A/N: You have no idea how much I have to research some of this stuff so that my bartender can be accurate. I'm still a year away from drinking age too XD. Sigh. At least I'll know what to order when I do ever go to a bar.
And this chapter, hoo boy, this chapter. Longest chapter ever. On that note, this chapter'll be a little lighter to contrast to the sadder one last chapter… but I dunno, I may just be setting y'all up so I can write a really devastating chapter next week… Shrug. Depends on how sadistic I am that week I guess. After all, it is the 10th chapter. Enjoy!
Guest: That's pretty much the goal for all of my stories. Sad, but good. XD
Thorson: Well, you'll get more! Here you go!
Guest 2: No. No no no no no no. We are most definitely not 'da harem'
Yege: Yay! I mean aw, don't cry. Here's a happier-ish chapter!
Guest: Yay! I do try and make these problems as realistic as possible… in the spectrum of Remnant, of course XD And physically being strong…. Shrug. We'll see how it goes ^-^
This story is very very good the character interactions and problems seem like real relatable problems( not in obvious ways of course) I wish that Jaune somehow gets strong physically because too little genuinely good and understanding people become powerful (in real life and in rwby)
Jaune had spent seventeen, almost eighteen years on Remnant, and there were a lot of things that he didn't know about. He didn't know how to be a Hunter, he didn't know how he got hired as a bartender at seventeen, and he didn't know why or how he was still in Vale, alive and breathing. There were a few things that he did know for sure though. He knew how to make a mean Strawberry Sunrise, he knew how to deal with problems that people had when they came up to him, he knew how to smile even when he didn't want to.
And he knew that every girl in Vale was freaking scary.
One such being strode through the bar, slamming the doors wide open, wearing a mile-wide smile on her face, looking directly at Jaune, who couldn't help but step back at the intensity. All of the patrons looked up to see who was making such a ruckus and quickly made to paying their bills and leaving, preferably through the windows and backdoor, trying to avoid the girl who was blocking the front door.
Jaune stood his ground shakily, but held a calm smile, something that was taught to him to make sure he wouldn't incite the girl more. It seemed to work, as she walked over to the bar without breaking any of the tables, chairs, or the small piano set on the side of the place. She hopped once in place and saluted at Jaune, eyes shining.
"Helloooo Jauney!"
The bartender nodded. "Good afternoon Nora. This is quite the surprise." He craned his neck, waiting for her ever present shadow to walk through the door, but found no one. "Where's Ren?"
Nora giggled at the question, which sent a shiver up Jaune's spine. "Weeeeell, since he usually doesn't let me drink much, I may have gone here while he was busy helping Pyrrha out with something." Jaune blinked rapidly, understanding dawning on him. He was alone. With Nora. The girl who had singlehandedly lifted one of his customers and throw him through a wall.
And these walls were made of brick, damn it. Do you know how expensive replacing brick walls is? Well, Jaune didn't really know because he had taken out insurance for Nora exposure. Nevertheless, every scene of destruction caused by any rowdy Hunter meant closing down the bar for a few days while they got contractors to get the place fixed.
"So, Ren isn't coming… at all?" Jaune asked, hoping that Nora would just laugh and say that she was joking, and that Ren was going to be coming in a few minutes. Instead, all he was treated to was a simple nod and a smile.
"Yep!"
Jaune's head lowered into his hands, sighing. Great.
Nora leaned over and poked him in the shoulder repeatedly, trying to get his attention. "Hey Jaune, hey Jaune, hey Jaune. You gonna make me a drink or what?" His head snapped up, eyes wide.
"Wh- nooo, I'm not doing that!" Jaune shook his head adamantly, even waving his arms in an x pattern. "There is no way I am going to let you drink without Ren. Period. No exceptions, sorry."
The girl pouted, leaning into Jaune's personal space, her head inches away from his. "Why not?! I'm a Huntress, and I can pay! See?" She pulled out a credit card, waving it in front of Jaune's face, who frowned when he read the name on it.
"Nora, this says Ren Lie on it."
"…So?"
Jaune looked at her in exasperation, taking the card out of her hand. "So, you can't pay for your drinks with someone else's money." He said carefully, looking at the girl firmly. Nora opened her mouth, nodding in understanding.
"Ooh, I get it." She said. Jaune slumped his shoulders a little in relief, glad that Nora could see his logic. "So what you're saying is that if I pay with my own money, I can buy a drink!"
Or apparently not.
"No Nora, I'm not going to make you a drink." Jaune repeated.
"Why not?" Nora frowned for a second, a finger on her lips. "Wait, are you out of alcohol?" Suddenly she gasped dramatically, her hands covering her mouth. "You're out of maple syrup!" Leaning to the side, she placed a hand on her forehead, moaning dramatically. "I can't believe you're out of maple syrup!"
"I'm not out of maple syrup! And I'm not out of drinks either!" Jaune said. "Nora, can you please calm down and sit still for a moment?" He asked desperately, trying to find a way to take control of this situation.
Straightening up, Nora sat rigidly, back straight and hands on her lap, eyes creased in determination. "Okay." She said, and didn't move a muscle, simply just… sitting there.
Jaune stood there, a little confused and kind of terrified, never seeing Nora so still before. Fortunately, it didn't last much longer before she broke her posture, giggling and leaning towards Jaune, half her body covering the countertop.
"Did you like that? That was my Ren impression. Did you think it was good?"
"I—"
"I don't think I can really get behind the whole sitting still thing though, seems kind of exhausting." Nora continued to talk, paying no mind to Jaune.
Oh Dust. I'm actually dead and I've gone to Hell now. I'm sorry I've been bad. Please take me back.
"So Jaune, you gonna give me that drink now or what?" Nora stopped midway through her Ren analysis to ask, swinging her feet back and forth under the bar stool. Jaune shook his head again, tiredly.
"No Nora, I will not give you that drink now or what." Jaune said dryly, placing his hands on the counter.
"So when then?" The girl tilted her head to the side, looking at him curiously.
Bartending was supposed to be an easy job, Jaune thought, trying to stave away the headache pounding behind his temple. Just ask for id, ask what drink they want, make the drink, then get the money. It was supposed to be easy!
"Maybe when you come back with your partner I'll give you a drink."
"Ugh, Jaune come on, please? Please? Pleaaaase?"
"No Nora. No. No. Nooooo."
The girl sighed mournfully, leaning back and crossing her arms. "I didn't want to do this Jaune. Remember this never would've happened if you just let me have that drink." Nora pulled out her scroll, opening it up, much to Jaune's panic. He had no idea what was going to happen, but with Nora, nothing would ever end well.
"Ooh, will you look at that!" Nora said gleefully, pressing a button on her scroll. "I didn't realize I had Professor Goodwitch's number on here!" the girl looked up towards the ceiling, tapping her chin. "I wonder if she knows that you've been drinking…" Jaune went into panic, knowing the answer to that question. Anyone else would know the answer to that question as well. After all, Jaune was still here in one piece, wasn't he?
"Alright Nora, you've made your point!" Jaune said desperately, almost lunging to grab the scroll, knocking one of the glasses set in front of him aside. He knew it had been a mistake getting caught by the girl a few weeks back. He was getting reckless with hiding it. First the General, then the peppy crazy-girl. Nora leaned back even more as Jaune jumped for the scroll, making sure the scroll was out of reach, her thumb hovering alarmingly close to the call button. The valkyrie casted a doubtful look at him.
"I don't know, you don't sound very convincing right now…"
Jaune didn't hesitate, bending over and putting his hands together in a pleading motion. "Please Nora, I promise I'll make you a drink if you don't call the professor. You have my word."
Nora made an uncertain sound in the back of her throat, but sat up straight. "Alright then, you better keep your promise."
The bartender let out a sigh of relief, straightening up as well and nodding at her. "Don't worry Nora, I don't break my word. It's a… uh, well, it's something I don't do." Jaune continued on, "What'll you have to drink Nora?"
"The usual, good sir!" Nora declared, pointing up to the sky and… well, cackling was the only word Jaune could use to describe it. He could have sworn that he heard thunder echoing outside as well.
Nodding seriously, Jaune leaned down, grabbing the tools of his trade, opening up the shaker and dropping some ice in. Taking the bottle of maple syrup, he poured twice as much as was needed for a No'Easter, and portioned everything else the regular amount.
"Alright, there you go." Jaune said in resignation, placing the drink in front of her. Nora cheered and grabbed the drink, tossing it back like a shot. When it was placed back onto the counter, nothing was left of the drink, including the ice.
"Another!"
Jaune started to object, but Nora subtly tapped her scroll, causing him to nod submissively, turning around to grab another glass. This was only going to end badly, Jaune knew it. If he doesn't stop her from drinking anymore, he can say goodbye to his bar. Or maybe…
Jaune knelt down, grabbing his Hunter strength liquor and uncapping it, looking at the liquid. It was potent, and probably a little unethical for him to do but… No, it was for the good of his bar, Jaune convinced himself. He was sure that anyone else in his shoes would do the same thing. With the brief uncertainty resolved, Jaune tipped the bottle into a new shaker, about twice as much as a shot's worth. Then he poured another shot's worth in, just in case.
Standing up, he continued his duties, finishing the drink up. He slowed down when Nora frowned however, pointing at the shaker.
"Hey, don't you usually just rinse the shaker and refill it?"
Jaune froze, mouth gaping. "Uh, I do?" He nodded, and scoffed, tossing a hand. "Psh, yeah, but I am… trying out a new technique!" He grinned, trying to play it off as completely natural. Nora wasn't much of an expert at making drinks though, so she shrugged and nodded. All she cared about was that the drink was good. And Jaune made good drinks.
And so, the bartender finished making the drink, placing it in front of her. Nora eyed it suspiciously, not touching the glass yet.
"Hm, there seems to be more in here than usual…" She murmured, before glaring at Jaune. "You're trying to poison me aren't you?" Before Jaune could object, she leapt to her feet, pointing at him. "I knew it! You're trying to take out the competition!"
"Th- what? Competition? Competition for what?" Jaune stuttered, a little bit of sweat forming on his forehead. Nora wagged a finger at him, tutting.
"Don't pretend like you don't know Jaune. You're making sure that you can have all of Ren's pancakes to yourself!"
"…" Jaune didn't even know what to say to that. "What?"
Nora crossed her arms, nodding in a smug fashion. "I know Jauney. I'm surprised I figured it out myself. But now that I'm on to you, don't think you can take my Ren away from me!" Nora paused for a second. "Who I'm just best friends with and has no romantic feelings about." She coughed into her fist, trying to correct her previous statement. "And when I meant 'my Ren', I meant as in 'my best friend Ren', not 'my together-together Ren' or anything, 'cause that's silly and like, whaaat, we're not like that—"
"Nora, please." Jaune held out a hand. "I'm not trying to steal your Ren away from you, and I'm not trying to poison you." Technically. "Besides, I've never even had Ren's pancakes before!" Still she held her suspicious gaze, before snapping her fingers, realizing something.
"Alright then! If you haven't poisoned me, then you'll be fine with this, won't you?" Nora grabbed her hammer, extending it and using the long handle to grab a glass from behind Jaune, flipping it up into the air for her to catch. Placing the small tumbler down onto the countertop, she retracted Magnhild and put it back in its holster, before taking the drink that Jaune had made her and pouring exactly half into it, pushing it into Jaune's hands.
"Drink first Jauney, or forever be named a poisoner!"
Jaune looked down at the glass blankly before shrugging, trying to knock down the liquid quickly. He didn't have Aura, so the drink wouldn't affect him much, besides the fact that there was four shots worth of alcohol in it. He thanked the stars that he hadn't decided to put any sleeping powder or anything into the cocktail. He continued to drink until he heard a distinct snap and flash, stopping his movements for a second before placing the glass down, seeing Nora grinning mischievously behind her scroll, taking pictures of him drinking.
"Nora! What're you doing?"
The girl shrugged casually, turning the drink to show Jaune a picture of him drinking on duty. "Just something to keep in case you decide not to let me drink the next time I come."
The boy stood there, unable to think of anything to say, his mouth flapping uselessly. That was… evil! And incredibly clever. Jaune pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling forcefully. "Just… drink your stupid drink."
"Okay!" Nora chirped before exhaling the drink, the liquid disappearing faster than Jaune could blink. "Huh. That tasted a little different." The valkyrie frowned, looking into the glass. "Did you put something in it?"
Jaune scrambled to think of something to way, finally settling on, "Did you like it? I'm trying a new mix for your drink. What do you think?"
"Uh…" Nora tilted the glass to the side, letting some droplets slid around it. "It was pretty good actually. I liked it." She said, shrugging.
"Oh. Well. That's a relief then." He said aloud, sighing. Nora nodded.
"Although I will admit, I feel kinda warm right now." She placed a hand on her stomach, before giggling. When she raised her head, Jaune could see the blush rise on her face, her eyes slightly unfocused.
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?" Jaune asked cautiously, unsure of what this drunk Nora was going to do. She sighed and let her shoulders fall a little, humming.
"It's a good thing. It feels… really nice. Like… like when Ren hugs me before I go to sleep." Again Nora giggled, her smile growing wider.
"Oh… really?"
Nora nodded, closing her eyes and swaying to the left and right, in a rhythm that she found in her head. "Mhm. Ren's so nice to me. He cares for me all the time, and he makes sure that I don't act out too much. And he's got some pretty solid abs too if I say so myself." Nora whispered to Jaune, who winced and tried to keep that image out of his mind.
"That's, uh, that's great." Jaune said, patting her hand. He didn't expect her to suddenly groan, throwing her arms up into the air though, jumping backwards as she did so.
"Why doesn't he notice me?!" She wailed, before toppling onto the floor. Jaune stood there unmoving, wondering if she had knocked herself out. That thought was banished quickly when she stood up, breathing heavily.
"I don't get it. I don't! I have tried everything! Everything!" Nora sniffled, collapsing onto the table. Jaune… still had no idea what to do. She propped herself back up, looking at Jaune.
"Why doesn't Ren like me? You know, I tried making myself more girly for him and everything!" Nora pointed to her dress. "When we were younger, he'd always talked to that one girl with the dress, so I dressed up too, but he never said anything! And, and," Nora sniffled, wiping away her tears. "When he told me that he liked shorter hair, I made sure to cut it, but… he still didn't notice!" Again she wailed, forehead pressed against the wooden countertop.
Jaune, who normally sprung into action at this point, awkwardly pet Nora's head. If there was one thing he was uncomfortable talking about, it was love. Kind of hard to talk about it when he's never dated anyone before.
"What do you think I should do Jaune?" Nora said, looking Jaune in the eyes.
"I, uh, well—"
"Maybe I should just, maybe I just need to jump him." Nora was getting a little hard to understand, slurring her words a bit. "Maybe I should just be like, 'take me now, baby' and just tackle him… naked." Jaune wasn't a love expert, but somehow he felt like that wasn't the right choice.
"Uh, maybe that isn't such a good idea."
Nora pointed a finger at him. "You're right. We need to- we need to catch him when he's most vulnerable." A snap of the fingers. "I should crawl into his bed. Naked. Yes. That's a- that's a good idea." Nora drunkenly nodded, a hand patting Jaune's. "Thanks for the suggestions Jaune."
"What? No, that is not what I'm suggesting!" Jaune objected, holding onto Nora's shoulders and pulling her up, trying to get her to look him in the eyes again. Taking a deep breath, he tried to find something to say to her so that things wouldn't end in a disaster.
"Nora, just, Nora." Jaune said her name seriously, causing her to snap to attention just long enough for him to give her some quick advice. "You guys have been friends for years. Just tell him. I'm sure things will work out fine."
"That's dumb."
Jaune blinked. "What?" He said, astounded. Nora glared at him, or at least gave him a drunken version of what was supposed to be a glare and shook her head, gesturing feebly in the air with her hands.
"You don't, you don't get it. We've been together," Nora burped, which made Jaune flinch a little, nose wrinkling in brief disgust, "for almost our entire lives now. I can't just talk to him about this."
"Well why not?" Jaune asked, genuinely not understanding. From his viewpoint in life, there wasn't many problems that couldn't be fixed by talking it out amongst friends.
"Because we're friends. Do I really want to risk more than a decade's worth of close friendship for… for something that might not even work?" Nora exhaled, swaying again in Jaune's grip. "You… you don't get it? Don't you have people you don't want to lose? People you've been friends with for years and years now? How would you feel if you made some stupid mistake and… and lost them because of it?"
Jaune didn't speak. Couldn't speak, in fact, stunned by Nora's questions.
The truth of the matter was, he didn't have anyone he would care to lose. Not anymore. But…
"I- I guess I wouldn't be able to do it." Jaune stuttered out, making Nora nod vigorously.
"Exactly. The… the best I can do now is… hope! And, and be happy for him when he finds someone." The words hurt Jaune's chest a little, but he wasn't exactly sure why.
"Even if… even if that someone isn't you?" There wasn't even a brief moment of hesitation in her.
"Even then."
Jaune released Nora, backing up. What Nora said…. Made sense, it did, but.
It just seemed so unfair.
"What if Ren… dies?" Jaune asked almost timidly, wincing when Nora glared hard at him. Even the haze of alcohol wasn't enough to block that, and Jaune hurriedly added, "Well, it's a possibility in your line of work." Which Nora accepted grudgingly, murmuring something under her breath. Jaune continued, "Wouldn't you regret it if you never told him?"
The girl did the unexpected, and laughed at Jaune's face, kicking up her feet and throwing her head up to the sky, roaring with amusement. The boy took a bit of offense to that, not sure why what he just said was so funny.
"Jauney, Jauney, Jauney. You're so funny Jauney." Nora shook her head hard, almost whipping it back and forth. When she looked back at him, Jaune didn't expect to see a hardness in her eyes, a steely determination that he had only seen one other time, several months back. This time she was the one gripping onto his shoulders, leaning into his face, Jaune able to smell her breath.
"What makes you even think… that I wouldn't be by his side when he fell?" She whispered harshly. "I know, I. Know… that one day, either of us could die. Like you said, it's a, a part of the job." She shook her head. "But no matter how dangerous, how scary, how impossible it is… I am going to be right beside Ren, until his dying breath." Nora jerked Jaune closer. "And I will be dying with him, because I would never let anything hurt him unless they go through me."
"And he would do the same for me." Came her last words, before she collapsed onto the table, a light snore emanating from her.
Jaune sat there, eyes fixed on the back of her head, mind swirling with thoughts. Here sat a girl who most people would call outrageously wild, energetic, and unpredictable. And unpredictable she was. The blonde had seen a side of Nora that he had never known, of a Nora that had such devotion and loyalty to her friend that she would go to the ends of Remnant for him, and be confident that he would do the same.
It's called trust, Jaune.
The bartender recalled the words of his mother, who smiled when Jaune asked why she never set a curfew, always gave them a second chance when they messed up.
When you've formed a bond with someone, you would do anything for them. You'd give up your life for them. And I'd give up mine for yours, my little knight.
Jaune would never forget those words. He remembered them every night, recalled them when things got tough…
Repeated them when he woke up from his dreams, the image of his mom stretched out and telling him to run as she was cut down still fresh in his mind.
I'd give my life up for you, Jaune.
But I wouldn't… I didn't do the same for you, Mom.
Jaune's thoughts were interrupted when the door to the bar swung open, revealing a boy clad in green with a single strand of pink in his hair.
"Hello Jaune." Ren greeted calmly, before looking at the prone Nora. "Thank you for taking care of Nora for me."
Jaune nodded distractedly, eyes swinging from Ren to Nora, looking at the two of them. "You know," Jaune said abruptly as Ren got closer. The boy stopped, looking at Jaune in question. "She… cares a lot about you." Jaune finished lamely, not able to think of anything else to say.
The black-haired boy nodded seriously. "As do I, Jaune. I would give my life for her." He returned his attention to Nora, murmuring quietly to her, shaking her awake slowly.
"R-Ren?" Came the sleepy question, hands groping to find the boy sitting next to her. Ren grabbed her hands, placing them around him so that he could lift her up, carrying her safely in his arms. "Am I your… queen?"
Ren smiled softly, lips crinkling upward. "Of course you are Nora. You are my queen. And I…"
"You're my king." Nora said drowsily, burrowing her head into Ren's shoulder. The boy nodded patiently, looking at Jaune.
"I will pay you back when I have the chance Jaune. For now, I need to get Nora to bed." Jaune waved his hands, telling Ren that he could come back whenever and pay, that there was no need to hurry. The boy nodded in thanks and turned around, striding out of the bar with his queen.
Jaune took a nice long look before turning his attention away, grabbing the journal that he kept under the counter.