I can't thank you all enough for the support on this fic, it's become my highest viewed and most well received and your support means more frequent updates.

As always I'd love to hear what you all think, I read every review and usually respond if its good! I'm at a level I can keep up with that for now, haha.

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy! Boy, I sure hope that white fang thing has nothing to do with Blake!

Velvet was arrested, naturally. She was actually put under Beacon's care in a sense- which roughly translated to interrogating her here while the council decides what to do with her.

He had a feeling it wouldn't be good. She shot at both him and Weiss and nearly did herself, not to mention her ties with the White Fang- what had she done with them? She was willing to blow up a building just to keep minor amounts of traces secret. Was she a killer? Did she murder innocents in the name of equality?

What had caused her to turn out this way?

His head spun trying to wrap around it. The sweet innocent girl who wanted nothing more than to be rescued finally stood up for herself in the wrong way.

But one question came before all others.

Who was Adam?

She mentioned him in a sense that seemed...wrong. Like she felt loyal to him yet feared him. Is that how he got through to her? A fake sense of loyalty and heroism only to control through fear? He'd known some men do such things- controlling through such mechanisms.

It was a seminar they had in school once, how extremists groups indoctrinate people and the signs. Maybe he should of paid more attention- could he of helped Velvet if he paid just a bit more attention?

The rest of the trip was largely decompressing from the situation. Ruby briefly explained she was near the area on her route and decided to come to their rescue instead of getting a teacher. If she had chosen different, Velvet would be dead- and it'd be his fault.

He blamed himself for this. It was his plan and his failing to safe Velvet, on some level he knew there was only a minuscule amount of blame to be put on him- but that doesn't exactly help. Logic is a tool that did not work when it came to his self loathing.

Weiss had recovered fairly well. She even thanked him for his quick thinking, telling him 'you did not perform terribly'- which coming from her was about the biggest compliment you could get.

It was only now that he was back at Beacon, the sun setting on this eventful day, that the boy heard a knock at his door. Ren was still out and he was finally finishing moving the rest of his stuff into the room.

He would open it to see Silver eyes staring in his blue.

"Hey. I wanted to see how you're doing" She would respond to his shocked face and held her hands behind her back, leaning down slightly so emphasis the whole cute aspect.

"I'm...alright I guess. I'm just looking back at what I could of done different, you know? Like- maybe a missed a sign..."

He felt a light fist connect with his shoulder, the younger girl had punched him lightly in a jovial way. "Nope"

"Nope?" He asked confused.

"Nope. No blaming yourself. Even if you spotted signs, there's no guarantee you could help. I get that you want to blame yourself for this..." She put a hand over his, a softer approach. "But please try at least."

Huh. Trying for her, didn't sound too bad.

He nodded to this request with a soft smile.

"I can try, I guess. But no promises" He let out a cheeky smile. "How about we go into town tomorrow- get some comics and pick up some cookies from this bakery I used to go to.."

It sounded like a date. Maybe it was. That kiss meant something, right?

"Hm...I guess I can reward you for trying~" She teased, poking her tongue out.

"Oh, so buying you cookies is MY reward?"

"Yep!"

Well she wasn't wrong, going out with a cute girl like her was a kind of reward- but she didn't have to sound so smug about it!

"Oh- by the way. About that kis-"

"OKAYBYESEEYOUTOMORROWJAUNE!"

He didn't get to finish before she was out of the door, a flurry of petals littering the floor as he heard a garbled mess of words stringed along.

Yeah, he could have plenty of time to figure that out tomorrow. For now the blonde would look to his phone- a text from Pyrrha.

'I heard what happened, I'm glad you're okay. However, please refrain from being so reckless so early in our training.'

It was like her to be worried but confident in himself where he had none. He made some good friends here- it scared him all the more he might of thrown something away when he dealt with Velvet. It was worth it, he'd usually say. His life wasn't worth much.

But now?

Maybe he was worth something. The doubt was still there but with people like Pyrrha and Ruby around, it was impossible to not gain SOME level of confidence from it. In his case it was just much much smaller.

The worst part was the sense of guilt at valuing himself above even a single other person.

He sat down on the bed and sighed softly, by the time Ren came into the room he would see a blonde getting some well deserved rest.

He would need it for tomorrow.

"Mister Arc"

Ozpin was a person he still couldn't read. Back in the police station he saw the man as powerful and wise- seeing the dysfunctional function of his academy he thought the man insane- the truth likely somewhere in the middle.

But he trusted them, for now anyway.

As such he was pretty surprised to hear the man request him to his office specifically.

The reason soon became clear

"Would you mind telling me how exactly things went down yesterday, Mister Arc? I know miss Schnee's point of view, but I want to get a full picture."

Better than your usual headmaster, back when he was bullied his side never mattered- only that fighting back made him as bad as Cardin.

"Well, it's pretty much exactly as she told it i'm sure. We found a basement that seemed oddly operational and in use- and found White fang plans for an attack on SDC property. We heard someone come down so we hid and gathered information. I uh...recognized the person."

He looked to Ozpin with a nervous frown, just from knowing her some people might suspect him of being part of an operation to bring Beacon down- perhaps that was the anxiety of the situation talking however as the older man simply reassured him with a nod to continue.

"Velvet Scarlatina, she was in her final year of high school when I was a freshman. She was bullied pretty badly due to being a Faunus, I stopped someone who was ganging up on her and he started to bully me instead. I didn't...I swear I didn't know!"

"Calm, Mister Arc." He held his palm up, once lowered Jaune let out a breath he had involuntarily held. "I know you aren't involved in this, Miss Scarlatina said so herself."

"Is...is she okay?"

"She is being kept restrained for hers and others safety, but no harm will befall her from our half. From her behavior Bart has already suspected she was groomed into this. Your retailing seems to fit this narrative too. A girl bullied like her would of been easy to manipulate by people like the White Fang."

"...She did mention a name. Adam. Is she going to be okay, sir?"

"That depends on her co-operation. Speaking of, she has been...reluctant to give the location of any White fang operational base. That poor girl seems terrified of what could happen if she did."

The scar, he had realized. It wasn't there when she was at school- did...did this Adam person do this to her?

"Mister Arc, may I ask you a favor?"

"A...favor?" He asked with a clueless expression. "What could I possibly do?"

The man chuckled, putting a hand to his shoulder. "If she co-operates, she will get a leaner sentence. I trust you want this?" He waited for the nod that Jaune gave. "Then I want to ask you to help convince her to give up the information. If she does this I promise under my authority as headmaster that she will receive the best sentence possible."

But why? Was the information that valuable? Possibly, considering the White fang had gone undetected for years. Was this something more, however? Velvet had committed a crime, why was Ozpin being so...understanding?

The suspicion paled in comparison to the feeling he wanted to help. Velvet could be given a better shot- he could be there for her this time. Unlike back then and unlike the years she had been through since then. He could save her this time.

"I...I guess I can try."

The man smiled a little too wide.

"Thank you, young man. And remember, any method to get this information is permitted other than allowing harm to befall her."

That only added onto the suspicion. What method could he be thinking? Emotional manipulation- appealing to her sense of morality or guilt?

"Sir, why are you going through all this effort? Is the information that important?"

"Yes, and no. You're my student mister Arc, I want you to benefit from this situation too."

There was hidden meaning. There had to be. The quizzical eye- the judgmental and analyzing look- he'd seen it before. The 'friends' he had a long time ago that used him to get ammo for Cardin- they only fed him what he wanted to get some secrets out of him.

Yet it was also the stare of someone concerned. It was like there was two presences inside that stare both glaring into his soul for different purposes.

What kind of man was this?

It didn't matter. He was paranoid and stressed- Ozpin was just...a weird old man.

For now, he had to focus on saving Velvet.

If he looked back, he may of seen Ozpin's frown. Not that he would of known what it had meant.

"I'll do it."

And that frown would turn into a guilt ridden smile.

She was being kept in a dungeon.

Well, only by name. In reality the 'dungeon' of Beacon more so resembled police interrogation rooms more than an actual dungeon. A singular concrete room lined with padding, wall and floor tiles- and a chair and desk. The only way into the room was a single door with viewing one way glass he was stood on the other side of. His first aid teacher, Oobleck, stood with him. Apparently he had been put in charge of her interrogation so far.

Velvet looked...terrified. She was catatonic almost, shaking in place and whimpering- but she wasn't harmed just as Ozpin had told him. She looked in the same condition she was when she was arrested.

"Mister Arc, I wish I could say anything you say to her will be private- but I'm afraid for legal reasons cameras must remain on at all times. I will also be behind this glass ready to assist you at a moments notice if you ever feel you are in danger. However, I do not believe you'll have the need." The green haired man explained, pushing his glasses down the bridge of his nose for a moment before pushing them back up. "In my professional opinion, this girl is a victim of circumstance- she is more terrified than any of us. Please, be kind to her. We will get nothing out of her with threats."

The way the man spoke was matter of fact, but towards the end there was more sympathy than analyzing- Oobleck seemed like a kind and empathetic man.

"I plan to be." He replied with a forced smile. The man let out a grunt of affirmation, before allowing Jaune to pass to the door.

He hesitated before opening it.

Was he too late for this?

There was only one way to find out.

The door opened, and her face...it was...

Guilty.

Guilty tears and quivers of her mouth, she grasped at her own face with her palms and buried herself in them muttering softly amongst tears falling.

"I'm sorry...so sorry..." She let out, Jaune could only sit down with a frown. He was opposite her. That girl he knew...she was still there. She was still as lonely and as scared as ever.

"I...I missed you."

It was all he could think to say. Her eyes widened, he barely saw the surprise of her slightly bulged eyes from the gaps between her fingers.

"I missed that girl I used to know. The one that would always make sure I was okay after Cardin laid me out, the one that taught me how to do geometry- still hate that by the way-" He added in to comfort her a little, her lips tugged at the small joke- which was good considering the situation. "What happened to her after she graduated?" He asked with a sympathetic look, his hands went to the table- and calmly grasped hers.

Slowly, her breathing became more regulated- those tears dried a bit. Her nose was stuffy and running from the tears.

"I..." Her voice quivered, her hand grasped his for comfort more than anything- it was something to focus on and kept her stable. "I'm not...I'm not that same girl- I...I've done so many things...I-"

Her panic started again, as such he squeezed her hand and let out a 'shush' noise- giving a smile. He shouldn't be smiling, but it was to give the girl a sense that...everything would be okay. He knew it wouldn't be, but such a small comfort was worth pushing through.

"You're still that girl. I can tell by the way you looked at me. I..." He chose his next words carefully. "I was your hero, right? And I'd gladly do so again. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you but please...let me be there now. Let me help you."

Perhaps it was manipulative. It felt it- even if there was some truth. In the end it would be worth it- it was helping her. That was worth the sense in insincerity.

"H-how would I?! Where would I start- I..." She was still panicking, his thumb ran along her palm to ease this and it seemed to work. "I...where do I begin..."

"Well...who is Adam?"

Just the name caused her to tense up. She trembled a bit more, biting her lip before going silent. He sat there for a moment, the silence felt deafening- like it was oppressing his being and reminding him of how much of a failure he was in comforting this girl.

Eventually, Velvet spoke.

"He..." She began, before reaching for her own cheek. The scar. "He did this...he got me into this. It was...the day before you helped me. He...Adam was...he was so understanding at first! He was charming and protected me...made me feel special. He was my hero...he was before he became my villain. He was good at first! But the more push back Faunus got the more he would get extreme. I thought he would grow out of it- that eventually his methods would work! But..." Her free hand went to a fist now, slamming the table. "He just got worse! More extreme- more violent. When I tried to leave he...he..."

"Shh..." Jaune felt the need to interject as she got more passionate. "He's not here, stay calm."

She breathed in and out, he could feel her hand slightly deflate in tune. Her hand was warm, but it felt so incredibly heavy...not physically- but what it represented.

"Yes you...you're right...you won't let Adam get me..." She took her hand away from his finally, wrapping her arms around herself in a soothing motion.

"I won't let him get you, I promise. Arc's word."

"He hit me. Gave me this scar. He said it was...just a mistake and he let the anger get the best of him. It...didn't stop there. He didn't hit me again but he got more violent in other ways. I felt...I feel so scared...he could kill me in an instant. My family...my friends- I left everything for him! I was so..so...stupid!"

"Nope."

She seemed shocked for a moment. Her eyes stung and she rubbed them with her sleeves.

"You weren't stupid, you were taken advantage of. Anyone could of been manipulated by him. If it wasn't you it would of been some other girl, one not nearly as strong as you."

Another soft choke of a sob came, but this time she let out a soft smile at the words despite the situation.

"Thank you...I...I want to help. Adam...promise me- promise me I'll get a fair trial and that he won't get me. Please..."

Jaune seemed to consider this for a moment. On one hand he could not promise a fair trial, only that Ozpin would try for one- and he couldn't promise she wouldn't see Adam again.

But what did he want? What would a hero do in this situation?

"I...I promise. You will be treated fairly and given a fair trial, and if Addam tries to hurt you I'll stop him myself!" He proclaimed, feeling a slight bit of a rush towards the idea of hurting the bastard that put his friend through this.

Velvet practically threw herself on him from across the table. Her top half reached across and her arms wrapped around his shoulders- her face rested on his chest for a moment. "Thank you..." She whispered as her tears tried on his shirt.

They stayed like that for a few moments before the door opened. Oobleck came in and pat Jaune on the shoulder, nodding a 'good job' to him.

"Are you ready to give us the information, in exchange for Beacon's vouch for a fair trial and better living conditions while you await your trial date?" He spoke.

Velvet nodded. "Eastword city, there's a bunker there. It should be abandoned around next month, you can get the jump and get the plans. I wasn't...privy to any of them. I'm sorry...I wish I could be more useful-"

His teacher shook his head. "Please, Miss Scarlatina. You've done more than enough."

As Jaune went to head out of the room, his job done, Velvet called out to him one last time.

"Jaune...thank you. You'll always be my real hero..."

He smiled in response.

For one, he felt it.

Maybe he could be a hero.

Going to class after that had been an...experience. He barely had time to focus, thankfully combat class required not much when half the time he wasn't participating. The match this time was Ren and Yang. He wanted to root for his roommate, obviously. Yang however just seemed to be a different beast entirely.

She was strong, to put it simply. Fire erupted from her fists as she struck the ground, bits of magma like molten rock sprung forward as she punched- the crater in the ground where Ren once was showed what would happen if she landed one of those blows.

Goodwitch had to remind her to hold back. She did, but barely.

Ren seemed very agile. Rather than flashy and powerful like Yang he specialized in dodging and dancing around his opponent, as Pyrrha had put it.

According to Nora, he was a ninja.

It went on for a while, Yang failing to land a single impactful blow- all the ones that did hit seemed to be parried or off center slightly. She had dealt more damage, and Ren hadn't fought back yet.

It was a particular set up with Yang rushing down towards the edge of the ring where he barely managed to dodge that caused rocky debris to fly up in the air and obscure the surroundings. When it had cleared, Yang lost sight of her opponent.

So did everyone else.

It was only when the man revealed himself on purpose, to land a swift kick to the back of Yang's head that sent her out the ring, that he reappeared.

The match was called in Ren's favor. As he would learn from Pyrrha's description, Ren had the ability to hide his presence and others touching him as long as he held his breath.

Had...had Ren been in the room at all when he was changing and he just didn't notice? A weird thought, but not a terribly unpleasant one...

As Lunch came around Jaune found himself smiling softly. He had so many good friends here, he wouldn't trade them for the world. He would do his best to make sure nothing happened to any one of them!

"Is there anything else, miss Scarlatina?" Ozpin had asked.

"...One. Adam had an ex that he said escaped into Beacon, she might know more than I do."

"Oh?" He asked with a surprised look. "And who might this be?"

"Blake Belldona."