Hey guys, thanks for reading as always. Just a mention on something last chapter; something I'm going to say was my mistake. Sometimes I put subtle things in, little hints that are meant to be read into. But if something is too subtle, to the point where it's unnoticeable, then it's my mistake. One of those subtle comments was the paedophile comment last chapter, which earned – not ire – but some raised eyebrows and concern from readers, perhaps understandably so.

Don't worry guys, I do have a Ruby x Jaune fic, so I'm not saying people who ship that need to be arrested. And in future I'll try to be a bit more hinty when I drop stuff like that. This isn't a "veiled critique" of you all. If I am trying to make a hint and it's too vague, then that's MY bad. Not yours. Sometimes it's good to invite readers to look in between the lines, but if you make it so hard that you could only spot it with meta knowledge, then that's a mistake by the author.

So you'll see it early in this chapter that I kind of address it and show what I really meant.

Beta: College Fool

Chapter 5

Even as some things for better, others didn't change. Jaune struck the matt loudly, letting out a little groan as his bruised side bounced over the material like a stone across the surface of a lake. The crowd laughed at his misfortune. It was nothing personal. They often did when someone was beaten so badly.

"Mr White," the stern woman sighed as he stumbled to his feet, "You've been told time and time again to pay more attention to your aura. I applaud your grace in the ring, as well as your ability to dodge, but getting into a contest of strength with Mr Winchester will not end well. You need to fight in a manner that utilises your own advantages, while mitigating theirs."

Jaune nodded to the advice, accepting it for what it was. Keeping an eye on his aura wasn't an easy task, especially since it meant taking his eyes off his enemy. Cardin was fast too, or at least faster than one would have expected for someone so big. Jaune was a little quicker, more agile too – thanks to his dancing – but even with his decent physique, the larger teen beat him hands down when it came to raw power.

"I understand, Miss Goodwitch."

Just another thing he'd have to improve on. He'd expected it coming into Beacon. He had known he would be far behind his peers. That was fine. It was all just a matter of improving… of taking the teacher's advice and trying to do something with it.

"And you, Mr Winchester," the woman turned away from him, giving Jaune the chance to limp out of the ring as she explained where the other boy had gone wrong. Not far wrong, as far as Jaune was concerned. He'd managed to get a few hits in, decent ones too, but not enough to drag Cardin's aura below sixty or so. It had been a massacre.

"Hard luck, Jaune," Ruby whispered as he came close. She looked so much like a kicked puppy that he couldn't help but rub her hair. In stark contrast to the times before, her older sister laughed at Ruby's petulant growl. Gods, to imagine that misconception had been cleared up so easily. Ruby was adorable, he would never disagree – and in all honesty the difference in their ages wasn't that much. To any other person in his place it might not have even been such a big deal. But it was to him, through no fault of Ruby or Yang's.

The industry he worked in, the job he held… it was an industry where ages were important – almost unusually so. You could have your bar closed down if you served someone too young, but that was just the light end of it. Some of the things that took place at the Oyster, if a minor were allowed in to see those? It could mean prison time for those involved. As someone who often worked behind the bar it was his job to spot those too young to be served. He was particularly good at that… mostly due to practice. Sneaking in to a club must have been some kind of local coming-of-age ceremony in Vale, sheesh.

Ages were important to them, but more so to Jaune – especially when it came to innocence. The industry… it tended to tarnish that. Ruby was young and innocent, delightfully so. To him that two year difference might as well have felt like twenty.

But that didn't mean she wasn't his best friend.

"That was a marked improvement on your last battle with Cardin," Pyrrha also congratulated, stepping up to smile in his direction. Jaune shot one back, glad for the compliment. His partner would have complimented him no matter his performance. Not just because of her feelings, but because that was the kind of person she was. Still, it felt nice to have that support.

"Not good enough," a masculine voice said as an elbow dug into his kidney. Jaune hacked, falling forward and into Pyrrha's arms – caught completely off-guard by the hit.

"Cardin!" Pyrrha hissed, quickly pulling him back. It might have galled him to be hidden behind his partner if he wasn't busy trying to catch his breath.

"Hiding behind your girlfriend?" the brute sneered. "Why don't you just go run back to mummy – oh wait – you can't!" The other members of his team burst out laughing. Jaune sighed as he finally managed to stand back up, just in time to see Yang join Pyrrha before him. Red and gold formed an impenetrable barrier. With those two girls it might as well have been just that… there wasn't anyone in class who could get past them.

"Why don't you?" the blonde sniped, "Or is she tired of dealing with your problems?" Cardin growled and pushed up towards her, but Yang only smirked. "Go on," she taunted, "Hit me. See how hard I hit back."

Jaune knew he wouldn't dare, even as he backed down with a scowl. Turning away, he motioned for his team to follow but not after one final parting shot. "At least mine didn't throw me away." Yang made to follow, only for Jaune to catch her wrist and shake his head. It wasn't worth it.

"He is quite the piece of work," Pyrrha frowned once they'd gone, turning back to him with a little smile. "Are you okay, Jaune?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." It had been a low-blow, not to mention a surprise. The pain was already fading, but it had stung like crazy at the time. "I took worse than that in the ring, but you know what it's like when you're not prepared."

"I meant what he said," Pyrrha sighed, though she seemed amused by his response.

"It was out of line," Yang scowled. He could imagine why she was upset. She'd told him at the club about Summer. About how she and Ruby had been left alone when the woman died. It wasn't the same thing, not even close, but it made sense that she'd be sensitive to the issue.

"It's fine." How many times did he have to say it? "I'm being totally honest here guys. I really don't care too much about him or what he said."

"Winchester's been focusing on you a lot lately," Pyrrha warned. "If you don't do something, then it might escalate."

"If it does, then I'll tell the teachers," he shrugged. "But right now he's just trying to get a reaction out of me. It's easier to just ignore it."

"If that's your wish," Pyrrha sighed. She didn't look pleased about it but it was the best bet, at least as far as he figured. If it went badly then he'd do what he had said. Schoolyard rep doesn't mean much to me, after all. I can just go tell Miss Goodwitch if it gets worse. Cardin would balk at that. There'd probably be some retaliation too… but he wouldn't dare argue with that woman.

"We could break his legs, though?" Nora whined, having apparently been behind him the entire time. She hefted her hammer for emphasis – wait, had she been preparing to attack?

"Nora," Jaune sighed, though not without a small smile. She frowned and hit the weapon behind her back. The head still poked a good foot or so above her. "You can't break Cardin's legs."

"Just a little?"

"Maybe it would be okay if it happened when you spar with him."

"Jaune!" He ducked as Pyrrha swiped at his head, laughing the entire time. "You can't break his legs, Nora. That would require you to keep fighting beyond his aura threshold, which would get you in trouble with Miss Goodwitch."

"Which is the only reason not to?" Weiss drawled. "As opposed to say - the moral implications?"

"It's morally wrong to hurt Cardin?" Nora looked sceptical.

"That's debatable," Blake sighed.

"I can look the other way," Ruby smiled.

"Excuse me?" Weiss snapped, turning to them with hands on hips. "Pyrrha, surely you're not going to condone this kind of talk from your team?"

"Um…" Pyrrha flushed and glanced away guiltily, "Well he does deserve some punishment for his words and technically I'm not the leader of my team. It would be out of my hands?"

Jaune shook his head as they continued to banter between themselves. Making up with Yang had been the right choice, if only because it opened Ruby to be friendlier with his team – with Pyrrha quickly finding common ground with the younger girl. Nora got along with Yang famously and since that meant more free time for Ren, he was in a better mood too.

The others…? He wasn't sure what to make of Blake. She was quiet and studious, but not in the shy manner he'd observed in some customers. If anything the word he'd use to describe her was distant. A woman that didn't want to be approached or disturbed…

So he didn't.

Weiss was Weiss, which said everything in that situation. She was polite and critical, strict and a little rude – in that way someone was when they didn't mean to. Pyrrha seemed okay around her, but it felt as much of a mask as his own when he was working. She was getting better, however, one testament of which being that she'd agreed to a board game session that they were all going to be heading to after class. The idea was Ruby's, naturally.

Before they could leave the class the smaller girl touched his arm lightly, catching his attention. Ruby nodded to the left, silently asking him to step aside for a moment. He waved the others away, calling that they'd catch up soon enough.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Ruby fidgeted a little.

"Something's up with Yang," she said after a long pause, finally looking into his eyes. The worry in that silver gaze was clear, the concern obvious. "She's acting really off."

Was she? Jaune turned back to look where the others had gone, though obviously, they had all left by that point. Nothing had stood out with Yang in his mind. Then again, he hadn't been looking either. Ruby would know better, both being more familiar with her sister and sharing a room with the girl.

"She seems really frustrated," Ruby sighed, "and she isn't sleeping as much as she should, like she has trouble staying asleep. It's been making her irritable and distracted. I'm worried."

Now that he thought about it, she had been yawning quite a bit lately. Rubbing her eyes too, as though to wake herself up. He'd just assumed it was Port's lectures. "Why tell me?" Jaune asked. It wasn't that he wouldn't have helped if he could, Ruby seemed really upset up over it, but if Yang wasn't going to talk to her little sister, then she wasn't going to talk to him.

"You're good at talking to girls," Ruby's smile was tentative, "I thought that maybe you could try and talk to her… see if she'll tell you what's wrong?"

That's a lot of hope you're putting on me, Ruby.

"You don't have to," she said, no doubt noticing his expression. "Don't worry about it. Forget I said anything…" The small girl laughed and spun back around, rushing to the door of the classroom before turning to beckon for him, "Come on Jaune! They'll start without us if we don't hurry up."

"I'm coming," he sighed, watching as she smiled and laughed.

But he could still see the worry in her eyes.

Damn it, Ruby…

/-/

Yang watched as the game went on, the rather large and loud group of friends causing a ruckus in the middle of the library. Other people have long since given up on keeping them quiet, instead finding more distant parts of the facility to study in. None of the teachers seemed to mind… quiet and hunters didn't often go hand in hand. Ruby and Weiss had allied into the game of Remnant early on to beat her, recognising the bigger threat. Yang could have held on if she'd wanted to… she could have turned that push back in their faces.

But her heart hadn't been in it.

Now it seemed another was facing similar treatment, the blond swooning dramatically before saying something that gathered a few laughs. From the way he shook his fist it was some theatrical display. Yang shook her head, offering a little smile as Jaune walked over to sit by her.

"You too?" she asked, just to make conversation.

"I like to think this means we're the best at the game," he joked, "Since they had to take us out first. That makes us the winners."

"That makes you second, you mean," Yang grinned. "I'm the true winner. You can be my sidekick. It'll be blonde bombshell and vomit-boy, the ultimate duo."

"Eh, it's not so bad," he shrugged, earning a chuckle from her. For the next minute or so they lapsed into a rather comfortable silence, the two watching as the others laughed and gasped, playing cards and pieces across the table. It was a good thing to watch… especially because her little sister, normally so awkward and shy, was laughing and shouting along with the best of them. Yang smiled. All fear aside, Beacon had been the best thing that happened to Ruby. "You seem a little stressed," Yang tilted her head as Jaune spoke, not looking at her but still the group. "There something on your mind?"

"Is this the start of your grand scheme to seduce me?" Yang asked, fluttering her lashes, "You said you're not interested in any romance but I always knew it would just be a matter of time."

"Alas, I have been found out," his voice was so thick with sarcasm that she had to laugh. It was a new experience, having a male companion that didn't have any interest in her in that way. One that genuinely didn't, that was… there had been many who claimed and then changed.

It was nice.

"I'm serious, though," he said, "You've been looking pretty tired lately."

She sighed, suddenly wishing she had a glass of something in hand – and since when had alcohol been the answer to all her problems? If it was one of his sunrises, though, then she wouldn't say no. Those things kicked ass.

"You'd be surprised how many people tell me their problems," he went on, once it was clear she wasn't going to say anything. "I think it's part and parcel of working behind a bar. I'm someone distant, someone that can offer an opinion but can't hurt them by telling their friends or family. If that random bartender tells his friends… well, it's not like they know you or your friends."

"Isn't that a little backward here," she glanced towards him, "You do know all my friends. You do know my family."

"But I wouldn't tell anyone," he promised, "All those problems people confided into me. No one ever heard of them again. And even if I'm the same age as you, I like to think I've gotten pretty good at offering advice."

Advice… she could use that. The situation she was in… she'd never felt anything like it before, nor had she any experience she could draw on. It wasn't something she would ever worry her sister over. It was something too embarrassing to tell her team. She looked at him again, noticing that he kept his eyes firmly on the game taking place before them. She was thankful for that. Somehow it felt like he wasn't fully listening… that if she did tell him, he'd only be paying half his attention… as though he wouldn't notice her weakness.

It wasn't true. But she appreciated the gesture. Also, he didn't have to know the full story, did he?

"I've not been sleeping well," she admitted slowly, choosing her words. Every night she was woken up. The same dream, the same frustrating feeling. "There's this… there's something keeping me awake."

"What is it?"

"I'd rather not say." He accepted that with a nod.

"Is it something dangerous?"

"Not at all," she let out a bitter laugh. "If anything it's more embarrassing." Her eyes flicked towards him once more. There was no change of expression on his face, no judgement or condemnation. He'd probably learned that behind the bar too. "What would you do?" she asked, "If there was something you felt you wanted… something that was probably stupid, that you knew most people would advise you against, but that you knew you still wanted nonetheless? To the point that avoiding it just makes you think more about it."

Yang sighed and brought her knees up onto the seat, resting her arms atop them.

"You knows it's stupid," she pushed on – the words flowing freely now, "You know it's a bad idea. Every part of your mind is saying it's dumb… but you can't stop thinking about it…"

"I'd say it sounded familiar…" he laughed. Yang turned on her seat, looking at him.

"What?"

He shrugged, "Look at me, Yang. Here I am, the weakest person here – with less training and a crappy, mass-produced sword grabbed from a nearby store. I'm getting my ass kicked in most classes, I'm falling behind and clearly not cut out for this. But I'm still here." He wasn't nearly as bad as he made himself out to be. Sure, in terms of combat he was the weakest – but his theory wasn't half-bad. He put more effort in than most.

"You'd tell me to go for it, then?" Yang asked.

"I'd say to try it and see what happens," he nodded. "Everyone told me that becoming a hunter was going to be impossible, that I'd never make it – but I wanted to do it and here I am. Sure, it's not been easy, nor is it a piece of cake now, either. But I'm still here, living the dream."

"And what if you'd failed?"

What if she messed up and it hadn't been a good idea?

"Then I would have failed," he shrugged, "I'd be hurt, sure, but not nearly as down as I would be in a few years, looking back and wondering if I'd missed out on the opportunity because I'd never tried." He turned to her at last, staring straight into her eyes. His was a dark sapphire, almost familiar. "There's no shame in messing up or making mistakes, that's what my mentor always tells me, but if you don't try then you'll never know. I'd rather have messed up and failed initiation, than been too cowardly to try in the first place."

Better to try and fail than to live in fear? Was she being a coward over this? She didn't know. The memories had haunted her dreams, tantalising her at every opportunity – and yet was it nothing more than her torturing herself? Maybe if she went… maybe if she just tried it… then she could get it out of her system. It wasn't even as bad as his. Jaune becoming a hunter could mean the end of his life if he messed up… the worst she'd face was a little humiliation.

At best her little problem was solved… at worst she was embarrassed… when she put it like that it really wasn't all that difficult a choice.

"Thanks," Yang chuckled, relaxing a little. "I'll take your advice."

"You will?" He sounded just as surprised as she, a fact which made her laugh even louder. "I mean, you will, of course… see? I told you I was good at this kind of thing."

"Don't let it go to your head," she poked his ribs, suddenly biting her lip. "Say… are you working tonight?"

"Ah…" he looked nervous for a second, "Yeah, but not in the bar. Reg has me doing some deliveries with suppliers, negotiating new contracts, that kind of thing. I won't be able to serve or drink with you tonight if that's what you're asking."

"No, no, it's fine. Perhaps another time." Yang let out a relieved sigh.

He wouldn't be there.

/-/

This was easier to accept back at Beacon.

The words echoed in her mind, along with the ones `this is a bad idea` and `it's not too late to go back`. The crimson curtains before her barely moved, and yet at the same time they seemed more ominous than any Grimm. She wanted to fidget. Her hands ached to wring and play with one another. She probably looked worse than Ruby.

But if she didn't face this, then nothing was going to change. She'd even visited the bar, just to ask Reg where Jaune was. Luckily, he was true to his word – the larger man saying Jaune was busy on some other task outside the Oyster. She didn't know any of the other people here, which meant with Reg behind the bar and Jaune somewhere else, not a single person here knew her face or name.

So what was she so worried about? It wasn't like they could tell anyone… it wasn't like her team or sister would find out. Move, she tried to tell her legs. They remained cemented to the floor.

This was a bad idea.

"The show will be starting soon," the suited and polite man by the entrance said, "Will you be coming in?"

"Yes," Yang answered instantly. The words forced her into action. It wasn't like she could walk away after saying that, not when he leaned forward to hold the curtain aside for her. He didn't even ask to see her badge. Was he the same person as last time?

"I hope you enjoy the show," he said as she passed by.

Such words had never sounded so sinister.

The showroom was just as she remembered it, the low-laying couches and sofas arranged around small tables, cushions plush and rich. It was much busier than the last time, many of the seats and tables being full. There were still a few empty ones, however, one of which she chose for herself. A young woman came to take her order, a strawberry sunrise pushed into her hands a minute later.

Not as good as Jaune's. She needed to force the recipe out of him.

This is still a bad idea. Yang sank a little lower, hoping that her wild blonde mane couldn't be seen over the back of the seat. It was a bad idea, but at the same time Jaune was right. It wasn't something she could keep putting off. That dancer had plagued her thoughts for over a week now, his eyes and body constant inhabitants of her frustrated dreams.

But he was just a stripper. If she saw him again, if she buckled down and watched his show, then that allure would surely fade. It was the shock… the mystery and the suddenness of it the last time which had affected her so badly. It had to be. She was seventeen, not twelve – she had seen videos. She had seen pictures of naked men. They weren't anything special.

I'll just stay all night, watch his show and be done with it. I bet he won't even be as impressive the second time around. Familiarity bred contempt after all. Once he was out of her head she could get back to more important things like Beacon, her team and having fun.

The lights dimmed.

Yang took a deep breath.

To her incredible relief he didn't appear on stage. It was actually two dancers, older than her – a man and a woman. In fact, it was the bald man from the first show she had seen. Along with a woman his age, hair a rich brown and eyes glinting emerald green. She was beautiful. Yang's shoulders deflated instantly, body nearly collapsing back into the cushions. How was it possible to feel so relieved? Hadn't she come here wanting to see him?

Yang wasn't sure. Lilac eyes watched as the two slowly padded to opposite ends of the stage, eyes locked on one another as though dancing together, despite the distance between them. Their expressions were heavy, love or lust – a combination of the two – they seemed unable to break eye contact. It was probably part of the show but at the same time she had to admit they did a good job of the acting. There were movies where less was said in a silent gaze. Yang brought her drink up to her lips, engrossed in the show not out of lust, but a genuine desire to know what would happen next.

The woman skipped to the side, away from the man, who followed with elegant strides. She seemed to duck behind something, nothing more than air, but she pressed flat against it as though to simulate a wall, her fingers splaying out slowly as she glanced over one shoulder, hair falling across her body. He chased, stopping centre-stage to look about, eyes focused and sharp but with a hint of something underneath, something primal and unrestrained. Was the woman hiding? Or was she teasing him? Yang wasn't sure. She wanted to know more.

The chase continued for a few moments, the woman gently unbuttoning her shirt and laying it on the floor, which he seemed to discover a second later, clutching it to his face for a moment. No words were ever exchanged, no sound but their feet on the stage and the low beat of a distant drum across the speakers. It seemed to resonate with her heartbeat. And, judging from the way every other guest was leaning forwards, not just her own.

He found her at last, pinning his prey against a wall that wasn't there. She backed against it, one hand touching his chest, teasing the buttons of his white shirt open. Their eyes never left one another's as it fell down his shoulders, slipping to the floor and revealing his toned chest to the audience. It was as though they hadn't noticed the audience at all. It made her feel like a voyeur, someone watching the events from a distance. The brunette pushed him back, running her finger down his chest before sashaying slowly away.

He grabbed her wrist before she could leave.

Yang gasped quietly as they came together, not kissing, but seeming so close, his face touching her neck as he ran his hands across her flat stomach. Hers came up to touch his head, to run her fingers across his skin as he unbuckled the belt of her trousers. They fell down to her ankles, revealing long, smooth legs. Yang wasn't and had never been interested in other women that way, nor she doubted was the audience, and yet she couldn't help but marvel at the woman's confidence. Her curves and grace, the way she wriggled her hips and stepped out of the cloth as the man unclasped her bra, revealing her round breasts to everyone watching.

The show came to a climax soon after, and what a climax it was. The woman turned and pushed him to the ground, stripping the man of his trousers before she positioned herself over his form, riding him before them all. There was no actual penetration… she had her underwear on, as did he with silken boxers, yet the way she tossed her hair left and right, and the way he flipped them over so that he pinned her beneath them… it was enough to have Yang gripping the cushions tight. The woman climaxed… no, of course she didn't – it was just an act, and yet it was one more compelling than any show she had ever seen. The woman's long legs locked about his hips, her body arching back as he planted feather-light kisses across her neck. Her mouth opened, no sound issuing forth, but that expression twisted in bliss.

And then, with an acrobatic twist, the two were standing once more, naked but for the barest of cloth, hands clasped as they bowed to the audience.

Yang clapped with the best of them, slamming her palms together as people cheered and shouted. Incredible, inspiring… sexual, the words flashed through her mind but there were just too many. How so much could be said with not a word between them… romance movies were dead to her now. They could not compete with this. It was more than a mere strip tease, more than that entirely. She hadn't felt lust for them but rather intense hunger and desire for the story they presented, the tale they told on that stage.

She clapped until her hands were sore and continued long after, the other members of the audience in complete agreement with her. It had been beautiful.

And she hadn't seen the one she had come for, that was true. But in a way that was a relief… his would have been no better than this, surely, and yet after seeing it she felt no embarrassment at all. Sure, she would if her team ever found out, but they wouldn't. There was no way Blake or Weiss would ever visit a place like this and Ruby was too young. Hell, a week ago she would have said there was no way she would have ever visited a place like this.

The lights seemed to dim a little further but she was already making to stand. After witnessing that show she didn't want to see another lest it detract from the experience. To her surprise, however, no one else had stood – nor did a single man come from behind the curtains. In fact, many seemed to arrive, spreading out across the hall, naked from the waists up with small bowties around their necks. Yang watched as one pulled out a seat and sat down at a table, the girls there leaning forward as he whispered something to them. Others collected drinks, striding purposefully over to share them with the guests.

The dancers were going to serve and wait on them? Hell no… that wasn't for her. The show had been enough and that was all that needed to be said. Besides, Ruby would be get worried if she didn't get back soon. So thinking, she finished off her drink with a little sigh, clicking it down on the table before stepping away.

Only to bounce off something.

"Sorry," she said automatically, blinking at a chiselled, bare, chest. A chest she had one hand on in order to steady herself. She snatched it away, fully aware of how warm it was – it felt like her skin was burning. "Sorry," she said again, trying to find the right words, "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"Not a problem," the man replied. His voice was thick and rich, whispering across her senses like a gentle caress. She shivered, suddenly wondering how he could be so warm while wearing little more than tight, black trousers and a bowtie. That and… and…

A black, velvet mask… and red hair…

"My name is Crimson," the man who haunted her dreams whispered, taking her hand in his, "And tonight I am yours to command."

Yang's ass hit the seat as she collapsed back into it, eyes wide.

Oh my, oh my indeed. So, a bit of a confession here – I've never visited a strip club before, but I did do a lot of research for this fic (yeah sure, that's the excuse for my search history). I wanted to explore some of the angles I've heard of in a very high-market club, however, one of which being that performances are just that – a performance and not just a case of some skinny woman dangling reluctantly on a pole as she throws clothing aside. Maybe it's just an excuse those people give me; "It's not about the naked women, it's about the STORY." But hey, who am I to judge?

And, of course, Jaune has his name now… at least when he's in this form. Not an inspired one, but then again, stage names rarely seem to be. For any who wondered the woman on the stage was indeed Nina, and of course Brian with her. I do use OC's as supporting characters, but they really are just that. They're present to make the story hopefully feel a little more realistic, to create a sense of there actually being people there – of the club being alive. For some who worry, however, don't worry, they're not going to be major characters or have entire chapters about them. They are side characters.

Next Chapter: 21st November

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur