Just Act Casually
AN: To address the guest reviewers question, Salem and her associates aren't going to play a role within the plot of this story. All of that is already passed, so it's part of the backstory but not the current plot. You want intense action, read RWBYond. (I say knowing that this and the next chapter do have a bit of action in them).
Chapter 6: A Day on the Job
Jaune was bored. There hadn't been any hot girls to bring home at the bar or club. Ruby had left for her mission, so he was left without any real friends to hang out with. So, he did what any physically fit, formally trained, man would do. He grabbed his sword and headed to the mission board.
Jaune had taken missions at a descent pace for a while now. There was a point where Pyrrha didn't like him going on missions on his own. She worried about him a lot. At first, Jaune thought it was sweet. It was nice having Pyrrha willing to do anything for and with him. Then Jaune just got sick of it. Pyrrha had made him strong then tried protecting him like he was some weak little thing. It was nauseating. It was a major reason why he left her.
He looked at the mission boards. Most of the missions left in this cycle were chump change. Work security at a sporting event. Work security on a cargo ship. Patrol the boarder. One caught his eye. Some guy Jaune had never heard of was wanted for stealing some valuable masks. The pay was cheap and it requested for four people. Three had already signed up.
"Ah, why the hell not?" Jaune said as he put his name in. It's not like he needed the money that badly. Though, it would be nice to have cash to treat himself out while Ruby was away. And maybe whoever he had the pleasure of being with could be worth it.
He got to the dock where the huntsmen were lining up. He groaned when he saw Cardin and Russel among the team members. And the other one was a bit more of a sight for sore eyes. Ruby's father Taiyang, in his usual outfit.
"Hey, Jaune." He waved.
"Hey Jauney boy." Cardin smirked.
"Hey guys." Jaune said. "Well, guess we're in this together."
"Yep, the employer put me in charge." Tai said.
"Four people going after a two-bit crook." Russel said. "Isn't that, overkill?"
"This is a chump mission." Cardin said. "It's not like this is going to be difficult so why are you complaining?"
"Enough." Tai said. "The thief was last spotted in Forever Fall, which is still a dangerous area." Tai looked at Jaune. "So, Jaune, how are things with Pyrrha."
"Wait…" Jaune raised an eyebrow, a million questions running through his head. "You…don't know."
"Know what?"
"I broke things off with Pyrrha." Jaune said. "About a week ago, actually."
"Ooh, tough break." Tai said.
"Well, it was my decision." Jaune affirmed. "I'm…wait…"
"What is it?"
"When was the last time you talked to Ruby."
"Brat never tells me anything." Tai answered.
"Um…shit, there's no easy way to say this."
"Say what?" Tai said. Jaune could swear he saw fire in his eyes.
"Don't jump to conclusions but…Ruby was in a bind and I was homeless so…I decided to move into Yang's room."
"You're dating Yang?" Tai fumed. "I mean I can't fault you but I can certainly pound you." He cracked his knuckles.
"Wait, you don't…geez Ruby what the shit?" Jaune said. "Yang too." He amended. "Yang ditched her to move to Mistral with Sage. That's why she needed a roommate."
"What the hell!" Tai grabbed him by the collar.
"Believe me Tai, I thought they would have told you. Please don't hurt me. Ruby and I are just friends. Things just worked out this way. I don't want to die!" Jaune squealed much to Cardin's amusement.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Tai set him down. "But I'm fucking pissed that I had to find out about my daughters' current arrangements from you."
"Yeah did not want to be that guy." Jaune said.
"I'm calling Ruby right now." He dialed on her scroll. "No signal?"
"She took a mission in Atlas." Jaune said.
"Well when she gets back I'm giving her a stern talking to." Tai said. "But until then, let's get going."
Forever Fall looked just as it always did. The perpetual cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. The Summer air was sweltering. It surely brought back memories. Memories of a time Jaune was absolutely useless. He could barely take on a single ursa. Let alone the numerous Grimm he's faced since then.
They walked through the forest for hours. Russel had taken point, having become quite the tracker. Jaune stood at the rear, ready to defend against any ambush. As the sun set, Russel spotted the embers of a fire. That sounded like it could be their target. The objective was to bring him in alive. Cardin, Russel and Jaune moved into position around him.
The man, Mura Sakino, was an oafish ape of a man. Fitting since he was an ape Faunas. He wore a purple leotard and white cape that looked ridiculous. And sure enough, he was also wearing one of the masks. It wasn't a Grimm mask, or any other mask Jaune had seen. It didn't seem to have any eyeholes, just the painting of a single red eye.
"Zuga?" He said. A small boy with a bird beak for a mouth came out of the tent. He held another one of the masks. This one looked like a heart surrounded by sharp teeth. He also looked to be dressed like a scarecrow.
"What?" The boy squawked.
"Have you fetched, an adequate bundle of bananas?"
"They don't have bananas here."
"Not with that attitude." Mura said.
"Hello there." Tai walked up casually.
"Who are you!?" Mura nearly fell backwards and grabbed a sickle.
"Easy there." Tai had his hands up. "These woods are dangerous at night."
"Are you a huntsman." Mura asked.
"Ooh wow, a huntsman." Zuga said sarcastically.
"I am." Tai said. "Just patrolling. Though, I am looking for some outlaws."
"Outlaws you say?" Zuga said.
"All by yourself?" Mura asked.
"Well, yeah. I'm a pro. Been in this game for damn near thirty years. These bandits are supposedly not much to deal with it. Wouldn't be surprised if he got gobbled up by a Grimm."
"Gobbled…bastard." Mura got mad. "It is I, the one you seek. The great," He started to flex with every word. "The powerful. The almighty Mura Sakino!" Small pyrotechnics shot from his hands as Zuga played a kazoo. "I am the king of thieves."
"Here we go." Zuga sighed. Mura stood in an elaborate stance with his arms outstretched.
"Behold my semblance." A small spiky iron ball appeared above his head. It grew bigger by the second. "I alone have the power of the Great Royal Crusher!" The ball was very large now. "Tremble in fear as it crushes you!"
"Um." Zuga started. Mura slammed his foot down into the cooking pot. He screamed in pain as he fell backwards. His weapon slammed down and crushed him.
"What?" Tai said. His eyes fell on Zuga.
"Um, don't look at me." Zuga held his hands up. "I'm just a kid." He gave a nervous laugh.
"Fucking mask." Mura muttered. "Can't see for shit." The crusher disappeared. Mura vaulted up and shook the pot from his foot. "Zuga plan B."
"Kazahm!" Zuga slammed a purple smoke bomb on the ground. They tried making their escape. Jaune was already moving to intercept them. As soon as he made eye contact with Mura, Cardin came from behind the tree and beamed him with his mace.
"See, that's a crusher." Cardin said. Mura just gave a short groan. Russel picked up Zuga, who was trying to swing at the huntsman but just couldn't reach him.
"Well, Mission, success?" Jaune shrugged.
"Definitely worth the two-hundred lien."
"That's all they're paying for you?" Mura started to weep.
"What did you expect?" Zuga groaned.
"You're going to get locked away." Tai said as he joined them. "Though considering you just stole some dumb masks, I don't think you'll be going away very long." He dialed on his scroll. The sound of an airship slowly approached.
"Hey Jauney boy." Cardin said. "Had you been a little faster perhaps you could take in the glory."
"Glory? This dude dropped his own power on himself." Jaune said.
"Still, I beat you to the knockout blow." Cardin gloated. "You gotta be fast with that kind of shit. Wouldn't want a chance at greatness to pass you by again." He smirked.
The airship arrived. Mura wept at his failure and Zuga just seemed pissed. The ship headed back to Vale where the client was waiting. He was a tall man with goat ears. His backpack was covered in masks. He seemed delighted to see the mission completed so efficiently.
"Ah, Mr. Xiao Long!" He gleamed.
"Mr. Egao." Tai said.
"Thank you for apprehending these rapscallions. Here is your payment." He handed Tai some credits.
"And for the others?" Tai said.
"Two hundred for a job well done." Egao said. "It wasn't my idea to get so many people involved."
"So, wait, we only get fifty liens each?" Cardin said.
"If you split it evenly…yes." Egao continued to smile.
"You, penny pushing sideshow…" Cardin started but was stopped by Tai.
"It happens more time than I wished." Tai sighed.
"Sorry for the inconvenience." Egao said. "Truly I am."
"Well then." Cardin said. "See you guys later." He took his cut and left. Russel followed soon afterwards, leaving just Jaune and Tai walking around Beacon's hub.
"So, you and Ruby…" Tai started.
"Nothing has changed." Jaune said.
"Well don't sound so disappointed." Tai sighed. "I know she can be…a handful. Especially lately. She's done so much good for the world in such a short span of time that she thought herself invincible. Then, when all that stuff happened two years ago…" Tai drifted for a second. "Maybe I should have been a better example. Fuck that, I know for a fact I should have. Her only model to emulate for trauma was me and…well…her Uncle Qrow. And we both know who she took after more."
"If I didn't know any better…" Jaune said. "He seemed like he was more of a father than you were."
"Well fuck you too. I did my best. Qrow had all the fun and very little of the responsibility. That's why Ruby liked being around him so much. Well, that and well, the fact he trained her."
"That'll do it." Jaune put his hands on his head. "Don't worry, I do know better. Ruby cares about you more than she lets on. That's why she's trying so hard to be independent. So, she doesn't have to deal with any of that again."
"She told you this."
"She doesn't have to." Jaune shrugged.
"No, she doesn't." Tai sighed again. "You know if you two did become a thing, I wouldn't mind." Jaune nearly laughed at the thought. "The fact you're not getting mad at the suggestion means you're open to it."
"Not really." Jaune said. "That would be so weird. I'm pretty sure I'm the closet thing she has to a brother." He said.
"If you say so." Tai said. "Anyway, want to go get some beers?"
"No thanks. I'm kinda broke."
"I know. Fifty lien is a fucking rip-off." He said.
"Hey, but when Ruby gets back, I'll make sure we hit you up for a night at the bar."
"I'm not sure seeing my baby girl shitfaced is something I want to do." Tai growled.
"Well then, good luck because you'll need it." Jaune turned his back. "I promise to convince her to call you for once though." Even though the pay was lousy, he still felt good about what he'd done today.
AN: Bit of a non-sequitur chapter. I just wanted to write purely comedic villains for once. Probably a test drive for something happening in my other story (wink). Anyway, next chapter is a big one. Ruby's mission and the emotional climax for the second act.