32

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He heard the door open, pulling away from Neo's soft lips - and ignoring the pout that came of it - and looked past where she was sitting in his lap at a blushing Mii, "What's up?" Neo glared at her and thought something nasty, and Jaune pinched her hip for it, "Be nice, she has a job to do, Neo."

"Um, mistress Cinder sent me to retrieve you for a meeting." She took a look at Neo, lacking her jacket and currently in his lap, "I can… tell her you were sleeping and are dressing, if you want?" "She won't strike me too hard for that if she doesn't know about it… I hope."

"No, it's fine, I'll head that way soon. Where is the meeting at?" He gave Neo's behind a pat to tell her to get up, and she did after a second of pouting. "I'm also going to have a word with Cinder about her hitting you, if you want me to."

"U-Um, no, master." She squeaked cutely, hands balling under her chin nervously, "Um, I wouldn't want you in trouble over me." "And it might make her angry enough to do more than hit me if she finds out I complained." "I-It's fine, really, I've had worse in Atlas than a simple slap on the cheek."

"True." He frowned and looked at Neo, who shrugged when she saw him look at her and raise an eyebrow, "Did you think the White Fang were willing to kill people just because? They get some shit a lot of the time for just being around."

"Whatever might be true, Mii, you are safe in here at least." He felt her relax as he stood, stretching and walking across the room towards his helmet. He slid it on before asking, "When you were there, who all was present?"

"Um… Mistress Salem, Mistress Cinder, Master Tyrion, Master Hazel and Master Watts." She paused for a few seconds, chewing her lip and turning back and forth anxiously, "Um, there were also two younger people I didn't know. A green haired woman and a silver haired man who smelled of... oil and smoke."

"Oil and smoke?" He asked in surprise, looking at her horns for a second before returning his eyes to her face, "I never smelled that on him… Could it be your being a Faunus lets you smell it easier?" She flinched at the mention - hans clenching under her chin and stepping back anxiously like she normally did - and he held up his hands, waving nervously to calm her down before she started to panic, "I'm just asking, I'm not upset or anything."

"Y-Yes, master." He sighed at the name and she flinched again, at his reaction he was sure. She was utterly terrified of him, probably based on Cinder's threats. "I-I'm sorry, mistress CInder told me she'd feed me to a Grimm if I didn't use the term."

Definitely based on her threats then, Jaune thought quickly, "It's fine, Mii, really." Seeking a change of subject, he tapped his foot for a second before asking, "Why are you always the one that comes to speak to me? I've, you know, seen the other two cleaning and delivering food and stuff, but you're the only one that talks to me and… Summons me?"

"The, uh, well we…" She swallowed nervously, rubbing her hands together in front of her for long seconds, "We kind of, maybe, drew straws to see who would have to deal with you, um, directly? Master."

"I'm almost afraid to ask why." He said quietly, rubbing his fingers on his helmet where the bridge of his nose would be. Mostly a habit now, it didn't really help anything, but he felt better for it. He looked to his side, sighing when he saw Neo holding her sides and shaking with silent laughter, "Not funny, babe, not funny."

She raised her eyebrows and cocked a hip to the side, resting a fist on it, as if to say, "So I'm 'babe' now?"

"U-Um, Mii, you can go. I'll get dressed and head that way." She nodded rapidly, hair bouncing around her horns gently with the movement, and walked from the room rather quickly. Feeling Neo poke his back, he sighed, and turned to look down at her.

She reached up on tiptoes to remove his helmet, and he almost laughed at the cute gesture. Wisely, though, he refrained. "You're giving me pet names already, huh?"

"Y-Yeah." He said weakly, rubbing the back of his neck and smiling nervously. He wasn't sensing outright hostility from her, but Neo was known to bounce from emotion to emotion at a whim. And her emotions didn't always have the effects on her actions that would make sense. "Just, sort of, you know… Popped out of my mouth? I wasn't thinking about it, I was distracted."

"I didn't say it bothered me." She 'said' quickly, leaning up to kiss him gently. "Never had someone call me that. Well, had one guy do it at a club, but he was my target and didn't last long. So never had one do it that I was okay with." He started to wrap his arms around her shoulder but she pulled back before he could, "Just ask before you use them in other people's company. I don't want people thinking I'm just some cute girl, I'm kind of your bodyguard now."

"When did that become official?" He asked jokingly, turning away from her and taking a seat to do his shoes.

"When we came here." She returned quickly, rolling her umbrella in between her hands boredly, "It's about as official as anything else, Jaune. It's dangerous here, after all. Someone has to protect your cute ass."

"I thought I was supposed to protect yours?" He said cheekily, looking at her and smiling. She rolled her eyes and he stood, sighing lightly, "You can just hang out here if you want to. I'm sure this is just another meeting about stuff I'm not too involved in, we've gone to a lot of those."

"Are you sure?" She asked quickly, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, her eyes flashing to pink and brown. "Because if you tell me I get to be lazy and eat ice cream while I watch a movie, I'm gonna do it."

"Sure, I don't mind. As much as they've put in, I should be safe here unless I piss Salem herself off. And in that case, not much we could do, really." She raised both her eyebrows at him and he waved his hands in front of himself, "That's not a knock on you! It's... as good as you are, we can't handle all her associates and her Grimm army and Salem herself. It's unreasonable to expect to by ourselves."

She tsked, jerking her head to the side and pouting, "Damn it, I can't be mad when you're right."

"Yeah, so… Just hang out if you want?" She nodded, walking off to the side towards the fridge, and he sighed. Women were complicated, especially if they could kill you. He turned, heading towards the door with his helmet in his hands, "See you in a bit then."

"Hurry back so we can get back to what we were doing and I'll give you something special." He almost, almost, stopped to ask but continued anyways, sliding the helmet on and stepping out the door into the cool evening air.

He was more than thankful that his helmet hid his blush, she'd have teased him to no end for it.

The walk to the grand hall was always a quiet one, if a bit chilly given their location, though Jaune could have done without the Grimm wandering around. They all gave him a wide enough berth, acknowledging him with quiet rumbles before moving past. It only took about ten minutes to get to the large doors leading into the Hall, and he pushed it open without much hesitation.

Inside, everyone was already in their own seats, Cinder's goons standing behind her slightly, and Salem smiled when she sa him, "Ah, Jaune. I am glad you have arrived, finally. We were beginning to worry, and Tyrian had volunteered to run a search party for you."

He was almost sure that she was joking, but nodded and spoke quietly anyways, "Sorry, my Queen, I had to get dressed before I could come. I apologize for the wait."

"It's quite alright, you weren't informed ahead of time for this meeting." She gestured at his chair and he took the permission to sit down, easing into the chair self-consciously, "To be quite honest, Jaune, we weren't going to bother you today. However, doctor Watts here has some… concerns he would like you to address."

"Um, what kinds of concerns?" He asked her.

She didn't answer, instead looking at the smart man sitting closer to Jaune than herself and gesturing for him to speak. He sighed and, after a moment, spoke, "First among them is that you're far too… nice, Jaune. There is simply no way you would help us willingly, and I worry that you'll simply try to run away at the first chance." He shrugged lightly, "Frankly, I don't feel like having to chase you down if you do such a foolish thing."

"There's also the concern of your servants." He continued before Jaune could argue, "To be blunt, you don't take advantage of them like a normal teenager would be tempted to. You don't sleep with them, even though they're all quite attractive and were chosen for that purpose. Dust, you don't even let them clean your room for you and tend to you like a teenager would do. You do it yourself. That leads into my previous concern more fully."

Jaune was quiet for a long moment before sighing, "There's… Not much I can say to make you feel better, Doctor." The man raised an eyebrow at him and he continued, "I, uh, well… I don't want to sleep with them, for one. Just not interested in forcing myself on someone, it's not fun for me. That's also why I do my own cleaning, mostly, it's just… how I am."

"You're right. That doesn't help." He said shortly, crossing his arms and looking at Salem, "The decision on what to do is-"

"I wasn't finished." Jaune said hotly, the man turning to look at him in surprise. Surprise he could see on everyone's face except Salem's own, who looked rather happy actually, smiling thinly. "Respectfully, Watts, I'd appreciate you shutting up until I'm finished before threatening me and my friends. And at least do it to my face."

After a second's silence, Jaune continued, turning to address Salem directly, "You knew what kind of person I was before you brought me here, don't expect any different. I'll do as you demand and ask because of our agreement. As long as you intend to keep it, I will keep my word." He leaned forward slightly, "But please, my Queen, stop questioning my integrity. I've done nothing to earn that kind of treatment, and obeyed at every demand you've made so far."

After a long minute, long enough for Jaune to realize what he'd said and to whom, he began to grow nervous. Until Cinder spoke, "Mistress, I told you he was ready. Has this test satisfied you?"

"Test…?" He said quietly, leaning back and mouth open slightly in surprise.

"Yes, a test." Salem returned brightly. Smiling widely, she relaxed into her seat and folded her hands on the table, "I have a mission that needs to be undergone, and asked Cinder to see to it. She suggested I put you in charge, and send her along as support instead. In Vale."

"I was worried you'd run to your friends as soon as you got there." Watts said simply, chuckling quietly, "I expected you'd get defensive, but I must admit that I figured you would require a bit more goading before addressing her Highness so directly."

"So, you will be heading to Vale and, with Cinder's assistance, you will accomplish two objectives. First, capture or kill the Fall Maiden. If you feel the need to, you can bring her here to me and I will attempt to forcibly remove the power from her." She raised a hand over her shoulder, a large sphere Grimm floating towards her. It was a lot like the smaller ones that floated around that were used, Cinder had told him, for communication, except that this one's 'orb' part was clear, and several tentacles hung inside. "Killing her would be quicker and preferable, of course. This procedure of mine has been attempted twice and never worked, and seems to be excruciating."

"H-How do you know, highness?" He asked hesitantly, watching the creature hover apprehensively.

"Well, the two women did scream quite a bit until their brains hemorrhaged and they died." She smiled in an innocent way that, on her warped and strangely beautiful face, felt all the more sinister, "So I am quite sure they died, Jaune. You may make whatever choice you desire, but either bring me the Maiden or kill her. Cinder will inherit the power from her after that either way."

"O-Okay, I'll do my best." He swallowed anxiously, all his earlier confidence and even earlier good mood gone at the prospect of actual having to kill someone. "What's the other thing you want us to do?"

"You two will engineer the destruction of Beacon Academy, and all it has." She said simply, smiling primly at him. "And while doing so, capture your friends, and bring them under my protection."

"A-And if they refuse?"

"Then leave them. They will fight and die and have made their own choice." She smiled even wider, "And should you fail, or refuse, then you will choose one of those girl's heads to go into my creature. And you'll watch."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Pyrrha stood, armored and with her weapons on her back, looking dead ahead at Ozpin, her team - or its remnants at the least - flanking her. "You called on us, sir?"

Ozpin looked to the side, drumming his fingers idly while he looked at the setting sun casting shadows across the land and his beloved Academy, "Yes, I did." He took in a heavy breath before letting it out and looking at them, "Several weeks ago, Miss Goodwitch was allegedly attacked and wounded by a member of the student body here. I trust you remember?"

"Of course, sir." Nora said quietly, Ren nodding slightly on Pyrrha's other side, "Why?"

"Blake did not attack anyone at all, much less manage to wound the third most powerful person in Vale." The two of them exploded into questions, and Ozpin held up a hand, waiting for them to fall silent before beginning to speak, "Her 'attack' was part of a gambit to rescue Jaune and combat the White Fang. She would report to me when ready and with Miss Nikos' assistance as well as the Atlesian fleet, we would have attacked their base. The objectives were to rescue Jaune and Blake, as well as crippling White Fang operations in the area."

"I'm guessing it didn't succeed." Ren stated simply after a long, tense minute of silence.

"Quite." Ozpin said with a small, sad smile, "Jaune was moved after Blake's 'rescue' from an Atlesian base, and I don't know to where. My agents and allies in the other Kingdoms haven't found a hint of him, not that I expected them to. My opponents are great at hiding themselves when they desire to, I'm afraid."

"Now, however, Blake has managed to get word to me of her location. James is preparing a strike team, I have a team of Huntsmen who will join them." He gestured at Pyrrha, smile vanishing into a cold, hard face as his eyes bored into hers, "And I need Pyrrha's aid in the battle, to make a point."

"And a target on her back, right?" Nora asked quietly, the man's old eyes sliding closed at the quiet fury in the Valkyrie's own.

"Yes." He said, sighing when she threw her arms in the air in anger and spun, slamming her foot into his other chair hard enough to shatter it against the far wall. "Miss Valkyrie, I assure you of Miss Nikos' safety."

"Oh really?" Ren asked, Pyrrha and Ozpin alike turning when he stepped forward angrily, "I doubt that is possible, Headmaster."

"Nothing will harm hide nor hair on her before first killing me." He said simply, standing opposite of them and looking at him levelly. "We will paint a target on her, and lure our enemy close. Then we will crush them in our trap and use the chance to take Jaune back. And to the ends of her safety and his, I will give my own life if needed." Turning to look at Pyrrha, "I told you your power would be put to saving Jaune and Remnant alike. Do you believe yet that I meant what I said?"

"I do." She said quietly, hand dropping to her blade's hilt on her waist where it was holstered now. "For Jaune, I will trust you. When do we depart for the attack?"

"Tomorrow morning, before classes begin." Ozpin said, smiling thinly but pleasantly at her and turning to Ren, "Will you join us?"

"Of course." He said simply, looking to Nora. She nodded seriously, and Ren sighed quietly, "We'll both fight for our team, no matter what it takes to protect it. We've both lost too much before now, we won't let this join it."

"I wouldn't call you students of Beacon if you did." Ozpin said, smiling and striding to his window to stare out at the fading light, "Go, rest. An Atlesian soldier will be by to collect you early in the morning. And we all will go forth and save at least one of our friends and allies."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I can't believe I let a Schnee go…" Adam said quietly, sitting in the stolen Bullhead as the Cat piloted them part of the way back so he could rest. Raising his sheathed blade, he grimaced, "I could have cut her pretty throat right then and there, and done the White Fang a service for it."

"Killing an innocent girl would do no one a service, least of all the Faunus." Blake argued back, sighing tiredly and anxiously. "I'm glad you didn't, if that matters, Adam. Weiss is a good person."

"For a Schnee."

"For a person, Adam." She quipped back hotly, sighing and shaking her head, "Her family's sins aren't hers you know. You'd do well to be a bit more open minded, especially if you expect them to be for us. Humans, I mean."

She had a point, he had to concede, sighing and setting his sword aside. "Just get us home, Blake. I… need to think."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX