Chapter Text
A/N: Been trying to make a spy story work. Hopefully this one will. M rating to cover all the bases. Oh, and it diverges from canon in places.
~#~
With a yell, Jaune lunged at Pyrrha.
She was already moving, shield snapping up to neck level as Miló flicked out beside it in one fluid motion. Jaune's fingers shot toward the shield's right edge, closest to her spear—testing, probing for her reaction.
The javelin tip darted at his knuckles like a taijitsu. He jerked his hand back, pivoted, and immediately grabbed for the shield's bottom edge instead. His grip found purchase and he yanked hard, placing his weight on his front foot at the same time.
The shield tore free—for half a second.
Magnetic force slammed into his breastplate, her semblance catching his armour and dragging him forward even as he stumbled back with her shield in hand. Miló blurred through the air, three quick thrusts that would have found gaps in his armour if he hadn't gotten his own shield up just in time.
Metal rang against metal in rapid staccato beats. Block—thrust—block. She was relentless, pressing the attack even as he held her shield hostage. His counter came fast, a rising strike that clipped her chin before she could fully pull back.
Pyrrha's head snapped up, red hair whipping, but the grimace melted into a grin as she danced backward out of range. The magnetic pull on his armor released.
"You're getting much better, Jaune," She was barely breathing hard despite the flurry of movement. "I'm going to need to step up your training. And mine too wouldn't hurt."
"I don't think I'm quite ready for that, Pyr," Jaune replied, chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. He hefted her shield, testing its weight. "I'm just barely a match for you now."
"Well then let's continue. Ready for another ro-?"
"Can Agent Arc and Agent Nikos come to briefing room one? That's Arc and Nikos to briefing room one, thank you."
Jaune smiled apologetically. "Looks like sparring will have to wait for now. Sorry Pyr."
"Shame," Pyrrha agreed. "Let's go."
~#~
The briefing room was windowless, to allow for easier viewing of the projector image and deny outside viewing. It was almost silent, with the only audible sound being the faint hum of the projector.
Their handler, Handler Cleopatra, was a woman with steel grey hair in a bun and a spotless suit of the same colour. Thick rimmed glasses framing her piercing eyes. She stood waiting as they entered and sat at one of the benches situated at the rear half of the room. "Sorry we're late, Mrs Cleopatra. We were sparring and lost track of time."
"That's quite alright, Jaune. Shows you're both keeping on top of training which is always good. Now, onto business."
The projector, which had previously been showing a white background, now switched onto displaying an image of a woman in her mid to late twenties. Cleopatra waited for a moment to allow the pair to study the picture before she began. "This woman is known to us only as Amber. She is a half Valean, half Mistralian traveller, known in Shion - her most frequent residence - for being a charitable person. This is what is known to the wider public.
To us however, she is known for more than being nice to strangers. She has been seen on more than one occasion with the Huntsman Qrow Branwen, close confidant of Professor Ozpin, the Headmaster of Beacon in Vale."
Pyrrha and Jaune both straightened up upon hearing this detail, but it was the latter who inquired. "Branwen, as in the Branwen tribe?"
Cleopatra nodded. "The very same, Pyrrha. Qrow Branwen is the younger sibling of Raven Branwen, head of the Branwen Bandit Tribe, which as you know is under frequent observation for its tendency to never linger in one place for more than a month."
Their handler crossed the front of the room effciently. "To refocus, Amber is often alone but often unharmed and unbothered by others. This means she is able to protect herself, backed up by her preferred mode of transport; a saddled horse all pointing towards the notion that she is no pushover."
The woman stopped her presentation and advanced towards the rear of the room, in one of the corners, where a filing cabinet was situated and Jaune and Pyrrha turned to watch her move. Opening and closing it with a slam, she returned to the front of the room, the duo turning around again. She had retrieved a stapled report, which she quickly scanned. The briefing then continued. "Until today it seems. Three hours ago, she was checked into a hospital in Mistral city, in a comatose state by the aforementioned Qrow Branwen. An agent in deep cover was able to ascertain her doctor's report; an arrow wound to the back, scarring to the face and unresponsive to standard medical treatment to a comatose patient.
Your mission is therefore thus: travel to Beacon, ascertain Beacon's interest in one lone huntress such that Ozpin has someone poised to ensure her medical treatment even when half dead and most crucially; monitor any similar developments that arise, should they occur. To that end, tailing Qrow Branwen may be the best method to ensure success in this mission.
Jaune, your parents suggested looking out for any Huntsmen or Huntresses in training arriving from Mistral for this year's Vytal festival as persons of interest as Amber's attackers had knowledge of her route and therefore could be local. Your parents are heading up their own investigation into the headmaster of Haven; Leonardo Lionheart, who could have intervened, but didn't, which is odd given his and Ozpin's close friendship and he and Qrow Branwen being more than aware of each other, yet was not in a place to assist with Amber's healthcare."
Jaune nodded and Cleopatra moved to conclude her speech.
"Now, I believe that is all the details out of the way. Any questions?"
"Are there any other agents at Beacon that we should be aware of?" Pyrrha inquired.
"No. It will just be you both for the time being. Agent Arslan will be present in the future as the Vytal festival approaches, but she is unlikely to be assigned to this mission and instead merely be a point of contact, should you require messages sent back to Mistral without raising any suspicion."
"That makes sense," Pyrrha nodded.
"How will we know when we have what we're looking for?" Jaune asked. "I assume Amber's attackers won't exactly show off who they are."
"Good question. Your parents will specify that in due time. For now you are expected to watch for irregularities. Mistral born students of Huntsmen schools who don't appear on any known school databases will be provided by your parents as part of their own investigation here in Mistral."
"Okay. And I assume we will be using our standard loadout of bugs and other tools?"
"Yes. But if the need arises, reach out to me and I will see what I can do. I will be providing oversight on this mission. I will be in Vale by the time you are settled in at Beacon. Any more questions?"
Both agents shook their heads. "Alright then. One last thing before you can go: you have a specific task to deal with, which relates to this mission."
Jaune and Pyrrha exchanged a look.
"What task?" Pyrrha wondered.
~#~
There didn't seem to be a lot of foot traffic in Shion compared to Mistral's capital, Jaune noted from where he was sitting. Reaching into a pocket, he brought his scroll to his mouth, looking to any onlookers like he was having a regular call.
"Command, Agent Arc reporting. Findings are almost exactly as initially reported - one horse with a saddle removed but located in the vicinity and no rider as previously recognised. Please advise on next steps, over."
"Understood, Agent Arc. Continue to survey Shion Market at will and await Agent Nikos's arrival before moving to verify findings, then proceed to exfil with them and the horse."
"Copy that. Arc out."
Ten minutes later, the view of his surroundings had changed in one specific way. So Jaune Arc got up from his seat at the cafe where he had been sitting and lost himself in the crowd.
Shion was a bustling mass of market stalls, cafés and other service establishments, but the centre of the village was the draw of significant attention. A lone horse stood tied to a post set up in the hopes it could be identified by its owner happening to pass by.
Looking around, Jaune noted with some mild amazement at the fact that the riderless horse wasn't a curiosity in itself for the residents of Shion. Could it have been earlier, but by now it had faded into some sense of normalcy for the locals? Agent Arc had no idea.
Jaune now emerged from the crowd and traversed the remaining distance to the horse. It had been tended to. The saddle had been removed, left on the ground some distance away and a large trough of water had been provided, which the animal was more than happy to drink from. It currently had its head dipped to do so, so it didn't notice him at first.
He stopped in front of it, where it could see him, and eventually it raised its head and neighed its own form of greeting.
"Good afternoon to you too," Jaune murmured, looking it over. It was relaxed in his presence which confirmed that it wasn't wild, but trained.
His attention turned to the saddle. Slipping on gloves, he approached it, spread it out on the ground and examined it for a few moments.
It didn't take long for him to come to a conclusion.
"Command, Agent Arc speaking. My investigation is complete. Proceeding to Exfill with Agent Nikos to report my findings."
"Understood, Agent Arc. Proceed."
Jaune turned around. Back at the café, in the seat he had previously occupied, sat a shock of red hair. Pyrrha Nikos was not alone. Her arrival made her the focus of Shion.
Every eye was on her, and not on the horse.
Green eyes met blue and he nodded.
She nodded back, their regular signal to exfil from the area.
They had done this before. She drew attention and he investigated.
This time was no different.
It was only after Pyrrha left that anyone noticed that the horse was absent, never to be seen by the locals of Shion again.
~#~
The pair were now back in Mistral's capital, in briefing room one, speaking with Cleopatra once more.
"So Agent Arc. What did you find?" Agent Arc, rather than Jaune. The mission had now begun so for its duration, his first name would no longer be used in conversation.
"There were burn marks on the saddle, but no sign of any kind of Dust residue. The rider had some kind of fight as we know, but what causes burn marks that isn't Dust?"
"That is quite strange," Pyrrha interjected.
"Did you find anything else?" Cleopatra continued.
"Besides confirmation that the horse is used to people, no."
"I see. Very well, you are both dismissed. There is a train leaving in an hour and a half. Take the time to pack and you can both proceed at your leisure before you leave."
~#~
Jaune glanced at Pyrrha who sat across the table from him, then resumed gazing out the window at the countryside zipping past their train, which was headed for the west coast, where their airship to Vale awaited.
"You know we're going to have to pretend to be strangers. At least at first, right?"
"Yeah."
"Think you can do it?"
"Of course."
"Good. That makes one of us, Pyr."
As he was looking out the window, he missed how Pyrrha's expression changed, but he didn't fail to notice when her hand met his on the table.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we won't have to keep up the pretense for long."
Jaune nodded. "I hope not. Thanks Pyrrha."