Jaune frowned, "Promotional Campaign?"

"That's what Professor Goodwitch said yes." Said Pyrrha her voice carefully neutral.

Jaune shrugged, reaching up he knocked on Professor Goodwitch's office door.

"Enter!" said the professor, her voice filtering through the door.

Jaune pushed the door open and team JNPR stepped into the room. Pyrrha winced, her eyes falling on the rail thin man sitting at the desk across from Goodwitch. Stacks of paper's and scrolls littered the desk, the two had been working for quite some time.

The man, Minos stood. "Team JNPR! Exactly who I wanted to see!"

He strode forward's hand out, Jaune startled quickly extended his own.

"I've heard so much about all of you, an Arc as the leader and Nikos herself on the team. You are all sure to go far in the world!" said Minos as he continued to violently shake Jaune's hand his gaze switching back and forth between Jaune and Pyrrha.

Coolly Pyrrha glared back at the man.

Ren and Nora glanced at one another but said nothing.

"Uh, hello sir." Stuttered out Jaune.

"Minos, the name is Minos!" He dropped Jaune's hand and turned to Pyrrha.

"Ms. Nikos, it is always a pleasure."

"I'm sure it is for you Minos." She said.

The man cleared his throat, "I and the city council would like to ask if your team would be willing to represent Vale in the tournament."

Jaune frowned, "The schools are represented in the tournament. Not the Kingdom's."

Ren stepped forwards, Minos focused his eyes on him for the first time. "And only one of our team is from Vale."

Minos waved his hand, "Would you deny that Vale has afforded you opportunities you wouldn't have otherwise had? We are in no way asking you to pledge allegiances to the kingdom of Vale, all we would like to do it put you on promotional material. Have your team be the face of Vale in the tournament."

Jaune glanced back at Professor Goodwitch, Pyrrha kept her eyes locked on Minos watching him. His eyes flicked once to meet hers before returning to Jaune.

"Professor?" asked Jaune.

Goodwitch sighed, "This is all allowed Mr. Arc. Like you said however, the purpose of the competition is that of cooperation. The only thing that Minos may not offer is money, or ask that you act in any manner differently during the competition."

Minos looked hurt and turned back to Professor Goodwitch, Pyrrha let a small smile tug at her lips. Goodwitch had worked with Minos before.

Minos put a hand to his chest, "I'm hurt that you think I would suggest anything like that Glynda."

Goodwitch glared at him, "You'll live, and it is Professor."

Minos rolled his eyes and turned back to Jaune, "This would be an opportunity for you to represent your school, your family, and Vale. Your Great-Great-Grandfather is still revered, helping the Vale council here would be a small step I think in helping to honor him."

Jaune blinked, surprised.

Pyrrha moved forwards, "What would this entail, the specifics Minos."

Minos's eyes hardened slightly but the grin remained on his face. "One or two interviews. Individual and as a team, perhaps one commercial spot, a poster campaign to promote your team. Those kinds of things."

"With equal time and representation given to each team member?" asked Pyrrha.

Minos continued to smile, "That could be arranged, but the public wants what the public wants. One or two of you might capture more attention."

Pyrrha matched his smile, "I'm sure."

Minos sighed, "Ms. Nikos."

"Professor could we step out for a moment to talk about this as a team?" asked Pyrrha, interrupting the man.

Professor Goodwitch stood, "Mr. Minos and I will step out."

Goodwitch walked around her desk and out of her office, Minos's smile broke but he slowly followed her out of the room.

Jaune turned watching them leave, and raised his eyebrows.

Ren cleared his throat, "You seem to know something about Mr. Minos."

"You look like you wanted to smash him into the wall." Said Nora.

Pyrrha glanced at Jaune, "I've met people like him. My old manager and Mr. Minos were friends."

"You had a manager?" asked Jaune.

Pyrrha weakly smiled, "I won the Mistral Regional Tournament four years in a row."

"You were on the Pumpkin Pete's box." He considered that for a moment, "I forgot about that."

"Does this mean we could be on the Pumpkin's Pete box?" asked Nora.

Ren glanced at his partner, "Not the point Nora."

"What happened?" asked Jaune.

Pyrrha shrugged, "You know what happened. I became famous, and that's all anyone cared about. It opened up opportunities." Pyrrha gestured down at her armor, "I wouldn't be here if those opportunities hadn't been available."

She paused and laughed, "That's all assuming it works as Mr. Minos wants. There were plenty of other fighters that my manager promoted. I was his most popular of his career, he wanted me to move into professional fighting."

Jaune frowned and tapped his sword, "Isn't that what we do now?"

"Not as a Huntress Jaune, as a ring fighter."

Jaune's eyes went up and he nodded, "ah."

"He didn't seem to understand that I didn't want the money or the fame. He wasn't happy when I told him I was coming to Vale."

Jaune looked around at the rest of his team.

Ren shrugged, "I am content."

Nora theatrically sighed, "I've always dreamed of being on a cereal box! Ren, you're going to make this up to me?"

Ren slowly nodded his head.

Jaune nodded, "We'll tell him no then."

Pyrrha weakly smiled, "are you all sure? I'm fine doing it."

"We didn't come to Beacon to be famous." Said Jaune.

He walked over to the door of the office and pulled it open, Mr. Minos stepped in and Jaune frowned as Professor Goodwitch and Ozpin stepped in with him.

"Professor?" asked Jaune looking at the Headmaster.

He smiled, "Mr. Arc, I'm glad I caught you and your team." The man sipped at his ever-present cup of coffee, and his eyes cut to look at Pyrrha.

"Uh, yes. Hello sir." Said Jaune awkwardly.

"Have you and your team come to a decision?"

Jaune nodded, "We're here to be Hunters. Not celebrities."

Minos frowned behind Ozpin and Pyrrha had to fight to keep her features in place.

"You could do that. You all have the makings of fantastic Hunters." Ozpin paused and sipped his coffee again, "But the world has many fantastic Hunters. What we are lacking, are heroes. People whom inspire those around them, entire kingdoms and the world to strive towards making a better world."

Ozpin glanced back at Minos and then Pyrrha, "Being a hero you have to deal with things that are unpleasant, but it is for the greater good."

Jaune blinked, "Sir other teams could do this, I'm not exactly a model,"

Pyrrha cut him off, "We'll do it Mr. Minos."

Minos smiled and barged in front of Ozpin, "Good, very good! We'll have to work around your training routines and schoolwork of course, although a few videos of training will be advantageous." He pulled out his scroll and quickly navigated through it, "We can start the interviews soon."

Ozpin raised a hand, "Mr. Minos. I'd very much appreciate you furnishing my students and Headmistress with a copy of the contract for this promotional campaign you intend to run before we proceed."

Minos glanced back at him and then at the frowning woman behind him, "I'll do that but no reason to delay things. The Festival is two weeks away!"

Goodwitch stepped around Ozpin, "You'll not be rushing the students because your poor planning. Something like this should have been negotiated months in advance. Not weeks."

"The Council has been somewhat busy, Vale is hosting the tournament."

Goodwitch slowly leaned to the side and put a hand on her hip, and continued to glare.

"I can do the interview Tuesday." Said Ren.

Minos shook his head, "We need your leader first, him and his partner. Who on the team is that?"

Pyrrha rolled her eyes, he already knew who.

"Ms. Nikos is Arc's partner."

Minos smiled, "Then I will interview the both of you in a few days!"

Jaune spun around, blocking Pyrrha's attack to his legs with his shield.

His own shield was already speeding towards his head, unable to position his sword in time to deflect it Jaune dropped the weapon and raised his arm. His Aura flared at the impact and, and even through that Jaune felt the impact deep in his bones.

Ignoring that Jaune Pushed forwards, the only advantage he had on Pyrrha was raw strength. It wasn't much of an advantage given how often she had to fight far stronger enemies, but with her spear and shield pinned in awkward positions there was a chance.

Pyrrha fell onto her back, her shield between the two of them and spear off to the side.

Jaune, for a moment thought he had her pinned. Her legs now free, wrapped around his waist and twisting Pyrrha flipped them around. On his back and disoriented Jaune winced as Pyrrha's spear moved to his throat.

Breathing hard the two of them looked at one another for several moments. Sweat was rolling down both of their faces and Jaune couldn't help but look down at Pyrrha's chest as she sucked in several deep breaths trying to slow her heart.

"I thought I had you."

"You almost did." Pyrrha drew in a breath, "technically you shouldn't drop your weapon like that but it was your only move. When you pin someone try and keep control of their legs."

"I'll keep that in mind." Grunted Jaune.

The two continued to look at one another, and Pyrrha blinked. "Sorry."

Quickly she jumped off him, and held out a hand helping him up to his feet.

"Want to go again?"

Jaune shook his head. "No. I'm good." He rubbed at his throat. "You've killed me enough tonight, and we've got the interview tomorrow."

Pyrrha nodded, "Right. Could I show you something then?"

"Of course, although I need a shower." Jaune pulled at his shirt and Pyrrha smiled. "I do too, this will be really quick and we don't have to go far."

Jaune picked up his sword and sheathing it nodded.

Pyrrha looked around the gym, it was late night and most had left already. Velvet and Coco were in the opposite corner away from the sparring mats both on treadmills their eyes locked on a soap opera as they ran.

"Over here."

Pyrrha walked to one of the small storage off the gym. Jaune frowned but followed, "We get new equipment?"

"No, I want to check something."

Pyrrha raised her hands, one shelf in the corner of the room moved to the side exposing an old metal hatch. "That."

Pyrrha lifted the hatch open with her semblance. Jaune glanced at her, "Pyrrha?"

"One second." Looking down into the darkness Pyrrha slapped a light on and an old-fashioned dust lamp flickered on somewhere below. Nodding to herself Pyrrha dropped down through the hatch.

"Pyrrha!"

Jaune quickly followed, ignoring the ladder he dropped down after her and blinked in surprise. The room was about a third as long as the gym, completely empty except for several ancient combat robots gathering dust and cobwebs in one corner.

"What is this?" asked Jaune.

Pyrrha shifted on her feet, "This Jaune is a completely soundproofed room."

Jaune glanced at her, "Right under the Gym? What's it for?"

"Beacon's not always had the Atlas training robots. Before them, they needed a room to house all the machinery. The mechanics were apparently so loud no one could hear anything in the gym so they dampened it to sound. It was only on the oldest blueprints."

"Ok, why did I need to see this?"

Pyrrha shifted on her feet again, "Well we can't keep doing what we have been in the dorm."

Jaune's eyes widened, "Oh." He frowned, "Did Ren and Nora say something?"

"No. It was, Blake."

"Blake?"

Pyrrha blushed and tapped the top of her head.

Jaune blinked, "Oh."

Looking around the decrepit room Jaune shook his head, "This seems a little bit too much like an actual dungeon. It's not safe."

"You haven't imagined having a woman tied up in a dungeon?" asked Pyrrha.

Jaune blinked, "I shouldn't really answer that question."

Pyrrha sighed, "Jaune, I've got my safe word. In any case, I can't imagine you going too far or too quickly to require my using it."

Jaune shook his head. "Don't say that. I'm already restraining myself, If I did all I want to do." He trailed off and shook himself, "You'd run away and I couldn't blame you."

"I'm not one to run from a challenge Jaune."

He frowned, "This isn't a battle Pyrrha." He paused for a moment thinking, "This is, I don't know what this is to be honest."

"Stress relief?"

Jaune shrugged and pointed up, "Isn't that what our training sessions are supposed to be?"

"I suppose so." Said Pyrrha.

Jaune sighed and looked around the room, "You want to do the 'stress relief' down here then?"

Pyrrha nodded.

"Give me a day or so to sort things out. I need to clean this place at the very least," Jaune glanced over at the robots. "Cover those with a sheet or something."

Pyrrha nodded in agreement, "They are a little creepy."

Ditey yawned and leaned back in her chair. Her Scroll buzzed, smiling the shop owner answered.

Ven's face appeared on the small screen, "Ditey, what do you want?"

"I've found a candidate." Said Ditey without preamble.

Ven rolled her eyes, "You say that every decade."

"His interest is a girl from your city, Pyrrha Nikos."

Ven's eyes widened, "A Nikos? You're insane."

"The boy's the progeny of Arc himself."

Ven blinked again and slowly shook her head. "An Arc and a Nikos? Together? Impossible."

Ditey leaned forwards, "Sister, you're stuck in the past. These two, from what I can discern have no idea of that history. The Nikos name has been lost to time, and the Arc's have cleaned up their history. The names have no bearing on this."

Across the world Ven's face turned red and she closed her eyes frustrated, "No bearing? No bearing! This is not a coincidence!"

Ditey shrugged, "The boy has no knowledge of it. His soul was twisted, conflicted. A perfect example of the standards his family holds themselves too. The boy is no fighter, I doubt he would have made it past his first day at Beacon were it not for the Nikos. He fights for her."

"And the girl?" asked Ven.

Ditey winced, "I've only gotten a secondary impression, and that was muddled. Salem has taken interest in her."

Ven's face darkened, "Sister, if Salem is at work leave them be."

"Oz is influencing them as well."

Ven groaned, she dropped her link and Ditey patiently waited for her sister to pick it back up.

The view shifted back to show Ven's face framed with her flame red hair, "Then one of them is going to die. Oz loves his heroes."

"The death of either one will destroy the other Ven." Said Ditey.

Ven sighed and shook her head, "Then we wait for the next opportunity. Involving ourselves with Oz and the Witch will destroy us."

Ditey slowly nodded in agreement, "You are right sister."

Ven's eyes narrowed through the scroll, "you agree?"

"Well, I forgot to mention one piece of information."

"That is?" asked Ditey annoyed.

"I think they would be amicable to the contract."

Ven's face darkened, "The last time we did that…"

"The moon is still mostly in one piece." Said Ditey cutting her off.

Ven sighed, "I'll come to Vale, check the girl."

Ditey bowed her head, "Such an arduous journey sister, it will take you what? Five days?"

Ven shut her Scroll off and Ditey smiled.

Jaune tugged at the collar, the pained squeak from the woman kneeling in front of him broke the rules.

Leaning forwards Jaune took her chin in his hand, slowly moving her eyes up to meet his own.

"You were ordered not to make a sound."

The woman slowly nodded in resignation, her red locks fell over her face obscuring her features. Jaune slowly ran his hand over her cheek, luxuriating in the softness of her skin.

"You've disobeyed."

The woman shuddered, but remained completely silent.

Running his hand down her neck, over the leather collar around her neck and to the shoulder covered by only the mane of hair from her head Jaune thought allowed. "You've already been punished. As much as you deserve punishment, you're resistant to pain."

Jaune ran his hand lower over her chest, keeping his hand away from anything improper by only millimeters. Almost imperceptibly the woman tried to lean into the touch. Jaune smiled, but ignored the small lapse in protocol.

"So instead, you are going to be denied pleasure."

The woman froze and closed her eyes. She leaned forwards and almost sobbed. Jaune could see her chest moving with silent sobs. She had been on the edge he knew since she had stepped into his home before sunset. In the dead of night her need at had only grown.

"Unless, you can make up for the error."

Slowly Pyrrha turned to look up at him, and her eyes moved to the belt of his pants.

Jaune blinked, his heart racing and on the ceiling of the dorm room he cursed his own subconscious. The dreams as provocative as they were never moved past that point.

Rolling over in bed Jaune tried to force himself back to sleep.

A/N

Sorry for the delay, I've been working on other writing. Got my first book published on Amazon, and am now continuing on with other works. This pushes Fanfics onto the back burner, and I only work on them when stuck with other things. So I've not been stuck for a while.

Anyway links to that stuff are on my profile!

Next chapter we'll be getting into more play, just had to transition everything.