Jaune checked his scroll to see a message from Blake. Something about curfew or whatever, nothing important. He adjusted the hood he wore that concealed his golden locks. He didn't want someone like Roman to know what he was about to get into. This was something he needed to take care of without any interference.

He came unarmed, which was a bold move. Carrying a sword wasn't exactly subtle, however. So he stuck with his trusty pistol hidden in his hoodie's large pocket. He approached the door to The Club and nodded to the bouncer, recognizing him immediately.

The music blared, giving Jaune a headache. Better than most clubs he's had the misfortune of experiencing. It's like most places were trying to give people seizures with the flashing lights and the music people adored. How the heck was cursing every other word considered music, anyway?

He shelved his discomfort as he made his way toward the bar.

"You're not exactly welcome here right now, kid." The man spat. "I've heard about all the trouble you've been getting into with Roman. I want nothing of it, so why don't you-"

"You've employed this girl here, have you not?" Jaune pulled out a picture of Yang fixing her hair in their dorm. "I remember how you mentioned she trashed your place. I didn't think you'd stoop to this level when it came to a young lady like her. You may be a criminal, Junior, but you're far smarter than this. She's affiliated with Beacon."

"As if I-"

"Not to mention, she's my friend."

Junior's jaw hung open.

"And why should I care...?"

"Because I have it on good authority that I can convince Roman's boss to tear this place apart."

"You're bluffing."

He sort of was. While he was sure he could convince Cinder to help him with something like this by twisting the truth a bit, it'd mean he'd have to see her again so soon. And he didn't want to take the risk of provoking her. She wasn't the same as before. Who know how devoted she is to this new plan of hers. He was already convinced it came before him on her priority list.

"Then how about this? It was a bit rash of me to suggest violence and I apologize for that. You're keeping the girl here as a stripper and enforcer of sorts to pay off some debt she owes you, right? And if she didn't comply, you would bring her to the police, but now you'd got her pride on the line with that you've forced upon her."

Junior's eyes narrowed.

"I only have about ten thousand lien on me at the moment, but I'm willing to put it down as a down payment of sorts. I bet with the Vytal Festival coming up, your competition has been getting hungry for business. With my services, things may go a bit smoother for you. What do you say? You can set that liability free and have me temporarily. I've shown you what I can do. Just about any huntsman is capable of taking down your entire operation. And I'm the perfect answer to that."

"Start with fifteen."

"Twelve, and I'll do my best to explain to Beacon's staff and her team why she's always out so late. I couldn't care less about how she feels, Junior. So long as I break her free, what does it matter? You expose her, but you'll have Beacon on you anyway. You may have her contained, but you never considered me."

Junior placed the glass he was polishing down and offered a gesture to the twins approaching him from behind.

"Fine. Girls, escort him to VIP room 4." He turned towards Jaune. "You can tell the blonde the good news, kid. Twelve thousand lien and a hell of a bunch of favors until I'm satisfied."

"It's a deal, Junior."

Jaune handed over the money and watched as Militia took the lead with Melanie trailing behind him.

Had his past self saw him now, he'd be shocked. Doubling down on a girl he once considered among the majority. Ignorant of the underlying issues of the world and more importantly, herself. He judged her once, but now it's time for her retrial, he supposed.

"Out!" he demanded.

The surge of anger caught him and the twins by surprise. Once he saw Yang in such a compromising position, he... How could he explain it? He didn't care for her. They weren't friends. And yet he wanted to make things right. He was only doing this out of principle. He owed her for initiation. He wouldn't worry about the intricate details whether or not she's here now because of him.

All that mattered was getting the scum away from her.

The men inside scurried out as Yang reached for something to cover herself with. Jaune turned towards the twins.

"We'll be out shortly."

Militia nodded and walked off. Melanie glared at him for a moment before huffing and turning to leave as well.

Jaune closed the door behind him and sat down across from Yang. Her cheeks were flushed and she shrank in her seat.

"I know you have questions, Yang. But I am far too tired to get into any specifics right now. So let me sum it up in a simple manner. I get concerned with how often you've been going out. Weiss and Blake are convinced it has to do with your outgoing personality and parties or some other nonsense. Well I saw past that and I chose to look into it. And imagine my surprise to find out you've been... working here."

"I don't do this-"

"I don't want to know why you're doing this. What matters is that it ends tonight."

She stifled her laughter. He noticed a few tears in her eyes. "It's not that simple, Jaune. And now you know my secret. You think I've forgotten how it was when we first met? Pyrrha may be cool with you, but that doesn't exactly mean I've-"

"I'm sorry about my behavior from before, Yang. From what I've been told, you even gave Pyrrha the confidence to confess to me. I'm well aware it was for her sake. And I understand you may hold some resentment towards me. And that isn't the main concern. What matters is that we move on from this, alright?"

"What are you going on about?" she chuckled. "I owe the boss here way too much lien."

"I took care of it-"

Her eyes turned red. "Bull-"

"Get changed and walk out the front doors with me. No one will try to stop you."


Yang wasn't sure what to make of the man before her. Jaune came off as an idiot that didn't have a filter. She never quite forgave him for being antagonistic towards her when they first met for seemingly no reason. She wondered if she broke his heart back in Signal, but she couldn't remember anyone like him. She didn't bother trying to get to know him since she'd been caught up with her "work".

And then Pyrrha Nikos expressed her own frustrations about him in a completely different manner. And then Blake started hanging out with him out in Vale quite late at night. And not to mention the fact they may have been involved with that incident at the docks. So seeing him look this... empty, took her by surprise.

Just as he said, no one bothered to stand in their way. Junior made some sort of gesture, but it was meant for Jaune.

She cupped the mug of coffee with her hands, but didn't take a sip. Jaune sat across from her, fixated on the breakfast plate he had ordered despite how late it was. How could he just sit there nonchalantly when he knew what she had been up to? Surely this wasn't way to blackmail her, was it? And he managed to get her out of that whole mess somehow. So who was he? Did he ask Pyrrha for the money? It was the only reasonable thing she could come up with, but even that seemed absurd.

"You knew what I was up to. Who else knows?" she asked.

"Just me. No one at school knows, so there's no need to worry in that regard."

He went back to eating. He didn't even bother looking at her!

"Why help me?"

"Because I found the fact that some criminal was exploiting you to be repulsive?"

"Damn it, Jaune. Could you at least-"

"Look, that's all that matters, okay? You were screwed. I got you out of there. That's it. Just leave it, Yang."

Jaune continued to glare at her, fed up with her for some reason. A small pang of guilt pooled within her. Just what did he do to get her out of there? How did he even manage it? And why did he look so miserable all of a sudden?

"I sort of blamed you, you know," she admitted. Jaune froze. "Back in initiation, Blake told me how she spotted you keeping Pyrrha from assisting Ruby and I. A part of myself desperately hoped it was because you knew Weiss was nearby, or that you were confident we could handle ourselves. I still don't know what went through your mind, but it didn't help my situation. I was originally meant to do collections, act as a bodyguard... but then I got my injuries, and Junior decided to make use of my other assets. I got myself into that whole situation, so I don't blame you for that, I'm not so narrow-minded."

She ran her fingers along the rim of the mug.

"But I do believe you hate me. Well, now I don't know what to think. Jaune Arc, the slayer of the champion and the Wicked Witch of Beacon, insensitive asshole somehow coming to my rescue? I just can't wrap my head around it."

"I misjudged you when we first met," he said. "I was out of line with what I said and felt as though I owed you."

"Rather, this is some attempt to make you feel better about yourself. You're not actually sorry."

Jaune flinched.

"I should be grateful though," she continued. "Here I am butchering your apology of sorts. Far beyond what you should be sorry for, I might add. You've somehow gotten me out of that predicament... I take it you won't tell me how you managed that?"

"I won't."

"Then I guess I won't push it. But the moment I suspect you're sticking your neck out too much, I expect answers."

He didn't say anything.

"And I guess you just felt the need to make amends for what you did?"

"Sort of..."

"Well I don't quite forgive you. You saved me just now, but you allowed harm to come to my sister and I. Not to mention your lack of tact afterwards when you were aware of your inaction."

"That's fine. You didn't deserve to be in such a position. I realized that and... I couldn't just do nothing anymore."

"You..." Porcelain cracked. "You mean you could've acted sooner?"

"Sooner, yes. With success? No."

Yang's heart tightened. She didn't want to consider it. Surely he didn't somehow gather the money himself over the past few months. It'd explain why he couldn't act until tonight.

"This is by no means a fresh start between us, but I do wish for us to properly try to start over." He lifted his mug. "Here's to an attempt?"

Yang stared at him.