"Good job, good job."
Juniper stared at this odd scene with a very mixed set of emotions as his little brother pat Neo's head as she contentedly nuzzled into his chest, sitting side saddle in his lap. His voice was clear and sweet despite puberty having begun for him as he made a very convincing girl in his Green Hornet disguise.
Pyrrha also sent an uncomfortable humming through his form, though it was clear she also felt bemusement at his younger self's effeminate disguise. Some flash of his own cross dressing at their first Ball at Beacon vaguely buzzed at the back of his mind.
Jaune hadn't grown all too much in the past year, which was weird because when HE had been Jaune's age this was about the time when he'd begun sprouting like a weed. Which he supposed was probably a result of that damn ninja tonic that had been the biggest thing to start the deviation in their timelines.
For some reason the Bloodline Awakening Tonic from Mizugakure (wherever the hell that was again) valued leaner, smaller, pretty boys or something while packing all the power into their smaller bodies as possible. Ninjas were weird, Juniper decided. Whatever Mizugakure had with slim, pretty boys was weird.
Still he was taller than Neo now by a half a dozen centimeters or so, even as she wore her heeled boots, which meant suddenly out of nowhere their seating dynamic had reversed, though Jaune seemed to adapt to the change quickly enough. Still seeing Neapolitan, the girl that had tried to kill Ruby so many times, act like a loving housecat was still jarring sometimes.
"She looks like she's getting real comfortable." Juniper sighed before turning his attention to Roman Torchwick.
His failure to catch Roman's recent big splash of crime in Vale was definitely Jaune's fault. His refusal to watch Valean news after his whole original appearance as 'The Green Hornet' that had (assumedly) fast-tracked Lisa Lavender's position as a head anchor for the Valean News Network, had meant that Roman's arrival in Vale had slipped completely past their radar.
Well, not that he'd even known enough about Vale to know when exactly Roman had begun gaining infamy in his original timeline.
But Juniper couldn't forget Roman's mug as he'd allegedly been responsible for Atlas's mechs turning on them during the fall of Beacon (source: Ruby). So when he saw him from a pic by Neo (Roman with the Razor Garrote wires of Whisper wrapped around his neck as he hung from a wall, Hush pinning the back of his collar into a bricks behind him like a kitten held up by the nape) his interest in the man instantly caught Jaune's attention.
Roman looked as uncomfortable as Juniper himself felt.
"Roman, Roman, Roman." Juniper muttered to himself. "The face of villainy for Team RWBY before everything went so sideways so fast. I would say how the mighty have fallen, but you were never the real threat, were you?"
Not that Roman could even hear him. Or see him. Or even knew what horrors he would help unleash in the future.
And when Neo had messaged Jaune with information about a Mistralian Crime Family trying to muscle into Vale, which Jaune had imposed his 'protection' over, along with a man that caught Juniper's interest?
That had brought Jaune running, asking his siblings plus Emerald to cover for him against his Big Sisters Specialist Pepper Gyarul and Noire Briarsong.
Emerald especially was good for it, knowing 'her master's' every mannerism and detail to heart and loyal beyond belief. She could even strain herself without visual discomfort for two targets at a time now, even if it was a pretty huge strain in actuality.
"So." Jaune's voice was very convincingly female in disguise, probably more ninja tonic bullshit because he'd been going through puberty recently. "You are… Roman Torchwick, correct?"
"Yessir, that's me." Roman gave an easy smile, in sharp contrast to the fact that he was currently rolling a bit on his side bound within a SR Rarity Equipment: Iron Bands of Binding.
It's function was beyond simple as it's description read:
A favorite of adventurers, thieves, and law enforcement from all across the Forgotten Realms, this rusty iron sphere measures seven and a half centimeters in diameter and weighs just under a half kilogram. One may activate its magic bindings by speaking the command word 'Falmuz' and throw the sphere at a Huge or smaller creature visible to the eye within 60 feet. As the sphere moves through the air, it opens into a tangle of metal bands.
Should one's aim be true the target is RESTRAINED until the original user speaks the command word again with the intent to release it. Doing so, or missing with the throw, causes the bands to contract and become a sphere once more.
A creature, including the one RESTRAINED, can only utilize raw physical strength to break the iron bands, an action that is considered Very Difficult. If successful, then the item is destroyed, and the RESTRAINED creature can become freed. If any attempt to free oneself from the Iron Bands of Binding fails, any further attempts made by that creature automatically fail until 24 hours have elapsed.
Once the bands are used, they can't be used again until the next dawn.
Naturally Roman hadn't used raw strength enhanced by Aura, but attempted to slip his way out, causing his attempt to fail and suddenly found himself much more tightly bound.
And honestly Juniper could taste the light bits of mana radiating from the bands from where he floated a little under a meter away. There was no way Roman couldn't feel that there was something very wrong about his bindings, even without knowledge of magic. He knew that something was horribly wrong with his newfound situation. Something no amount of experience could explain. That he was absolutely and utterly helpless.
Which was exactly why he was being so very helpful.
With how… dependent Neo had become on Jaune, more than perhaps even Emerald, how batshit scary she could be, and her immediate leap into Jaune's arms, his younger brother's appearing act from behind Torchwick's vision via Shadow, and the magic bindings?
Well.
He might have been more frightening than however Cinder must have appeared when she'd done whatever that had forced the man's compliance in Juniper's own timeline.
And Juniper didn't even want to THINK about the bag of worms of finding out that Amber was FUCKING CINDER FALL and Neo's Partner at Beacon for over a year now. At least she wasn't one of Salem's now but the woman that murdered his Pyrrha was currently his sister Robin's best friend.
Pyrrha sent a calm reassurance through him, reminding him that despite her discomfort at the situation as well, those two were very different people now. That he shouldn't blame the current Cinder for her previous life's crimes.
He'd be happy to blame her with her current life's crimes if Jaune hadn't just up and forgave her. And with how Jaune looked up to him he… well he didn't want to disappoint him by hating the girl, even if he didn't like her much.
Gods things were so complicated.
"And the people that Mint saved you from were of the Spider Gang of Mistral? The one led by Lil Miss Malachite?"
"That's right. I came to Vale to get away from all of that. I don't kill, don't peddle drugs, I just wanted to make a name for myself and steal things that weren't too important." Roman was clearly appealing for mercy inside the belfry of an old clocktower. "Really, I'm nobody that the illustrious Green Hor-"
"Don't call me that." Jaune interrupted with irritation, green eyes disguised by his magic wig that was currently black with green streaks, "I didn't ask anyone to call me that. Honestly, what a dumb moniker. There's nothing heroic about Hornets."
"Of course not! They really should have asked for your input! How very rude of them!" Roman was sweating. He had no idea that Jaune could read his every snakelike intent. "I thought it was a bit silly too, to be honest. Not that I thought you were a joke, just not a threat to me personally as long as I stayed off your time table."
"Honestly… you weren't even on my radar until just now." Jaune instantly blew the wind out of Roman's sails, the man's fake smile falling flat. "I don't watch the news much. Or read it. I should but I was always just happier busting heads."
"Well then…" Roman's eyes glinted. "Would you perhaps… like an informant in the Underground? I can't give up thievery entirely, but I'll play ball. Ease up and make sure I don't harm any little guys. And imagine all the new targets and places you could hit. Think about it! I could-"
"Either attempt to use me as a weapon against the Spiders that want you dead or run for the first boat headed to Mantle because you'd hate all the sand in Vacuo? You know even if their protection of Mantle is weaker than their grip on Atlas itself, Mantle still has Victory Wing, right? If at any point a single one of them were on duty while you were performing a major crime you'd be fucked."
Roman flinched, the Iron Bands tightening further as they slunk around him like snakes.
"Jaune." Juniper advised, floating to his side. "I'm not saying to trust him. He's a rat."
"An absolute snake." Jaune muttered in agreement, probably not realizing he'd spoken that outloud, making Roman flinch and sweat further.
"But…" Oh… this was an awful idea. Or brilliant? Brilliantly awful. No, maybe just awful, but the last time Beacon fell was because Salem's people got in with the criminal Underground. This time he'd have to prevent that, just in case. "You should know you can't eliminate all crime. Not permanently nor perfectly."
Jaune grimaced at his words.
"You might be able to curtail and get rid of maybe hard drugs, human and Faunus trafficking and the like, but you've… well you've noticed by this point right? That what you've been doing hasn't been enough? I've let you go about and learn and experience it first hand but some nights are just you and Neo just doing the same thing in a different place and nothing significant changes. Although there's nothing wrong with you two getting a bit of stress relief, whenever you take down a big group of thugs… smaller ones come out of the woodwork to try to take their place."
"I-" Jaune's eyes narrowed as he chewed his lip, his hand continuing to stroke Neo's hair as the girl smiled with closed contented eyes into his neck. "I've noticed that, yeah. I'm not sure what to do about it..."
"Then… let's use Roman."
"Hmmmm. How would we use him?"
"I can VERY much be of use!" Roman smiled with a calculatedly friendly grin, though a hint of desperation lingered regardless, "Look, I'm a rat. A snake in the grass! Yeah you're right, I get it. But I could be very useful, especially if you and I find something we want in common! Come oooon, ha ha… throw ol' Roman a bone here, any bone!"
Juniper paused. Though he'd only known him by reputation, Roman Torchwick had been the most wanted man in Vale for many years by the time that he had gone to Beacon.
But how much of that threat was because of Neo was really the big question.
Sure he must have been the brains, as Neo had proven herself to be much more of a follower, clearly preferring things that way. But still how much of his success was owed to his personal ability, brains or otherwise? It wouldn't take that much for anyone to get away when Neo was involved. Her Semblance was overpowered for such purposes.
Funnily enough, Juniper vaguely recalled that he had to write a report on him during his first year at Beacon, one that Ruby at some point requested a copy of and he's been happy to share. He sort of wished that he'd known a bit more about what the girls of Team RWBY had been up to then.
"We theoretically could make him the new King of Vale's Underground. He'll get to be infamous, which is apparently what he wants, but we'll make the hard rules. We'll get rid of everything that we can't stomach allowing at all, by his underlings if he gets any or by your own hand. Your choice, I guess."
Despite how much of a cheery bright ball of sunshine Jaune could be… he was a killer. He had possibly been as such since the day Juniper had met him, worsened by the Ring of Conditional Victory implating the combat memories of Hector, Prince of Troy. The ring that had given him the ability and skill that the Bloodline Awakening Tonic which fucked his brain up in the first place, did not.
In an attempt to save Ruby and Yang's mother, he'd created a warrior that relished in blood, held in place only by a child's idea of what morals were. Juniper could only hope that Jaune could be kept from drowning in it all by his family and friends.
"We can get rid of the worst things in the city for a price. A… a compromise, if you can accept that. Not that you have to. We could just get rid of him as well. But in the end, whatever choice you make is entirely yours."
Jaune was quiet.
"Seriously…" He sighed in defeat. "Everything has a price, huh? Auntie Rae is right, isn't she? Si vis pacem. Para bellum. If you desire peace, prepare for war. I don't like admitting she's right. She gets unbearable."
"I might still be willing to pay for it?" Roman chuckled a little weakly, still thinking that Jaune was just having a conversation with him and him alone. "I'd very much like to live and your aunt sounds like a smart Mistralian cookie. Guessing she's from around Argus?"
"...Say that… that I gave you Vale's Underground with absolute conditions… What price are you willing to pay?"
Jaune started speaking hesitantly, but his eyes hardened with conviction, his little brother beginning to formulate the beginnings of a plan.
Roman just blinked silently, his brain turning as he rocked faintly in place, held sideways by the Iron Bands.
"...Holy shit." Roman laughed. "Wait. This isn't a 'got you' moment right? I thought I'd have to do a lotta groveling just for my hide, but suddenly you want to play Suzerain? I'm not complaining, just surprised. Especially… heh. Especially if you're being serious."
"Don't make me regret getting Mint to not kill you."
"Shutting up now! Just going to listen to your master plan, oh most beautiful and wise heroine."
Juniper snorted as Jaune sighed defeatedly.
This was the villain that Team RWBY thought was the mastermind of all the shit that happened in Vale before Cinder showed herself? Once his head was on the chopping block he became kind of a goofball. Or maybe he was always a jokester and Jaune himself had never had the opportunity to witness it, hearing everything second hand from his friends.
"There isn't really one at the moment. Honestly I'd love nothing more than to do away with you alongside every criminal in Vale."
"Jaune. Jaune, your bloodlust. Chill out, little brother. It's making Neo join in and her mana is leaking. Her Spring Maiden status needs to be under as much wraps as possible."
"Sorry, sorry." Jaune sighed as Roman stood (or rolled) stiffly like a paper white sheet. As his bloodlust calming caused Neo in his lap to stop reciprocating. Gods his little brother had gotten so fucked up and it was partly Juniper's own fault. "I lost a little control there."
Roman just nodded silently, not daring to speak after feeling Jaune's, but more importantly Neo's magically charged bloodlust. Juniper wasn't sure if the man could tell the difference, however.
He was trickster, not a warrior like Jaune and Neo. Those two craved blood and combat. Well Neo was equally a trickster too.
Maybe letting him play vigilante was a bad idea after all? It had been good stress relief, but maybe those two were both too young to be blooded after all? No, of course it was, but it had seemed like a good way to let Jaune train and turn Trivia and Neo away from malicious crime at the time!
Man it was probably a good thing he'd never lived long enough to have kids of his own. Juniper would have been an awful dad.
Pyrrha assured him otherwise, warm to his core, but that didn't make him feel any better. They both knew she was biased towards him. She always had been.
She sent back embarrassed waves of shame.
"But crime… that's going to exist no matter what I do, isn't it?"
"...If I can… add my two cents? Duh. Desperate people are everywhere and laws are, well. Laws are just militaristically enforced threats against people, if we're being completely honest. Just a promise of violence against the very people they're supposed to protect. Rob? Prison. Threat with enforcement. It's that simple. But some people are going to take that risk no matter what. I know I did. But hey, if we're actually serious about this topic that seems to be heading into making me your personal little crime boss to rule Vale, we could get rid of the more tasteless things in exchange for whatever next level crazy Huntsman voodoo shit you've got going on. Our interests are definitely aligning. Especially if I get some of this weird shit to help protect me."
Roman began appealing, his interest earnest, actually getting Jaune's attention as the orange haired man seemed to realize that Jaune could feel out his lies, the smart snake. And so began, probably, the most honest discourse the former Spider from Mistral ever spoke.
"Look. I'm going to be honest. I like stealing. That's my vice. Just like how you go and beat up criminals for fun, probably. I'm just… fuck it, I'm playing my hand and putting all my chips down because it feels like its this or the axe. I want to live. I wanna be fucking famous! I want every bootlicker around to know my goddamn name! But just because I like a nice Vacuoan cigar every now and then doesn't mean I care much for drugs. Rather I'm ambivalent. If you want it, I'll push the hardcore stuff off the streets."
Jaune still didn't look jazzed about it all, but this seemed to garner some interest from him that Roman caught onto. Jaune had seen what drugs had done eo many of Vale's homeless population at this point and he did hate it.
"Can't do shit outside the Kingdom walls, or any easy shit because nobody is going to accept a ban on the easy shit but eh. AND! And I'm also personally not down for any human trafficking. Faunus included I guess? I don't really have shit against them, even if I don't care much for them either. Being raised in Mistral does that shit to you."
That was already better than most people that Jaune had to deal with in Mistral, even sometimes in Argus. He often just kept a beanie on for a reason when not in Vale or Menagerie.
"I'm pretty strong-willed so I can't say I'll happily bend over backwards for everything, but I'm more than happy to point out what can be done immediately versus what can be done over time versus what can't be done. We can discuss this and make it work. Even if you hold me by the balls, I'm my own man! I'm never going to fully roll over, either. I'm gonna at least be some kind of partner, not your serving boy! And wouldn't that be better?! If you wanted just a yes man, you probably wouldn't be doing something as crazy as fighting crime and breaking the law yourself!"
Roman stared directly into his little brother's eyes while getting riled up to the point his face reddened and even Juniper could tell that the man was really putting himself out there, even if it was half just to save his own skin.
The other half (obviously) clearly saw a potential shortcut to power though it wasn't the power per say that Roman craved, but the infamy that came with it.
"Vale's a pretty sweet gig, too. I actually like this town unlike the shithole Mistral is-"
"Mistral does suck." Juniper laughed as he and Jaune spoke in sync, the both of them letting out a brief few chuckles.
"Yeah, for real. I grew up in the Slums on the Lower Levels. Mistral sucks." Roman nodded in agreement. "So you can see why I'd like to stay here. It's complacent. And nice. It can be both, fuck it. It's both!"
"...alright. I don't trust you even half as much as I can throw you. But we can work something out, you and I. We shall make a deal."
"Alright. This is… ha! Fuck it! I've finally hit fuck it!" Roman grinned like a madman. "I'm making deals with a fucking Vigilante for control of the Underground! This is the weirdest fucking day of my life!"
"Nnnneeeeeoooooooo." Cinder growled, her arms crossed and foot tapping in cold fury. "What. The. FUCK."
Her shitty Half-Pint Partner just gave her a lazy shrug.
Jaune had time for a bit, so I took it. Her phone said lazily. It was important.
"I fucking swear…" Cinder pinched the brow of her nose. "I don't know what the fuck Professor Qrow and Professor Ozpin's favoritism with you is, but I can't cover for you against them when they come asking questions either! I thought we were both just trying to get through Beacon and get our Huntress Licenses without issues. So stop being the issue."
Neo rolled her eyes at her, putting one hand on her hip, not meeting her eyes.
Jaune said to say sorry, so sorry.
"Damn it, do you need to be told what to do by him for everything? We've been Partners for over a year and a half! Spring Break rolls around in a week or two! We've known each other long enough that you at least owe me an apology without him telling you to do so!" Cinder stepped to the side to try to meet her Partner's gaze. "If this is because we couldn't go to the Vytal Festival because of me because FUCK, I'm sorry ok?"
Cinder fumed as she ran a hand back through her bangs that began falling in her face, pushing it up and back.
"Cuz fine; because of me we couldn't go to Atlas this year, but it's not like he was going to be there in February anyways! Mistral's Vytal Fest is in our fourth year and then he'll be there for you to do whatever you want with! This year's doesn't even matter!"
Neo looked away still, not meeting Cinder's eyes at all, before letting out a silent sigh.
You're right. I'm sorry, we had an agreement. I was just out having some fun. I could care less about the dumb tournament, I was just fucking with you last week about it. That's on me, ok?
"...Can we discuss any of this fun next time? If you wanted to skip evening training you could have just told me." Cinder sighed tiredly, "It doesn't even matter to be hyper on point about it when we're the best team in our year because the lovebirds can work so well that you and I can just flank and adapt."
Honestly it really was helpful that their two teammates were so easy going yet seemed to know how to react to the other perfectly all the time in a fight.
Plus they were flexible enough to include Cinder into their usual formation if they needed the extra firepower because Neo was a freak that was just a hybrid super stealth and powerhouse type of Huntress. That made them bearable, even if Cinder and Neo both had to invest into earplugs and a divider for their dorm room.
At least because of the thin-ish walls of the dorms they tended to keep their voices down when engaging in nighttime activities. The two had taken Neo's joke about them forming a 'Lovenest' a little too seriously, thinking the pun to be hilarious.
"And apparently food fighting is something that can be let go with a slap on the wrist, but you have detention with Goodwitch tomorrow. Because you set something very flammable on fire. In the cafeteria. That's apparently a health hazard, go figure. And go to it properly because she threatened to make it Friday."
That made Neo flinch, which was good enough for Cinder. Neo really only had three things ever on her mind. Fighting, Jaune, and staving off her boredom.
"Now it probably wouldn't have gone long enough to dip into your time with… Jaune," Cinder spoke the boy's name softly, always feeling a bit guilty when she said it out loud. She felt she didn't deserve to. "But who knows with how strict Professor Goodwitch can be. I've been trying to keep her from changing her mind with how late you came back tonight."
Neo scowled, but it was at the teacher and not at Cinder herself, so she took that small victory in stride.
Alright, I won't fuck it up further. Thanks for putting up with my BS Team Mom.
"I'm NOT the Team Mom!"
That's not what Robin says. Jaune hides no secrets from me.
"Fuck you Neo."
"Yes, she's troubled, but really Neo just… well she's multi-talented and gets too eager with her ideas sometimes. I promise she's really trying her best to not be an issue, Professor Goodwitch." Trivia listened to Team Mom Cinder come to her rescue, in what Trivia dubbed her Robin Mode. "She's just very driven to put what she's learned into practice. Still, I'll take her back to the dorms straight away."
Trivia rolled her eyes, silently kissing her fist's index finger and then using said finger to point up.
Cinder saw but said nothing as she accused her Partner of being a kiss-up.
"I know Neo is a bit of a… force of nature and hard to handle, miss Fall, but you'd do well to keep her more grounded. I know that is a… lot to ask of you, but frankly you're probably the best suited for the job for many reasons and not just because you're Team CRXN's Leader." Qrow-Fucker Goodwitch sighed tiredly as she let Trivia out of detention. "Honestly the only person that can get her to listen at all aside from you is Professor Branwen."
She'd had Trivia mop the whole Auditorium by hand which wasn't exhausting or anything for someone with Huntress training, nor did she care enough to be humiliated (which was maybe the point of the punishment), but it had been boring.
Mindnumbing. Neo groaned tiredly in agreement. And she didn't let us just spread the soap water with magic even though my control's good enough to do it. Such bullshiiiiiit.
Goodwitch at least seemed to understand Trivia enough to know that boredom was the worst for her, the bitch.
If only we could just be allowed to smack her one time. ONE TIME! Neo fumed. She's lucky we like Qrow enough or we'd spread proof that doggie style is her favorite. Or Qrows. Doesn't matter. She'd be mortified and her rep would be fucked. He he he.
Trivia flushed a bit faintly at the memory, trying to forget the image of it.
Honestly, she hadn't meant to invisibly sneak in on a 'lovemaking' session. She and Neo had just wanted to know what the Teachers Quarters looked like and had no desire to stumble in on Qrow's slightly hairy ass as he and his girlfriend were bent over one another.
And Goodbitch's… massive… just the way they swayed…
She wasn't jealous at all.
Also did… did boys grow hair on their butts? That was weird. She hoped Jaune wouldn't grow hair on his ass or back or whatever. She liked his smooth skin.
A good, smooth shave will work wonders in the worst case. Neo didn't seem quite as worried, though completely in agreement. We've got practice with our own legs, it's no issue. And if we feel worried or bored we can shave it anyways!
"Regardless, thank you for your time, Professor Goodwitch." Cinder laughed gently, the fake bitch, "I can't say I'll really be able to keep Neo completely in line, but I'll do my best."
"I believe you will, Miss Fall. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday evening. You as well, Miss Rider." The combat instructor walked away, her heels clicking against the stone paved pathways of Beacon.
The two Partners stood in silence until the teacher left completely.
"If you accuse me of being a kiss up again, I'll set your bed on fire."
Ok Mom. Whatever you say Mom.
"One day I'll gut you like a deer and make it look like an accident." Cinder growled under her breath, even if there wasn't actually that much heat to her voice.
On the other hand that did make Trivia vaguely uncomfortable.
Stab someone? Ok. Cut off a limb? Whoops. Kill someone? Jaune probably decided they deserved it.
Strategically flay the skin off of a body and dismantle it into specific pieces for potential consumption?
Like the family of nouveau-rich cannibals that had started sinking their fangs into Vale's West Hollyvine film district last year. That was… ugh. What were their names? The Karvoreans? Something like that.
Yeah they deserved what came to them.
Ugh. No thank you.
This year's mandatory Field Survival classes were the worst in Trivia's opinion, always having to hunt and forage (that was easy enough) was fine, but the dismantling of animal carcasses was not fun. There (surprisingly) definitely was such a thing as too much blood. It was fine when it was leaking from a body, not when you drained the whole thing.
Yeah, I draw the line at having to dig a hole in the ground just to dump all the blood into. Neo agreed distastefully. We've gotten too used to dumping bodies into Jaune's Semblance on the rare occasion where he decides it's necessary to completely wipe out some freaks.
It was good that Cinder knew how to carry her weight there.
Regardless, Trivia typed on her phone.
I'll try to behave enough that you don't treat me like a deer, you amazon. The text stated.
"You don't even weigh half a deer. I could be done with you in a half hour." Cinder 'joked' but the only reason it wasn't funny was the fact that she probably could pull it off. "Fully smoked by sundown."
It would just be a dumb, if not slightly morbid, joke if Trivia hadn't just been reminded of the Karvorean Family. Ugh.
I don't like this conversation. Stop it. Her Scroll flashed. Seriously.
Cinder gave her a smug smirk, but she kept her mouth shut.
Trivia scowled as she stomped all the way back to their dorm room.