"Wow you're really taking this super seriously, aren't you Cap?" Roman stared at the map of Vale he'd been marking up with fronts, warehouses, and the odd safehouse for the Xiong Family. "Not bad, not bad. Oh, but I'm pretty sure this one here is legit though and just to pull heat away from the venues here and there."
Jaune nodded, sensing Roman thought he was telling the truth and made a note by a small grocery mart.
"I'm just glad you were able to confirm some of my suspicions on these locations. But this isn't everything. I still need more than this. If we do this, we need to do it fast and hard. Which means I need to know where the head of the snake is, or a way of gathering them all up in a single go." Jaune replied back in his 'female' voice, actually made easier thanks to the additional vocal range inexplicably given by learning Bi-Vocal. "You said his name is Hei Xiong so I looked into his home address, but that's not where he actually lives."
"I'm still pointing out that LITERALLY raiding an enemy stronghold for an assassination plan isn't particularly heroic."
"It's tactical. A hero that can't use their brain is worthless. And there is a right reason to take a life, especially if it's fast, quick, and keeps innocents out of the crossfire."
"...Cap, you're the scariest teenage girl I've ever met." Roman laughed as he leaned on his cane, still messing around with his new hat. "But hey, I admire the ruthlessness, at least. You probably woulda done pretty well back in Mistral."
"That makes it sound like you hang out with teenage girls on the regular."
Roman frowned, clearly displeased at Jaune's insinuation.
"Ew, no of course not. I had to babysit some not-so-scary ones for a while, is all. The Twins that your psycho sister sent you photos of." Roman shrugged at him, turning into the red twin, Miltia Malachite, thanks to his new hat. "Like her. Ok. This is weird. I'm not turning into a woman ever. It's not for me."
Roman shuddered as he spoke in Miltia's voice before turning back into his original appearance.
"Nobody would expect you to change gender at the drop of a hat, Roman." Jaune rolled his eyes, currently green from the magic of his wig. "That makes it an effective disguise."
"Firstly, little terrifying nightmare that I might have signed my soul over to: puns? Really? Ugh. That's the lowest humor gets. Secondly, while you make a good point, I don't care, it's not for me."
Jaune rolled his eyes as Roman looked at himself in the standing mirror, taking on a few different poses.
He did change his clothes into a much more expensive looking version of his coat, changing some colors around as he did so. He was vain and was relishing in the ability to adjust his outfit on the fly, though it was clear to Jaune that he had every intent on abusing his newfound powers to get similar ensembles without having to rely on his new hat.
Roman especially seemed to surprisingly enjoy having a perfectly pristine white version of his overcoat.
Ugh. It felt sort of dirty knowing that he was working with a bad guy, but he was using him to get rid of a bigger bad guy (technically MULTIPLE bad guys), so that would have to balance out somehow. Especially if his bad guy was working for him from now on to at least do some good to make up for the bad.
It felt like he was getting further away from his ideal of what a hero should be but… well Jaune was thirteen now, though just barely. He was still a kid, but even he could understand that if he wanted to do good, Remnant was a shitty enough place that it made him wade through the muck to do it. Actually he'd kind of known THAT bit for a while.
As much as he'd come to accept his time in Atlas and even liked members of their military, they way they could callously treat their own citizens had proven that to him long ago. That Remnant… sucked.
It felt awful, but at least if he was the one in charge of Vale's Underground through Roman he could still make it as good as it could get.
Jaune was going to make the world a better place. Improve as much as he could in his lifetime. And he'd drag Remnant kicking and screaming into a brighter future if he had to.
There were lines that he wasn't willing to cross even now, such as blaming someone for the actions of another. Blaming the son for the sins of the father, was the Earth quote. That is why he'd forced himself to forgive Cinder when she'd been blackmailed by Arthur Watts, even when he'd felt betrayed. Even when he'd been scared. But Jaune didn't intend on being a pushover, it wasn't like he wasn't ever not willing to get his hands dirty.
Big Brother Juniper always said that the right thing to do was never easy. It didn't stop Jaune from wishing it was more clear cut. But he had zero intention of shying away from the hard work required.
And maybe it might seem crazy to give the literal thief a SR Rarity Equipment: Greater Hat of Disguise, but Jaune had taken a certain sort of precaution so it wasn't of any concern.
He wasn't stupid.
"Still, I have to make sure to reapply this every three minutes or less? You couldn't make this last like, I donno, an hour?" Roman grumbled even as he kept messing with his appearance. "Or have not made it a top hat by default? What am I, a party magician? If I don't disguise it I look like I've come to pull rabbits out of the damn thing."
"I could put you back in the ball, give you to the cops, and find someone else."
"Ok, ok. I defer to your wisdom, oh great one. I'm just saying top hats are dumb." Roman took a solid backstep, though it didn't stop him from giving a bit of lip.
"Yeah well, somethings neither of us get to pick and choose." Jaune snorted in a decidedly unladylike manner. "Unless you want me to take it ba-"
"No need, captain! I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill!" Roman quickly stopped back as he clutched at the now bowler hat on his head, his obviously preferred form for the Greater Hat of Disguise. "This damn thing's better than a Semblance! Only one I've ever seen better is your sis-er, partner's!"
Jaune rolled his eyes.
Trivia had given Roman a death glare once when the older man mistakenly called her his sister and he'd taken the hint.
It was odd, but he supposed Trivia wanted to make it clear they were just important partners. He and Trivia were equals in all of this, even if he was younger and she often deferred to his judgment. Not that he didn't think Trivia would have been a bad- well.
No she was pretty selfish and better suited for being an only child for sure.
Still he did think that she'd overreacted a smidge. He'd never had her killing intent aimed at him, but Jaune was more than capable of understanding just how terrifying it was.
"So do you think it's doable?"
"IF we figure out what the Spiders are doing with that girl's prep-slash-finishing school as that's the best lead on the Spiders side of things we got. Lil Miss wouldn't trust her daughters to anything overseas unless it was completely in her control. Plus if you didn't care for the Xiongs, you're going to hate the Spiders. Mistral gangs have much less scruples. Still I'm impressed at how quickly you discovered that they were going to Lady Browning's. Or that the Brat Twins got into it without anyone thinking it to be weird. Their graduates end up being ladies in high society."
Roman's finger tapped at the map of Vale, on a red marker circle around a small block in one of its wealthier districts, not far off from West Hollyvine.
"And those two girls may have been born into money, but they're not exactly high society material."
A few additional scraps of printed pictures were thumbtacked next to it. For example: the twin daughters of Lil Miss Malachite, the leader of the Spiders, who were attending this academy for young ladies. The photos were from the night they ambushed Roman via Trivia's phone, so they weren't in their school uniform.
Also there were images of the school itself from a few different angles.
The front and side shots of their uniform in case Trivia needed it as reference for a disguise, especially now that Roman expressed his disinterest for transforming into teenage girls… honestly that last part might have been for the best regardless.
And pinned to the collar or breast of every student of this private academy was a familiar pin with a triskelion mark, a trio of swirling circles, like the corners of a triangle meeting at a central point. Something that even graduates wore about, especially at large social gatherings. Even when the gatherings had nothing to do with their past at the academy. It was suspicious, though Jaune would need to get his hands on a copy to know the details.
It was the same pin that Carmel Vanille wore when Qrow had come for Trivia at the Vanille estate.
Trivia had sent him the feeling that she'd go out of her way to wear it for any event she seemed special enough.
He hoped that it was just Trivia's father that was up to something suspicious and only him. If her mother was as well… he wasn't sure how Trivia would handle the aftermath. She… she didn't have a very healthy family life and didn't get along well with her parents, but she'd still never once run away from them or tried to cut them out of her life.
There was a part of her that still cared for them, however small that might have been.
He recalled her hand, gripping at his, when she'd seen this image. Confused, bitter, angry.
She had turned away from him with every intent on going home and bringing back her mother's pin, her Aura emanating rage.
Jaune had held her from behind, worried that she'd do something impulsive that she might regret. He'd been afraid for the girl that was willing to confront her very family for his sense of justice, merely because it would help his selfish cause. He didn't want that. He didn't want her to fight her family for him, even if it might become inevitable.
He made her promise to do nothing drastic until they had all the answers. Or he wouldn't let her go.
He laughed as she contemplated on refusing to make any such promise, just so that he'd keep on holding on to her like this. That they could share a moment of warmth together.
But even though she barely quelled her mana, the Od within, she made a promise to him anyways. Honestly and truthfully.
After all, they both strove to keep no promises from each other.
Trivia and Neo both gazed about their mother's room invisibly making note of where everything was.
Neither of their memories were photographic, but the more everything looked the same the better.
Walking over to her mother's fancy white armoire, Trivia slowly slid open the drawers. She ignored the finely arranged cosmetics and bottles of expensive lotions, creams, essences, and perfumes, looking for her mother's little personal oakwood box that contained her special pin.
Jaune said to not make any hasty decisions or judgements until they had all the answers. But that meant that they needed evidence. Information. Thanks to her Semblance, Trivia had gotten very good at that.
Amongst other things.
But if she IS with the Spiders… why? Neo's voice rang in her head, the voice of angry betrayal, disbelief, and a touch of fury. What the hell was there to gain from it? We're not from Mistral. That wouldn't do anything to help Jimmy with his job in city management, just make things worse. After all that HOT SHIT about behaving well and being a proper lady. An UPSTANDING MEMBER OF SOCIETY! What the fuck IS THIS?!
She could be unaware. Trivia found herself half-heartedly playing Jaune's role as the voice of reason, though she too fumed. It wouldn't surprise her if her mother had ended up as just a cog in a machine outside of her understanding.
But… something made Trivia feel uncomfortable regardless.
Ignorance doesn't absolve anything. Neo hissed, the words echoing in her mind. Only powerlessness is forgivable.
It was Jaune's words in how he'd forgiven Cinder.
Trivia had refused to communicate to her partner for almost a month right after initiation in her first year after what Jaune told her. Of what her Partner had done to him four and a half years ago. Only his forgiveness saved her from worse. Cinder had become less than nothing to Trivia overnight, just someone she had to listen to for her dumb classes.
The only time she'd gained any semblance of her attention was during combat class. During that time while restraining the raging magic within her she'd shown the girl her desire to kill her, make her suffer, every single fight, even if it got her in trouble with Goodbitch and Qrow. It was only their way too brutal spars during combat class that had eventually earned the girl Trivia's acknowledgement, as Cinder fought with everything she had right back at her, accepting her hatred head on without running away.
That and Jaune's insistence on giving her a chance.
If she'd met Cinder right after she'd betrayed Jaune there might have been nothing that stopped Trivia from ending the girl's life. Maybe not even Jaune himself. That did surprise her a little. A small part of her was even scared of that part of herself, if only because she knew how disappointed Jaune would be in her.
She had elicited a lot of emotions and reactions from him over the years she'd known Jaune. But she'd never yet had his disappointment.
She was scared of that. That it would feel like her own parents, that she'd see them in him. That it would be something to stain their relationship forever. The thought terrified her.
But time had passed and Cinder, despite her rather actually anti-social personality did go out of her way to look after both the dumb lovebirds as well as Trivia herself, even when she'd caused the taller girl issues. She was a girl that took herself and her goals seriously, regardless of the circumstances. She'd gripe and moan at times, but she kept walking towards her goals without compromise.
She took her role as Team Mom diligently enough, even if Trivia had hated her for a while, accepting her animosity without too much complaint. Not forgiving Trivia for her hatred or spite, but just accepting that it was the way things were, even if she was irritated beyond belief more than once from Trivia's bullheadedness.
…Cinder was alright. Both Trivia and Neo eventually came to acknowledge that. Honestly she was probably the best Partner that Trivia could have chosen. And she had Jaune to thank for that too. Why couldn't he have found her anyone else, though?
…it would have been easier to keep hating the girl. She would have preferred that. Trivia hated that she found herself liking Cinder Fall.
Finally she found the box.
Carmel Vanille is NOT powerless. Not really. Neo reminded Trivia venomously. She doesn't have Aura, but she has status and money. That's a weapon she'd always been more than happy to use against people she didn't like. And thanks to Jimmy she has protection from the Kingdom if she'd ever needed it. No matter what it comes down to she has never once been powerless.
Trivia nodded as she opened the box.
Her mother could be given no excuses.
Maybe Carmel Vanille had given up on love, but Trivia and Neo both would never give up on theirs.
"Ooooooh!" Nora twirled in her new sportswear, a well made but simple white athletic shirt with pink sleeves (the right one marked with a Nikkos Brand check mark) and hemming, her Huntress symbol (a pink heart with the twin Arc Crescents carved in) over her heart on the left. In small pink lettering under the symbol the letters "Nora A." were stitched in.
Pink gym shorts with twin white stripes down the sides flashed brightly as the girl spun about.
"Pyrrha! This is super comfy!" Her friend bounced happily as she threw herself into Pyrrha's arms too strongly, the impact luckily prevented from being painful by the combination of Aura and their growing female bodies. "Your dad's stuff rocks!"
"They are really nice." Ren stretched around in his own clothes, having personally received something more to his personal tastes and personality.
He wore a long sleeved gym shirt, made stretchy and breathable, that was in his shade of green. A clean white base reached up from the hem of his shirt to his pectorals. His own Huntsman symbol, a vivid pink lotus resting utop twin Arc Crescents, had his name "Lie A. Ren" marked under it, as pink Nikkos brand checks were emblazoned on both shoulders, shining against the green. Pink segments also adorned the edges of his sleeves and a bit up his forearms as well as his lower sides on his torso.
It matched Nora a bit and that was really cute. Pyrrha liked the sight of the inseparable duo together.
His pants were also more form fitting trainers, designed in a similar style to his top. His chosen shade of green with twin white stripes that streaked down the sides, the knees and sides of his thighs marked with his lotus pink.
Emerald also gave her a nod of thanks as she quietly picked up after the clothes of her friends, folding them up neatly as the 'butler of Jaune Arc'. That seemed to often extend into looking after Nora alongside Ren. More Nora, however, as Ren tended to look after himself just fine.
She'd been grateful to receive her copies of sportswear as well, a white sports bra top with grey elastic and mint green bands that wrapped up and around her neck, criss-crossing across the upper back. Actually it meant that pretty much most of her back lay bare, as the cloth only covered the front of the chest.
Unlike her normal attire, when exercising she preferred to allow as much of her skin to breathe as possible, even having chosen a pair of bike shorts similar to Clarent Arc who was attending her last year at Sanctum. As a result she'd become somewhat famous for the amount of boys she'd rejected with her exotic looks and cool demeanor.
Her shorts also had gray elastic and both Emerald's white top and bottom had a mint green Nikkos Brand check mark alongside her Huntress symbol, a multi-faceted gem with the words "Emerald S." marked beneath.
It was exciting whenever she saw all of her friends wearing her dad's clothes. Pyrrha grinned as she saw Emerald finish folding up Nora's clothes, nodding at Ren who took them from her and placed them within their school bag.
Her father had learned that Jaune had been including her in his (delicious) lunchtime meals as unlike the Arcs she lived close enough to commute from home and thus unable to join for breakfast. Actually there was a part of Pyrrha that almost wanted to ask to bunk at the dorms as well to mooch breakfast sometimes, even if she was too embarrassed to admit such.
As thanks, her dad ended up going out of his way to invite all of the Arc kids (plus Emerald) for dinner, only for Jaune to excitedly contribute as if it was a potluck and take her parents' breath away with his cooking.
Her dad kept making a very complicated face for a while, but regardless, he'd insisted that every year he would give Jaune and his siblings (plus Emerald) a few full sets of custom Nikkos sportswear until they became fully trained Huntsmen and Huntresses, not taking no for an answer.
His old fashioned insistence on hospitality and repaying favors the traditional Mistralian way was sort of embarrassing, but her friends luckily took it positively, rather than seeing it as her dad trying to buy their friendship. That was good.
But she'd still been excited to see all of her friends in the clothes that Pyrrha so proudly endorsed. And at her glimmering and excited look, the staunchest opposing voice (Jaune himself) had caved even as he kept mumbling how: there are no transactions to friendship.
It had made her father Gaius laugh and decide that he fully liked Jaune then and there, quickly eliminating the distance between her first and best friend and her father who she thought the world of.
Jaune, however, unlike his adopted brother, didn't seem to want to bother with sleeves. Unlike everyone else that chose white as the base alongside a color, he had just wanted a simple sleek black sleeveless top with the Arc Crescents and the Nikkos Branding in gold. The same with his trainers, though Jaune's pants had an adjusted backside that let his tail flow free and loose, which he seemed to enjoy a lot.
Actually it was apparently pretty difficult for Faunus with tails to get good pants. Apparently it tended to be that any such Faunus either let their skirts and pants ride lower on their hips, or had to visit a tailor outright.
"Yeah, honestly. This stuff is really well made." Jaune grinned at her, causing Pyrrha's smile to widen. "Thanks again to your dad. It's really cool of him to even expand his sportswear to include Faunus. That wasn't a popular or easy choice, but it was really cool of him."
"You can thank him when he gets home for dinner tonight." Pyrrha laughed. "He's been looking forward to a Jaune-Dinner for weeks now."
Jaune just gave her a cheeky grin.
"Well, I won't dissap-"
"PYRRHA!"
Her mother's voice filled with panic called out from the lower floor of their two story home, causing Pyrrha and all of her friends' eyes to snap to the door of her bedroom.
Quick footsteps rushed to the doorway as her mother, Jenniha Nikkos burst through, her glasses askew and eyes alit with a wild light.
"We have to go. Right now!"
"Mom?" Pyrrha didn't fight back as her arm was pulled away towards the doorway, "What's wrong?"
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Nikkos?" Ren asked softly, his eyes filled with concern.
"Children, I'm sorry, but you need to go home. We won't be able to host dinner today, I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I will arrange for someone to take you all back to Sanctum as soon as possible."
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Her mother's green eyes met her own, eyes glimmering wetly, though holding firm for her sake. As well as her mother's own.
"Your father's in the hospital. There's been an accident."
Pyrrha felt her legs almost give out as her breath froze in her throat.
There was a spider tattoo on the inside of the man's left wrist.
"The fuck you want me to do?! He fucking crashed into MY car! An Atlasean GC108 Skyline! What does it matter the condition he's in, I'm the victim here! I demand compensation!"
Sure he crossed his arms to try to keep it hidden, with an expensive watch and multiple shining bracelets and bangles, rings on his fingers to keep the eye away, but Big Brother Juniper had confirmed it for him.
"Somethings wrong, Jaune." His brother warned. "Leave nothing to chance. Check everything."
Jaune's ear flicked in his brother's direction as he silently nodded. Pyrrha's dad was heavily injured as his car's brake line had somehow snapped. His friend's dad was unconscious and in a hospital bed. Of course he wasn't going to leave anything to chance.
He inhaled through his nose for four counts. Held for four counts. Exhaled through the mouth for four counts. Held for four counts. Repeat.
Focus.
His pupils dilated slightly as he began to gather as much information as he could.
"My husband is unconscious in his bed! Please leave! We'll get back to you-"
"Fuck you! My car's worth-"
"I believe." A well manicured, tan hand gripped at the man's shoulder and pulled him back and away from Mrs. Nikkos. "That you've said enough. Mister Li, was it? We're going to discuss all of this away from the children as well as the care unit."
His Big Sis Pepper gave a gorgeous smile, but Jaune could tell it was ever so faintly strained at the corner of her eyes and mouth, GRIPPING with strength as she dragged him away, nodding at Big Sis Noire who simply quietly stood at attention by the doorway as cameras flashed from down the hall.
"Ow! Fuck! Are you trying to break my shoulder? I have fucking rights, you Atlas bi-"
The hand that was grabbing his shoulder blurred and reappeared at his mouth, muffling him as it clenched his cheeks and jaw as the base of her palms pressed down against his upper lip and her fingers clawed his jaw shut to prevent him from separating his teeth. Against a strong enough enemy it wouldn't be a method that worked, but even as his yellow Aura flashed against her hand, he couldn't make a bigger fuss as she dragged him behind her.
Focus.
Jaune quickly pushed into the private inpatient room, silently dragging Pyrrha with him, as she'd been clutching with ever whitening knuckles at his wrist. She was silent too. Scared. Worried.
A doctor signing off a medical chart looked up as a nurse finished hooking up Gaius Nikkos to an IV drip.
"Hmm? Nobody should- oh!" The doctor quickly put up a polite smile, though he couldn't hide his distaste for the Faunus from his eyes. "My word! The Little Professor of Atlas! A pleasure to meet you. I did not realize that you would be at our humble hospital!"
That was a lie. The moment he'd known that Mr. Nikkos had been coming in the ambulance, it had been this man's idea to call the media. He seemed also to be aware that Jaune was friends with Pyrrha, as it had been the topic of some silly tabloid mess for a while, always speculating on the nature of his friendship with her. That wasn't important right now.
Focus.
"What's Mr. Nikkos's condition?" Jaune cut straight to the point as the nurse turned in their direction, bowed, and walked out the room.
She was just doing her job. Overworked. Over-caffeinated, but still dead on her feet. On her second shift for overtime pay as she was supporting her children. No Spider influence. At least nothing that she herself was aware of.
"His blood pressure's low. Definitely concussed, but he's also unconscious, which isn't great. However, we will do everything in our power to nurse President Nikkos back to health." The man smiled reassuringly.
He didn't want him to die. He wanted him to live and feel indebted to Argus Medical. Saw an opportunity for glory. Not related to the Spiders.
"Definitely some muscle strain from whiplash and while the airbags saved his life, he did crack his sternum and a few ribs. Luckily nothing broke outright and while bruised he should make a smooth enough recovery once he wakes. There should be nothing to worry about."
Not a lie. Initial observations line up. Took his job seriously even if he's seeking favors.
"His spine's also not out of alignment, so we don't expect any lasting damage."
Half a lie. Spine is fine. But there was a small complication. Something didn't line up right. He was worried about swelling. Didn't think it should be fatal, but concerned regardless. Was the brain swelling?
Jaune quickly turned to Gaius, pulling Pyrrha with him as he glanced over his unconscious form.
Everything the doctor stated so far lined up.
Vitals on the other hand didn't look so stable. His breathing was more labored than expected. His blood pressure was low, but not in a life threatening state. Swelling less of an issue than expected.
But his body felt faintly too cool to the touch, especially for his situation. And yet, he was starting to sweat a little despite the cool air. His pulse was quickening. What?
"Something's wrong. He's worsening." Jaune's hand extended to open Gaius Nikkos's eye, seeing it tremble oddly. "No. He's been poisoned!"
"What?" Pyrrha's voice trembled but Jaune was already grabbing the IV bag and inspecting it.
Focus.
The IV bag wasn't spiked. There should be no drug injected aside from the standard nutrient rich saline solution. There. A blemish in the black text. A faint warping. Tampering.
Jaune tore the IV needle from his vein. Someone screamed.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Jaune ignored the doctor, his hand knocking away the man's attempt to stop him.
His hand reached out into his inventory, the smell of a Potion filled the air as he poured a few dribbles of it over the vein, closing it up, staunching the brief and inconsequential spray of blood.
Then his hand pulled out a small, stone like object.
SR Rarity Consumable: Bezoar (x3)
Origin: Mystic-Type Earth #TR455
Description: A stone-like mass taken from the stomach of a goat. Due to the esoteric nature of mana infusing all things in the Earth it hails from, it is able to cure the effects of most poisons. Though rare, it is often used to prepare a draught of the Antidote of Common Poisons, as it is easier to drink than to swallow this mass of magical hair, plant matter, and other indigestibles.
And he shoved it down Gaius Nikkos's throat, draining the rest of the Potion to wash the mass down.
And Gaius Nikkos shook heavily and coughed, his eyes fluttering open.