it was a dream or a surreal reality.

He and Blake immediately felt their stomachs ache menacingly, almost in synch. The two shared an embarrassed look, blushes forming on their cheeks. A sheepish laugh escaped their lips and the pair walked side-by-side and headed along the sidewalks, avoiding looks of awe and some more prying eyes. But the two turned a corner, feeling a deep foreboding in their stomachs. This was new. His sapphire eyes looked over and locked with golden-amber eyes. Scrolls in hand, the two prepared to punch in their location so their lockers could reach them.

Tires screeched in the distance, echoing in their ears. Jaune turned around, whipping his head towards the source. A small convoy of vehicles, black tinted windows and black color rushed down the street. Surprisingly enough; windows were slowly closed and doors were locked. Pedestrians were lacking and street cars were vacant. Clenching his fists, he pushed Blake into an alleyway, putting an arm over her chest to hold her back. For a moment, the Faunus lost track of time, eyeing the blond. He was suddenly an entirely different person.

"What is going on, Jaune?" Blake asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "What is up with all of this?"

"I'm not sure but please." He turned to face her, sapphire blues glowing deeply within the dim light of the alley. "Just stay behind me."

Click.

"Hands up if you don't want me blowing up kitty-cat's head." A voice sounded behind them. "Move."

A blade was drawn behind them, glowing with energy and aura. "Jeez, Simmons. That's some cruel shit."

"Shut up, Tucker." The one named Simmons responded. "The boss said to get em to HQ. Just imagine what Carolina would do."

The man visibly shivered, glowing sword still pointed at them. "I don't need that image. Her mom was torture enough."

"Hey, nerds." Jaune growled. "Now that you're done dicking around – I want to know what this is about."

"The boss wants to see you and demanded your presence at our HQ." The one named Tucker explained, a little too easily. "My guess, he sees something in you? I don't know, at least it wasn't one of the other Reds that got you – Grif is a moron and Sarge is a hard-ass."

"Who the hell is your boss?" Jaune glared inwardly, as he and Blake were shoved into the back of one of the SUV's. Inside, a pair of men with assault rifles and red neckties sat, barrels pointed at them. Jaune of course was calm beyond belief, scaring Blake slightly. Before they could snap into action, a man wearing orange gauntlets shot his hand within the open windows and snatched their scrolls from their hands and pockets. With a cry, he threw the devices to the concrete, slamming his steel boot into the scrolls, crushing them beyond belief.

I swear to every god…if these are the new guys Junior wanted me to inspect, I will kill them. Jaune glowered inwardly. If these are the only new guys, I will beat Junior into the ground, after killing them. Who knows. They did talk about this Carolina person – must be better than this lot of fools.

The car lurched forward, taking off behind another with a truck following behind. Beside him, Blake was glaring at every man around her. Those with red shades and neck ties didn't relent, guns still aimed at their guts and chests. A part of her screamed to leave a shadow clone and start attacking and escape with Jaune, but something was telling her to remain still and let Jaune handle it. He was unmistakably calm throughout all of this. A damn gun was to his head and sword was pressed to his back – now there were men with military grade rifles sitting in front of them.

While she assumed he would have used the polarity he copied from Pyrrha to disarm them, he still hadn't made a single move. He sat there, arms crossed over his chest and a deepening glare on his face. Other than the growing energy and aura within his core, the ride was rather uneventful. She watched the beautiful buildings of the residential and business districts disappear and replaced with urban sprawl, unrefined and raw.

The density of pedestrians grew as they left the more pristine parts of the Kingdom. While the population grew, their state of dress deteriorated. The economic disparity of the normal citizen grew with each passing street. Sprawls of street vendors took up most alleys and street corners, hidden beneath rundown apartment blocks that were in much needed repair and paintjob. Men and women were sick on the streets, wrapped in tattered blankets and newspapers. If she wasn't held captive with no escape, she'd jump at the chance to help them. They were so caught up in their impoverished situation they wouldn't have the time or care to discriminate against her Faunus nature.

But then, the urban sprawl disappeared. It was slowly replaced with businesses and small restaurants. Across the way, industrial wasteland began to take root. Pipes and bridges leading from one factory to another shrouded the sunroof. Turning away from the men in suits and body armor, her eyes trailed over to Jaune to find the glare he sported still hadn't gone away. This time, his teeth were barred revealing his sharp canine teeth. The two men in front of them were sweating, rifles shaking in their palms.

"Alright we're here!" Tucker's voice came from the car in front of the convoy. "Get the two out and set em straight."

"I'm gonna kill them." Jaune growled. "I will kill them."

The doors opened, revealing the face of Tucker. He was a dark-skinned man with his hair tied into a knot at the back of his head. He wore a black body glove underneath a cuirass of aqua color. His pauldrons were the same, covering most of his shoulders and upper arms. At his waist, the sword he drew on them was sheathed within an equally elegant sheath. Reaching in, he grabbed Blake by her arm, almost immediately receiving a punch to the gut.

Guns were cocked and barrels pointed at their heads. "Whoa! Whoa! The kitty-cat has some fight!"

Suddenly, a loud cry of pain came from the other side of the SUV. All heads turned to face the source only to receive a pair of men flying over the vehicle. Coming around the trunk, Jaune appeared, hair burning and eyes bleeding crimson.

"H-Hey!" Tucker shouted in defense. "Someone! Grif, Simmons, Sarge!"

Jaune threw up his hand, glowing in a black aura. Within seconds, every weapon, firearm and blade glowed as well. Clenching his teeth, he pulled his arm back, the armament flew from their hands and bounced against the concrete.

"Junior!" Jaune's voice boomed with rage. "Junior, get your ass out here before I start killing these idiots!"

"K-Kill?!" Tucker's eyes widened as he backed away. "What kind of person did the boss want us to capture?!"

"Capture?!" Jaune growled, opening his clenched fist, the glowing sword Tucker wielded flew up into his waiting appendage. "You'd best get yourself together before I gut you like a pig."

"Idiots!" A voice came from within the building behind. "I said get him – not treat him like a prisoner! I also said if he was busy, leave him be! Boss!"

Junior jumped along, business shoes clacking against the steps. "Boss! I am so sorry. These guys, I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for some of them! Please believe me! This was an honest accident, I promise!"

Blake watched the interaction with wide eyes and cold skin. She was surrounded by scum of Remnant, criminals and syndicate gangsters; assassins and mercenaries. Her body shook, golden-amber eyes barely able to break away with the man she'd grown close with bark with such heat and anger at men that would normally pickpocket and murder boys his age. Jaune held a presence that caused most of the men in suits and ties to back away from the supposed boss. He was roaring with a volume that Blake had thankfully never heard until now.

But what surprised her, he shoved his fist into the man's cheek, sending him back almost ten feet. The man groaned in pain, shimmering with aura depletion. But then his eyes turned to the two men who practically kidnapped them in broad daylight. Stepping over the small stockpile of weapons gathered near the trunk of the SUV, he immediately grabbed Tucker by his throat and smashed his back into the rear of the vehicle. The windows shattered, glass splintering in every direction, making those present to jump. Several henchmen immediately sought refuge against the walls of Junior's establishment. Blake was motioned along as well, finding herself safer if she kept a distance.

A collection of boots clapping against concrete caught his attention. Throwing his arm up without even breaking gaze with Tucker, the arm glowed once more in a black aura. Simmons froze where he stood; boots stuck and arms frozen in suspension. His eyes widened as Tucker's body was thrown from the dented vehicle frame and crashed with his body. The impact was so powerful, the two rolled on the concrete, becoming a mess of entangled limbs. Their aura fizzed and disappeared like Juniors. Blood trickled from their broken noses and in Simmons' case; a bitten tongue.

"You idiots don't know who you messed with." Jaune spoke menacingly, his eyes returning to their sapphire color and the inferno his hair had become doused. "I don't care for your backstories, follow orders, or the next time you step out of line, it'll be the last time you do so."

"B-Boss…" Junior's voice came. "I am really sorry about this…I didn't know they'd act so brashly and –"

"Don't." Jaune frowned. "I was having a good day until this happened. Since we're here, I'd might as well inspect the recruits you've brought in."

The doors to the building opened, hissing like a futuristic structure. Jaune entered with the small force of men at his back and Blake hanging close to his side. Looking about, the club no longer looked the same – the dance floor was replaced entirely with new floors and lights. In the distance, the seats where those who came to eat at the restaurant were refurbished and replaced entirely with new furniture. But there were renovations that weren't there a month prior. The basis of weapon placements and armor plating to pillars and strategic spots could be seen.

Junior coughed momentarily, fixing his tie. "Boss. As you see, aside from taking territory and turf from the other syndicates, we've been remodeling the place – making it more battle-ready."

"Good." Jaune nodded his head. "Have your men protect the entrance and keep those two idiots away from me. I feel like I might kill them if I ever see them again. We have some things to discuss."

With the orders given, men ran about shoes clapping against the granite tiles. Blake stayed by his side, eyes wide as plates with each passing second. Jaune was called boss by some big-name criminal that she'd heard of during her time in the Fang. Men feared Jaune as if he were the harbinger of death himself. On top of that, he took down two fully armored men with ease and punched three men so hard, their aura depleted within seconds after the impact. For the first time in a long time, she was afraid. In an entirely different setting from the Vale she normally knew and with a friend she thought she knew; this day couldn't get any stranger.

"Blake." His voice shook her from her mental musings. "I will explain everything when we're in private setting. I'm sorry you had to see all of this so soon."

"So soon?" Blake's response was meek. "You were going to reveal this to us?"

"Of course, I was." He frowned. "This isn't the kind of secret I want to be keeping. But it's a secret I need to keep for now. Imagine what the school would do if they found out about my secret dealings in Vale. The Vale Police Department would be on my butt non-stop. Then there's the issue with Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch. I'd rather not get them involved until I've got all the pieces I need in play."

With that, the conversation ended abruptly, leaving Blake with more questions than answers. Moving along, she followed right beside him, keeping to his pace, making sure to not lag behind. There were renovators and engineers all over the place, hammering and power-sawing away. Some moved boxes and crates along while others patrolled the structure with assault rifles strapped to her bodies. This was more than some syndicate hideout – this was an HQ for an army.

Looking away for a few moments, a pair of heels clicked against the tile flooring, reminding her of Pyrrha and Weiss' own choice of footwear. She was surprised to see a pair of girls – twins – standing in front of them with calculating eyes, a dull version compared to Pyrrha's. They were bored and seemed to be itching for something.

"Who is she?" The one in red spoke.

"She looks…new." Blake raised a brow – it seems they continue each other's sentences.

"Melanie, Miltia – this is Blake." Jaune responded. "She just happened to be with me today and was taken along for a ride."

"You never take us anywhere." Melanie whined.

"I don't think it's fair." The one Blake could only assume was Miltia groaned.

"Sorry, ladies." Jaune shook his head. "Not gonna happen. There're plenty of better guys out there, I assure you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to speak with the bear in private."

The girls parted ways, huffing in frustration. As they walked past, something burned in Blake's chest. She immediately whipped her head back to face them, sticking her tongue out. When the girls scowled, she turned back to face Jaune, a victorious smirk and a burning blush on her cheeks. Blake had never done something so petty, but it felt so fun. Jaune noticed this, giving her a raised brow and a questioning gaze. Her only response was to shrug against his shoulder and keep walking with him.

On the far side of the club floor; there was a series of elevator doors. Thankfully, only one seemed operational at the moment. Following after her blond knight and somehow, criminal boss, she entered the elevator with him, awaiting what monstrosities lie ahead. Once the elevator door shut, Jaune released what she could only assume to be the biggest breath she'd ever heard.

"Oh, damn it." Jaune sighed, wiping the massive beads of sweat beginning to pour from his brow. "Man, that was nerve-wracking."

"Hello, how may I help you?" A loud voice echoed from one of the speakers in the elevator.

"Take me to Junior's floor." Jaune spoke in the same tone.

"Fifth floor, coming right up."

Sighing once more, he stood straight, eyes planted with the elevator doors. Blake though, took this time to reevaluate him. He is…something else entirely. He is one of the kindest and most honest people I've met. There is no way he could possibly be involved in this kind of lifestyle. Sure, I was, but that's different. I've never given this aura or image of selfless kindness. What is his angle? There has to be one. Nevertheless, I've never expected this.

"I know what you're trying to do." Jaune spoke, eyes never leaving the elevator doors. "But please, just wait. I'll explain everything soon. I'd rather you not jump to assumptions about everything around you thus far. Assumptions make things difficult to explain – I'm certain you can relate."

Blake's mouth opened with a response, but the words were stuck in her throat. She frowned, looking away. What surprised him, she didn't step away, rather, she stepped closer to him. Her left arm behind his right and her right hand resting on his deltoid. She was nervous and it was understandable. Inwardly, Jaune glowered at the change of plans but this could definitely work in his favor.

The elevator doors hissed open revealing fancy carpets, ornate designs and beautiful imagery. Leading Blake along, he swung a cream-colored door with golden bear head accents open. Junior was seen fixing his tie and wiping sweat from his brow behind his desk with a redheaded woman in cyan colored infantry armor over a black body glove, sitting in one of the comfortable chairs decorating the room. But his body went cold with terror, almost shaking in how scared he was. If his fear grew any larger, he was certain Grimm from Vytal to the southern tip of Sanus would be attracted to Vale.

There was a woman sitting across from the cyan armored redhead. She wore a long dark green overcoat with brown trimmings. Golden accents lined the buttons and collars. Her hair was long and wild, dark with a few blonde strands within. Her leg was crossed over the other and a bo-staff rested against her shoulder. Turning to face him, her sapphire eyes gave him all he needed to know.

"ROSEMARY?!" Jaune's voice choked in his throat. Blake's jaw dropped and eyes nearly popped from her head. "W-What are you doing here?! Why are you here?! I…oh no! Don't you dare! I got enough hugs from Violette –!"

His cries of displeasure were interrupted by the arms of the powerful huntress. She lifted him off the ground in a similar fashion as Violette. He roared, crying out in suffering agony as bones popped and rib (he swears) cracked. Dropping him, he collapsed onto a couch, body splayed in every direction, limbs loose. Blake shot down, easing his position to be more comfortable. Laying him down, she rested his head against her lap.

"And you are?" The huntress bent down, sapphire eyes gazing into Blakes golden-amber. "He never told me had a girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend." Jaune droned. "She's just a good friend. We went to visit Violette in the city. I'm surprised she didn't say anything about you being in town."

"Because she doesn't even know I'm in town." Rosemary smirked, walking back to her chair. "Now, would you mind telling me why my oldest huntress friend, Carolina called me about this amazing opportunity to work for Junior – only to find out that his boss is my adorable little brother. Imagine my surprise when he told me."

Jaune glared at the man as he fixed his tie. "What can I say, boss. Arcs are very persuasive."

Once more, he sighed in defeat. "Look. This is something that is far more difficult to explain with just simple words. Junior, get Carolina out of here – I'll speak to you in a more private setting late, Carolina. Rosemary, Blake. Just, sit still and I'll explain in detail."

Sitting up, body no longer aching with pain, his sapphire eyes faced his sister and companion. With a flick of his wrist, locks and windows shut tight. Rosemary's eyes widened but she nodded to her brother. Blake though, felt intrigued, almost impossibly intrigued. Jaune was contemplating, his face contorting in worry and fear, it was painfully obvious this was conflicting within him. He shut his eyes to silence the various voices whispering and yelling within.

"Okay. Hold still."

Throwing his hands up, his hands cupped Blake and Rosemary's faces. Within seconds, their worlds turned white, ticking clocks and spinning clock hands were all they could see in the blinding energy. Their bodies floated by, winds pushing against their clothing. Once they came to a halt, they stood on a giant clock with Jaune standing there in full armor. What surprised Blake, he was wearing a deep red cloak like Ruby, a crimson sash like Pyrrha, Stormflower – Ren's weapon and gauntlets that seemed reminiscent of Ember Celica.

He turned to face them, his face older, war torn with a massive scar going from his eye to his jawline. A blond beard was thick and scraggly with a few dark strands making it dirty blond. He had a split lip that seemed to never heal properly and a thousand-yard stare that could weaken even the most hardened of hunters and huntresses. Instead of wearing the body glove she recognized, he was wearing a sweater that she'd never seen he owned.

"This…" Jaune's voice appeared from behind. "This is who I really am."

The two jumped in surprise, sweat forming on their brows. Everything was happening so fast there was little time to take into consideration what they were witnessing. While the elder man in front of them was practically unrecognizable, the calmness in his eyes; the honesty he displayed with just his gaze, reminded them that this was indeed Jaune. He didn't speak, nor did he make a move to. Turning around to face the voice, they found the Jaune they recognized.

While the Jaune behind them held the same thousand-yard stare, he looked more vicious, more terrifying than the full-grown man behind them. The man looked like a hero, the one from the stories and legends; this Jaune looked like a warrior, a killer. His armor displayed more than just protection – it was intimidation and protection. While the elder man wore a sweater and tattered jeans; Jaune wore full armor over a form-fitting body glove. He didn't look bulky and slow, compared to the man behind.

"What in the world is going on, Jaune." Rosemary asked with a crack in her voice. "You're scaring me."

"Seriously, please, tell us what is happening." Blake pleaded. "We're in the dark here…"

For a moment, he contemplated. He was intending to simply let Blake know, but now that Rosemary was in the equation, the impasse he came to, only grew in size. The number of unaccounted variables seemed to multiply. He didn't want to bring his family into this – he sure as hell didn't want to bring his dearest sisters into this. Violette and Rosé were living their lives of peace as civilians. While Rosemary, Doré and Clair knew what lifestyle they wanted; he doubted helping a crime syndicate gain power through the underworld was part of the plan.

He cursed to himself. Eyes still planted on the form of his sister and Faunus friend. Their eyes were filled with worry, revealing the turmoil in their souls. They were far beyond worry; they were terrified. He did this – he was the one pulling strings. There was a goal that he needed to accomplish and using Junior and the gangs and syndicates of Vale was the only way to properly do it. What legal business would deal with White Fang operatives – what legal business would be able to underneath the nose of the law? Jaune scowled. If finding Cinder meant letting his secret be known to the two unlikeliest of individuals, he decided it must be done.

"I am Jaune Arc of the House of Arc; the Last Defender of Atlas, the Last Warrior of Haven, the Last Knight of Vacuo and the Last of the Kings of Vale. I'm from the future."

So what'd y'all think?

Drop a review and don't forget to follow and favorite!

Ja ne!

gottahavekyuubi