All credit to respective owners.

P.S. Do you know that someone on youtube is actually narrating this in Spanish? I mean at least I think he is, my Spanish is really bad but I am trying to get better at it (just enough to comfortably give directions to the occasional door-dash when they need to go to a certain place in my location at work).

-Y.A.R.N.

Jaune sat with Blake in the theatre, chewing on some popcorn as Blake watched the screen enraptured with the film adaptation of one of her favorite books. Granted Jaune was more of action movie or maybe a reality tv binge — he always found it funny as reality tv was always scripted and everyone knew it but no one really wanted to think too hard about it — but this was his apology for Blake so he would sit with her through the 'romantic' movie. Jaune had asked Ghira if he was allowed to invite Blake to a movie at all as a sort of apology for his recent distance. While Ghira was initially a bit upset with Jaune as Blake had been hurt by it. He was fine with it he had seen the improvement in mood when Jaune had stopped avoiding her and was once again spending time with her. He didn't appreciate that Jaune was the reason Blake had been in a bad mood as of late, but understood that Jaune wasn't exactly a simple individual and had a multitude of issues that he hadn't fully gotten over. It was then Jaune realized he had made the mistake of asking that while Kali had been close enough to hear.

The excited squeal she let out had Jaune and Ghira cringing in horror as she swept Jaune into a hug that honestly hurt as she happily chattered about how proud she was he was asking Blake out on a date.

She also blatantly ignored or dismissed Jaune's various and numerous protests that it wasn't a date and was a simple addition to his apologies for being so distant.

After managing to extricate from the woman's grip and bidding a hasty goodbye, he sprinted out with Kali's teasing following him out the door.

Which led to his current situation.

Blake had been a stiff when he came to walk her to the movie theatre, but sometime through the walk she had relaxed and her excitement began to become more apparent.

Jaune shifted to be a bit more comfortable and threw another kernel of popcorn in his mouth, and turned his attention back to the movie.

He did want to make sure he knew what to say if Blake asked him for his opinion.

His good mood after seeing Blake off at her home evaporated in a instant, replaced by his instincts thrumming in his bones in warning.

What was she doing here?

Jaune pulled up short at the sight of Cinder Fall in the reception area of his apartment complex, tapping on a tablet as she did something or the other. Jaune automatically began to catalogue what weapons she had on hand. She was dressed casually enough in a dark red shirt and black pants with a fashionable white jacket thrown on top. Her purse might have a gun for all he knew and though it wouldn't be enough to take him down, being shot would still hurt before his healing kicked in. He mentally prodded at the lights in the lobby, feeling them ready to leap to his command and energize him for any confrontation that may occur.

Maybe he could just slip by unnoticed by her before she looked up.

As though sensing his thoughts about leaving, Cinder's head snapped up and zeroed in on him before he could discreetly make his way to his apartment, a smile forming on her features as she slipped the tablet into her purse, "Ah, Jaune Arc. I was waiting for you."

Dammit.

He should just be invisible everywhere he went, then he could avoid all these inherently dangerous people.

'Great.' Jaune thought sourly, 'Like I want more issues to deal with.'

Honestly, Jaune had no clear reason to feel uneasy about Cinder aside from the fact she was the head of The CCS. She hadn't made any threats, tried to probe him for anything, and even voted in his favor when he was incarcerated. Whenever she did show up at the Cafe for a drink, she praised the quality and even flirted with him lightly. He would've been flustered pretty easily by her it if he hadn't been wary of her in the first place. The way she had looked at him and placed a hand on his shoulder when they first met made him far more than uncomfortable. Everything she did seemed to be for nothing but his benefit without any price or debt incurred or payback expected.

But that was it, wasn't it?

She went out of her way to help him, and as much as Jaune wanted to believe in the good of people, everyone carried bits of darkness and expectations of repayment.

It was the way of the world.

But even more than that…

His intuition was screaming not to trust her.

And his intuition had been honed into a fine and razor-sharp blade by his life and had never failed him.

Still, she was walking up to him and he had no avenues to avoid her without tipping her off that he… didn't trust her or that his guard was up around her.

He may not have wanted this dance, but he now had it.

"Um… Hello Ms. Fall." He said, trying to inject as much innocent curiosity as he could, "Why were you waiting for me?"

"I wanted to talk to you in private." She replied easily, stepping slightly into his personal space, "Is that alright with you?"

This was not an actual question and agreeing was a horrible idea, but what choice did he have?

Bluff?

"Um…" He tried to see if he had an out, "I was kinda hoping to get some sleep? I am pretty tired…"

Something far more dangerous lurked in her eyes when their eyes met, and Jaune didn't want to know what it was. She apparently knew his lie and called him out on it with nothing but the look in her eyes alone. The choice wasn't his though as she revealed a secret that she had probably holding in reserve until now. Her face didn't twitch or betray anything, but almost immediately her eyes sharpened, the faintest glow of power in them making Jaune want to stiffen in terrified realization.

She was a Conduit.

He could feel her power itching and scratching against his senses as it subtly saturated the area.

How did he not notice before?

Maybe it had to do with the fact that every other time he had talked with her she hadn't had any noticeable tells and he he had no reason to look?

No.

She was too smart for that.

If she had it on lock as tight as he used to have it to the point he couldn't sense it, then letting the slightest slip was a calculated move.

'She wants me to trust her as we are both conduits…" He mused in his head.

But to what end?

"How about we chat in your apartment?" She offered, amused by him stiffening in apprehension, "A peaceful Conduit to Conduit chat."

Jaune swallowed around the lump of nervousness in his throat, she probably knew his apartment number; there would literally be no point in saying no. He already was trying to hide anxiety, maybe he could pretend he was nervous because she was gorgeous, it was best to be underestimated right now. Besides if he did put this off by weak excuses, she would realize that he did not want to talk to her and was trying to avoid her. If Cinder was talking to him, he could assume it was because he was the quickest and easiest way for her agenda. The problem was he lacked too much information and — unfortunately for him — Cinder was apparently the best way to find out. So for as much as Cinder still screamed 'don't trust' in his intuition, but he might as well probe for what exactly she wanted out of him. He didn't have to offer his allegiance or make any promises, but hearing her out would let him actively begin to prepare something, he just had to be subtle about it when they talked.

Small mercy he hid his depleted shard stash well, and it was in his bedroom, he would just have to keep the talk in the living room.

He sighed and closed his eyes, "Alright."

Jaune's apartment was utterly average.

She had expected something more messy and disorganized, but it was much neater than she expected, his desk wasn't perfectly organized but seemed manageable, the living room was not too cramped and had a sofa and a tv for lazing about. A cup and plate was set on the drying rack next to the sink on the the kitchen, indications that someone cooked and ate recently. The kitchen area had a small table next to it which likely served as dining area, overall it had a lived-in-but-not-messy feeling that made it comfortable.

She assumed everything else was fairly average as well.

"You have a nice home Jaune." She complimented.

"Ah… Thanks?" Jaune seemed to flounder for a brief moment before turning with a pleasant smile, "Would you like a drink? I can make some tea."

Cinder smiled, "That sounds nice."

Going through the motions of making tea gave him time to ease his nerves and relax slightly before engaging her.

"So why did you want to talk to me Ms. Fall?" Jaune inquired, nursing his own cup of tea as Cinder sipped at hers, "Have I broken any laws or something?"

He imagined he'd probably be held up at gunpoint if that was the case, but she was a Conduit so maybe she was the person they used when they dealt with other Conduits when the situation called for it?

"Not at all." She replied with a coy smile, "I simply wished to talk to what may be the well-known and well-informed Conduit in Empire City. And please, no need for such formality between us. You can just call me Cinder."

"So I again ask why?" Jaune probed, hoping to get her talking to give more info while blatantly ignoring her request to call her Cinder.

It was a very novice tactic, but Cinder continued, not caring, "You can already tell that I am a Conduit as you are Jaune. That being said, I never really had a chance to interact with the sizable Conduit population in the city. I wanted to hone my skill to better protect myself, and thought The CCS isn't what The DUP was, people will still see me as trying to be Augustine with a different name. My ability to… defend myself is lacking compared to my other skills due to trying not to give off that impression to the public. With that no longer being a feasible plan fort the future… Well as you know more about secluded areas where I can practice, I thought ask you. You are the Conduit I know best as odd as it may seem, I hoped you'd be kind enough to give me some ideas."

Jaune shrugged at that, "Oh well… have you tried The Underground?"

"The Underground?"

Jaune nodded again, "The sewers under the city. There are actually several wide, dry, and spacious areas where Conduits go to to let loose, I guess if you wanted somewhere to practice away from prying eyes, that'd be your best bet."

Cinder tilted her head in acquiesce, "Thank you. Do you think I could bring some items there and they won't be touched or taken?"

Jaune blinked, "Um… other conduits generally leave the belongings of other Conduits alone as a sort of unspoken rule… Why ask?"

"It's personal." Cinder said, voice sharpening in an instant.

Jaune rubbed the back of his head, inwardly wincing, "I am not really quite as familiar with that side of it, since I don't do that myself. I guess you could?"

Cinder sighed, "I suppose."

Jaune slumped down against his door, minutes after Cinder departed and took deep breaths as he brought out his lighter and drank the trickle of light it provided.

Nerve-racking was the only thing that could describe that woman.

The head of The CCS knew where he lived and he had no clue what her powers were, what hints she gave were not all that helpful. He could infer that whatever items she was talking about related to her abilities, Yang brought wood and lighter so she could set a fire for a power source and conduits sometimes scattered around items relating to their abilities. Jaune sighed and shook his head, he didn't need to dig into her and potentially make an enemy out of her.

Besides he had no idea what she would even bring with her, for all he knew she could bring a potted plant and that would be to spruce the place up.

He had the nagging suspicion this was not their last encounter and let out a long sigh.

Why did his life become complicated the exact moment he thought things might settle down?

Cinder sighed as she approached her apartment, that hadn't been as fruitful as she had hoped in regards to a discreet training area. Though it did give her a slight in with Jaune, who she could appreciate as a powerful asset when she did finally make her move to free herself from Ozpin's servitude. She weighed the pros and cons of going to the sewers only to freeze as she saw Ozpin leaning against the wall next to her door, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands as he waited. She didn't realized he would be so quick to follow up on her once she left her home to talk to Jaune. Though it wasn't that unexpected as Jaune was a very powerful conduit and a threat if he fell under Cinder's sway.

Ozpin was well aware that while he could control Cinder with blackmail, that wasn't loyalty.

It was coercion.

"Ah Cinder… good to see you. How was your talk with Mister Arc? Illuminating, I imagine. It should be given his power set." Ozpin chuckled at his pun.

Cinder's hand tightened around her purse, she was just glad he wasn't able to hear whatever she talked about.

Cinder never really went out for social visits.

"It was simply a friendly chat." She lied through her teeth, "As a Conduit, I am naturally trying to be involved with the Conduits in the City."

"Why do so now?" Ozpin inquired idly, eyes sharp under his glasses, "You've never seemed to want friends before?"

"It is a bit difficult to cultivate anything regarding friends since I am the head of The CCS Ozpin." She replied coolly, not wanting to seem defensive, "Jaune happens to be enough of a minor celebrity that it only benefits me to be friendly with him."

Ozpin lifted a hand and Cinder watched in horror as dust rose around his hand to form a dusty sphere.

A dust grenade?

She was briefed on what Amber's power had been over, and now Ozpin was using her power?

How?

Did he have a power transfer device?

Cinder assessment of Ozpin's threat level was now grossly inaccurate.

He was much worse than before.

"Do not forget that you serve me Cinder." Ozpin said coldly, taking a sip of his coffee, "It would do you well that I hold the key to your freedom, and I am more than capable of using it as I see fit."

Cinder grit her teeth, "I know."

"Good." Ozpin's affable personality firmly back in place, "Have a good night Cinder."

As he walked by, Cinder resisted the urge to hit him with all the force she could muster in the back of the head.

She wasn't strong enough.

Yang was trying not to sweat nervously in front of Blake and explain her current predicament regarding Jaune.

As it turns out, Blake had heard Jaune and Yan's exchange in the coffee shop and wanted answers. For the past hour, Blake had been grilling Yang without pause, and Yang's temper was very thin after it. She was already on shaky ground since Jaune had firmly told her to just leave him alone, and now she was realizing exactly why Jaune was right to be so mad. He had tried so hard to make a life for himself, he had lost so much and things were finally beginning to feel alright.

Then Yang tore that idea up and brought up insecurities Jaune had not considered because he was finally happy.

She literally tore his contentment to shreds without thinking.

"Blake…" Yang sighed, "I'd like to tell you, but this is something I can't tell you. This isn't just for Jaune, it's for you as well. I've done enough, I am giving up. I always run my mouth without thinking and I pushed him too hard. Please Blake, just leave it alone."

Blake scowled, "Why is it that every single person I care about I can't seem to help like each other? What could you have possibly done that even Jaune — who usually forgives over and over without reservation — won't accept your apology?"

"If I tell you than I will never get the chance to even try to make amends!" Yang shouted, her patience finally at an end, "I screwed up, okay? I didn't think — because I never do — and nearly caused another breakdown! Is that what you wanted to hear? Are you happy now? I tried to push him because I was stupid and thoughtless and now Jaune — one of the nicest and kind people around despite all the shit life gave him — hates me and I can't do anything about it! So can you please just drop it and stop talking about it? Because it's already too late and the best thing I can do now is leave him alone!"

Yang was panting and Blake was taken aback at Yang's rant.

If there was one thing Yang had always been, it was confident to the point it was almost arrogant. For her to see her confidence backfire and hurt someone Yang genuinely thought of as a friend made her sick. And now she was angry at herself to the point she yelled at Blake meant that she was deeply shaken and upset. Blake wanted to know what had gone wrong that let to this, but she wasn't going to press Yang anymore on this because this would only make Yang more miserable.

"Please Blake." Yang said quietly, "Just don't try to fix this. I have to do this on my own and the first step is just… leaving him be."

Blake sighed, "If there is anything I can do…"

Yang gave her a hug and a wan smile, "You'll be the first to know."