AN: Here it is! New chapter new game on! In this one, we get to see a "fight" with Jaune and his sister. As our boy fights for his life as Bleu's true character is revealed and we get to see just how much she loves her brother. Also! We get to meet the family! We see who helps Roman keep his shit together meet some new Oc's and things get a bit heavy-handed. All this and more and this chapter of Game on! Also.

200 followers!? What is this!? I never thought this fic would do well but it is the fasted growing fic I have! So thank you! It means so much than someone and I mean anyone likes this fic! I get so many mixed reviews I really do wonder how it's doing! But until then! The next chapter is something special to celebrate the 200 follower milestone so until that comes! Enjoy...


"Heyar!"

"AHH! Whose a good boy?"

"Gya!"

"Yes! Yes, you are good boy Jaune! Yes, you are!"

"Gah!"

The small blonde bundle in the white blankets said as a shining pair of blue eyes held him up close rubbing her nose with him as the baby cried in happiness-

"Cait! Mom wants to talk to you! Let me take Jaune."

A voice from behind Caitlin Arc said as she turned around. It was midday in Arc Manor, and Caitlin was doing her new favorite past time. Playing with her latest sibling and favorite and only brother Jaune. As he wiggled happily in her arms. As the eldest Arc child smiled at her giggling baby brother, she turned to see her closet sibling Bleu standing in front of her.

Bleu was tall like her, but not quite her height. The two year age difference between the two was showing as the seventeen-year-old girl smiled at her sister.

Bleu was dressed in long tela pants with a bright white t-shirt with blue and yellow flowers on its top, her long blonde hair done in pigtails that went down past her waist as she smiled at her.

"Here. Take Jaune, do you know what mom wants?"

"Nah. I don't, but I think it's something to do with dad. I saw him earlier today getting ready for a hunt."

Bleu said as Catilin handed over their brother to her who's bright blue eyes looked on in distress as one of his favorite people left his somewhat limited vision range disappearing for a moment as the boy began to cry only to brighten in happiness. As his other favorite person entered his sight range."AH!"

The baby cried as it reached out his small hands in anticipation to see Bleu as she grinned

"Hey, there little bro! How's my favorite baby brother doing?"

"GAH!"

Jaune cried out smiling happily at his elder sister as she rubbed his already messy blonde hair happily.

"Aw! You are glad to see your big sister right?"

She asked as Jaune smiled happily as she clutched her outstretched hand wrapping is small hand around her finger and pulling it as Caitlin smiled at her sibling."You really love Jaune don't you?"

She asked a warm feeling in her heart as she saw her closest sibling holding thier baby brother as Bleu nodded happily.

"Yup! Sure do! He's my only brother, and I love! Love! Love him!"

Bleu said in a high pitched tone that Jaune loved to hear as he giggled into her ear as Catilin smiled she heard her mother call for her.

"Cait!"

"Great. I'll go see what mom wants. Take care of Jaune k?"

"Sure thing!"

Bleu said playing with her younger brothers finger as he giggled happily.

"Bye Jaune!"

Caitlin said as Bleu turned her brother to face their sister.

"Say bye-bye Jaune! Say bye-bye Caitlin!"

"FWAH!"

The baby cried as Caitlin giggled.

"Clos enough! See yah, Bleu!"

"By Cait!"

The sister said as Caitlin left the door leaving Bleu in the small baby room alone with her younger sibling and only brother.

"AW! Jaune you are just too cute! I don't know what I am going to do with you! I could just eat you all up! AHH!"

She said making loud munching mosies as Jaune squealed in delight as Bleu smile lovingly at her only brother as she frowned internally.

Bleu was sad. Incredibly despondent over having a brother in her family. Oh, she loved Jaune! Make no mistake! Bleu Arc loved all her siblings more than anything! To an Arc, family was the most important thing in the world! That was why Jaune made her sad.

Blue Arc was just that. An Arc. She like every other Arc was a born warrior! Like her mother, her sisters and her father! And as such, it was her privilege no! Her right to die like one! A right that her brother, her darling! Precious baby brother was being unjustly denied.

Bleu was under the firm belief that all Arc's should die on the battlefield. Where they would be guaranteed! To go to thier ancestors! It was the only way that they could make it to the afterlife according to her.

As she held her laughing little brothers hand a grimace formed on her face. That was why she was so worried about Jaune. Jaune was not going to die on the battlefield. Not likely. She had already heard her mother talking about marriage plans for him already. And that was not ok. Thier mother was going to sell him off in a political marriage to some damned wench just because she couldn't bear to see him hurt! Ridiculous!

She was so soft! Her and Caitlin and Coral! And all the rest of them! Beised Saphire, Star, and Clair but Saph and Clair didn't count because they actually disliked Jaune for some reason. Bleu never saw why Jaune was adorable! And she loved him, but back to the problem with her mother and other sisters.

They all wanted him to have a nice cozy life, where he would live as some damn trophy husband for whatever incompetent trollop they send him off to! That was no life! Safe and comfortable, away from the glory and thrill of a fight! How could she!?

Oh no. Bleu saw it in Jaune's eyes. He was a warrior! A fighter just waiting to have his potential unleashed! Her mother and sisters might want a cozy life for him but no. Not her not Star and definitely not her father. They had made plans to turn Jaune into one of the greatest hunters Remantant had ever known!

And Bleu being the loving sibling she is was going to make sure Jaune became the best-damned hunter ever. Period. No matter what she had to do to make him great.

"You are going to be great little bro! I'm going to make you the best hunter there is! Doesn't that sound good?"

"GAH!"

"That's what I thought. You know Mom, and your big sis over there wants you to be a house husband. But I don't. And neither does dad. We are going to make sure you get to die on the battlefield. Just like me!"

"You Jaune are going to live. You are going to fight! And you are going to die! Kicking screaming with a blade in your hand and shield on your side. There will be no easy life for you Jaune. Of this, I swear"

"I'm going to make you just like me! A warrior, no! Even better than a warrior! I'm gon to make you a soldier! A true fighter of battles. You came into this world kicking screaming and covered in someone else's blood Jaune, and I'm going to make sure you leave it the exact same way."

The sister said as her brother cried in happiness blissfully unaware of what his sibling was speaking as she smirked.

"I'm going to make sure you die in the greatest battle of all time! A death in a bed will never befall you, brother, I won't let you die in peace. Even if I have to kill you myself."

Bley said as she smirked at her brother.

"Now, who's got your toe!?"


"Beat me to death?"

Jaune asked fresh tears still falling from his face and blinking in confusion as Bleu nodded to him. As her massive aura goal gauntlets sparked a bright teal color. As the harsh smell of ozone filled his nostrils as she smiled at him genially as she was covered in the calm afternoon light as she smiled happily at him.

"Sure am little brother! I made a deal with Cait that says I have two minutes to beat you to death! So If you don't want to die defend yourself!"

Caitlin said raising her fist taking a boxing stance that he was all too familiar with as Jaune's jaw dropped.

"Ble-

FWAP!

Jaune's face exploded in pain as he was lifted off the floor as a punch collied with the left side of his face like a damn piledriver. Making his word turn upside down as a kaleidoscope of colors found his eyes as he was lifted from the ground as blood flew everywhere as Bleu grinned savagely at him.

"There's one!" Bleu said as Jaune smacked into the wall, colliding with it like a hurricane. Hurling off the wall from the sheer force of the impact grimacing as his face collided with the hard surface making a loud whack! Filled the room while blood flew from his mouth as-

"FWAM!

Bleu punched him in mid-air. Her fist colliding with the rebounding face of her little brother whom she cared for so much. She did! Really! Bleu loved Jaune that was why she was here at Beacon to give him his gift. As her fist stuck his cheek shook and distorted under her impact as his teeth flew out of his face as blood covered the wall.

SPLAT!

"OH! Watch it Jaune! It's only been twenty seconds! You can't die so quick! At least put up a fight!"

She said as Jaune spat of blood coughing violently on the formerly blue now scarlet carpeting of the Beacon guest room. As he spat out several loosened teeth in bloody pearls meteors as she walked around him grinning in a beastly manner as she circled him like a predator circling its prey.

"Bleu! Why-

"Open chest!"

She cried as she slammed a fist into his chest knocking the breath from his lungs as he felt his eyes roll into the back of his legs, as he counted the ribs that cracked under her strike. He counted six. As her massive blue gauntlets took him off the ground before she backhanded him into the floor.

Smack!

The boy struck the ground with the force of a meteor as he hit the ground bouncing half a foot into the air before slamming back down with a dull thump! And went still. His body twitching violently as blood pooled from his mouth as Bleu sighed.

She was afraid of this. Jaune had yet to grow strong. Sure he was a decent fighter. Beter than most women were at this school but he was far below the Arc standard. He might have made it into Beacon, but that was not good enough!

Jaune needed to become stronger much stronger! She promised to make him the most excellent hunter on the planet! And she would do that or she would kill him her self. There would be no easy life for her brother. Not while she breathed as the boy began to stir.

As Jaune fianlly got up standing up on shaky, wobbly legs hacking up more blood and another round of loose teeth fell from his mouth. As small scarlet comets on the floor as the crackling blue electricity flowed into his body. Making his limbs shook and jerked sporadically as the stray marron power surged through him.

"Why!? Why are you attacking me!? What did I do to you!?"

Jaune shouted crying out in pain nearly falling to his knees blood sprouting from his mouth as Bleu sighed.

"Jaune! Jaune! I'm not attacking you! I'm helping you!"

"By beating me to death!?"

"No! Well if need be, I will beat you to death. No offense but I am here to save you!"

She said as she cracked her knuckles as Jaune glared at her. As his blue eyes shone with righteous indignation as she smirked at him.

"Save me!? Save me!? You've been saying that same damned line my entire life! You always say you want to help me, but you never say why! You hit! And kick! And-

FIT!

Jaune froze as he saw a blur of blue followed by a Fit! Sound filled his ears as a knife was suddenly thrown at his feet embedding itself in the floor as he felt his blood run cold as he looked up and began to shake."Bleu! W-

"Defend yourself!"

Bleu said drawing a long glistening silver combat knife from her side armor. As Jaune glared at her gripping the blade from the floor grunting as he yanked the knife from the ground. Felling the cold steel in his hand brought some confidence to him as he held his blade to her as she smiled at him.

"Good! I see you remember your stance! Now let's see if you remembered anything else that I taught you!"

Bleu said twirling her knife in her hands as Jaune glared at her as she flicked her knife up and down and-

CLANG!

The sound of metal on metal filled the air as Bleu slammed into his knife. Jaune never even saw her move, as he barely held on as his sibling nearly took him off his feet with the force of her attack. Slamming her knife into his single handily making him grunt in pain as his feet slid back on the carpet.

Taking the brunt of her attack in one block as he winced in pain as Bleu smirked at the boy.

"Good job bro! I see you remember how to block. Now let's see how you take a hit!"

She said moving backward twirling her knife around nearly yanking the knife from his hand. As she tried to break the knife from his grip. As Jaune barley retained this blade as Bleu twirled around and crashed a backhand into his face.

FWAP!

The back end of her powered fist slammed into his cheek, breaking it open like a watermelon and sending him flying back on his back. As his world exploded in pain as he wasted no time kicking up to his shoes. As he barely avoided getting a knife to his jugular.

VITHUM!

A knife struck the carpet beside him as he leaped out of the way of the attack. As he lashed out at his sister's ankle. Starting to take her in the shin. As Bleu quickly jumped out of the way of his attack. As she retrieved and slammed her own knife into his body. Lasing downward as Jaune twisted into her strike.

Jaune dodged the attacked as he slashed up at her he kife skittering up on her blue skirmisher armor creating a wave of sparks as she grinned at him.

"Good! First strike to you little bro! Good job!"

Blue said giving Jaune a rare moment of honest praise-

"To slow.'

"AH!"

Jaune shouted as Bleu slammed her knife into his stomach. Slicing through his Beacon uniform splitting open his flesh like a scalpel and making Jaune's sight go red as he doubled over coughing up blood. As his body exploded in pain as white-hot agony spread into his stomach as Jaune cried in torment as she ran him through a wall. Taking her momentum lifting Jaune up form his feet and embedding him into a wall with her knife.

Impaling him on the surface of the wall as she grinned at him.

"Good job bro. But you need to not let your guard down! You never know-

"When you might get surprised!"

Jaune shouted with a feral sneer in his blue eyes, like a damn rabid dog as one hand reached down to his ankles. Pulling out his hatchet as he slammed his hatched down on her knife. Shattering it in a shower of metal.

Kerchang!"

The knife broke into four separate pieces. As Bleue's eyes widened in shock. As the knife handle broke as Jaune slammed his hatchet into her face. There was an explosion of aura in the room. As her body's shield deflected the hatchet strike sending her staggering back as Jaune's other hand reached behind him and slammed his own knife right into her neck. Slamming all his power into the blow. As his knife slammed into her cheek.

Creating a massive blue glow as it skirted off Bleu's aura. Making the world explode in a bright flash of light and-

"Pah!"

Red. A lone crimson red line fell on Bleu's shining teal skirmisher armor as she raised a golden eyebrow at it. Phet! Bleu spat out a wad of bright crimson blood. As Jaune's knife struck her face. Slicing open her cheek as a thin line of red fell from her face as she blinked owlishly.

"Hmm? All that work for one drop of blood? Not bad."

Bleu said nodding happily as she gripped Jaune's hand by the wrist. Making the boy scream as she cracked and bent his wrist backward as tears fell from his face as the sounds of breaking bone filled the air.

As she forced his hand backward angeling the blade of his knife back as Jaune began to panic as she aimed for his heart.

"Bleu wait! Don't do this!"

"SHH! SHHH! This will all be over soon."Bleu cooed as she cruelly reversed his hand and plunged his own knife into his chest. Making her brother's eyes go wide in pain as his own stell cut into him.

Jaune cried out in agony as his breath left his lungs as he felt the cold steel enter his lungs. A burning white agony lanced through his body filling it with torment as Jaune felt his legs stop as his breathing grew labored and shallow as his knife enter his chest. As his arms dropped uselessly as his hatchet fell to the floor as his sister leaned into his face as Bleu whispered in his ear."One brother."

She said in a low voice as Jaune spat up blood.

"One... One what?"

He asked wearily as he felt like each breath he breathed was like him forcing fiberglass up past his esophagus as Bleu sighed.

"You lived by one-second little bro! If you had not done that hatched trick, I would have killed you! But! I was given two minutes and only two minutes to kill you and I already cheated by drawing that knife! And the last thing I want is Catilin hunting my ass down."

"You know how single-minded she gets when it comes down to honor right?"

Bleu asked in a calm tone as her brother cried in agony, as bright tears fell from his face as she sighed.

"Jaune. Jaune! There there! Don't cry! I'm here to help-

"By stabbing me!?"

Jaune asked spitting out more blood and tear as more tears fell from his face as she sighed.

"Yes, Jaune. I am here to help you. That's why I brought you this."

She said holding up the stylized skull emblem to his face as she smiled warmly at him."I know this sucks little brother. I know it hurts and it feels like I'm bullying you but this is for your own good!"

Bleu said earnestly as Jaune coughed up a bright line of blood onto the knife as she frowned. The wound in his stomach was deep, but not immediately fatal. She was careful not to strike any of his internal organs with that blow, but if he wanted to survive Jaune would need medical attention soon.

Her aura disrupting gloves grew bright teal as she had made his aura and semblance go haywire, and now he was not healing well. or at all. Only picking up on a strange cacophony of emotions and no coherent words.

Hate. Pain. Trust.

Several chaotic emotions whirled from his sister as she frowned at him as the blood spilled on his shirt. Dying the insanely tight uniform a blood red. As it poured out and on the wall as she sighed heavily.

What Coral would not pay to see you in that uniform bro. Let alone get you in a room alone with her in it...

"Jaune I'm only going to say this once. I love you, little brother. I want the world for you! I want you to be happy. Healthy. And to find true love."

Bleu said smiling brightly as Jaune hacked up blood to her.

"You have a funny way of showing it!"

Jaune hissed through gritted teeth as his body began to glow? Blue thought as she saw ber border body glow yellow as she blinked twice before sighing in confusion.

"Yup! I only want your happiness Jaune. That's why I did this!"

She said holing up the Vesperax pendant to him as he grimaced.

"You took everything! From me-

"No Jaune, I did not take anything from you. In fact! I gave you everything!"

She said as her brothers breathing became shallow as his breathing slowed and his eyes began to glaze over.

"Jaune? Jaune? You still conscious?"

Bleu asked slapping her brother cheeks twice as his head rolled as long lines of red droll fell from his seemingly unconscious form.

"Boys. You never did last long in a fight you know? Well, let me be quick about this Jaune. I came here with a gift for you-

"Some.. gift...

He said as his voice became harsh and haggard as more blood flew from his mouth. Spraying her chest armor as she sighed heavily.

"Jaune think about it. Before this what were you? Who were your friends? Who did you call a true ally? When you were an Arc you where a slave! You live a life of rules and honor! Followed a code of morals you didn't even understand let alone could question!"

"From the day you were born you life was decided for you. You would be a pawn. A tool a thing, you would be used and discarded as needed. People would come for your name to try to buy you allegiance and the families property. You would never be free!"

Bleu said as Jaune's blood loss finally caught up with him as he began to lose consciousness. "But now? As Jaune Vesperax? You are a slave no more! Don't you see Jaune! This is it! This is the freedom you've always wanted! Don't you see!? You don't have your name! You have nothing! No money! No family! No inheritance! You are a nobody! You can do anything! Nothing is beyond your scope of skill! You are finally free!"

Bleu said as Jaune's eyelids finally shut as she sighed.

"Well, I hope you will live long enough to enjoy your freedom Jaune Vesperax. It would not do you good to see your elder sister upset now would it?"

She said rubbing her bothers head once as she smiled grimly at him.

"I do hope to see you again Jaune Vesperax."

She said as she left the room but not before taking Jaune's knife from his body and lightly dressing his wound. Before leaving Jaune bleeding on the floor. For the next few minutes, all Jaune could see were a blurring of colors. And a sharp ringing noise in his ears.

As he felt his mind drift and his life force leave him as he bleed out silently on the bloodstained carpet. His vision blurring and dimming as he felt his body slowly fail as his consciousness slipped away from him and-

"Kid? What the hell happened to you?'

A rough gravely voice said as a large pair of black boots filled his vision as Jaune smelled the familiar scent of hard liquor as a masculine voice sighed.

"Well it's none of my business, but Vernal would haunt me form the grave if I let you die alone so come on! Let's get you cleaned up."

A familiar voice sais as Jaune was lifted off of the ground and carried out of the room.


When Jaune woke up, he was in an unknown room. And it was an unknown amount of time later on, as he rolled a warm bed, laying on top of a mass of blankets as the smell of hard liquor filled his nostrils.

"Where am I?'Jaune asked wearily as he tried to sit up only to cry out in pain as he felt a burning agony run along his chest as a strong pair of arms gripped him.

"Hey! Hey! Easy there kid! You took one helluva beating back there. What was that your sister?'

A familiar pair of burning red eyes asked as Jaune gave a harsh half smile.

"Qrow?"

"That's me kiddo. And what the hell happened to you? You know your aura isn't healing your wounds anymore? I had to stitch up your crap the old-fashioned way. With needles threads and all! Don't move too much though you might rip them open."

Qrow said as Jaune sat up in his bed and grimaced. The man was wearing a suit? Of all things as he sat on the bed next to him. Taking a swig of his flak as he rubbed a manicured hand through his now well combed and gelled hair as Jaune looked around the room.

He was in a bland Beacon guest room nearly identical to his own with red carpet, beige walls and four beds as Qrow sat next to him. A mountain of bloody bandages sitting next to him as a bloodstained first aid kit sat by his legs. As Jaune saw Qrow handled a crimson-stained needed and thread as he sighed."The hell!? Since when did you dress formally?"

"Why hello Qrow! My longtime mentor, friend, and father figure who I did not see for some time except for a small time a few days ago! The man who took me in treated me like a son and raised me! The man who trained, shelter and feed me for over four years! How are you?"

The man said sarcastically as Jaune rolled his eyes."What the hell happened to you? You look like an Atlas soldier-

"I got married. Remeber?"

"I forgot."

"How lovely. My apprentice not only does not show up to! But forgets my wedding entirely! How appreciated I fell!" The man asked as Jaune sighed ignoring Qrows theatrics as he grimaced at his bloodstained chest.

"Qrow? How long was I out for?"

"Since I found you? Let's see... I'd day roughly three hours. It's six right now, and I think your team is calling you. There are six missed calls from a Pyrrha? Four from a Ren. Three form Nora. Seven. From a Ruby two from a Yang and one from Blake and Weiss!?"

Qrow said blinking owlishly at Jaune's scroll before a shit eating grin came on his lips.

"Schnee!? You know Weiss Schnee!?"

"Umm yes? I think she wants to marry me."

Jaune said as Qrow began to grin.

"You talking to my niece their blondie? Does a Schnee have you in their sights? Better watch out! Weiss is just like her sister, and if you don't watch your ass or you won't be sitting down for a week!"

Qrow asked smiling widely passing Jaune his flask, making the blonde nod thankfully as he took a swig from his flask as Jaune grimaced. Ignoring the agony in his jaw as he drank the liquor.

"No Qrow. She... She's a girl that won't want anything to do with me now."

Jaune said in a sad voice as Qrow blinked in confusion.

"And why not?"

He asked as Jaune sighed and retold his story to Qrow. From meeting Bleu the fight well less of a fight and more like a one sided beat down. As Jaune only took one drop of blood form Bleu and she took a good liter and a solid quarter of his teeth all the way to now as Qrow nodded in silence. Listening to his tale nodded and frowned along the way as he took a deep sigh.

"I see! You are an idiot!"

"What?!"

"You head me! You are a tier one dumbass!" Qrow said as Jaune's jaw dropped.

"Qrow-

"Idiot! Weiss doesn't care about your name! If she cares about you, she cares about you! She might act cold but she' just like her sister. She is a kind loving and a bit socially awkward person. Although not as much as her leader form what I've heard but still! If Weiss thinks you are worth her time than your name has nothing to do with it. Period!"

Qrow said as a messy static sound came into his head making him wince in pain Jaune began to pick up on his thoughts.

"Well ok. Maybe your name did have everything to do with it, but she's a nice girl! Just like her sister! You just have to dig deep down past all the obsessions, personal space violations, kinky sex toys and you will find a happy, loving woman! Probably.'

Qrow thought as Jaune blushed slightly as the man sighed.

"Well! I've bandaged you up for now! So how about you go to your dorm, and I can go drinking? I saw a nice little place here called Juniors. I might want to hit it up before Winter finds and puts a damned collar on me. Again."

He said before a haggard almost static sounding string of thoughts entered Jaune's head.

"I mean the first time was kinky. But after she wanted it to be permanent? That was a bit awkward."

Qrow thought aa Jaune gulped as Qrow sighed running his head with on hand.

"Kid you got a lot to learn about women. Now come on. I think it's time I took you home."

Qrow said as Jaune winced in pain as Qrow sighed.

"Watch it! I promised Vernal I'd keep you safe. And knowing her haunting my ass for the rest of my days cause you got your ass beat by your sister is the least of what she would do if I didn't walk you home."

Qrow said making Jaune grimace as he thought of his old mentor.

"She was the best you know? Even if she was not the spring maiden, she was still our maiden. You know?"

Jaune asked a forlorn look in his eyes as Qrow sighed."Yeah, kid, I know. Now let's get moving k? We can mourn our dead later. Vernal and Chip tooth will understand, maybe not Chip tooth but we need to get you home your team is worried."

Qrow said helping Jaune up, support his shaky legs but not before you get a makeover. You look like shit, Qrow thought taking out a small silver box from his back pocket as he took him to his dorm.


RAT! TAT!

Qrow knocked on the team JNPR? Dorm as Jaune stood by his side. Blushing like a schoolboy as Qrow grinned. The boy had at first refused to go back to his dorm mainly because he looked like hot shit. Twin black eyes, a messy scar on his left cheek and a massive ugly purple bruise on his cheek. Not to mention he was missing a solid quarter of his teeth did not paint a good picture for the kid.

He said his partner would lose her shit if she saw him like that and Qrow had to agree with him that coming home looking like hot shit might not be conducive to a team environment!

Especially if how Winter reached whenever Qrow came home form a hunt battered, bleeding with only a slim line of flesh keeping his arm on his shoulder as he bleed all over the marble floor of Schnee manor floor, before passing out and waiting for death only to usually wake up in the Shnee infirmary or if he was lucky in Winter's personal recovery ward.

And if the reactions of his now Wife and Neice where anything to go by then Jaune coming home after being almost murdered that his team would not be pleased. In Qrow's infinite wisdom! And shrewd social skills he had learned that whenever he came home to beat up that it was a simple fact that all he had to do was get prettied up! Tossing on some makeup, powdering up his face and covering up all those ugly bruises and welts would disappear! Such tricks had several advantages, one was making sure Winter calmed down and Weiss would not stay up for half a week refusing to let him off her arm let alone go on hunts while Winter attempted to confiscate Harbinger.

The fact that Qrow learned this technique form the trophy husbands of important Atlas leaders was a plus. Even if the fact that most of those men learned to cover bruises given by their wives was less then pleasant. Qrow thought as he reached the door as RAT! TAT! Qrow knocked on the team JNPR door waiting a half minute as the door opened as a beautiful redhead with green eyes walked out.

"Hello? Who are you?"

The beautiful girl asked wincing openly as a hand subconsciously reached for her nostrils as she eyed Qrow warily.


Pyrrha fought the urge to wince as the large man stood in front of her. He was tall even for a man standing over six feet tall with a broad chest and sort gelled black hair. He had a pair of burning red eyes, and he absolutely reeked of hard liquor. Making Pyrrha grimace as she bit back her tongue remembering her mother's words to be polite to men and-

"Hello, there little Miss! Names Qrow Schnee! And I think this belongs to you?"

He asked moving his hand as a withdrawn Jaune walked out behind him. His head covered in a black bunny hoddie that Pyrrha found to be adorable. As he looked up at her with his big blue eyes-Is he wearing makeup?

Pyrrha thought as Jaune ducked his head and rushed past her into the room.

"Jaune! Ther you are! I was worried about you! How did you meeting with you sister Bleu go?'

She asked as Jaune walked brusquely past her without speaking as she froze and-

"He hurt his jaw today. So he can't talk so well right now. You understand right?"Qrow? Asked in a calm voice as Pyrrha began to fret.

"He hurt himself how?"

"He fell down a flight of stairs-

"Is he ok!?"

"He's fine! He's just a bit tired. Trust me! I've known Jaune for years, and he's taken worse hits than that!"

Qrow said as Pyrrha glared at him.

"How do you know my partner?'The Mistrali asked as Qrow smirked at her. "I trained him! I'm his old mentor! Qrow Branwen Schnee! At your service."

Qrow said bowing to the Mistrali as Pyrrrh stuttering rapidly blushing a fierce shade of red came to her cheeks as she bowed to him.

"Oh! I didn't' know! You must be a hunter-"No need for a compliment little miss! I'm just doing my job! Speaking of which I need to go! As you may well know hunting never sleeps!"

Qrow said bowing once and leaving a flustered Pyrrha behind him. As she closed the door still stutter at meeting her first real male hunter. As she turned around to see Jaune lying on his bed flat.

"Where have you been!? Do you know how worried I've been! Neo's called you, you fool!"

Ren thought in his head as-

"Is he ok? I smell blood."Nora thought as Pyrrha walked up behind him.

"Jaune? I hear you fell are you feeling ok?"She asked running a hand over his hoodie covered hair recoiling slightly as Jaune tucked himself into a tight ball. As his hand shot out as a scroll message filled her eyes.

"I'm fine Pyr. Just tired. If you want you can sleep with me tonight, but I'm not up for anything but sleep k? I'm feeling pretty bad now."

He said as he curled up in a tighter ball and-

Panic. Concern. Worry.

"Of course! That is totally ok! Just let me change first."

"Please be ok. You don't seem well."

She thoguht as she began to change her clothes. Slipping out of her Beacon uniform putting on her satin nightgown. As she slid into the be of her partner worry fell from her face. As he could up in a tight ball covering his entire face in his hoodie. As she wrapped her arms around him pulling him close to her. And holding him close, not know what was wrong but able to fell the wrongness as she prayed that he would open up to her as Jaune hoped he could play it off.

Jaune could not. Play this off.


As it turned out. He found that out the next morning when his usually downtrodden but determined self-was covered up in a tight black hoodie. And he refused to speak. Communicating in scroll messages instead. As his team found that suspicious but let it pass. And team RWBY was sympathetic to him except Blake. Who's constant scroll messages bombarded him demanding him to meet her in private and for him to explain why he reeked of blood.

He ignored ger messages sticking as close to Pyrrha's side as he could, hanging onto her like Nora with a sloth. An act that at first Pyrrha was grateful for not it only cause her stress. As Jaune clung to her like a scared animal but refused to tell her why.

Then there was the fact that he could not eat. Everytime Jaune tired to take in solid food the exposed nerves in his mouth flared up in agony. Making him cry out in pain. A reaction that his team and friends did not take well. And that was not even talking about his semblance. Bleu's anti aura attack had sent it into a haywire mode for a day. As instead of hearing voices in his head he heard jumbled static that threatened to make him go mad.

Before finally fixing it, learning how to focus his mind on his lasso. Focusing it on his hand so he could not hear the voices in his head. He also learned that if he tried to focus he could isolate thoughts and emotions in others, although he could still fell feelings and if he touched flesh he would always hear thier thoughts. And while that was useful there was the little issue with his teeth.

As for the past two days, Jaune had not eaten once. And had barely drunk any water as any type of agitation to his gums made his mouth cry in agony as he grimaced in pain. And Pyrrha was at her breaking point. Either Jaune would tell her what was wrong with him himself or she was literally going to pin him to a chair forcing him down and making him talk.

As her thoughts betrayed, her panic fueled min as Jaune sighed.

He needed help, that was as clear as day. Jaune was in desperate need of some type of medical assistance, but he didn't want to get it. Why would he? He was a nothing, Jaune Arc did not exist anymore. Now there was only Jaune Vesperax. A nothing, he was just a kid with a broken face, missing half his teeth no family no home and only fifteen thousand Lien to his name.

As he sat at the cafeteria table surrounded by stressed out worried friends Jane made a choice. "R- Ruby."

Jaune said wincing in pain as even the act of speaking hurt his teeth as he frowned in pain.

"Yes!? Jaune what's up!"

The girl said popping up taking her mouth off her plate of toast and bacon and doing a terrible job of hiding her worry as Jaune sighed.

Ruby could keep a secret right? He could tell her about what happened without her doing anything about it right?

"T- today. What are you doing?"

He asked wincing in pain as he tasted more blood in his mouth as Ruby began to panic.

"Nothing! I'm not doing anything! Why do you ask?"

She asked with a nervous smile as Jaune gave her a grin.

"Do you want to-"AH!"

Jaune hissed as a damned stray burst of wind entered his mouth making him wine as Pyrrha shot a hand on him.

"Jaune?! Are you ok?"

"What's wrong with you!? Why arent' you eating?! Why will you barely drink anything? Tell me! I won't be mad at you! I promise! I'm just worried about you!"

She thought as Jaune held back tears.

"Thanks- Pyr."

He said as he stood up form the table wincing as he looked at Ruby.

"Rooftop fifteen!"He asked wincing as the reaper nodded.

"Sure! I'll be there!"

Ruby said as Jaune smiled painfully at the girl as he walked away.


"Well, at least I'm not dead."

Jaune said as he sat on the edge of the Beacon roof looking into the cloudy sky as his reflection began to speak to him.

"Really? Is that a good thing? I mean we might be alive but is that good?"

Jaune's reflection asked in his shield as he sat alone on the Beacon rooftop. To be honest he did not know. Before he thought life meant victory success but now? With nothing to look forward to? What was the point? Why was he alive? He thought to himself as he waited for Ruby to come to him. He was alone for what might the first time since coming to Beacon and actually enjoying the calm breeze as he looked up into the warm Vale sun.

"You do know there is nothing wrong with us going for help right?"

"I know."

"Then why are we not going to help? I mean the longer we wait, the worse it will be. Qrow saved our chest but our teeth can get infected, and an infection in our mouth is not a good thing."His reflection said as Jaune sighed as he looked down the over thirty story fall to the Beacon courtyard.

"I know."

"Then let's get help. Let's tell Pyrrha or Nora. Ruby Yang even Blake! Why not ask for help?"

"Because...

"Because of what?"

"Because we aren't worth it."

"Only if you say we aren't"

It replied solemly as Jaune sighed.

"Well if-

"Jaune!"Ruby shouted as she ran to the roof as he felt the lasso in his hand, it felt like it was back to normal but he was still not risking using it. As he smiled at the girl."Hey, Ruby. What's up?"He asked calmly fighting past the pain in his mouth as she smiled nervously at him before blurring to him in a blur or roses.

"Nothing! What's up with you?"

"Why can't you eat!? Why don't you want to drink!? Why did you not talk for two days!? Why do you cry in pain when you open your mouth!?"

"I'm fine! What about you Jaune? You feeling ok?"

"I know you don't! But I don't know what to do! I knew I should have listened to Weiss! She wanted to meet with you and not me! I should have let anyone else come! Blake even Yang could talk easier to-

"I'm fine Ruby. I wanted to talk to you alone."

Jaune said as the reapers face hardened as she sat down next to the boy. Her legs kicking out over the roof while she smoothed out her red skirt as she grimaced at him.

"So. Are you actually going to tell me what's wrong? Or are you just going to hide it?"

She asked not beating around the bush as Jaune sighed.

"Is it that! Ah, obvious?"

"When you don't eat for two days, and almost refuse to drink? Yeah, it's pretty obvious. What's wrong Jaune? Please. Tell me."

Ruby said as she put a small hand on his as Jaune took a deep breath enjoying the warmth of her hand as he sighed deeply.

"I've been disowned."

Jaune said sadly as Ruby blinked at him owlishly.

"Disowned?"

"Yeah. My sister Bleu. She came to tell me that my family has officially kicked me out of the clan! I'm no longer Jaune Arc! I am now Jaune Vesperax."

Jaune said as Ruby blinked owlishly at him, her mind whirling as she tried to comprehend what Jaune had just said.

"Disowned? What do you mean disowned?"

Ruby asked curiously with genuine concern but not understanding the depth of Jaune's predicament.

"Just that. I've been kicked out. I have no home. No siblings, no backup. My family stripped me of my name, my title, my inheritance of everything except my weapons. I'm nobody Ruby I'm nothing-

"No! That's not true!"

Ruby shouted stepping up gripping his hand in a death grip as her silver eyes bore into him.

"Jaune! You are not nothing! You-

"Ruby. I have nothing. You don't get it I have nothing! I lost everything that day! My home! My clan! My life! Everything I did! Everything I've ever accomplished was for my family! Every bullet, every blade! Every time I was half dead bleeding out in the damned blizzard in Atlas it was all so I could impress them! And now? Now I don't have anyone...

He said taking a deep breath as a lone tear fell from his face as Ruby panicked.

No! No! No! You don't have nothing! Not now! Not ever!

Ruby thought as Jaune hung his head low.

"I... I don't even know why I'm here right now. I've lost everything. My family, my crest,-

"Me."

"You?"

"You haven't lost me Jaune. You're not nothing. Even if you are not an Arc, you are my first friend and you matter. I like you. Pyrrha likes you. She might even love you. Nora and Ren like you. So does the rest of my team, and Coco and Velvet. You matter to people Jaune you are not nothing."

Ruby said in a genuinely warm voice as Jaune gave a bitter smile.

"Ruby I.. I lost everything... I have no home. No family. I.. don't even know why I'm here. You know I spent a good minute think about just jumping off the roof. Ending it all you know?"

He asked hovering one foot over the edge of the roof. Tettering halfway of the edge as-

Panic.

"Don't do that! Don't say that even as a joke!"

Ruby shouted as he grimaced.

"Why not? I don't have any reason to be in Beacon. Even if I do become hunter what's the point? If I can't be an Arc why am I even here?"

Jaune asked leaning back over the Beacon roof as Ruby began to sweat.

"Because of me!"

"Becuase of you?"

"Yes! I'm your friend Jaune! And if you leave or die, I will be sad!"

"So you want me to stay so you will be happy?"

"Yes!"

"Even if that makes me sad?"

"I... Yes!"

"That's a bit selfish you know?' Jaune asked as Ruby frowned.

"Don't twist my words! You know what I mean! You don't have to live for other people! You can live for you!"

"What if I don't want to live? What's to stop me from just walking off the roof right now?"

Jaune asked hanging a foot over the edge, lifting his arm as if they were on a cross as Ruby gulped.

"Jaune. You don't have to think like that. Things are bad now, but they can get better! You just have to try! Believe things will get better and they will!"

"Thanks, Chip tooth," Jaune said bitterly as Ruby blinked thrice.

"Chip tooth?"

"Never mind. You remind me of someone I used to know. But don't worry he's dead, like all of my other friends. But don't worry Ruby when I die I'm not going to kill myself And if I do I won't do it by leaping off the roof. I'll die saving someone else. I may no longer be an Arc, but I am not a coward. I won't waste what little life I have by being a burden to Beacon's janitors."

He said bitterly as Ruby gained a serious look. Not puppy dog eyes and not pouting face but actual anger.

"Jaune Arc-"Vesperax-

"I don't care! I don't care what your last name is you are not going to die! You are my best friend, in the whole world and I won't let you! As long as you are in Beacon, you will live! You hear me!"

Ruby shouted gripping his shoulder with her full strength. And actually forcing Jaune to the roof as her silver eyes glared balefully at him.

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then too bad! You made a bad choice of a best friend if you want to kill yourself Jaune Vesperax! Because I won't let you! Even if I have to duct tape my self to you to keep you safe!"

She said glaring at him her silver eyes staring at him with the intensity of the sun. Refusing to let him look away gripping him in a death grip as Jaune sighed.

"Fine. I guess-

"OWW!"

Jaune said doubling forward as he spat up blood.

"Jaune?! What happened to your mouth?'

Rub asked with a naked concern for him as she held a hand to his face and-

"Makeup? Why are you wearing makeup?'

Ruby asked as Jaune was to busy grimacing in pain to stop her from rubbing his eyes. Wiping away the makeup that Qrow had so willfully applied to him, reelin the bruises on his face as she gasped.

"Jaune!? Your eyes! What happened to you?!"

She asked rubbing the makeup off his face and exposing the dark, ugly black eyes and the large purple bruise on his face as he let out a deep breath.

"Bleu," Jaune said as Ruby's eyes widen in shock

"You sister did this?!"

Panic. Shock. Disbelief. Sorrow.

"Yeah. When she disowned me, she decided to give herself two minutes to beat me to death-

"She attacked you!?"

"She did."

"She's your sister!"

"I know."

Disbelief. Anger.

"Yeah. She said she was giving me a gift."

Hatred.

Hatred raw and visceral hatred bleed out from the girl like boiling magma as her eyes flashed in a disturbingly Yang like fashion as Jaune saw a faint trace of silver? Light in them as Ruby clutched her fists in anger.

"Jaune! That's not ok! You need to tell someone-

"I don't want to."

"Why not?!"

"Because I don't feel like it!"

Jaune shouted as Ruby cocked her head.

Worry. Confusion. Pain.

"Why not?"

"Because... I.. I don't want to disappoint them."

Confusion. Pain.

"Disappoint them? Who?"

"Ruby I'm not stupid. I know why I'm so popular. At best I'm a convenience. At worst I'm a trophy. No one cares about me. The just didn't want to share."Jaune claimed as-

Confusion. Worry. Doubt.

"That's not true!"Ruby claimed as tears fell from her eye as Jaune winced. He did not want to make Ruby cry. She was his best and the first real friend outside of his imminent family and the tribe. And seeing her cry hurt far worse than the beating Blue gave him as she sighed.

"Ruby. Weiss only wants me for my name. Now that I've lost that what are the odds that shell even look at me? Blake looks at me as pure stress relief and Pyr was with me because... I don't even know why. Maybe because I looked good with her? And I was an easy hit."

Pain. Anger.Anger? Why is she so angry at that?

"In fact! Only you Coco and Velvet are the only ones who don't seem to care about my name! You seem to like me for me, and I appreciate that. It means more to me than you know."

Gratitude. Hope. Pain.

"Jaune. I know it might not seem like it, but that's not true. Yang likes you for more than your body. Even if she might not show it well, she cares for you. I mean sure she's rough and blunt and has the social grace of an Ursa in a china shop."

"Pot calling the kettle black."

His reflection said dryly in his shield as Jaune hushed it.

'But she cares! She does care for you. You saved my life, and she even marked you! She would do that to just any boy. And Weiss...

"Weiss?"

"Weiss is Weiss. Shure she might seem stuck up and better than you, but deep! Deep down, past all the insults and mean words and better than thou attitude. And her flaunting of money and her buying all the damn cookies and not giving you one when you know you asked her not to! She's a good person! She might have only wanted you for your name, but that's not true."

"I hope."

"She needs to work on her speeches."

His shield said as Jaune held her eyes.

"I know Pyr cares more for you than that. I don't know her as well as you do, but I'm sure that she has some genuine care for you. And Blake... I think Blake is just shy. You need to work with her some more ok? But you cant do that if you are dead. And you can't be alive if you don't go to the nurse."

Ruby said putting a hand on his shoulder as she smiled at him.

"And you mean more than that to me. I owe you my life, and I don't plan on letting you do without paying you in full."

She said as Jaune sighed as he let out a deep breath. Ruby was right. He was already in Beacon there was no point dying or complaining yet. He was just tired, beat to hell and without direction. He needed her talk and liquor. Where the hell was Qrow when he needed him?

"Thanks, Ruby. Why can't all my sisters be like you?"

Jaune asked with a self-deprecating smile as Ruby grimaced.

"What else did you sister do to you? You said she beat you what else did she do?"

"Kneed me, beat me senseless. Impaled me on a wall with my own knife and broke a few of my ribs. Just for starters."

Jaune said as Ruby's jaw dropped."She did what!?"The girl shouted as Jaune sighed and took off his shirt.

"Jaune!? What are-

The girl asked blushing wildly before seeing his chest and gasping.

"Your chest! You are hurt!"

Ruby said her hands hosting not his chest, grimacing at the new ugly wounds with a messy set of stitches keeping it together."Stitches!? Why does he have stitches!?"

"Why isn't you are healing this!?'"Her attacks nullify aura healing. It won't heal for a while."The boy said as Ruby rubbed her hands on his wound."Jaune!? This is bad! Really really bad! you need to see a doctor!"

" I figured."

"You figured!? You are going to see a nurse right now!"

She said as Jaune knew that there would be no arguing with her.

"Fine. But please. Don't tell my team. I don't want them to worry about me. When I don't even know if I want to say in Beacon.'

Jaune said as Ruby face paled.

"You... you didn't want me to tell anyone about this?"

The reaper asked as Jaune cocked his head.

"No... I wanted a private chat why?"

"Becuase I left my scroll on transmit! All my team yours Coco, Velvet and even Glynda are listening! Pyrrha and Weiss insisted on me letting them listen, I couldn't tell them no! I'm sorry and things got out of hand! Please, don't be mad!"

Ruby thought as Jaune blinked owlishly at the girl.

Ruby-

"I'll be right back! I just have to check on something! Don't you move!"

"Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap! I got to the dorms before this goes bad!"

Ruby thought to speed off in a blur of roses before she shouted back.

"When I get back you are going to see a nurse!

She shouted as she left Jaune alone on the roof.

"Well, that was efficient."His reflection said as Jaune sighed.

"Thanks for your support you know-

"You know if you wanted to talk. I'm always here right?"A smooth voice said as Jaune heard twin feet landing gracefully next to him s pair of amber eyes locked on to him.

"Blake. You heard that?"

Jaune asked as the ninja girl appeared out of seemingly nowhere as she sat by his side.

"The whole of Beacon heard that. I think your partner is breaking down walls to get here now."

"That's unfortunate. I do not want to see her now."

"Good idea lets go."

Blake said calmly as Jaune blinked at her.

"Go? Where?"

"Out. You need to clear your head, and I need to meet our new boss. You didn't think Roman would let you go even if Beacon would did you?'

Blake asked as Jaune groaned. He forgot about Roman! He was stuck in Beacon for four years! Whether he wanted to or not!

"I might as well make the best of them."He said sadly as Blake smiled at him.

"So you ready to go? I think I can fell Pyrrha and Yang running to us."

"Sure. I'll tell you an address. Let's get going."

Jaune said as Blake gripped his shoulder smiling once at in him a beautiful feline enigmatic fashion that Jaune thought was beautiful. And made his heart lurch they both vanished in a plume of purple smoke.


"This the place?"

Yup. Good old Juniors."

Jaune said as he knocked on the large black freshly rebuilt door. As he raised a fist and began to knock.

THUD! THUD THUD!

Jaune knocked on the door three times before the sound of muffled cursing, and loud banging filled the air.

"Oum dammit! I already told you we don't' know anything!"

The irritated voice of Militades Malachite yelled as the red dress girl threw open the door. Sword and pistol both half drawn and her green eyes filled with anger.

"I already-

The girl began as her green eyes lost all hints of anger as they softened upon seeing him.

"Jaune? What are you doing here?"

Mil asked as her green eyes lost their edge as she turned to Blake.

"Who the hell is she?"

And gained it right back.

"She's a recruit. I need to talk to Roman is he here?"

Jaune asked as the girl fixed Blake with a hard glare.

"Recruit? Why the hell did you bring her here?"

"Becuase Roman needs to speak with her. Now is he here?"Jaune used as Militades grimaced as an awkward frown came to her smooth, perfect pale face.

"Yeah, he's here all right. He's in the back right now, but Neo and Mel are not. Neo's out doing something, and Mel's knocked out and not in the mood for a cock ride. But fair warning. Roman's in a bad mood. His well I guess our boss just gave him the raw end of a deal so be warned."

Mil said advising caution to Jaune as her fierce red dress swayed in the air as they walked into the now empty dance floor. Deprived of techno beat and the grinding of bodies. No longer smelling of sweat, must, and illicit drugs. Now only the dull smell of old dust and light cleaning scents filled the empty club. But at least there were no more brains on the floor. So that's a plus.

Jaune thought as he smiled at his coworker.

"Thanks for the heads up Mil. You're a good friend. Jaune said as the girl smiled.

"So are you, so why the hell do you need to talk to Roman?"

She asked as she led Jaune past the floor never taking her eyes off of Blake as the faunus returned the favor. As Jaune noticed both of their hands had not left their weapons side as he hoped they would not come to blows.

"I need to introduce him to my friend Bl-

"Kiro. My name is Kiro Shade."

Blake said elbowing Jaune's ribs making him wince as she fixed Jaune a hard glare as Mil nodded.

"Sure it is Kiro. Well if Jaune thinks you are up to snuff why not? He and Ren are good for this job so if he vouches for you then I will too. Mel would also voice but she's snoring in an attempt to wake the dead. The reason why I am down here and not reading in my bed."

"How is Mel? How did the cops treat her?"

"About as well as you could expect. She was grilled so was I but they found nothing on us. Although Opal herself did come back here to ask about the time you blew up our stove with lighting dust. Thanks for not telling us that we had to blow up a stove by the way."

Mil said sarcastically as Jaune smiled apologetically at her.

"Sorry about that."

"You should be. We had to blow up ou stove for proof! You are paying us back for that you know? It's coming right out of your next check."

"Check? I'm still working here?"

"Of course you are! You are a employee of Juniors! And our best host! Besides Ren. We can't just let you slide! Mel would be furious with a cock to break and speaking of cock. Where's Ren? How is he doing?"

"He's fine. I think he's in class right now."

"Where you should be."

Blake. AKA Kiro said dryly as Mil sighed.

"When you can tell him to come back here will you? I need that tongue between my legs. I got addicted to him! Just like Mel did to you. But oh well here we are. Fair warning about Roman he's pissed. With a capital P."

Mil said as the three teens stood in front of a large black doot as the back of the club that Jaune could fell the hatred, Rage. Sorrow. And desperation from the other side as he nodded.

"Thanks. We can take it from here."

"If you say so. I'm pretty sure Roman won't kill his own apprentice but I don't know about your friend here."

She said eyeing Blake dryly as Blake blinked slowly at her.

"I can handle myself." Thank you very much."

"You say so. Don't get to hurt Jaune or Mel will be pissed!"

Mil said walked away swaying her hips in a way that glued Jaune's to her slim form and-

"Stop staring.'

Blake said smacking him on the back of his head making him grimace as he sighed before he opened the door to the room and stepped in.

It looked like a tornado had hit the room. The small wooden table was on its back ripped in half. The room was covered in broken glass, and splintered wood, burn marks stained the entirety of the interior and there where deep gouges in the dry concrete wall. And the smell of soot and cinder was rich and thick in the air.

Several small couches and beanbag chairs were torn up, and their insides ripped out for the room. And the room was full of the scent of burning ash. And at the center of it all was a panting sweating and knocked flat on his ass Roman Torchiwck. Groaning and grimacing as he laid flat on his ass with literal columns of smoke coming from his tux as he groveled on the ground.

"Roman?"

Jaune asked as he saw the panting sweat covered thief lying on the ground. One hand on his chest, hovering over a deep burn mark on his tuxedo the other clutching the immaculate white hat that he was gripping in a death clutch as his piercing green eyes locked on him.

"Arc? The hell-

Roman asked before his eyes shot to Blake as they widened in panic.

"Behind you!"

"It's the cat!"

Roman shouted leaping to his feet aiming his cane to Blake and-

"No! She's with me!"

Jaune said leaping in front of Blake rising his hands like a cross as Roman blinked owlishly at him not lowering his cane for a moment.

"With you? Arc you got something you want to run by your old pal?"

"I'm going to beat this kid to death! Or I swear he's going to be the death of me!"

Roman asked grimacing and grinding his teeth, seething as Jaune tossed his lasso at him.

"What the hell Jaune!? Why is the cat form the docs here!? Last time I checked, she was trying to kill me-

"She's our new recruit."

Jaune said as Roman's jaw dropped as he lowered his cane.

"New... recruit?"

"Monty shoot me."

Roman thoguht a Jaune nodded.

"She's here to join us. And I would like for you to meet her. Roman this is Blake. Blake Roman.'

Jaune said as Blake walked over to shake his hand.

"Call me Kiro. I'm ex, Fang."

Blake said as Roman tentatively held out a hand to her not quite believe what was happening.

"And why the hell do you think that being an ex-Fang member qualifies you to join us?"

Roman asked glaring at Blake who held his gaze as she redoubled her grip on his hand.

"I was Adam's second in command-

"Wait! You are that Kiro?! The one which Adam broke up with after she tried to shove a-

"Yes! That's me, and the past is the past! That's not why I am here!"

Blake said as her cheeks turned scarlet as Jaune sensed.

Pride. Lust. Anticipation.

In her, as Roman gulped. "Ok. So there is a damned pervert cat in my office. A rather bold apprentice who is getting too big for his britches! And little old me! Who has just had one of if not the most hostile work environments of the past century and is now in desperate need of a drink and a smoke!"

"Good thing we are already in a bar."

Jaune said dryly as Roman shook his head."Oh, no kid! I mean a real drink! And if Blake is so interested in joining us which I hope! She is, and this is not some kind of trick to get the cops busting down my damn door!-

"It's not. I want to help Jaune. If I have to work with you then so be it."

Blake said dryly as Roman sighed to himself.

"At least you are honest. Well! Kids let's take a walk with your uncle Roman! It's time you all met the family that keeps this wonderful illegal operation running smoothly!"

Roman said as he held out his hands as Blake frowned as she stood defensively next to Jaune as he grimaced.


Five minutes and a literal labyrinth of tunnels later. Roman, emerged in his actual warehouse. Were his original pre Cinder operations began. And where he made his best to see that they still lived on. As best as one man, two troubled teenagers a mute protector and a mad doctor could do anyways.

At least we try, Roman thought as he led the two students down through a secret back room door. Into a maddened labyrinth of covers and passages until they finally emerged in the bottom floor of a massive warehouse. That was at least three stores tall and seemed more like an apartment than anything else.

"Well! Here we are! Welcome to Casa De la Torchwick! Don't touch anything."Roman said dryly as Blake and Jaune walked inside. It was a looming interior, with over three rows of spiraling jet black catwalks. All connecting to rooms and doors that seemed to indicate this building was even more significant than it appeared and-

"Where are we?'

Blake asked as Roman led them into a long hallway inside the building.

"We! My kinky friend are at the base of operations! My home away from home if you will!"

"You need a base?"

Jaune asked marveling at the sheer size of the warehouse. Wondering where the hell it must have been. It was over three stores tall and had to be somewhere downtown-"Sure do my apprentice! Despite what it might seem I am not invincible! I did not build a criminal empire alone! It took time, dedication and persistence to do so! And this is the outcome!"

"A warehouse in the middle of Vale?"

Blake added in a humorless voice as Roman sighed.

"You know when you were with Adam he made it seem like you were fun to be around. And not so damn sarcastic. But yes! I have over the years grown a reputable number of ill reputable contacts! Who all work together with me to make this operation happen!"

Roman said as he led them past a door with a sizeable white S painted on it followed by a large stylized green hatchet. Printed on it, with what looked to be red mushrooms? Leaking out from it as the thumping sound of loud pop music followed by giggling feminine laughter flowed out from it.

"Is that-

"That's Smith's room. Don't go there. She only comes out when needed otherwise she stays inside."

Roman said pushing them along from the room as Jaune's feet squished the wet floor as the disturbing feminine laughter echoed behind them.

As Roman led them his chest was still smoldering from a burn mark and he winced in pain as he walked.

"Roman? Are you ok? You look like-

"Fine! Just fine Jaune! Why do you ask?"

"Becuase your chest is on fire."

Blake said dryly as Roman ignore her words as he turned around and Jaune tossed his lasso on him.

"Fine! I'm just peachy! Dandy as all hell! Not like I almost got burnt to a crisp because some kid does not know how to use his own damned semblance!"

"Now! For the next part of the tour, we will need to split for a bit!"He said as Blakes' hands shot to her weapon.

"Split? Why?"

"Simple! I need to talk to you alone kinky cat! And Jaune can meet the rest of the family by himself! That's not a problem! Is it?"

I-

"No. Blake it's fine. Roman, you are not going to do anything to her are you?"

"Nope! Besides, ask a few questions not a thing! You have my word!"

"I think I can use her! Yes! This can work! She's ex, Fang! She can get Neo and me out of this mess! I hope!"

Roman thought as Jaune nodded.

"Blake. It's ok."

"How do you-

"Blake. Trust me."

Jaune said as Blake grimaced once as she nodded.

"Ok, I do-

"Great! Now that that's settled! Jaune I sent directions to your scroll! Follow them to meet the rest of the family! I called them all ahead of time, so they are expecting you! And will most likely not kill you on sight! Have fun!"

He sais dryly as he and Blake walked away as Jaune looked at his school as he saw three large letters on it. A large brown, golden H. Folwledd by a large green Z and a glowing blue M. On it as he saw a GPS point him to the H first as he sighed

"You first H? Whoever you are?"

Jaune said aloud as he began to walk forward.


WHAP! THUD! CRACK! Jaune drew his hatchet and went low as the sounds of flesh striking flesh filled the air. As he slid firmly against a wall as he saw a massive brown H. Painted on a door as his scroll chimed to telling him that the sound of breaking flesh was coming behind the door with the large brown H painted on it as Jaune took a deep breath.

"Well, they expect time, so I guess I can go in?"

Jaune asked as he touched the door as it slid open-

KRACHT!

Jaune froze as he saw a massive bloody mass, came flying from the door as some large bloody and pink flew outside and exploded. Against the wall painting the formerly black hallway red as his jaw dropped as a sickly wet Crunch!

Filled the air as a broken, bloody mess crashed into the wall as he blinked owlishly as a bloody broken mess of flesh and bone as he turned his had toward the door where a pair of calm brown eyes awaited him.

A woman stood in the room covered in bright red blood as she panted slightly as her light brown eyes locked on Jaune blue ones. She was tall, very tall. Easily well over seven feet tall and dripping with sweat. She wore a pair of light brown shorts and a short white crop top that was stained bright red with fresh blood. As she held out two bloody bandaged wrapped hands, as she held out a fist to him.

She had light sun-kissed tan brown skin that covered her inhumanly muscled form. And when Jaune though inhumanly he meant it. This woman had muscles that made Yang who was already a muscle building goddess look like Ruby in comparison.

Her muscles, muscles, muscles had muscles. Her biceps looked larger than his head. And her leg muscles were literally more extensive than his legs. And looked thicker than most tree trunks. And despite her insanely muscled figure, she had a youthful look to her face and seemed to be bouncing off the balls of her feet as she smiled at him.

"You must be Jaune right?'

The woman asked letting her fists fall as she smiled a warm smile to him that beamed with genuine care as Jaune was forced to return it fully.

"Yeah, that's me I'm Jaune Ar-

"Jaune Vesperax. Nice to meet you."

Jaune said correcting himself in a moment and walking up to the tall woman with light brown eyes, short messy blonde hair. Covered in blood and with insanely massive biceps as she smiled at him and held out her hand.

"Hino. Hino Fang. Nice to meet you."

She said in a cool calm voice that put Jaune's heart to rest as he held her hand-AH!

Jaune thought as what had to be her light grip almost broke his hand as he grimaced internally as his semblance kicked in. "He's weak. Not mentally but he needs to get stronger."

Hino thought as she thankfully let go of Jaune's now bruised hand as she smiled as Jaune looked around the was an expansive room that looked to be one huge training area. Filled with dozens upon dozens of broken split apart sandbags. As destroyed punching bags, hung limply from their hooks like eviscerated copses as they stood next to the actual eviscerated corpses. Alongside them was a plain white cooler, with an archaic looking pearl fan attached to a long extension cord that was plugged in somewhere blowing a steady stream of air, with several multicolored Twizzlers flying off of it.

Below it was an odd black box? That had what looked to be twin speakers on it and one long silver antenna poking out as some type of music played from it. Next to the odd box was a simple plastic lawn chair with a cupholder planted next to it and everything was covered in blood.

Jaune winced as the smell of blood entered his nose as next to the punching bag were hung up cow carcasses. Most well beaten and hung up as punching targets for the girl.

"So you work for Roman too?"

"Sure do. I'm the muscle for the operation. If Roman needs someone non lethally squeezed. Or some just some extra muscle for sensitive business deals he calls me." She said a truly calm and comforting voice, that put Jaune's heart at ease as she rubbed Jaune's shoulder.

"You are too thin. You need some meat."

Hino thoguht as she walked back to a small plastic folding chair on the floor as she took deep a deep yawn once as she sat in it where an open Pep-Schnee waited for her as she took a swig and smiled easily at him. As her brown eyes sparkled and her mouth curled up into a smile.

"So Jaune. How do you know Roman? And what brings a hunstman in training of all things into the family?"

She asked in a calm voice as Jaune smiled back at her.

"I more or less said I'd join him if he saved my friends life. And he did so now I'm here! What about you?"

Jaune asked smiling warmly as he tossed a lasso on her.

"He looks a bit skinny but I can whip him into shape. I just wonder why the hell Roman's hell-bent on getting him onboard."

"I needed a job. And I like to punch stuff, so its a win-win for me. But what about you? You said you got in for your friend's life how long do you plan on working for him?"

"How long? Till he tells me to stop."

"Oh."

"Oh? What does Oh mean?"

"It means that Roman tends to hang on to things. And if you didn't join him willingly? Then I doubt that you are going to get out of this family while you got a single breath left in your chest."

Hino said sadly taking another drink from her soda before reaching into her cooler and tossing Jaune one.

"Catch."

She said as she tossed Jaune a can as he caught it in one hand.

"Take some of your edge off and calm down. Since Roman has you making the rounds the next one of us your next friend is my partner. You should take this with you."

She said once again reaching into her cooler and pulling out a jacket? Of some type, as she pulled out what looked to be a bulletproof vest from the cooler.

"The hell is that?"

Jaune asked drinking the soda only to cry out in pain as he grimaced as the carbonated liquid felt like battery acid on his gums as he forced it down his throat.

"This. Is something that just might save your life. My partners a bit jumpy if they get surprised so be careful ok?'

Hino asked passing Jaune what looked like a heavy kevlar vest as he blinked owlishly at her.

"But Roman called. He said that he told you all I was coming."

"Really? Well, let's just say I highly doubt he talked to him. So take this, you are no good to us dead."

Hino said handing him the vest as Jaune frowned.

"Why do I need a bulletproof vest?"

"You'll see."

She said as Jaune slowly put on the vest as he frowned.

"So I guess I'll see you later?"

"Bet your life on it. Your part of the family now Jaune. Whether you like it or not."

Hino said in a darker voice relaxing back in her chair as Jaune left the room as her thoughts came to his mind.

"Here's to seeing you again Jaune Vesperax. I hope my partner doesn't blow your head off too soon."

Hino thought calmly as Jaune gulped and left the room.


The next room down several doors down the hall was a similar framed black door with a large green Z. It was last was five doors down with loud metal music blaring from it as Jaune knocked on the door.

THUD! THUD!

"Hello? Hello! Is someone there?"

Jaune asked as his voice was drowned out by loud blasting metal deafened his shouts as he's sighed.

"I'm coming in!" Jaune said as he touched the door as it slid open as blaring music reached his ears and-

BANG!

"GA!"

Jaune coughed and cried out as a bullet slammed into his chest with the force of a freight train. Knocking him off his feet and slamming him to the floor. Knocking the breath from his lungs and making his eyes bulge out of his head. As he was shot in his chest.

"Who the fuck!?"

A loud voice yelled as Jaune gasped as he felt like a freight train had hit him as his hands flew to where the bullet slammed into his chest as the blurring incoherent music filled his ears.

"Who in the actual fuck! Said that you could come into my room!?"

An angry masculine voice said as Jaune gasped in pain as smoking whit reside came up from his destroyed vest as he saw a pair of jet-black eyes, on a ghostly pale face looking down at him.

"AH! You shot me!"

Jaune shouted as the boy with black hair and ghostly pale asked glared down at him.

"No shit I shot you! You came into my room unannounced! The fuck does some shit like that?"

The shooter a boy said as he frowned to Jaune. As the boy was almost no older than Jaune with jet black hair and eyes. A light jumps suit of green armor and a smoking silver pistol in hand.

"Who the hell are you blondie? I mean you are in here-

"Wait! You Jaune?"

The boy asked holding his silver smoking pistol to Jaune's head as he gulped."Yes-

"Then why didn't you say so!? Dumb shit I could have killed you!"

The boy said offering Jaune a hand helping him up as Jaune ripped off his vest glaring daggers the one who had just shot him. He was a boy about his age maybe two years older. With smooth black hair, void-black eyes that reminded Jaune of a doll's and ghostly pale skin. Dressed in light green armor with a silver pistol in hand.

"You shot me!"

"You didn't shoot me!"

"What?"

"I shot you, and you didn't shoot back!? You have a damned sawed off on your leg! Why didn't you return fire?"

The boy asked as Jaune blinked at him owlishly.

"You wanted me to shoot you?"

"Duh! I shot you so you shoot me! Sweet fucking Monty! If this is how you act I can't help but cry at what you will be like when we really start shooting!" "Why the hell did you shoot me?!"

"You came into my room!"

"Do you shoot anyone who comes into your room!?"

"Without knocking? Yes!"

The boy said as Jaune balked at him.

"I did knock!"

"You need to knock louder!"

"You need to not shoot anyone who just comes inside!"

"You need to stop whining!"

The boy asked as Jaune grimaced as the rude boy stared down pityingly at him. Biting down his emotion as he tried to be a diplomat.

"Jaune-"Jaune Arc! I know who the hell you are! Roman called you in, sorry about shooting you, I can get a bit jumpy sometimes. Names Zach and just between us guys you look like hot shit."


"So Blake! Let's-

"Drop the act, Roman. What do you want from me?

Blake said sitting on a wooden table in an off the path room of the warehouse as Roman lit his cigar. "To the point! You were just like me when I was your age!"

"Excuse me if I find it hard to believe I was ever like you. Not even I wear that much eyeliner."

Blake said dryly as Roman mocked an injury waving his arms out like he was shot.

"I am stricken! You wound me-

"Drop it. You said you wanted to talk to me so what did you want to talk to me alone about?"

"Simple. I need your help, and I think you can use mine."

Roman said his facade dropping in a moment as Blake held his emerald glare.

"And that would be?"

"Simple. I want out."

"Out? Out of what?"

"The game kid! I want out of this game! I'm in a bit too deep and my boss has me by the balls. I need to get out, and Jaune is my ticket out!"

"And what about the kid? Are you going to sell him out just to get out?"

"What? NO! I can't let a damn hair get out of place on him! Do you know what will happen to me if something happens to him? I'm going to be grilled!"

Roman claimed as Blake glared at him.

"So what do you have in mind? I am assuming you do have a plan. Correct?"

"Oh, I have a plan kinky cat-

"Why are you calling me that?"

"Adam has a big mouth," Roman said smirking as Blake's face turned scarlet quickly looking away from him.

"Oum dammit Adam! It was just a finger-

"From what Adam said it was not just a finger that you tired to pus-

"What is the plan! And don't talk about me."

She said flushing brightly as Roman rubbed his temple."Youth!"

He said dramatically as he reached into his pocket retrieving a small mirror that doubled as a mini scroll as he used a sole finger to text Neo-

"It's wasted on them."

His reflection said back as he grinned.

"The plan is like this. I need out. And I can't let the kid die, so here is what we meaning me and you are going to do!" The man said as Blake sighed rolling her eyes wonder what the hell Jaune had to do to get involved with Roman in the beginning.


"Assassin! When a woman needs to die I'm your guy! Hey, that was a rhyme."Zack said happily as the boy sat on a large brown cargo box as Jaune sat on another similar sized and colored one as the rested in his room.

Or calling it a room was a bit of an understatement. This place was almost a quarter the size of the Beacon rest area. And over ten times bigger than his office. Containing one simple mattress, with a single blanket on it. One night stand with a simple lamp. And a plethora of massive brown cargo boxes littered throughout it.

And guns. Lot's, and lots of guns. The entire room's space that was not covered in brown boxes the single mattress or the small monitor screen propped up by said couch was full of guns. The entire room was a literal holy grail of high tech long ranged firepower. And Jaune knew if Ruby could step foot in here she would have a stroke and faint.

As the walls were filled to the brim with pistols, assault rifles. Shotguns. Sniper rifles, submachine guns. Heavy machine guns, rocket launchers and about almost every ranged weapon Jaune could think of. Along with huge racks of small black balls and tubes that Jaune could tell were all some type of explosives as they were all color coded. Along with massive amounts of ammunition all meticulously organize beneath them. With color-coded labels as Jaune talked to the assassin.

"So! It's like I was saying! If you can take a woman out from three miles away. And if you can drop them without ever letting them even know you exist! Why not do it?" The boy asked taking a swig from a small flask as Jaune nodded.

"I see your point but I just don't have a sniper."

Jaune said as the boy gaked.

"What?! You need to get you one! I can call a guy right now! We'll get you the best long Las you can dream of! You can drop a Deathstalker two miles out! No fuss no muss! Guaranteed!" Zach said passionately waving his silver pistol and taking a swig from his flask as Jaune smiled at him.

"That sounds efficient."

'Bet your pale ass it is blondie, I never got why women were so intent on fighting with swords and spears! I mean come on! We are in the damned twenty-fourth century! There is no and I mean no reason that you don't get a walking arsenal under your damn shirt! And then they start combining guns and swords!? Ridiculous!"

"My best friend uses a sniper scythe."

"I can fell physics rolling in its damned tomb!"

Zach said taking another swig at Jaune before frowning.

"Blondie Roman said he gave you a gauss rifle and pistol right?"

"Yeah. He has them here, why?"

"Did he give you any ammo for them?"

"Yeah. He gave me a couple hundred rounds, for the gauss rifle."

"Really? What type of ammo?"

Zach asked inquisitively as Jaune blinked."Basic?"

"Basic!?"

"Yes?"

"What the hell man! Why didn't he give you the good stuff!"

"The good stuff? What is the good stuff?"

"The good stuff kid! I mean incendiary rounds! Armor piercing! Electric shells! Freeze pellets! Pulse shells! Where is the good stuff!?"

Zach demanded as Jaune cocked his head.

"You have that-

"Have it?! Kid, I make it! I can't believe this! Roman should have know better! Now I have to step in!" Zach said grumbling standing up from his box as Jaune blinked owlishly at him.

"And do what?"

"And help you! I mean sweet Monty! You might not be the sharpest kid and I've seen people with cerebral palsy move faster than your ass. But you are a man! And I can't let me fellow man walk out like this!"

"Like what?"

"Naked! You need bullets! Good bullets and you need them now! And not those damn basic shits either! Those won't put a dent in a real enemy better yet a Grimm. Now come here let's see what I can get you before you meet the doctor."

Zach said as he walked over to a large brown box as Jaune got off his box and walked over to him.

"The doctor?"

"Yeah, the doctor. He's a bit of an oddball but he will save your ass. Trust me on that, the man's a medical wizard. he might have some strange habits but he's defiantly someone you want to stay on thier good side. But until then! Let's see what we are working with. Let's see we have some AR's. AP's Electric, kid! What do you fight most? Humans, robots or Grimm?'

Zach asked as he rummaged through the box taking our several large black ammo magazines as Jaune scratched his chin."Usually Grimm. But as of late there has been more human and robotic enemies. And I think that number is only going to get bigger."Jaune said grimacing as Zach snapped his hands.

"Got it! I'll give you six mags of anti-armor. Ten incendiaries, a few electric rounds and two magazines of freeze pellets. That should set you straight. Until I can get you some really good stuff."

Zach said leaning out of the box with a variety of color-coded magazines in hand."Now. Let's see about getting you some new toys." Zach said as he held out the magazines to Jaune as he grinned.


"Here it is."Jaune said looking inform of a large door called infirmary. Written in bright bold red letters. As he stood in front of the door. His arms were heavily laden with several large burlap sacks all containing over four hundred rounds of ammunition ranging from armor piercing, to freeze pellets to incendiary rounds and a myriad of other fantastical ways of horribly murdering a woman, man, Grimm or any unlucky SOB that got in your way from a nice long safe distance.

He was also carrying since Zach was in as he put it in a good mood. Over three dozen explosive devices ranging from basic fragmentation grenades. To custom Melta charges, shock bombs, void charges and even highly illegal and banned in all kingdoms ion detonators. Making him a literal walking time bomb as he knocked on the door.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Come in!"

An actually happy voice said as Jaune opened the door to be almost blinded by white light. As he walked into the room or infamy it was similar to what he was expecting. A massive room full of long sterile whit floors, A large number of medical costs. Blaring with painful florescent white light and piles upon piles of grey filing cabinets. As Jaune saw a blue blur move behind them

"Hello? Is anyone here?'

He asked as a young voice shouted back at him.

"Yes! Yes! Over here! Please! Come in!"

A happy masculine voice said as the sound of movement shot through the room as-

BAM!

The sound of metal slamming into flesh filled the air as Jaune saw a massive filling cabinet rock and shake under a sudden impact as it began to tetter dangerously tipping to an fro.

"Oh no, no, no, no! nO!NO! NO!"

A voice said as a loud THUD!

Filled the air as the cabinet crashed down in loud whap! As Jaune winced as a man cried out.

"I'm ok! Kind of...

"Are you ok?"

Jaune asked as he walked past the maze of file cabinets to the center of the crash as Jaune saw a man pull himself out from under the fallen cabinet.

He was a strikingly young man. As Jaune was sure he was no more than one at most one year older than him. Making him no more than twenty. As the man moaned out loud as he crawled out from the fallen file cabinet. As a man with bright teal hair, dressed in a pure white medical uniform pulled himself out of the cabinet. Covered in pockets, pens and a long silver stethoscope stepped up to face him Jaune noticed two off things about him.

For one he was a faunus. He had bright blue cat ears on his head and-

"A tail?'

His reflection asked in his shield as he saw that the man had two faunus features instead of one. As he saw a long blue cat tail hanging lazily on his back as he yawned once. "Sorry about that! I can get rather clumsy sometimes! But enough about me! I am assuming you are Jaune yes?' The man with light pale skin, piercing blue eyes, and a calm smile said as Jaune nodded and reached out his hand.

"Yeah, that's me. Jaune Vesperax."

Jaune said shaking his hands as the man nodded to him. His teal cat ears perking up in interest as his blue tail swished happily.

"My name is James! James Tiberius Malroque! You can call me Doctor Malroque! Pleased to meet you!"

The man said as he smiled.


"So you want to cut and run?'

"That's the long short of if yeah."

"I was expecting something more... grand."

Blake said as Roman sighed.

"Simple plans are often the best.'

"I see. Fewer chances of failure right?"

"Exactly! The more parts of a plan the easier it is to screw it up, with this even Jaune won't mess this up and with your help? We have a good shot at making this thing work."Roman said as Blake nodded.

"Don't say that. You might just give us bad luck.'

"Bad luck? Kinky cat! I thought you were above such silly things like superstition!"

"Don't call me that. I am not a Kink cat. I'm just as human as you."

"Never called your humanity into question! Kinky cat I was just stat that according to some individuals who will not be named! You do tend to delve into the more... unique arts of boot-knocking!"

"You really do talk too much. How often do we have to meet, and why are we not telling Jaune this?" Blake asked in an irritated voice as Roman took a long exasperated drag from his cigar.

"Becuase Jaune! The lovely apprentice that he is has one helluva target on his back! And let's just say that if a certain person in my life. With a short fuse and hot hands gets her hooks in him and if he knows anything! Anything at all! We are screwed." Roman said as Blake nodded.

"I see. And what are we to do until then? What do I say we talked about?'

"Tell him I gave you a job!"

"A job...

"Yes! You heard me from now on you are now the newest muscle at Juniors club-

"No."

"Come on! You haven't even tried it!"

"Not gonna happen."

"We have flyers! And you get free drinks-

"I'm not a bouncer Roman. I-

"You can interrupt Fang movements. Not that I'm saying you should! But being so close to so many illegal activites. I'm sure your special ears can pick up on something useful for you on the side. So what do you say? We got a deal?'

Roman asked as Blake glared at him.


"Your body has been harmed but it is not severe. I can not accelerate your healing without arising suspicion, so I'm sorry about that."

"Figures. What else?'

"What else? You are twenty pounds underweight. Your body is in a state of continual shock from a steady lack of nutrients, built up over a number of years of malnutrition. As of right now, the lack of food has stunted your growth and I do not know if you can recover from it. I am sorry."

"Should have seen that one coming. Any advice doc?'

Jaune asked sitting on the metal examination table grimacing as Malroque put a metal stethoscope to his chest. Wincing as the cool metal kissed his flesh as the doctor grimaced."You need to intake more protein. Simple as that."

The doctor said reading over a pale clipboard as he fiddled in his pockets as he read Jaune his medical report.

"Your body will heal in two weeks, assuming! That you do not gain any more life threating wounds you will heal nicely."

The man said before fianlly reaching his goal of pulling out a small red white box from his pocket. With the name Vacuo Slims! Written on it as he opened the box of cigarettes and popped on in his mouth. Taking a moment to pull out a small silver lighter lighting the cigarette with his tail and taking a deep inhale. Of the cigarette letting out a content sigh as he blew a cloud of white smoke in Jaune's face.

"Also! Lay off the junk food. You are eating too much pizza and chicken nuggets as is. Cut that out it's not healthy for you."


"So! Now that we are all introduced and are one big happy family! Are there any questions that need to be answered? Or can I actually go to bed early for once in my damn life." Roman asked puffing a cigar as Neo walked around him bobbing her head enigmatically twirling her parasol and giving Jaune bedroom eyes. Making the boy blush as Blake stood in front of him protectively.

As she held the mute's eyes as she stuck out her tongue at her."Neo quit it."Roman said as she harumphed! Silently putting her tongue back in her mouth as Roman sighed.

"Sure do! When the hell am I going to be able to actually kill something? I haven't shot a person in a week and I'm bored."

Zach complained sitting on the back of a wall flicking his pistol in his hands as Roman sighed."You are not going to kill until I tell you to! Now! Since you have all met our newest members Jaune Vesperax... And Kiro Shade... god damned Mistral cartoons and their damned influences, putting tentacles on Saturday mornings! Corrupting our youth I say!"

Roman shouted making Blake flush as Jaune and Zach raised a confused eyebrow at him as he continued.

"Now let me explain our plan."Roman said taking another long puff of his cigar as he sighed."Vytal! In just over three weeks Vytal will be arriving in Vale! Jaune!"

"Yes?"

"You will be winning this tournament. Period. You are going to win that damn thing and we are going to help you."Roman said pointing at Hino and Zach with his cane."Hino! Zach! Neo! You three along with myself are responsible for training this little shit into something resembling a damned fighter."

"Train him? You want us to train him?'

Hino asked in her calm nurturing voice as-

"The fuck!? I already gave him bullets! Why do I get to spend my valuable time with him?'

"Becuase I said so one! Two! If Jaune does not win Vytal? We are all dead! So stop complaining and listen up. Hino."

"Yes?"

"Put this kid through his paces. It's your job to make him go from a damned twig to some real muscles on him. So you make sure he can take and give a damned punch. Make this kid strong."

"I'll draw up some weight plans."

She said plainly as Roman nodded.

"Zach! You teach the kid to shoot-

"I know how to fire a gun, Roman-

"No! No, you do not! You know how to pull a trigger and get lucky! Zach will teach you to make love to a weapon! Won't you Zach?"

"I guess... Just don't expect me to do it for free! I want double!"

The boy demanded as Roman rubbed his head sighing heavily.

"Dammit. Fine! Neo round him out, you get to teach him how to actually fight teach him to use his head and make damn sure he knows how to improvise. Make him street smart."

He said as she nodded and began to sign."What? Sure you can fuck him when you feel like it."

"Hey! I-

"Do you not want to have sex with Neo Jaune?"

Roman asked as Neo cocked her head at him and licked her lips.'No... I do...

"Great! And Kiro...

"Yes?"

"You know what we talked about. You have your job."

"I got it."Blake said as Roman clapped his hands."Ok! Now break! We all know our jobs and let's get to work!" The man said as-

"What a-

"You doc! You get to keep us all alive during this hell hole. Can you do that?'

"Yes sir."' The faunus answered swiftly as Roman nodded.

"Good! Now every get out! I'm going home and I suggest you leave to your rooms. You don't have to go to your quarters but don't stay here now let's go!" Roman said as the group dissipated and-

"Jaune! A word!" The doctor Malroque said as he ran up to Jaune as he nodded."Yeah? Malroque what's up?'

"I'm sorry about your teeth! I do wish that I could fix them and I can! But surgery and all. It would arouse suspicion but! To make up for it! Here have this!" The man said as he tail fished out a white red box form his medical garb as Jaune blinked owlishly at him.

"You want me to have your cigarettes?"

"Yes! They will help take your stress off! You do know that stress is a killer right?" The man asked as Jaune took the smokes along with a silver lighter with a crimson red human skull on it as the man smiled at him.


"Well, that was eye-opening," Blake said as she and Jaune left out the front door of Juniors. After leaving that damn labyrinth of tunnels emerging in Juniors once more before Mil gave Blaker her and Jaune's work schedule before leading them to the front door and seeing them off. As Milita bid goodbye to her two new coworkers as Blake's eyes after given the new work schedule to her fellow bouncer.

"Sure was."

The human boy said as he eyed his new box of cigarettes as Blake grimaced.

"Do you even smoke?"

Blake asked dryly as Jaune shrugged.

"Not really. But I have before and it's not that bad."

Jaune said as he put his cigarette box in his pocket as Blake sighed. Her mother would never allow her father to smoke. But then that was her mother. And Kali was a strong traditionalist in that matter. Although Blake did wonder what would happen if her dad did try to smoke. She was unsure what her mom would do to enforce her will on him and-

"Here. Allow me."

Blake said taking Jaune's burlap sacks from him as he blinked in confusion.

"Thanks? Why are you holding my ammo?"

"Besides the fact that half of it is illegal? It looks better if the girl carries all the guns. It's less suspicious that way. Less likely for the cops to stop us."

Blake said as Jaune nodded.

"Makes sense."

The human said handing her his bags as the two walked in a comfortable silence under the night sky.

"So what do you think Jaune? You think we can trust Roman?"

Blake asked as Jaune sighed as the began to walk into Vale."Do we have a choice?"

"Do we? I know he's a damn thief but do you think he will betray us?"

"I... I don't know who to trust Blake. I'm still trying to figure out what I want. I mean it's been a helluva week. I lost everything this week Blake. I lost my entire life's purpose. My family and most of my real ambitions and I'm kind of aimless. I don't know what I want less so if I even want to stay here, not that I have much choice. Maybe I should just fall in front of a bus huh?"

Jaune said as Blake saw the human freeze going stiff as a board as tears began to fall from his face and-"Hey. Don't say that. You don't mean that."Blake said holding the human's hand gripping his smaller hand with hers. As she gave him a small smile.

"I... how can you say that? I lost my life, Blake, I lost everything-"But did you?"The faunus asked as her amber eyes began to shine."Did I? Blake I-"Your sister. Bleu right? She said that beating you was a gift and that Bleu said she was helping you?'

"Yes, she-"I agree. Jaune Bleu said she gave you a gift. And she delivered"Blake said as Jaune's face gained an incredulous look and-

"How can you say that! I-

"Jaune think about this. Why are you here? Why are you in Beacon?' Blake asked as Jaune paused.

"I came here to prove my family wrong."

Jaune said glaring at the faunus as she nodded to him.

"Right! You came here to prove yourself! You came here to be better!"

"Right...

"And now you can be better! Jaune! Don't' you see, Bleu might have done it a wrong way but she has saved you!"

"Blake how-"Jaune. Until today you where an Arc. You had rules, a family a strict moral code to adhere to. What you could and could not do was decided by an archaic and byzantine set of laws but now? Jaune, as a Vesperax? You are free."

Blake said as a confused look spread on Jaune's face as she smiled calmly at him. Placing both hands on his shoulders as she gripped him.

"You can do whatever you want! No more codes, no more laws! The only onto tell you what to do is you! For the first time, you get a choice as to what you want! You get to ask your self what does Jaune Vesperax want?'

She asked as Jaune froze.

"I...

The human's eyes began shaking as Blake smiled.

"So what does Jaune Vesperax want?"

Blake asked giving a faint smile to the human as his cerulean eyes began to shine.

"I... I want to help people.'

"That's fine! But let me ask you this. You wanted to help people when you were an Arc correct?"

"Yes. That was why I left my home. Not just to prove the family wrong I needed to help people."

"Now let me ask you something. Back then, when you made your choice to help people, did you to that because you were an Arc, or because you are a good person?"

"I..."Do you really need to be an Arc to still want to help people? Did you name make you want to be better? Did it make you help me at the docs? Did being an Arc make you take that shot for Ruby? Did it make you risk your dream! To save Ren's life? Was that because you were an Arc or because you were just a good person? And your name was just a bonus?"

"I... I did that because I wanted to."

"Exactly! You don't need to be an Arc to be a hunter Jaune! You don't need your name to be great! You can be great in spite of it! And now you have the opportunity and the time to become great!"

"But... but what about my family-

"Honestly? Fuck them.' Blake said bluntly as Jaune recoiled rapidly.

"Blake!? That's my family-

"I know. And if they don't want anything to do with you then they are not any family worth knowing. You don't need the approval of people who don't want to be in the same room as you let alone want you in thier name. You are Jaune Vesperax! You don't need anyone's approval to be you. To be happy."

Blake said as she saw a flash of emotions run across the humans face. Ranign form hatred, to sorrow, to sadness to realization. As in the end, it began to dawn on him."I'm free...

"Yes, you are. You don't have to do anything for anyone. Jaune you can live your life how you want to live it. And that's what matters."Blake said calmly as Jaune let a tear fall on his face.

"But... but what do I do now?"

"I don't know. What do you want to do?'"I... I want to save people."

"Then do it."

"But I'm alone-

"No. No, you are not. You have me. And I'm not going anywhere."Blake said smiling at the human as she felt it. Something was there. On that empty Vale street. On that warm starry night, a bond that was already well established between the two grew twice in size. As Jaune smiled warmly at Blake as he nodded his head to his comrade.

"Thanks, Blake. I needed that.'

Jaune said tilting his head to hide the light blush on his cheeks as Blake smiled."Anytime. Now lets-EROW!A loud growling noise came from Jaune as his stomach growled louder than a Beowulf as he blushed.

"I haven't eaten in two days...

"I see. Fine! I can take you out to dinner. I might as well eat too."

Blake said as Jaune smiled at her as she took his hand.

"Come on. Let's go eat."

Blake said as she lead Jaune into the night.


Well dinner might have been a strong word as the moment Jaune took a bite out of his hamburger he cried out in agony. As he bled all over the food Blake reached over to him opening his mouth despite his protest seeing the inside of his mouth and gasping."Your teeth?!"

Blake gasped as Jaune blushed before telling her the story of how Bleu knocked most of them out of his that Blake felt herself get a rare sense of righteous anger in defending a human as she paid for the meal despite Jaune insisting that he pay at least half. A deal Blake refused as she was the woman. And not even she was that socially awkward to let a guy pay for dinner.

Even if it would have been practical to let Jaune pay for it. Mainly because he had more money then well anyone with the exception of Weiss on hand as Blake dragged him off. Apparently, the doctor Malroque refused to do surgery on Jaune as the implants would then be needed to be explained. And that was a complication Roman did not need. As she dragged Jaune all the way to Beacon Blake was angry.

No furious. Blake was no stranger to brutality far from it in fact. Be it human faunus, man woman. She knew that gender or race held no intrinsic value to how a person behaved. But this? Beating your younger brother senseless, knocking his teeth out of his jaw and leaving him to bleed out on the floor alone? That was not right. To make it worse it was to someone Blake thought of as a friend a true comrade who had risked his life for her. As ever since that night Blake found herself developing a strange need to protect Jaune. And the thought of someone let alone him getting brutally attacked made her seethe.

Especially to a guy! Even if Blake was a progressive the thoguht of doing that to a man made her teeth grind as she thought of her own father and shuddered as a cold hand of dread worked it's way up her spine at the thought of what her mother would do if someone so much as breathed in his general direction let alone made eye contact with him.

Kali Belladonna had not earned her spot as chief of Menagerie and the only wife of her father by being a nice woman, quite the opposite actually. And she made it very apparent what would happen if any other woman on Menagerie came within a ten-foot radius of her husband that was not a house guard. And while she was known for being a generous, kind and loving mother. But a forgiving one? No way an-

"Blake. We are here."

Jaune said as they stood in front of team JNPR's dorm as Blake blinked owlishly. She had lost track of time leading Jaune back home. And now they were in front of JNPR with their hands still intertwined as Blake felt no need to break thier connection. In fact, she wanted to strengthen it.

She always thought Jaune was cute even for a boy. If you looked past the horrible scarring on his face, depressive attitude and complete lack of a self-preservation instinct he was an attractive boy. And if he was going to come with her next year they needed to establish a relationship. To an extent and-

"So. Is this where you ask for a kiss?" Jaune asked smiling as Blake froze her brain grinding to a halt.

"What? Kiss?"

"At the end of a date isn't it the girl who asks for a kiss?"

Jaune said as Blake's cheeks turned scarlet.

"You don't have to! And it wasn't a date and-

"Blake. You are blushing you know?"

"And!? I blush when a cute guy asks me to kiss! So sue me!"

"And!? I'm not used to boys asking me to kiss and-

"But you were willing to ask me to be your stress relief?"

Panic.

"You can still say no! I don't want to force you to do anything really! Just say no and there will be no hard feelings and-

Soft. Blake thought as Jaune pressed his lips to hers as her mind went blank.

"Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it." Jaune said as he felt Blake intertwin her fingers in his as she gave a genuine smile.

"Any time. You are my friend and I won't let you do this alone. Now, how about we say hi to your team huh?"

Blake said as Jaune opened his mouth as she stole the move. In a second, she pressed her lips to his. Making his eyes flutter in surprise as Blake cradled his head in one hand forcing him to the wall. Spreading his legs with her knee. Making him moan into her tongue as she ran her rough tongue into his mouth. "Blake?! What are you-

"That was for surprising me. Just so we are clear I'm going to be worse in heat so be warned. If you want to back out now's the chance. When I'm actually in my cycle I probably won't be listening to words like no or I don't want. K?'

The enigmatic faunus said dragging a clawed hand on his cheek gripping the front of his blonde hair as Jauen let out a sharp moan. That made Blake freeze as she knew what that moan meant. She had pulled more than one boy's hair in her life and that was the exact same moan Adam gave of when Blake punched his button. And seeing Jaune moan out that lit a fire in her as she licked her lips.

"Oh? I thoguht it was a myth that boys like having thier hair pulled?'

Blake asked giving Jaune an evil grin as he blushed.

"So what!? I like having my hair pulled. Sue me!"

Jaune whined as Blake gave him a knowing smirk.

"Way to conform to gender stereotypes."

Blake said smugly as she licked his cheek making his body go stiff as a board.

"The things I'm going to do to you. My cycle is almost here and now that I know you like it rough? I hope Oum pitties you because I won't."

Blake thoguht running her fangs on the boy's neck making him moan and gaps as his hands shot up to her side.

Jaune froze as her rough tongue licked his neck making him gasp as her tongue was rough and jagged almost like a cat an-

"Hey! if you keep this up we might end up getting to third base in the hallway! Do you want that?"

"Sure. I'm a bit of an exhibitionist if I do say so my self. But do you want that?"

Blakes asked as Jaune smirked at her.

"Blake, don't you know? A Vesperax never backs down from a challenge!"

"Then this should be fun."

She said smiling as she gripped his hand tightly and-

"Oh, that's right."

Jaune said as he paused once as Blake blinked at him.

"What's right?"

"My birthday. It will be my birthday in two days."

"Then I will have to get you something special for it then."

Blak said smoothly as Jaune opened the JNPR dorm and-

Well, There goes my sleep.

Blake thoguht dryly. As she saw the sight in front of them as any hope of a peaceful night died in a fire.


As Blake looked ahead of herself she let out a sigh as she knew she was in for a long night. For one the entire of her team was in the room looking like someone had died. Ruby was at the window dialing a scroll, Yang was fuming her eyes glowing as she put several holes in the JNPR wall. Weiss was on her scroll with someone sound pissed off and that was one a half of the other side team of JNPR. Nora was trying and failing to calm down a seething Pyrrha whose hands glowed black? As she growled into her own hands as Ren tried to serve them tea.

In the center of the room stood Opal and Glynda, next to a woman that looked suspiciously like Coco and-"Jaune's back! And he brought Blake too!"

Ren said finally happy to relieve some pressure as all eyes snapped to Jaune and-

"Jaune!"

Pyrrha found him first rocketing to him at a speed that would put Ruby to shame as he smiled happily at her."Pyr! How are-Jaune never finished that sentence as his partner ripped off!? His shirt tearing apart his designer custom uniform exposing his chest as he blushed."Pyrrha!? What are-

"Oh, my Oum! Your chest! What did she do to you!?" Pyrrha asked as her hands shot forward, as her face twist in fear as she saw his roughly stitched up wounds as he winced in pain as she gripped his arms and began to shake him.

"Pyrrha! Stop shaking me!"

Jaune said as the girl fell into hysterics, panicking shooting off a hundred questions a minute as his arms began to hurt and-

"Back off."

Blake said forcing the Spartan away from him as she stepped in protectively in front of Jaune amber eyes glaring hard at Pyrrha who looked at her in shock before her hands began to glow.

"He is my partner and-"

Police! Out of the way! Police investigator coming through!"

Sera said forcing both girls away as she walked up to Jaune scroll held up. "Sera? What are-

FISHT!

She snapped a picture of his chest.

"Sera-

"Photos for evidence. Assult with a deadly weapon. The beating of an unarmed civilian. Battery. Attempted murder. Assault with an illegal weapon. Torture, and Menacing all added to the charges against Bleu Arc. I'll have an APB out as soon as I can." Sera said as-

"Mister Arc. You will tell me exactly what happened today and the day of your attack. Leave nothing out."

Opal said sipping her mug with a glare as Jaune sighed and began to tell his story. It did not go very well. His team took the news the worst, with the exception of Ren they all looked somewhere between worried and murderous.

As Nora and Pyrrha looked ready to stab someone and break a pair of legs respectively. Yang's eyes practically bled fire and Weiss had called several unknown authority figures as Yang and Pyrrha both sword that if the saw her saying they would kill Bleu the next time they saw her. Or more likely they would try and die horribly in the process.

Say what you want about Bleu call her cruel, callous, or a monster Bleu was inhumanly, unreasonably and unnaturally strong. Even if Cailin was her physical superior Bleu was leagues above any of his friends. What she lacked in physical strength she more than made up with speed and precision. Along with a plethora of ranged and melee weapons all horribly lethal and painful with a preternatural sense of self-preservation and-

"Is that your full report?"

Sear asked grimacing as she took her final photo of the grisly scarred chest of Jaune Arc. Well, Jaune Vesperax as she saw the messy jigsaw stitched wounds in his torso. That started in his front and sent all the way to his back. Barely missing his spine and lungs.

As she saw the messy exit wound. For some reason, Jaune did not tell anyone about his attack and now it was far worse. As she saw the growing brown black and purple welts on his stomach and chest. Taking careful phots of it noticing how the bruises were all put in the spots that were hard to see.

Chest, sides, stomach. All rarely exposed area and less than likely to draw suspicion. She planned this. Sick bitch. Sera thought as she went to the worst part of Jaune. His mouth. When she saw his broken mouth and missing teeth she grimaced as his partner actually needed to be held back. As his mouth was missing a full quarter of its teeth. A nasty factor that has also led to several infections in his gumline.

It looked like he had tried to eat and some food got stuck in his gums and now there was a messy green brown infection growing in his gums.

"You will need several antibiotics and a lot of rest. For some reason, your aura is not healing you-

'Why not?!" His partner shouted rear in her eyes as the ginger girl held her back as the silver eyes and the amber girl stood by his side. The amber eyes a faunus in hiding held his left had protectively almost like a girlfriend or elder sister. While silver eyes held his arm in both of her looking like he was going to disappear in-

"Oh, it's her gauntlets. That's why I can't heal."Jaune said as Sera blinked owlishly at him.

"Her gauntlets? How does that work?'

"She has custom made gauntlets that when you get hit by them they will disrupt your aura field. I won't help right form this. I -

"Assault with an unknown weapon. Added to her charges. I'll need to take you into the station for a full report but that can wait till the morning. You need to see a doctor."

"I concur," Opal said as she walked in front of a positively livid Glynda who looked to be close to break her crop in her hand as the woman put a comforting hand on Jaune's shoulder.

"Mister, Jaune. I know you have gone through quite the ordeal and I apologize for it intensively. Now I know you have had a bad few days so how about you take a nap-

"I'm fine. I'll take the police report tonight."

Jaune said with a wide smile as Opal paused."Mister Arc-

"Vesperax. My name is Jaune Vesperax now. I'm not an Arc. Not anymore.'The boy said smiling broadly as Opal balked, as she and everyone else in the room were more disturbed by the fact that in spite of Jaune wounds he looked happy? As in the boy was beaming with joy. He had a smile plastered on his face that lit up the room And despite his horrendous injuries he was happy.

"Jaune. Yo are injured-

"I'm fine Pyr. In fact, I feel better than ever!"

Jaune said smiling widely as Opal blinked owlishly at him.

"Jaune are your feeling ok? You seem-

"Great! I fell great!" The boy said smiling happily as Opal blanked.

"You feel... great?"

"Sure do! It's thanks to you Blake. Thanks for tonight. I needed that."Jaune said bowing his head to the girl as he blushed slightly as she gave him a rare smile.

"No problem Jaune. I'm here whenever you need me. If you want to talk or just a friend you know where I sleep."

She said ruffling his air as Opal was sure that Miss Nikos was going to break her hand."I see... well let's get you to the nurse then. We'll see what we can do about your teeth."Opal said as Jaune smiled


"Der Oum! Why are you so stubborn!?"The faunus raccoon nurse with blue eyes and brown hair said as she frowned at Jaune.

"Why are you so stubborn!? If you had just come to me sooner this could have all be avoided! You have several severe gum infections that I barely! Am able to treat! You will need several teeth replacements and repairs. I can do that in the morning but it will be a surgery so you will need to be put under general anesthesia. Opal, he is a ward so-

"You have my say to put him under. Just be careful. He needs to be awake for his Mount Gell mission in less than three weeks.'Opal said smirking as the nurse gave him a shot to his gums. Making Jaune wince in pain as she sighed heavily."There! Now all you need is to not! Eat solid food for the rest of the week and you should be fine! I'll give your team a recipe for a protein shake and you should be ok."

"Thanks, nurse. I'm sorry I took so long to come to you."

"Well, at least you did come. Some students stay until I need to take half their jaw! Well, let's just call it even and promise to come to me when you lose your next few teeth ok?'The nurse asked as Jaune nodded.


"And she attacked you?"

"She stabbed, beath and assaulted me."

"And you will testify?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Sera said taking his report in the bland police station interrogation room as she took down her notes and sighed. "Well, at least you are willing to press charges this time," Sera said sighing as Jaune frowned for the first time in a while.

"I told you N-"She did not attack me."

Jaune said catching his slip as Sera raised a lone black eyebrow. As her soft brown eyes similar to her sister narrowed in on Jaune like a laser. "N? Does her name start with a N?"

"Not saying,"Jaune said as Coco scribbled something down in her note pas as she nodded her head. "Fine. Be difficult. At least you are alive. That's what matters to me. And to Coco. You know she tore up a good part of Bale to find you?"

"Really?"

"Sure did. Our dad tried to take his life a while ago. He lived! By the way but she gets serious about that stuff. So I'd think of a way to reassure her that you are not. Going to jump off the nearest rooftop K?'

Sera asked as Jaune sighed.

"Ok."The boy said as she rubbed his hair affectionately.

"Good boy! Now let's get you home."


"Pyrrha. I. Am. Fine."

Jaune said as the Spartan held him to her neck in his now their bed. As she looked into his mouth where the dentist had installed serval shields on his gums. Since his surgery was postponed due to resources and the protein shakes were missing a crucial part he was given a temporary type of molars as he could now eat without crying in pain and not further infecting his gums.

"Jaune! I'm so sorry-

"Don't be,"Jaune said as he held his partner hand as her jumbled thoughts entered his head.

"By Oum! How could she!? How could anyone!? This is your family! Blood! How dare you attack them!"

The girl thought incredulously as Jaune smiled."Pyr I'm ok. I-"

Why...

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come to me as soon as this happened!?"

"Becuase... I thoguht you would be mad."

"Mad!? Why would I ever be mad at you!?"

"Becuase I was weak."

Jaune said in a quite tone as-

Pain. Fear. Anger.

"Weak!? Jaune why would anyone be mad about that-

"It's all I knew. When I was young Pyr my family hated weakness especially my mother. When I was younger she acted like all of life was a zero-sum game. You either win or you lose. And if you got hurt or lost that was your own damned fault. Not anyone else's. If you could not defend yourself then what right did you have in what happened in your life?"

Anger. Rage. Fear.

"If I got beat up I lost a fight and I deserved it. If I won a fight I was strong and she was proud. If I lost it was my fault and I was the failure. My family never tolerated weakness and... Pyrrha you are...

"I am?"

"An enigma."

"Enigma?"

"You are kind to me. You treat me well you have been nothing but generous to me and.. I don't' like it."

Worry. Panic. Doubt.

" You don't like it?"

"No. It's not just that, I don't understand why you are like this. You are way too nice and I don't know why. You are kind and caring and-

"Normal."

Understanding. Caring. Love.

"Normal?"

"Jaune. Most people are kind and caring you... you just happened to grow up with some that were abnormal."

Pyrrha said as she frowned.

"I'm so sorry. I was wrong, you do have a reason to keep secrets. I never knew a family could be so bad. She almost killed her brother. I could never so much as consider harming Xenophon. Ever. I need to change. I want him to trust me, and I will make him-

"Pyrrha."

"Yes?'

"Thanks. For everything. And just so you know! Just because I didn't come to you does not mean I did not trust you. I just needed help from someone else. I'm still happy that you are my partner and I would have no one else.

Jaune said kissing her on the lips felling the soft Spartans lips on his as she gripped his waist.

"And don't be so sad! We have a date in two days so that's something to look forward to right?"

Jaune asked as Pyrrha smiled at him her emerald eyes shining brilliantly int the night.

"You will see when I take you. I'm going to make you mine Vesperax. Not Yang's, nor Ruby's, not Weiss's and definitely not Blakes. You will be mine and mine alone."

"I'm going to be the best partner you will ever have."

"I hope that you will."

Jaune said as they smiled at one another.


"Why am I in love with an idiot?"

"You mean a good looking idiot!"

"Good looking or not, you are still an idiot,"Emerald said as she flipped her pancakes as Mercury cooked his eggs next to her. After a rough evening, the two partners had settled their issues and were now making breakfast in thier small had out as Emral sighed as Mercury was, Mercury.

"Hey, why the long face Em? You did not have the frown last night."

He said as he tried and failed to get a rise out of his girlfriend. Who simply shrugged her shoulders as the two began to cook breakfast after thier late night. "You know Em. If you really wanted me to stay at home you could just not wear your pants. I'd never leave your side."

Mercury said running a hand over his lover's waist as she rolled her eyes. "Why are you such an ass?'

Emerald complained as Mercury grinned as he saw an easy target.

"First of all! I am not an ass! Secondly, if anyone has an ass it is you! And may I say what a marvelous ass it is!"Mercury said rubbing his hand along his lover bountiful rear as she blushed rolling her eyes feigning disinterest once before giving in running with his touch as she slid into him and-

WHAM!

The door to the apartment flew open as both teens turned forward as their jaws dropped."Cinder?!"

"Boss!?"

Mercury and Emerald both said as a panting Cider glared balefully at them. Her normally flawless black hair was a tattered mess. Twisted frayed and spilt in all ends. Her outfit was a hot mess shot, torn and frozen in some places. As she looked like she had been tossed into a washing machine and set on fire as she glared at them her glowing eyes promising bloody murder to the first person to speak up as she opened her mouth.

"I have just and the most humiliating day of my life." Cinder practically seethed as flames shot out from her eyes and her children gulped.


AN: And there it is! Another day another thrilling chapter of Game on! At this one we see Jaune locked and loaded! With a plethora of new weapons! Along with three new tutors who are going to be a critical part of this story! From now on! And also! 200 followers! I can't believe it! This is my best growing fiction ever! I am so happy for every follower that this story has! I get so many mixed reviews on this fic! People either love it or hate it! And I'm just glad to see it grow like this! And to say thank you for it as well as updating it the next chapter will have something special!

So until then! Things are picking up! Jaune realized that he might! Just have been given a gift. Freedom is within his grasp! And he and a certain faunus have grown much closer. So until next time! Look forward to the 200 follower special! And get ready for a little something extra! Until then have some stats!


Contact updated!

Blake Belladonna!

Contact bond level increased!

Quest updates!

Blake Belladonna route 33% complete.

Warning! New quest added.

Vesperax! This quest has taken over Beacon Route! Prove yourself to you. Be the hero you always wanted to be. 2% complete.

Pina Coladas. Take Pyrrha on a date. 0% complete.

Route of no return. The game has changed, you are now an official member of Roman's crew. You must win Vytal There can be no faltering. 6% complete.

Training day. You have three new mentors. Learn from them to better complete Vytal. 1%complete.

Martyr. You are here to save lives. Be sure that you do. 3% complete

Warning! Due to the Vesperax quest taking over the main quest All crisis events besides Yang Xiao Long's are now canceled! With no effects on character!

Waring! You are now carrying a large number of illegal items! The casualty continuum rate has been adjusted.

Bond level three established! Contact Blake Belladonna

Name: Blake Belladonna.

Social Rank. 69/200

Relationship Rank 89/200

Social status. Strong friends. Something more...

Title. Kiro Shade. Kinky cat.

Class: Assassin

Stat Break down.

Str. 145

Wit. 2+ 46

Intellect. 137

Vitality. 66

Perception. 2+ 35

Charm. 89

Charisma. 28

Agility. 3+ 25

Dexterity. 1+ 27

Deception. 97

Luck. 28

Level three bond established! Trait, quirk skills descriptions added.

Skills.

Blend into nothing. If in low light areas can completely become one with shadows. 20 perception and charisma

Revolutionary. Can insight others of a lower charisma than self into action.

Paralyzing strike. Special strike that can disable organic enemies. Scales on Agility, Dexterity, and Perception.

Silent killer. Years of study in the arts of silent takedowns allows you to kill without making a whisper. Scales with Dexterity and Agility.

Quirks.

Cool. You are cool and isolated. People gain insight on you at a halved rate.

Faster. Hunger takes twice as long to affect you. Required 25% less food to sustain self.

Aloof. You care less about the opinions around you. Gain stress from social interactions at a halved rate.

Traits.

Sentinel. Will never back down from one's position. plus 40 will when arguing your beliefs. And plus 40 Will, Strength and vitality when defending an incapacitated ally.

Butcher. You live for the hunt. Minus 10% of total stress whenever you kill another human or sentient creature. Killing a sentient enemy also makes you gain stress 25% slower. For a period of three days. Take 50% less negative stress impacts for killing.

Introvert. You prefer to stick to yourself. Minus 20 Charm. Charisma and will when surrounded by six or more people with less than 50 social rank. Plus 50 numbers to mentioned stats when surrounded by those with a social rank of 50 plus.

Survivor. Plus 10 will whenever 5% health is lost.

Otaku... You... you know what you are...

Pervert. You have unique bedroom taste. 3 intellect

Passive. From the shadows

Stress 39/200

Insight 68/57

Defining trait. Trusting. Once relationship rank exceeds 100 will have complete faith in thier partner. Double all stats when fighting within a twenty-foot radius of them.

Alignment Progressive.

Rank three Bond established!

Relationship stats unlocked!

Name: Blake Belladonna.

Relationship Rank 89/200

Bond type Bonded.

Bond rank 3/10

Bonde type Comrades.

Relationship. Comrades. Blake and you share a strong bond as comrades. You will have increased stats when in twenty feet of one another. And will find yourself highly attracted to her. Double stats when fighting within a 20-foot radius of one another.

Fetishes. Biting. Hair pulling. Scratching. Choking. Rough. Pet play. Exhibitionist. Dominance. Crossdressing. Cosplay. Stripping. Pain yours.

Heat timer 36% complete. Estimated time to peak heat one week. Time until next cycle three months.

Skills.

Seductress. Reduce will of those you wish to be intimate with. Raise lust.

Predator. Plus will when courting a partner with lower will or charisma.

Tounge torture. Your tongue game is on point. You know how to make someone moan

Lust 36/100

Special relationship quest!

Quest type continual.

Quest name Stress Relief. Help Blake deal with her pent-up stress.

Rewards. relationship ranks, insight, and vitality.

Prince and the beast. 0% Complete. Let Blake take you Menagerie in the spring of next year and meet whoever the hell she wants to introduce you too. Dress for the heat both types.

Quest completed!

Meet the family!

Reward new contacts! Plus 3000 XP!

Inventory updated! Jaune Arc Items have been added! New items.

Ammunition types added.

Armor piercing ammunition. X180. Weapon damage plus 20. Effect. Armor, Protection penetration +20

Incendiary ammunition. X300. Weapon damage plus twenty. If a target is set alight weapon damage divided by two to organics per second for affect duration. Half damage to synthetics and armored.

Electic rounds. X70. Weapon damage plus 20. Double damage to synthetics. Potential to stun enemies. If stunned plus half weapon damage per second for ten seconds if stunned. Double damage to robotic. Chance of destroying robotic enemies outright. Stun chance set at 30%. Chance doubled for all robotic enemies.

Freeze pellets. X 60. Plus 10 weapon damage. Will freeze enemies they come into contact with for ten seconds. Adding the brittle. modifier to the affected area. Making it take 50% increased damage from all damage sources for the duration of the effect.

New items added! Explosives.

Frag grenades. X10 Basic fragmentation devices. Explodes after a small delay and sends shards of shrapnel out at high-velocity damaging enemies in the surrounding area. DMG 300. X2 to unarmored enemies. Half to armored. Killing radius 6 feet. Wound radius 49 feet from the epicenter.

Melta charges. X5 Specialized charges, using a condensed fusion reaction to melt through armor. Warning! Charges are sticky and must be attached to an enemy for optimal use, warming! Bombs can be accidentally fused to person as well as enemies, targets stuck have a two-second delay before detonation. 800 Damage. 100% Armor penetration. Effective radius two feet.

Daisy cutters. X6 Spelaized inferno grenades. Creates a large wall of chemical fire at the area. High chance of causing terror in organics. 400 damage X2 versus organics. And half damage per second to organics while on fire. Half damage to robotic or armored. Thirty foot radius.

Void charges. X3 Rare grenade. Does 800 damage to all targets and will break apart enemies with the force of void dust crystals. Five-foot radius.

Ion detonators. X10 Warning! Ilegal item. Special custom munitions that when armed and thrown will send out a perfect ten-foot sphere around them after a five-second timer can be adjusted for less time and detonate all matter in the sphere at an atomic level in the sphere.

3688 damage.

100% armor penetration.

100% shield penetration

100% aura penetration.

100% protection penetration.

Ten foot total radius.

New contacts!

Contact name Zach.Social rank 4/200. Stats unavailable. Insight 3/2

Contact name Hino Fang. Social Rank 6/200 Stats unavailable. Insight 4/1

Contact name James Tiberius Malroque. Social rank 11/200 Insight 9/2

Warning! The high level of illegal items in your possession has upset the casualty continuum!

New rank 18.7%


Omake. Darkest Remnant part 13. The new strike.

"Oscar. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Ozpin asked the gohst looming over the boy's shoulder as he glared down at the map.

"Yes, I am sure! I am leading us the right way." Oscar told the specter as it shrugged its shoulders. Drinking its mug of steaming ectoplasm as it sighed.

"As you say."

"I do say and-

"Oscar? Are you ok? Who are you talking to?"

A calm voice asked as Oscar looked back comforted that Jaune, Pyrrha walked in front of him. The Crusader and the Hellion fiance pair clearing the path through the dank salt covered crags of the cove as Ruby took up thier rear in front of their newest member of their crew. An Occultist named Wat's acted as their healer. As the finely mustached man took up thier anchor position his bleached white skull in hand. As his piercing green eyes regarded every corner of the cove with interest and curiosity.

As Oscar turned to Ruby.

"No one Ruby. I'm just talking to myself."

Oscar said looking away from the woman. As the Arbalest sighed. Leveling her massive crossbow ahead. As she aimed it down the cold dark corridor as she covered Jaune and Pyrrha from the potential scaled attacks from the fishmen of the Cove. As she frowned.

"If you say so. Just try not to talk to yourself too much K? You don't want to give away our position right?'

Ruby asked as Oscar nodded

"She speaks the truth child. It would not due to give away our position now. We need to find these medical supplies or blight will infect our, your hamlet."

Wat's said as he held out his skull as Oscar sighed. He was right. He needed to focus on the task at hand and-

"Contact!"

Jaune yelled as the sound of scuttling scales filled the air as ruby aimed her bow.

"Oscar! Down now!"

Ruby yelled as he fell back as the harsh Clang! And Fwaps! Of metal cutting, scales filled the air as Jaune engaged the fishmen and-

"ALIE KORA! I WILL FEAST ON YOUR HEARTS!"

Pyrrha yelled as the Hellion jumped into the fight as-

VATHUM!

Ruby fried a bolt blowing the head of the damnable phlegmatic shaman. Critically hitting its head making it pop! in a shower of blood and gore. As Wat's stepped up.

"Behind me child! I will keep you safe!"

The Occultist said as he raised his skull.

"KALEIGH! NOH! RYLEGTH!"

The man shouted at the top of his lungs as his skull burned crimson as Oscar gasped as reality itself was torn open. As the ceiling of the cove was ripped apart as twin massive red tentacles slammed into the fishmen. Crushing two into a bloody paste as Oscar heard the maddening whispers of the unquenchable power of the stars themselves! In his ears. As the hole, in reality, was sealed and-

"FIT!

"AHH!"

Ruby cried as her chest exploded. As a spear hit her chest. Ripping it apart in a shower of gore and bone as-

"A criplling blow! To body and mind!"

Ozpin said as Ruby's broken bleeding body crashed to the floor. As her eyes fluttered and glazed over as Oscar rushed to her.

"Ruby!? Ruby!? Are you ok!? What-

"Out of the way child! KALEIG! NOEWY! ESHARER! PLEHMATH!"

The Occultist yelled as a dazzling green light filled Ruby as her wound vanished into thin air as she gasped as she came back from the brink of death.

"Ruby! You-

"Get down!"

Ruby yelled forcing Oscar to the floor picking up her crossbow and blasting at the enemy putting bolt after bolt into the enemy. As more and more Fishman came to assault them.

"Behind me child! I will keep us alive."

Wat's said as Oscar hid behind the Occultist as the battle commenced.


"That was a thrilling victory!"

Pyrhha said as the party walked back to town.

All four heroes and one NPC where alive and well. And even if Oscar was a bit tired of being useless in battle and-

"There. Someone new."

Jaune said pointing to a man stepping off the stagecoach to the hamlet. As the party approached him under the cover of night.

Houndmaster above his head as they approached the-

ARF!

A dog barked as a dog ran out from the man and ran to Ruby.

"Zwei! Get back here!"

The man shouted as Ruby gasped.

"Zwei!? Is that you!?'

Ruby asked getting on both knees as a green-white corgi? of all thing ran up to her licking her legs as Pyrrha cooed.

"AH! He is so cute! But to fat! He will be meat for the vultures at this rate!"

The Hellion claimed as the man caught up to them.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry about him he-

"Daddy!?"

Ruby shouted as she blurred to the tall blonde with bright blonde hair and blue eyes dressed in brown garbs with the name Houndmaster over his head as he grinned.

"Daddy?"

Jaune asked as he stood next to his fiance as the man grinned.

"Sure am kid! Name's Tai Yang Xiao-Long! Father of Ruby! And this is my dog! Zwei!"

"ARFF!"

"Nice to meet you!"

The man said holding his corgi up to the party while Ruby cooed Pyrrha grinned and Jaune held out his hand in an official greeting as Oscar blinked owlishly at him...