"Getting angry at you won't change anything, and it's been almost two weeks since then. If you'd come to me on the first night, I'd have screamed and shouted at you, but I can't bring myself to do that anymore." Jaune sighed and placed his tray down on a nearby table. He looked exhausted. "I woke up at five in the morning so I could meet with my suppliers and order some more fresh milk, and then I had to clean all the tables and get ready for the day. I prepped all the machines, visited the local bakeries, and then had to cut cakes and lay them out in display cabinets. It's three in the afternoon now, and I've got a big order coming in an hour, not to mention the rush once the local businesses close for the day. I just don't have the time to get angry."
Glynda's face tilted to the side. She wasn't sure what she was hearing, and also couldn't figure out whether that was mature or not of him. Sure, he'd decided to put aside his animosity, but because he couldn't fit it in his day…?
Was that a good thing?
"Besides, it's not like it would change anything. You probably had a reason to not accept me, and it probably wasn't because you enjoy it. I was really upset, but I guess I just busied myself and forgot about it. I want to be angry even now, but I just can't find it." Jaune laughed awkwardly and picked up his tray once more. "Maybe you made the right choice, anyway. Maybe I wouldn't have been cut out for the life of a huntsman. I guess I'll never know." His eyes trailed to the ceiling and then back down to them again. He took a deep breath and let it go. "But no, you don't have to leave. You're welcome here, even after what happened. You were just doing your job, and I'll do mine. There doesn't have to be any hard feelings."
Ozpin smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear it. For what it's worth, I derived no satisfaction from the decision."
"I understand. This isn't what I expected I'd be doing either, but I can't say I hate it."
"One should never do something they dislike," Oobleck said wisely. "You've certainly managed to craft a loyal customer base. I'd be happy to come back myself."
"I, as well," Glynda added. "If we're welcome, that is. I would understand if you didn't want-"
"No, it's fine." He smiled at her, and she could sense nothing but honesty there. "Like I said, I was worse about this before, but I'm over it. I'd be happy to see you all again. Anyway, I should get back to work and leave you to your food. If you need me, just shout."
"We will, Mr Arc," Ozpin said. He watched the waiter leave, and turned back to the rest of them with a small smile. It faded when he noticed them staring at him. "What?"
"Don't you what us, Ozpin," Glynda hissed. "Can we not even take you out for coffee without your causing a scene?"
"I merely wanted to address the issue. I did worry for the young man, and I didn't want to impose on him if he my presence caused him any distress."
"And you could not have addressed him in private?" Oobleck asked with narrowed eyes. "As opposed to, say, throwing it out in the middle of our lunch break? That was an awkward situation, Ozpin, and not one weneeded to be involved in!"
Glynda nodded with a fierce glare.
"For shame," Peter agreed around a mouth filled with cake. "For- hm, this is delicious. I- Oh right, yes, for shame."
/-/
Jaune stretched his muscles and fought back a yawn as the clock struck ten. Another day over, and another till filled with lien. That wasn't to say he'd turned a real profit yet, but he was on the right track. It was about half way through the month, and if things carried on like they were, he'd turn a small one – enough to cover his bills and keep going, anyway.
He didn't bother to flip the sign over on the door, and instead moved around the diner, stacking chairs and wiping tables clean. He left one table free, however, with two seats next to it.
If his memory served him correct…
The bell rang.
"See? I told you he'd still be open."
"Technically, I'm closed," Jaune said without any heat. He smiled at the little girl who skipped up to him and tilted her head to the side. "There's plenty of ice-cream in the freezer unit. Pick which flavours you want and I'll mix it up for you."
Neo clapped her hands together and rushed away, and not for the first time, he had to remind himself that she was actually older than he was.
"Thanks, kid," Roman said, sitting down on the table and reaching for a cigar. He paused when Jaune stared pointedly at him, and then sheathed it with a sigh. "There's no one else here. It's not like anyone would know."
"No, but I'd have to get rid of the smell. You know the rules, Roman." Jaune pushed an affogato over to the man, and passed him a spoon along with it. This was actually the third time Roman had visited, and he'd become something of a late night regular. From what Jaune understood, the two worked in the removals industry, but they had the night shift or something. They didn't talk about work much (not that Neo talked at all), and he understood why.
Who wanted to talk about work when you were relaxing?
Either way, their shift ended technically after his diner did, but they'd caught him closing for the day and Neo had looked so upset, he hadn't the heart to ask them to leave.
Of course, he'd been in for a bit of a rude awakening when he'd asked Roman what his daughter wanted. She'd not taken well to that, and only a liberal serving of ice-cream had been enough to cool her anger. Since then, she'd made it a conscious effort to remind him that she may have looked young, but that she definitely wasn't.
"Busy day?" Jaune called, moving over to the counter and scooping out ice-cream as Neo pointed.
"Don't even get me started, kid." Roman said. Naturally, he didn't need any more encouragement and did, in fact, get started. "Had to meet with something of a new customer today, and I'll be damned if she doesn't think she owns us. An arrogant piece of work if I've ever seen it."
For him to call someone arrogant, she had to be really bad.
"Can't you just refuse to work for her?"
"It's… not quite as simple as that. She has big money, not to mention influence. The kind of person you don't say no to, you know?"
"Sounds scary…"
"Oh, she is." Roman sipped at his drink and sighed. "To tell you the truth, I'd rather not deal with her at all, but like I said, I can't exactly say no. We need the work anyway, and if we're not involved, she'll just find someone else. Sure, they won't be as good as I am, but I kind of don't want to be on the opposite side from her."
"Now it just sounds complicated." Jaune placed the bowl on the counter and stuck some wafers into it. For added measure, he also took some pieces of chocolate and poked them out of the top, before he handed it to Neo.
She took it happily, and dragged him down by the apron.