Hey everyone!
first off to all of you who commented! Thank you all!
Bomberguy789: I've got only one thing to say to you: you're thinking WAY too small, my friend! XD
Aravas: Would you believe I've never watched "Deuce Bigalow" before? I took the time to look up the plot and, yeah, it's a LITTLE similar. There are two reasons for the name: 1) I KNEW about "Deuce Bigalow", and I love wordplay! 2) I'm a huge believer in being up front. I know what it's like, being picky about what kind of fanfiction you like. I doubt anyone that reads THIS summary, or even title, can say "I didn't know what I was getting into". Anyone who DOESN'T want to read about Jaune satisfying beautiful women (cough… clary1925… cough), there's this cool little X they're putting in the top right corner of every browser now! :)
Guest: "Poor Jaune. Why does everyone always put him down?!" Answer: There's actually a REALLY good explanation for that. I was debating whether or not to include it in the story… until I read your review. Congratulations, it's on the schedule now! Bad news, you'll have to wait a while for it.
Guest: "Why would Ozpin do this when the Relic of Choice would have shown him Jaune was an important player in the events to come"Answer: 1) I was under the impression that the true powers of the relic of choice was UNKNOWN. The sources I consulted certainly didn't list any. But hey, your assumption/claim makes sense. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that the relic of choice does what you imply. 2) Ozpin is dedicated to keeping the relic safely away from Salem. I doubt he'd break it out for anything short of an absolutely CRITICAL decision. Asking about admitting a guy with no real training or experience, someone that even tried to trick him with forged transcripts? I don't buy it. My position is that canon Ozpin admitted Jaune SOLELY because he was willing to take the gamble (something I personally find highly unreasonable/irresponsible). My Ozpin was not, and explicitly explained as much (thanks Blue-eye, you continue to be awesome!). 3) The relic would have revealed that rejecting Jaune was the BEST possible decision anyway. That's based on several facts: a) Besides an unlocked Aura, Jaune's no more capable at this point than in canon. b) He's a year older, so no Pyrrha to bail him out. c) There'd be no Team RWBY for him to help. Sure, they'll be there next year. But I maintain it just wouldn't be the same relationship that makes the canon track reasonable. d) Remember, his sister Joan is coming to Beacon next year. Honestly, one of Joan's most important roles in this story will be acting as a substitute at Beacon for Jaune. e) You're making the same poor assumption everyone in the story (including Jaune) currently is. The best/only way to help Remnant is on the battlefield! I'd argue, given the nature of what our protagonists are up against, that's not true. I look forward to revealing the details to you in the future!
A\N - I don't own RWBY! Sadly...
BTW!
I have create treon . account to help and support my hobby! If you want you can support me or just feeling generous so I can get the chapters out faster and maybe something more if anyone is interested so go and check it out! :) Ps - some new stories over there!.
P a treon . com (slash) blue_eye_white_wing
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X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
Chapter 2: Skills To Pay The Bills
That was it…
The blonde boy wept. He dragged himself away from Beacon Academy for the first, and last, time. He'd been rejected… and pretty badly too. It certainly didn't help his mood any that most of his older sisters had been able to make it into Beacon, just like Joan surely would next year. They were all well-trained, stronger than him too.
His dream had been shot down once again, like it had so many times in the past… But, unlike his last few setbacks, failure had finally hit him where it really hurt. The point had finally sunk in. Headmaster Ozpin HIMSELF had rebuffed him, denying him the chance he so desperately needed… Hell, he hadn't even discussed the records that Roman had prepared for him! It was almost like he'd known they were forgeries from the start. But, if the blonde was being honest with himself… he most likely would have failed anyway. Even if the older man HAD given him the chance… Jaune realized the crucial truth, his opportunity to become a huntsman had ended upon his rejection from Signal. If not earlier, honestly. Despite all his effort, he was probably five YEARS behind where he needed to be to enter Beacon. Worse, he was nearly EIGHTEEN. At this point he probably couldn't even make the cut with private instruction, not that he could afford THAT.
'I'm not cut out to be a huntsman… Not good enough… Too weak… Never going to make it… Too old… Too late.' The dark thoughts kept swirling in his head, helping him ignore the rumbling of his stomach, as he made his way back to Vale.
The pilot of the bullhead had waited for him to return before taking off back towards the city, Roman had definitely made good on his word. He'd promised to take care of everything Jaune needed, in exchange for the payment he'd given him.
The forged records, a ride to Beacon and back, unlocking his Aura… The stylish man had provided all of that to him, even giving him a small lesson on how to act to improve his chances.
Not that it had made a difference… All he had left was his self-pity, it wasn't pleasant… No, it was downright horrible! Failure had always been an issue for him growing up, having never made it close to his dreams. The only good thing at the time had been the emotional support of his sisters, especially Joan. They had always been there for him, whenever he'd been ready to sink deeper into his despair.
But now, he didn't even have that. He'd ran away from home, to try and make it into Beacon on his own… only to fail spectacularly once more. What options were left for him now? Go back home, with his tail between his legs? Just thinking of the words, or even the looks, his family would give him made the young Arc shake in his seat.
'Will they be angry at me? Or worse, just disappointed again?' He remembered the look his father had given him over four years ago, when he'd informed Jaune that he wasn't going to train him anymore. At the time, it had inspired AGONY. And thinking about the possibility of receiving that very same look from the rest of his family, from JOAN? It was more than enough to leave him desperate to avoid such a nightmarish scenario.
"I-I can't go back…" the blonde boy swore. His vision became obscured, he was crying. The death of his dream had hurt him too deeply to hold back… All those years, the hopes and aspirations that he'd had for himself. The bedtime stories that he couldn't help but picture himself in, saving the day and the people around him… His childish fantasies were over, leaving him stranded in cold reality.
His hopes now shattered, his only solace was that he had this bullhead to himself. He didn't want ANYONE else to see him like this… not even complete strangers.
'What am I supposed to do now?' The question plagued his mind the entire ride to Vale, Jaune fighting to regain his lost composure.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
After arriving at his destination, the blonde boy stepped out of the bullhead. It rose back into the sky, leaving him alone. His still-red eyes scanned around himself.
When he'd confirmed that no one else was around, he fell to his knees and started vomiting loudly. All of his frustrations, his bad feelings, (that snack he'd had earlier) just poured out of him.
The young Arc was still feeling terrible after his ordeal, he was looking pretty worn out too. Jaune knew that he still had some money left, he probably needed to find someplace to stay. But, for now, he had only one thought in mind.
'I just want to forget…' Jaune moaned. He started walking away, making sure to stick to the main roads. Naturally, he didn't want to be mugged again. Today had been devastating enough, as it was.
His tired legs carried him to the first place he'd spotted that resembled a bar. The lights were on inside and by the looks of the place, it would probably aid him in his quest to forget everything that had happened today (and possibly his own name too).
"The Club?" he read out loud. He noticed that the fancy entrance was completely quiet, there was no one around. "Odd… usually it's pretty packed around nightclubs… Even the less popular ones…" The blonde boy entered 'The Club' anyway, despite all of the red flags. His eyes instantly spotted the reason why it was so empty, the place was trashed! Broken tables and debris all around him, the DJ station broken to splinters, the floor itself had a crater in it!
"What the hell happened here?" the blonde boy asked no one in particular. He walked past a bar that seemed relatively intact, having only suffered small gouges in a handful of places.
"What are you doing here?" questioned someone from his side.
Jaune jumped slightly, turning quickly to his right. An older man was standing behind the bar, staring right at him.
"Wha- Oh, sorry, I just saw that you were open-" the boy answered, slightly embarrassed at being caught off-guard so easily.
"Didn't you notice the sign at the entrance? We are currently… remodeling, as you can see…" the man informed. He leaned on top of the wooden bar, stepping back when it creaked ominously.
"I do now… Well, I'll let you get back to remodeling… Sorry for bothering you" the young blonde apologized, turning towards the entrance and walking away.
"Hey, wait a second!" the older man called out, Jaune paused mid-step. "How about a drink?" he offered, glancing at the last few bottles that hadn't been shattered.
"Huh, really? Aren't you closed at the moment? I can come back later-" the blonde boy offered, the man cutting him off.
"We are… but I need a drink myself after the night I had… And, from the looks of it, you need one too…" the man observed, grabbing two clear glasses. He poured a golden liquid into them, ignoring the lack of response his offer had garnered.
Jaune didn't wait, striding back towards the bar and sitting down on one of the intact seats. He grabbed the glass that the man offered to him, staring at it for a moment. "Thanks… I'm Jaune, by the way. Jaune Arc."
"Jaune, eh? Well, you can call me Junior… And this is my club- Or, what's left of it…" the older man declared wistfully. He took his glass and drained the contents in one, swift motion.
"Wow… things are that bad?" the blonde boy asked. He took a much smaller sip, noting the pungent aroma of the liquor. It was strong, burning his throat all the way to his stomach. He coughed a few times, unprepared for the potent spirit.
"Hey, easy with that… And here I thought you could drink…" Junior commented. He filled another glass for himself, then reached out to grab Jaune's.
"N-No, not really… This is actually my first time drinking anything…" The blonde's voice became a little weaker, already feeling the effects of minor inebriation.
"Your first?" The older man seemed to think for a moment. "What brought on the sudden change?"
"Just me realizing that I'll never make it as a huntsman… After YEARS of-" The blonde teen cut off, cupping his face in his hands, the fresh memory of his failure slamming home again. Having changed his mind, Junior offered him back his glass.
"Here… this might help…" the man advised, topping off Jaune's drink. "So, I take it that you came here from Beacon?" He received a nod of conformation from the blonde. "Didn't go well…"
"Try more like completely rejected… I don't have what it takes, I was just wasting the headmaster's time… He didn't come right out and say it… but he didn't really need to, either…" the blonde's voice trailed off, falling quiet once more.
"Mmm… I see…" the older man responded. He knew that the kid sitting in front of him didn't look like much. After all, he himself had an unlocked Aura and some serious street-fighting skills. The twins sure as hell were no slouches either, they had some dangerous tricks and an unlocked Aura themselves. Although, APPARANTLY they weren't quite capable of taking on a freaking huntresses-in-training. But, at the end of the day, pain was still pain. It didn't matter if you missed your goal by a hair, or a mile… it still hurt. "So, what're you going to do Jaune?" he asked.
"I-I… I'm not sure…" Jaune's voice trailed off again. He took another sip from his glass.
'Ah… too ashamed to go home…' Junior recognized the pained expression on the blonde's face, it was one that he knew all too well. "Are you going to try a different school? Beacon has the best reputation, and Atlas' academy is run by a bunch of assholes, but Shade or Haven may give you a shot…"
Jaune slowly shook his head. "No… I think that I'm done trying to make it as a huntsman… Had my family trying to talk me out of it, for YEARS… My teachers, too… And now, the headmaster of Beacon, Ozpin himself? You'd think that even someone as thickheaded as me would take a hint, at some point…" The young Arc chuckled at his self-deprecating joke. He cracked a smile, even if it was full of regret.
"So, going to stay in Vale?" The older man took another sip from his drink and glanced away, giving the kid a moment to think.
Junior knew what it was like to have dreams… He also knew what it felt like to have your dreams crushed in front of you. Sometimes, life just had different plans…
If anyone he knew today realized what he'd aspired to be when he was younger, it would pretty much destroy all the respect he'd earned. After all, not just ANYBODY could hope to be the leader of The Red Axe Gang. And if the twins ever caught wind of it… he'd never hear the end of it!
"I-I guess… I need to find a place-" the blonde teen began, before his head dropped onto the bar. He groaned in annoyance.
"Did you hit your limit already?" the older man asked, glancing at the boy. "Well, you do look like a lightweight…" he teased, chuckling to himself.
"No… it's not that…" Jaune lifted his head, eyes still locked firmly on the bar. "I just remembered that I used most of my-", he paused for a moment. "Let's just say that I better stop now…" The young Arc got up from his seat, fiddling with his pocket. He pulled out some lien and placed them on the table. "Thanks for listening, Junior… Maybe I'll come back some other time…" He turned around to make his way back out onto the street.
"Hold up…" Junior called out, leaning forward on the bar carefully.
The blonde boy turned around in a hurry, looking quite worried. He started digging into his pockets again. "I'm sorry, was it not enough? J-Just give me a second…", he checked the same pocket once more.
In reality, the bottle of alcohol he'd drank from was only meant for show. It was too expensive for the kind of people that frequented "The Club", and was only kept around for very special occasions. Junior waved away the boy's worries. "It's fine… I wasn't going to charge you for drinking. Not when the place looks like this… That, and it was my way of dealing with my own issues too…" the older man admitted, Jaune looking genuinely interested in the topic. "I won't bore you with the details, but some girl swung by here a few nights ago with her friend. Some stuff went down, and she trashed the place… To make matters worse, a few of my men quit on me… So not only do I need to hire better help, but I also have to remodel…" He took another sip of golden liquid, glancing at his company.
The blonde boy looked conflicted, but remained quiet. 'I guess I'll have to ask him directly…', the older man put his glass down. "Say, are you looking for a job?"
Jaune's eyes opened wide, he clearly hadn't expected the offer. He briefly looked relieved, before his expression changed to disappointment. "I-I don't think I'll be able to… I don't actually have experience in… well, anything…" He scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Really? You don't even know what the job IS…" Junior smiled as he put his glass away.
"But-But, I still need to find a-" the blonde Arc tried to retort, before he was cut off.
"I even have a spare room for you to use, if you need it… you know? Just until you get back on your feet… So, what do you say?" the older man inquired.
…
"A bartender?" asked a female voice. She stared at the fresh new face, shakily serving drinks to The Club's patrons. Said young woman was one of two twin sisters who worked for Junior.
"What's wrong with one of the usual guys?" asked the second sister. She glanced at her boss/father figure standing next to them.
"Nothing is wrong with the other guys… But after last night, when that maniac hit us, I figured we needed to change something…" the boss of The Red Axe Gang explained.
"Is that the ONLY reason?"
"What other reason could I have, Melanie?" he answered. She was a beautiful young woman, wearing a Gothic-style white dress.
"Please… we've known you long enough to realize that you never do anything without a good reason…" The second sister, Miltia, was wearing a similarly styled dress as her sister. However, her own sported a slightly different design, it was also red.
The older man smiled at just how sharp the two sisters were, they really did take after their mother. But that didn't mean he'd admit the truth, just like that. "Well, I kinda figured that putting a handsome, smiling face behind the bar will help prevent the same thing from happening again…" Junior elaborated, staring at his newest employ. He wasn't about to reveal all of his reasons. First off, the kid was probably a good asset. Young, handsome, polite, likable. Junior admired his tenacity, as well as his insistence on trying to make his own way in life. Yeah, he was still pretty awkward. Honestly, he wasn't very good at mixing drinks yet. Jaune couldn't flirt for crap, either. But all of those flaws were (hopefully) temporary. The fact that the younger man reminded him of himself, when he was younger, had doubtless helped.
"Mmm… I still think you're not telling us the whole story, but whatever…" Miltia shot back, staring at the new addition to the bar.
"I bet he did it to make sure that crazy bunny doesn't punch him again, if she ever comes back…" her twin Melanie responded, giggling at the memory of the older man getting sucker-punched by a furious rabbit faunus.
"Are you going to induct him into the gang, or just keep him in the bar?" Melanie asked. The blonde boy seemed pretty strong, for a civilian, but nowhere near HER level.
"Just the bar… And I'd rather you didn't mention anything about THAT to him…" Junior instructed, his voice taking on a serious tone.
"Yeah, I figured as much… It's better if he doesn't know anything, just in case the cops actually get off their asses and show up. In fact, I guess he makes a pretty good cover…" Miltia agreed.
"And he DOES seem kind of cute…" Melanie added, the two others staring at her. "What? He has that pure, sweet country boy thing going for him… Makes me want to bully him!" she elaborated darkly, her sister laughed.
"Please don't corrupt him… I kinda need him in one piece…" Junior groaned. He'd have to make sure that the blonde boy survived, there was no way Junior was going to admit that he'd actually made a mistake in hiring him.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
Jaune was having a busy night, just like he'd had nearly every day over the last few weeks. The blonde boy was ecstatic about the chance he'd been given by his new boss, Junior. He was adamant about making sure he didn't squander this opportunity.
The Club was looking much better than the first time he'd arrived. It was packed with people, someone just about everywhere he looked. He was currently busy mixing some drinks for a few women that were sitting at the bar, talking to him. Getting their orders, making them, not to mention remembering names and different stories. It was all a really interesting challenge for the young Arc. In the past, he'd never really had much of a chance to talk to many people. He'd always either been with his sisters, or training to be a huntsman.
He was currently making small talk with a pretty, slightly older brunette named Amber. She seemed more interested in talking to him, and playing with her drink, than anything else. Hell, she wasn't the only one…
A few others, mainly women, seemed to be very interested in asking him various questions. Where he was from, if he was single, what was his type… He'd learned to smile and ask them not to tease him, before admitting that he was single. At least he'd discovered that usually calmed them down.
Never in his life had he pictured himself working in such a big, fancy place serving drinks. When he was younger he might have scoffed at the idea, or even been insulted at the suggestion. But now? He found it really enjoyable. To talk to so many different people, to hear so many amazing stories. It honestly helped him ignore his crushed dreams.
According to Junior, he was the best bartender The Club had ever had! Except for himself, obviously…
The bar was buzzing with activity, he could easily hear the loud music coming from the DJ station. Jaune noticed a familiar figure walk up to the bar, taking a seat on one of the stools.
"Hey Melanie, how's it going?" Jaune asked, instantly recognizing the twin by her dress.
"Jauny… you're a sight for sore eyes…" the beauty moaned, leaning on the bar.
"Gee Melanie, long night?" he asked, looking at her face and immediately starting to work on her drink. Both twins liked their drinks light, with a slightly fruity flavor to them. Each of them had their own specific preference though.
"Yeah… had a business meeting with some clients. They just kept trying to get a deal going, when I- we told them we weren't interested…" the young woman explained. In reality she and her sister had once again been confronted by some shady individuals, they'd made it clear what they wanted out of the twins… So, the girls did what came naturally to them. Broke some bones and made them run home crying! It was also a great way to let off some steam, they were both STILL pissed about losing to that crazy brown-haired rabbit faunus. At least, up until her friend had dragged her out of the The Club during the confusion. Who the hell even wore a beret, anyway?
"Sounds rough… But you and your sister are amazing, for being able to deal with that sort of thing!" the young blonde boy cheered. He smiled warmly at Melanie as he handed her a drink, all without her even having to ask for one.
Melanie wasn't sure what to think about The Club's newest addition. The blonde boy was an odd one, and the kind of person that she wasn't used to dealing with. At first, all she'd wanted to do was screw with him… But, after seeing that damn smile of his? "You mean I'M the amazing one, right?" she shot back, a small smile of her own sprouting on her face.
Jaune started laughing. He moved in close to her ear, before stopping just a hair's width away from her. "You are, but don't tell your sister…" he whispered.
Her face flushed red, she grabbed her drink and glanced away. "You need to stop doing that…" she responded weakly.
"Mmm? Do what, be charmed by you?" he responded casually.
Melanie closed her eyes, calming her racing heart. She took a long second to restore her composure. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd complemented her. He wasn't the only one to do so, either. She was a gorgeous young woman, frequently being told as much every single day… There was only one issue.
'Why do I take HIM so seriously?!' she wailed, it seemed unreal to her. This was the very same blonde boy who'd been so bashful around her, and her sister, not so long ago. That he was casually giving her compliments, ones that could make her feel like THIS?
And she certainly wasn't the only one. It was obvious that a number of women he'd served had become regular customers. They kept coming back, if only to talk to him. It had become a bit ridiculous, especially since the bar had originally been more of an afterthought. Hell, they hadn't name it "The Club" for nothing! Even Junior had mentioned needing to expand the bar, to give the blonde teen more room to work.
It was so bizarre, seeing him talking to the people at the bar. Not focusing on listening as much as possible, like a normal bartender usually did. Last she'd heard, he'd been chatting with a few women that had asked him about himself. The topic of conversation jumped to him being quite the flirt. His response was to smile broadly, then mention something about his father saying that 'all you need is a bit of confidence'. It was such an ODD thing to say. So innocent, VERY naïve. That line definitely proved that Jaune was a country bumpkin, one that hadn't had many interactions with other people. So, why was it that hearing such a thing only made the women swoon even harder?
It was clear to Melanie that he'd become a flirt, but that was about as far as he'd gone. She recalled one woman in particular who'd been just a LITTLE too drunk, she'd been pretty forward with him. He seemed to freeze up and go red, every single time she'd mumble about how cute he was.
Melanie would have laughed at his misfortune, if she hadn't felt so annoyed at the time. She'd asked some of Junior's men to "escort" the woman out, so she could "rest and recover". Melanie had a feeling that if she'd been the one to help her, the intoxicated woman would have ended the night resting and recovering in bed… a hospital bed.
"Is something wrong?" Jaune suddenly asked, looking a bit worried.
Melanie was snapped out of her thoughts as soon as he spoke, "What?"
"You still haven't touched your drink. …and you're kind of ignoring me, did I get it wrong?" the young Arc asked.
'And there is that same bashful boy… So, he's still in there huh?' Melanie smirked at the revelation, finally looking back at him. She took a sip of her fruity drink. "It must be your imagination…"
"I don't think it is…" he shot back with a raised eyebrow, before returning to his adoring fans.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
"Jaune?!" a woman shouted, as soon as she heard his voice.
"H-Hey Mom…" the blonde boy replied.
"Don't you 'hey Mom' me, young man! What the hell were you thinking?! And, where have you been?!" the older woman demanded to know. She tried to catch a glimpse of the scenery behind him.
The young Arc was currently sitting in his temporary room, his shift having ended fifteen minutes ago. His boss had pushed him to get some rest, despite Jaune's assurances that he was completely fine with going for a few more hours. He just enjoyed talking to people. So much so, that the time just seemed to fly by. "I'm… in Vale… Sorry Mom, I just wanted to try to get into Beacon…" he admitted, waiting for the screaming that was sure to come. But, to his shock, all he received was a slightly annoyed look.
"Yeah, we predicted that you'd try that at some point… I was honestly more worried about you being in Vale, than trying to make it into Beacon…" his mother assured.
"Huh? Wha- Really?" The boy didn't really understand what his mother meant by that.
"Of course! Vale is a big city! And there are lots of criminals and strange people, just about everywhere… And you're so BAD with new people, I couldn't help but worry…" she explained, clearly remembering the last time she'd watched him try to make a friend.
"M-Mom! I'm not THAT terrible! …anymore" he whispered, reluctant to admit to the truth.
"So, when are you coming back home? Do you have enough money? Or, did you call because you want me - or your father - to come pick you up?" A smile crept onto the Arc matriarch's face, at the thought of seeing her only son back home with his family.
"Actually, I've decided to stay in Vale for a while…" Jaune explained.
"Jaune… Honey…" Her tone was the exact same as when he'd told her his Semblance would be the ability to fly.
"I've already found a job, AND a place to stay! You don't need to worry about me, so-" the blonde boy reassured, before being cut off.
"Did you give up on being a huntsman?" she asked, her expression deathly serious.
The younger blonde wasn't sure how to answer her. He HAD given up, he'd even made his peace with it. Even if it still hurt sometimes. But what would happen if he admitted as much to his family? Would they insist he come back home? That there was no real reason for a seventeen-year-old boy to stay in Vale, except to attend Beacon? A sense of dread passed over him, he didn't want to go back and face them just yet. "No… I'm still training when I have time off work. I'll try again, at some point" he finally answered.
…
"I see… Well, you know that all of us are here for you - no matter what - right?" his mother assured. The serious expression vanished from her face, replaced with a smiling one. "Now, you actually called at a bad time… None of your sisters, or your father, are here…" she explained disappointedly. She was very aware of just how much her girls adored their only brother, especially Joan. When she found out Jaune had called and had missed her, she'd be FURIOUS.
"I'll call again, when I have the time. I just need to get used to some stuff… Oh, I also wanted to send you some money from my job-" the blonde boy tried, before he was cut off.
"Honey… you know you don't need to… Your father is good at what he does, so-"
"It's not that… I-I just want to help out, if I can. My job provides me with basically everything, so it's the least I can do" the young Arc explained.
"Honey…" She took a second to think, before she continued. "I will agree, and forgive you, on one condition… You will call us at LEAST once a week and talk to your sisters! They have a lot to say about their only brother running off somewhere, for several months, without so much as a CALL…" the older woman stated pointedly, conveying just how upset all of them had been upon figuring out what he'd done.
"I guess I had that one coming… Okay, I'll be sure to call later…" Jaune agreed. He accepted his fate, as he had no way to escape from his sisters' wrath. It was a good idea he hadn't waited any longer to call than he had. If Jaune had put it off much longer, his sisters would have probably scoured the face of Remnant to find him!
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
After the call with her only son had ended, the Arc matriarch sat back down in her seat. She took the time to process the new information she'd just heard. Her little boy was now in Vale. He'd gotten himself a job and was planning on staying there, continuing to work towards his dream of becoming a huntsman.
It wasn't ideal, for several reasons. But, at least they knew where he was and that he was safe. She just hoped that what her husband had assured her wouldn't change.
"Mom, we're back!" a voice echoed through the house, shaking the woman from her thoughts.
Two figures entered the room, her daughter Joan and the Arc patriarch Nicholas… The latter looked completely fine and a little amused, her girl seemed slightly banged up.
"So, how was today's training?" the older woman asked.
"It was great! I managed to knock down Dad!" her daughter crowed.
"Joan… you pretended to be hurt and tripped me when I came over to help…" her Dad pointed out sternly. He was determined to make her think twice, before trying to trick him again.
"Very impressive, honey! I bet that you're going to surpass your father in no time." The woman smiled at her little girl, enjoying the huge grin on her face.
"Not you too… I swear, that is the LAST time I fall for that trick…" her husband groaned.
"By the way… I got a call a few minutes ago, from someone very special…" the Arc matriarch began to inform, before her little girl cut her off.
"Big bro? It was Jaune, wasn't it?!" Joan asked/demanded. All she received from her mother was a big smile. "It WAS him! Where is he?! Is he coming back home?!" The girl's previous fatigue had vanished, as soon as her brother was mentioned.
"Settle down, Joan. Yes, it was him. He's doing fine… He's in Vale, just like we suspected…" She glanced towards her husband, noting his expression turning much more serious.
"Vale, but why?" …is he trying to attend Beacon?" the younger girl asked, both herself and her father dying to know.
"No… at least, not yet. He said that he's going to keep training and apply in the future." Both she and her husband were dead-certain that their only son had already attempted to gain admission, but had been denied once already.
"And he's staying there?" the younger girl whined.
"Don't worry, honey. I made sure to tell him to call as often as he can, so that you and your sisters can tell him how much you miss him…" her mother explained, a small smile sprouting on her daughter's face. She had a lot to say to her idiot big bro, for abandoning her like that! At least she'd be able to see him in person in less than a year, if not sooner. Jaune MAY be trying to hide from them, but she happened to be Beacon-bound herself. Let's see him try to get away from her, when they were BOTH living in Vale!
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
Jaune sat alone in his room, relaxing after the end of another long shift. His boss had literally shoved him away from the bar, and the admiring eyes of the many female patrons who couldn't get enough of him. Looking around the simple but comfy room, Jaune couldn't help but thank his lucky stars once again that Junior had offered to let him work at the club. His bed was as messy as usual, he rarely bothered to fix it. Being a bartender, he was naturally working most nights. Between that and his normal exercise routine, sleep usually came only when his body demanded it. There was also a small desk for him to work on, if he needed to… It was currently being used as a makeshift closet for his work uniform. Black pants, paired with a clean white shirt and a slim-cut black vest. It made him look professional and… "tasty", according to some of his regulars.
Next to his bed leaned a sword he was intimately familiar with. 'Crocea Mors' he mused. Jaune stared at the Mistralian-style blade that he'd practiced with in the past, he'd never even fought a single Grimm with it. The poor relic of the Arc family was just sitting in the corner of the room, collecting dust. He hadn't touched it for quite some time. When he'd been younger, he'd loved to gaze at it. He just couldn't wait to grow up and use it… but now? He felt ashamed for having it and leaving Crocea idle. It wasn't like he could just return it to his family, seeing as he still didn't want to return to Ansel.
The blonde boy got up from his comfy bed, stretching and letting the joints of his body crack. His job was satisfying work, but still work nonetheless. He grabbed a fresh shirt, before moving out of the room. He soon found himself in a long corridor with many doors in it. The further he went, the louder the music from the club became. This continued until he was back in the midst of it.
"Hey Jaune!" Jerry called out in greeting. He happened to be one of the guys working for Junior that Jaune had gotten to know.
"Hey man, how's it going?"
"Eh, you know… Same old, same old. Some kids tried to sneak into the VIP area, Johnny had to chase them out…"
"Man… they never learn, do they?" the blonde commented, the man laughed.
"Hey, at least it's never boring! So, you come to chat? Sorry man, I gotta stay focused on the job right now… Boss's orders." The man noted the slightly disappointed look on Jaune's face. "Why don't you go inside the VIP area, relax for a bit? Sit in the lounge, or something?"
"You know… I think I will" the young man replied. Jaune wished his new friend an exciting shift, before moving to the VIP section.
Looking around, he noticed why this area was off-limits for most people. It was clearly reserved for a more upscale clientele. Speaking of, Jaune spotted a very familiar figure he never thought he'd see again.
"Roman, is that you?" Jaune asked, moving closer to the orange-haired man.
"Mmm?" Roman turned slowly. He assumed that he'd been spotted by one of his contacts, or someone who wanted something out of him. He pleasantly smiled upon noticing the boy he'd saved, not long ago. "Kid! It's good to see you… Jaune, was it?" he confirmed.
"Yes sir, it is!" The young Arc was happy to see the very fashionable-looking man again.
"None of that "sir" stuff" he chuckled, before offering Jaune the free seat next to him. "So… how's it going? Did you manage to get into Beacon?" the older man asked. He'd was certain that, with his help, the blonde teen would be accepted into the school. …as long as they didn't look too closely into his transcripts. He could be here to thank Roman, or maybe he just wanted another favor…
"Ah… no… I-I didn't make it." The blonde boy glanced away in shame, before dropping into his seat.
"Mmm. Well… believe me, you'll be better off in the long run!" The orangette man took a short sip out of his drink, recalling the reason he had been hoping Jaune wouldn't be accepted.
"Yeah… But, in any case, I just wanted to thank you for all of your help!" the boy enthused, a bit more excitement in his tone than he'd intended.
"Hey, it's fine Kid… You paid for a service, I provided it for you-" Roman assured, before Jaune cut him off.
"Yeah, I paid you to help me get into Beacon and unlock my Aura, but not for saving me… So, I just wanted to thank you! Or, I can pay. If-If that's not rude of me?" the young blonde offered, even if he wasn't sure how that would sound.
"No, that's okay, don't worry about it. So…? Did you track me all over Vale, just to thank me?" the master thief asked.
"No, I just happened to see you sitting here…" Jaune admitted honestly, noticing the confusion on the orangette's face. "Actually, I work here as a bartender for Junior… He's my boss."
"Yeah, I know Junior personally… Him and I go way back." Roman glanced at the blonde boy. "I'm pretty surprised that he took you in… You said you work as a bartender?" The blonde nodded. "Nothing else?"
"Um… Like as a bouncer, or a DJ?" Jaune asked, voice laced with puzzlement.
"No, never mind…" the master thief responded. Junior must have wanted to keep some of his employees unaware of the extent of his "activities". "So, you like the place?"
The blonde nodded intensely. "Yeah, everyone here is great! And the twins are a really big help!" Jaune enthused.
'The twins, huh?' Roman was a little shocked at discovering that there was someone out there, with the obvious exception of Junior, that could handle them. It also made one thing clear… If Roman admitted the truth of that fateful rescue, it could prove quite useful to him in the future. Normally, he'd be staunchly against revealing his little trump card to ANYONE. But if the blonde could prove himself a capable "babysitter"? He'd be worth his weight in lien!
"Listen Jaune, I'm really glad I ran into you… There's something I should tell you, about that night we met… You see, I wasn't the one who rescued you…" the older man admitted.
"You didn't? But, you scared those guys off-" The blonde Arc was cut off when Roman continued.
"I did, but the one who went out of her way was my assistant… Neo" the master thief assured.
"Neo?" the blonde parroted, feeling a weight settle into his lap. His eyes moved down, spotting a small woman with mismatched eyes and hair sitting there.
"Kid, meet your REAL savior." The fashionable man smirked, patiently awaiting the boy's inevitable freak-out.
…
There was complete silence between the three, Jaune could only stare at the girl that had appeared in his lap. "You… You…" Jaune could only mumble, Roman eagerly anticipating what was to come. "You're beautiful…" Jaune marveled, instantly charmed by the tiny goddess sitting right in front of him. Or, in this case, on him.
'Well… I didn't expect that!' Roman thought to himself. He glanced at his accomplice. 'By the look of things, neither did Neo…' Nevertheless, Jaune's reaction still amused him.
Her mismatched eyes widened for a moment, before her mouth opened up.
"Oh! N-No! I meant that you're really pretty, and… I'm making this awkward, aren't I?" Jaune smiled apologetically, before clearing his throat. "You're the one who saved me?" he asked.
She didn't answer, simply nodding for conformation.
"Thank you, Neo. Both you, and Roman! If there's anything I can ever do to repay you, just name it! It's taken me some time to get settled into Vale, but I haven't forgotten what you did…" the blonde boy assured, an honest smile sprouting on his face.
The petite woman stared at him for a few seconds, before she seemed to shatter silently like glass and vanish completely. Jaune stared wide-eyed at the goddess who'd just disappeared, nearly ready to panic, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Roman patted the young blonde, chuckling at the startled reaction he'd been waiting for. "You're a good kid, Jaune. Makes me glad you didn't end up going to Beacon… And don't worry about little ol' Neo, she does that sometimes…" he assured the young Arc, before resuming their conversation.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
It had already been a few months since Jaune had settled into his new home, if you could call it that. The small room was more than enough for him, but despite that he still wasn't sure if it was a decent place to bring anyone to. Not for his family, especially not the women he'd gotten to know. To his great surprise, there had been quite a rapid growth in the number of loyal customers he'd acquired. Or, so Junior had said.
'You're an absolute treasure!' the older man had praised, patting him on the back, a smile on his face.
At the time, the blonde teen hadn't been too sure about the claim. He HAD noticed an increase in the number of customers sticking to the bar, a few of the faces had become familiar as well. But, honestly? He still didn't see that much of a difference… He just had so much FUN talking to all the different people he met, it didn't feel like things had changed that much since he'd started. Talking to ten people, versus fifty, seemed pretty similar to the blonde boy.
He'd also learned a shocking fact about his boss… Junior, the nice man who'd given him the chance he now had… was a gang leader! It had rattled him more than he cared to admit. Even more so that the man had confessed to it himself, while they'd drunk together in the early hours of the morning. Apparently, they'd been celebrating the fact that The Red Axe Gang was the strongest left in Vale! Also, that the twins were able to take care of "them", whoever "them" referred to.
Both Melanie and Miltia were shocked that he'd accidently let that slip, more than ready to strangle their boss. Hell, Junior had been the one to warn THEM about keeping their mouths shut! Jaune had managed to calm them down, assuring them that he didn't care. He'd made himself clear that it didn't matter to him… even if that had been a lie. Jaune did care, very much so! But, apparently, he'd HAVE to be fine with it now. If only to save his boss from the two furious women. Now he just had to convince himself that his boss, Junior, was good! He hoped it was true… the older man certainly seemed like a good guy! The way he'd helped, and trained, Jaune was more than enough for the blonde teen to justify the situation. The worst Jaune had observed Junior really doing was helping his men out with different jobs on occasion, making sure they were prepared. …and the less Jaune knew about what they were actually doing on said jobs, the better! All the blonde REALLY knew for sure was that they were called 'The Red Axe Gang'. It was an odd name, sure… But then again so was calling their club, The Club. Or their boss, Junior… Sometimes it was best not to ask too many questions… He'd picked up that little bit of wisdom thanks to one of his regulars.
A few days later, the head of The Red Axe Gang was sitting in his office. He was pouring over some paperwork involving several of his gang's "fronts". Legitimate, legal (or, seemingly legal) business ventures that were used to shield some of their… less than savory dealings. Junior paid particular attention to an apartment building near the club he owned, one where a few of Junior's "independent contractors" lived. It was all designed to make the police think twice about performing a raid of their club, not that Junior expected them to do more than nothing all day long. Get your fingers into enough pies, suddenly you find yourself turning into another "necessary evil".
His private Scroll rang a few times, a familiar contact appearing on the screen. "Hello?"
"Hello Hei… it's been some time since we've talked…" the female voice greeted.
"It's Junior…" the gang leader corrected gruffly. He adjusted his seat and leaned back, this conversation could take some time. "It's rare for you to call me again so recently… did something happen?" he asked.
"Something? Yes… something has happened…" Her cryptic, weak response made the man slightly nervous. In his line of work, it paid to be a little overly-cautious. Lest he fall, as his competition had.
"And what is it?" he asked. He readied himself to call on the twins, or some of his men, to deal with whatever the problem was. The woman he was talking to could make his life VERY hard. If Junior pissed her off, half of Vale would know all about his life of crime by breakfast tomorrow!
"It's a very serious issue… One might say that it may, or may not, determine if we can keep "working" together…" Her voice was sweet, despite the threatening words.
"What is it?" The older man gritted his teeth in worry.
"I need a new toy!" the woman wailed, Junior slammed his head on his desk with a loud BANG.
"You- You… Are you kidding me?! That's what was so important, that you had to give me a panic attack?!" the gang leader yelled out, clearly angry.
When she responded, he could hear the amusement in her tone. "Oh… you poor thing, would you like me come over and pat you on the back?" the young woman mocked.
"I'm fine without you coming over…" He really didn't want her showing up at his club. It was an idle threat anyway, neither of them could really afford to be seen around the other. Despite their casual interactions, they'd never actually met each other in person. And given the identity of said woman, and the nature of her "hobby", they likely never would. "So, what was that you said?"
"Right! I'm feeling like I need to let off some steam… again… and I want someone new!" the woman demanded. Like she was a child, picking out a treat at a candy shop.
"New? I don't have anyone new on hand… Why not go for one of your regulars, I haven't heard any complaints from them" Junior reasoned.
"Because I'm BORED with them! I need variety, someone I've never HAD before! Someone with plenty of experience! Or, failing that, at LEAST a boy that's completely new. So I can break- I mean… train them for you…" The woman sounded amused by her own words.
'Brother's damn this woman…' The nightclub owner couldn't help but regret Roman selling Junior's contact information to her. Sure, she was useful. After all, having friends in high places often paid off. …especially when both parties could destroy the lives of the other… But this little kink of hers was seriously wearing on his last nerve, despite the fact it was the reason they even knew one another in the first place. "The answer's still the same… I don't have anyone new." He could hear the displeased sound she made in response to THAT. "What do you want me to do? Get one of my men to 'accompany' you?" He really didn't want to sacrifice one of his boys to this predator.
"YOUR men? No, thank you! I've seen those goons… If you don't have a NEW face with the experience to keep up with me, I demand a pretty one to play with…" the woman insisted.
"And you want ME to pick you out a new pretty-boy?" His words hung in the air, she cleared her throat.
"Not you! But I bet those twins of yours have good taste… Maybe there's someone THEY can recommend?" she asked. The gang leader clenched his jaw, a certain blonde boy instantly came to mind. "I see that you have someone picked out already… Good, just send him to one of the usual spots. You can shoot me a message detailing where, when… and how much. The sooner, the better!" the woman trilled. She hung up, before Junior managed to say anything in response.
"Wait- Damn her…" He couldn't help but think about the fate that was about to befall the young man working at his club. "I have to talk to him about this. Brothers, am I really going to throw him to the Grimm to save my own skin?" The older man couldn't help but hang his head at the thought.
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
Chapter uploaded on September 16.