Here is the entertainer chapter. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 27

Jaune found a moment with Nina after the two of them finished their performance. His dance went without incident, other than some women getting a little more rowdy than usual. Luckily, their friends had calmed them down and the bouncers hadn't been necessary. That was life in the industry, though. You never knew how drunk some people would be.

He wished he could be too, but that wouldn't have been a good idea on top of his already panicked state of mind. Instead, he pushed through the changing rooms, nodding to various people in states of undress, and stepping into Nina's private room.

She was stark naked.

"Pass me some underwear, would you?" she asked, gesturing to the dresser beside him. She didn't care the slightest for her bare breasts or anything else, but neither did he. He pulled some out and tossed them her way, taking a seat and helping himself to a glass of water as she got dressed. "Ah, that's better," she said, sitting down opposite him and lighting a cigarette. "So… what's got you so bothered, dear apprentice?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Normally I'd say no, and that I can read you better than anyone else." Nina reached across to grip his chin in one hand and tilt his face to the side. "Tonight, though… I think it's so obvious even some of the regulars noticed." She let go and leaned back. "I wonder if that will net you more customers. After all, it's not every day they get a chance to try and cheer up the handsome and unflappable Crimson."

"I'm not taking any customers tonight," he said.

"Then it must be serious indeed." She sighed. "Very well. You wouldn't have sought me out if there wasn't something going on. Spill."

"I got locked in a cupboard with someone," he said.

"Adorable. Yang, I presume?" She waited for him to nod. "You kids sure are innocent these days. The only thing I ever got locked in a cupboard to do was… well, I'm sure you don't want to hear about that. Judging from the fact you're not hyperventilating, I take it you didn't get that far."

"Of course not," he said. "We… it was our friends trying to force us to make up. It worked, in a way."

"Then what's the problem?"

Jaune looked away, cheeks flushed. That alone was a big reaction for someone as used to sex and matters of it as he, and Nina raised an eyebrow and lowered her cigarette. How was he supposed to explain this without it sounding stupid? He had no idea, and in the end went with the flat truth. "I got aroused by it," he said. "I got aroused by Yang."

"And…?" Nina sighed. "If you're about to tell me that's a big deal, then I'll have to sit Brian down and ask him why he didn't give you the talk properly. Boys your age get aroused, Jaune. Girls too, and more often than you realise."

"It's not that – and it's not that I think there's anything wrong with me for feeling it." He rubbed a hand through his red hair, then paused and recalled he was in his Crimson form. It hardly mattered, he supposed. "It's just… it's been a long time since I felt arousal, you know? Honest arousal, that is." He didn't think he had to explain. Nina knew as well as he what it was like working in the night industry. It was a world of lies and deceit, where affection was bartered away for coin. Honest emotions and feelings rarely came into it, except for those fortunate ones who actually loved their work. Spend enough time with women crawling all over you, however, and your body wouldn't react in the same way it used to. "This was different," he continued. "It felt honest, hot… needy. I wanted to take her right then and there. Gods, I even considered giving into her. I know she would have accepted it… she would have been thrilled if I asked her out." He sighed. "But it would have been a lie… just me using her for my own enjoyment."

"I'll refrain from asking if that's such a bad thing." Nina tapped her cigarette into the ash tray, and then left it there. "You're horny, then? I suppose it was bound to happen eventually."

He sighed and leaned his face atop one hand. "Why, though? And don't give me the physiological reason, please. I don't need the sarcasm." He rolled his eyes when her mouth clicked shut. Typical Nina. "I just don't understand why it's happening now. I've been fine for… it feels like years now – months, certainly."

"Hmm…" Nina tapped her delicate fingers on the table. "Perhaps we should try something."

"Huh?"

Jaune didn't get a chance to ask what, for the beautiful woman stood up and raised one hand to her shoulder. The strap of her dress fell down her smooth arm, along with a cascade of auburn hair as she tossed her head to the side. Her left breast exposed itself, perky pink nipple facing him as she reached up and repeated the process with her other shoulder. Her dress fell to her waist, revealing herself to him.

She padded forward and pushed his seat back, swinging one leg over to settle her body in his lap, her core to his, her breasts to his face, and her fingers tangling themselves into his hair. She leaned down, breathed a trail of hot air up his neck, and then pushed her breasts into his chest.

She then paused.

"I'm not feeling anything down below," she said. Her hand reached for his pants, pressing her palm flat against him. "Nope. Nothing."

"Nina," he breathed, body stiff.

"Yes?"

"What… the hell?"

She leaned back and smiled. Not the seductive one she'd worn before, but an amused, teasing one. "What?" she asked. "I'm simply testing this lust of yours. Is that really so hard to understand?" She squeezed him down there again, and although that prompted a reaction, it was physical only. "You don't seem to have the same as what you described for your little friend. Then again, I knew that would happen from the start."

Jaune sighed and reached up to her chest. He lifted her left breast in one hand, but used his other to pull her dress up to cover it. He did the same with the other, pushing the straps back up as she smiled down at him. "If Brian saw you do this he'd kill me," he said. "Then again, knowing you, he'd probably just sigh and ask what the hell you're doing. If you knew how I'd react, then why do this?"

"Because you're stubborn," she said, stepping off him and sitting down in her seat once more. "You think you're not, but you really are. You're the kind of stubborn man who refuses to see what's in front of your face, and who won't accept something unless he's shown it."

Was he really that stubborn? He didn't think so. She caught his thoughts, however, and rolled her eyes.

"See? This is what I mean." She sighed. "Either way, with regards to your little friend, what I wanted to prove is that you're not horny… or at least not in the way you seem to think." She poked his chest. "It's not sex you're after; otherwise you'd have had some reaction to me."

Well… maybe. Jaune's brow scrunched as he tried to think of what she meant. He saw Nina as an older sister, though, so surely that tied in somehow? Then again, he saw Yang as a friend and he'd felt arousal for her. He'd never thought it for Ruby, though… nor Blake, Nora or Pyrrha. "Why her, though?" he asked. "Why now of all times?"

"Why not now?" Nina countered. "The girls you spend your time with are attractive, I'll admit. They're different from the ones here too. One thing you need to understand is that when you become inured to pleasures of the flesh, the mind and personality becomes more alluring."

He couldn't argue with that. People were shallow, that was a facet of life, but physical appearance became less important when you dealt with it all the time. He knew Nina and Brian were the same. They'd clicked after working together for a long time, but Nina could have had her choice of far more handsome men. "Are you saying I'm attracted to Yang?"

"I'm saying it's very possible," she said. "Think about it for a moment, why did you want to go to Beacon in the first place – and don't say to become a huntsman."

He shrugged one shoulder but knew what she meant. "To escape being an entertainer," he said. "To be respected for what I am, and to feel proud of what I do. No offence."

"None taken." She smiled. "This job isn't for everyone, nor was being a huntress for me. Essentially, though, you wanted to become a huntsman because you crave an innocence you never had."

That made him sound a little creepier than he liked to admit, but he couldn't disagree with what she meant. Being a huntsman was a job that was unarguably good. It was the most black and white you could get in what was otherwise a grey world. It was hard to suggest fighting Grimm and stopping them from killing innocent humans was a morally bad thing.

"It makes sense you'd be attracted to someone who represents those ideals," she went on. "It's not like you'd fall for someone who enjoys the job you dislike. It would always be a barrier between you."

"Understandable," he nodded, "but if that were true, why didn't I fall for Pyrrha? She's the epitome of a huntress, not to mention respected and loved by everyone. She's also way more innocent than Yang is." He whispered a silent apology to his best friend for that. Yang was great, but innocent? No way. That was Ruby's domain.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Nina…" He sighed. She could see damn well it wasn't obvious. Not to him.

"You may want that innocence, but it's not you," Nina said. "You didn't harbour any feelings for your partner because even though she has that innocence you crave, you were afraid she would be disgusted by your lack of it."

He looked away. She wasn't wrong. He sighed, but paused when she cupped his cheek and pulled his face back to meet hers.

"And there's nothing wrong with that," she whispered. "People often don't understand us, let alone accept what we've done. Our work cheapens us… at least in the eyes of other people."

He nodded. She understood, of course. There was a reason she'd married someone else in the industry. They were dirty, lazy – sluts or whatever else people wanted to call them. They were tainted. "Pyrrha wouldn't hate me for it," he said.

"I'm sure she wouldn't, as are you in here." She poked his heart, but then reached up to touch his head. "In here? Not so much. The mind is a wonderful thing, but filled with doubt and fear. You're afraid, and that's fine, but it is probably what held you back with your partner." Nina smiled. "Not so with Yang."

"Why not?" he asked. "She's no different."

"Oh, but she is. Yang knows as little as your partner does, but she is familiar with both Jaune Arc and Crimson. She has met them both. She has interacted with them both. She likes them both." Nina smiled coyly. "All of a sudden, you've met someone that both your heart and mind recognise as a person who not only represents the innocence you crave, but the darkness you feel holds you back." Nina held her hands apart, then slowly brought them together. "You've met someone who could theoretically love you not for who you were, or for who you want to be in the future… but who you are now. Who the true you is."

"And what is the true me, Nina?"

"The true you is Jaune Crimson Arc… well, if you want to call yourself that." She shrugged. "The true you isn't a bumbling huntsman nor is he a professional stripper. He's both at the same time, and something in between." She leaned back and crossed her legs. "That's why Yang excites you. That's why your blood raced and your mind and body leapt to such thoughts. She's someone who could love you… and both this, and this," she touched his chest and then his head, "recognise that fact."

He stared at her in silence for a moment, mind unable to process the things she was saying. Eventually, it did, but what followed was a rush of anger.

"You're saying I'm in love with her." he accused. "Is that what you're saying?"

"Essentially… yes."

His hands slammed down on the table. "Don't be insane! I can't be in love with her."

"Why?"

"B-Because I just can't," he said. "Yang is my friend. I'm not interested in love-"

"You don't have to be looking for love to fall for someone," Nina laughed. "I certainly wasn't. Also, did you ever consider that you only thought you weren't interested? Maybe as a way of protecting yourself from what you thought was impossible?"

No… well… maybe. His head pounded, as did his heart. He'd thought it once or twice, even if he refused to admit it. He wasn't stupid. He'd always dismissed it, though. In his mind it made sense to wait until after he was a huntsman to pursue romance. He wouldn't need to lie about himself at that point, since his career as an entertainer would be behind him.

As Nina said, Crimson would be no more. He'd be dead and gone.

"Men can be predictable and simple creatures," Nina said. "Women too, so don't misunderstand. Show someone a little love, show them what might be possible, and they'll react in kind. If you approach someone with the desire to cause violence, they'll feel nervous or angry. Do so with the intent to make a friend and they'll relax. For you… well, she got close. She wormed her way into your heart." Nina shrugged. "And then she fell for you. It must have been a shock to your system, but is it so unbelievable that you'd fall for her in return?"

Was it? His head swam. This was bad… unabashedly so. Yang might get on with both of his personas, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. He wanted to get rid of Crimson, after all. What would Yang think of that when it happened? She'd probably assume he'd moved away, but he knew it would hurt her… he'd need to meet with her as Crimson before, make sure they parted on good terms.

But what if she wanted him to keep in touch? Did he really want to fake text and calls from Crimson for the rest of his life?

"Complicated, isn't it?" Nina asked. "It was the same for me when I fell in love."

"I'm not falling in love."

Nina sighed. "And there's that stubbornness I was talking about."

"I'm not!" Jaune yelled, rising to his feet. "I can't be!"

"Such faith," she drawled. "And pray tell, why not? Do you think yourself capable of controlling your every emotion? News flash, Jaune, our feelings betray us time and time again. Get used to it."

He shook his head. A part of him knew it was denial, but there had to be another explanation. "I can't fall for Yang like that. Our relationship is already too complicated. I'm practically taking advantage of her as it is."

"You are," Nina agreed.

Horror shot through him. His eyes widened.

"What? Did you expect me to deny it?" Nina laughed. "You're her friend as two different people, and passing information between them. I've lost count of how many times you've used your disguise to get information from her, or to push her towards something you want." She watched him with calm eyes, even as he shook his head and backed away. "It's not entirely your fault, of course. It takes two to tango and she's guilty of seeking you out and continuing to do so. Still, it hardly changes the truth."

No… he guessed it didn't. He'd known for a long time what he was doing, and nothing changed that. He'd even taken to saving the money she gave him, which he wanted to give back one day. How he would ever do that, he had no idea. Even if he did, it wouldn't make a difference. He groaned and sat back down, trying to ignore the guilt. He was used to it by now.

"So," Nina said, leaning forwards. "What do you intend to do?"

"About what?"

"About your feelings, about how you're taking advantage of her." Nina shrugged. "Everything, really…"

He took a deep breath. "Nothing."

"Jaune…"

"Nothing has to change, Nina. Yang and I… we're friends and I like that. She likes it too. The whole reason she hasn't told me her feelings is because she wants to continue with what we have." He pushed himself up and out of his seat. "If she wants that and I want that, then what's the problem?"

"The problem is everything you're ignoring," Nina warned. "You know what I always say, Jaune. Those who do nothing-"

"Are destined to lose everything, I know. I get it." He sighed. "This is different, though."

Nina leaned back with a complicated expression. Her legs uncrossed and crossed again the other way, and she drew out a fresh cigarette and lit it, taking a long puff. Only once that was done did she speak. "Tell her the truth."

"What?" He reared back. "Nina, are you insane? She'd be furious!"

"Yes, she would. It would be better for you to face that now, however."

Now? He wasn't so sure. The thought of that conversation caused his stomach to clench up and his heart to race. He dreaded it… dreaded it more than he had anything else. It would be a complete betrayal of her. It was now, but having her know that he'd done that to her…? No. He couldn't bear to tell her.

"You have to do something," she went on. "Things can't continue as they are. I believe your little sojourn with her in the cupboard has shown that much. What will you do if she decides to deal with her feelings for you by investing them in another? What will you do if she asks Crimson to take care of that?"

"She wouldn't."

"Are you so sure?" Nina blew some smoke in his direction. "The heart is a fickle thing. Many of my clients come to me because they seek reassurance. I pretend to love them. They know it's make-believe, but it helps them hold back in real life." She sighed. "Even if it's fake, it's a relief for them to feel wanted. Your friend might go the same way. If not you and Crimson, she might seek to distract herself with someone else. Could you stand idly by and watch that happen?"

He didn't know. Yang was his best friend. He wanted her to be happy and if she was happy with someone else…? Well, that was a good thing.

It was a good thing.

He had to keep telling himself that. Even if it mean she spent less time with him, even if she had to be less close for fear of alienating her new boyfriend. Even if it meant someone else would intrude on their time together, their moments. Jaune took a deep breath. His eyes were clenched shut as an ugly feeling flowed within him. He knew what it was. It was jealousy.

"I see you've found it," she said. "Like I said, something has to break for both of your sakes. If you continue on like this, only disaster awaits you."

He couldn't answer. He moved away and to the door, refusing to meet her eyes. Why did something have to end? If he was happy and she was happy, then why change anything?

No… he knew the reason. The status quo wasn't sustainable. He'd gone with that idea with Pyrrha, and look at the disaster that caused. She'd been badly hurt, left in tears in Nora's arms. He hadn't wanted that for her, but his inaction caused it. The same would happen with Yang if he didn't learn from his mistakes.

He paused by the door. "I'll do something," he promised.

"Good. I think you'll feel happier once this is sorted."

He hoped so.

Because if something had to give…

The choice was obvious.

/-/

Yang wasn't sure if she was in a good mood or not. On the one hand, she and Jaune were a thing again. Friendship repaired, big hug to end the day's classes, not to mention Ruby and the others were off her back about the whole thing. Those were good results right there, even if it had come with the most awkward make up ever.

Note to self, I still need to punish Ruby for doing that to me. She hadn't at the time, mostly because she'd been too busy trying to expunge the memory of what it had felt like to be squashed up against him like that.

So… he had some serious muscle under those baggy clothes he wore? That hadn't been a fact she needed to know. Want, sure, but in terms of need, it definitely ranked on the low end. Argh, I know I like him, but I always thought it was just a personality thing. I thought he was a spindly noodle, but that was definitely some defined material there.

Her fingers tingled, helpfully reminding her of just how defined it had felt.

No. Bad Yang! Bad! You're not allowed to get hot and bothered about your friend. He's off-limits. Very off-limits.

Gods, why was her body being so treacherous today? Oh yeah, it was because she'd had a dream about them getting up to some different stuff in that dinky closet. Indecent things, which in her fevered mind had felt very decent indeed…

Ugh. Puberty sucked.

Not even counting the fact she was seventeen and definitely not a late bloomer. It was puberty. That was her story and she was sticking to it.

It was that dream and her irritating feelings which led her to frequent the Oyster again that night. She'd asked Jaune if he wanted to come along, if only because a part of her thought the best way to lose her feelings for him was to spend more time with him as a friend. There wasn't anything to suggest that might work and in fact quite a lot of evidence showing otherwise, but it was a plan. At least she was trying something.

He'd said he would be busy with more work for Reg, though.

The bouncer greeted her as she entered in the staff door; the same one Jaune had taken her out of before. His friendly words were marred by the angry comments from the queue outside, but she only winked and waved as she slipped inside. Ah, the joys of being VIP. She loved it. Most of the people behind the scenes didn't even look her way, already used to her presence. She pushed on, then through a door and back into the club proper. A familiar figure behind the bar earned a wide smile.

"Reggie," she cheered.

"Brat," he groaned. "Gods, I must have done something wrong in a past life. Don't you have a social life?"

"I'm at a night club," she said, slipping onto a stool. "This is a social life."

"Most people would disagree with how you act."

"What do you mean?" Yang asked, pointedly ignoring a man twice her age who kept trying to catch her attention. He leaned on the counter and smiled at her, but she kept her eyes locked on Reg's. "I'm perfectly sociable, thank you very much."

He rolled his eyes, then snorted when her paramour gave up and skulked off. "Yeah, clearly…" He filled a pint glass for her and pushed it over. She didn't touch it. He knew how much she hated beer. "What are ya here for today, runt? Your boyfriend is off running an errand."

"Jaune isn't my boyfriend," she snapped automatically. A sigh escaped her. "Why is he always out on jobs anyway? What kind of bartender doesn't spend any time behind a bar?"

"A lazy ass one…"

"Is Jaune lazy, though?" she asked. "He says he's on jobs for you."

Reg grunted. "He is."

"Why, though? I barely ever see him work the bar. What does he do that has him out of the club so much?"

"He organises deliveries of food 'n drink." Reg picked up a glass and scrubbed it with a cloth. "Can't be arsed t' do it myself. What's th' point of havin' employees if you can't make 'em do your work for ye?"

Yang laughed. "Who's the lazy one now?"

"You, ye brat!" Reg laughed. "You're th' only one without a job, after all."

"I'm a student."

"Yeh, well I'm not. Bugger off 'n do somethin'. Get yourself gone b'fore your ugly-ass face scares away th' customers."

Yang rolled her eyes but did as asked, pushing the drink he offered away and not even batting an eyelid when he snatched it up and downed it in one. Never change, Reg, she giggled. There was something delightfully charming about his surly attitude. Probably because of how pointedly false his insults were. You just couldn't take offence.

It was a fairly busy night at the Oyster, being a Friday and all. The floors were packed with people of all ages, but she made her way higher and towards the VIP section. Maybe she was becoming spoiled, but dancing with drunks didn't seem quite as exhilarating as it once had. It was fun when she'd had Jaune, Blake and Pyrrha along – before Pyrrha got smashed, that was – but on her own? It didn't have the same kick it used to.

"Hey Simon," she said, waving to the ever-present suited man outside the strip section. He raised his head from the clipboard in his hand and smiled back.

"Good evening. You just missed the shows. Crimson and Nina put on a rousing performance, or so I'd judge from the noise."

"Together?" Yang asked. She wasn't sure why that thought excited her so much, but it really did.

"Separate shows," he said, laughing at her disappointed expression. "I don't think those two have ever done a show. They're already main attractions on their own. If you put them together, you get one good show, but they'd be too tired for their own."

"Isn't it quality over quantity?"

"Not when you want to keep people in there and buying drinks for as long as possible."

"Heh, that's a fair point." She didn't have to buy drinks herself, of course, but she expected they were expensive in there. While Nina and Crimson would have blown the room away, they'd probably ruin everything afterwards for the customers. She doubted anything could compare to what those two might put on. "Meh, I'll head in anyway," she said. "It might be quieter now those two are done."

Not that she'd spend any of that time in the main room. Simon nodded and pulled the curtain back for her to enter, while Yang touched the five hundred lien she had in her pocket.

There was a woman on the stage, taking her clothes off before an increasingly rowdy audience. The atmosphere was a lot heavier tonight than it had been recently, but she noticed the presence of a few more suited bouncers as a precaution. The VIP area lacked the crowds of the rooms down below, however, and that would probably stop any violence taking place. People felt comfortable when they were surrounded by others. Here, she doubted anyone would be willing to make a scene.

Yang hadn't come for that, however. She made her way over to the doors leading into the private areas, and waved at the man stood there. "I'm here for a session with Crimson," she said. "Is he free?"

"Crimson?" The man bit his lip and looked aside. "I'm fairly sure he said he wasn't doing any today."

"Oh…" Yang's stomach dropped a little at that. Damn it. Why hadn't she ever thought to check in advance or something? Still, he hadn't ever mentioned this to her. "Is there… is there any reason?"

"Not that I know of." The man shrugged. "He could be tired, not in the mood, maybe even a little under the weather. Our performers do get sick occasionally."

"If that was the case, why would he come into work and do one of his shows?"

"It was just an example. Look, I don't know," he said. "What do you want me to say?"

Yang winced. She hadn't meant to come across as pushy or arrogant, but suddenly realised how she must have sounded to a guy just doing his job. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just… would it be possible to ask? If you tell him it's Clo- Tell him it's Yang. If he doesn't want to see me, I'll leave. I promise."

He stared at her for a few moments, no doubt wondering if he should go with the request or not. She felt that for anyone else he'd have said no, but he probably recognised her from numerous other times and knew she had a little more leeway than most customers. "Wait here," he eventually said. He disappeared into the backroom, and she heard him lock the door behind her.

Geez, did he think she was going to break in after him or something? She wasn't that desperate.

He came back five minutes later. "He says he'll see you."

Oh, thank god, Yang thought. It would have been a real pain to head home with nothing to show for it, and she really didn't feel like sitting out there on her own. She thanked the bouncer and moved through the narrow hallways towards the area she knew belonged to him.

He was waiting for her inside, dressed in black trousers and a shirt that matched his hair. He even had a tie on, the image being equal parts smart and alluring.

"Hey Crimson," she said. "You look good~"

"Yang…" His voice sounded a little different, like he wasn't quite all there.

"Heard you called off the other private sessions," she said. "Sorry for the trouble. I should probably tell you in advance when I plan to come down, hey?"

"No, it's…" He sighed. "Yang, I think there's something I ought to say."

"Hm?" She looked at him for a moment, then slapped her head when she realised why he was probably so stiff shouldered. She dug her hand into her pocket. "Sorry, I forgot. Here, five hundred lien."

He stared at it. "Keep it."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Crimson didn't make a move towards it. He didn't sit down, either. He remained on his feet and took a deep, deep breath. "Yang," he said. "There's something I need to say. I… I don't think you're going to like it very much, but it needs to be said."

Uh-oh. Something she wasn't going to like? Yang's mouth ran dry, but she kept a smile on her face with a confidence she didn't really feel. Maybe it was something to do with why he didn't want to see anyone? "What is it?" she asked. "If you're not in the mood for this, that's fine. I won't be offended if something has come up." She laughed nervously. "I've come at a bad time, haven't I? It's fine. You can tell me. I won't be hurt, I promise."

"It is a bad time," he said, and she felt her shoulders relax. "But that's not what I mean." He looked away, into the red curtains which adorned the walls. When he looked back, his sapphire eyes were firm. The black mask hid the rest of his emotions from her. "I don't think we should do this anymore, Yang."

Her heart stopped. "W-What?"

"I won't accept your custom anymore, Yang."

He stepped back, eyes not meeting hers.

"It's over." Crimson said. "I'm sorry."

Welp! In all honesty, this probably is the best for Yang. Like so many things in life, however, what's best for us often hurts. Doctors and dentists provide living proof of that.

Next Chapter: 6th June

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur