Author's note: I realize I haven't updated in awhile. Sorry about that, too many good games came out and took my time. Like Persona 5 and Horizon. Anyway back to our scheduled program.
Project Jaeger
Chapter 7: Two Blondes Walk Into A Bar Part I
"I can't believe I'm letting you talk me into this," Jaune grimaced despite the situation he was in, his hand firmly holding a pool cue stick. "Why am I letting you talk me into this?"
Good question.
Why did he?
Why was Jaune Arc, Newly hired Instructor at Beacon and once established Jaeger pilot at a bar of all places with a blonde bombshell of a girl who could only laugh at his predicament?
The answer was ever simple.
He was born with a Y chromosome. He couldn't have known better, simply because he didn't knew better.
"Oh lighten up, Prof. Live a little. The past is the past," The exuberant girl nudged him with a playful elbow, right before preparing to take her turn at the game. "You're here now so…" Yang paused, lining her shot. Like a well aimed bullet, she shot the cue ball with alarming precision and broke the billiard balls magnificently, a symphony of crackling collision played out before them. "Bam." the accomplished pool player smirked and with a taunting gaze looked at her reluctant accomplice. "Your turn." She said in a sing-song playfulness, like Yang had done this dance a million times over.
Jaune could only stare in bewilderment before finally accepting his fate, shoulders shrugging as he chalked up the pool cue.
Which only made the younger blonde smile. "That's a good boy."
A comment which in a much more different situation would have made his ears burn. He'd kill for a pretty girl to call him that. But there was a time and place for everything. He was here as her teacher. A truant teacher, but her superior nonetheless.
"So not to be nosy, but do you do this often? I mean, aren't you acting a little too comfortable here?" He might as well continue a conversation while playing. There was no beating around the bush. The girl was a mystery to him. As her Instructor he felt he was duty bound to get to know her past a name and a dossier. He'd be a fool to not and try to find out more about this strange girl who in a sense "kidnapped" him for her own amusements.
"Do what? Play pool?"
"I mean playing hooky, but yeah that too. I know when I'm being hustled. I grew up with seven older sisters."
Yang couldn't help but give out a mild chortle. "The hooky thing? I don't know. I just do it when I feel like it, you know? Life's too short to let rules and regulations control you. I like to think I'm living my life to the best that I can with the time I have left on this world." The two shared a meaningful glance for a brief moment before Jaune answered for her in a monotone voice. "So like a lot. You do this a lot."
"A lot. Yes, I know, I have a problem." Yang nodded in agreement. It wasn't long until both were taken in with fits of laughter as they shared in the absurdity of the situation. Which was a feat on its own. Jaune found it strangely easy to be himself around Yang, like he didn't need to put on an act or face. Perhaps it was the strange, candor way she carried herself or the fact that Yang was unlike any other girl he had met but, whatever it was he felt a kindred spirit in the lilac-eyed Jaeger pilot.
"I hope that's not going to be a problem, Instructor." She winked.
"Just… just try to be there for the important stuff. You're a grown woman. You don't need me to tell you where and when you should be there." Jaune shuffled the pool cue between his fingers, lining up his shot in the process.
"Good. I like a man who doesn't prode."
Jaune embarrassingly chuckled as he continued to concentrate on their game. There she goes again with the flirting. Harmless it maybe but it couldn't be good for his heart. He'd ignore it for now. It seemed to be his go to answer for the situation.
"But seriously, Seven? No kidding. How was that like?" Yang looked at him in disbelief and mild curiosity."
"Like what you'd probably imagine. the things I could tell you about it. I could write a book. Or two. Or three." The older pilot smiled, before wiping a small bead of sweat on his head. "Man is it just me or is it hot in here?"
Yang's smaller shoulders danced as she giggled. "I don't think the jacket is helping."
"Well I'm going to get a drink. Do you want anything?"
Yang eyed him slyly. "You buying?"
"I offered didn't I?"
"A cold beer would be nice."
Now it was his turn to give her the doubtful eye.
"What? She replied innocently. "I can drink."
"Not legally."
"I totally can… in Vacuo."
"Hmmm, last I checked we were in Vale so… I'm going to count that as a no. As your Instructor I am still responsible for you and all," Their tirade continued.
"Lame, See? This," Yang gestured to all of him "… this is why women don't like you." She crossed her arms over her ample chest, clearly jesting despite her words.
Well the joke was on her, Jaune was more than familiar with his unpopularity with the opposite sex.
"I'll take my chances with the imaginary women. What else? Do you like pop or like Juice?"
The blonde girl sighed and gave in for once. "Fine, I'd like a Strawberry sunrise."
The older part of the blonde duo could only respond with a raised eyebrow.
"What? Virgin of course."
Well, at least she was willing to meet him halfway,
"Fine. I'll be right back."
"Take your time, Fly boy. I'm not going anywhere. Not from a free game."
Somehow Jaune thought Yang and his sister Olivia would get along swimmingly well.
Funny how life works sometimes, he pondered while making his way to the barkeep. Never in his wildest dreams he thought he'd be back in Beacon yet here he was, getting a drink for his insanely attractive student, and having a damn good time to boot.
One could argue the morality of the situation but part of him didn't care. He needed nights like this. He needed to feel what it was like… to be well, to be himself again.
And if it took a fiery blonde girl to do just that who was he to argue with what the laws of the universe planned for him?
The barkeep wasn't what he'd exactly imagined. Perhaps he'd seen too much television but what he surmised to be a tall, hairy, and gruff looking bartender was in actuality a slender, porcelain skinned beauty, with long raven hair that complimented her green eyes and made her red shirt and blue jeans pop out even more.
"Enjoying your date, Handsome?" Her question was both surprising and abrupt.
"What? No! I mean yes! I mean," he flustered awkwardly. "She's not my date. She's a friend...from work."
"Uh-huh." The bartender gave him a look that said she didn't believe him. "Well your friend from work seems to be having a good time." She indicated, Jaune glanced backwards and she could see Yang talking to their pool neighbor sharing a conversation and doing what she seemed to do best. Socialize and be the life of the room, grinning and laughing.
"Yeah. Yeah she does." He had to agree. Yang seemed to be in her element, and somehow that made her more radiant than ever, like his eyes couldn't leave her even if he wanted to.
"I like customers like that. They usually tip more." The barkeep continued," So what can I do for you, chief?" she asked, matter of factly.
"Uhm," Jaune's stutter only lasted a second, he learned quick to adapt when it came to judging women's appearance. "I'm sorry. Yes. Uh, what do you have on tap?"
"House specials are on the chalkboard behind me." The pretty bartender gestured with her thumb. "And we carry all sorts of bottles just not any from Atlas right now due to the shortages and the workers strike."
That was a long list of choices.
"Uh, I'll take whatever the locals are having." Jaune figured it'd be best to not be picky. He was always a go with the flow type of guy. "And I don't suppose you know how to make a virgin strawberry sunrise?"
She grinned back at him. "If I couldn't make that than I would have to give up my bartender license. On the rocks?"
Shoot, Yang forgot to tell him. Welp, he was going to have to wing it.
"Sure, why not."
She nodded and her hands continued to do their bartender magic. It wasn't long till he had an ice cold beverage of beer in his hand and a tiny glass of orange and pink, topped off with ice and a little umbrella.
"Figured your girlfriend would like one with the mini umbrellas. They're a big hit with the ladies."
"She's not-"
"Right. Whatever you say." Jaune did not like the way this one smiled, she kinda reminded him of Marie whenever she knew of a story that no one else did.
He sighed. Better to just close his mouth for now and move on. "So how much do I owe you?" He began to rummage through his wallet. He still hadn't been paid his salary by the school but he had enough to at least cover his expenses.
"For you?" The bartender placed a finger to her lip, deep in thought before finally answering "no charge."
"I'm sorry what?"
"It's free. On the house. Complimentary. Whatever else you wanna call it."
Jaune was confused. "Um, well thanks but… not that I don't mind the free drinks but why?"
His confusion must have added to her amusement because the bartender could only smirk as she continued to serve drinks. "What can I say, I'm a sucker for Jaeger pilots."
Somehow a piece of photograph behind her caught Jaune's attention. It was one of the few framed pictures that stood out from the bar's hip decour. It was a picture of the bartender and another similar looking girl clad in white posing happily to the camera, their smiles forever etched in time.
"My sister was visiting a friend that day. Way out in the mountains, I figured there was just no way anything could happen to her. Melanie could always take care of herself. Who would have thought A Grimm would appear there out of all places."
A flashback of steel against obsidian flesh colliding played out before Jaune's eyes briefly before he met the bartender's green orbs once more. "I recognize the insignia on your jacket. If it hadn't been for Crocea Mors… I would have lost more than my sister that day. I would have lost my family."
"I'm sorry for your sister's loss," she continued. "But she saved my family. You saved my family. And that...makes you more than okay in my book, Mr. Jaune Arc."
He was at a loss for words. Here was a living testament that what he had accomplished mattered. And it made all of the trials and tribulations worth it.
He finally said what he could not have said before.
"Thank you."
She looked at him softly with that gentle green gaze. "Anytime pilot. You're welcome here anytime you'd like. Now run along before your girlfriend gets jealous."
Before he could respond a customer came up around and called her out. "Miltia! I'm going to need another pitcher here!'
"Sam, you'd better have the money to pay for this tonight. Your tab's getting pretty maxed out."
Soon after Jaune just couldn't get a word in between the bartender and her customers so he did what he could and thanked her once again wordlessly before bowing out.
What greeted him afterwards was not one he was likely expecting.
Jaune probably wasn't the only one who noticed Yang was no ordinary woman, a bunch of guys had gathered around her and from the looks of things, it wasn't a pleasant conversation.
"I said I'm here with someone. Can't you guys take the hint?" It was obvious Yang was getting annoyed as she tried to walk past them to go back to their pool side.
"Hey easy, easy, doll. It's not like we're asking you to do something illegal. My friends and I just wanted to ask you to join us for a friendly game of pool." One of the guys elbowed his friend playfully. "And if we get to know each other in the process, well that's a win win for everybody, I think."
Jaune had seen those types before. Like a pack of wolves, guys like them tended to act more bolder and reckless with other like minded guys.
"Not going to happen." Yang stated as coolly as she could have, but Jaune could tell she was losing her patience. "Now will you please get out of my way?"
"C'mon baby doll. An easy girl like you? Don't you think you'd have more fun with us?" The ringleader of the bunch placed his hand on Yang's dainty shoulder.
That was the last straw.
He needed to step in.
But in reality the guy's fingers never even touched Yang. It all happened too fast but Jaune could have sworn that Yang had grabbed hold of the guy's wrist, flipped him over her figure and slammed the jerk right down on the ground with a loud thud causing the entire bar to gasp and pause as they all watched the scene take place.
"... No one touches me unless I let them, creep."She glared at the unwanted pack of man boys, her pale lilac eyes had disappeared, in their stead were a set of fiery looking orbs.
"You bitch!" One of the guys broke his beer bottle and was itching for a go at her.
And pack mentality states that all it takes is one idiot to start a fight.
Jaune sighed and could only say what was on his mind as he tapped the guy on the shoulder and cold clocked him down on the ground.
"Well,Shit."
This was going to be one of those nights.