Glynda dropped by her apartment after work, though she didn't stay there long. The studio unit she lived in was cheap and sparsely furnished. Beacon paid well enough, but grad school wasn't cheap.

One day she would be Professor Goodwitch, but for now Glynda was simply Miss Goodwitch, math and science teacher at Beacon Academy. Glynda released a tired sigh as she opened the door, set down her bag and let her hair down.

The tight bun came undone with a single well placed pull, spilling light blonde tresses down her shoulders. Next, Glynda slid off her glasses and set them on the table, before reaching down to take off her heels.

Even without them, Glynda was a tall woman- 175 cm to be exact (roughly 5'9 by Valean measure), but Glynda needed to appear as imposing as possible. Give up an inch and they'd take a mile.

The shoes made her feet ache, and away from prying eyes she was glad to be rid of them. The apartment was neat and tidy, and before Glynda enjoyed a brief moment of peace she made sure everything was in its proper place.

Her apartment was neat, tidy and bare. There were no stray clothes or dirty dishes. No posters, no decorations, no photos of family. Glynda felt a faint stab of loneliness.

Reluctantly, she removed the box of chocolates from the bottom of her bag, and placed it in the corner of her highest shelf, hidden from view. A little taste every now and then wouldn't kill her, but it was better to keep the temptation out of sight and out of mind.

'Watch your figure.' an old matron's voice chided.

Glynda rolled her eyes at the memory… as if the cold gruel she had served every day would fatten them up.

The sole vanity in her abode was a body length mirror next to her dresser. As the schoolteacher stripped out of her work clothes and placed them in the appropriate bin, she glanced over and followed the old woman's advice. Glynda certainly cut quite the silhouette- her physical fitness was as important to her as her professional ambitions and she worked at it just as diligently. She enjoyed the discipline, the strain. It made her think more clearly, feel more energetic, would make her life longer and healthier. And it certainly gave her something to look at.

Glynda was tall and tight bodied, with porcelain skin, a pronounced hourglass figure and a firm stomach. Her blonde hair was a few shades lighter than Jaune's or Yang's, and her green eyes a softer tone than Pyrrha's deep emerald pair, but stripped of her facade she'd hardly look out of place sitting beside them rather than standing at the front of the class.

Graduating from Prism University a year early with a double major in physics and philosophy had been one of the proudest moments in the girl from Cherry Lawn's life, but it had proven a liability at Beacon. Stepping into a classroom at 21 with students barely her junior, rebellious, hormonal students, had been the mother of all headaches. She was still kicking herself to this day for agreeing to take the job. 'Get some teaching experience. It'll be good for you.'

She supposed she could have behaved like Miss Peach, and timidly given the children the run of the place, or like Mr. Xiao Long, dropping the formalities and positioning herself as 'the fun one.'

Glynda did not do fun. She had worked her way through school, her amusements consisted of quality literature and occasional nights at the orchestra- she hadn't understood teenagers when she had been one.

So she leaned into her strengths. Clear expectations, no nonsense, no vulnerability. Total control.

It was exhausting.

There were so many petty rivalries, so many competing personalities, so many distractions. Can't put the test on Friday, Port's project is due. Can't print the exams yet, Oobleck jammed up the machines with another of his damned pamphlets. The students had to be watched so the room didn't spontaneously combust. Valkyrie wanted Ren, Alba despised Pinkerton, Monrun had been cut from the team.

Jaune Arc was fading away.

Glynda bit her lip.

The young man vexxed her more than any of the others. Weiss Schnee wanted to run an international corporation, Ruby Rose wanted to be an engineer- clear goals that she understood and could help. Roy Stallion had wanted a peek up her skirt, so she booted him from her class and dealt with the problem. But Jaune's problem was… nothing. He had voiced no long term ambitions, he caused no issues in class, sometimes it seemed as if he wasn't even there.

She had students who coasted on their family name, without much interest or ability, and she paid them little mind. They caused her no trouble and she gave out whatever they put in. It should have been the same with Arc… only she knew enough about his situation to realize the name was all he had.

But it didn't have to be. When his head wasn't off in the clouds he was bright. She had graded all his work, after all, she knew what it could look like. He could keep up with Ruby Rose in conversation, and that was no small feat.

'Of course, the girl could have other motives.'

Glynda shook her head. It was… beneath her to linger on the romantic interests of her charges.

She shook her head. She had learned how to handle every other kind of student, save the ones that 'could, but didn't.'

Jaune didn't have a family pushing him forward. He was a legal adult with no one to care for him.

So Glynda would have to.

She had already called in a favor with the Headmaster, and while there were some peculiarities during the check up Ozpin assured her it was nothing life threatening. Beyond that all they could do was wait.

Glynda shook her head as she saw the look of concern in the mirror. 'Teenagers.' She thought wryly. Damned if she didn't care for the little devils.

She glanced at the clock by her bedside. 5:12. She had a yoga class at 6 with the girls- in addition to keeping her fit and trim, Branwen's Fitness had become the epicenter of her meager social life.

The teacher spent several minutes combing through her wardrobe for just the right outfit. 'I guess I can head in a little early.' she thought, admiring herself in the mirror as she got ready to go. She held herself to the highest standards. She was allowed a little pride in the results.

Glynda was a perfect specimen in body and in mind. Prime breeding material. And she was walking into a lion's den.

Sometimes, Jaune hated his job.

Mostly it was alright. Sit at the counter, check people in, occasionally sell a t-shirt or energy drink. He could even get away with doing his homework at the front desk, most of the time. It had let him build up a hell of a war chest and given him a decent amount of spending money.

But sometimes, he was expected to socialize with people, and right now he was not up for it.

"Hey Jaune." A petite woman wearing black sweatpants and a white sports bra said, waving at him as she led two companions through the door.

"Hi Miss Rose." He forced out. "Mrs. Belladonna. Mrs. Ren."

The silver eyed woman laughed, a bright, melodious sound. "Jaune, I haven't been your teacher in over a decade. It's Summer."

The blond felt his lust flare as the trio got closer and closer. "Force of habit, Miss Rose." He said, hoping the group didn't feel too friendly. Miss Rose had been a respected authority figure. Summer sounded like a potential slam piece. He had to maintain some boundaries.

Ah, who was he kidding? He'd fuck her as hard as her daughters.

Summer pouted. " But Miss Rose sounds so oooooooold."

"Oh come off it." Kali nudged her friend playfully. "You've been 19 for what, two decades now?"

"Seems like it." An said, giggling. "You've got to share the secret some day."

Maybe, if he'd actually finished with Velvet, Jaune might have been able to control his train of thought and suppress the raging erection barely hidden from view by the thick wood of the desk. As it was, all he could do was make it less obvious how much he was eyeing up the choice fuck meat that had just wandered into his den.

The trio spanned the whole range of MILF. Summer Rose and Kali Belladonna looked a lot like their daughters, though each was about an inch shorter and a cup size bigger. An had some of the same features as her son, but mercifully looked different enough that Jaune didn't have to notice.

Summer carried herself with a bit more confidence than Ruby. Her hair was a little longer, going past her neck and down to her shoulders, and it was casually tied back in a half-up/half down style that the younger Rose wouldn't have bothered with, but you'd think the two were sisters from how they looked and acted.

But where the elder Rose was girlish, the elder Belladonna was a full blown cougar. Seriously, if you typed 'cougar' into the search bar… well, you'd probably see a big cat, but if you went to a less reputable site you'd find someone who looked a lot like Kali, though experience suggested the middle aged faunus was genuinely friendly and did not want to fuck his brains out.

'Yet.'

The fact that Kali had popped out Blake was simultaneously the most and least surprising thing in the world. If Blake was the cat that hovered on the edge of the room whenever company came in, Kali was the one who purred and rubbed up against their leg as soon as they opened the door.

But she looked like an older Blake, and that little slut had a bright future ahead of her. Kali was tanner than her daughter and her silky black hair only came down to her neck; her faunus ears seemed a little larger as well. And while she wasn't as lithe as her daughter, she was thick , with wide breeding hips and a Bellabooty even plumper and rounder than Blake's, although not quite as bubbly… and she was showing it off in skin tight leopard pattern pants .

Jaune bit back a feral growl as the friendly faunus leaned in.

"Finally ditched the hoodie?" She teased, amber eyes roaming.

Jaune sighed. Waiting for him as soon as he pulled in were a new set of clothes, courtesy of Hunter Apparel . And after being scolded for being late, putting them on was not optional.

"New uniform." He said shortly. "Amber picked them out for me, apparently." Instead of filing a complaint this morning, all she had left was a sticky note with his name and a heart over a handful of clothes. He had slipped into a dark blue shirt on the top, which was a size too small, and gym shorts which had none of the stealth benefits of his jeans.

"She has good taste." Kali complimented. "It brings out your eyes, and it actually fits. I'll never understand why boys your age are so eager to cover up, especially when the girls show off more than ever."

"Probably because most of them don't have much to show yet." Summer said, patting Jaune's exposed bicep, which set a lance of lust straight through him. " When did you get so big and strong?" She whined. "You used to be just the cutest little guy."

'I'll show you little, you patronizing whore.' he wanted to say.

Instead he made a show of being hurt, doing his best imitation of Ruby's puppy eyes."...You don't think I'm cute?"

Kali bit back a laugh as Summer seemed genuinely contrite for a moment, before she caught the upward twitch of a smile on his lips.

"Adorable." She grumbled, pouting almost exactly like Ruby would.

"You're becoming a fine young man." An said warmly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."

While Summer nailed the 'I can't believe she's a MILF' angle, and Kali was an effortless cougar, An was more the 'mom next door'. Her assets were more modest than her companions, but her body was limber and well cared for, and her dusky rose hair and bright pink eyes did give her a more exotic appearance. She was fit enough that as her only child grew up she was able to get part time work as a personal trainer. While An wasn't technically a 'co-worker' she was allowed to teach classes at the gym.

"At least tell me you're wearing this to school instead of those silly hoodies." Summer groused.

Jaune awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. " I like what I like."

"Gods, you're almost as bad as Ruby." She groaned. Jaune favored his black pumpkin Pete hoodie, but Ruby rarely parted from her trademark red one. " You've been a bad influence on her."

"Careful what you wish for, Summer." Kail said. " Think of how much more damage he could do if he knew how to dress."

"Stop it, you two." An said, catching Jaune's flush.

She misunderstood it. It wasn't embarrassment. It was want .

'Stop it. This is Blake's mom. Ren's mom. Ruby's mom. '

'Everyone's mom was somebody's bitch.' his darker instincts reminded him. 'You've met the proof.'

The women in front of him didn't have the same appeal as the girls at school, but even if they were past their prime, they had top notch bodies and had already whelped good, strong children. They were more than qualified to bear his-

'Wow, fuck, stop!' Jaune thought, arousal levels rising.

"Jaune, is everything alright?" An asked, placing a hand on his head to check his temperature.

'Bitch. Don't. Touch. Me.' he thought.

"I'm not… feeling quite right." He said, grabbing her hand and pulling it away with a bit more force than necessary. His face was red and his hands were clammy.

"Aww, no need to get so embarrassed." Kali teased. "Most boys your age would kill for this."

'But they can't have it.' Jaune thought. 'I can.'

Kali continued obliviously. "After all, here we are giving you inside information on the mind of a teenage girl."

"You don't ask a gazelle for hunting tips." Jaune grumbled, before his eyes widened as he realized he had said that out loud. Shit, he was slipping.

An and Summer seemed surprised, but Kali burst out laughing. It made the other two relax a bit.

"No, I guess you don't." Kali said, wiping a tear away. "But you do have to actually chase them."

'Not really.' Jaune thought. 'I just have to get close and pounce.'

He and Velvet were friendly enough, but he hadn't made anything resembling a move on her until he broke. She had crumbled in seconds.

These women had husbands at home, good husbands. They might put up more of a fight. But even if they did, he was sure he could win them over, and if he really didn't feel like it was worth the trouble there were always their daughters. The trouble with Summer and Kali is that they made Ruby and Blake that much more attractive- if their mothers were such fine pieces of ass at this stage of the game that meant their daughters had a long slut shelf life. Not that it was a deal breaker if they didn't, he was more of a 'breed 'em and leave' kind of guy, but he certainly wouldn't mind repeat performances-

'-this isn't who I am.'

'It is.'

'You're not me!'

'I am.'

"Jaune, can we talk privately for a moment?"

The blond's eyes refocused as An looked at him with concern.

"I -uh…"

Summer and Kali eased themselves away as some other, less desirable clientele filtered in, and began chatting with them, leaving Jaune alone with Ren's mother.

"What do you need?" Jaune asked.

"...I'd like to open up a membership at the gym." She said.

Jaune looked at her sideways. " You know you don't need-"

"It isn't for me." An whispered. "But it needs to be under my name."

A thousand wicked thoughts popped into Jaune's head about what he could demand for that kind of favor. Instead he let out a question. "Who is it actually for?"

"Willow Schnee."

Willow Schnee was the only daughter of old Nicholas Schnee, founder of the SDC. As his only child she was the rightful heir to the fortune, but her parents had spoiled her rotten and as the time neared for her to take over they increasingly realized she wasn't suited for the role. So a match was made with the capable Jacques, who became the new CEO and managed the company in trust for her. The SDC was more profitable than ever, but from what Jaune had gathered from the rumor mill and the thousand yard stare Weiss wore some mornings it wasn't the happiest of marriages.

"I've been her personal trainer for over a year now, and while she's still got her physical health she's been incredibly lonely since being driven out of Atlas. I think having a social life outside of bars and parties would be good for her, but-"

Jaune sighed. But mixing with the unwashed masses would be beneath the dignity of a Schnee. It had taken some time for Weiss to open up to anyone, even among the select group at Beacon, and Jaune had heard Yang mention once or twice that Jacques didn't much care for his daughter's friends. Most of Willow's socialite friends would be all too happy to indulge her in her worst habits.

"Is it really that bad?" Jaune asked.

An nodded gravely. "Jacques lets me train her however I choose several times a week, and he doesn't seem all that interested in the details. But I'd rather not leave a paper trail for him to find."

Jaune thought for a moment, before nodding. "Okay." He said. "What times of day are you going to bring her in?" The front desk would have to know 'An' meant 'Willow', and if they wanted to keep this quiet the fewer people who had to be told the better.

"Mondays and Wednesdays." An said. "Around 6."

Okay, that meant him, for the most part. Qrow would need to know. Maybe Clover.

Jaune typed the information into the system.

"Done." he said. " With a friendly discount, of course."

An smiled in relief. "Thank you." she said.

Jaune's eyes raked her over again, though, thank the gods, she didn't notice.

Summer was under the impression that she and her girlfriends got a discount because of her old friendship with Qrow. In reality, they were given special treatment to give the gym the draw of hot ass. Qrow charged certain customers less because they let him charge a premium to others. Sex certainly did sell, and Summer, Kali and An were valuable. Men wanted to look at them, women wanted to look like them, having them around was just good for business.

When he wasn't blind drunk, Qrow was a fucking genius. Even the tactic of chatting them up at the front kept them near the glass doors at the entryway, where any passersby on the street could get a preview before coming in to get a closer look. Being friendly with the babes was deliberate company policy. But it meant Jaune was under orders to pay attention to sexually attractive women, without making it obvious that he wanted to fuck them into the ground. At least at school he could try and avoid them.

Glynda Goodwitch walked into the room.

Jaune's cock slammed into the desk with an audible thump.

'God, she looks un-fucking-believable.'

Few students got to see Glynda in flats, and while she no longer seemed quite as imposing her movements were far more fluid. And while professional attire certainly suited her, skintight polyester showed off every inch of her curvaceous form. Dark purple pants outlined her long legs, luscious ass, and tight waist, while a light purple top hugged those fat fucking tits. Her glasses were gone- they would have fallen off during a workout- and a purple sweatband wrapped around her head to replace them.

"Mrs. Ren." She said politely. "Mr. Arc."

"Miss Goodwitch." He replied, nearing the end of his rope.

Her green eyes darted to the clock. An's class wouldn't start for another 15 minutes. Then Glynda looked at the haphazard stacks of papers on the desk.

"You've usually made more progress by now." Glynda noted dryly.

Jaune bit back another growl. After months of his 'problem' getting exponentially worse, and almost getting off less than an hour ago, his focus was absolutely fucked.

"I got in late." Jaune said.

Glynda hummed noncommittally as she snatched up his completed work, scanning it.

"That's Port's stuff." Jaune said. " I haven't gotten to yours-"

"Just because I don't teach the class doesn't mean I haven't studied the material." She said. "And your response to question 7 is lacking several key details. For example-"

She hopped on the front desk, putting her ass directly at his eye level, and then somehow expected him to focus on what she was saying.

An, business finished and seeing the two blondes entirely focused on one another, made her way over to the bottom of the stairwell to the second floor, waiting until the newest member of the class arrived. Summer and Kali were also standing by, with their eyes on the teacher and her student.

"I told you." Kali said, eyes filled with mirth. "It's precious."

Summer let out a long suffering sigh. " I still say it's never going to happen." she insisted. "...But I can see it now."

For ages Kali had insisted that Miss Goodwitch had an interest in Jaune that was not strictly professional. Glynda was a reserved woman, rarely initiating conversations with anyone, but she never failed to come in with just enough time to talk with the younger blond.

"She worries about him." An countered. "Don't we all?"

"She worries about how he sees her at least as much." Kali said. She had brought to her friends attention how Glynda never failed to look in the mirror, even for just a fraction of a second, before coming in the line of sight of the front desk. How she started coming up with excuse after excuse to come to the gym almost every day. How her workout attire went from old t-shirts and shorts to purpose made, snug gear. How she seemed either oblivious or uncaring to the effect it had on everyone else, but always left her 'lectures' with a ghost of a smile on her face.

To the elder cat faunus, it was romantic, in a tragic sort of way. The iron woman had a chink in her armor, one she could neither admit nor indulge. Her friends thought she was reading too deeply into things.

She didn't make it obvious like some woman, hell, Glynda was so single minded she might not even be consciously aware of the attraction, all the little cues she was sending the young man's way. But Kali saw them, and from the look of bemusement Summer did too.

Jaune certainly seemed aware of his lust for Glynda, though he was doing everything in his power to hide it. He was actually pretty slick, too; always aware of his target's gaze, only really checking them out when they couldn't spot it. Kali, Summer and An almost never caught his eyes on them, although they knew he looked- they talked, after all, and even if Kali never caught him with her she'd see him ogling An or Summer, and vice versa. He was good, but he wasn't that good. While Glynda was completely unaware, the onlookers saw the way Jaune undressed her with his eyes.

Summer let out an exasperated sigh. "The last thing I need is for both my daughters to wind up heartbroken." Not that he didn't check them out too, completely oblivious to it as each of them seemed to be.

An rolled her eyes. "He's 17. Of course his eyes are going to wander. It doesn't mean he's in love with her."

"And Glynda?" Kali asked, with a cheshire grin.

An looked over as Glynda tapped Jaune's arm, trying to catch his attention. That was new… Jaune's own wardrobe change might have inspired her to get a bit touchier, and really, who could blame her-

The pinkette shook her head. " Jaune's a good kid without a proper family. She cares about him, but if anything I think it's a sort of maternal instinct."

It was instinct alright. Kali had, in her youth, resented the insinuation that faunus were glorified animals, but she didn't anymore. Faunus were animals, just like Humans, and while both could accomplish incredible things so much of their behavior and motives became obvious when you went back to the basics.

Beneath the social niceties Jaune and Glynda were two gorgeous bodies in the prime of their lives, sexually charged and drawn together like the opposite ends of magnets. Why did a fertile female brighten up in the presence of an alpha male, go out of her way to present herself?

"Maternal?" Kali joked. " I guess that's a word for it."

An glowered at her friend before her eyes turned to the door.

A white haired woman in her mid forties was awkwardly making her way through the entryway.

Jaune wrenched his eyes away from Glynda to check out the newcomer.

Willow Schnee was bustier than her daughter, and her features had some of the same delicate grace, but there was a worn quality to her, a tiredness that was difficult to miss. Her clothes were simple, and she looked a little uncomfortable in them, her blue eyes darting nervously over every person in the lobby.

She reminded Jaune of Weiss, but lacked the aristocratic confidence that had drawn his attention to the younger Schnee. Still, Willow was pretty enough to earn the discount he gave her.

An waved her over. Willow relaxed and gratefully followed her trainer's lead.

Glynda sighed and stood up. "Well, that's all the time I have. Do try and finish- you have two classes to make up, after all."

"Sure." Jaune said. "Have a nice cl…" Jaune's tongue caught on the last syllable, glued to it as it walked away.

Glynda might not have noticed the subconscious sway in her step, but its target sure did. So did the MILF Squad.

"Maternal instinct." The mischievous mother joked. An pointedly ignored her.

"Now Willow, I'd like you to meet-"

Jaune waited until the room was empty before burying his head in his hands and biting back a scream.

5.

1,2,3,4,5.

5 of the best looking women who came to the gym had hit him all at once. And he couldn't touch any of them.

"What's got your panties in a twist?" A mocking voice called.

Jaune sat up to see his boss staring at him with wine red eyes, which were much more intimidating when the man was sober.

"I've had a rough day."

Qrow stretched lazily. "Yeah, sorry about that."

The younger man rolled his eyes. "I don't just mean this morning. I'm used to you." Jaune shot back.

Qrow rolled his eyes. "Okay then, apology rescinded. Could you at least try and not look like you're about to have a heart attack? It scares off the customers, looks bad for business."

Jaune sighed. " I had a check up at the nurses office today."

Qrow looked at him with a 'cool story, why the fuck are you telling me?' air. Then his eyes narrowed. " Is it contagious?"

'Well, if my victims get half as horny as I do when I let loose, then, yeah, probably.'

"You aren't in any danger." the blond answered.

"So, what's wrong with you?"

"Apparently I need therapy."

Qrow chuckled. "Can't imagine why."

His employee glared at him. "I've scheduled an appointment for Wednesday night. I'm going to need someone to cover for me. Could you ask around, see if anyone-"

"-I'll do it." Qrow said.

Jaune looked at him incredulously.

"...What?" the older man asked. He rolled his eyes at the young blond's continued dumbstruck expression. "It's my gym. Besides, I made Amber cover my shift after last night's bender… might as well pay it forward." His eyes flitted over Jaune before he sighed. "While you're at it, take the rest of the night off."

Jaune's staring at him only redoubled, as if Qrow had grown a second head.

"...You really don't make being nice easy, you punchable little prick." Qrow muttered. "Look, if you're going to come in late and look like you're about to explode you might as well not even be here. Just go do your homework, play video games, jack off, or whatever the fuck you do for fun."

Jaune sighed in relief. Not that he was going to jack off, those days were long gone, but it was the thought that counted. "Thanks, man-"

"Don't." Qrow said. " You're not getting paid for today."

'You son of a bitch.'

Before Jaune left he took a minute to explain the Willow situation to Qrow. The older man listened attentively before his eyes danced with the possibilities, some business related, with most centered around getting a sample of Schnee snatch. Not that Jaune was in a position to throw stones, gods knew how often he fantasized about the Schnee in his own age range, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to smirk knowingly at Qrow.

The older man wasn't so distracted that he missed his junior's expression. He gestured dismissively to the stairs. "Get going you little basement dweller."

The blond muttered something foul under his breath. What a great day. No money, no orgasm, no pride at having held back temptation of his own free will. Who did those sluts think they were, parading around like that in skin tight workout gear… at a gym… to stay healthy...

Jaune shook his head, laughing at his own anger. 'How dare they take such good care of themselves.' he thought, amused. ' I bet they're up there, stretching, doing squats just to spite me.'

It was good that he could laugh about it. He had problems.

Before his lust had haunted his dreams, but now… not more than two hours ago he had tasted Velvet's lip, her cunt, felt her smooth and creamy skin shiver under his touch, heard the sound of her moans… and cries. That last image of her beautiful face, twisted by fear, then anger, then grief… always covered in tears. It shook every part of him.

'Could've just taken the slut with you, driven off to some cheap motel and taken a personal day.' His shadow chided. ' You didn't just have to run off like a wounded animal. But instead of fucking the cute Faunus chick, you just left the scene like a goddamn eunuc-"

'-You made Velvet cry.' Jaune growled.

' You made her cry.' his shadow taunted. ' I made her cum. Which one of us is the bad guy, again?'

Jaune stopped. There weren't many people downstairs, and the few who were were too busy to see the look of anguish on his face.

'You're right.' He thought sadly. 'I can't just keep blaming you for everything that goes wrong for me. You are me.'

If his shadow had eyes it would have blinked owlishly. 'Well, that's actually really mature of you to acknowledge.'

'You're everything I hate about myself.'

'...Fuck you too, buddy.'

Jaune stalked over to a nearby punching bag, assuming the stance his father had taught him way back. He coiled his entire body, and then sprung.

' Stupid. ' Thump.

' Selfish .' Thu-thump.

' Arrogant .' Bam.

' Reckless .' Pow. Pow.

' Entitled .' Smack.

' Predatory. ' Slam.

"FUCKER!"

Jaune's fist connected with a deafening crack and a flash of white, snapping the chain suspending the bag from the roof and sending it careening across the room. Sand spilled across the floor as the bag spun in the air before hitting the ground with a loud thump. In the center of the bag was a hole the size of his head where dirt and sand spilled out like blood out of an open wound.

For the second time that day the men of the pit looked at Jaune with incredulous expressions of shock and fear as the young man stared at his own fist dumbly. The skin was unmarked.

'What. The. Fuck.' Everything he'd managed so far, no matter how outlandish it seemed, was at least humanly possible. Snapping a steel chain, without even striking it? Not so much.

'Better clean that up before the old crow comes down and throws a bitch fit.' his shadow told him.

Anyone who was down there quickly made their way through their remaining sets, leaving Jaune alone with his thoughts and the dull chattering of some overpaid bimbo on a tv screen- someone had turned on the local news.

The blond went through the motions of sweeping up the floor. There was sand everywhere… what if he had hit a person? Would blood and gore have flown across the room the same way? Was he just a ticking time bomb waiting to catch his unfortunate friends in the blast?

'Oh, woe is you, with your superhuman strength, chiseled good looks and irresistible charms. What a tragic existence you lead-'

The cocksure voice was cut off by the sound of a breaking news bulletin.

" Battery at Beacon Academy? A student at the prestigious school was beaten to the brink of death by an unknown assailant. 17 year old Sky Lark was brought into intensive care after sustaining heavy trauma to the chest, neck and right hand. The motive and description of the attacker are unknown- Mr. Lark was delirious and unable or unwilling to share any information. With several prominent figures or their family members attending the school, there are already concerns that this attack might indicate a wider security breach. In a statement to Vale Nightly News, Headmaster Ozpin assured us that he plans to launch a full investigation as well as- "

The blond's face fell as he leaned back and slumped against the wall. 'Well, that's it then.' Jaune thought.

'Not quite.' His shadow shot back.

'I went too far and I broke, everybody's going to fucking know.'

'Beacon's an old building without modern surveillance.' his shadow countered. 'It's in a nice part of town and the security that is present is concentrated at the entrances, and that would have been lighter after hours.'

'But they'll still figure out it was a student.' Jaune thought. ' If they monitor who comes in and who comes out, they'll know everybody that was still there. With all the team practices and after school meetings, how many suspects are going to be unaccounted for?'

'Maybe.' his shadow responded. 'Or maybe somebody got past the guards. How many nutjobs want to take out the snow angel slut or that Bellabooty bitch? Or kidnap that red headed whore, or some politician's kid? Sky might've just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Beacon assumes they fucked up, they tighten up security, you walk. You're practically doing a public service.'

'Tell that to Sky.' Jaune thought. 'You think he's not going to talk?'

'Not if he wants to live.' Jaune remembered his own words to Sky, his implication. He could have ended it all in seconds.

'That was an empty threat.' He told himself desperately.

'Sure it was.' His shadow mocked. 'Look, even if the prick had a death wish, he can't snitch without exposing himself. What's a visit to the hospital compared to the charges he'd face for blackmailing bitches for sex?'

'His phone was destroyed.' Jaune argued. 'No proof.''

'It's two to one then. The only other witness is in your pocket- once that tart got a taste of the dick she was yours for life.'

Velvet had stopped him from finishing Sky, and seemed horrified at his conduct… but knowing about the bad blood between her and her bully, remembering the look of utter submission in her eyes… Jaune knew he was right. Velvet loved him and Sky feared him too much to turn him in.

'But there were 3 witnesses.'

'...What the hell are you talking about?'

Jaune could… turn himself in.

'Haven't you locked yourself away long enough? There's no pussy in prison!'

Maybe that was for the best. He'd proven he couldn't control himself around the temptation any longer. And what was prison for, if not separating the violent and uncontrollable from the rest of the population?

'I'm vetoing this. Go to the shrink, like you planned, and get your fucking head straight before you actually manage to fuck this up.'

Jaune held his phone up with shaking hands, staring at the keypad. Just a few seconds, a few buttons, and it could all be over. He'd lose everything.

He'd save everyone.

Before he could summon the courage, a light flashed on in his room.

Jaune hopped to his feet.

No customers were allowed back in the office, and Jaune had the only key. Qrow could've left it unlocked after his nap, but that didn't sound like his boss when he was sober. Even weirder, he hadn't seen anyone go in.

Jaune could be self absorbed, but had he been that oblivious to his surroundings?

He grabbed the door handle and was surprised to feel it was still locked. The hairs on the back of his neck as he slid in the key, unlocked the door and swung on it.

He was greeted with the sight of a total babe leaning against his bed frame.

She was a striking woman. She looked slightly taller than the average man, and her black and red dress was simultaneously flattering and threatening. Her figure was distinctly voluptuous, slightly top heavy, but there was both a beauty and violence to her posture. She had alabaster skin, and long raven locks as black as night. Her eyes were blood red, and piercing. Even though he had never laid eyes on her before Jaune immediately knew who he was looking at.

For Raven's part she looked as unnerved by his presence as he was by hers. For a few long moments they simply sized each other up. There was an animalistic quality to both their eyes, which neither could hide from the other. It quickly became apparent to both that each was in the presence of another apex predator, and the primal calculus was running rapid fire.

Kill.

Run.

Fuck.

What to do, what to do?

Jaune spoke coldly, advancing towards her. "Mind telling me what you're doing here?"

Raven had made her own calculation, and as Jaune advanced inward she feinted, leading him with a step to the left before pivoting to the right and making a break for the door. Jaune followed her out, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to do when he caught her. Read her the riot act for abandoning Yang? …Pin her down and give her a second shot at motherhood?

Whatever his motive he didn't get the chance to do it. The intruder had made her way to the stairs and rushed out of his line of sight. He should have caught sight of her again as he reached the bottom step- even as fast as she was moving he was right on her tail.

It was like she had vanished into thin air. 'Or she was never here at all.' He thought bitterly. He was losing it. The woman was likely just a figment of his imagination- she looked like a weird, hot cross between her daughter and brother. What were the odds that Yang's mom, who had to be pushing 40 by now, was still a total smokeshow?

'Probably pretty high.' This was Yang they were talking about… mama had to have given her a lot to work with, and she certainly seemed to have very good genes.

Jaune ran up the stairs himself, wild eyed as he looked around. There were a few patrons milling out, looking at him strangely, and not looking like a mysterious woman had just rushed out ahead of him.

Clover approached him from the side. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"What are you-hold on…" Jaune started, thoughts jumbled. "Did you see Qrow's sister run by?"

Clover's eyes narrowed.

The older man was more aware of the odd looks the pair were getting, and guided Jaune back down the stairs, away from prying eyes. "Tell me what you think you saw."

Jaune cleared his throat as he tried to focus his thoughts. He kept the Sky story to himself, but he couldn't hide what was left of the punching bag, or how Raven Branwen had mysteriously appeared and disappeared. Clover listened to his explanation carefully, without passing judgement, or even making a sound.

"...Am I going insane?" Jaune whispered, voice shaking.

Clover put a hand on the young man's shoulder. "That seems real enough." he said, gesturing to the ruined bag. The two men moved to pick it up carefully, so they wouldn't spill any more sand, and walked it into one of the storage rooms in the back. Wouldn't want anyone else to see that, after all. "As for everything else…" Clover said, as they set the ruined equipment down. "... you've been under a lot of stress lately."

"I've already scheduled an appointment with a shrink." Jaune said.

"Good." Clover said. "In the meantime, just try and get some rest, maybe take a sick day."

"I'm already behind, Clo-"

"Then go to your room and try and focus on your homework." The older man insisted. "Clear your mind as best you can. I'll be right out here, getting a workout in if you need me."

His coworker gave Jaune one more thump on the shoulder before heading out and leaving him alone with his thoughts. The blond sighed, sat down at his desk, and started to get some work done.