Just barely scraping it in on a Monday as promised, here's the next chapter of Criminally Good.

Enjoy.

[Chapter 6]

After Roman had left, I didn't have much to do, really. Nor did I particularly have friends to hang out with. I mean, sure I had Neo and Junior, though I was not about to wake the sleeping wolverine, nor was I about to go wander into Junior's for a conversation. He had enough on his plate to handle without me wasting his time.

There was always Ruby, but she should be in school right about now, right? Now that I think about it, I don't even know what day it is. With that thought in mind, I produced my scroll and found that it was in fact a Saturday. I shook my head as I brought up the messaging app that came on my scroll.

Jaune: Hey, Ruby, want to do something this afternoon? I'm bored and need help passing the time.

Her response came a few minutes later.

Ruby: Sure! Anywhere in particular you want to meet up?

Jaune: Well, I don't know Vale all that well. Don't get a lot of time to explore with my job, y'know? So I'll say that I'm at your mercy for where we meet.

Ruby: Okay. How about we meet at the Ashwood Diner?

Jaune: Whatever works. Seeing as I have absolutely no idea where that is, I'll say that I'll be there in three to five business days.

Ruby: Haha, very funny. It's right around downtown Vale. Even then, you've got GPS on your scroll. Use it.

Jaune: I'm glad you think so. I'll meet you there.

I pocketed my scroll and got up off the couch. I looked down at myself in the wrinkled goon suit. It looked like an absolute wreck after last night. I hummed quietly to myself as I went back to my room and got a change of clothes.

It wasn't anything all that nice, a grey button up and blue jeans with a pair of joggers. Personally, I'd have preferred to have a tee shirt, but Roman was insistent that until I find my style, I go with something like this. I didn't see the point, to me this looked like too much, but whatever. Roman was buying, so I didn't have that much say.

I found my gaze lingering on Crocea Mors. It wasn't like I'd need it, right? I'm only going out for a few hours with Ruby, I shouldn't have need for it. Then why does it feel so wrong to leave it behind?

I shrugged a shoulder. Every time I've seen Ruby, she's had her weapon. Doubt she'd bat an eye at Crocea being present. I took the sword and shield, hanging it on my hip as I pushed out of the apartment.

[-/-]

It took me longer than it should've to get to Ashwood Diner. While Ruby was right, I did have GPS, and I did know how to use it, I refused. I was stubborn, and I needed to learn my way around Vale, at least more than just the shady parts of town that I frequented.

Once I had arrived, I found Ruby sitting on the curb outside, a pair of headphones on as she was quietly singing along to whatever it was she was listening to. I couldn't help but to smile at that. I approached, coming to stand in front of her. She smiled and waved at me, taking off her headphones.

"You looked like you were enjoying yourself there, Ruby." I said with a smirk, watching her blush slightly.

"Yeah? Well, at least I didn't get lost, unlike someone." She jabbed back with a small smile.

I rolled my eyes and raised my hands in mock surrender. "Listen, that whole GPS thing you told me about? It's a lot more daunting than you said it would be." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ruby just sighed and shook her head. "Better late than never, at least." She smiled up at me then. "I dunno about you, but I'm hungry." Almost as if on command, her stomach growled in agreement.

I nodded. "Mhm. I had a late breakfast, but it wasn't exactly the best, so I'll eat." I held open the door for her, ushering her in with an incredibly posh, and obviously put on. "My lady."

Ruby did blush as she shrunk slightly into her cloak. I rose a brow at that, following her in. The diner was quiet, only one or two others sitting quietly as they read newspapers and ate their lunch.

"Welcome to Ashwood Diner, take a seat wherever and we'll be with you in a minute." A voice called out from somewhere behind the counter. I shrugged and let Ruby lead the way. She found us a booth in one of the corners and settled in. Naturally, I took the seat across from her.

A waitress emerged after a few moments with two glasses of water, setting them down in front of us. "Good afternoon, my name's Jaime and I'll be your server for the afternoon. Anything other than water to drink for you two?"

Ruby shook her head, taking the menu that the waitress had brought her. I frowned for a moment. "Eh, just Orange soda if you've got it." The waitress nodded and left us to our own devices.

I started flipping through the menu as well, most of it was comfort food. Stuff that my mom would make all the time for me back home. I couldn't help the small smile that started to creep on my lips at the thought of mom's home cooking.

"Dinner is ready!" Julia Arc called out to the house. Mom was a tall woman, taller than Dad who stood at just over six foot. She had the trademark blonde hair of the Arc family, though rather than the blue eyes we all have, she had green eyes.

It took only about half a beat before the sound of feet thumping on the floor above and on the stairs filled the house. I was already sat in the kitchen, it being my job to help make dinner tonight.

In reality, it was a lot of watching mom make dinner and being told how to avoid little mistakes, and how to make things easier to do. I did my best to pay attention and learn from what she said.

The table was set for six tonight, just barely half the Arc household. Mom took the head of the table, seeing as dad wasn't here. The rest of us split up into our usual seats, even though the spacing looked rather odd. It was a habit we had, nobody sat in anybody else's spot, lest you face the wrath of the sister you stole a spot from.

The first to sit down at dinner was Rina Arc, my younger sister at only eight years old. Her hair was the same color as all of ours, though she wore hers in a braid that hung over her left shoulder and rested lightly on her chest.

The second to join us was my twin, Joanne Arc. I swear, if I grew my hair out, it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference between us. We were twins in almost every way, we tend to think alike, we sound alike, act alike. Probably my favorite sister, though I'd never admit that.

The third to join us was Amber Arc, two years older than me. She was never really all that talkative, even with us. She liked to watch from the sidelines and see people interact with one another.

And my last sister to join us was Erin Arc, three years older than me. She was the default boss of the house when Mom and Dad weren't home, even if she wasn't the oldest Arc child. She had that air of authority about her, that sense that she had to be paid attention to, listened to. I never quite figured out how she commanded that kind of respect from even her older siblings.

Mom came around, setting the dishes for dinner out. It was roasted chicken for dinner tonight, of which we had three whole chickens to share amongst us.

Dinner was an orderly affair, one of the few things that were in the Arc household. Dishes were passed to the right, no matter what, and you never leaned over to reach across the table for something, lest you want Mom to beat you over the head.

"Hey, Mom?" Rina asked, looking up from her food. "When is Dad going to be home?"

Mom thought as she chewed on her chicken leg. "Well, sweetie, I don't know. It should be soon, why do you ask?"

Rina hesitated for a moment, pushing her food around on her plate. "He said he'd be home for my birthday this year… But he's not here…"

Joanne scooted over to Rina and wrapped an arm around her. "He'll be here, Rina. He promised that he would, didn't he?"

Rina nodded once, turning to hide her face in Joanne's shirt. I continued to sit quietly and eat what was on my plate, not feeling as though I knew how to add to this conversation.

Dinner was a silent affair after that, nothing but the Arc family eating as they all silently wondered where Jason Arc was.

"…Hello, Remnant to Jaune?" Ruby asked, waving a hand slightly. I blinked a few times and looked up at her. She had a concerned look on her face as she glanced over to the waitress who was waiting patiently.

"Right, order, gotta order food…" I shook my head, feeling the embarrassment welling up in me. "Lunch Meatloaf special." I said, handing the waitress my menu. She nodded, taking it and leaving silently. I coughed awkwardly into my fist.

Ruby frowned at me as she leaned forward in her seat. "Lien for your thoughts there, Jaune?"

I shook my head, putting on a smile. "Nah, it was nothing. Just thinking about home." I said, waving a dismissive hand.

Ruby narrowed her eyes at me, though let it go, shrugging a shoulder. "Alright." She trailed off, not all too sure what she was supposed to talk about.

I felt the awkward air creep into the space between us, making me feel increasingly uncomfortable. I shifted on my seat as I wracked my brain for something, anything to talk about.

Granted, Ruby didn't look like she was having a much better time either. The awkward air suffocating her as much as it was me.

I coughed awkwardly into my hand. "So, uh, how's school treating you? You like it, or…?" I trailed off again. You really are bad at this when you're not comfortable with people.

Ruby smiled shyly and shrugged a shoulder. "I mean, it's different, y'know? It's not like a normal school or something where I'd be sitting in dull classes all day. I mean, I still do a lot of that, but we have combat classes too, and those are fun. I get to use my baby against people, but it's not really fair, y'know? Because my Dad is the combat instructor, everybody is afraid to go all out on me because they think that he'll hurt them if I get hurt."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I can see how that'd be a problem. Has it always been like that?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah, but it was a lot worse when Yang was there."

"How'd she make it worse?"

"Well, she's like, really protective of me. And because of that, she liked to 'vet' my friends. That usually meant scaring them all away. Then there were the people that weren't scared away, a lot of them were guys for whatever reason. Yang would get really upset if we hung out too much and would beat them up, accusing them of wanting to take advantage of me or something like that."

Ruby pouted for a moment. "I love my sister, I really do, but I'm kinda glad she's not in Signal anymore. I have a little more freedom to make new friends without fear of them getting beaten up and scared away by her."

I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I know how the whole older sister trope goes. Super protective, trying to be helpful but only making it worse?"

Ruby nodded. "Exactly!"

I shook my head. "It's in their instincts. She doesn't see you as able to look out for yourself, so she does it for you in an attempt to protect you."

Ruby tilted her head slightly. "I take it you're speaking from experience?"

I snickered. "That'd be putting it lightly." I paused for a moment, taking a drink of my orange soda. "Seeing as I have technically six older sisters, I got used to it real quick"

Ruby coughed a bit on her water, eyes wide. "Six? You have six older sisters?! And I thought one was bad enough, you had six!"

I chuckled and shrugged a shoulder. "Yeah, six older sisters. Though one is my twin, she's thirty-four seconds older than I am, and will hold it over my head till the day I die."

Ruby blinked a few times, not sure how to process that. "But still, six older sisters? That must've been a full house."

I shrugged. "You bet it was." I paused for a moment, thinking back on it with a smile. "They might've been a pain to deal with, but they all loved me to pieces and would've done anything to protect me." I said fondly.

"Though, too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing eventually. With six of them smothering me, I wasn't let to be my own person much. Never got to handle things on my own, which led to me getting bullied for needing my sisters to defend me." I shrugged a shoulder, taking another long drink of orange soda.

Ruby hummed noncommittally, nodding a few times. "Yeah, I can see that. But now you're here and free to be your own person, right?"

I chuckled at that. "I am here, and I am free to live my life as I see fit."

Ruby smiled widely. "Then that's good. I'm happy for you."

Our waitress returned a few moments later with our food, taking away my now mostly empty glass of soda. As I dug into my meatloaf, I glanced to Ruby who was eyeing up a burger about the size of her head, I couldn't help but to grin at that.

"You said that Signal has a combat class, you setting up to join the military or something?" I asked offhandedly.

Ruby balked at that, shaking her head. "No, nothing like that. I mean, the military is cool and all, and that's a good place to go if you want to. All sorts of cool tech and guaranteed work, and you don't always have to be in the line of fire, which is awesome if you don't want to be in danger like that."

She stopped to take a breath, and a drink of water. "But Signal is a Hunter prep school, it'll make it easier for me to get into Beacon in two years if I do well."

I grimaced slightly at the mention of Beacon. Even though I was turned away several months ago, it still stung slightly to think about how I was so quickly robbed of my dream. "Good for you, Ruby. I wish you the best of luck."

"Pfft, like I need luck. I'm like the best Huntress in training for my class." She boasted proudly, though clearly losing the wrestling match with her burger as condiments and toppings were dripping out haphazardly.

I chuckled and continued to eat, looking away from the girl as she tried to devise the best way to defeat her cooked foe.

"What about you, Jaune? You work in private security, right? Why'd you decide to do that?" Ruby asked, having gained the upper hand on her opponent for the moment.

I shrugged a shoulder. "Eh, it wasn't my first choice, I'll be honest." I started, trying to come up with lies on the fly. "I wanted to go to the police academy when I came to Vale. While I had the academics to do it, I completely lacked the physical ability. At least, that was their claim." I hummed, taking another bite of Meatloaf that was pretty good, though not as good as Mom's.

Ruby tilted her head slightly. "Well, why don't you just go get yourself some good physical training done and reapply?"

I chuckled and nodded. "That was what I thought, which is what lead me to private security. I have to pay the bills somehow while I get into shape." Ruby nodded, leaning back and glaring rather cutely at her half-finished burger.

"Found an enemy you can't defeat there, Red?" I asked with a slight teasing tone.

"It's a big burger, okay?! It's also really slippery and evasive." She said, crossing her arms and pouting at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Seven sisters, Ruby. Pouts and puppy eyes have no power over me." I have this strange sense of déjà vu.

Ruby frowned, tilting her head slightly. "Seven sisters? I thought you said you only had six?"

I shook my head, taking another long drink of orange soda. "I said six older sisters. I have one younger sister, and she is absolutely precious." I said with a fond smile on my lips.

Ruby hummed as she thought. "Do you have any pictures of your family?"

I nodded, producing my scroll, swiping to a family photo I had saved at some point. I held it out to her.

The Arc Family was having a hard time squeezing into the space, though they just barely managed it while being crushed together.

Ruby's eyes were wide as she looked over the pictures, a smile on her lips. "Wow, Jaune. Your sisters are really pretty."

I chuckled and shrugged a shoulder. "They are. Some of them were quite the heartbreakers in their time." I said with a smile.

Ruby nodded. "So, who's who? I can guess ages, maybe, but that's not the point."

I chuckled and nodded, looking back at the picture myself. "Alright, let's start with the easy two. The super tall woman with green eyes, that's my Mom, Julia. Standing next to her is Jason, my Dad."

Ruby hummed that she had heard me as her eyes danced over the image, eyeing each face. "Now it gets a bit hard to tell, but from left to right, there's the eldest Saphron, then Alicia, Annabelle, Erin, Amber, Joanne, myself, and Rina." I listed off, pretty sure that this was all in age order.

Ruby nodded happily, leaning back into her seat at the booth. I retracted my hand, pocketing my scroll once more. "That's a lot of sisters, Jaune." Ruby commented.

I chuckled and nodded. "That it is. I remember Mom said that they were going to keep going until they got a boy." I paused a beat. "Rina was a happy accident, according to my Mom anyway."

Ruby shrugged her shoulders, looking back to the waitress who had appeared once more, taking away my plate of food. "Are you going to take a box for that, Miss?"

Ruby frowned as she glared at the burger, then shaking her head. The waitress shrugged and took the plate. "I'll leave this here for you." She said, sliding me the check as she turned and left with our dishes.

I hummed and took the check, pulling out the Lien to pay for it. "Jaune, wait." Ruby said, getting my attention.

"What's up?"

"Let me pay half, it's not fair that you pay for both of us."

I rolled my eyes. "Ruby, it's fine. My treat." I said, setting the lien chips down on the check.

Ruby pouted at me, crossing her arms again. I arched a brow. "How many times are you going to try that before you realize it doesn't work?"

Ruby didn't even miss a beat as she brought out what I'll now label the Big Guns.

Her silver eyes which were already captivating got the saddest, kicked puppy look in them, the kind of look that made you want to just wrap them up in a hug and never let them go again. She was a master at her craft, far and beyond the skills of my sisters. I could feel my defense cracking.

Cuteness overloading.

Must. Resist.

"Please, Jaune?" She asked in the most pleading tone of voice she could manage.

I grit my teeth as I weathered the storm, setting my jaw as I steeled my eyes. I can't show weakness, she'll feed off of that. "Like I said before, Ruby. Not. Gonna. Work." Somehow, I managed to keep my voice even despite my slowly crumbling defenses.

"Pleeeeeeaseeeeee? Just this once?" She tried again, the new wave of cuteness nearly enough to overload me.

I took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an attempt to shore up my defenses and to calm myself for the remainder of the assault. "Give it up, Ruby. It won't work." I said, bracing for the onslaught that she could bring to bear on me.

And I braced.

And braced.

And it never came.

Ruby deflated, crumpling back into the booth slightly. "Fine, you win, Jaune." She said, trying to sound disappointed. As I glanced at her, I swore I saw the ghost of a smile that was quickly covered up.

I paid our check, and we were done with Ashwood Diner, the unwitting battleground of Remnant's greatest cuteness battle this century.

I noticed Ruby eyeing my sword from where she walked beside me, though she wasn't saying anything. I couldn't help the small smile that came to my lips again. "Want to see it, Ruby?" I asked knowingly.

The look on her face as it lit up with excitement was damn near priceless.

"Please? It looks really cool. What kind of mechashift does it have? Does the handle turn into a pistol? Oh, or what about the sheath and sword turning into a greatsword? Ooooh, or maybe when it's sheathed it can turn into a shotgun! Let me see!" Ruby said rather excitedly, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

I chuckled and shook my head. "No, Ruby, it doesn't do any of that." The girl frowned for a moment, and my grin grew. "It's much better." Her smile came back twice as wide.

"Better?!" She asked, the excitement lacing her voice.

I drew Crocea Mors, still not feeling all too comfortable with the sword in my hand. I strapped the sheath to my forearm and deployed it into a shield which proudly displayed the Arc symbol on it.

"Ooooh, it turns into a sword and shield, that's cool. What other forms does it have?" She asked expectantly.

I shrugged. "It doesn't. This is all it does. Makes the shield easier to carry, but that's about it."

Ruby slightly deflated, tilting her head slightly as she eyed the sword. "Really? You should get some mechashift gear, it makes it so much cooler, and gives you more options."

I hummed quietly as I held the sword out to her. "Want to hold it?" Ruby nodded rather quickly, taking the sword from me.

She swung it through the air a few times, nodding appreciatively. "It feels good to wield, though it looks like it's been well used." She said, handing the blade back to me.

I nodded. "Yeah, this was my fathers before me, and his before him. Continue on for as long as you like, and the sword will be there. At least, that's what Dad said." I shrugged a shoulder, collapsing the shield and sheathing the sword back at my side.

"Ohhhh, so it's a family heirloom then?"

"I guess, sure." I said with another shrug.

Ruby hummed for a minute. "Well, nothing stays the same forever, right?" I nodded. "Maybe it's time that your sword got an upgrade. It's already happened once that I can see, the shield is very basic mechashift, back when we were still figuring out how to make it work properly."

I thought on it for a moment. She is right in that mechashift is a rather new discovery for humankind, which means that the shield might be a recent upgrade. It couldn't hurt to at least design changes, even if I don't go through with them?

"Maybe it is time to get some upgrades." I ceded, watching as her grin grew wide. "I take it you want to design them?"

"Can I? Can I? Please, please, please, Jaune? Let me design your sword into a proper mechashift weapon." Her smile was so wide and innocent, if one could be innocent about wanting to build weapons capable of untold destruction.

I chuckled and rubbed the top of her head as she halfheartedly tried to bat my hand away. "Yes, Ruby. I'll let you do the designing."

Ruby squealed and tackle hugged me, sending the both of us into the grass as I wasn't prepared for a superspeed enhanced hug,

I coughed a couple times, not completely sure of what just happened. Ruby was still hugging me, face in my chest. That lasted for about half a second before she realized that she was practically laying on me.

In a similar bout of superspeed, she shot off of me and was sitting in front of me now, looking awkward as she fiddled with her cloak. It was adorable.

I sat up, eyeing her with a small smile. "Ruby, what was that?"

"Heh, I uh, well, I, er, my sembalance is super speed… And I may have forgotten that you didn't know that and accidentally tackled you to the grass?" She explained sheepishly, still fiddling with her cloak.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes, rubbing her head again. "No harm, no foul, Red." I said as I got to my feet, extending a hand down to her. She smiled happily and took my hand, letting me pull her up.

"So, uh, designing mechashift for your sword." She said in an attempt to get back on track.

I nodded, an amused smile on my lips. "Designing a mechashift for my sword."

She nodded, tapping her lips as she thought. In that moment, she looked like Neo, same stature, same expression as she sat there and thought. "Well, what do you want it to do? It is your weapon, after all."

I shrugged a shoulder. "I mean, I don't know. Ideally, I'd like it to retain the sword and shield part. Though some of what you suggested earlier, before you knew what it did, sounded pretty cool. The greatsword and the shotgun additions sound cool to me."

Ruby nodded at that, pulling out a pad of paper and pen that she had… somewhere in her dress. I knew better than to question things that I didn't really want the answer to.

She scribbled down a few things. "Alright, I've got it. I can't really do any designs here; we don't have the tools or really anything we need to make rough drafts other than vague sketches of what the end product will be." Ruby paused for a moment. "Well, that's not completely true. I won't have anything accurate, but I'll know what kind of parts I'll need and can sketch those out too if you want?"

I blinked, not all too sure of what to say. "I'll be honest here; I wouldn't know what the parts you were showing me did. So, I doubt that's needed. I don't even really need a sketch now if you'd rather go back home where you have the tools you need, I can wait."

Ruby nodded, closing the notepad and tucking it away in the folds of her skirt somewhere. "Okay, cool." She paused, looking around. "Is there anything else you wanted to do? I'm free all day."

I shook my head. "I didn't plan on anything, really. Just wanted to be out of the apartment, you know?"

She hummed in agreement. "Yeah, I love my dad, but it's always fun to go be out with friends. Especially a friend who's willing to let me design upgrades for his weapon." She said with a smile.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Mhm, if you keep talking like that, I'll think you're only my friend for the chance to tinker with my sword."

Ruby went as red as her cape at my comment, burrowing down into the fabric as she tried to hide her blush. My chuckle grew into a laugh as I shook my head and rubbed her head affectionately. "Jaaaaaune, stooooooop it." She whined, bating at my hand.

I let my hand fall back to my side as I rolled my shoulders back, the soreness from earlier fights fading away into nothingness. "I am so right." I commented with a shit eating grin.

Ruby just groaned and shook her head, hiding in her cloak as much as she could. "Th-th-that's not the only reason…" She mumbled out.

I arched a brow at her, still with a slight smile. "Is that so? Then maybe you just want to tinker with my sword, and teach me how to shoot straight."

Ruby didn't even respond, she just continued to fiddle with her cloak as she did her best to look small. At this point I started to feel bad and pulled her into a side hug. "You know I'm just pulling your leg, right?" She made a quiet noise of agreement.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Alright, Red. I'm sorry, shouldn't have taken it so far."

Ruby elbowed me in the side playfully, peeking out from her hood with a small smile. All was well with the world.

I released her, stretching my arms over my head. "Well, if you don't have anything in particular you want to do, I'll probably head out. Find some other way to entertain myself for the afternoon." I smiled at her, offering a mock two finger salute. "Thanks for coming out with me, Ruby. Was fun."

I turned to leave right as Ruby spoke up again. "I mean, just because we don't have anything we want to do, doesn't mean we can't find something to do… You said you wanted to explore Vale a little, right?"

I nodded, turning to face her again with a small smile. She looked rather awkward, fiddling about with her cloak. "W-well, if you'd like, I can show you around? I mean, if you don't want to that's fine, but I just thou-"

"Sounds like fun, Red." I said, cutting her off before she talked herself out of it.

She smiled, nodding. "Well, come on. There's a lot to see."

She led me back into Vale, the small smile on her lips not fading as she pointed out interesting shops and places to waste time.

[-/-]

In total, I think Ruby and I spent the better part of three or four hours wandering around Vale, browsing through shops and getting me my bearings in the city. It was still shaky, though it was better than nothing at all.

Ruby and I were sat at an outdoor café, relaxing as the evening rolled in over us. Ruby, as it turns out, despises coffee. She was happily drinking her third cup of hot chocolate. I, on the other hand, enjoy coffee. At least, I usually do.

This tasted bland. Not bad, just bland. I didn't know if it was the shop, or me being picky. Ultimately though, it didn't matter. I was leaning back in my chair, looking over the people of Vale as they wandered through the streets to wherever they were trying to go.

Ruby was doing much the same as I was, idly watching the people as they passed. Neither of us spoke a word, content to listen to the sounds of the city.

Unlike back at the diner, this silence was comfortable enough. We had been going back and forth all day, and I for one, was grateful for a bit of quiet.

That was, until it got ruined.

"Ruby!" A loud, and clearly feminine voice called from behind us. I didn't bother looking back, it wasn't me she was talking to.

"Hi, Yang." Ruby said, looking over her shoulder.

"Who's this?" The voice – Yang, Ruby's older sister if I recall, asked. I could feel her eyes drilling into the back of my head.

I smiled and turned to look at her, offering a smile and wave. "Name's Jaune. Think we've met once before?"

Yang looked none too amused, narrowing her eyes at me. "I think we have. Does a badass biker chick ring a bell?"

I frowned as I eyed her up and down. "Mmm, no, I think it must've been somebody else then. You don't fit the bill." My lips were betraying me, curling the frown slowly into a sly smile.

Yang's lips curled into a predatory grin. "Oh really? And what bill do I fit then?"

I tapped my lips as I thought, making a show of it. "Mmmm, if I had to pick, I'd say high maintenance pretty girl." I was at least vaguely aware that I was asking to get my ass handed to me, but this kind of confidence didn't last long. Might as well use it while I've got it.

Yang narrowed her eyes at the backhanded compliment. "Try again."

"Yaaaang, leave him alone." Ruby whined from her side.

I arched a brow, taking a sip from my coffee. Yang sighed and shook her head. "Never mind. What're you doing with my little sister?"

I hummed, shrugging my shoulders. "Wasting time, enjoying an evening after having her show me around all day."

Yang's eyes flashed red, and I had a feeling that the nearest escape would be off the patio and into traffic below. Whether I did it of my own volition was a different question all together. She looked like she was about to say something, though a new voice joined the fray before she could speak.

"Oh, Ren, look! Yang made some new friends for us!" She said with a bright smile as she bounded up to us. Behind her were two other teens, a boy of average height with black hair and a green getup, and a girl with long red hair tied back in a pony tail.

Yang sighed, her eyes shifting from red back to lilac as she turned to look at the girl who had spoken. "Yeah, Nora, Ren, Pyrrha, this is Ruby, my little sister." She said waving a hand towards Ruby who waved back shyly. Yang paused to eye me up. "And this guy is Jaune. One of Ruby's friends, apparently." Her eyes were narrowed into a glare.

I smiled despite growing all the more aware that I was in danger the longer I stayed here. "Evening." I said, voice clipped. I definitely needed an escape plan. The more Yang glared at me, the more I got the feeling that planning the fastest and most effective route out was needed.

I would've thought it to be Nora to approach me first, though found that it was Ren. He smiled serenely, extending a hand. I cautiously took it. "Lie Ren, pleasure to meet you."

I smiled weakly and nodded. "Like she said, Jaune." I said offering a firm shake. I found that his eyes were practically screaming 'help me' to anyone who was paying attention. I, sadly, was in no place to do so. I still needed an escape route from Yang that didn't involve launching myself off a second story balcony and into traffic.

Nora was ignoring me in favor of Ruby, and the last girl, Pyrrha, was stood awkwardly in the back, clearly not knowing how to approach the situation. She was smiling, though it was wooden, fake. It didn't reach her eyes.

I approached, offering a small smile to her and an extended hand. "Hey, you're Pyrrha, right?"

Pyrrha practically flinched, though nodded, her smile still in place. "That's me. Nice to meet you… John I think she said?"

I shook my head, letting my ignored hand fall back to my side. "It's Jaune, but that's close enough that people get it wrong often." I glanced back over my shoulder, and Yang was still watching me. "Well, while I'd love to stay and get to know you all, I do have somewhere to be." That somewhere is wherever Yang isn't. "So, I'm headed out."

Yang didn't say a word as she continued her glare at me.

Ruby smiled and waved. "Bye, Jaune! I had a lot of fun today." She said happily.

Ren offered an almost defeated wave, left abandoned to handle the chaos alone yet again.

Pyrrha nodded at me, also remaining silent.

Nora bounded on up, leaving Ruby and Yang behind. "Wait just a minute there, buster." I froze in place. I still had somewhere to be, somewhere Yang couldn't kill me. I needed a Neo. Or a Roman. Or even a Junior. Any of those would ensure I don't end up a blood splatter on the pavement below.

"W-what is it?" My stutter starting to filter back in as Yang's glares drained any confidence I had.

"You can't just leave! New friends stick around and talk to each other. I'm sure whatever it is can wait while you talk to us." She said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I blinked, looking to Ren, hoping he might help me. I get the feeling that he would consider it normally, though if I were here, he would have someone to weather the storm of personality with him.

Ruby was no help either.

Yang said nothing, her glare still on me.

I didn't even bother with Pyrrha.

"I, uh, well…" I need a lie. Something believable. Something –

My scroll buzzed in my pocket. There is a god, and he is merciful.

"Give me a minute." I said, reaching in to my pocket and answering the scroll call.

"Hello?"

"Jaune."

"Boss."

"Get Neo and make your way over here, we've got work to do."

"Right, I'll be there shortly."

I hung up the scroll and pocketed it, looking at the group of five that was eyeing me up.

"Yeah, uh, duty calls. Boss needs me to come in tonight." I said sheepishly.

Nora looked slightly deflated, though perked right back up after a moment. "Okay, well, we'll just have to do the new friend thing later then. Bye, Jauney Boy!"

As I turned to leave, I saw Ren's eyes screaming 'take me with you' as I turned. "See you all around." I called over my shoulder as I left the café.

Now, the real question was what work I had to do?

Gaaaaaaaaaaah. I did it. Also, Ruby is adorable and I love her.

So, I know I promised that this would be up on Monday, and here it is. That's not to say that I had this written before, well, right this instant. See, I'm in college and I was told on Friday afternoon that my group members for a project had done NOTHING they needed to for the project. So I spent my whole weekend panicking and doing all of their work so that my grade doesn't take a nose dive for their stupidity.

That said, this chapter has not been edited, reviewed, or anything by me at all. I started writing this about three hours ago in a desperate attempt to get this done on time, and I just barely made the deadline, so go me. Forgive me if this is a bit of a jumbled mess, and things don't seem right. I'm just hoping that my outline and whatever my brain churned out is enough for this to be on par with my other chapters.

And now I respond to reviews, woo!

Fake Account - Well, buddy, you got some Lancaster Fluff here. And while I know the end pairing, I will tell you that isn't going to be the happiest of stories later on. Beware the drama tag I've added onto this.

Death Korp - I'm glad you enjoyed. And maybe Roman does know, maybe he doesn't. Maybe Roman has the most useless semblance ever that gives him an infinite supply of cigars. That'd be pretty amusing, actually.

The Qrow - May I say that you have an amazing name, sir. Back on chapter one. But yeah, Roman did take Jaune in real quick. It seems odd, and it's supposed to. Jaune is constantly questioning it, wondering 'Why?'. Needless to say, Roman has his reasons. I do accept conspiracy theories, and regular theories (I don't judge) in the comments section.

ThatOneGuy - Happy that you're enjoying the story. And Neo / Ruby interactions? We will see.

Six Foot Assassin - It seems the most logical conclusion, though this chapter might show another possibility. I know. You all are in for the wild ride.

Dominus Furor - Happy you like it. Well, you may get your wish, you may not. I personally love both of these pairings much like you do. I also agree that I don't like Neo being a Yandere or someone who turns Jaune into a witless pet. That's not my idea of fun, and it's not fun to write most of all. I love both Neo and Ruby and will do my best to make them both likable, though with their own problems that show up in time.

X3 - You, my good sir, are amazing and I love seeing you review so much. As far as a collar, maybe not in public. What they do in the bedroom is their business, if it even gets to that. As far as when his outfit changes to its new permanent state, it won't be for a few more chapters. We've got a lot of stuff to deal with before Jaune can even really have a moment to think about it. As far as his entry to infamy? Who knows, other than me that is. I am all knowing. I AM ALL POWERFUL. *cough* Right, sorry. Small power trip, ignore that.

Greer - And thank you kind sir for the review, it really does make my day. As far as Jaune keeping up with any of the members of Team RWBY in a fight, logically it doesn't make much sense for him to win on a simple skill basis. Following that line of thought, the only way he wins is through significant use of planning and cheating. I'm glad you're excited, and I didn't miss the deadline. Only just barely, but I made it. The power of a college student with significant fear of deadlines and impending doom by missing them.

Specter - I'm happy you enjoy it. Sudden Thanos is sudden, and will likely appear again once I have quotes to rip from Avengers End Game when that releases. Or whenever I find a good place to slip in a quote from him that we already know.

LordOwl - Right you are, my friend. This is why we kill witnesses. Actually, in the first draft of that scene, I had Jaune kill the old guy just barely. Though I decided that this would be better for the story. Gives Jaune something concrete to be up against rather than just the big mystical 'gang' that we know nothing about currently. As far as his first kills, we will have to see. Jaune might not be able to handle it, because even though he's a criminal now, he's not in so deep that he can't back out. Killing his first person is pretty much the point of no return, so we'll see. Again, I know. You all are going to have to sit and question and wonder and theorize. As far as the cocky old guy, yeah he was meant to be a bit of a meme. Just a throwaway character so we can see Jaune's ability to do some basic combat analysis. I'll do my best to keep the quality up, thanks for the encouragement.

And that's the last of the new reviews I think. If I missed yours, be sure to send me a PM or drop another review and I'll get back to you on the next chapter that gets published.

If you're feeling kind, and want to know when I update, consider dropping this story a follow and favorite, seeing the response this story gets always makes me incredibly happy. And if you're especially kind, and want to show up in my review response section, drop a review and you too will feature there.

Next Update: Friday, April 19th (Which I hopefully won't have to panic write in three hours like this chapter.)

Till next time, this is Valres signing off.