Got one of those annoying family dinners tonight. Ugh.

Cover Art: Solace O'Autumn

Chapter 48

Cinder was not a nice person.

She knew this, accepted it, embraced it. Of the many crimes she had and would commit, hypocrisy would not be one of them, and she accepted that she deserved a lot of bad things in life as a result of it all.

But this.

This, she did not deserve.

"—so that's how I escaped the White Fang and ended up on Mistral only to be kidnapped and forced into a criminal gang," Jaune finished, leaving her with more questions than she started with.

Questions like, `how did you survive to reach Menagerie` and `what do you mean the man holding you at gunpoint stopped because you played him a song`. Questions that Cinder had to shunt aside because she had the far more pressing problem that Jaune had come here and exposed himself to Lenardo and now Salem was going to find out about him again. And this time she wouldn't have any excuses for not finding him.

Unless he died.

Or Leonardo. Hmmm. One of those men was more useful than the other – especially if he could talk down an actual terrorist with his guitar skills. Leonardo had been necessary in the sense of getting her team into Haven without blowing their cover, and ensuring they were selected for the festival delegation, but he'd already accomplished much of what he was good for. He'd sent huntsmen to their deaths and sabotaged Mistral. That was "mission complete" in her books, which meant he was surplus to requirements.

Meanwhile, Cinder still needed a fourth member for her team.

"I can help," she said, because she'd have to help if Salem found out anyway. "But you owe me for this one. I already saved your life in Vacuo—" And while she'd caused this criminal issue, but dealing with gangs would be easier than dealing with Tyrian. "And you have to keep my involvement secret!"

"Of course I will." Jaune accepted easily. "It's not like I want anyone to know I'm involved with criminals either."

He had a good mind; she could work with that. Despite thoroughly humiliating her on stage, he was a clever – even cunning – man. He had to be to trick her like that. He also had an odd charisma around him, one that she couldn't fail to notice. Cinder didn't feel as though she was falling for him, but she had connected with him while on a night out drinking and that was unlike her. He'd also managed to infiltrate a criminal gang under disguise and kill its leader back in Vacuo.

That was an impressive list of accomplishments. Back in the past, she'd collected Mercury while trying to recruit his father as an accomplished assassin. Mercury had been a consolation prize who served as muscle, but he wasn't subtle nor clever enough to be a trained killer. Jaune might lack the mentality at the moment, but he'd proven he had the capability. Better yet, he could kill in a way no one could detect.

"So…" She would have to play this slow and steady. "What would be an ideal ending to this?"

"Ugh. I don't know. Honestly, I wouldn't care if they all dropped dead."

…

Okay, that was a little less slow than Cinder expected. "I mean, that is an angle," she said, wondering if it wasn't a trap. "They're wanted criminals and not the `stealing bread for starving children` variety by the sounds of it."

"No. They're nothing like Sun's kids. These are organised criminals. And the way they talked of killing me, it makes me think they've done it before." Jaune took a deep breath. "There are only three ways to deal with this that I can see."

"Oh?"

Cinder wasn't used to people actually having ideas. Emerald and Mercury (and even Salem to a lesser degree) tended to just have things they wanted, but never really explain how to get them. Mercury and Emerald made her decide everything, and Salem would just demand something and expect her, Tyrian, Watts and Hazel to make it happen.

It was rather refreshing to have someone come to her for assistance but then say they had some ideas. They might not be good ones, they might even be flawed, but it was better than what she usually dealt with. Besides, he could improve his judgment and planning through practice. You couldn't fix laziness.

"So, the way I see it my options are either to do what they want and work off my supposed debt—"

"Hm." Cinder nodded. "That's the passive option."

"The second is to play along but somehow root them out to the police and pit the local authorities against them, get them all arrested and get out of it that way."

"The passive-aggressive approach. Not bad."

"And the third option is to just up and turn on them. Crush them, destroy their criminal empires, and make them regret ever messing with me."

Cinder did not orgasm right then and there; that would have been ridiculous. However, she did feel a little warm in her stomach. Three ideas, three options, and she was very pleased to note that running away was not on the list. It was either that he was unwilling to accept defeat or that he knew the consequences for that would fall on his family in Argus. Those were valid concerns either way.

"The last approach is certainly the most dangerous," she remarked. "But it comes with the greatest possible benefits. Such as dismantling a criminal organisation…" Or taking it over, but she didn't want to sound too much like she wanted that—

"Or taking it over as my own," Jaune said.

…

Oh yes. He was definitely becoming her teammate.

Now then, she just needed to find a way to keep him out of Salem's hands and to silence Leonardo before he could report Jaune's presence to Salem. Cinder smiled and placed a hand on Jaune's shoulder.

"Don't worry," she said. "I think I can help."

/-/

Jaune thought he'd done pretty well for himself.

Cinder knew about his Semblance in the sense that she knew his music could influence people – even kill them – but she didn't know about the quests and the stats like Pyrrha did. As such, he couldn't really tell her about the quest with the criminals or why he couldn't just leave Mistral.

Framing the three "objectives" the quest gave him as "ideas" he'd had was something he pulled out his ass, but it seemed to work out because Cinder looked quite pleased with his ideas. In truth, there were probably more angles, but his quest had suggested he could either do as the crooks said, expose them, or defeat them. Or die. That was the fourth option of failure, but Jaune didn't quite fancy that one.

So, it was safer to treat it as though those three were his ways out. His quests had proven almost prophetic before, and they'd not yet been wrong, so even if it gave a crazy idea like "take over the criminals", that technically meant it was possible.

His Semblance was outright telling him that was a viable solution.

So…

Why not lean into it? His Semblance and the quests were a pain, but they weren't actively against him. It wasn't trying to kill him. In fact, it had once or twice saved his life. There was no reason to act like it was something working against him that should be ignored.

"Which of the three options do you like best?" Cinder asked.

"Well…" Jaune grimaced. "Promise you won't tell?"

"I promise."

"It's two or three. The police or crushing them. But not because I want to take over or be a hero!" he quickly added, as Cinder tilted her head at him. "It's because I'm worried the first one of working with them will have consequences further down the line."

This quest – or maybe quest chain was a better term – had started with him losing rep with criminals and ended with this. That meant this could do the same. Helping Lil Miss Malachite would apparently win him the `Criminal` title, and he couldn't help but think that would come back to bite him later. If having bad rep with criminals could see them kidnap him, then surely having bad rep with the law could get him arrested.

Crime Lord wasn't much better but he could always choose to dismantle his empire and retire it, and at least then no one could make him commit crimes. As for Detective, that might come with its own issues but at least they'd be on the side of the law.

"You're right about that," Cinder said. "The obvious consequence I can see is that they won't let you go if you prove yourself useful. Why would they? Better to offer you a job and, if you refuse, blackmail you with what you've done already for them. Force you to continue doing their bidding."

Erk. He hadn't even thought of that! Cinder was right, though. Why would they let him go? They certainly wouldn't if they found out what his Semblance could do. Maybe that title of `Criminal` was more literal than expected, and a hint of further criminal quests for Lil Miss Malachite if he went down that line.

"Definitely don't want that," he said. "That option is out. What about the police one?"

"Possible but risky. The biggest danger is that Mistral is quite the corrupt place, as you've probably learned. You'd have to find an honest officer, and then you'd have to hope that officer doesn't have to report it to a dishonest superior. And then cases are logged in the system, and there's a chance a mole will notice and pass the information onto these criminals…"

"All of which relies on a lot of people being honest. I get it. Damn it, that'd be the easiest option too."

"Easy options are usually dangerous," Cinder said, wisely. "The safest route will always be relying on yourself to do everything, because you can control how much effort you put into it. Relying on other people is always suspect."

That sounded kind of depressing but he could see what she meant.

"If you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself," he said.

Cinder smiled. "Precisely. But you can rely a little on me. I'm a huntress; it's my job to help. Also, I do believe we're friends." Her hand touched his. "So, don't be afraid to involve me a little."

Jaune let out a long breath. "Thanks Cinder. I'll do just that. And I'm sorry, you know, for bringing this to your door."

"And for the battle of the bands incident?"

"And for that." Jaune chuckled. "Speaking of, I need to call Meera and let her know I'm alive. Did… Did you check up on her?"

"The girl was fine when I left Vacuo. I'm sure that's the case still."

Good. He'd been worried for her but… well, it wasn't like he could reach her once he was on Menagerie, and he'd had enough problems of his own to deal with. Problems that just kept on stacking up over and over.

"Here, let me put my number on your new scroll," she said. "I want you to inform me whenever these criminals have work for you. We'll plan around it. Have they given you any idea of what you'll be doing?"

"Yes. The first thing is apparently playing some music for them in a meeting." He handed over his scroll as he talked. "I could probably use my Semblance to harm them right then and there, but I'm worried that'll be too obvious. They have to expect I'll try something, so it might be a test. I also don't want them to find out what my Semblance can do."

"A wise precaution," she said as she added her number. "And what can it do? I know a little, that it can influence people, that it can kill in the right circumstances, but is there anything else you think would be useful?"

"Well…" Cinder knew about the offensive options but, if she was going to help him, it was probably a good idea to fill her in on the rest. "I have the ability to buff a person with my music if I focus on them."

"Buff…?"

"Make them better. Stronger, faster, more resilient."

Cinder's eyes widened. "S—Stronger…?"

"Yes."

"I… I see." Cinder swallowed and leaned back, placing her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes and took a slow, steadying breath. "That sounds like it might be useful," she whispered. "Against these people. Yes, very useful. Don't let them find out about it. Keep it secret. Who else knows?"

"Um. Pyrrha does."

"Only her?" He nodded. "Keep it that way. The more that know, the more danger you're in. And speaking of danger, those that came for you in Vacuo will surely do so again if they know you're here so, for the love of everything, keep your head down." The last came out as a hiss. "No concerts, no live performances, no dramatics! Am I understood?"

He could forgive the way she snapped that out at him after the last one had not only embarrassed her on stage but put her in a position where she had to save his life against unknown foes. Becoming public here would put not only her life in danger, but the lives of her teammates as well, and it was obvious she didn't want that.

"I'll do my best. I might even start wearing a disguise in public."

"Going as a girl again? Yes, that's a good idea."

Jaune winced. "I was thinking as a man. You know, dye my hair or wear a wig."

"But the female disguise did work last time."

"Yes but—"

"I'll procure you some more feminine clothes," she said, apparently taking his evasion as confirmation. Jaune wasn't sure how. "It'll be useful to have it on hand if we need to sneak you away from these people for whatever reason. For now, continue texting me on whatever they have you do. We'll find a chink in their armour and then take over this organisation of theirs."

"And then destroy it?"

"Yes. Of course. Destroy it." Cinder glanced away. "That's definitely what we shall do. Anyway, I'd best have a talk with the headmaster before he starts grovelling in front of your friend. Stay safe and don't do anything reckless. I'll make sure Emerald and Mercury know we're working together."

"Right." Jaune took her hand with both of his and grasped it tight. "Thank you again, Cinder. I really do owe you for this!"

"Hmmm. I think I know of a way you can pay me back. You say you're planning to go to Vale after all this, right? With the new students in the new year? That's good. I'm hoping to head there for the Vytal Festival. Perhaps you can pay me back by assisting me with a little favour then."

For the price of helping him destroy a criminal empire looking to enslave him?

Bargain.

"Whatever you want, Cinder. Just call on me. I'm yours."

/-/

Pyrrha was in a mood when they met up after Haven, in a small diner back in the city, though she was quick to assure him it was because the headmaster had been obnoxiously pressing.

"It wasn't just about me but he was asking a lot about you as well," she said. "Who you were, where you were staying, and what you are to me." She frowned. "I hate those types of people. They remind me of the crazy fans."

"You'd know more than me about that," he joked. "Cinder agreed to help."

Jaune relayed the conversation back to her. Pyrrha didn't seem to like Cinder knowing about his Semblance, but she cheered up when he told her that Cinder only knew the musical side of it and not the part about quests and attributes and skills.

"I made it sound like the three routes the quest is giving were three ideas I had. Cinder says the one about destroying the criminals is best."

"Really? But that's the most dangerous!"

"Yes, but she pointed out the criminals might not let me go if I serve them, and how they might have moles in the police…"

"I guess that's true. Maybe it makes sense a huntress-in-training would default to the solution that involves fighting people as well," she said. "It's probably easier for her to fight criminals than beat them at their own games. Hm. Maybe it is the best option after all. Though the way the quest says crime lord makes me think there'd be more to it."

"Yeah, I know. But surely that's more like an option," he said, optimistically. "Like, I could be a crime lord if I chose to be. There's no reason I can't close the organisation down or even order them to destroy their drugs. Or just hand it off to someone else. I know that sounds bad but if crime has to exist then I could just give control to the least-objectionable person there." He grinned. "Unless you want control?"

Pyrrha laughed. "No thanks. I have enough responsibilities as it is. Maybe Cinder will want it."

"Ha. Maybe. Her idea for now is just to play along with the crooks but let her know what I'm doing."

"Hm. Let me know as well. And I thought up an idea to make sure they don't make you do anything too illegal, too quickly."

"What do you mean?"

Pyrrha smiled. "Well, they're only going to make you play music at first but they're bound to move onto more dangerous and illegal things. They want to make money off you. I said before that being known as my friend would have them seeing other ways to use you, right?"

"Yeah. Because you're famous and it's worth more to have inroads with you than have me sell drugs on a street corner."

"Yep. That's why we need to make it public we're together."

"Together?"

"As friends," she added. "But if it was to be ambiguous and they assumed more…" Pyrrha shrugged. "That only works in our favour, right? They think we're together, they realise the potential benefits of having someone that close to me, and they won't want to run the risk of you being arrested or killed on some pointless drug run."

It was an idea. That was for sure.

"You're talking about us faking a relationship…?"

"Yes."

"Would you really be okay with that? Wouldn't you find it awkward?"

She glanced away, blushing lightly. "Not at all. We can go on dates and hang out and hold hands and they'll make their own minds up."

"…" Jaune let out a breath. "I'm not sure it'll work."

"Why not? It's a genius plan—"

"Because Cinder warned me not to make myself too public. You remember my quest from Vacuo, right? If my name gets out there – and it will if it's being reported that I'm your boyfriend on the news – then those people might come to Mistral to capture me."

Pyrrha had obviously forgotten.

"Damn it!" she cursed, a little more angrily than he expected. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"We can still hang out as friends and be seen that way," he offered. "I don't think it'll make the news if we just meet up like this, and the criminals are probably keeping an eye on me so they'll have noticed this."

"Yeah but…" Pyrrha mumbled something under her breath. "Never mind. Forget it."

Jaune smiled weakly. He knew Pyrrha just wanted to help, up to and including faking a relationship with him and putting herself at risk. He'd have taken the offer if it wasn't for those people who came for him in Vacuo. There was just too much risk of someone that close to Pyrrha making the local news, and then making national news.

"We should spar," she said, suddenly.

"Spar? Like, fight…? You realise I'm not angling to become a huntsman—"

"You weren't angling to become a criminal either," she pointed out. "But it's happened. Most of your stats are useless because you can't fight, but it doesn't have to be that way. I can teach you some self-defence at the very least. Give you something to work with in case you get in trouble and don't have your guitar to hand."

"Shall we unlock my aura as well?"

"No. What? Isn't it already unlocked?"

"No."

"Then how is your Semblance!?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I assumed that was a thing that could happen. Why are you looking at me like I'm stupid? How was I meant to know this is unusual? I've lived in a village all my life and only travelled for the last half a year or so."

"I'm looking at you like you're stupid because you've been involved in a terrorist attack on a charity gala, hunted by Grimm, fought a criminal gang in Vacuo, then got involved with terrorists in Menagerie, and now criminals here – and you never once thought of mentioning to me that you don't have aura…?"

Jaune winced. "I assumed you knew."

"Ugh." Pyrrha pinched her forehead. "You're lucky you're handsome."

"Thanks…?"

She glared at him. "I am going to unlock your aura and then I am going to unlock a world of pain for you."

"P—Pyrrha. Is that… Is that necessary…?"

"Yes. Yes, it is."

/-/

Reluctantly, Cinder made the call.

"Ah, Cinder…" Watts' smug voice never failed to raise her hackles. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call, hm?"

"I need you to pass something important on to Salem for me. There is an issue in Mistral that I've dealt with."

"Oh? Last I recall, Mistral was your problem to deal with. Don't tell me you've failed—"

"Leonardo Leonheart attempted to reach out to Ozpin and confess his crimes." Cinder delivered the news like a hatchet, and Watts sucked in a breath. "I have dealt with him." A quick glance down was enough to confirm it. "I killed him without wounds. I need you to hack his medical records and put something in there. A stroke, a weakness in his heart. I don't care what it is, only that this can be explained away."

Watts was silent. The man despised her, and she despised him as well, but Leonardo was Salem's asset. It wouldn't do for either of them to toy with the danger he could have caused had he reached Ozpin.

Had that been real.

"I'll get on it. Salem won't be pleased."

"He completed most of his work before he died. Mistral has lost more huntsmen in the last ten years than it has produced. I expect the guilt of that finally crept up on him. It's not a great loss. We got everything we needed out of him. And now he's no longer a loose end. Salem should be content with that, if you phrase it right."

"Hm. I'll see to keeping her calm and cleaning up this mess, then. Do you expect it will interfere with your plans to be selected for the festival?"

"No. No matter who is chosen to replace him, my team remains one of the best in our year. I'll have Mercury and Emerald stop holding back so much. We'll show a little more and prove ourselves obvious choices. If all else fails, we can make a move on the next headmaster."

"Very well. I'll get to work on his records."

Watts hung up and Cinder stashed her scroll away. Leonardo hadn't expected this and had welcomed her into his office and turned off all his security to speak to her in private. No doubt he'd expected to be involved in some plan to abduct Jaune and hand him over to Salem, and all Leonardo could think about was how much he'd be rewarded for that.

The man hadn't thought to have his aura up when Cinder touched him.

And extreme heats could do a lot to a person's organs.

"To be fair," she told the corpse, "You were dead the moment you surrendered your pride and bowed down to Salem. As headmaster, you had the strength to reject that and fight back, but you were too much a coward to use it." Cinder scoffed. "What use is strength if you refuse to use it?"

The dead man didn't answer. That was fine.

Jaune was worth far more than this man, particularly now that she knew his Semblance could be used to boost the strength of a person. Support-type Semblances were rare, and closely guarded by those who had them. Semblances that could help a person kill a Grimm were a lien a dozen, but few matched up to the force multipliers that support-type Semblances could be.

Semblances like the Schnee's hereditary one, which allowed them to use glyphs to help their allies move faster and fight harder. Powerful Semblances that could change the course of battles if used properly.

How much stronger could she be if she not only gained the Fall Maiden's powers, but had Jaune's music to back her up? The thought of it alone had Cinder licking her lips. That would have to wait, however. There was the issue of these pesky criminals to deal with.

Ones that thought they could take what rightfully belonged to her.

Cinder like what Cinder see.

Because what Cinder see is power.

Next Chapter: 17th November

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