Author's Note: Still don't know who to pair Jaune up with and it is killing me as the Author. Oh well.

Project Jaeger

Chapter 8:Two Blondes Walk Into A Bar part II

"BAR FIGHT!"

A shout was all it took to plunge the chill atmosphere into a rending whirlwind of chaos, he didn't even know who said it, it could have been him for all he knew or Yang but the next thing Jaune knew was that he was dodging punches and wild swings aimed at his person while doing his best to make his way to Yang.

The other half of the blonde duo was laughing up a storm as she punched one clean across the jaw, the sound it made caused the older pilot to wince.

Yang had one hell of an arm.

He made a mental note, it probably wasn't a good idea to get on her bad side.

"Jaune! Look out!" her surprised tone caused him to hesitate, an act that gave one of the goons enough time to work on his opening. Jaune got decked with a clean blow to his temple and grazing his left eye. It wasn't a bottle thank heavens, but it still hurt like hell. He was going to feel that in the morning. He could feel the blood trickle down his cheek.

He didn't have time to shake off the effects but if there was one thing Jaune was good for it was that he could take a beating. Louise and Pyrrha's punches were definitely much worse than that. He retaliated by catching the next swing and locking it in place with what came natural from his training, an armbar, causing the assailant to scream in pain.

That was one thug neutralized. A half a dozen more.

The two pilots from Beacon stood back to back repelling their attackers. It wasn't long until they were resorting to using the bar itself as a weapon, grabbing pool cues and chairs.

"Oh c'mon!" He outwardly groaned. How cowardly could some people get?

While he was clearly not enjoying the situation the same could not be said of his student, the way her red eyes shone and that bright smile across her face. Yang was definitely living in the moment. And enjoying it.

"Boys it's only fun until someone pokes an eye out!" She grinned as she dash pass Jaune and raised her forearm blocking one of the pool cues in the process, and knocking the man down with a tremendous right cross. "Than it's only fun for me!"

Jaune was no stranger to fights, bar room blitzes or schoolyard tussles. Louise and Marie were dear sisters but they often had a way of getting under people's skins. Their honest and blunt nature often meant someone was going to take offense to what they said. And like a good brother he was always there ready to have his sisters' backs.

But this…This was getting too crazy.

She was getting too wild.

He needed to stop this.

Before he could finish his thoughts two of the goon squad decided to bum rush at Yang from both sides. He didn't even knew when did his body moved but he did, blazing to her side.

"Yang!" He called out as he tackled one of the attackers to the ground. His warning must have went through because the blonde girl in the stylish brown jacket caught the other man with a full on clothesline, the force of the impact so strong it caused him to flip through the air once a full rotation before colliding with the ground with a loud twap.

The fight felt like an eternity.

When it reality it had only been seconds to a minute and given enough time security came and were neutralizing the situation, burly men in black were holding both parties down.

"Hey! They started it!" Yang protested loudly but it was another voice that drowned out the rest of the crowd and caused all to be still.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?!"

It was commanding and clear. The tone of a well spoken leader.

One that Jaune knew all too well.

"Sir...I, uh, Ow!-" He winced as he tried to salute, forgetting the injury to his eye. "I, uh, I can explain."

Never in his life had he seen those eyes turn that steely cold. Yeah this definitely was a bad situation.

"And you will, Instructor Arc. Back at the Academy." He gestured swiftly with his cane to the door.

"Of course… Professor Ozpin."

This was stupid.

We were just defending ourselves!

They were just having fun!

She was just… having fun.

So why were they getting punished for it?

Yang's thoughts whirled around her head as she paced back and forth outside of the headmaster's office.

Yang Xiao Long was one hell of a woman, someone she could be proud of. Someone her sister and father could be proud of. But she knew her flaws, she could on occasion get carried away in the heat of a moment.

Battle lust, her dad called it. He told her she got it from her mother.

She had been in offices like this many times before for small "disagreements" back during her training in Signal Academy but somehow this time it made her nervous.

Oz was unlike any instructor back home in Patch.

This was the man who created the Jaeger Program. He carried a fierce intelligence and cunning unlike any other and commanded attention when he walked into a room. In a way he reminded her of her uncle.

And her uncle when furious was a man not to be trifled with.

The wait was excruciating. The big clock that continued to tick away only caused her anxiousness to grow with each passing second.

Finally Yang couldn't take it anymore and groaned frustration, getting up from her seat and tip toeing towards the door.

Eavesdropping was a bad habit she learned from Ruby, but when you have a father and an uncle who were strangely cryptic about their lives you learn to value the ability to hear things your ears weren't meant to hear.

She pressed her ears to the door and hoped for the best.

Luckily for her, the door wasn't thick and Oz was loud and clear enough to listen to.

"Reckless endangerment of property, unauthorize leave of absence not to mention-"

"Sir I understand that-"

"Do you really now, Ranger Arc? Because I was under the impression that you had lost your mind when you assaulted those ruffians!"

Yang pursed her lips. That wasn't fair. They started the whole commotion.

"Sir you heard it from the witnesses. We were just defending ourselves." Atta boy, Jaune.

"Be that as it may, ranger, I expected better of you. Those men are citizens. Drunk and foolish citizens but civilians nonetheless. Do you really expect them to match the kind of training you and Miss Xiao Long had? It would be like dealing with a child throwing a tantrum."

He got them there.

Yang didn't really mean to hurt anyone, but the years of catcalling and continues relentless pursuits of both men and women based on her looks had made her a little conscious when it came to people touching her.

Okay, she might have gone a little bit too far this time.

"... I don't know where you grew up from, professor. But I was raised better. Those men were sexually assaulting my student with their eyes and words. I had to do something."

"And did that something had to be your fists?"

"It was the only language they understood, sir."

Yang couldn't see it but she imagined the long paused that Oz took was to massage his temple in frustration.

"Witnesses said it was miss Xiao Long who started the fight."

"Witnesses have it wrong."

The curvy blonde pilot's mouth lingered open. What was this? That wasn't what happened. Is Jaune… covering for her? By lying to his superior?

"... so you threw the first man down?"

"That would be correct, sir."

No way.

This guy barely knew her, she was practically just using him for her own amusement and he was standing up for her?

"...Indeed." She could practically see the disbelief dripping from Ozpin's voice. Lucky for them he decided to move on to the next topic. "Why were you in that bar in the first place, Jaune? With a student of all things?"

"You told me I needed to relax. That it was part of my recovery. I just took your word to heart. I was tired and didn't really want to go through my remaining lectures so I left. Miss Xiao Long noticed I played hooky for the day. She followed me into the bar and practically lectured me into coming back to the school. That's when unfortunately, things went sour."

Yang could barely contain her grin. Jaune was lying up a storm to Oz and he wasn't missing a beat. She didn't know whether to feel grateful, flattered, or to burst out laughing.

"Are you positive that's how it went, ranger?"

"On my sister's grave, sir."

Okay. this was enough. Yang clenched her jaw. He didn't need to go that far. She got up from where she was. She didn't need to hear anymore.

She could only hope she could make it up to him when this was all over.

"On my sister's grave, sir."

Jaune looked Oz right in the eye as he said it.

Yang was a good kid. She practically radiated confidence, spirit and vigor. Traits becoming of a Jaeger pilot as well as that of a remarkable woman. Had he been born a few years younger, would have won his heart a hundred times over in a second. That was the kind of person she was. A record like this would mar her image and reputation at Beacon. She didn't need this amount of scrutiny in her life. She was destined to do great things. He could feel it. And if could take a few hits for her along the way to that destiny well why wouldn't he? That was what a good teacher was for, damn it.

Ozpin returned the gaze with equal intensity. "...Very well. In light of your years of service and upstanding reputation I will overlook such a matter."

"Oh thank god-"

"Two weeks docked pay. I'd say that's more than sufficient to cover for the damages to that bar, don't you think Jaune?"

Just when he thought he was finally getting lucky.

"... Yes, sir." He agreed, reluctantly. His wallet certainly wasn't happy about it.

"Also a written apology to the owner of that bar. A lot of our pilots are locals to that establishment and I would hate for this to be a nuisance in the future."

He nodded along. He could do that. He already felt bad about wrecking Miltia's bar. She seemed like such a nice girl.

And with that Ozpin continued to work on his paperwork, as his hands continued to slide across his desk.

"...Is that all, sir?" Jaune inquired.

"Hmm? Oh yes. That will be all, Mr. Arc. You are dismissed."

Jaune looked around the room, confused at the abrupt change in atmosphere. "Um… aren't you going to give me my punishment? You know like when I was a cadet? No KP? Bathroom duties?"

"Are you a cadet, Instructor Arc?"

"Uh, no." But Oz certainly had a way of making him feel like one.

"Than you heard me. Two weeks docked pay and a written apology. Or is this your way of saying you wanted more weeks docked from your pay?"

"No, no, no. Not at all." Jaune waved his hands in front in protest. "It's just… it's not like you to rip me a new one., that's all."

This time it was Ozpin's turn to smile and chuckle slightly. "My boy, I neither have the time nor the luxury of punishing one of my most invaluable staff. It's a different world out there, Jaune. And I'd rather focus that effort into ending the Grimm, not your career."

Jaune couldn't believe it. Time had soften the great and powerful Oz. Either that or lady luck hadn't abandoned him after all.

"Did you want me to send in Miss Xiao Long next?" he had to ask.

"Why? According to you she had been a most upstanding student and was trying to guide her wayward teacher back to where he belonged. She should be commended not reprimanded, don't you think?" Ozpin stated without so much as a glance as he continued to write down on his paperworks.

Jaune had to smile, the image of Yang filled his thoughts. "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." True they were joking around when she had said those words but, the way she said them with conviction, that was no lie.

He admired people like that. Ones who had the strength and will to shape their future as they see fit.

"She's an incredible girl...and she'll make an even better pilot."

He could have sworn he saw a hint of a smile of Ozpin's face before it disappeared into that stoic, complacent mask. "On that we can agree, ranger. Now is there anything else?"

Nothing came to mind. Except out of curiousity, Jaune just had to ask.

"Just one thing. How did you know where to find us, I mean me? It's not like I told anyone where I was going."

Ozpin's pen stopped moving. His attention turned to the young man before him. "My dear boy, I am the foremost scientific expert on Jaeger robotics and engineering as well as the leading expert in Grimm Physiology. You think something like a missing teacher of mine is going to cause me to falter?"

"Well when you put it that way…" Sometimes Jaune forgot just how smart his boss was, which was surprising considering how much Ozpin liked to throw his big brain around.

This was the second time Ozpin had to laugh in his presence. "Your scroll. It generates a unique signal. One that anyone could have traced easily through the CCT network. Well… one with clearance anyway."

"Okay… Good to know." Jaune was about to make his way through the door when Ozpin stopped him and tossed him his handkerchief.

"That cut above your eye is bleeding again. Have the nurse check it out before you meet with Glynda."

"Glynda?"

"Yes, Glynda. She could not be here because she was in the middle of a business negotiation deal with the Schnee Dust Company but I assured her you were going to get in touch with her as soon as you have seen to that wound."

"Wait? Glynda knew about this?" Jaune's stomach turned for the worse.

"Who did you think called the CCT, Jaune?" Ozpin smirked once more.

So that's why he didn't punished him. Who better than to dish out the sentence but the cold witch of Beacon? What Glynda was going to do to him, was far worse than anything Oz could have come up with.

You cunning son of a…

"I'd hurry if I were you, ranger. Our miss Goodwitch can be a very patient person but even her patience has limitations."

When Jaune emerged from the office the last thing he expected was Yang's concerned face as she made her way towards him.

"So… how badly did I screw up?" she asked him earnestly. She wanted him to be honest and upfront with her.

It was difficult not to mess with her just a little.

"Oh pretty bad."

She winced at that. "That's what I thought."

"So bad that Ozpin has decided to do nothing about it and let you be on your merry way."

"I knew it was a bad idea but the guy kept hitting on- wait, what?"

Jaune couldn't help but laugh a little. "Listen, what you did was wrong but what those guys did was even worse. Just promise me something like this won't happen again and we'll be fine going from here on out."

She gave him a disbelieving look. "... you serious about this?"

"As serious as I can be."

Before long Yang took him in, into a long and tight embrace, relief and laughter emitting from her core.

He could smell the sunflower in her hair, feel the softness of her...ample chest, and finally the smoothness of her skin. For someone he had just witnessed punch the living daylights out of a man with ease, she was surprisingly soft and dainty.

It only lasted a second but he was going to cherish the memory.

"You rock, Prof!" She grinned at him.

"Instructor." he corrected once again, but this time he didn't seem to mind.

"Oh," she finally seemed to have noticed his injury. "That is one nasty looking cut. Sorry...did I open it up?"

"No, but I definitely need to get this checked out." he was just about to say his farewells to his rambunctious student when she suddenly took his hand into hers and was leading the way. "C'mon. I know a shortcut to the infirmary."

"It's okay you don't really need to-"

"I'm not having this on me. If you faint on your way to the nurse's office I'd feel so bad."

"Yang it's-" Jaune doubted that's how a cut would work but he didn't had it anymore in him to fight against the younger blonde. Once she's made up her mind there was just no force on Remnant who could stop her.

Oh well.

He could use some company before he met the reaper. A pretty blonde, lilac eyed girl was far from the worst choice.

"Okay, fine. Lead the way."

He wondered if this was what it felt like to die happy.