Jaune's Pineapple Jam Part 2 Ch. 11

Apologies for the late post! I was in a car crash last Tuesday. The details are in the Discord Server.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
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General James Ironwood was on the attack!

He may no longer have the tool needed to penetrate the target, but he had other ways of completing the mission.

And complete the mission he did.

“Ohhh!~ James! I’m cumming! I’m cumming! I’M CUMMING!~” Glynda shouted, gripping his hair tightly as he attacked her clitoris with consistent rotating licks while sinking two fingers in her tightening folds.

Before long, liquid squirted straight towards his face as the thighs around him clenched tightly. 

Any other man would have been crushed, suffocated, or straight up died by just having a heart attack at the knowledge of who was doing the crushing.

But General James Ironwood was not just any other man.

He was a soldier of Atlas.

The Soldier of Atlas.

Proud to do his duty, and willing to risk life and limb to beat back the Grimm in the defense of his kingdom.

Compared to that, his current situation was just downright heavenly.

Heavenly, that was one word that can accurately describe just how it feels like to bury one’s face in Glynda Goodwitch’s pussy.

And so, even as she clenched her thighs around his head, General James Ironwood of Atlas tightened his neck and breathed deeply.

Glynda’s musky scent entered his nostrils, but that only gave him the strength to weather this storm through.

Moans, screams, and pants filled his room as Glynda came down from the high he just pushed her into.

Eventually, however, her legs unclenched and Ironwood could finally breathe again as he leaned up with a grin on his face.

Watching her shudder pleasurably under him with that flushed face of hers never failed to send shivers down his spine. Before he could say anything, however, his Scroll rang on top of the nightstand.

Ironwood frowned.

Only a few people were not muted in his Scroll, to hear his Scroll ding right now meant someone important wanted to update him.

Still, he took the time to relish the sight of Glynda Goodwitch quivering under him, before painfully tearing his eyes from her. He reached out for his Scroll, and his eyes widened as he read the message.

“They’re coming.”

“W-Who?” Glynda asked shakily, face flushed and hair frazzled as she sat up to nuzzle him.

General James Ironwood, however, only sighed heavily towards her.

“Winter is coming.”

“So soon?” Glynda gasped.

“I’m afraid so. She brings Jaune with her.” James nodded sadly, even as a wry smile crawled up his face.

In the face of duty, always had to take the back seat. Before he could move, however, he felt Glynda’s Semblance freeze him in place.

He looked at her in wonder, but all he saw was a coy smile adorning her face while her hands reached up to wrap themselves around his neck.

“Then let’s make the most of what we have.” She smiled before pulling him down for a searing kiss.

James Ironwood always thought that he had a will made of iron. He thought wrong. In the face of Glynda’s heated kiss, General James Ironwood of Atlas crumbled.

—-----

Jaune Arc crumbled to his knees the moment he stepped inside General Ironwood’s flagship.

Crew members stopped to point and stare in horror as he dirtied their workplace, but Jaune did not care. When one was exposed to the pettiness of Winter Schnee, one did their best to cope.

And this was him, coping as his stomach flipped up and down inside of him.

“And you’re supposed to be my brother-in-law.” She rolled her eyes at him, grinning impishly, even as Jaune tried to heave big breaths.

w

Brother-in-law, Jaune would have normally blushed upon hearing that. As it was, however, all he could manage was a constipated look on his face as he tried to glare weakly at her.

The Winds of Winter. A ship bigger than a bullhead, but smaller than the passenger airship Pyrrha rented as their transport from Argus. It was also a lot more luxurious than what he expected of a military airship.

Still, it wasn’t the luxury, or the speed, or the size that Jaune had a complaint with.

It was the maneuverability.

It was so maneuverable, in fact, that Winter had it do barrel rolls while going full speed ahead past the traffic flying in and out of Vale.

Suffice to say, his motion sickness acted up.

“You did a barrel roll. Multiple barrel rolls, in fact. Why did you have to do barrel rolls?” He asked, groaning as he held his stomach beside her private personal airship.

Winter, however, only smiled an all too innocent smile at that.

“Turbulence, Mr. Arc. It was all just turbulence.”

Jaune could only gasp weakly at that.

“M-Motion sickness is a serious condition, you know? More and more people are affected by it every day!”

“The statistics disagree.” She snorted, looking away from him as he wiped the puke out of his mouth. “Now come, make yourself presentable. You are about to meet the General in a professional setting.”

Jaune pouted, but what else could he do at that?

He stood up, watching as Winter stoically stood beside him while the crew members inside General Ironwood’s flagship gawked and pointed at them.

Jaune didn’t blame them. It must have been strange seeing someone like him step foot inside a military airship like this. He was basically just a student in their eyes.

And yet, it only took Winter Schnee glaring at them to get them back to work.

She didn’t even have to say anything, but Jaune could already see people straightening their backs before walking briskly away from them.

Pretty soon, the hangar was filled with the hustle and bustle of military men going about their business as Winter led him deeper into the ship.

They walked through hallways and Jaune tried to look confident, professional in the way Winter was beside him, but all he managed to look like was stiff.

It didn’t matter, however, because before Winter could even lead to General Ironwood’s office, the man himself rounded the corner with his Headmistress.

Jaune blinked.

Winter blinked.

And both General Ironwood and Headmistress Goodwitch blinked as they all beheld each other.

Jaune did not look professional, not one bit, but both General Ironwood and Headmistress looked less so than him.

“Mr. Arc! We didn’t expect you so soon! We thought you would be speaking with your parents about your upcoming marriage!” Headmistress Glynda greeted, but Jaune could only nod silently as he looked at the usually kempt professor.

Emphasis on usually, because as Jaune looked upon her, he noted the frazzled hair, the flushed cheeks, the sweat on her brow, and the wrinkles on her clothes.

He didn’t want to say it, but he about thought it.

Jaune had seen the aftermath of his and Pyrrha’s sessions to know what a woman well-satisfied looked like. 

He turned towards General Ironwood then.

The man, however, looked much the same as Headmistress Goodwitch beside him, except, of course, for the strange gleam in his eyes.

Inexplicably, their eyes locked, and a tacit understanding passed between them. No words were needed, but he will admit, Jaune could not resist the urge to grin as he gave the general a thumbs up.

“Nice.”

“Mr. Arc!” Headmistress Goodwitch shrieked immediately, a red blush overtaking her face, even as General Ironwood chuckled beside her.

“I’m afraid I don’t know quite get what you mean, Mr. Arc, but I will accept the compliment.” He said with a curl to his lips as Headmistress Goodwitch turned towards him with a scandalized look on her face.

“JAMES!”

“Sir?” Winter asked, her eyes wide as if she didn’t know what to do.

General Ironwood, however, only cleared his throat casually at that as he nodded at her.

“Winter, thank you for bringing Mr. Arc so quickly. Come, there is something I want to show you both.”

And just like that, General Ironwood successfully changed the topic, even as the grin never left Jaune’s face.

They followed, watching as Headmistress Goodwitch grimaced at him from time to time before steadfastly shaking her head and walking beside General Ironwood.

What’s done was done, all that they could do now was go about their business. Business, that Jaune was getting more and more curious with, as General Ironwood led him to a hallway containing several guards stationed along it with a door in the middle.

Jaune gulped then. Just what could they need from someone like him?

His question, however, was answered when General Ironwood waved towards a glass window beside the door.

Looking towards it, Jaune froze as he watched Roman Torchwick sit in front of a table.

“You might remember Roman Torchwick as one of the perpetrators of The Breach a few months ago. Ever since your….lovers caught him and surrendered him to us, he has been a guest under our roof.” General Ironwood started as he waved towards Roman Torchwick inside the room.

Jaune could remember. He remembered running into Roman, Neo, and Blake’s ex, Adam Taurus, during The Breach. He also remembered running headfirst into danger to lure the Grimm away from his friends.

What he could not remember was what was he supposed to do with this?

“Cool, cool, cool, but what has that got to do with me?” He asked, turning towards General Ironwood who only clasped his hands behind his back while nodding towards Roman.

“Mr. Torchwick has requested to speak with you.”

“.....Why?” Jaune blinked, even as General Ironwood and Headmistress Goodwitch glanced at each other.

“We don’t know. He says that he is curious about your life, but it is obviously something deeper than that.” General Ironwood shook his head as Headmistress Goodwitch suddenly leaned towards him.

“Mr. Arc, Jaune, I want you to know that you do not have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Jaune’s eyes widened, but his brain was already processing the information given to him.

There was no reason for General Ironwood to entertain a prisoner’s request but here they were.

And that means….

“But you want me to, otherwise, you would have rejected his request in the first place.” Jaune pointed out, looking at General Ironwood who only sighed heavily.

“Yes, Roman has insinuated that he would make a deal exposing his collaborators, but only if he talks to you.”

That would explain it, but that begged the question, what could a hardened criminal like Roman Torchwick want with him?

“You won’t be alone, of course, one of us would be with you inside.” Headmistress Goodwitch added concernedly before looking pointedly at General Ironwood.  “Right, James?”

Jaune watched, however, as General Ironwood looked awkwardly away at that.

“.....I can’t make that promise. I have no doubt that Roman would push to have some privacy with Mr. Arc.”

Glynda Goodwitch, however, only glared coldly at that. Immediately, General Ironwood’s eyes widened, and his hands rose up to wave frantically in front of him.

“But we’ll still watch you from this side of the door, of course.” General Ironwood added hastily, getting a satisfied huff from Headmistress Goodwitch who turned back towards Jaune.

“Only if Mr. Arc wants to.”

“Of course.” General Ironwood nodded before looking towards Jaune as well. “Only if Mr. Arc wants to.”

With all eyes on him, there was only one thing he could do.

“When do we start?” Jaune nodded.

—--

“Well, if it isn’t Boy Wonder. I was wondering when you would show up.” Roman grinned, whistling as the door in front of him opened.

He could see the kid was uncomfortable with the way he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head while smiling nervously at him.

And Roman, being the gentleman that he was, only waved his hands graciously.

“Come, sit in front of me, will you?” 

“Uhm…yeah.”

If it weren’t for the chains attached to his wrists, Roman would have looked like a magnificent host inviting his guest to his table.

As it was, however, the chains rattled loudly before snapping tight as he reached the limit of how far he could stretch it.

Not far, by Roman’s estimates, he could hardly stretch his arms over his shoulders without the metal table the chain was attached to trying to lift itself up.

He saw the kid cringe at his predicament, but again, Roman only smiled invitingly.

“So how have you been? I heard you were famous now.”

Instead of feeling relaxed, hosever, Roman saw Jaune Arc tense as he looked at the large opaque glass on the wall beside them.

“I’ve been….good?”

“.....And?” He trailed off, humming thoughtfully as he tried to pull more from the kid than just ‘good’.

Jaune, however, only smiled at him tentatively.

“And happy?”

At that point, Roman could only groan loudly as he rolled his eyes in exasperation. 

“Look kid, this isn’t how these things usually go.”

Now that got more than just a ‘good’ and ‘happy’ from the kid.

“Well excuse me for not knowing how to negotiate with criminals!” Jaune seethed, but Roman only laughed at him out loud before raising an eyebrow.

“Really? I know you’ve talked to Junior, you know? How else would you kids have been able to find me on the docks?”

“Urk! That was different!” Jaune shot back, but Roman only grinned with wide eyes.

“Aha! So you did talk to Junior!”

“So you didn’t know?!” Jaune’s eyes bulged wide open as Roman couldn’t help but laugh.

Ha! Hero of Vale or not, this kid was still green so to speak!

“Kid, you should know the basics by now! Deception is the name of the game!”

It was true. His motto, after all, was: Lie, Cheat, Steal, and Survive!

He was going to do what he needed to do for him and Neo to survive, and if that meant speaking with this still green boy, then that was what he was going to do.

Roman watched as Jaune Arc groaned loudly into his hands before looking up at him with a tired sigh.

“What do you want, Roman?”

Now that was what he was waiting for.

Still, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to seem eager, would it? After all, deception was the name of the game.

And so he only grinned and clapped as his chains rattled with the movement.

“There we go. You’re finally getting it!”

“Look, if you came here to patronize me, then-”

“Now, now. We haven’t even started yet!”

“Then start already.” Jaune crossed his arms impatiently, but Roman only raised an eyebrow at that with a smile on his face.

“Are you sure you want to start with everyone listening in? After all, this concerns you too, you know?”

He saw the moment doubt crossed the kid’s features, and Roman took that opportunity to drive the point in.

“I wonder what people will think when they find out what you and Neo-”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Roman grinned as Jaune waved his hands frantically with a blush on his face. 

Yeah, that’s right. All it took was one mention of Neo and the kid was already crumbling! Ha! Thank the gods for his gremlin of a partner!

Roman looked towards the large glass pane. If the people behind it still weren’t raising their eyebrows before, then they certainly were now.

“So, still want to start with everyone listening in?” Roman asked, and he saw Jaune look hesitantly at the window before nodding his head.

“I’ll see what I can-”

“Absolutely not!”

The door slid open and in marched the new Headmistress of Beacon herself.

“Come, Mr. Arc. There is no reason for you to be alone with such a criminal.”

Roman tsked. It would’ve been better to get the kid alone. Who knew what deals he could’ve pulled out of him? 

Now that the Goodbitch of Beacon was pulling him away, however, he might not even get the chance to make a deal. If so, then what did he endure all those beatings for?

“Hey kid!” He shouted, gathering both blondes' attention as they looked at him warily.

Roman, however, only narrowed his eyes at them.

“Either I tell them about everything without you here, or you talk to me.”

It was a weak hand. It reeked of desperation. People like him would’ve used that desperation to squeeze him even more.

But Jaune Arc?

They were nothing like him.

Roman watched as the kid’s eyes widened in panic, but before he could even say anything, Goodbitch scoffed beside him.

“Tell us what? That his transcripts were fake? We already knew that, Roman.”

Roman raised an eyebrow at that, looking at Jaune who only nodded hesitantly.

“Cute, but that’s not what I was talking about.” Roman smirked, relishing the confusion in Goodbitch’s face, even as he raised an eyebrow at Jaune. “How about it, Boy Wonder? Want me to tell her?”

“No, I-uhm, I’ll speak with you alone.” Jaune answered hesitantly, and Roman grinned as Goodbitch snapped her head towards him.

“Mr. Arc! Jaune! We will not leave you alone with this criminal!”

“Please, you make it sound like I have the plague! Besides, I’m already cuffed, aren’t I?” Roman rolled his eyes, grinning as he smiled at Goodbitch with a knowing look on his face. “Unless, of course, you don’t trust him.”

Now that shut her up. Goodbitch reeled back, as if slapped by his accusation. She immediately turned towards Jaune, but the kid only shook his head slowly.

“It’s okay, Professor Goodwitch. I can do this.”

“But not alone.” General Ironwood announced, marching in as the door slid open once again.

Roman sighed.

Was there no end to these interruptions?

“Mr. Arc, I appreciate your enthusiasm to speak with Roman Torchwick, but we cannot let you speak with him alone. At the very least, someone else should be there for your protection and to verify the truth.” General Ironwood nodded, even as Roman scoffed at him.

“And I suppose that someone should be you? Yeah, no. I refuse. I won’t speak with the man who had me beaten.”

Roman watched as Jaune looked horrified at General Ironwood at that, but the man only shrugged at him before nodding his head towards his subordinate.

“Winter, then.”

“Sir?” Winter’s eyes widened, and she turned towards her superior with a confused look on her face.

“I trust Winter. You can make your deal with Mr. Arc, but Winter will relay to me the details without compromising Jaune’s…..secrets.”

Roman saw Jaune winced at that before his hand rose to rub the back of his head embarrassedly.

“Sorry, they’re nothing dangerous. Just plain embarrassing.” 

Roman raised an eyebrow at that. Sure, it might not be as damaging as him getting found out as a spy or a hardened criminal for that matter. But just the suspicion of Jaune Arc being affiliated with criminals much less having sexual relations with one? The right person could leave his reputation in tatters.

Still, it wasn’t Roman’s responsibility to correct the kid on it, nor was it his responsibility to speak up about it when General Ironwood nodded.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

It was his responsibility, however, to bring up an important point they might be forgetting.

“I suppose I’ll just take yours as well that you’ll leave us alone, right?” He asked mockingly before narrowing his eyes at the general. “What guarantee can you give me that you’ll give us privacy?”

It was then, however, the answer came from the most unexpected of places.

“Uhm, I can spill one of Winter’s secrets? That way, if they snoop in on our meeting, they’ll be hearing Winter’s secret too?” Jaune suggested with a raised hand, immediately getting Winter Schnee to raise an eyebrow at him.

“You know my secrets, Jaune Arc?”

“Well, it’s not necessarily a secret but something embarrassing as well?” Jaune chuckled awkwardly, even as Roman smiled at him.

“Oh? Do tell.”

A Schnee’s secret? Well, that was valuable, even if the kid didn’t seem to think so as he casually opened his mouth.

“Well, she passed out when she was watching-”

“Stop!”

Roman’s eyes widened, and he huffed a laugh as he saw the Winter Schnee raise her hand frantically with a blush on her face.

Right, whatever secret it was, it was embarrassing enough to unbalance the Schnee.

And that was worth its own weight in gold.

“Alright, you’ve convinced me! So Ice Queen does have a secret as well, and I get to hear it!” He grinned enthusiastically as Winter immediately snapped towards him, her blush of embarrassment turning into a flush of fury.

“Y-You-”

“Winter.” Ironwood called out, cutting off her outburst with a calm voice. “I ask you this, not as your commanding officer, but as a man. I ask that you do this for the good of the many.”

“....Yes, Sir.” Winter gritted her teeth at that before taking a deep breath and releasing her tension with a quiet sigh.

Roman grinned, watching the spectacle, as he clapped his hands happily.

“So we have a deal then! The start of one, at least!”

“Yes, Roman. You will have your privacy, I’ll make sure to turn the cameras off and have everyone else leave.”

Glynda looked at him hesitantly before sighing in resignation. “Fine.”

“Don’t worry, Glynda. I trust Winter to keep Mr. Arc safe. They are to be family, after all.”

Roman raised an eyebrow at that, but he only saw Jaune wincing as Winter Schnee gritted her teeth begrudgingly.

He shrugged. 

No matter. It wasn’t his ideal scenario, but it was as close as he would get to it.

And after seeing both General Ironwood and Headmistress Goodwitch leave, he grinned as he looked at his two guests.

“Are you ready?”

—----

“Are you ready?”

Those were the last words Arthur Watts heard Roman say just as the camera turned dark.

He frowned as his fingers readied to type up a report.

Roman Torchwick making a deal with Jaune Arc, General Ironwood, and Headmistress Goodwitch? 

It was concerning to say the least.

Even if Roman himself didn’t know about his and Tyrian’s presence in Vale, the man could still out Cinder, jeopardizing the plan to cause chaos during the Vytal Festival.

Still, he had to trust Cinder had contingencies in place for such a situation. 

And wasn’t that a hard pill to swallow?

Cinder, in charge of their mission’s success?

What has his life come to?

And yet, something good did come out of this, however. It gave credence to his mistress’ hypothesis.

While not conclusive just yet, it was more evidence into the thought that Jaune Arc was Ozpin’s next host.

Who else would Ironwood and Goodwitch trust in negotiating a deal other than the man himself?

And yet, Roman also deserved some credit.

He actually had a secret that could force Jaune Arc to agree to some privacy, rendering Arthur’s surveillance useless.

While frustrating, Arthur could respect the man for that much at least.

Now if only he could hear what juicy secret Roman had on Jaune Arc.

—------

“He got a blowjob from Neo.”

“I beg your pardon?” Winter blinked as she turned the words inside her head.

Roman, however, only grinned at her.

“He got a blowjob from Neo.”

If Roman expected her to blush, then he was sorely disappointed. All she did, however, was look flatly at Jaune Arc. 

“Look, I can explain.” Said the man who looked absolutely guilty.

If something like this happened a year ago, Winter would’ve looked sternly at Jaune Arc before condemning his unprofessionalism in the field as well as his relations with a criminal. It spoke a lot about everything she had gone through these past few months in trying to wrap her mind around her sister’s relationship with this man that all she did now, however, was sigh heavily.

“Does my sister know about this?” 

“She does. They all do.” Jaune gulped, nodding his head frantically as he waited for her anger to explain.

Winter, however, only raised an eyebrow at him.

“And?” 

“And what?” He blinked, and she rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Did she really have to spell out everything to this scoundrel?

“What did they say?” She asked impatiently, Jaune, however, only scratched awkwardly.

“That….it wasn’t consensual?”

Winter’s eyebrows rose immediately at that. 

“Hey, you weren’t saying no at the time.” Roman smirked, pointing a finger at Jaune as mixed feelings brewed inside Winter.

She didn’t like Jaune Arc because of his womanizing ways, but nobody deserved to be forced into sexual acts. Before she could say anything, however, Jaune Arc was already replying to Roman.

“Because she would’ve…turned us in.” Jaune said before realization kicked in as he narrowed his eyes at Roman Torchwick.

Sensing the change in the man, Winter threw any concern she had for him into the back of her mind in lieu of focusing on the here and now.

“What is it?” Winter asked, but Jaune only pointed a finger at Roman.

“You knew. You knew we were there at the White Fang meeting. You knew we were there, and you still dropped that information about the White Fang being in Mountain Glenn anyway. I never had the chance to ask you this before, but why?”

“I already told the people here that it was to screw the White Fang over.” Roman smiled, clasping his hands even as Winter’s eyes narrowed.

“Then why did you work with them in the first place? Your associate, Richard Bullson, even told us you were crucial in fending off Qrow Branwen during his raid in Mountain Glenn.” Winter pointed out, remembering the suspiciously cooperative Bison Faunus they picked up during The Breach.

“Richard?! How is he?! I almost forgot you got him!” Roman’s eyes widened as a loud laugh escaped his mouth.

“He’s being well taken care of for his cooperation.” Winter nodded cooly, trying to coax Roman to cooperate easier.

Roman, however, only shrugged carelessly at that.

“Ah, well. There’s nothing to it. He was basically a civilian, after all.”

“So you're making a deal with us now to screw the White Fang?” Jaune tilted his head, watching as Roman’s lips twitch ever so slightly. “Or is there something more?”

“Ahhhh, now you are asking the right question. That’s part of the deal I wanted to make with you.” Roman’s smile widened before turning his gaze to Winter.  “But first, what is her secret?”

She felt goosebumps travel down her forearm, but she kept her cool as she narrowed her eyes at him.

“You don't need to know about that.”

“Oh, but I do. It’s part of the deal, after all. It’s my insurance, just in case Ironwood is secretly recording this. Call it incentive for you to make sure he isn’t listening in.” Roman grinned, but Winter only nodded resolutely at him.

“I trust the General.”

It was true, after all. She trusted the General to do what was needed. Whether that was to listen in or to respect their privacy, it did not matter. Winter was here to do her duty.

“Suit yourself.” Roman shrugged before turning towards Jaune. “Now, what's her secret?”

Jaune Arc scratched his cheek awkwardly before looking at her for confirmation. Winter appreciated it, but she only nodded her head for confirmation.

“So….you know how I’m with her sister, right?”

“Weiss Schnee, yes, you only kissed her right in front of me together with Pyrrha Nikos and that cat girl.” Roman said impatiently, even as Jaune narrowed his eyes.

“That cat girl’s name is Blake.”

Roman, however, only ignored that in lieu of raising an eyebrow at him.

“The secret, Jaune? You were saying something about her secret?”

“Just get it over with, Arc. We both know I’m not going to say it myself.” Winter sighed. She already knew what he was going to say. She didn’t like it, but it was what was needed.

“She passed out watching him sleep with my sister.” Jaune said hastily, even as Roman’s brows shot up, and heat rushed to her body.

“Wow, Ice Queen. I didn’t know you had a kink like that!”

“I don’t!” She snapped, glaring even as Roman smirked at her.

“But you still watched them.”

“I walked in on them by accident.” Winter growled, grinding her teeth as Roman proceeded to laugh loudly.

“And proceeded to pass out! You were right, kid! This is embarrassing!”

Jaune looked apologetically at her, and he should be! If it wasn’t for him then she never would have….would have seen that sight!

Winter could still remember Weiss’ shrill voice as she moved up and down on top of a thick, long, throbbing-

“Your deal, Roman?” Jaune cleared his throat, reminding Roman of his end of the bargain and snapping Winter out of her thoughts.

“Right, right, let it not be said that Roman Torchwick did not fulfill his end of the bargain!” Roman shouted before turning back towards Winter with a smile. “So you want to know what threats are still out there that could ruin the Vytal Festival, right?”

“Y-Yes.” Winter, for her part, coughed loudly to hide away the blush rushing to her face.

She…..She had time to remember that later. For now, she had a negotiation to continue.

“So, you know my partner, Neo, right? Just asking to confirm this, but did you manage to catch her?” Roman asked, but Winter only shook her head at him.

“Neopolitan, yes, we are familiar with her. But no, we were not able to catch her. You would’ve known if we did.” Winter admitted, it would do no good now to claim otherwise if they couldn’t even produce proof for Roman’s satisfaction.

It would only allow him to close off, and her allowing her secret to be spilled would be all for nothing.

No, she was not going to let that happen.

And so, she stared intensely as Roman began to nod.

“Right, right, so for my end of the deal….” Roman trailed off before a grin slowly spread across his face. “I want you to catch her.”

“....What?” Winter blinked.

Whatever Winter thought Roman would want for his deal, them catching his partner was not it. 

“More than that, I want you, Jaune Arc, to ne the one to catch her." Roman smiled before turning towards Winter mockingly. "And then proceed to free us both with full pardons.”

Now that was more in tune of what she expected. 

Winter, however, only looked flatly at him.

“....What.”

“Then why do you want us to catch her in the first place?” Jaune asked, tilting his head as he tried to make sense of Roman’s request.

“Simple. Protection.” Roman answered, smiling even as Winter narrowed her eyes.

“Protection from what?”

“The threats, of course.” Roman grinned, even as Winter made a sound of satisfaction.

Finally, they were going into the meat of the matter. These threats, the ones who forced Roman Torchwick and the White Fang to work together.

“....You’re worried they might hurt her if she stays out there.” Jaune pointed out with wide eyes, and Roman immediately turned towards him with a smile.

“Got it in one.”

“Why not just tell us about these threats, then? We can arrest them now without all the complications.” Winter ventured neutrally, but Roman only laughed.

“And let me stay in prison?! Nope!”

Right, that was about as much as she expected to happen, at least. Still, Winter could not be blamed for trying.

“So you want freedom and protection in exchange for information.” She summarized, and already, she knew the answer.

“Now you’re getting it.” Roman, however, only nodded as she sighed heavily.

“Well, this was a waste of time.” Winter said, standing up, even as Jaune turned towards her with wide eyes.

“What? Why?”

“I doubt the General would agree to release criminals in exchange for information that may or may not be true. Come, Mr. Arc. It is time for me to return you to your family.” Winter answered, contrary to her expectations, however, Jaune only shook his head at them.

“How about house arrest, then?”

“House arrest?” She raised an eyebrow, even as Roman leaned forward interestedly.

“We could keep them somewhere not in a cell for one.” Jaune continued, and immediately Roman’s smile grew on his face.

“Well, I like where this is going. Go on, kid. What do you have in mind?”

“We could keep you detained in Beacon. Surrounded by the best of the best, but with a measure of freedom.” Jaune turned towards him, raising a finger as he brought up his suggestion.

There was a moment when Roman seemed to mull his words, but it only lasted for a moment.

“Not the best, but I’ll take it.” 

Winter frowned, already, she could tell the difficulties of such an arrangement.

“You are willing to expose students, your classmates, to a criminal?” She asked, but this time, it was Jaune’s turn to raise an eyebrow at her.

“Those classmates of mine can beat him up if they gang up on him. And if not, then they can delay him until you or the Faculty arrives.”

She’ll give him that, it was a sound argument, but it was still too dangerous for her liking.

“And what happens if he manages to sneak out unseen? You would’ve effectively released him back to Vale. This is dangerous, Arc.”

“It was just a suggestion.” Jaune pouted, and Winter sighed heavily as she shook her head.

“It does not matter. I do not have the authority to accept or deny your suggestion, that belongs to General Ironwood.”

“So you’ll tell it to him then?” He asked suddenly, and Winter’s lips twitched at the eagerness in his voice.

Perhaps she could consider this matter further, but not without a cost.

“Not if we return empty-handed.” She answered, turning her head towards Roman who only raised an eyebrow at her.

“What? You want me to give you the information now?”

“I won’t insult your intelligence, so I hope you won’t insult ours by thinking we would suggest that.” Winter scoffed before narrowing her eyes at him. “ No, Roman, what we need from you is a reason why we should even consider this deal in the first place?”

“You’re already considering it, aren’t you? Because you can’t afford not to with the Vytal Festival looming ahead.” He shot back, but Winter only shrugged.

“We have a fleet hovering above Vale, we have the best of the best coming in from all corners of Remnant. I think we’ll be okay.”

It was classic Negotiation 101. Never seem too eager to take a deal, and always look willing to not even make one at all. It was something that she as a Schnee had to learn, and almost always, it worked in coaxing more from people they negotiated with.

It worked wonderfully in Atlas, and it worked wonderfully now.

“I’ll give you that, but consider this, they were already in Vale.” Roman offered, nodding his head even as Winter restrained the smile on her face.

“Speak plainly, Roman.” She replied, fully knowing she had control over the conversation now.

“You want a reason to take me seriously?” Roman narrowed his eyes before scoffing at her. “Then hear this, the threat you were looking for? Was in Vale even before The Breach! And get this, The Breach wasn’t even the main plan! It was a diversion for something else!”

General Ironwood was right all those months ago, then. The Breach was indeed a diversion.

But a diversion for what?

“A diversion for what?” Jaune asked, jolting Winter out of her focus as Roman slowly grinned at him.

“Something bigger.”

—---------

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Kali asked as she looked at one of the houses in Vale’s Residential District.

It had been some time since they finished getting to know their future-in-laws, and it was now time for them to handle some of their matters in Vale.

And one of those matters just happened to apparently be useful to their discussion from before.

Visiting a friend who happened to have multiple human wives.

What was supposed to be a visit to help them get a measure of Vale and convince the polycule to help lower the tensions between the races, suddenly turned into a visit to get advice on how to have a wedding with multiple participants.

“Yes, honey, I am sure this is the place.” Ghira nodded, although doubt began to enter his voice as he tried to ring the doorbell once again.

He heard a loud buzz from inside the house, but just like before, there was no answer.

“Maybe they’re out?” Kali wondered, but Ghira only frowned.

“All of them? When we sent them a message ahead of time that we were coming?”

Kali shrugged silently, looking at him for guidance, but Ghira himself could only grunt in frustration before raising a hand.

“Bojack! Are you-?!” He shouted, knocking on the door before falling silent as it whined piteously.

Ghira froze, a smell of something familiar entering his nostrils as the air from the inside wafted out as the door opened slightly.

“Sir, please get back.” One of his guards called out, dressed in civilian clothing and out of his guard uniform.

Ghira could only nod silently at that, his blood turning cold as his guard opened the door.

Kali gasped, but right now, all Ghira could think about were the bodies laid out in front of them.

The bodies of his friend and his wives, and behind them on a wall was the symbol of the White Fang drawn in blood.