More than a little ill today. As a result, this took a depressingly long time to write compared to usual. Just spent ages staring at the screen and not really seeing the words. Just thinking, "I'm not sick enough to actually BE sick or need the doctor, but just sick enough to be unable to focus."
That annoying middle-ground ill.
Weirdly, it's my eyes that feel worst – as if they're balls of cotton wool or something, always fuzzy to look through, itchy and tired. I'd self-diagnose, but we all know how ridiculous that is.
Probably Ligma
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 32
Sign nothing. Believe nothing. Agree to nothing.
Three simple pieces of advice from his new solicitor which Jaune had to follow, and when he'd asked if he shouldn't `say nothing` as well, the solicitor said it wouldn't matter as anything he said would be inadmissible in court anyway, providing he didn't go insane and start threatening to kill Sterling, his family and his family's family dog.
Basically, dig down and wait things out.
Jaune could do that. He had it down.
"I've got the cakes ready," Russel said.
"I don't believe you and I'm not signing anything."
Russel stared at him. "What?"
"Sorry, automatic response. Cakes? Yes, great." Jaune paused. "Shouldn't you be at school today? It's Monday."
"Free training days with Vytal approaching."
"Then… shouldn't you be training?"
"I'm not going to sit back and miss out on anything that happens here. If Café Prime are going to do anything, they'll try and do it fast. I'd rather be around in case they do."
"Sure, and I'm touched, but-"
The door jingled as it opened. "Hi Jaune!" Velvet said. "Hi Russel."
"Hey Vel," Russel replied.
Jaune sighed. "Don't you have-"
"Free training days."
"You guys." Jaune rolled his eyes but couldn't quite hide his smile. "Sometimes I wonder if you want to be huntsmen at all. Don't blame me when you do so badly you get knocked out of the Vytal Festival and come crawling back here in tears."
Russel snorted. "Zero expectations on me. First years against fourth years, and besides, I have Pyrrha on the team. She's worth at least three of me. I think I'll be fine."
"Easy for you to say," Velvet whined. "You can lose and it's fine. If we lose, and to a first-year team like yours? No one's going to say it's okay because of Pyrrha. Team CFVY will be a laughing stock for getting trashed by newbies."
"I'll brew you a conciliatory coffee."
"Ass!"
Jaune laughed, "Alright, you two. Settle down. And thanks for coming in today, even if you didn't have to. I appreciate it, what with the journalists and all."
"They're still here?" Velvet looked to the front entrance, but it was, for once, blissfully clear.
"Not yet, but considering Blake's video of that guy trying to subdue you is doing the rounds…"
Her eyes widened. "It's what!?" she squeaked.
"You didn't realise?" Russel barked a laugh. "Vel, you're like, internet famous. Between that first interview with you looking like some adorable and innocent girl, and then the second of you standing up to someone twice your size and pinning them down, people love you. You should see some of the comments."
Velvet's ears drooped.
"Or maybe you shouldn't," Russel backtracked. "They're a little… well, you know how people can be online. Let's just say you have a lot of fans. Some of them, uh, a little more `fan` than others."
Velvet whimpered.
"It's the ears," Russel said. "Or the fact you look like you need protecting. Yeah, that quivering lip look right there." He glanced away from it. "Shit, that's powerful. A-Anyway, might want to stop that in case people see, or we'll have to rebrand from a huntsman diner into a maid girl one."
Velvet's face turned bright red and she ran away, hiding behind some of the coffee machines as she busied herself with the morning preparations.
"Was that really necessary?" Jaune had to ask.
"I think it kinda is, man. One of my teammates literally asked me to set him up with her last night. Better she knows what's going on than freaks out if someone asks her out today." Russel eyed Jaune cheekily. "She's not the only one doing the rounds online, you know. A certain someone has already been on the news enough thanks to your interviews, but people have been rating you on forums, too."
"Spare me the details. I'd rather not despair over how random people see me."
It was probably inevitable, given that Café Prime had made him something of a public figure thanks to their stunt. Not what they'd been aiming for, that was for sure. Still, if what Russel said was true…
"We'd best prepare for a rush today."
"A really fickle rush," Russel agreed. "That's the real reason I came in. We're going to get a whole load of one-time visit gawkers coming to take a look at the internet celebrities of the day. Good profit, but a pain in the ass."
Jaune sighed and started to stack some menus.
"Well, we'd best get started…"
Two hours later proved just how much of a prophet Russel could be.
Jaune smiled as best he could, arm around a young girl's shoulder as she pressed her face to his and snapped a picture on her scroll. Her friends giggled and waved goodbye as they left, leaving without buying so much as a single cup of coffee. Jaune's cheek muscles stung. Was it possible to stretch a muscle smiling? It certainly felt so.
It wasn't much better for Velvet and Russel, but especially poor Velvet, who had been forced to pose with numerous people through the day. The girls weren't so bad, nor, to be fair, were most of the guys. But then there were those who clearly liked her a little more than they ought to, despite never having met her before.
Those, he or Russel had to step in between.
Poor Velvet. She was handling it well, but the sudden popularity looked to be something she wasn't much appreciating. Jaune couldn't say he was, either. As Russel said, it left Jaune's a lot busier than it normally was on a Monday, but it didn't feel right.
He'd done this to serve coffee, making a friendly atmosphere and serve people. This felt more like they were running a stand at one of those conventions. Despite his solicitor's insistence on not signing anything, he'd been made to sign numerous autographs.
Him, a barista! It didn't even make sense!
"And why are you smiling so much?" Jaune asked Pyrrha, and he was perhaps a little brusque with it.
To be fair, Pyrrha looked like she'd won the lottery, face a mix of raw joy and some strange peace, as if all the questions of the world had just been answered and life could not be better than it was at that very moment. Considering his current situation, it was not an expression Jaune was willing to let go.
"I'm just happy," she said. "It's strange, but, no one here cares about me. I'm old hat."
"And this is a good thing!?" Jaune groaned.
"Yes, it's grand! I get to see someone else going through what I do, and better still, you'll have understanding of just what it's like for me." No explanation of why him having understanding was a good thing from her point of view. "And so will Russel. It's like dream come true."
"And Velvet?"
Pyrrha's smile fell. "I do feel sorry for her…"
"Just not for me."
"I feel sorry for you, too," she said, touching his arm. Her sympathy vanished. "But I feel happy to have someone who understands what it's like, more than I feel guilty." She shrugged, and at least had the kindness to say, "Sorry about that."
"Wow… You're some kind of ass…"
"Coco keeps telling me to stop trying to be nice all the time. I should be myself."
"And `yourself` is someone who takes pleasure in kicking a man while he's down?"
"Well, I did go into tournament fighting," she said with a teasing grin. "It's a viable strategy. This is why our date got interrupted the last time, though. Everyone recognised me in the takeout place. Being popular isn't as fun as some people seem to think it is."
"Y-Yeah, I can see that."
Jaune laughed and turned away, more to hide his expression than anything. She'd said date. He hadn't missed that. The ideas batted around between Ruby and him on their sleepover rushed through his mind, things about possibilities, what could be, and things he hadn't thought possible before.
But Pyrrha thought that had was a date?
It hadn't been. Not at all.
Or at least, he hadn't thought it was…
Jaune's heart beat a little faster. He busied himself preparing a cappuccino for someone behind the counter, sliding a mug out onto a pristine white saucer and drawing several deep breaths, letting each go as they came.
Stepping out into the melee of customers and diners, Jaune took the drink to a lonely table in the corner, occupied by a man in a dark-red hoodie, drawn up over his head. He was hunched, but not uncomfortably, more like someone who wanted to distance themselves from the louder elements of today's customer base.
"Here you go, sir," Jaune offered the drink.
"Thanks," the redhead said, accepting it. "It's busy today."
"It's not normally like this…"
"I can imagine." A smile ghosted at the corner of his lips. It was odd, somehow, for the man's face didn't seem one used to smiling. "I did happen to see a little video online…"
Jaune groaned. "Not you, too…"
"Not me," he chuckled. "I was more impressed with the girl standing up for herself. And in defence of you."
"Velvet. And she was standing up for herself. She likes it here."
The man nodded. "You treat her well."
"Why wouldn't I? She's an employee, but she's also a friend."
"Most businesses prioritise profits over the wellbeing of their staff."
"I don't."
"I know." The man sipped the cappuccino. "I wouldn't come here otherwise."
A commotion off to the side caught Jaune's attention, someone having been a little too touchy with Velvet. She hadn't struck them, but pulled away violently, and it looked like a few other people were taking issue with the guy who had done it.
"Excuse me," Jaune said, already moving. "I need to deal with this."
/-/
Adam watched the human go. He'd seen the tussle starting and prepared to move himself, but they seemed to have it in hand. The faunus was no pushover, either. He could see it in the way she moved, even if some of the empty-headed fools gawking over her could not. She wasn't like his Blake, not even close, but she had that quiet confidence, not in mannerisms but in how she moved. Adam watched the blond man break it up before it could get worse. He smiled and sipped his cappuccino as the man sided with his employee and asked the touchy man to leave, then threatened to throw him out when he would not.
He didn't move like a predator. The man, Jaune, moved like a regular civilian. Even as he squared his shoulders here, it looked more like a peacock puffing up, a display to intimidate without any substance behind it. The other boy, the huntsman, moved close in case his boss needed it.
But the girl, the faunus, she glared over her boss' shoulder, making it clear that if this wretch harmed her employer – or tried – she would not let it stand.
Chuckling, Adam turned away and focused on his drink.
He'd seen the video, of course. Trawling crap online was hardly his normal routine, but the video had spread through the White Fang like wildfire, and why not? A clip of a young faunus girl bringing an arrogant and much larger human to his knees was practically what the White Fang preached. It was their eternal struggle against human oppression that all too often came from the rich, the powerful and the large corporations, Governments and more.
The rank and file loved it. Adam had spotted several laughing raucously over a scroll, and that was how he had come to see it. The newbies, rookies in name and practice, had been almost too eager to show him what they were looking at. Adam had laughed along with them, enjoying the simple way she dismantled the larger man.
But Adam saw deeper, too. Deeper than his fellows who laughed only at the violence, the look on the man's face or the thought of them bringing their own demons low like she had. Adam looked and saw the reasons behind it, the motives.
He liked what he saw.
The girl was no White Fang material, no matter what some of the grunts were saying. She wasn't soft, far from it, but rather she was content. Faunus happy with their lot didn't shack up with terrorist organisations. Didn't risk their lives. Some called them race traitors, and Adam agreed on some level with that, but only for those who accepted being lesser, who wanted to hide away from the truth.
There was no treachery in finding or fighting for your own piece of happiness, and then wanting to hold onto it. This girl had that in her job here, obvious from how she acted and smiled, and it was also obvious from her action that she was prepared to fight to keep it.
Good for her. Like a true fighter, she'd found what she wanted and was ready to stand her ground to keep hold of it. The White Fang had nothing more to offer her, and Adam wished her well. If only more of his people could be like that.
It reminded Adam of earlier times, better times. Not better for the faunus – they'd been pushed down ever since he was a child – but better because things had been, if not easier, simpler. Back then, all that seemed to matter was finding their own little bit of happiness. Fighting for justice, fair treatment, the right to matter.
Kind of like this girl had found.
If only it were that easy for the rest of them…
One diner that treated its faunus properly wasn't enough to change a world. It was a start, a boon, a delight to find and see happening before his eyes, but it was still just one place. The rest of Vale was as bad as it had ever been, and, in Adam's mind, he'd expected this place, Jaune's, to go out of business. Or be pushed out by larger rivals. He supposed that was why the video appealed to him so. Proof that even in the darkest of times, little glimmers of hope remained.
The underdog, as the faunus had ever been, but instead of being punished for daring to fight back, this faunus had been accepted. It was why he'd had to come today, if only to prove to himself that there could be one place in Vale that wouldn't turn their back on his kind.
Little wonder Blake loved this place.
Adam's eyes closed. He sighed, shifted and brought up one hand to cover his face, the other bringing his still warm cappuccino higher. It tasted bitter for a moment, unlikely with how much sugar he'd added. His thoughts always turned bitter where she was involved. A part of him hated her for it, even as another part tried to convince himself it wasn't her fault.
"Need to stop thinking about it…"
Less on the past, more on the future.
Not that the future was looking much better, all things considered. There was Mountain Glenn coming up, a mission that felt entirely too much like a suicide one. As that witch put it, there were plenty of his men fanatical enough to give their lives for the cause. Finding volunteers wouldn't be hard. If only that were his issue.
Attacking Vale…
It would put the White Fang on the map, make them impossible to ignore, but it would also make them targets. Hated figures, and with good reason. There were certain targets you just didn't fucking go for. Hospitals, schools and the like, but Beacon Academy had to be top of that list. The only group helped by their fall was the Grimm.
And Cinder, he thought. That witch has something to hide. Never should have trusted her.
Heh. No. That wasn't right. He didn't trust her now and never had, but it was the same problem. He'd made a deal with her, a deal with the devil, and back then, with Blake beside him, it seemed like a risk he was prepared to take. Selling his soul for faunus rights would be fine so long as Blake was there beside him.
How the world could change in so short a time…
"Another drink, Adam?" Jaune asked, having returned.
He looked up through bleary eyes. The boy looked worried, perhaps even concerned for him. Ha. What a joke. He doubted the boy would feel the same in time, when the depths of Adam's cruelty were on display. The proof of just how far he'd go. Or perhaps how lost he already was.
But, until then…
"Yes. Another, please."
/-/
"You know, there's the school dance coming up."
Jaune paused in cleaning out a mug to look at Ruby. He figured he had a solid grasp on what their relationship was, but the question was so out of left field that he had to ask, "Are you asking me to be your date to a school dance?"
"No!" She laughed and punched his arm. "I might as friends, but this is a date thing so that would be weird. I'm going on my own."
He'd figured as much. Ruby didn't strike him as the kind of girl to be into guys, and not just because of her age. Fifteen-year-olds dated just as much as seventeen; they were just clumsier about it. Ruby didn't really care for anything outside of being a huntress, though.
"Vytal Festival and a school dance. That's a busy calendar."
"The ball is for the festival," Ruby explained. "It's the Vytal Festival Ball. And the schedule is no busier than yours, Mr works all day and is also a celebrity."
"I'm not a celebrity." he groaned. "Not a real one anyway. Give it a day. This nonsense will wear off."
"Probably, but I'm going to milk it until it does." Ruby grinned and waved the little photo she had of him and her, which she'd made him sign. Apparently, on the off-chance it might become valuable memorabilia later in life. Jaune didn't think it would, but Ruby said she didn't lose anything by giving it a shot.
There was a reason Blake was absent today, no doubt hiding from the furore she'd accidentally unleashed.
"So, will you be going to the dance?" Ruby asked.
"To your school dance? No, I don't think so…"
"Why not?"
Jaune sighed and looked to Yang, who was listening in with a grin. "Am I missing something here, or has Ruby's brain not kicked in yet?"
"Bit of both, bit of both." Yang laughed. "The dance is for people at Beacon, but I don't think there are any rules against people from outside coming, as long as they're invited by a student. If it was just a Beacon dance it might be different, but this is for the festival, so it's open to people from other schools, who might have partners not at either school. It's possible you could attend. If you wanted, that is."
"I kind of have bigger things to think of at the moment. I don't think this Café Prime business will be over before your dance."
"It's in the evening, though. You could still attend."
"You seem awfully determined I attend," Jaune pointed out. "Are you sure you're not asking me out?"
Ruby's cheeks flushed, and she squeaked. She made to protest, only to see the grin on his face. The moment she did, Yang and Jaune burst out laughing.
"Meanie!" Ruby growled, hitting both of them for good measure. "I was asking because… you know…" She made some eye gestures.
Jaune followed her eyes, but they were aimed at a wall. He looked back. "I really don't."
"What we talked about before? The sleepover?"
"Blake's books?"
Ruby groaned and covered her eyes. "Nooo. I mean the… ugh. You and maybe someone who might like you. I thought you might want to ask them to the dance. The person we talked about?" Ruby looked to Yang and away. "You know…"
"Uh, no offence, but this someone isn't me, is it?" Yang asked nervously. "Not that there's anything wrong with you, Jaune, but-"
"It's not you," he said.
Yang's obvious relief was only a little insulting.
"Who is it, then?"
"No one," Ruby replied.
"Pyrrha," Jaune said at the same time. At Ruby's look, he shrugged. "Yang would have figured it out. Or just bothered us until we told her. Easier to just get it out there. Besides, Pyrrha left an hour or two ago."
"I guess…"
"Wait, you mean that's supposed to be a secret?" Yang asked. She rolled her eyes. "Jaune, Pyrrha's interest in you is about as subtle as Alexander Sterling's. Though the other way around." Yang grinned. "You hope, anyway. Hey, have you actually tried-"
"I'm not asking Sterling out on a date."
"Boo. Lame."
"Whatever you say, Yang. But about this being obvious…?"
"Ugh. Geez. I forget you're about as blind as Ruby on these things. Pyrrha acts completely different around you to how she does with anyone else. Like, utterly different. Smiles more, laughs more, talks more, and little things like how she dresses better, sits close to you and tries to catch your eye."
Jaune coughed into his fist. "She just always seemed that way to me…"
"Ugh, how can you not notice?"
"Maybe because Jaune doesn't get to see the other side of her?" Ruby pointed out. "It's easy for us to say Pyrrha acts different, but we see her in Beacon. Jaune only sees her here, and like you said, she acts different. He's not blind. This is just the only Pyrrha he knows."
"Pretty much," Jaune agreed. "I thought she was always like this."
He'd always assumed Pyrrha was this outgoing because, well, what else did he have to base it on? She was nice to a fault, at least to him, and it had been a complete surprise to find out how Russel didn't get on with her. Or used to not. They were better now.
"So, she doesn't act like this in Beacon?"
"Not even close." Yang had quietened down a little and seemed to have let the teasing go. "Yeah, I suppose you wouldn't know. Not like you see it. Pyrrha is… she's nice, but distant. Like someone who is polite for the sake of being polite, but never really gets to know you. She's better now, way better since she made friends with Velvet, met us here and started to open up, but she used to be terrible."
"I don't think she meant to be mean, but she came across quite cold," Ruby whispered.
Jaune couldn't believe it. "Pyrrha did!?"
"Not on purpose," Ruby assured him. "It's more that she was uncomfortable with you, but she hid it. You couldn't tell and all you knew for sure was that she didn't like you, didn't want to talk to you, but was doing so because it was polite. Knowing her better now, I know it's because she was shy, but at the time I thought she just didn't like me. Or thought I wasn't worth her time."
"Same opinion here," Yang said, drawing his attention. "I mean, she's famous and everyone knew it, and she played into it without meaning to. Made it seem like every time she talked to you, she was putting up with you like you were a rabid fan. Probably because she thought we might be."
"A self-fulfilling prophecy," Jaune said.
Yang nodded. "Yep. She was so sure we'd see her as famous and unapproachable that she held herself back, making her seem unapproachable. It only got worse from there. But she was way more open around you, and it's probably because of you that she made up with Russ in the first place."
"And you think that's because she likes me?"
"Well, she did make out with you at Junior's place."
"S-Sure." Did everyone know about that? Ruby was proving as useful at keeping secrets as a strainer kept water. "I just don't think it's the right time for me to be asking that kind of thing."
"Why not?"
"Well, Café Prime for one. And the festival for you guys. Everyone's got so much to focus on, and even though I've agreed to fight them, there's no saying this will work. If there's a chance I'll be forced out of Vale, I wouldn't want it to come from me being distracted chasing after a girl…"
Ruby's sighed. "I guess…"
"And it would be even worse if I had to separate from someone because my business went under. I'd have to leave Vale. I think I'd rather not be with someone than be with them for less than a month, then have to break up."
Her face fell even further.
Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "It's not that I don't appreciate you trying to help, it's just… let's focus on one thing at a time. Okay?" Jaune looked up as the clock on the wall chimed. It was already getting late, nearly nine. "It's pretty late. Do you have lessons tomorrow, or is it another one of those `free training days` that no one seems to take seriously?"
"Hey," Ruby complained. "We were hard training this morning. Who wasn't?"
"Russel and Velvet."
"Russ has Pyrrha, that's hardly fair. And Coco has a minigun."
"And you have a sniper scythe thing," Jaune said, fairly sure calling Ruby's baby a `thing` was going to earn him some grumbles. "If there's one thing my mom always said, it's that it's not the size of the tool that matters, just how you use it."
Yang snorted.
Ruby pouted. "I don't think she was referring to weapons, Jaune."
"Probably not, but it's good advice nonetheless."
"Hardly even applies. She can fire hundreds of rounds in the time it takes me to shoot one."
"And yours will count more."
"Hundreds, Jaune. Hundreds!"
"I'm sticking to my argument." Despite not knowing as much about fighting, guns or anything. It was what a good friend was supposed to do, maybe. He rubbed Ruby's head. "I have to clean and lock up. You two head off back. I'll see you tomorrow or Thursday."
"Yeah, yeah. See you tomorrow," Yang stood and looped her arms under Ruby's shoulders. "Come on, sis. You're not going to convince Jaune to see things your way. I doubt he even knows what calibre rounds you use."
"High calibre," Jaune guessed with a smile.
Ruby's strangled whine suggested he might have gotten it wrong.
With the last two hone and Russel and Velvet having called it quits hours ago, Jaune started to flip chairs up onto the tables and hustle some of the last mugs and saucers away to be set in the washer overnight. The day had been about three times as busy as usual, but only about one and a half times as profitable, mostly due to a lot of those coming just being curious about him, Velvet and what was going on with Café Prime.
Maybe that was why he hadn't seen or heard from Sterling all day. He was either holding back, knowing that to show his face would only make things worse, or maybe Café Prime was having its own problems. They might have had as many visitors, except looking for drama instead of selfies. He might have felt bad for the staff working there, but, well, that wasn't his fault. He hadn't been the one to start this, nor escalate.
Really, Café Prime could stop it at any time. At this point, he had to wonder why they kept trying. Pride, perhaps? Or was it that they were in too deep, and to retreat now would be seen as a sign of weakness. There really was no telling.
Behind him, the bell above the door chimed.
/-/
"Do you think I was too forward?" Ruby asked.
"Hm?" Yang looked down with a smile. "What do you mean?"
"On Pyrrha. Do you think I pushed too much? I didn't mean to make him feel bad…"
Maybe it was none of her business. Okay, it was definitely none of her business, but it just felt like Jaune had everything and everyone trying to drag him down lately. A little good news would have done him well, and really, she just wanted to take his mind off everything that was happening.
Yang's hand fell on her shoulder. "You did fine, sis. I don't think he was upset or angry." She grinned. "More embarrassed than anything, but if I'm reading things right he wasn't against the idea. Just… not in the right mind for it now."
"Because of how busy he is?"
"Because of how worried he is," Yang corrected. "He's hiding it well, but you can't blame the guy for still being a little afraid of everything going on. Even with everyone helping, there's still a chance Café Prime just wins. Sure, they've done some pretty bad stuff that's got them in trouble on TV and the like, but they're still a legal company. They can just ignore it, deal with the pain and try to force Jaune out."
"But Weiss' lawyer…"
"Is still just a lawyer, Ruby. He has to follow the law."
Ruby bit her lip. She'd really thought it all but sorted now, a formality. Weiss' lawyer would swoop down, kick Café Prime's butts and win Jaune back his building, his career and that job security Weiss often talked about.
"I wouldn't be too worried," Yang said, seeing her panic. "Weiss' lawyer guy looked confident, and he knows the law better than you or I do. If he's confident, it's probably for a reason. I'm just sayin' that it's fair for Jaune to be afraid still. Poor guy probably doesn't want to bring relationship drama into that, not to mention the chance Pyrrha shoots him down."
"She wouldn't!"
"No, but he doesn't know that. Or maybe he does," she said, shrugging, "But he's so panicked, he's convinced himself she might. Think about you at the start of Beacon, practically certainyou wouldn't make friends. You still managed it, but you had that same panic period."
"I guess." Ruby let out a long breath. Jaune had helped her there, not in any big way, just in talking to her and letting her practice on someone in a one on one scenario. Having proved she could befriend him, she'd been more confident with Weiss.
Which hadn't worked out initially, but hey – they were a team now. An awesome team.
That was a success.
"Do you think I should go apologise?"
"Apologise? For what? I just said you didn't upset him." Yang held Ruby's gaze for a few seconds, before she let out a long sigh. "Alright, fine. Whatever. You head on back and I'll hold a Bullhead for you."
"Thanks, sis!"
"Yeah, yeah. Go do what you think you have to."
Ruby nodded and darted back the way they'd come, using her Semblance to cover the distance in a fraction of the time it would have otherwise taken. It was late enough that the streets were empty enough for it.
When she reached Jaune's again, Ruby came to a slow stop. The lights were still on, which wasn't unusual, but there were multiple figures visible within, mere shadows from a distance, but it wasn't nearly as empty as it ought have been.
What if Café Prime is back? Ruby thought. What if they hired more goons to hurt Jaune. Her hand tightened on Crescent Rose, but she didn't deploy it. Not yet. They weren't fighting inside, and she didn't want to be the one to start it with Jaune so close. Instead, she crept toward the front window, keeping low so that anyone inside would struggle to see her out. The difference in light from within and without helped, leaving those inside with a limited view through the frosted logo on the window. Reaching it, Ruby ducked low and placed her eye against the bottom corner, peeking through curiously.
Jaune was there, with three people in front of him. It didn't look like an attack, not with Jaune standing there so calmly, and they weren't in suits like the nasty lawyers and that Sterling guy normally were. One of the people wore a grey and black jacket and there was a girl with green hair, along with another, much taller. Ruby could only make out her dark hair and red dress. She looked vaguely familiar, though only in the sense that Ruby thought she might have seen them before in passing. She couldn't place any of them. It might have been easier if she could see their faces and not just the backs of their heads.
They were talking to Jaune, and Jaune was talking back. Mostly to the taller woman. The others were just sort of standing around.
He knows them, so there's nothing bad going on. Ruby relaxed a little, about to stand and leave. She didn't want to interrupt him if he was busy. Before she could, however, another figure – infinitely more recognisable – stepped out from the back room, directly from Jaune's apartment.
"Ahhh…" Torchwick's loud sigh was audible even through the window. "That's better. Never let it be said that Vale has enough public restrooms. Or at least ones I'd trust myself to breathe the air of."
Roman Torchwick?! Was Jaune being robbed? What was she supposed to do? She'd fought him alone last time and nearly lost, and if these people were allies of his, it would only be worse. Still, she couldn't leave Jaune in trouble.
Reaching for her scroll, Ruby was about to alert Yang when the tall woman spoke.
"You're an irritate as ever, Roman. You should be thankful Jaune puts up with your childishness. I suppose it's up to me to apologise in his place."
"It's okay," Jaune said with a little laugh. "I'm used to it with him."
Jaune…
He knew them…? Knew Roman…?
"I know it's short notice, but we need your service this coming weekend. It's a matter of some importance. And perhaps, if things go well, for something else as well. The same deal as last time, the use of the diner as a conference room. Same rate, if you're interested."
Say no, Ruby begged, confused and, if she dared admit it, a little hurt. What the heck was Jaune doing talking to Roman, let alone people who worked with Roman? He was a criminal. They were almost certainly criminals as well.
"Sure." Jaune's easy acceptance nearly drew a cry from her. "Just let me know what time and I'll have everything set up."
"We'll be bringing a guest. Of sorts. He will behave, I shall make sure of it."
"That's fine. I'll put an extra seat out."
"I appreciate it." The woman chuckled. "You're as reliable as ever, Jaune. It is good to have someone in Vale I can do business with on even terms. We shall meet at the same time as the last, with much the same service required. Until then, I'm going to be busy. The Vytal Festival is coming up and there is much to do."
Torchwick, planning something around the festival?
Ruby tried to move closer to the door to get a better position to listen in from. As she stepped across the landing, her foot crunched some gravel beneath it. It was quiet, but had come at the worst time, a lull in the conversation.
"Roman," the woman said, "Go make sure there aren't any fools loitering outside."
"Sure thing, boss."
Crud! Ruby's heart leapt into her throat, but she was quick to move. A flash of her Semblance and she was around the nearest corner, pressed up against the wall there a few good seconds before Torchwick stuck his head outside. Holding her breath, Ruby listened as he hummed inquisitively, no doubt looking around.
The door closed, the chime of the bell sounding with it. "Nothing, boss," his voice said, fading away as the door shut.
Boss.
The woman was Torchwick's boss. And she was talking to Jaune, making deals with Jaune, and he was okay with it. He was okay standing in a room with a dangerous criminal and someone else who was apparently much worse.
The bell on the door jingled again, someone else stepping outside. Ruby cursed silently, trying to stay hidden, but footsteps made it clear someone – or two someones – were spreading out, covering the angles, probably to keep watch. Left with no choice, Ruby sped down the side of the building and away, out through the alley and onto another street.
Jaune didn't seem to be in any danger, but she still couldn't understand why he'd be talking to criminals. She bit her lip, gnawing away as she tried to think up an answer that didn't make him look bad. It was hard, real hard. Jaune didn't sound afraid and they didn't sound like they were threatening him. Not even close to it.
The indecision tore away at her as she retreated, taking what information she could and falling back to the nearest Bullhead dock. Yang was waiting, as promised, with a Bullhead behind her.
"You find him?" she asked.
"A-Ah?" Ruby flinched. "Um, yeah."
"What's wrong? You look bothered. Don't tell me it went wrong?"
"N-No. Jaune was busy. He had guests. I didn't want to interrupt."
"This late?" Her smile turned teasing. "Was it Pyrrha?"
"No…"
"Then who?"
Roman Torchwick. Wanted criminal. Other criminals. Criminals planning something around the Vytal Festival, no doubt up to no good, and which Jaune was aiding.
"N-No one," Ruby said, eyes ducking low. "It's nothing. Just some people. Let's go back to Beacon."
Yang let it go, though Ruby couldn't quite do the same. Not yet. All the way back, and even in Beacon, slipping back into their room, Ruby turned the scene over in her head, trying to absolve Jaune in some small way. She had to tell someone. Ozpin, the police, Uncle Qrow. But to do so would be to incriminate Jaune. He'd get in trouble. Café Prime would use it to eat him alive, shift public opinion and grind him into dust.
But if she didn't tell anyone and something happened…
Jaune. Why…?
Uh-oh, Ruby.
Café Prime biding their time, too. Not exactly a good time for them to act with their last error going viral. They're presumably on dull defence dealing with that, while other things go on in the background.
To those asking, I haven't watched anything from season 6 yet, and probably won't until it's over and I can go through it in one go. Seasons 4 bored me and Season 5 depressed me. I'm open to Season 6 turning things around. Hell, I really want it to! Despite that some people seem to think I'm totally against Rooster Teeth and want it to fail, I would benefit both as a fan, a writer AND on a financial scale by RWBY being the best series ever. I'm definitely not wanting it to go badly.
I just fear them trying to double down on things S4 and S5 have already shown aren't popular. Like, please, please don't try and force this Oscar x Ruby thing. Apart from being creepy as all hell, Ruby has never really shown any interest in romance, so it would feel super weird for her to go "Huh, I was never interested before, but now, after Pyrrha DIED and Beacon fell, I'm suddenly thinking this is a GREAT time to start dating. And why not the complete stranger who has an old man in his head, who may or may not BECOME Ozpin in time? I can see no problems here."
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur