Fighting chance

Chapter 1

Vega's Nephew

"Oh darling this food is simply fantastic, I must admit i never imagined you of all people would ever discover such a place… after all you spend all your time at the office" the voice of a woman could be heard even above the noise of the restaurant, the waitress poured two cups of wine for the couple. The loud woman barely paid attention to the waitress as if she was apiece of the scenery but the man she was dinning with her gave a worried glance.

To calm his nerves he downed half of what he was served an gave a tight smile "I actually discovered it in a… meeting, I wanted to come with you" the woman snorted as she took another bite of the meat she was served, her knife slicing the meal made the man shiver.

Raising a for towards him she glared "Do not think this would save you from my wrath darling, I cannot believe you simply disappeared right when I needed you the most. It was such an embarrassment to present the opening of the new galleria all by myself. I had to come up with a lie on the spot explaining you absence. You knew it was an important event! Even the headmaster of Beacon attended oh he was so amazed by our antics that he personally asked me where I found all those old tomes"

The man lowered his head "I know and I am sorry… but this new client I'm working with called for an emergency meeting. They are more than I imagined" he said as he suppressed the memories of a miasma of purple energy coming towards him, the cruel grin of a mountain of a man and besides him two monsters that he wished he would never see again. But he knew it would be impossible for him to avoid them after all, he was dinning with his wife on the restaurant of one of them. Out of the corner of his eye he saw him.

Tall, strong and handsome would be insults to say to such a man, the reality that almost everyone besides him knew that he was so much more filled him with dread but at the same time it made him want to prove to him and to Shadaloo that his company was valuable, after all he was vital for the blossoming of operation chains. With that in mind and his ego stroked he looked down at his food and ate with renewed gusto, he gave a smile to his wife "Next time I will be there" and then the conversation continued into something that became mundane and boring. Or at least that was the opinion of the man that had been listening in to the conversation.

Vega closed the audio and finished his meal, primary mission complete. And this time he didn't need to even track down the target, like a well-trained lamb it had willingly walked into the slaughter house, confident that it would survive and this time he would. Lord Bison demanded absolute loyalty and Vega made sure that loyalty did not waver amongst the ranks of their… partners. Shadaloo was in paper a legitimate company, often contributing to simple things that made quite a fancy front.

Machinery for faster building, everyday appliances that dominated the market and the list would go on for hours. Most people did not realize that they were working for one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world.

A soft chuckle escaped the lips of the man as he snapped his fingers and one of the Dolls arrived by his side the thing disgusted Vega, no beauty was to be found in those soulless eyes of hers but they could be put to use he begrudgingly admitted, like undercover as a waitress making him money

"Lord Vega"

"Make sure that the man is followed, have one of your… sisters kill the woman his is having an affair with, his wife is getting suspicious and the last thing we need is for that man to be distracted. And I think it would serve as a good reminder of who he is dealing with, wouldn't you agree?" Vega said as a cruel smile began to form on his face, the pearly white color not hiding the fact that it was the smile of a cruel monster.

The doll merely nodded as Vega felt his smile falter, oh right he forgot.

The thing was soulless so to speak, only one had true beauty among the dolls and no one had managed to track it down, such a shame that the assignment was deemed as low priority and he could not work on it. He had really wanted to see that flower bloom into full beauty.

The night continued on and at last closing time came, looking down at the money he had Vega felt something akin to indifference mixed with amusement, Balrog was out here mauling people every night to make money and here he was barely lifting a finger for it. But money was merely a tool for grander things.

"Lord Vega" the doll returned making Vega frown, this thing was not supposed to bother him after her work was done what was it doing here? Annoyed he motioned for her to continue "A trespasser was caught in the building, as you know the skyscraper is under constant surveillance so we had to wait for an ooportune moment to strike"

Vega let out a sigh as he looked down at her "And why bother me with this if you have already caught him… unless you are empty handed. And if you are I will make sure that your failure does not go unpunished"

The doll shook her head "Negative, he was captured. But his execution was postponed or cancelled. It is up to you" Vega raised an eyebrow as the information was given to him. What on earth did the man say to stop the dolls from killing him?

"And why is that" Vega inquired as the doll handed him a scroll "Jaune Arc, available data confirms his identity as your nephew. He yelled that before real harm could be done to him, but he is complaining about the broken nose that I gave him"

If Vega didn't know better he would have said that the doll was proud of her actions, the picture in the scroll made him snort in amusement "Why is it that all of my family members except me look so plain. Maybe is because my brother needs to spend more time hunting and less time with his wife, poor Jaune looks as generic as can be"

The doll kept quiet as she listened to her superior but she did rise from her kneeling position "Doll bring him here, I would like to see the boy" The doll nodded and went to retrieve Jaune, Vega on the other hand prepared a table and sat down as he allowed himself to go down memory lane.

He had not seen his brother in a long time, the last time they crossed paths he remembered that the words they had exchanged had not been all that pleasant. He did not hate James or his wife, but he did think of them as bellow him. Shadaloo gave him purpose and direction, a future for mankind while his older brother had spent his entire life fighting the beasts and nothing had changed. Many huntsmen suspected Shadaloo and his brother was no exception.

"You said that I was in danger James, oh how would your face look if you knew that I command the shadows of this world" Vega chuckled as he continued to remember the past, ah he remembered Jaune a little bit better now. He had held him while he was merely a child, James wife had been crossed that James would allow Vega to hold him. But the horrid woman was not brave enough to voice her opinions to his face.

The doors opened as the barely lit restaurant welcomed its last guest for the day "Mr. Vega, Jaune Arc as you requested" Jaune looked terrible, bags under his eyes and blood underneath his red nose. But he did give Vega a pathetic wave and smile that he could not deicde if it was apologetic or embarrassed"

"Thank you doll, you can leave now. Jaune please come sit down, it has been a long time since I have seen some one from my family" Vega gestured towards the table; Jaune quickly nodded almost tripping to get away from the quiet woman. The eyes of the girl flickered with purple energy before she disappeared into the shadows. Vega suppressed a smile as Jaune tried to maintain eye contact with him. The blonde boy looked pale and if his attire was anything to go by he had gone through rain.

Finally mustering up the courage he extended his hand towards him "Its so nice to meet you" Vega grabbed a napkin and placed it around his hand, he shook the boys hand and gave him the now stained piece of cloth "Your hands and your nose are bleeding, security did quite the number on you"

Jaune suppressed a shudder "Those girls might be pretty but they almost killed me, I don't want to know what they would have done if I hadn't mentioned that you where my uncle"

The older man hummed, pouring him a glass of whiskey "Oh but I am not old enough for…" Vega raised a hand "Don't worry I won't tell your father and besides I learned from experience that it helps numb the pain" Jaune gave a tentative sip as he felt the liquid go down his throath a sense of warmth that he had not felt in any other drink.

"Thank you, Mr. Vega" ah such good manners. Seems like James and Jaune's mother had been more present in the boy's life than his sisters, if he recalled the eldest of the daughters was quite rude. Vega shook his head towards the boy, enjoying the feeling of superiority he finally had over a family member. His father and brother had always looked down on him for wanting something more than just hunting.

"There's no need for that, uncle would do just fine. Not that I don't enjoy the visit but a call would have been appreciated, is James also in town and he sent you to give me a heads-up? That man can be quite insufferable like that" Vega internally raised an eyebrow as he saw the boy gulp down in fear. His hands shaking as he reached for the glass of whiskey.

The inner instincts of one of the four kings felt weakness and so he decided to let the fear bubble, let it cook into something delicious.

Jaune lowered his glass and let out a long sigh "I would actually like more if you didn't tell my dad where I am… we had a fight" Vega resisted the urge to laugh, James had turned his own son against him? Delicious irony from the heavens placed right on his doorstep, did James not tell him that if he continued the way that he did he would push those close to him away? It was almost too funny for him to contain himself.

Vega managed to maintain his expression neutral "I see, I suppose that he is not around Vale then?"

Jaune shook his head as he looked down "I was… so let down uncle Vega, I want them to understand so bad my dream but every time I say something about it they shoot me down and make fun of me. I know I can do it, I said that to him and we started yelling and your name came up and even if the Beacon admissions are sometime away I figured that…" Jaune was stopped as he listened to Vega finally break.

"HAHahahaHAHAHAHAAHA… James wanted you to not be (snicker) a Huntsmen?! HAHAHAAH oh my dear Jaune you have just made my day HAHAHA" Vega laughed as he barely managed to contain himself from smacking the table, Jaune looked in confusion as his uncle finally regained some composure. Veha wiped a tear with his hand as he flickered it away, he noticed Jaune looking at him with confusion so he elaborated.

Vega motioned towards the moon "Jaune the legends of Remnant are often nothing more than empty words. But us Arcs? We are not normal legend, our family is destined to fight, to seek battle. James and father always said that it was against the Grimm I did not believe it to be so simple. So my father and James shunned me because I refused to fight the beasts of the night and so I left the name Arc behind only Vega remained but to hear that James has become so hypocritical that he would deny his own son the right to prove himself is nothing short of hilarious to me"

Jaune let out a sad sigh "Why? Why would he do that? Mom always says that he is only doing what is best for me but why not train me if he thinks I am so bad? Is he that ashamed of me?"

The only reply Jaune got was a small shrug "Huntsmen are said to be humble, why else would you sacrifice your life for others? James was… annoyingly stereotypical, he seemed like a cartoon character from time to time to me. But that does not mean I didn't respect him, I just wished he would be more realistic in what society really is"

Jaune blinked "You're not what I was expecting uncle Vega, mom said that you where creepy" Vega this time did frown. Cursed woman and her stupid face, what his brother saw in such a putrid flower he would never understand. Out of the corner of his eyes he spotted something on the boys back "Is that…?" Jaune looked at what Vega was pointing and smiled awkwardly. He took the sword from his back and placed it on the table.

The light of the moon made it look almost magical "Crocea Mors, I took it and ran. Brothers I am such a coward" Jaune said as he looked down tears threatening to form in his eyes but Vega was not listening to him. The family heirloom, one of the symbols of the family and the boy had simply took it.

Many a long night had Vega stared at the weapon cursing it and its legacy, wondering why such an ugly thing inspired so many to heroism. Did they not see? There was no beauty in simply dying, no way for something to show its potential if it was shoved into a box. Everything he hated about his family was this sword. But vega could not resist the urge of grasping it and taking experimental swings, sturdy and resistance.

But his claws where faster, they let him savor all the violence up-close. This meant nothing, just like the name he had abandoned. "And what are you going to do now? Beacon is not yet taking any applications, I think it's actually a couple of months off. Will you just wonder around, or are you seeking more?"

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck "I got some money saved up for staying in a hotel near the docks, I figured I would search for a job and then just wait for Beacon"

Pathetically simple, but then again it was James's son he was speaking to. Vega looked at Jaune and something clicked inside of him. "Hotel near the docks? No family of mine needs to be seen there" what would the people say? He could kill Jaune but he really did not want to explain to both Shadaloo and James the situation.

"No; I have a place you can stay, I own an apartment complex near here. The penthouse is unoccupied for the moment you will stay there and as for work I think I need a new dishwasher"

Jaune's eyes widened "Th-Thank you! I know I can never repay you but…" Vega shook his head as he stood up "I do not care for money but there's something that I wish to see" the taller man retrieved his favorite weapon, the claws that had ended so many lives and the mask that made everyone tremble in fear. Vega ripped off the tie from his neck and proudly displayed his tattoo.

"Pick up the sword and fight me Jaune, show me the strength of your dream" Jaune barely managed to move the sword in time to block the first kick that came his way, Jaune tried to speak but a palm connected with his chin sending him flying back Jaune groaned in pain and used his backpack as pseudo-shield. Vega grinned behind the mask as Jaune failed miserably to fight back his movements where like a book for babies, he could read them as if they where thrown yesterday.

Jaune in his last act of desperation lunged and nearly pierced the side of his uncle, his blade was slapped out of his hand and then a kick send him to the ground. The claws cut his cheeks as Jaune looked up to see piercing eyes looking down on him. "So this is your dream then"

Vega retracted his claw, almost tempted to kill him here and now but he knew something was off he was being watched "Perfect KO, not a single hit but if you only fights chumps that's what you get"

"Holy sh…" Jaune muttered as the massive man walked into the light, Balrog grinned at Vega "Picking on kids now, I knew you where weak but this is patyhetic even for you Vega"

Vega glared at the Boxer the massive size not intimidating him in the slightest "As if I could not kill you without even trying, know your place Balrog" Vega moved in time to avoid the punch that was thrown his way. The room shook as the fist connected with cement "Watch your mouth pretty boy, I will punch you so hard that your body and your head are going to need…"

Jaune ignored the comments as he could only watch in awe as the most infamous Boxer of the generation got into a verbal fight with his uncle, Balrog was easily the most intimaditng Boxer of all time. His skin could barely contain his muscles and his permanent scowling face added to his intimidation, there was an urban legen going around that a hunter challenged him to a fight and he hand punched him so hard that it had shattered his aura and knocked him out.

Which made the following seconds all the more surprising, a dark chuckle came from outside the windows and as if by magic they shattered into pieces, Jaune covered his head a shards of glass came cut him. A dark presence filled the air as the evil presence loomed over Jaune "My generals are already fighting, what delicious entertainment"

Vega and Balrog took a step back and nodded "Lord Bison" they said in unison as the uniformed monster took some steps into the restaurant. "Nice place Vega, I was in town and decided to see what you where up to. Balrog was a surprise but it is of no matter you may join us in our conversation but as for the child…"

Jaune looked up as he felt the stares on him "Hi?"

M. Bison leader of Shadaloo did not acknowledge him merely turning to Vega for an explanation "My nephew, he is working for me and was testing him. He was just leaving, doll take him to his room"

From the shadows one of the dolls appeared and nodded as she helped him up "Uhmm… have a nice night?" he offered to the room as Vega nodded at him, Balrog laughed under his breath and Bison ignored him. As soon as the door was closed Balrog broke the silence.

"Testing him huh? I assume he failed miserably that chump has nothing going on! I think a snail has better fighting potential" the boxer commented loudly as Bison laughed at that "Is that so? I hope that is not a problem that runs in the family Vega"

Vega gritted his teeth as Balrog gave him a grin, that bastard! Always trying to undermine him just to get ahead "I assure you Lord Bison, it is not. The boy is merely here for a project of mine"

This made the tyrant of Shadaloo raise an eyebrow and smile so wide that Balrog swore he saw the skin break a bit "And what would that project be? You are not hiding things from me are you?"

Vega shook his head "Not at all, you can ask one of the dolls. This opportunity fell into my lap just a few hours ago, an opportunity to spearhead an infiltration on Beacon itself" a lie, he had not thinking that. He was indulging on himself, enjoying in the way that he was superior to James's son and how James in turn had failed Jaune. But the idea did not sound all that insane for him now that he tought about it.

"Jaune's biggest desire is to be a hunter, he is vulnerable… malleable in a way. And because I not only offer him aid but as a family member I might be able to create the perfect infiltrator, one that does not realize that he is being used. No way to connect it back to us" Vega commented as Balrog made a face.

The boxer grabbed the nearest bottle of alcohol and downed it in one swing "Figures that a creep like you would use his own family to get what he wants, not that I am a saint but you're the worst one for the record"

M. Bison on the other hand rubbed his chin "A small gap in the headmasters mighty armor, the man is a careful one but if you think you can make him the perfect candidate for an agent that does not know that he is an agent you have my approval Vega. Now, I did not come here to chat as you both can assume it is fortunate that you appeared Balrog, there is much to speak and it all concerns him"

Vega blinked as he and the other general exchanged a look, Lord Bison had been bested. Utterly destroyed and that made them all fearful. The same man that bested Sagat and made him leave Shadaloo.

The man with fist like no other, followed closely by the red shadow.

Jaune's jaw almost fell to the floor as he stared at the place he would be staying for the following months, he was in the fanciest apartment he had ever seen and best of all the view was fantastic "Beacon… I am coming for you" he said with conviction as he looked at the massive building from afar.

"Lord Vega has sent further instructions for you, you are to wash yourself, eat and then go to sleep. Tomorrow you are to begin induction and training, getting to Beacon is to be your top priority. I have been assigned as your personal supervisor, so I will remain on this apartment for the time being" the creepy girl said as she looked at him with indifference, Jaune felt some pain on his nose but decided to roll with it.

He extended his hand towards her "Then nice to meet you, my name is Jaune, sweet short rolls of the tongue and the ladies love it" Jaune felt a strong grip almost crush his hand as he stared into the eyes of the girl.

"Statement: highly unlikely" his hand was returned making him smile awkwardly, the girl continued to stare at him confused as to why he had not left to shower "is there something wrong?"

Jaune blinked "oh nothing, I was just wondering why you didn't say your name" this made the girl nod her head "Understood, my name is Satsuki. What is the food that you would desire to eat?" the boy shrugged as he looked at his ruined backpack that was magically in the room as well. He suspected that Satsuki had brought it as well "Oh man I only have my hoodie left" Jaune muttered as he managed to grab what remained of his clothes.

"I don't know, what do you like? I can go for whatever you like see you in a bit" Jaune said as he felt a small smile on his face, he was making progress and he liked it.

But his smile soon banished as he remembered something "Oh man I forgot to ask for Balrog's autograph" he said to himself as he the bathroom.

On the other room, Satsuki did not move a muscle ever since Jaune left. Liked? She did no like anything… she live only to serve Lord Bison and… Satsuki sat down as she lowered her mask. Her breathing slightly accelerated, in desperation to shake herself from the feeling she looked online for delivery to shake the feeling off something being wrong she had a duty to perform and she would not fail Lord Bison or her sisters.