Two jobs.

Cinder had applied for two jobs.

Vale's economy was the second largest in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people and just as many jobs for them, the largest concentration of both people and jobs being in Emerald Vale, capital of Vale, where she currently resided.

And she had applied for two jobs.

One had rejected her. The other hadn't gotten back to her.

Two jobs out of hundreds. Two jobs no-one really wanted. Two jobs and they had the gall to reject her?!

She was Cinder Fall! The Nefarious Nightstalker! The Evil! The Malignant! The Strong! The Clever! The Insanely Beautiful!

What did all those...those...those...harridans have over her? She could plaster a fake smile and deal with a Karen! She could stand for hours in heels roasting meat! Why didn't they want her? She was perfect!

"Careful Snowflake." Cinder sighed, lifting Khione up and over the wet stick. Jaune had decided it would be good for them to go on a walk, though in truth it was likely he was stir crazy from having to deal with Cinder and Khione smothering him in the week or so it had been since he'd been discharged from hospital.

"Sorry mom!" Khione chirped back, and rather than an uncomfortable feeling of unworthiness and fear and guilt Cinder instead felt joy at the title she had earnestly been given by her Snowflake. She was not Cinder anymore. She was not the Nefarious Nightstalker. She was mom.

"Probably should have picked a better day for a walk." Jaune huffed slightly, wrapped up in a thick coat, scarf and scarf. It was autumn now, though the weather was acting as if it was the middle of spring with heavy rain. The last hurrah of the prior few weeks heat marked the end of the summer and start of a likely long winter. The first winter she would have whilst being Khione's mom.

'I need a good Oummas present.' Cinder thought worriedly, not replying to Jaune as it had been his foolish idea to have hike through the woods in this horrible weather. 'For that I need money, which I technically have but can't use because Jaune will know it was gotten through illegal means and make me return what I get. I need a job but I can't get one. Stupid rules and stupid society and stupid but handsome Jaune!'

Cinder flushed as her thoughts trailed off and cast a glance at Jaune, who looked guilty as he stepped ahead to keep up with Khione, who had zoomed off with that swift, potent and innocent energy only a youngster could be capable of. The sight made Cinder feel her age, as even she was not immune to the ravaged of time and after pushing herself could feel aches and creaks in her bones.

'At least I don't complain about my back.' Cinder thought amusedly as she stared at Jaune, whose complaints about his back might as well be trademarked by that point. It was all he ever did, whether it be from just standing up, moving about or bending over to pick something up.

Cinder's eyes quickly slid downwards, from his back to his jean clad butt. He did not carry any sense of shame or nervousness when picking things up, likely a consequence of spending so long having to pick up after Khione. What that meant for Cinder was constant temptation whenever he bent over to pick up a toy or clean up a mess, something that was made all the more worse by the jeans he wore. Those damn jeans. They weren't skinny jeans and they weren't intentionally meant be that way, but they just fit Jaune's fit body so damn well she wouldn't be surprised if a picture of his tushie in those jeans was posted under the definition of 'temptation'.

Her face flushed and hastily averted her gaze when she realised she had been staring at Jaune's butt for too long. Thankfully he hadn't noticed...Why was Khione looking at her?

"Dad I think you have something on your jeans." Khione said innocently. "Mom keeps staring at them."

"Where?" Jaune frowned, patting his front before stilling as he realised exactly what Khione meant and exactly where Cinder had been staring. He turned around and raised an eyebrow, and her face only reddened further as mortification was added to the embarrassment and horror she already felt. "Really?"

"It's those damn jeans." Cinder mumbled, shooting him a glare. "If anything it's your fault."

"Oh, so your pulling that card are you?" Jaune snorted, shaking his head. "Let's keep going before we get soaked to the bone. Though on second thought you'd like that wouldn't you Cinder?"

'He was teasing her.' She realised, and she glared at him as best as she could with what meagre scraps of her pride remained. He was already pretty wet, as they all where, and if it wasn't for the thick coat he was wearing his flannel shirt would be soaked through and clinging to his muscular frame like a cloth, covering his body in colour but not hiding the curves or the muscles or the smooth pale skin...

Cinder kicked a twig and heard Jaune snicker ahead of her. She frowned and formulated a plan of revenge. Two could play at their game, though it would have to wait until when Khione had been put to bed. She looked up and shot her Snowflake an annoyed look, only receiving and innocent smile and a wink in return. Cinder almost stumbled before her frown deepened when she realised Khione had done that intentionally.

'You clever, devious little thing.' Cinder thought. 'I've taught you too well.'

They continued up the muddy path and found themselves at the top of a hill. The trees started to clear out and grow sparser until they opened up completely into a clearing. Khione led them to a thick tree log laid out across the ground, and Jaune took her left hand as she clambered up it. Cinder took her right and the little girl traipsed up and down the fallen tree, letting out excited giggles. Eventually she started to get bored, and when she turned her head she gasped and pointed excitedly.

"Dad! Dad!" She exclaimed. "I can see our house! Look! Look!"

Cinder peered past Khione and Jaune and tried spotting the too small abode of the Arc family. She struggled to pick it out from the rest of the squalor she saw, and she felt a familiar urge to steal and burn until Jaune and Khione were somewhere safer, somewhere better.

"Huh." Jaune mumbled. "Yeah. I see it. We must be higher than I thought."

"That's so cool!" Khione cheered. "Isn't cool Mom?"

"It is." Cinder smiled, only partly faked. She would never fake a smile for Khione. Just seeing the girl was enough to plant a smile on her face. But she would be lying if it wasn't weighed down by her worried thoughts and dark urges. They deserved better than what they had. Both of them. They deserved the world.

And Cinder could give them it. If only Jaune wasn't such a goody two shoes who held her back for the sake of that nebulous concept of 'good'.

"Is that a raspberry bush?" Jaune said, pointing over a bush nearby. "Can you check that out for me Khione?"

"Sure!" Khione exclaimed, jumping off the log with their help. "Can I eat some?"

"So long as they're ripe." Jaune said sternly. "And make sure to pick ones higher up from the ground so they don't have a dog's number one on them."

"Ew!" Khione giggled, hurrying over to the bush quickly. Cinder turned to Jaune, who was giving her a worried look.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly, and Cinder looked away, unable to meet the sincere look in those cerulean eyes of his. He'd sent Khione away so he could check up on her without worrying their little Snowflake. He was too damn observant. Too damn nice. Too damn good for this world.

"I'm fine." Cinder lied, and she could practically hear his eyebrows shoot up in scepticism. "I'm just worried about job hunting. I haven't had much look yet."

"Oh." Jaune said, and he stepped over to her. She looked up, only to look down as he gently squeezed her arm. "Don't worry too much about it. I had a hard time finding work too at first. You'll get there. You just need to persevere."

"Right." Cinder nodded, throat clamming up with nerves and emotions and stupid feelings she shouldn't be feeling for someone who was supposed to be her enemy! How had they gone from tearing each others throats to cohabitating to raising a freaking child together!? "Thanks."

"For what?" Jaune snorted. "Dragging you out in the rain? You look like a wet cat, all sour and...I'll stop."

"You better." Cinder huffed, rolling her eyes at his antics and poor attempt at humour. There was the dad jokes and then there was...whatever that was. "Does this mean you've thrown in the towel and we can go back home?"

"Sure. Let me just collect some raspberries for Khione." Jaune smiled. "She'll have my head otherwise."

"I'd hold you down to make it easier for her." Cinder teased, earning an amused look.

"You love me really." Jaune grinned, waggling his eyebrows. Cinder scoffed and looked away, crossing her arms as if to shield herself from whatever it was he was doing. She didn't know whether to be disappointed at his utter lack of flirtatious ability or herself for the fact it was working.

"Sure, if that makes you sleep better at night." Cinder retorted, hurrying over to Khione before he could pick up on the redness on her cheeks. If he asked she'd just blame the cold.

They plucked a few berries and plopped them into Khione's cupped hands. As they made their way back down the hill the raspberries slowly disappeared, as if they were the survivors of a horror movie being slowly picked off by the killer. They wandered out of the park and by the time they got back home they were utterly soaked to the bone. Jaune helped take off their coats and Cinder went to get changed into something not completely wet. She returned to the kitchen to see three mugs of hot chocolate and a sheepish Jaune wearing pyjamas.

"I know it's pretty early but I doubt we'll be going anywhere else." He explained. "Do you want anything to eat? I'll make dinner soon but I think we've earned a snack as well after that walk."

"I'm not particularly hungry." Cinder shrugged, her mind already drifting towards the chilli Jaune had been planning on making from what she could remember. She didn't know how he did it, but he was a damned master chef when it came to making food. "I'll let Khione decide when she gets here."

"M'kay." Jaune replied, turning to the kitchen counter and clearing it up. Cinder grabbed the newspaper Jaune had bought yesterday and flicked through it whilst she waited for Khione to get dressed and come in. She got through most of it but immediately go bored when she hit the sports sections. She folded it back up and tossed it aside, leaning against the table to get a few moments rest before her eyes drifted over to Jaune like he was a magnet. She watched silently, trying to gleam the secret behind his culinary prowess by watching, before Khione's entrance into the room made her snap her attention away from him.

"Your dad thinks we've earned a snack for putting up with his foolish ideas." Cinder informed as she picked the girl up and plopped her onto her lap. Khione giggled and snuggled against her, nuzzling her head against her chest and closing her eyes sleepily. "What would you like?"

"Pizza." Khione mumbled sleepily, making Jaune laugh.

"I think that's off the table Snowflake." Cinder said, booping Khione's nose so that she blinked her eyes open. "Don't go to sleep yet Snowflake, you still need to eat your dinner."

"We can change the snack to desert." Jaune offered. "You can have a nap in the meantime if your tired kiddo."

"Thanks dad." Khione mumbled, thought she made no effort to move from Cinder's lap. Cinder contemplated moving her to her bed so she'd be more comfy, but Khione's soft breathing and little squirms when Cinder tried moving made her stay her hand. She accepted her fate and leaned back in her chair, wrapping her arms around Khione and kissing her hair softly. Jaune worked away nearby, doing his best to be silent, and every now and then their eyes would meet when he turned around to check on Khione.

Cinder's phone buzzed, and she frowned as she picked it out from her pocket. She hadn't expected contact from anyone and she was surprised to see an email notification. She clicked on it, and her eyes widened when she saw it was about her application to Alaca-Joe's a fast good chain of restaurants that had stores covering practically every inch of Remnant.

"We are pleased to invite you to a interview at one of our magical restaurants at 10:00 about your application as Magical Worker at our nearest chain. We wish you good look at your interview and a magically wonderous day!"

Her stomach curled at the thought of working there, but she couldn't see herself facing any other choice. She had no formal training to do anything she'd actually enjoy or be good at, like security, and those jobs were even tougher competition wise than the ones she had applied for so far.

Cinder sighed, knowing she'd have to at least try. She turned off her phone before kissing Khione's forehead.

'My little good luck charm.' She thought, watching Khione lovingly. She was just so...so...her. It was maddening how adorable and utterly loveable she was. 'Think you can get me a job as well?'

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Jaune grunted as he heaved a heavy box upwards. Two of his co-workers struggled alongside him as they lifted the box upwards and slid it against a previously empty metal shelf. He exhaled heavily and slapped his hands together when they were down, rubbing them to bring some sense of feeling back to them.

"This crap isn't worth it even with the pay rise." Snorted the man to his left, a blonde named Dove. "Why the hell don't we use the forklift or something?"

"Because of the pay rise." Sighed the mohawk extraordinaire Russel Thrush, who was the only person apart from Jaune who had been working at the warehouse for more than two years. "The boss wants to cut back on 'excess cuts' or we'll be back to being paid peanuts instead of being paid peanuts and peanut shell scraps."

"I don't mind." Jaune shrugged. "Could use the exercise and the money's better now."

"Course you'd think that big guy." Russel snorted, slapping Jaune's back. "Not everyone's built like a brick shithouse ya know?"

"I take after my father." Jaune shrugged, having experienced this too long to be embarrassed by Russel's antics. "He's still taller than me and could probably take me on in a fight even if he's in his early fifties."

"Is your dad Rocky Balboa or something?" "Russel retorted. "Otherwise I'm calling bullshit."

"I can see it." Dove shrugged. "Jaune's Jauneness has to come from somewhere right?"

"Good point Birdie." Russel replied teasingly, making Dove flush from the nickname. "I always thought Jaune just had an amazon for a mother though."

"In which case you couldn't be more wrong if you tried." Jaune laughed, unable to help himself. "My mother is barely over five foot and always complains how every grows up to be taller than her."

"I can see it." Dove laughed. "A tiny mother and giant for a father. That's how it always is isn't it?"

"Not always." Russel snorted. "One of the guys who worked here had a father just under five foot four and a mother who was six foot. He took after his mother. What was his name...Sky Lark!"

"I remember him." Jaune nodded. "He quit to work at that Alaca-Joe's place. I don't think they pay much better but he was the guy who was obsessed with magic."

"Yeah." Russel chuckled fondly in remembrance. "He used to do those tricks with those cards of his every lunch break. Made things more interesting eh?"

"Not if we were playing poker." Jaune smiled. "Cheeky bastard always won."

"Despite the fact he had a worse poker face than your kid when we caught her with her hand in the cookie jar." Russel laughed, before shaking his head. "Fuck me time flies by. How long ago did he leave again?"

"Six months." Jaune replied after a moments of thought, nodding at Dove, who had been watching awkwardly. "He left just as you came in, though you missed the good bye party."

"Party?" Dove gasped. "We can afford those? The boss allows those?"

"Not a chance!" Russel laughed like a madman, earning looks from a pair of their co-workers who were dragging in a heavy couch. "We took him out for some food and drinks and that was that. Jaune left early 'cos he's a lightweight."

"I left early because I had to look after my daughter." Jaune rolled his eyes. "The babysitter had to back out when their sister got hospitalised after a run in with..."

"With who? The mafia?" Russel asked with a smirk. Jaune frowned.

"With the Nefarious Nightstalker." Jaune mumbled, look away as a wave of complicated emotions he did not want to address swirled around inside of him. "The kid's okay thankfully."

"Damn right." Russel said solemnly, a look of guilt on his face from his earlier teasing tone. "The bitch has gotten real quiet after she whooped the Huntsman's ass though. Hopefully she's finally called it quits and can leave us all alone."

"Hell yeah." Dove nodded, and Jaune turned away to stare at the sunlight peaking in from the open doors of the warehouse.

"What time are we on?" Jaune asked, desperate to change the course of the conversation and move on from the topic of his housemate.

"Just gone half past twelve." Russel noted, glancing at his watch before looking back at Jaune. "Fancy some lunch?"

"Yeah." Jaune nodded, swallowing thickly. "Let's head to that Alaca-Joe's nearby and see if we can spot Sky and introduce him with Dove. My treat."

"I'm not one to turn down free food." Russel shrugged, turning to Dove questioningly. "You comin' along kid?"

"Sure." Dove grinned. "I like Alaca-Joe's. They do great burgers."

"If only they were as good decorating the damn place." Russel snort disparagingly. "They're a little on the nose with the magic stuff."

"You love it really." Dove teased, and Jaune listened to their bickering as they signed off for half an hour and wandered down towards the nearby main street, one of many that ultimately led to the City Centre, the beating heart of Emerald Vale. It was busy, not surprising considering they weren't the only ones going on their lunch break, and Jaune found himself regretting his decision slightly. He'd much rather eat a sandwich in a quiet corner than have to deal with the hustle and bustle of the city at one of it's many rush hours.

Alas his own foolish self had made his own foolish self and his fate was sealed. They wandered inside Alaca-Joe's only to find it utterly filled to the brim with people dining and talking. Jaune was about to call it quits and suggest they retreat, only for Dove's keen eyes to spot an empty table. Before Jaune could get a word in both Russel and Dove and set off towards like parents finding a free parking spot outside a shopping mall. Jaune sighed and followed them obediently, knowing it was too late to back out now and contenting himself with the fact the food would at least be nice enough to offset the utter noise of the place.

"Damn this place is packed." Russel groaned as he sat down on one of the plush leather bench-seats. "There's no chance in hell we'll find Sky in all this mess even if he is still here."

"He'll be here." Jaune said, doing his best to smile and uplift the others spirits like he usually did. "Where else can he work with magic?"

"These guys don't even try man." Russel complained. "All they do is say magic as if that's somethin' special. They don't actually have tricks or anything."

"They did back in the day apparently." Dove said, arms folded on the table and leaning towards Russel slightly. "They'd do magic tricks and the like when serving food or specially for kids on birthdays. It's what got them big in the first place."

"Then they sold their souls and their damned magic to the god damn devil for more money." Russel grunted. "That's the way things go. Starts of great then they get too big and get all business focused. Forget the things that made them so great in the first place."

"That's just the way of life." Jaune smiled, though it was much more forced than usual. It wasn't because he was still in a dark mood over how busy this place was and how damn stupid he felt he was being with Cinder, but also because he was too used to things starting out great and turning into something else entirely.

Apparently she had gotten an actual job a few weeks ago, though she adamantly refused to tell him or Khione what it was. Jaune suspected it may be some cleaning job she felt embarrassed having, though initially he had thought she had reneged on her promise and returned to a secret life of crime. But truthfully the Nefarious Nightstalker had seemingly disappeared from the face of Remnant and Jaune had been the one forced to apologise to her for doubting her. But even if she truly was turning over a new leaf it wouldn't turn back the clock on the crimes she had already committed. It just meant she wouldn't be committing more of them.

Russel noticed something was up, having worked with Jaune for a long time now. Sometimes Jaune suspected that the guy knew he was the Huntsman, or at least had a suspicion that he was, though he never said anything apart from a few veiled hints. He noticed a nearby waitress and tried catching her attention.

"Is she blind or something?" He scoffed eventually, shaking his head. "Whatever. Guess we'll be coming back late off our lunch break so let's talk about something fun rather than get distracted thinking about how the boss'll be riding our asses when we get back. Dove, how's that bird of yours?"

"Bird?" Dove blinked. "You mean girlfriend? I don't have one."

"I thought you said you were seeing a lass the other week?" Russel frowned, and Jaune watched silently as Dove's face reddened.

"I said I was going to go on a date." Dove corrected quietly. "It didn't turn out well. I think...I think I'm still hung up over someone."

"Do they know you like 'em?" Russel asked, nudging the younger man slightly. "If your too shy I can have a word with 'em. I'll be proper discreet too."

"Nah." Dove smiled. "It's fine. I know they don't like me. I'm not their type."

"How do you know for sure though?" Russel pressed on. "I thought my lass wouldn't like me cos she drooled over boy band posters and I'm...well I'm me. But now look at us? Gonna be married soon and that wouldn't be happening if I didn't bring myself to have the guts to ask her out. Just go for it man. Worst case scenario she says no and you can move on."

"Russ." Jaune warned cautiously, watching Dove's smile get more and more brittle. "Leave it be. You can talk the talk since it worked out for you. Won't be the case for all of us."

"Fair enough." Russel said, holding up his hands and leaning back in his seat. "I was just trying to help the kid. You know I meant nothing by it."

"I do." Dove said quietly. "I do."

They fell into an awkward silence, and Jaune grabbed a menu even though he knew what he wanted to avoid it. His mind was a whirl with different things from Cinder to Khione to work to Dove to Russel to Khione to Cinder to...her to Cinder to Khione. His life was a mess, and if he did anything wrong it wouldn't just be him paying the price for his mistakes. Khione was too good and too pure for the world, and he feared what would happen to her if he messed things up for her again.

"Screw this." Russel said suddenly as he stood up. "I'm getting a damn waiter before my stomach eats itself."

"Don't cause a scene Russ." Jaune warned, and Russel shook his head angrily only to falter suddenly, his eyes widening as he gawked at an approaching waitress.

"Welcome to Alaca-Joe's can I take your order..." Jaune turned and his eyes widened as he stared at Cinder who stared back at him, her skin paler than a ghost. "...please?"

Jaune's eyes drifted as he took in the sight of Cinder in the magic themed waitress uniform. She wore a clean, crisp white undershirt covered by a black button vest that led down to a pencil skirt and fishnet stockings over black leggings that criss-crossed over her muscular legs and toned thighs. Her hair was tied back into a neat bun and she wore a cute little magician's top hat to complete the ensemble look.

"Cinder?" He managed to choke out, eyes eventually trailing back up to hers. Her face was now completely red and the look in her eyes was a mix of utter embarrassment and a promise of painful death.

"Jaune." Cinder returned. "Can I take your order please?"

'She said please'. Jaune's mind very helpfully supplied, and his started to drift again before he caught himself and forced himself to keep contact with her eyes, his own cheeks starting to flush with embarrassment as he mentally regressed into dumb teenager thinking with the wrong sort of head. How the hell could she look so god damn hot in literally anything? He was starting to think she really could pull of wearing a potato sack if she made a cliché work uniform look like something sinful.

"Burger." He whispered hoarsely. "Double Alakazam Cheeseburger please."

"Same." Russel choked out.

"Me too please." Dove said politely.

"Do you want anything to drink as well?" Cinder asked, shifting slightly, and Jaune felt guilty at ogling her so obviously when she was so clearly uncomfortable wearing something so embarrassing.

"Soda please."

"Me too." Dove said, and Russel just made a strange noise.

"Three Double Alakazam Cheeseburgers and three sodas coming right up." Cinder said, scribbling it down on her notepad and retreating hastily. Jaune watched her go, earning a slap from Dove.

"The hell was that for?" He grumbled, even though it hadn't really hurt.

"Stop being a perv." Dove said, turning to Russel and pointing a finger at him. "You too Mister 'I'm getting married'."

"Did you see her?" Russel asked rhetorically. "She should be a god damn model not some waitress."

"I'm starting to agree with Dove on this." Jaune said, tension curling in his gut. "Stop being a perv."

"Someone's jealous." Russel grinned, nudging Dove and waggling his eyebrows. Jaune scoffed, earning a curious look from Dove.

"Oh my god you are!" Dove exclaimed, high fiving Russel. "You knew her name too!"

"And she knew his." Russel smirked, waggling his eyebrows again. "Is that the lucky lady who finally won Jauney's heart?"

"She's my housemate." Jaune said, knowing he'd regret it.

"Ohhh, so that's what they call it these days." Russel smirked, turning to Dove smugly. "Housemates they call it."

"Cohabitation." Dove nodded, smiling sweetly at Jaune. "Do you happen to cohabit the same bed?"

"No." Jaune replied through gritted teeth, his mind unhelpfully supplying him with images of Cinder in the morning stepping out of his bedroom or out of the bathroom after a shower. At this point his bedroom might as well be hers, but in his mind it was still his, and in his mind he could easily see himself cuddled up against Cinder, hugging her tightly, kissing her neck...

"They totally do." Dove said, turning to Russel, who nodded knowingly.

"Uh-huh." Russel nodded. "Now the question is who is she?"

"She's Cinder. My housemate." Jaune replied flatly, crossing his arms and looking away from his smug co-workers. His eyes wandered across the rest restaurant, and from across it all his eyes found Cinder's. She looked away as quickly as they made eye contact, turning to pick up a try of food. He watched her, unsure of what he was doing and why. He felt confused and worried and something else, and that something else became stronger when he saw a group of teenagers gawking at her as she strode past.

"Now that confirms it." Dove said, snapping Jaune back to the table to find both Russel and Dove watching him amusedly. "You're either a creepy stalker or dating her."

"Shut up." Jaune grumbled, rubbing a hand over his face before sighing explosively. "Can you guys just drop this please? We really are just housemates and stuff...it's a little complicated."

"Fine." Russel said, knowing Jaune's limits. "Does Khione get along with her? I remember you talking about some chick who she calls mom a few weeks ago."

"Well you just met her." Jaune grinned slightly. "That's Khione's new mom, and for the record she adopted her, not the other way around."

"I'm not surprised." Russel laughed. "That girl is about as stubborn as her father."

"Isn't that a frightening thought." Jaune said, shuddering exaggeratingly. "Thank god she has more sense than me at least."

"You just think that because she's got you wrapped around her little finger." Russel teased. Jaune was about to reply, but in the corner of his eye he saw Cinder heading down towards the aisle towards them, a tray of their food in her arms. Their eyes met and she slowed to a stop, looking as awkward as he felt, and he had no idea whether he needed to do something or say something or do nothing. Should he help her with the food? Would that be a step too far? Would that cross one of their unspoken boundaries?

Someone bumped into Cinder and she dropped the tray. The clattering stilled the sound of the restaurant for a moment, and there was an awkward silence filled by an ugly laugh that had come from the guy that had bumped into her.

"Watch where your standing still Cin-Cin." The guy said, and something about him just radiated slime. Jaune felt his hands started clench, and his fingers caught against the edge of the table as he took the guy in. He was lanky and wore a similar version of Cinder's uniform, and he knew without a doubt this was one of her co-workers. "Someone might bump into you if you just block the aisle like that."

The guy walked off with a tray of drinks carefully balanced in one hand, insincerely apologising to customers for the noise. Jaune's eyes quickly fell to Cinder, and he brushed past they guy bodily before kneeling in front of her and helping her pile up the broken plates and ruined food onto the plastic tray. Their fingers brushed together, and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes and utterly surprising him with the sight of tears welling in them. She looked furious, baying for blood, but she was holding back. Holding back for him.

But she wouldn't be on the edge of shedding tears just over this. The moment played over his mind again and again in seconds, replaying like a tape being rewinded, and in the moment the man knocked into her from behind he could see her jump up as she was utterly startled. If it was just bumping into her she'd jump and be angry, which she was. There was humiliation too, because of the many spectators watching and her utter powerlessness to do anything about it. Jaune turned to the table next to them. The patrons were talking. They looked worried. They were shooting the guy dirty looks as he strutted away like a god damn peacock.

His eyes met Cinder's again, and he saw the humiliation in them. The tears in them.

"I'm gonna kill him." He swore darkly, and he saw Cinder's eyes widen in the split second before he turned around and stormed towards the smug, sleazy waiter. "You!"

"Me?" He said, acting surprised. Maybe he was. His eyes widened when he saw Jaune barrelling towards him and he backed away quickly. "Woah!"

"Stop it!" Cinder hissed, tackling Jaune from behind and holding him back. "Your making a scene and embarrassing yourself! What if Khione saw you right now?"

"I don't care. Let me go." Jaune growled. "Let me at him!"

"Calm down man!" Russel said, appearing in front of him. "It's not worth it. Just calm down."

"Russ..." Jaune warned darkly. "You better move. Cinder, let me go."

"Your not thinking straight!"

"You'll do something stupid if I will Jaune." Cinder said knowingly, her voice calm and even. "It's fine. Just let it go."

"It's not fine." Jaune growled, not once tearing his eyes away from the man he wanted to pummel into a bloody mess. "It's not."

"I know." Cinder replied. "But this won't help. Just let it go. I can handle this."

Jaune slumped against her. She held onto him still, and he saw her giving him a look from the corner of his vision. He grunted and made no move to break out from her hold over him. She let him go, and he felt the bile in his stomach storming around as he stood there being gawped at by dozens of idiots.

"Let's go home." He said, turning to Cinder. She shook her head.

"I need to finish my shift." She replied quietly, and Jaune let forced down his frustration as he turned back at the pale faced piece of shit he wanted to kill.

"Fine." Jaune said, stomping away and picking up the tray she'd dropped. "Russ tell the boss I'm taking the rest of the day off sick."

"Jaune-"

"Do it." Jaune interrupted, handing Cinder the tray. She shot him a dirty look, but he ignored it easily. He turned away and took a seat by the door, sitting their patiently and watching like guard dog as Cinder went about the rest of her shift. She never looked at him once, and whenever she did it was a look filled with anger. He ignored it and focused on watching her colleague, who moved like a man with a gun being pointed at the back of his head. The rest of the staff watched him warily, but no-one made a move to make him leave.

When five o'clock came Cinder disappeared into the back rooms, and he felt his anxiety rise. He had no idea what was happening back there, and when he saw the sleaze ball who was teetering on the precipice between life and death disappear too he was ready to storm behind the counter and fight his way through the staff until he found her.

She reappeared and he found himself relaxing. She stormed towards him, grabbing him by the ear and dragging him out of the restaurant. He felt bite down any protest, knowing she had a right to be angry and that he probably deserved worse for being an overbearing prick. She led him into the alleyway behind her work and slapped him the moment they came to a stop.

"Do you have an idea how humiliating that was? Having you watch over me like I'm a damn toddler?" Cinder seethed angrily. "I'm a grown woman Jaune, I'm not Khione and I can look after myself."

"You can." Jaune replied. "I don't doubt that. What I doubt is the goodness of the people around you."

"Jaune...what?" Cinder frowned, being smiling darkly. "Have you already forgotten who I am? What I am? The only reason I aren't doing the things I should be doing is because of you. What did you make me promise?"

"To stop being the Nefarious Nightstalker, to stop being evil, to actually be Cinder." Jaune retorted hotly, though not because he was angry at her. He could read between the lines. He wasn't the best at social stuff, but he could see clear as day what she was actually saying.

'If it wasn't for you and that promise I wouldn't be in that situation in the first place.'

Jaune was surprised how badly he could hate himself in that moment.

"Exactly." Cinder glared. "How the hell can I do that with you hovering over me like a guard dog?"

"You know why I stayed, what he did." Jaune spat. "You should have let me at him. He'd live at least."

"That wouldn't be a good excuse if he pressed charges against you would it you big oaf!" Cinder retorted. "He bumped into me Jaune. That doesn't mean he deserves to get beaten up over it."

"Cinder..." Jaune forced his teeth together, a primal noise of rage and anger curling and building in his throat. "You know what he did. You wouldn't have tears in your eyes just because of that."

"It was embarrassing Jaune."

"Your made of strong stuff Cinder." Jaune replied. "I know."

"You don't know anything!" Cinder hissed. "I didn't want you to know I worked such a stupid job in such an embarrassing uniform! Then he knocked me over and everyone was watching and you were watching too. Of course I was embarrassed! If you really knew anything you would have just left and gone back to work."

"He!..." Jaune took a deep breath. "You can charge him Cinder. What he did broke the law."

"He hazed a new colleague." Cinder scoffed. "I doubt there is any law-breaking involved."

"God damn it!" Jaune growled. "That was assault!"

"He bumped into me!" Cinder retorted incredously, giving him a confused look. "Why the hell are you so bent out of shape over this?"

"Cinder it was assault. Sexual assault." Jaune sighed explosively. "You know it was."

"I-what?" Cinder blinked.

"What he did." Jaune said darkly, struggling to force the words out. "He...That rat bastard...He touched you when he bumped into you. That's what made you jump, what made you nearly cry."

"Wait...You thought he groped me?" Cinder frowned. "Is that why you lost your head?"

"Yes." Jaune said, before recognising her tone and look. "You...You mean he didn't?"

"Jaune he bumped into me to startle me and make me look like a fool in front of...you really don't know anything do you?" Cinder said, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "What does it matter to you anyway? We're not dating. You were the one who said that."

"I did." Jaune conceded, bile rising in his throat.

"So what if he did do that?" Cinder asked rhetorically, stepping forward so that he could smell her perfume that she must of put on when she changed out of her uniform. "So what if he flirted with me? So what if he slapped my ass? It's not like I have a boyfriend or anything is it?"

"No." Jaune replied darkly, jealously wrapping around his throat and throttling it like a snake choking its prey.

"Why should you get mad over that? It's not like I'm yours. Not your wife, your girlfriend." Cinder smiled, though it was devoid of anything you should see in a smile. "I heard you with your friends. We're just housemates. Nothing more, nothing less. If I really wanted to I could probably get in that guys pants. Or any other guy. It wouldn't be hard. So what? What does it matter to you Jaune? Why do you care so much you nearly beat up some guy because you thought he slapped my-?"

"Because I care about you damnit!" Jaune snapped, the frustration that had been building inside of him unable to be contained anymore. "I wanted to rip that fucker's head off because I lo-I...I..."

Jaune felt his hands curled into his fists and he stared at the ground, unable to meet her eyes. Cinder said nothing, and apart from the sounds of the busy nearby streets all he could hear was his own heavy breathing.

"I...I'm sorry." Jaune said. "I shouldn't...I won't..."

"Jaune." Cinder said, and he fell silent immediately. "Look at me."

Jaune didn't. He didn't have the strength to. He was too weak to, too cowardly, to scared to.

"Please."

He closed his eyes and lifted his head. He calmed himself, readying himself for what was to come, and he opened them, seeing Cinder looking at him with an uncertainty, a lack of confidence, that seemed utterly opposed to the Cinder he knew and lo-cared for.

"I care about you too." Cinder said. "If the situation was reversed I probably would have killed them. But...Nothing happened. He genuinely just tripped me because the guy's an asshole. I promise."

"I believe you." Jaune swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry for being a prick."

"I forgive you." Cinder smiled, and Jaune felt his heart in his throat. "Should we go pick up Khione from school together?"

"It's a date." Jaune blurted, before realising his mistake. Instead of anything else, Cinder smiled.

"Yeah. It is."

A/N: Next update on 05/09/2023

BTW I'd highly recommend checking out Auras and Alibis by Obsequium Minaris if you haven't read it already. It's on both this site and A03, and it's a superhero AU with Jaune x Cinder like this but better lmao. In all seriousness if you like this it's worth checking out, along with everything else he's written since he's done a lot of Knight Fall stories and all of them are great.