Fighting Chance

Chapter 2

Jaune's Uncle

"You know this might one of the best breakfast I've had in a long time" Jaune commented as he poured more salsa into his food, the eggs had been cooked to perfection and the bread to be baked recently. Satsuki merely stared at him her face still with the same unreadable expression, yesterday she ahd barely managed to sleep. There was something wrong with her, something that had triggered and all because of a simple order. She needed to tell Lord Fang of this development but Lord Bison had declared that she needed to follow Lord Vega's orders and so she was left here.

Her head pounding as discomfort assaulted her, but if she focused on something else she felt her pain alleviate a little, so she turned to the one that began the problem "I am pleased that you like it, I used Mr. Vega's favorite food as a guideline"

Jaune chuckled "Uncle Vega is really fancy huh? You know i met him only a couple of times and it was very long ago. He used to die his hair brown if I remember correctly. Guess he went back to his natural hair" he mused to Satsuki who made a face at the information. "I know right it is kind of funny, guess he really hated grandpa and dad, dying his hair and all that… but guess time heals all wounds"

The blonde continued eating but he was feeling quite full already, Jaune "You're not hungry?" the doll shook her head. Jaune now felt guilty as he pushed the plate to the side "Guess you ate before me, sorry if I overslept"

Satsuki tilted her head a bit to the side "Your apology is not required, but it is noted" Jaune chuckled the girl spoke like a robot it was sort of funny in a way. He remembered that his dad always said that an Arc had a duty that whenever someone did them a favor the Arc needed to repay it. So as much as it embarrassed him to say it he gave her smile.

"Next time I'll make you breakfast, seems fair don't you think? Do you like anything special? I will be sure to read a recipe don't worry" the smile faded as he swore that Satsuki short circuited. "No… you may… like? I need to speak to Lord Fang my head is not…" she said as she stood up hurriedly and tried to run to the door only to hit the chest of Vega.

The taller man looked down at the doll who quickly jumped back and bowed "Lord Vega! I mean Mr. Vega I wasn't expecting you"

Vega looked at Jaune and then back towards the doll "I sent information of my arrival to your scroll some minutes ago, when I didn't get an immediate response I got slightly worried. But it seems that everything is more than fine" Jaune gave a thumbs up and smile, while Satsuki looked down in shame.

The doll looked at Vega for a brief moment and then closed her eyes expecting punishment but to her surprise a soft pat on the shoulder was all that she received "Well done Satsuki, you have performed beautifully" Vega could not contain the grin that appeared on his face.

This was it! The soulless machine was slightly freed and beauty could blossom, he wanted to interrogate Jaune then and there about what did he do to cause this effect but it would make the doll suspicious and worst of all Jaune.

The boy was both a blessing and a curse for Vega, blessing because not only did he gain Bison's favor even if it was for a short period of time but he could also show James just how flawed his teaching where and that an Arc hunter could blossom from HIS teachings and HIS ideals. But the curse was that he now needed to train the boy and make sure that he not only was good but that he was the best.

Vega did not accept anything that was not perfect and he would make Jaune the perfect warrior even if it killed him. So step one of his plan began today "Jaune the work that I offered you sadly was already filled so it seems that you are without a job" Vega commented as he took the seat where Satsuki had been the doll quickly stood to his side.

The news made Jaun frown "Oh, I see. Don't worry uncle I will search for something close by I would hate to be a burden" Vega nodded at the boy, good answer. He hated lazy bastards and freeloaders, they were such an ugly thing that just the mere thought of them made his blood boil. But a job was not something that was on Jaune's future for now.

"You wont find much work around here. Sadly you do not have the studies for the minimum requirements I assume you have worked before on your town"

Jaune rubbed the back of his head and nodded "Yeah I helped at the local grocery store and I also worked moving crates" Vega nodded, not bad but on this part of town he would not get more than a laugh.

"I have a better proposition for you" Vega said as he placed his scroll on the table and pushed it towards Jaune "you see one of my… friends is making an investigation on combat training and advanced recovery from injuries, you met him actually" Jaune gulped a bit as he remembered the man with the powerful aura, the purple energy that surrounded him was out of this world.

But Jaune nodded nonetheless as he stared at the odd house on the pictures and the even odder ring, but he could see where his uncle was going with this "So… I suppose that I was volunteered"

Vega snapped his fingers and smiled "Bingo, I happen to be interested in the subject myself but I cannot be trained anymore, my style is already to definied to be modified" and perfect Vega wanted to add but it was best if he kept that secret, the young Arc could only feel a sense of excitement on his heart. He was not going to Beacon completely untrained!

"This… this amazing! I know that I have said this many time already but thank you so much for this! If there's anything that I can do for you please just let me know uncle Vega" Jaune said as he returned the scroll, Vega turned his gaze towards Satsuki and hummed, Vega had broken free the perfect clone not so long ago. The one that had bloomed into a true beauty, could his nephew break this one free? Fang was a moron, such harsh control on such delicate flowers only made them wither and decay.

Vega turned to his nephew and looked him up and down "Yes, change. Buy new clothes you look like a homeless man just walked into the apartment" Jaune choked a bit on his coffee at the harsh words "S-sure I have some money saved up I guess I could spend it on that"

The eldest Arc nodded "Good, I think you deserve the day off so enjoy this apartment and this city because tomorrow you world changes once again. Satsuki a moment" Vega disappeared into the corridor leaving Jaune to look at his hoodie and pants.

"Homeless?"

"Lord Vega I promise that this will not happen again. I just have not…" Satsuki started to apologize but was silenced as Vega placed a finger on her lips, the discomfort that emanated from her made Vega almost chuckle. What she was feeling was not directed at him but rather at herself.

She was fearful of something from within "My oh my, look at you my dear little doll all flustered and confused. Tell me, what caused such... unusual behavior? And do not lie, lying is for ugly people"

Satsuki swallowed a bit as she straightened her back "I was merely having a conversation with Jaune, as he is like to be called, and he asked me to get food that I liked. I felt something on my head that has persisted ever since the conversation, his questions are direct and require answers that I do not possess as they were not implanted on me by Lord Fang. My next course of actions are to return to the lab and…"

Vega grabbed her by the shoulder "No, under no circumstances are you to return to Fang. This just proves my theory that you are not effective… in the state that he made you"

Satsuki flinched at the term ineffective and looked at her superior confused "I apologize my lord, why would I be ineffective right now?"

"Tell me doll, if you were to infiltrate a small dinner party, few people. All of them hunters and they began to ask personal questions? Things that deviated from the false identity they gave you, would you break like this? Could you against people with experience detecting lies and nervousness?" Vega circled the girl as he enjoyed the feeling of dread setting in. He knew that she knew what would happen if that were to happen she would be useless and then promptly discarded.

Fang in his stupidity had made sure that they feared failure and failing Lord Bison meant death. Killing them was a waste, so Vega searched for something better.

Satsuki's lip trembled a bit as she imagined failure Vega noticed and made her look into his eyes by placing his hand on her chin "Do not cry my doll, Fang's way is not the only way. For now do not fear the change, learn from it and move towards something better. Embrace the questions of life, become creative in the way you approach the mission and make your own decisions, from now own the smaller details of this mission are up to you" Vega muttered as he pointed at the door and glared "you are under direct command from me; Vega, to remain as the caretaker of young Jaune. This order cannot be overwritten by anyone but Lord Bison himself, Fang's second in command position means nothing compared to my seniorship understood?"

The doll tried to understand as the instructions on her brain fought with the orders she was given, but she could only nod in acceptance "As you command Lord Vega" there was only one goal in her life and that was to serve Lord Bison. To live and die for his orders, his general where merely the extensions of his will. And so she would fall in line, her fears must be put aside for the greater plan.

So she returned to her new assignment, Jaune was looking at himself in the mirror "Ok, I have to know. Do I really look homeless?" Satsuki blinked gave him a look and then nodded "It is a miracle that you don't stink"

Jaune felt his heart break a bit as the pretty girl insulted his attire "I… ok, new plan. Do you know where to buy training clothes? I won't be going into Beacon like this, if all of you are so critical, know any good places to buy clothes?"

Satsuki blinked a bit as she looked down at her scroll "No, but I could investigate if that is what you desire" Jaune shook his head "Nah no need, I guess I'll just have to do some exploring. Uncle Vega did say that I had the day off so might as well get use of it. I guess I'll be off then"

The doll stopped him from walking as she placed a hand on his chest pushing him back "I will accompany you, I was tasked with… helping you adjust to your new life" technically true from her point of view. Jaune stared at her and narrowed her eyes "Are you sure? Because I don't like the idea of forcing someone who doesn't want to be there to come with me"

Satsuki stared at him, blinking once as she tried to think of an answer "It is what I was told"

"Look, it's nice that you are so good at following orders… but it feel like I would be kind of a jerk if dragged you around to something you don't wanna do, my sisters did it to me all the time and I didn't much like it"

Sisters, did he have many like she did? But before she could comment Jaune walked to the door and waved at her "I'll be back in a bit!" Satsuki blinked in confusion again, it was becoming a habit she realized on the back of her head. But if Jaune did not want her to be around she would oblige, she would not be THAT close. But she would be close, quickly following him she tracked him just in time as he left the building and walked the streets of Vale.

He seemed to be lost and most people raised their noses at him as he walked away from the high class part of the city into a setting he was most accustomed to. Jaune seemed to recognize some of the stores and he went inside, Satsuki jumped high enough into the air and landed on the top of the small store. Pulling out one of the devices to aid in their espionage she listened in on the conversation.

"…oh that thing? Son I will actually pay you if you take that. It has been sitting there for months!"

That did not sound like something a vendor would normally say, what was Jaune buying? As he left the store Satsuki spotted him taking from the bag a sport hoodie that was identical to the one he had. Down to the last detail "Sweet! I even got a deal on this!"

"…haha" from deep within her soul she laughed, it was the same thing. The same ugly thing that he was wearing right now, the only difference was that it had a sport motif, a part of her was mad that he was not following orders from Lord Vega. But if he was being true to himself and lord Vega did not specify, could she blame him? And so they passed by as she continued her mission, watching him stumble from bad purchase into worse purchase until he finally sat down by the park and finished his spending spree with a small milkshake. "Sister? What are you doing here?"

Satsuki gave a nod towards her sister "Hello Février, your footsteps are still not cloaked"

The angriest of the dolls scoffed at her as she looked down at what her sister was surveilling "I can cause a distraction by the ice cream shop, making it easier for you to kill the blonde bastard" before the doll could move Satsuki motioned her sister get closer to her. Information that was sensible was best not to be shouted.

"I'm afraid that this time that won't be necessary sister, this assignment is slightly different from the ones we have been getting. Jaune is related to Lord Vega and is part of a highly secret mission that Lord Vega is setting up" Février's eyes widened as she looked at her sister in shock.

"If it's such a sensible information, why did you tell me?! Merde! This was information not meant for me sister!" the irate doll said making her more quiet sister look to the ground. Her black hair covering most of her face, but she quickly snapped back into reality as Jaune began to move. "I was given a peculiar task by Lord Vega along with aiding in this operation I am to become more proactive in learning emotions. Lord Vega thinks that if we don not adapt and I we do not feel we might become useless to Lord Bison"

That made Février gasp "But we cannot do so, it is something that Lord Fang said that… and you simply ignored it? Why?!"

Satsuki moved quietly back to the apartment with her sister by her side "I was instructed under order of seniority not rank to follow orders and to evolve or so I was told, it appears that Lord Vega is trying to better our performance with his own method" the sisters by circumstance reached the apartment building as the sun reached its highest peak and Vale buzzled with activity. Février grumbled under her breath as it went against the programming on her head.

Jaune entered the apartment and closed the door behind him as the sisters could relax for a brief moment, they entered one of the safe rooms on the building so they could speak plainly. One of the few liberties they had was the ability to discuss things amongst themselves to reach a better solution and right now Février was the senior amongst the two so she would be the one to bring the topic up.

Amongst the many surveillance cameras and test tubes Février finally gave her sister the full attention this topic required "Lord Bison is aware of this operation?"

"Affirmative" came the robotic reply from her sister.

Février nodded in approval, no catastrophic failure then. Good she proceeded to drill her sister on everything and then came the one question that eluded her "If this an experiment that was commanded to you by Lord Vega why share it? It goes against directives to share information on a critical mission"

That made Satsuki look embarrassedly to the side of the room "I wanted to let my sister know what I was doing, so that if I made a mistake you could help. I am a bit afraid, I've never had control of so much of a mission it is slightly overwhelming… and the target is not helping" Satsuki said as Février narrowed her eyes, so the stuck up brat was making things harder for her sister?!

"I'll show the little…" the irate doll said as she ran towards the aparment where the man was and kicked the door open, only to find Jaune on the middle of the room headphones on and new sport attire assembled "Because my heart loves to feeeeel" Février reacted accordingly by kicking him the face.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for!" Jaune complained as he stared at the stranger that had walked in to his room for the day the girl simply looked down at him "You are designated as a hinderance to my sister's mission as so you will face my wrath you…" Satsuki quickly placed a hand on the shoulder of the girl. "There's no need for that, Jaune has been cooperating. Your outburst of violence is uneceary"

Février lowered her hands as she resumed her normal stance "Merde… whatever you better cooperate with my sister, or I will do worst than just a kick" and with she left loudly slamming the door loudly as she left. Jaune rubbed his cheek as he stood up, looking Satsuki for answers but she appeared to be more interested on the contents of her back "This looks a little too loose, maybe a tighter outfit would be best for proper training"

Jaune let his head hang a bit as he could only sigh "Man, I thought that girls here in Vale would be less crazy"

Qrow finished downing his beer as he waited for his friend to show up, he had not expected that call to be sure. It had been quite a shit month for him with everything happening around him. Oz was stretched thin and Qrow was the only reason some things stayed afloat.

But thankfully things had begun to die down, James was lucky. He would have turned down most people but he had a soft spot for the Arc. He and his family were of the few people that Oz could rely on. "You're here early"

That made Qrow turn to grin at the man, James Arc was a large an imposing man. His muscles did not seem to erode away even at his age, Qrow pulled the chair next to him and gave a shrug.

"You know me man, when it comes to booze the earlt bird and all that" Qrow commented as he finished his second drink, James merely grunted as he sat down and let out a long sigh. The bags unde the eyes of James made it clear that the man was not here because he wanted to catch up. Qrow ordered another drink and looked at his friend dead in the eye "What's happening, you look like shit James"

This made the man chuckle "Family, you're lucky that your smell makes it impossible for a woman to stay for more than one night. My boy ran from home and I have an idea where he is" James confesed as he grabbed the bottle of beer that Qrow had ordered. This annoyed the dusty ol'crow as he ordered another drink.

"If you know where he is why are you afraid James. Sometimes you have to let kids spread their wings and realize that the real world is not sunshine and rainbows, he'll come back I am sure. But please make sure that your wife does not kill him when he gets back"

James frowned "It is not her that I am worried about. Jaune is a good boy, I didn't want him to follow the curse. I've had enough… how many friends Qrow? How many people we loved, we held in our hands have died in this brutal war of ours? Not my baby boy not my only son"

The huntsmen shared a quiet moment as they both took a drink, Qrow wished he could share just how much he had lost in such a short amount of time. But James was not done "He is here in Vale, but I got to carelles I mentioned him… I should have forgotten him like he told me to but I couldn't"

Qrow raised an eyebrow "Easy there big fella, who are you talking about? You're making it sound like you lead Jaune to meet the devil" James gritted his teeth at that.

"I might as well have done so, Vega… my stupid brother. I led him right into the claws of Vega" James gripped the bottle with enough strength to begin to crack it. Qrow placed a hand on his shoulder "Easy, I cannot help if I don't know the full sotry, first things first. Who is Vega? You said he is your brother but why is he such bad news"

James nodded as he calmed down "He is my father's greatest shame and was my mother's biggest pride. My mother loved him, she was his precious baby and I loved him too, but my father saw through the mask… my old man he knew that the baby was a hideous monster. From the very first day that he could he defied tradition he bent rules to his will, the Arcs fight Grimm we are heroes! But he wanted nothing to do with that, when my mother died his chain was cut loose and we fought as he decided to leave into the night. To kill more than just grimm"

A sibling rivalry that had ended in blood, Qrow knew more of that than James could ever imagine "He fought you in hand to hand combat?"

"He BEAT me in a street fight, Father almost died from a broken heart as we fought. Vega trained to hurt people Qrow, I trained to fight the inhuman beast from beyond our walls… but Vega? He broke my aura in a few hits, ripped my skin and muscles with his dammed claws. I was broken mess when he left and…" James choked up as he was lost in memory "and he cried, can you belive that. The bastard cried as he left home he said he was an Arc no more but that I would always be his brother. Damn him I never could take the filling of guilt out of my heart, did I push him away? He showed up to Jaune's third birthday, I was too stunned to fight"

Qrow hummed "He sounds… interesting, but what makes you so sure Jaune is with him?"

"Because I told him" the bar went quiet as Vega walked in, his smile was strained and James broke the bottle in his hand.

"Vega"

The blonde man raised an eyebrow "Where you expecting someone else? Please why would anyone come to such a place it is so…" Vega never got to finish his sentence as he was grabbed by the shirt by James. Brothers came face to face as the taller Arc growled a simple question.

" . ?!"

Vega slapped the hands of his shirt "This shirt is more than your home brother, Jaune is ok he somehow found my restaurant in the better parts of the city, even sneaked past security imagine that. I think you should give the boy more credit" Vega was tempted to smile as James refused to let his eyes leave the hand that had maimed him all those years ago.

"Good, I will go talk to him and take him back home. Thankl you Vega, now never come around near my family again" James said making Vega click his tongue at him annoyed at the treatment he was getting. But he had fire in the chamber ready for just this occasion "Please brother it is not my fault that Jaune ran from home it is just fault for being such a bad excuse of a father… just like ours" Vega avoided the punch aimed at his pristine jaw.

James was now red in anger "Father died on my hands! In his final moments I held the man that gave me everything, that taught me EVERYTHING and you dare insult his memory?" Vega simply nodded.

"I do, we both know how that man felt about me. Mother was the only one that cared, but you? You care too much" there was a pause as a cold chill passed through the body of the eldest arc Vega saw Qrow aim his weapon at him under the table but in the ring of words there was no need for violence just yet.

"Jaune told me everything James, an Arc denied the chance to fight? An Arc that desires nothing more than to serve those around and to be a hero, is not allowed to?" Vega laughed a bit as Qrow lowered his gun.

Qrow exchanged a look with James as could only nod "He is not huntsmen material Vega, he is good boy. He's not like me"

Vega nodded "I noticed that, the boy I too kind to be someone like you. But there is one thing that you forget he might be a bit like me" another easily avoided punch passed by his head.

"Rot in hell Vega my son is nothing like you! You and your friends are nothing more than a pack a bloodthirsty hounds I know it and one day the entire world will see it too!"

This was no longer fun Vega decided so he would crush his older brother here and now "I do not care what you think I do, you can have the police investigate me for all I care. Hell I will even give you the address of the places I run but one thing remains true. Jaune is not going back to you just yet"

Qrow finally intervend "Oh and why is that?"

"Because the boy is going to Beacon of course. It's still a few months off, but I have gotten him palace to stay, a place to get ready for what comes next and even better… a real chance at the dream"

Both huntsmen blinked in confusion "What? Why would you even do that?" Qrow asked utterly confused. Vega smiled at his older brother, as the situation sank in on the eldest Arc.

"I want to show that I'm right, that father was wrong THAT I was not wrong for wanting to be better, faster and more… beautifully violent. James I would never harm your son, no matter what you think family is such a precious thing"

James could only sigh as he sat down "All this, all this money and effort. To spite a man that died wanting to know where he went wrong with you Vega?"

"And to spite you too brother"

James snorted "Petty bastard, if he is hurt I will kill you" James said but he sounded defeated Vega had won, Jaune would get his training and Vega could always hang that over him. Was Jaune ready for the life a hunstmen James wondered as memories of failed battles came to mind, of the friends he lost. Vega saw that his brother was quiet on defeat. "I'll tell Jaune to call you when he gets the chance, see you around brother. I do hope you invite me to the next family gathering"

Qrow let out a sigh as Vega finally left "you know from my point of view… I think you just need to talk to your brother James, you where the asshole in this situation. Your bother doiesnt souynd like that much of a monster as you made him out to be"

"Qrow look behind the mask, there is a killer there. I saw him over the corpses, I don't care that they were criminals my brother murdered them in cold blood their children watching. His mask is not only physical now it seems" James looked at his friend and gave him a sad smile "I did not call you to watch my squabble, I need you to look Vega closely"

This made Qrow sigh "I dunno James, he is an asshole and if what you say is true a bloody vigilante but that does not mean that he is the devil incarnate. There are worse eggs out there that need to be removed"

"Shadaloo is his basket of bad eggs Qrow" James said as Qrow narrowed his eyes. He knew the name, Ozpin had kept his eyes on them for years. But found nothing, their rapid success was worrying as was their involvement on politics and researches. Worst of all they had no cleart leader, phantom companies that operated as proxies for a big shadowy menace. The White Fang and multiple other criminal organizations knew nothing too and it made them worry.

Qrow leaned back on his seat "This… changes things a bit, I get why you are worried I'll do what I can then"

"Thank you Qrow"

Jaune folded his clothes as he looked outside the window one last time towards Beacon. Tomorrow would mark the begginig of his training and a new step onto his new life.

He did not care how many creepy girls stood in his way, how many insults he had to take.

Jaune Arc would reach his dream.