*A/N: I apologize for the delay my lovelies. Unfortunately the goal I'd had for Christmas Day was not met, but fortunately for you all, due to this delay, I will be posting my super special surprise sometime soon I hope. Once again, my deepest thanks to my beta Hufflepufficus for his time, support and correction efforts.

Thanks to each of you who has stuck with me through this delay, 2 jobs, hospitalized wife and the new year have left me with far less time to write but she's doing well and work's stabilizing so, I hope to get back to my old schedule. I digress though, onward to fluff my dear readers!*

A more mischievous grin spreads across the petite woman's face as she grabs the knight, dragging him behind her, a flounce in her step and a sway to her hips.

"N-Neo? What are you smiling like that for? I don't think I the implications of it!"

She turns, her almost predatory smile only growing wider. She winks and twists back, breaking into a jog with him in her grasp. Jaune's blush only grows more before he stumbles a little and accepts his fate, whatever it may be.

The small woman pulls him through the streets, giggling each time she takes a sharp turn into some back alley or shortcut way, finally coming to a small, hole in the wall shop, 'Dust in the Wind.' "A favorite or another friend's shop?"

Finally, she lets go of his hand, grabbing for her Scroll, 'Yeah, kinda. Mr. Corlus is a nice guy I met a few years back, when he was just trying to start up this shop. I wanted to help so I lent him enough to get himself situated. He's done ok for himself over the years and has been able to pay me back, and his business has exploded lately.' Jaune arches a brow questioningly. 'While all these other shops are having their Dust stolen, his has thankfully been left alone.' Her smile gleams with joy, its predatory aspect lost in her remembrance. 'He lets me have a little bit of Dust free each month too. Its how I make sure Suzette is able to keep her shop going.'

Jaune's face has spread in his own smile as she recounts her generous deeds. "Seems you're quite the giving woman Neo." Her head drops a little as she blushes softly.

'I like to help, especially Faunus. They've had a hard enough time already.'

The boy nods in thought, "I see. I've heard much of the hardships they've had. It is heartwarming that there are people like you out there trying to help out in any way." He motions to the door, "Shall we enter then madam?"

She giggles lightly as the duo open the clear glass door, a tiny bell tinkling to signal their entrance. Jaune stops in the entrance, looking around at all the Dust and accessories as Neo makes her way to the counter. A wiry, thin framed man with curled ram horns and thick glasses turns at the sound of the bell. "Ah, welcome to Dust in th-oh, Neo my dear, you're back." He adjusts his glasses as his eyes scan up and down Jaune, "And you've brought a friend….a boy I see." He looks back to the lightly blushing girl, a questioning smile on his face. "My dear, have you finally found yourself a boyfriend?"

Her blush lights up as she taps on her scroll, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Jaune is still busy looking around. The shop owner laughs as he reads her hasty message, a loud laugh that attracts the attention of the blonde knight.

He perks up at the laugh, and he not so subtly sneaks over behind a display case, only going unnoticed due to Neo's covered face, bright red peeking through her fingers.

Jaune watches the exchange from his not quite a hiding spot, curious as to what could get the elder Huntress so flustered.

"Neo my dear, I'm certain the boy has at least some interest in you. A woman as beautiful as you shouldn't doubt that." Rather than typing on her scroll, her mouth opens to take in a deep breath, held for only a moment before she breathes it out slowly, an icy tinkling accompanying it. When she runs out of breathe, she closes her mouth again, the same worried look on her face.

"That's true, but that can only be found out with time. Stay around him, see if you can coax a second date of him, shouldn't be too hard right? He's listening right now after all."

Neo's eyes widen and she slowly turns her head to follow Mr. Corlus' gaze. Jaune 'eeps' and ducks farther behind the display case. The petite woman stands mortified and her face bright like a cherry atop her ice cream coloured outfit and Jaune attempts, unsuccessfully to stealth crawl away back to the front of the shop.

The old goat laughs again and pulls a few bright, pulsating vials from beneath his counter. "Take these Neo, I'm sure your 'friend' will be rather impressed with your abilities after the range if you use these." Another laugh and he holds his stomach, coughing lightly from exertion.

She takes them without looking, her eyes still tracking the tall blonde as he shuffles towards his original spot. He stands up, looking towards the front of the shop, and 'oohs' and 'aahs' loudly over something there before turning around, "O-oh…everything good to go?" He directs his attention to the goat Faunus, "L-lovely shop Mr. Corlus. You're selection is really large, especially considering all of the break ins."

His smile doesn't falter, "Guess they just don't notice a little hole in the wall shop like mine as a possible target."

"Guess so….N-neo? D-did you get what you need?"

She slowly nods her head, her eyes still a bit wide. Shaking it off, she turns back to the old goat with an unsteady smile and wraps her arms around his wiry frame, that same icy wind sound emanating for just a moment.

"You're quite welcome my dear. Let me know how it all goes ok?" A small nod against his chest before the tiny woman pulls away.

She turns to Jaune, her normal coy smile back in place, but a little uncertainty in her eyes. 'Shall we Jaune? How about lunch?'

"That sounds lovely."

Her smile gets a bit stronger as she grabs his wrist and drags him out of the store, Mr. Corlus waving behind them, "Have fun you two!"

As she trots through the streets to her next destination, Jaune decides to say something, "Neo? About before…." She looks back over her shoulder, somehow not hitting anything while she looks at him. Her eyes are so bright with joy, Jaune loses his nerve,"Mr. Corlus seemed nice enough, though if the next place we're going to is also a friend of yours, I'll start to think you're just trying to show off." A nervous chuckle as he rubs the back of his head.

Her beautiful giggle crosses her lips once again as she shakes her head no and keeps tugging him along, turning a few corners and bringing them closer to the main streets, but always skirting.

"Can I know where we're going?"

Another shake no.

"Oh…."

Another giggle and she lets go of his hand in front of a very tall apartment complex looking building. A long fire escapes ladder scales the wall. She points at it, then up, her smile growing wider before she winks and in a blink, she's gone, leaving Jaune standing there alone and dumbfounded.

He stares at the ladder, "This isn't ominous is it? Naaah" Hand over hand he pulls himself up the long climb…3….4….5…6….7….8 stories up, he heaves over the lip, panting. "Wow…that seemed a lot shorter on the ground.

After regaining his senses, he looks around the smooth concrete roof and a few feet away is a large blanket with quite a large spread of delicious looking foods. Neo herself is sitting on the blanket setting out two plates and pouring a red liquid into simple glasses.

"I'm not even going to question how you set all this up so fast….but I guess this counts as paying for lunch eh?" He smiles and pulls himself over to the blanket, lying on his back, staring at the crystal blue sky as a few puffy clouds drift by.

Suddenly, the pale visage of Neo crosses his vision, a smile on her face as she waves a plate over his head. He takes it gratefully, heaving up into a sitting position, she making her own plate.

The plate is laden with heavy foods, mashed potatoes with gravy, cauliflower with cheese, and a hefty portion of chicken. "Wow…di….wow…" For once Jaune has some tact and forgoes the stereotypical question. "Thank you very much Neo. This is looks great!" He takes a sip of the red liquid, a berry juice medley, and the silent girl nods and motions for him to eat.

Jaune digs in with gusto borne of an eventful day as Neo eats just as ravenously. Between the two, they demolish both the meal and the dessert of cherry pie with a healthy scoop of Neapolitan ice cream on top. It is a comfortable silence, with shared glances and blushes cast back and forth, the sun drifting into the center of the sky and beginning its slow drifting downward arc.

The blonde knight plops back after all the food is eaten and the cleanup done, rubbing his full stomach. "I'm not doubting you on food things ever again!"

Her icy giggle drifts past his ears before once again something crosses his sky view, this time its her Scroll though. 'Ready to work it all off at the practice range then?'

Jaune's face falls comically as once again his mind screeches to a halt with only one thought, "W-what?!"

*A/N: Sorry if this one felt weaker than normal, it's several hundred words shorter and I've been a tad bit more focused on my wife and the next chapter of my other story. I promise that the next one will be longer to make up for it. My thanks to those of you who have stuck by throughout. May the night see you safe and the dawn greet you kindly readers.*