Quite the difficult chapter for me and one I wasn't able to get to CF on time. We did discuss the chapter concept, however, and how it was to be laid out – but this hasn't been through his spell check so any mistakes are my own.

Beta: College Fool

Chapter 4

"I take it you're not going to be dancing tonight?"

"I really don't think so," Jaune winced as Brian touched the sensitive skin around his left eye. "Not unless we want rumours the employees here are abused. How bad does it look?"

"Nothing too horrible," Brian said, tilting Jaune's head to the side. The bald man's face was close to his own, carefully inspecting the damage. "I guess that's your aura kicking in to reduce the damage. It's less a black eye and more of a purple and blue one. Maybe even a hint of yellow."

"Great." Jaune pulled back with a sigh, fixing on his bartender uniform. Reg had taken one look at him upon entering and let him know in no uncertain terms that if he couldn't dance he'd still be tending the bar. Hopefully things wouldn't be too hectic without him. Some of the other guys would just need to pick up the slack.

"Beacon not quite going as well as you imagined?" Brian asked, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Jaune struggled with the black tie for a few moments before eventually giving up as the other man came over to help. He could tie it on… or at least make it work, but getting as neat and clean a knot as the others could was completely beyond him.

"It's going okay," Jaune shrugged. "This is… I'm not even sure what this is. Bad luck?"

A knock on the adjoining door prevented Brian from answering, the man leaning back as a young woman entered. She wasn't one of the dancers, he could tell that much from how she averted her eyes from Brian's chest. "Hey um… Reg says there's someone here asking for Jaune. I know it's not technically your shift yet, but-"

"It's fine," Jaune pulled on the dark grey waistcoat and buttoned it up, quickly checking himself in the mirror. The outfit was well-fitted and stylish, the contrasts between bright whites and dark greys and blacks making for a sharp image. It would have been better were it not for the ugly swelling around his eye, like someone had taken three or four different felt-tipped pens and scrawled across his skin. "I'll be right out."

The woman nodded and closed the door, hurried footsteps all they could hear. A new employee then, if only because of how nervous she seemed. Reg was probably still scaring the living daylight out of her at this point. Still, someone asking for him by name? It couldn't have been about his dancing since he used a stage name for that.

"I'll talk to you later?" Jaune nodded to Brian.

"Sure," the man laughed. "I've got enough stuff to prepare for. Nina wants me to do a dance with her tonight where we tear open bags of flour over our heads and perform in the spray." Jaune gave him a long look. The man shrugged, "I've no idea why. Apparently it's going to appeal to the audience. I've learned not to argue."

"Well tell me how it goes," Jaune laughed as he pushed his way out the door and made his way to the bar. Reg frowned as he emerged, though with the surly man that was as good as a friendly greeting. Jaune's attention didn't stay there for long, however, on account of the figure at the bar staring at him.

Yang Xiao-Long, still in her Beacon uniform, let out a long sigh.

"We need to talk."

/-/

If Yang had thought a few days of school would change things then she had been woefully mistaken. She had won the race for Ruby, though not in a manner she'd really expected. True, she wasn't Ruby's partner – and maybe that was for the best – but she was on the same team, which meant he wasn't. And then he'd gone and become close friends with his own team, as she knew he would, and that meant he could go after someone his own age and not her little sister.

That was where the plan had derailed.

Even though the blond seemed to be on good terms with his team, he still spent an inordinate amount of time around Ruby, either in class or outside. She'd even seen the two discussing homework once or twice. The innocence of those actions should have relieved her. They did not. Why didn't he ask his own teammates for help? Why was he always hovering around her little sister? It wasn't as though it was just one time either. Every time he wanted to work with someone on homework it was Ruby.

"You're staring at him again," her partner said, not that Yang could figure out how she knew since her face was buried in her latest book. Conversation initiation by Blake was a rare occurrence, one that she'd have normally been thrilled to encourage. "If you keep looking like that then people are going to think you're interested in him."

"They'll think twice when they see my expression." Blake rolled her eyes at Yang's comment, the golden orbs only just visible over the top of the book cover. "Besides, I'm not staring at him. I'm just keeping an eye out."

"An eye on him," Blake corrected.

Yang shrugged.

"That's all you seem to do lately," her partner went on, "I'm surprised it hasn't gotten to the point where someone feels the need to comment. His team has to feel a little awkward."

"And yet you're the one commenting on it." This time it was Blake's turn to shrug, the girl turning the page with one finger. Yang sighed. "Is it really so obvious?"

"In the short time I've known you I could call you many things. Subtle would not be one of them." Yang reached over to slap a hand into her head, but the girl moved out of the way with that little smile of hers. Yang shook her head. Blake was such a quiet girl, but under that bookish attitude there was a definite bit of snark, often shown in the tiny, sarcastic smiles she wore – or the deadpan comments she occasionally made. Yang normally found it hilarious… but then again it was rarely aimed at her. "What's your problem with him anyway?" Blake asked. "I don't believe he's done anything wrong, at least within my line of sight."

"It's nothing." Blake raised one brow, lowering her book just a fraction to make sure Yang took the full brunt of it. "Okay fine, it's not nothing." Yang sighed. "Just… just look at him."

Blake did so, turning to watch Jaune with her. He was sat at the cafeteria table right now, with Blake and her collecting trays of food at that moment. As always Team JNPR had joined their own for the evening meal, and as usual Jaune was sat beside Ruby, animatedly talking as her little sister laughed back.

"I fail to see the problem," Blake said. Yang let out a long groan.

"Don't you think it's a little odd how much time he spends with Ruby?"

"They do seem unusually close," Blake nodded, "What of it?"

"That's exactly it," Yang nearly shouted. In the din of the cafeteria it was nearly lost, though the lunch lady behind the counter gave her a stern look. Whoops. Bringing her volume back down to a reasonable level she nudged Blake with an elbow. "You already said it was unusual. That's what bothers me…"

"I only meant unusual in the fact that it would normally take two people much more time to become such close friends. You did say your sister was socially awkward. Perhaps she simply clicked with him?" Blake absolutely didn't get it. That much was clear. Her partner seemed so smart most of the time that maybe Yang was expecting too much. A more obvious approach was no doubt necessary.

"I am worried," Yang said slowly, pronouncing each word with care. Blake rolled her eyes but didn't interrupt, "Because my sister is fifteen, socially awkward and naïve…"

"Right…"

"And Jaune appears to be more than comfortable around girls, to the point that Pyrrha clearly has a crush on him and even Weiss thinks he's a perfect gentleman." Not that their white-haired teammate had any other feelings towards him. She just thought he was polite, mostly because he always treated her like she was some kind of nobility.

"You're worried he's trying to seduce your sister?" Blake blinked owlishly and Yang flushed a little at the incredulous look she was receiving.

"Not seduce," she rushed to say. "Maybe he genuinely likes her or something. It's just that Ruby's never been in that kind of situation before. I'm worried someone confident like him, someone who is a bit more experienced around women will push her into something she isn't ready for." Yang didn't think he was a creep for liking her sister, Ruby was adorable, sweet and kind – but she was still two years younger than everyone else at Beacon, and in some ways even younger! It wasn't only Ruby's frame which had bloomed late. Her little sister hadn't even gone through the same hormonal puberty most of her schoolmates had. Blake's soft laughter interrupted Yang's thoughts.

"I think you're overreacting a little," Blake didn't even laugh like most people, not with a shaking frame or closed eyes. The black-haired girl simply vibrated a little, lips barely twitching up at the corners. She put the old adage of `cool and mysterious beauty` to shame. Wouldn't the guys who liked her be surprised at her reading material though? "I can understand that you're worried about your sister, and now that you've pointed it out I can even see what's got you so panicked." Blake loaded up the last of her food – yet another day of seafood, it seemed. "That said I don't get the impression he's interested in Ruby that way at all. If anything, I would say his behaviour reminds me of you."

"Eh?"

"Look," Blake nodded back towards the table. Not much had changed in the minute or so the last she'd looked, except that Pyrrha had now joined in the conversation as well, resting one hand on her partner's shoulder as she said something. Ruby nodded and chatted back, waving her hands animatedly. They were talking about weapons, Yang could tell. That was the only thing that could get Ruby so excited. "A taller blonde sitting by her side, the way Ruby talks and smiles? Like I said, it reminds me of the two of you. He seems to act more like an older brother around her than he does a prospective love interest."

Like a brother? Yang tried to look a little closer though she wasn't sure what exactly she was looking for. The distinction wasn't one she could see, mostly because knowing how an older sibling acted was hard when you were said older sibling. "Do you mean how he talks to her?" she asked.

"And how he acts," Blake agreed. "You've said yourself that Ruby's naïve. If he wanted to talk to her alone to ask her out then it wouldn't be a difficult task. He could just ask her to meet outside. More than that, he rubs her head occasionally, something of a habit I've seen you show, but also not exactly what you would do to a person you're trying to romantically impress." Yang hummed. She could see Blake's point there, especially with how touchy Ruby could be about her height. Yang did it to tease her little sister, to remind her of how short she was and otherwise get a reaction out of her. She also did it to remind herself that Ruby was there, that she was safe and well – but Ruby didn't need to know that reason. "And then there's Pyrrha," Blake said, voice trailing off.

"Pyrrha?" Yang looked towards the redhead, who was still deep in conversation with Jaune and Ruby. "What about her?"

"I think we can all see that Pyrrha's carrying a torch for her partner. Either that or a crush." Yang was surprised Blake had noticed. She always seemed so absorbed in homework or reading. Maybe Pyrrha was just that transparent. Yang certainly thought so. The torch she held for her partner was pretty clear, even if it was just a little one at the moment. "I can't help but think that Pyrrha would not be quite so friendly to Ruby, nor as supportive, if she believed Jaune had any romantic feelings behind him."

"True… unless she doesn't realise? Or maybe she's just more mature for her age."

"Maybe," Blake shrugged and picked up her tray, signalling the conversation was coming to an end. "But if he's as experienced with women as you say he is, would he miss Pyrrha's feelings?"

Yang paused and tried to make head or tails of that, but had to catch up when Blake wandered back to their table. It really was the loudest in the area, with empty seats on either side of them – likely because Nora was on one edge and was swinging her arms wildly.

"Hey Yang!" Ruby waved upon seeing her. Yang grinned back as she sat down opposite, not exactly where she wanted to be, but the best she was going to get. Pyrrha smiled a quick greeting, while Jaune nodded politely. Yang nodded back.

"Hey Rubes," she said, "What are you guys talking about?"

"We were asking Pyrrha about her fights when she was in the tournaments," Ruby's eyes were wide, the younger girl practically vibrating in her seat. "She won so many competitions. I didn't even realise how strong she was!"

"It's nothing really," the redhead laughed awkwardly. "I simply had more advantages than my opponents. Anyone could achieve the same if they had access to the well-known teachers I did." To Yang it sounded like the other girl was embarrassed, like she didn't want to talk about it at all.

"Don't be like that Pyr," Jaune bumped his arm against hers, "You should be proud of all that. You're really amazing."

"A-Ah well…" Pyrrha's head ducked to the side, though sitting across from her it was hard to miss the pleased smile on her face, nor the red in her cheeks. Yang also didn't miss how Jaune winced slightly, also looking away. Oh? Yang thought to herself. I guess Blake was right. He's either noticed or has a suspicion…

The question was; why did he look distressed by that fact? Pyrrha was downright gorgeous, at least as far as Yang was concerned. There was no jealousy there, since she was confident in her own body just as much – but Pyrrha had the taller, slimmer frame, not to mention the mature personality to go with it. Most guys his age would have been thrilled at the attention. And so should he, Yang realised, if he's as much of a player as I think he is…

Was this what Blake meant? Why she didn't get the same feeling from him?

"Either way," Jaune coughed, and a second later all signs of discomfort were gone, or hidden. "My friend always says you should be proud of the choices you make in life, even if you come to regret them. There are lessons to be learned in mistakes."

"Is this the same friend who gave you the line about always helping a girl when she's down?" Ruby giggled, earning a curious look from Pyrrha and Yang. "When we first met I was on the ground after I totally-on-accident blew up Weiss' dust. Then Jaune appeared and said something like `my friend always said to help a lady in need. You never know when you'll need her help yourself`."

"It is the same person," the blond admitted sheepishly. "She's a woman too, though. So part of me thinks she just filled me full of sayings on basically doing whatever a woman says." Yang snorted at that. She sounded like a real character.

"You sound like you hold her opinion highly," Pyrrha said – and this time there was no mistaking the jealous tone in her voice. Yikes, maybe she wasn't as immune as Yang had first thought. I guess even the Invincible Girl is just a normal girl at the end of the day.

"Ah well… maybe," Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "It makes sense though. She's actually my teacher too – more of a mentor than anything." If it were anyone else Yang might have burst out laughing at the sudden turn Pyrrha's expression pulled, from worried and jealous to sudden relief in a matter of seconds. "She's the one who taught me about being a Hunter, so I guess I just picked up her little lessons while she was teaching me."

"Considering how badly you lost to Cardin, I'm not sure she did all that good a job."

"Yang!" Ruby scolded her instantly. Pyrrha glared too, though the subject of her criticism didn't look nearly so bothered. In truth she hadn't even meant to say that, the thought being just that. Guess I've engaged the direct channel between brain and mouth. Yang shrugged apologetically.

"She did a good job… I only actually have like one and a half years of proper training. I mean most of you guys trained since you were eleven or so, right?"

"Even so, that doesn't warrant an insult," Pyrrha warned. Yang held her hands up before her, already feeling bad enough for how Ruby looked at her – not with irritation, but panic. Why couldn't I have just kept my mouth shut? Ugh…

"Yang's not wrong though." Of all the people to come to her rescue it had to be him. "Cardin absolutely demolished me in Miss Goodwitch's class. Mine was probably the worst fight there."

"Well as your partner I'd be only too happy to help you improve. We could set up a training regime, perhaps the two of us each night?" Pyrrha's hands fidgeted as she said that, though her eyes were bright with hope. Again Yang thought she caught him lean back a little, though the motion was only noticeable because of how closely she was watching him.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'm still doing some lessons with my mentor and besides, I'm here at Beacon to learn, right? I don't mind being last place – it's not like it'll mean anything when we graduate."

"It wouldn't be any trouble. We could just train together every now and then, maybe spar?"

"N-No it's fine. I don't want to bother you." Pyrrha was about to open her mouth, no doubt to explain that it wouldn't, before he quickly added, "And I've got my job on some evenings anyway. I probably wouldn't even have the time."

"I suppose so…" Pyrrha tried to hide her disappointment. "We'll just have to figure something else out then. I'm sure you'll improve in time."

Yang allowed herself to drift out of the rest of the conversation, especially when it turned to talk of classes and homework, something she'd yet to even bother starting herself. Maybe Blake was onto something, with her talk of Jaune's reactions to Pyrrha. It seemed like he was if not averse, then at least nervous about her feelings for him. Yang couldn't say she approved of his reasons for avoiding training – this was his life they were talking about – but at the same time, wasn't that his call? Maybe she had been overreacting. As the lunch came to an end and lessons resumed, the matter almost left her head entirely.

But it came back that afternoon.

"I'm just going to do some work on my baby," Ruby said, stroking the length of her weapon. "I'll be back soon for homework Weiss, I promise." The white-haired girl remained immovable, though from the way she was looking at Ruby, Yang could see she was considering it. "Come on Weiss," her sister pushed, "Weapon maintenance is important."

"Oh fine," Weiss gave in with an explosive sigh. "But make no mistake Ruby, we will be working on homework together. I saw your last piece and it was diabolical!" Ruby laughed nervously, backing away towards the door, probably keen to escape lest Weiss change her mind at the last minute. The door slammed shut behind her.

And Yang stood up to follow.

"You too?" Weiss sighed.

"Just some fresh air on my part," Yang grinned. "I'll do my homework whenever."

Weiss waved a hand dismissively, while Blake shot her a warning look. It was clear at least that she knew where Yang was going and why. But it wasn't like her sister to lie like that. Weapon maintenance on Crescent Rose? Yeah, right… Ruby was the kind of obsessive nut that cleaned and oiled her weapon immediately after a fight, because leaving it dirty for even an hour would have been unforgiveable. It was just another one of her quirks.

But it also meant that Crescent Rose didn't need any work at that moment.

Following without Ruby noticing was an easy affair, mostly because the girl was all haste and no care, dashing down the corridors but never once looking behind her. Yang kept her distance, partly to remain undetected but also to give the girl some room. If her little sister wanted to spend her afternoon doing something other than hang with them, then that was fine. It was just that she had a sinking suspicion of what that might be.

"Hey Jaune!" Ruby proved her right only a few minutes later, bursting into one of the school's training rooms with a giddy smile. Yang remained on the outside, watching in. While her suspicions were confirmed that didn't warrant her causing a scene. He was armed, as was her sister, and this was a training facility.

She had to keep Blake's words in mind…

"Thanks for this," she heard him mutter, though the rest of his words were lost. The two teens laughed and chatted for a brief moment, Ruby making wild gestures with her hands. Eventually, however, they both clambered up onto one of the platforms, drawing their weapons and taking stances opposite one another.

"It's just a spar," Yang whispered, feeling a little relief. Ruby attacked at a speed that might have been considered fast for anyone else, but was downright sluggish for her. It was clear she was trying to help him get used to the forms by moving slower than she could.

Thank God…

Ruby sparring was good. It was safe and so very her, especially if there were cool weapons involved. For a moment Yang had half-feared she would be following them on a date of sorts, or worse a make out session in some empty classroom. The latter was her paranoia kicking in once more.

Still, there was something about the whole affair which frustrated her.

Jaune had told Pyrrha they couldn't spar because of time constraints, because he had his work and there wasn't enough time in the day. Yet here he was sparring with her sister. The reason why seemed obvious… it wasn't time that prevented him from accepting his teammate's help, but rather who it was entirely. He had refused Pyrrha, but was now accepting Ruby.

Had that been his ploy from the start? If Ruby had been the one to offer, would he have accepted without hesitation? Yang let out a long breath, feeling her hands clench into fists.

"It's fine," she whispered, more to convince herself than because she really believed it. "There's nothing wrong with him liking her, so long as he doesn't take advantage." She would trust in Ruby's innocence to prevent anything happening until she was older. The real problem wasn't her, but him. If he pushed Ruby, if he convinced her to try something she wasn't ready for.

The fight was speeding up a little as they got into it. Ruby's weapon was a blur of motion, striking at unpredictable angles and with misleading force. He deflected the attacks as best he could but his stance looked awkward. In her mind he lacked a decent weapon, the sword he held in one hand not versatile enough to fight her little sister. To his credit he tried to throw a punch with his free hand to distract Ruby, but she was just too fast to fall for something like that.

It would come to an end soon. She could see him beginning to tire. Yang prepared to slip out and away, to not disturb them as what was a friendly spar came to an end.

That was, until she heard Ruby's cry.

Yang dashed back to the entrance, glancing in to see Jaune kneeling over Ruby's frame, one hand beside her head, the other obscured from vision. But it looked to be on her chest. Ruby's weapon had been knocked aside, as had his. But she could see his legs kneeling between hers.

"J-Jaune," her little sister begged. She sounded nervous… in pain.

Yang Xiao-Long saw red.

She wasn't aware of just how or when she'd crossed the distance, only that one moment she had been at the door and the next she was tearing his body off of Ruby's, hoisting him up before her crimson eyes. His face registered shock and a little fear.

She made it register her fist. His body catapulted off the arena and down onto the hard ground outside. How dare he do that to her sister – how dare he? Her blood boiled, aura flickering to life outside her frame as she tried to hold herself back from killing him entirely. She took a step towards his groaning figure, only for Ruby to appear between them.

The tears in those silver eyes doused her fire immediately.

"Yang, stop!" Ruby cried, arms held wide. "Just stop it!"

"But he-"

"Did nothing!" Ruby shouted. A groan interrupted them, the girl's eyes widening as she rushed off the stage. "Jaune? Jaune, are you okay?" He winced and staggered to his feet, flinching away as Ruby prodded at his face. She whispered something to him, too quiet for Yang to make out, but he took one look up at her, a face filled with fear, and then hurried out of the room.

That left just the two of them remaining.

"Ruby, he tried t-"

"I don't want to hear it." Ruby shook her head wildly, silver eyes flashing. "I can't believe you. Why would you do that?"

"He was hurting you."

"It was a spar!"

"He was on top of yo-"

"He fell over," Ruby cut her off. "He tried to attack while I was over-extended and we got caught up. And then… and then you just come flying out of nowhere, swinging like an Ursa."

Ruby's voice choked, the tell-tale sound of tears behind the angry words – those Yang feared more than anything else. Ruby didn't do anger well. She could shout and scream like anyone else, but it always seemed to hurt her… as though she couldn't bear to be angry at someone.

"Ruby, I-"

"My first friend," the girl half-sobbed, "I was so alone when I came to Beacon and then finally, finally, I make a real friend… one that isn't just one of yours being nice to me. And you have to go and scare him off. Why?"

Yang couldn't meet those eyes, not with the emotion in them. How could she explain it in a way that her sister could understand? How could she explain her fears without painting her new friend in the worst light?

"You won't even say anything?" Ruby tried to laugh but it came out bitter and weak. "That's not fair. You told me I had to break out of my shell, that I had to find and make new friends – and I did. And now you're telling me I can't be friends with him anymore?"

"I didn't say that," Yang whispered.

"What's the difference?" Ruby demanded back, louder this time. "What's the difference between not being allowed to be his friend and having you follow me around and attack him? How am I supposed to be his friend if he's afraid of you?"

"Ruby-"

"You can have whatever friends you want! You've always been good at making them. But I'm not and this is the first one I've made in years."

"This isn't the same at all," Yang finally snapped.

"Then what is it!?" Ruby's voice was louder, shocking Yang to silence. "Why do I have to choose between my best friend and my sister?"

There was a pregnant pause between them, during which the only sounds Yang could hear was Ruby's heavy breath, the way her shoulders rose and fall and the occasional sniffle. That hurt Yang more than anything else. If only her sister could become angry… shout at her, rant, hit her – just don't sound so hurt.

Her reaction was so much worse.

"You win," Ruby said, in a voice so incredibly small. "You win… I can't choose between you, I just can't. I'll-" her voice broke, "I'll stop being his friend. I'll never talk to him again."

She tried so hard to keep her voice calm, but the way it cracked told Yang that she was crying.

"I'll…" Ruby paused and wiped her eyes. "I'll go back and do my homew-" she broke off, dashing from the room before she lost control. Even with her semblance she wasn't fast enough, however. Yang heard the heart-wrenching sobs before she left the room.

Left alone in the training hall, with nothing more than the echoes of her sister's tears, Yang could only clench her eyes shut.

And bury her fist into a nearby wall.

/-/

"And that's why I'm here," Yang said, disguising her pain by taking a long drink. "I wanted to explain myself..." Across from her the very man in question sat, the garish bruises around his eye clear to see. Now with the haze of anger gone, Yang felt disgusted at the sight of it. He wasn't a good fighter. She knew that… why had she hit him so hard? "I'm sorry," she added quietly, "for hitting you."

"Oh… uh," his hand came up to touch it, "It's fine, I guess?"

"It's not fine," Yang sighed, "and you don't need to be polite for the sake of it. I messed up and acted out. If you want to give me one in return then I won't stop you." It would only be fair and maybe that way she could get rid of the guilty feeling she harboured. The bartender looked surprised, but also a little squeamish. "Punch me," she said, "right here, right in the face."

"What? No… why would I-?" He slumped on the table a little, glancing down at his drink before downing it in one. "This… isn't how I expected Beacon to go. I thought I'd just make some friends, get on a cool team and then do Hunter things. I mean, I knew things would be awkward, but not…" he trailed off.

"Not that you'd get smacked by a blonde idiot?" Yang tried to quip.

"Not that I'd get accused of being a paedophile," he shot back. "Between spars and my crappy training I figure a black eye's the least of my worries." Yang blinked in surprise as he leaned back, one arm across his eyes. "Oh my good god I'm not going to live this one down…"

"Eh, go back a second – repeat that?" His fingers splayed over his face, revealing his eyes for a second.

"I'm not going to live this one down?"

"Not that," she growled, "the bit about being a paedophile…" He groaned once more but sat back down normally.

"Isn't Ruby fifteen?" he asked. "I didn't realise I looked like someone interested in a minor… oh heck, is that what Pyrrha thought too? How many other people think that!?"

Yang could only blink stupidly as he continued to mutter to himself, shaking his head at the occasional pause in his rants. "Wait," she said, cutting him off during one of them, "So you're… not into Ruby in that way?"

"Oh my god…" he groaned again. "No, absolutely not. She's my friend, probably my best friend – but she's still fifteen! She's not even a fifteen year old who looks or acts older. She's fifteen and you can damn well tell every time she opens her mouth. She's adorable, quirky and fun…" he tried to take another drink, only to realise it was empty, "but she's fifteen," he finished, slamming the glass down. "And I need another drink."

He pushed up and was gone before she could complain, before she could even begin to process what he had said. Instead she could only watch his back disappear behind the bar, mixing some new drinks with the easy grace of someone well-practiced. A vast difference from how clumsily he wielded a sword.

And he wasn't romantically interested in Ruby… that much was clear, from his horrible reaction more than anything else. Which meant she'd gone and not only clocked a perfectly innocent guy in the face, but also ruined her sister's friendship and accused the guy of being some kind of criminal, all in the space of a day.

"Shit…"

"There," he appeared at her table once more, balancing four drinks in his hands in the way only someone used to doing that could. Two were set before her, umbrellas and strawberry slices hanging over the rim. "I figure I need this," he sighed, taking one of his own and guzzling eagerly at it.

"I am so sorry," Yang blurted out, finally letting her face fall into her hands.

"For the black eye, Ruby or the whole…" he shifted uncomfortably.

"All of them," she groaned, "especially the last one." How utterly mortifying, and how exactly had she jumped to that conclusion in the first place? She couldn't quite remember. Oh, that was it! "It was just that… the way you acted, you flirted with Weiss and Pyrrha so well that I just assumed you were doing the same with Ruby. And she's so young and-" Yang tried to find the right words but eventually just threw her arms wide, "and Ruby. I mean she wouldn't notice if someone was trying to sleep with her until they were both naked!"

"Ugh," Jaune grunted, and made some quotation marks with his fingers, "My `ability with women` is part of my job as a bartender. It's just an act I have to put on because it's expected, because you put up with it all night and sort of have to do the same. It's an act," he sighed, "just part of the job."

"What about Weiss?" Yang asked. "She thinks you're a perfect gentleman."

"And I can be if it's required. Some people come to the bar wanting to chat, others just want a drink, some are rude and some are snobbish. You can't refuse to serve half of them – not with Reg in hearing distance."

"So it's… all fake?"

She could see the logic there, of course she could. But at the same time Yang knew guys, or at least the guys from Signal. There were a few who were a little more mature than the others, in that they'd gotten in with the wrong crowds or just been lucky with other women. Either way Jaune had that same feel about him, in the same way that some people said you could tell a virgin from a non-virgin, Jaune felt like someone used to girls.

But was that just because he had to put up with hundreds of them every time he went to work?

"I'll be absolutely honest here," he held up one hand, in mockery of some kind of salute, "I've not even been in a romantic relationship with a person, Yang. I've never had a girlfriend."

"But the way you talk-?"

"Talk is easy," he shrugged. "I've been doing this for a long time. Even when I was younger I worked in the kitchens or something. I'd have to be especially stupid to not pick up how to talk to girls when I work in a night club. I'm… I'm not really looking for a girlfriend right now. I'd say no even if someone asked."

Yang took a drink in place of replying, sipping the sweet cocktail through a straw. Her eyes drifted shut at the taste. It was nothing like the one she'd been given earlier. His were somehow much better, mixed to perfection with just the right amount of alcohol. Not too much, not too little…

"I'm an idiot," she said once she'd finished it. He looked up at her, eyes wide, but she shook her head. "I am a complete and utter idiot, not to mention a crappy sister right now."

"Eh, it's okay," he shrugged. "Calling me a well… that aside, I can at least understand why you acted like you did. Being worried about Ruby is better than hating me, right?"

It was, and yet at the same time it wasn't. The fact didn't change what she'd done, nor how Ruby currently felt. But maybe things didn't have to end that way. Yang was many things; a free spirit, a hot-head and maybe an idiot too. But she never lied to herself.

She'd messed up.

"Can we start over again?"

"Hm?" He looked at her over the rim of his glass. Yang sighed, making sure to meet his eyes.

"The name's Yang Xiao-Long," she said, holding one hand out. "Student of Beacon, all-round hot babe and kickass fighter." She grinned and flushed a little. "I'm a bit of an over-protective idiot though, so watch out for that."

He looked at her like she was from a different planet. For a moment she feared the worst, that she wouldn't be able to fix things. That Ruby would lose her first real friend at Beacon because of Yang's stupid paranoia. But after a second he laughed. His hand gripped hers.

"I'm Jaune White. Student of Beacon, part-timer and leader of Team JNPR – god help them." Yang snorted at the last bit, because honestly what had Ozpin been smoking? "I'm also not as good with girls as I apparently look."

"I should have figured that out when I felt the urge to hit you," Yang giggled. "If you were as good as I feared, then surely I'd have fallen under your spell too."

"Apparently it only works on underage girls."

"Hey," she fired back, pinching his arm, "I said sorry for that. Can't we leave it at me being embarrassed for making that mistake?"

"And my humiliation for being confused for one isn't bad enough?"

"Aww," she cooed, "did I hurt the big, bad boy's feelings? Tell you what, how about I buy you a drink?" Yang flashed her VIP badge, earning a deadpan look in response. "Hey now, don't get yangry, it's not every day a hot babe asks you for a drink."

"It… pretty much is for me."

Yang blinked, the joke actually taking a second to work through.

"Hey," she grinned, "not bad, not bad. Xiao-Long until your first shift? We can get to know one another – properly this time."

"What have I gotten myself into…?"

/-/

Ruby sighed despondently and climbed out of bed, staggering to the door which someone was frantically knocking on. It had already gone eleven and the tears from earlier had finally dried up. In their place was a desolate waste ground, an empty feeling inside. But she forced a bright smile onto her face, opening the door and chirping out. "Hi!"

"Hey," Jaune grinned back. The best friend she wasn't allowed or supposed to see anymore. Except that this time, Ruby figured it might be okay… on account of her sister dangling off his shoulder. "I think this is yours."

"Y-Yang," Ruby gasped, rushing to help her sister, who giggled and slouched onto her.

"Hey Ruby," Yang's voice was slightly slurred and Ruby could smell the heavy scent of strawberry on her breath. The fifteen year old girl groaned lightly, cheeks going red. Of all the ways in which her big sister could embarrass her, she had to choose this?

"I'm so sorry about her," Ruby whispered. She meant both the fact he had to carry her home but also what she'd done earlier – and what she would do too – break up their friendship.

"It's fine," Jaune smiled, as he always did for her. "Actually, I think it's better than fine. We… we talked, worked things out. I think we're cool with one another."

Ruby's heart skipped a beat.

"He's a good drinking buddy," Yang giggled on her shoulder, "and he makes the best sunrises. He doesn't get disgusted at my puns either."

"That last one wasn't exactly true," Jaune's muttered comments went ignored. Ruby barely heard them, eyes wide and mouth falling open. Had… she didn't understand. Were things… were they okay? Her body started to shake, only Yang's familiar weight leaning on her shoulder helping to keep her steady.

"We're friends now," Yang crowed, lurching off of Ruby and wrapping an arm around Jaune's neck once more. To Ruby's tremulous relief he didn't flinch away, nor did Yang tighten her arm or glare at him. "Clubbing friends."

"I guess we are," he flushed and scratched the back of his head, "Though my boss would probably prefer if I actually did some work the next time I'm there."

"And he walked me home," Yang stage-whispered, which was to say she nearly shouted it. "Such a gentleman."

"Will you shut up?" Weiss had apparently finally had enough, the girl rolling over in her bed and drawing the covers over herself. "It's eleven at night and some of us actually want to sleep!"

"Sorry Weiss," Jaune whispered and lowered Yang back down to Ruby. The smaller girl stumbled a little under her sister's weight, but Yang found her footing soon enough. "I'll leave her with you Ruby. See you tomorrow?"

Ruby hesitated, teeth gnawing her lower lip as she tried to find a way to answer that.

"Sure will!" Yang beat her to it, but those words were enough to bring a tentative smile to her face. "Catch you guys at breakfast, try not to die from your hangover."

"I should be saying that to you," Jaune shook his head as he disentangled himself and backed away, slowly closing the door to their room. Left alone in the low light, Ruby could only stare into the dark. At least that was all she could do, until Yang started to make a light snoring sound.

"Ack!" She knew what Yang was like after a night out. Where her Uncle Qrow could be calm on the night and surly in the morning, Yang seemed immune to hangovers, regularly waking up as fine and dandy as she always did. Back home it would have been dad to carry the blonde up to her bedroom, but once or twice – when Yang hadn't technically been supposed to – she would come back and ask Ruby to help her. "Come on, up," Ruby grunted, pushing on Yang's body to try and force her up the ladder and onto the top bunk. Blake sighed loudly from below but made approximately zero effort to help. Luckily Yang didn't seem too intoxicated and was able to do most of it herself, Ruby sighing as Yang snuck under the covers. "Why would you even go drinking on a weekday?" Ruby sighed.

"Because I wanted to make things right." Yang's voice was near-silent. Enough so that she doubted her sister expected anyone to even hear it. But Ruby did. Eyes brimming with tears as she snuck back to her own bunk.

Thank you.

Quite the hard chapter for me in a way. The story does require a bit more interaction between Yang and Jaune, and although the initial conflict between them was necessary (as a way to force Yang to confront him at the club and thus get to know him there), I didn't want it to go on too long and thus take away from the actual plot of the story.

As you can see there have been skips of days, mainly because I don't want to rehash those times. Jaune is very much STILL Jaune, despite the changes to his past. He has training, yes, but it's still sub-par compared to everyone else because let's face it, they've been training since childhood. As for his name, yes it is a thing and it will be mentioned. This is Jaune Arc, however. I know some feel it's an OC, but I would simply say that there is more that defines Jaune than his inability to flirt with women and his poor initial performance. If Jaune learned Chess and how to speak in sign language he wouldn't stop being himself.

Next Chapter: 7th November

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