Chapter Seventeen: B.B. Laz

"Agh…ow."

"Stay still, Roman. It'll be okay."

September's hands trailed over Roman's chest, imbuing it with healing energies and numbing. Rogue, meanwhile, was walking back and forth, bringing ice bags from the fridge and laying them on Roman's chest to ease the pain.

He smiled as he looked at Rogue. "Thanks, tiny. Switch's cut hurts as bad as it looks, I'm afraid."

Jaune nodded gravely, looking back at the others who'd joined them. The Malachite twins, Blake, Velvet—even Coco'd shown up in the meantime. "Laz has gone too far, targeting civilians like Velvet and Rogue. We need to deal with him."

Roman nodded. "No kidding. Which means we gotta get to him."

Jaune frowned. "And how, exactly, do we do that? Do you know where he operates from?"

Roman shook his head. "Nope, but I know who does. His second in command is Keeper—a.k.a. Vera Nikos. She's the only one of the Six Strings I've actually dealt with before, which of course means I had Neo sneak a peak at her ID before she left. And, knowing that, we can deal with her. I have a simple solution."

"Which is…?"

"She has a daughter—"

"Absolutely not."

Roman glared at him. "Look, Jaune, Laz went after your kid—Keeper ordered Rogue dead. If anyone deserves to have their daughter threatened, it's her."

"We are not bringing more innocent people into this."

Roman sighed. "Well, look, I dunno what you want me to do. You're kinda tying my hands here." his eyes flicked to the door as he smirked. "Is what I would say if it weren't for Neo."

Jaune turned, eyes widened as he saw Neo suddenly appear, holding a large, burlap sack. He sighed, slowly shaking his head. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is."

Neo opened the sack, revealing a young girl—probably ten at most—with fiery red hair that was pulled into a tight ponytail. Her eyes were covered by a white blindfold, her mouth gagged with a rag and her body bound with ropes. Other than that, she was wearing pink and green frog pajamas.

Jaune facepalmed as Roman gave Neo a thumbs up.

Jaune walked over, removing the girl's blindfold to reveal teary, terrified green eyes. He removed her gag, the girl taking a breath before speaking. "I don't know who you are or why you took me but if you let me go I promise won't—"

Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder, imbuing calmness into her with September. "Shh, it's okay. We aren't going to hurt you."

She blinked twice, staring at him. "You're…you're not?"

Jaune nodded, giving her a patient smile. "No, you won't be harmed at all. It's just…my associates here wanted your mother's help, and the easiest way they thought to do that was to kidnap you and blackmail her with your safety. Which, mind you, we are not doing, Roman."

Roman rolled his eyes. "You're no fun."

The girl stared at Roman for a moment before looking back at him. "Why? Why would you need my mother's help she's… she's an accountant. Why would—?"

"Spoiler alert kiddo, your mom works for a crime boss."

Pyrrha's eyes widened as Jaune glared at Roman. "There's definitely a nicer way to say it…but yes, your mother works for B.B. Laz. He's a bad man who commits horrible crimes to people for money. He tried to have me killed."

"No! My mother would never do that! She'd never hurt—"

RIIIIING! RIIIING!

Pyrrha froze, eyes flicking down towards her pocket.

Jaune's eyes flicked down as well, seeing a phone screen lighting up from beneath her PJ's. He reached over, grabbing her phone and seeing the contact calling listed as 'Mama' with several heart emojis after it. He answered it, holding it up to his ear.

"Pyrrha? Hello?"

"Vera Nikos?"

"Who is this? What have you done with my daughter!?"

"Your daughter's fine, I don't want to hurt her. Come to Curative Cuisine and we'll hand her back to you."

"Curative—Jaune! You bastard, if you lay one hand on my little girl—"

He flicked the phone to speaker.

"—B.B. Laz will skin you alive!"

Pyrrha's eyes widened as Jaune ended the call, her eyes flicking to Jaune. "You… you weren't lying. But… but why? Why would she do this? I don't understand…"

Jaune sighed, untying Pyrrha before sitting back on one of the nearby chairs. "Sometimes people that seem good do… questionable things. Maybe because she's scared of what B.B. Laz can do, maybe for money—I don't know. What I do know is that your mother is dangerous, and we need to get you back to her."

Pyrrha looked down for a moment before her eyes flicked to Rogue, no doubt coming to the realization that Keeper—her mother—had ordered the death of someone younger than even she was. "I…please, don't hurt my mother. She isn't a bad person, she's just… she's…"

Roman chuckled. "Face it kid, your mother's a bi—OW!"

Roman grunted as Rogue threw an ice pack on his chest, glaring at him.

Jaune leaned down, laying a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder. "It's okay, I promise I won't hurt your mom. She's going to come here, I'm going to talk to her, and you're going to go home. Like none of this ever happened, okay?"

"I… okay."

It was about ten minutes later when Jaune saw a van pull up outside Curative Cuisine. Two people stepped out of it.

The first Jaune guessed was Keeper, given she had the same red hair and green eyes as Pyrrha. She was wearing a strapless, black dress and holding a small book in her hands. He watched as she placed it on the ground before picking it back up, turning to the second.

The second figure was a dark-skinned man with close-cut black hair, clad in a blue suit-jacket with a white shirt beneath, accompanied by a black and silver tie. He glanced at Keeper's diary before turning back, holding out his hands. From them, Jaune watched appear a black electric guitar, with a phrase in silver carved into it.

'Rock Me Baby'

Of course he's a stand user.

The two walked in, Laz smirking as Vera rushed forward—every stand in the building emerging and aiming at her. Jaune held back their fury with a raised hand. "It's okay. Pyrrha, go to your mother."

Pyrrha looked between B.B. Laz and her mother before slowly walking over to her, letting herself be guided back toward Laz. Who, speaking of, was smiling all the while.

Laz's lips peeled back to reveal a sneer. "Well if it ain't the crew that cut my strings. How y'all doin' tonight?"

Roman sat up, actually using his cane for once as Rogue ducked behind Jaune, Pyrrha staring between Laz and Jaune. Jaune didn't move, simply having September hover just behind him, ready to block any bullets or other potential threats that came his way. "We never wanted this, Laz."

"That ship's sailed my boy. Moment you took down old Winchester."

Pyrrha turned, staring at her mother. "Mom…what do you actually do for a living?"

"I'm…an accountant, sweetheart. Just like I've always told you."

Roman scoffed. "Oh cut the shi—er, crap, Vera! She knows what you are!"

Vera's eyes widened as she turned to Pyrrha, who was staring her down with wide, questioning eyes. "Who is this man, mom? Why did you say he'd skin Jaune alive?"

"Because he took you sweetie, now come on—"

"Who is he?"

"I—"

"What else haven't you told me?"

"I—"

"You're going to hurt them, aren't you?"

Vera's silence was deafening.

Pyrrha blinked twice, looking back at Jaune and his group before taking another step backwards. "Why? They're just normal people, they haven't done anything wrong, have they?"

"They killed my six best roadies is what they did wrong."

Vera looked back, seeing B.B. Laz step forward. Everyone on the opposite side tensed, staring him down as he strummed a few chords on his guitar. "Sir, let me get my little girl out of here. Then take care of them."

"Take care of? What do you mean—you're not going to kill them, are you?"

Laz sighed. "Vera, get your kid outta here already."

Vera nodded, walking forward and gently grabbing Pyrrha's wrist. She went to walk back, only for Pyrrha to jerk her wrist away. "Why are you working with him? He tried to kill these people—he tried to kill a little girl! Why are you friends with him?"

"Sweetie that's something for another time, okay? Now come on, let's—"

"No! I'm not leaving until you answer me!"

Laz rolled his eyes, strumming a few chords before he started to play. A soothing, drifting melody that wormed its way into the ears of everyone listening. Suddenly Vera jerked forward, as if being pulled by invisible strings and grabbed Pyrrha and pulled her behind Laz.

Jaune, meanwhile, felt that soothing melody calling to him, asking to let it in. To let it ease all his troubles and worries. He resisted, but when he saw all the stands in the room turn toward him, he knew the others had not been so lucky.

Jaune stared at them, eyes flicking to B.B. Laz.

Laz smirked. "I'm outta your range, boy."

September slammed a foot onto a nearby table, splintering it before launching the splinter at Laz.

BANG!

But Sweet Child of Mine was quick on the draw.

The bullet ripped the splinter into impossibly small fragments as Neo and Rogue took up defensive positions in front of Laz. Meanwhile, said boss smirked. "Let's see what these new strings of mine can do, shall we? Tiny, you're up!"

Rogue stepped forward, her eyes unseeing as she summoned 39, launching feathers at Jaune. He fell to the ground, heavier than he'd ever remembered feeling as the gravity from each feather weighed on him. He tried to move, only to collapse to one knee instantly. Only September could actually move.

"Stop it! You're hurting him!" Pyrrha yelled.

"That's the idea, kiddo! Welcome to the real world!"

Money for Nothing and Mr. Brownstone dashed forward, both with their fists raised. Jaune focused, imbuing something he hoped to never imbue again into both September's hands.

Pain.

Two blows to Money for Nothing brought Roman down. Mr. Brownstone slammed its fist into his left hand, creating a portal between it and September's wrist. Jaune looked down, seeing his own left hand come off and fall to the ground, Mr. Brownstone's portal all that sustained it. His second punch knocked Brownstone away, leaving him open to From Shadows.

From Shadows, despite being a free-thinking stand, still had to follow Blake's orders. And right now, those orders were 'attack Jaune'. Still, it resisted somewhat, by dodging whenever Jaune even so much as feinted a movement, pulling its punches, and even jumping in front of attacks from Fabulous and I May Fall—who'd taken the form of September for the fight.

September raised its arms as SCOM fired a salvo at him, the blades on its arms cutting through the bullets until they hit the ground. Though, when they did, Jaune watched little rosebushes sprout, wrapping around his legs as thorns cut into him from every angle, rising toward his face. He tried to have September cut them, but they just seemed to grow back faster.

Really wish I could imbue 'stop growing' or 'decay' or something right about now.

I May Fall charged forward, slamming their arm blades against September's. Jaune focused as Velvet started a rush.

"ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA!"

"ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA!"

Granted, both stand cries were the same, so…that happened.

Despite Jaune's years of experience, he could only do so much with one hand. I May Fall slammed its blades into September's head, creating a long gash that was mimicked along the side of Jaune's head. He felt blood pouring over his left eye as he looked up. "Come on, guys, snap out of it! Rogue, sweetpea, please!"

His pleas fell on deaf ears as they continued their assault.

Meanwhile, Pyrrha dashed to B.B. Laz, grabbing his arm. "You've proven your point! Stop! You'll kill him!"

"Again," he shoved her off. "That's the idea."

She stared between the beaten-up Jaune and Laz, her heart rate spiking as she felt powerless to do anything. No, I can't give up! I have to stop this! Before someone dies!

She jumped at B.B. Laz, despite being unable to see the invisible guitar he was playing, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She slammed her teeth into his shoulder, the man shouting before throwing her off, going back to playing. "You little shit! Alright, roadie, kill her!"

"WHAT!?"

Vera dashed forward as SCOM fired a bullet, but she knew she was too late. At the last second she summoned her stand, throwing it in front of Pyrrha.

A hole formed in the dead center of the book.

And Vera fell to the ground.

Laz smirked. "Whoops. Oh well, I can always find a new second."

"MOM!"

Pyrrha dashed to Vera, trying to staunch the bleeding with her tiny hands as her mother reached up. "It's okay…sweetie, it's okay…mommy's just…gotta rest a bit…"

"No…nonono, please…Mom!"

She stared at her mother, tears welling up in her eyes as she leaned down, wrapping her arms around her mother's neck. "Please…please don't go…"

"I'm sorry…Pyrrha…"

Her head lolled to the side, and her eyes ceased to see.

Pyrrha grit her teeth, staring through teary lenses at B.B. Laz. She felt her heart slamming in her chest as one thought consumed her mind:

Revenge.

"STOOOOOP!"

Laz was thrown back as a massive shockwave slammed him against the wall, the lights flickering off for a moment. He was back up a second later, just in time to see Pyrrha standing up, glaring at him. Behind her, there was a strange figure, a dark red figure in a black dress with a pair of blue butterfly earphones covering their ears. Their burning blue eyes stared a hole into Laz with the same fervor of Pyrrha.

And from behind them, every utensil in the kitchen began to move.

Laz smirked, playing his tune once more, but Pyrrha—so consumed by rage—didn't even hear it over the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears. She pointed forward, hand on her hip as she growled:

"Apologize to mom in Hell!"

Dozens of knives, forks, spoons, and other cutlery flew toward Laz. SCOM fired bullets into it, but with so many projectiles, there was nothing it could do. So, Laz did the only thing he could: Had Rogue recall her feathers and place them at his feet, knocking all the objects down with the force of her gravity.

"Nice try ki—"

"ARA!"

September's severed hand flew into Laz's face, knocking him down and ceasing his playing. Without hesitation it grabbed a knife, imbuing it with durability before emerging fully from it.

Jaune smirked. "You're in my range."

Laz froze, staring at the giant before him.

"I would like to start with a three part apology—"

"ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA ARA!"

Laz was…paste by the end of it. There was nothing left of him but a red smear on the wall. Jaune reattached his hand as Mr. Brownstone's ability wore off, Miltia no longer under his control. Jaune, without thinking, dashed for Vera and started trying to heal her. Though, after a few attempts at imbuing healing energies into her torso, it was clear there was no hope.

He looked at Pyrrha, whose stand was still floating behind her menacingly, and slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Pyrrha stared at him for a moment before closing her eyes, lip quivering and tears slowly building up before she collapsed into Jaune's arms. He held her close, whispering comforting sounds into her ear as he imbued her with determination and grit—not things he'd normally use for grief, but giving someone happiness after seeing their loved one get butchered right in front of them? That was just insulting.

She pulled back after about thirty seconds, September healing Jaune's head as she stared at him. "What happens to me now? Mom was all I had left."

Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a small smile. "How about you stay with us, until you figure that out?"

Pyrrha thought about it for a moment.

Then slowly nodded. "Okay."

…

B.B Laz, utterly defeated…dead.

Vera Nikos, shot to death.