The morning air of Vale was crisp, carrying the faint scent of fresh bread and the lingering aroma of coffee from the cafes that lined the cobblestone streets. Jaune pulled his hood tighter against the chill, the fabric of his jacket rustling softly as he adjusted the strap of his sword.
"Remind me again why I need a suit?" Jaune muttered, glancing over at Ren, who walked beside him with his usual calm composure.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Because it's a formal dance, Jaune. And unless you're planning to show up in your hoodie and armor... or uniform"
"Hey, I could make it work!" Jaune protested, grinning.
Ren smirked faintly. "You'll thank me later. Trust me."
As they passed through the bustling streets of Vale, the city seemed alive with the anticipation of the upcoming festival. Banners of vivid colors hung from lampposts, and street performers entertained crowds with acrobatics and music. Merchants peddled wares from intricate jewelry to handmade cloaks, their voices blending into a cheerful cacophony. There were lot of visitors from another Kingdoms.
"I'll admit, this is nice," Jaune said, his gaze sweeping over the scene. "It's like everyone forgot about all the chaos happening."
Ren nodded. "The festival brings out the best in people. It's a time to celebrate unity." His expression darkened slightly. "But it's also a time when trouble stirs."
Jaune glanced at him. "You got that right."
Their destination was a modest tailor shop tucked between a bakery and a bookstore. The shop had an old-world charm, with a hand-painted sign that read "Thread & Needle" swinging gently above the door. Inside, the faint scent of lavender greeted them, and bolts of fabric in every color imaginable lined the walls.
The tailor, a wiry man with round spectacles, greeted them warmly. "Ah, welcome! How can I help you fine young men today?"
Ren stepped forward. "We're here for a suit fitting."
The tailor clapped his hands together. "Excellent! Let me find something that suits your frame."
As the man bustled around, pulling out jackets and trousers, Jaune leaned against the counter, watching Ren stand patiently as measurements were taken. His gaze wandered to the street outside, where the flow of pedestrians continued uninterrupted. Something about the crowd seemed... off. People were moving faster than usual, their faces tense.
"Jaune?" Ren's voice broke through his thoughts. "You okay?"
Jaune nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a figure in the crowd. A man wearing a hood moved against the tide of pedestrians, his movements purposeful. He clutched something tightly in his hands—a case, Jaune realized.
"Ren," Jaune said quietly, his instincts flaring. "Something's not right."
Ren followed his gaze, his expression hardening, as he noticed the man. "Stay here," Ren said, setting down the jacket he was trying on. "I'll check it out."
"Like hell you're going alone," Jaune replied, already moving toward the door. "Let's go."
The bustling street exploded into chaos moments later. Jaune and Ren emerged from the shop just in time to see the hooded man shove a bystander aside, sprinting toward a waiting car. The case he carried slipped briefly from his grasp, revealing its contents… dust crystals and Lien, glowing faintly with dangerous energy.
"Robbers," Ren muttered, already drawing his weapons.
Jaune's heart sank. "Because, of course, this couldn't just be a normal shopping trip."
The hooded man reached the car and threw the case into the backseat. He climbed in as the vehicle roared to life, its tires screeching against the pavement. Moments later, more cars joined the convoy, their windows rolled down to reveal armed thugs.
"Looks like we've got a lot of company," Jaune said grimly, holding the hilt of Crocea Mors.
Ren was already moving, his twin pistols, StormFlower, spinning into his hands. "We can't let them get away with that… can we?"
Jaune smirked. "You don't have to tell me twice."
The two of them sprinted into the fray.
The convoy of thieves tore through the streets of Vale, their engines roaring like wild beasts. Jaune and Ren followed close behind, weaving through the panicked crowd as they closed the distance.
"Any bright ideas?" Jaune called, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Ren glanced ahead, assessing the situation. "We take out the cars one by one. Minimize collateral damage."
"Easier said than done," Jaune muttered, adjusting his grip on his sword.
The first car was within reach. Ren darted forward, his movements precise and efficient as he launched himself onto the hood of the vehicle. With a quick, aura-infused strike, he disabled the engine, forcing the car to skid to a halt.
Jaune followed suit, vaulting into another car and driving Crocea Mors into the hood. The blade bit deep, sparks flying as the engine sputtered and died. The thugs inside scrambled out, only to be met with Jaune's shield, slamming them into unconsciousness.
The convoy's remaining cars split off, veering down side streets in an attempt to lose their pursuers. Jaune and Ren exchanged a glance before nodding in unison.
"I'll take the left!" Jaune shouted, breaking off to chase one group.
Ren took the right, his footsteps light and calculated as he pursued the other.
Jaune's target led him through a maze of alleys, the narrow pathways echoing with the sound of his boots pounding against the pavement. He was relentless, his aura glowing faintly as he pushed himself harder.
The car ahead skidded around a corner, narrowly avoiding a fruit cart. Jaune leapt over the overturned cart, landing in a roll and springing back to his feet. With a burst of speed, he reached the car, grabbing onto the bumper and using his aura-enhanced body to bring it to a screeching halt.
The thugs inside didn't stand a chance. Jaune disarmed them with a series of hard punches, his training kicking in as he incapacitated them, one by one.
Ren arrived moments later, his own group of thugs similarly subdued. He adjusted his sleeves, his expression as calm as ever despite the chaos.
"Done already?" Jaune teased, wiping sweat from his brow.
Ren smirked faintly. "You were quite slow."
Jaune laughed, sheathing his sword. "You wish."
Ren seemed to sense it, too. "Something's not right," he said quietly. "Heard that?"
"There's more!" Jaune pointed at the cars. "Did they have a robbing a competition today!?"
"We should go!"
They ran and then grabbed on a passing moving vehicle.
As the wind roared against their faces, Jaune and Ren clung to the side of a speeding truck, their auras flickering faintly in the dim streetlights. The truck's engine growled, matching the chaos of the pursuit. The two students held their positions as their clothes and sleeves snapped in the gale, focused on the convoy of criminals ahead.
Jaune glanced at Ren, a wry smile tugging at his lips despite the situation. "You know, Ren, I think of you as my brother."
Ren, ever composed even under fire, blocked a burst of gunfire with a localized aura shield on his palm. "I know. And I respect you as a leader, a friend, and yes, as a brother."
Jaune crouched low on the truck's roof, pulling Ren up beside him. His expression shifted into mock incredulity. "So, brother, care to explain why exactly we're on a moving truck, dodging bullets, and chasing down festival shop owners' worst nightmare?"
Ren sighed, his gaze scanning the convoy ahead as he prepared to leap. "Lately, it seems like trouble finds us, not the other way around."
Jaune let out a dry chuckle. "Didn't even know Vale had this many criminals. Who robs festival shops, anyway?" He paused, crouching lower. "This city's dangerous. Even getting a decent suit for the dance turns into a fight."
Ren nodded solemnly as he deflected another shot, pivoting with a fluid motion to avoid a flying scrap of metal. "It is. But we should probably stop them before someone gets hurt."
"Agreed."
Jaune didn't hesitate. With a burst of speed, he leaped onto the roof of a car ahead, his sword drawn. Crocea Mors slashed clean through the back end of the vehicle, severing the trunk with surgical precision. Behind him, Ren vaulted forward, his movements a blur as he struck the muzzle of a gun with his palm and delivered a disabling strike to the thug wielding it.
The chase intensified. Jaune and Ren sprinted after the convoy, weaving through traffic with the grace of seasoned hunters. Each step carried them closer, their glowing auras leaving faint trails of afterimage in their wake.
"Ren!" Jaune called over the wind.
Without missing a beat, he grabbed Ren by the arm and spun, using the momentum to launch him towards a speeding car. Ren sailed through the air, landing hard on the vehicle's hood. The impact caved the metal, causing the driver to swerve erratically.
Jaune surged forward, his pale gold aura now tinged with red. Reaching the car, he dug his heels into the ground and grabbed the bumper with both hands. Muscles straining, he stopped the car's momentum entirely, lifting it slightly before shoving it to the side of the road with a guttural shout.
"Thanks for the boost," Ren quipped as he leapt clear of the stopped car.
Jaune smirked, running up beside him. "You good?"
Ren held up a glowing palm, his aura shimmering faintly as Jaune directed a pulse of energy toward him. The boost rejuvenated him immediately. "Better than good. But what about you? You're pushing hard."
Jaune vaulted over a parked car in response, landing smoothly on the other side. "This is nothing. My master and I used to do this kind of thing all the time. Amping each other was just part of the routine while we fight for hours. It was tiresome you know? So this isn't really exhausting."
Ren nodded, sidestepping a car and deflecting a dust round with a quick twist of his wrist. "Your master must have been demanding."
Jaune laughed lightly. "You'd think so, but he was more the quiet, reflective type. The kind of guy who'd stare at the ocean and drink tea while spouting cryptic advice."
The convoy grew more desperate.
Ren, now hanging onto the side of another car, fired a volley of dust-infused shots from StormFlower, disabling the tires of a vehicle. Jaune, not far behind, pirouetted in midair to slice through a rifle aimed at Ren. With a swift motion, he yanked a thug from a car window and slammed him onto the pavement.
"Four down," Jaune noted, his shield absorbing a hail of bullets as he pressed forward.
"Three left," Ren corrected, sliding forward and delivering a palm strike that halted another car. He vaulted over the hood as the vehicle sputtered to a stop, twisting midair to fire at the tires of the next one.
"Fair enough," Jaune replied, dodging an oncoming car and ramming another thug's car with his shoulder, sending it spinning into a light pole.
"Two now!" Ren called out as they regrouped. "You think they'd send us into a police station after this?"
"Well, at least we aren't leaving a trail of civilian cars wrecked and damaged, so, no, I don't think so!" Jaune's eyes flicked to the remaining cars speeding away. "Ren, we can cut them off through that alley!"
The two split off into the side streets, Ren moving like a shadow through the obstacles. He vaulted over fences, slid under pipes, and scaled walls with ease. Meanwhile, Jaune bulldozed through the alleys, his larger frame smashing through flimsy barriers without slowing.
Emerging from the alley, Ren performed a midair twist, landing on the hood of a speeding car and firing into its tires. The vehicle skidded to a halt as Jaune sprinted past, his aura glowing brighter with every step.
Spotting the final car, Jaune pushed himself to his limit. With a leap that sent cracks spidering through the pavement, he grabbed the bumper mid-flight, yanking the vehicle to a grinding stop.
Ren landed beside him, helping him shove the car to the side of the road and disabling the thugs inside with a few precise strikes.
"All clear," Ren said, brushing his hands off.
Jaune sighed, his breath visible in the cool night air. "Finally. Let's hope they appreciate the effort."
Ren smirked. "After all that? They'd better."
The two stood side by side, their auras dimming as the adrenaline wore off. Around them, the streets were eerily quiet, save for the faint sounds of sirens approaching in the distance.
"You know," Jaune said, his voice lighter now, "this would have been a lot easier if we'd just gone shopping somewhere else."
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "Somehow, I don't think 'easy' is in our vocabulary lately."
Jaune nodded in agreement, his lips curving into a tired but satisfied grin. "You think the girls will be mad that we took long?" Jaune raised his arms.
Ren raised his arms, too. "I think they'll understand."
A Vale police officer looked at Jaune. "Mr. Arc, fancy seeing you here."
"Sir, sorry about the mess… they were stealing, and we felt the need to stop them."
"So we heard," the officer sighed. "Let's get to the station, get you a statement, and you can go."
The hours spent in the Vale Police Station dragged on. Jaune sat slouched in a stiff-backed chair, his hood down and his expression a mixture of exhaustion and boredom. Across the table, Ren maintained his composed demeanor, his arms crossed as he answered yet another question from the officer taking their statements.
It had been a long and grueling process, one filled with recounting every detail of the chase, the stolen Lien and Dust, and the criminals they had subdued. Despite their heroics, there was always the looming possibility of being reprimanded for causing disruption in the city.
"Alright, gentlemen," the officer finally said, closing his notepad. "You're free to go. Just... try to avoid any more high-speed pursuits through the streets of Vale, yeah?"
Jaune stretched, his back popping audibly as he stood. "No promises, Officer. Trouble seems to find us."
Ren shot him a look but said nothing as they left the station, stepping into the fading afternoon light.
The tailor's shop was a welcome reprieve from the trouble of the day. Inside, the air was filled with the scent of freshly steamed fabric, and racks of suits and dresses stood like soldiers awaiting inspection.
"Finally," Jaune sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's get this over with before something else happens."
Ren nodded, already perusing a nearby rack of tailored jackets. The two wandered through the shop, occasionally picking out items and holding them up for inspection.
Jaune paused in front of a large poster displayed prominently on the wall. It featured a striking model in an elegant suit, the fabric fitting perfectly over broad shoulders and a trim waist. The man exuded an aura of sophistication, his chiseled jawline and piercing eyes making him look as though he had stepped out of a movie.
"Man, why can't we have something like that?" Jaune muttered, half-joking, as he studied the poster.
Ren, standing nearby with a blazer draped over one arm, glanced at the image. "You'd need a few years of modeling experience. Maybe a stylist."
"And a new face," Jaune quipped, grinning.
Ren gave him a rare smirk. "Not necessarily. You're... presentable."
"Wow, thanks for the glowing review," Jaune shot back, shaking his head. His gaze lingered on the poster for a moment longer before he turned back to the racks of clothing. "Alright, let's find something decent. I'm not going to be the guy who shows up looking like a slob."
Ren shakes his head. "Says the one who wants to go to the dance in his uniform."
As they continued browsing, Jaune couldn't help but glance back at the poster. It wasn't just the suit that caught his attention — it was the way the model seemed to exude confidence. He wanted that. The ability to stand tall, to feel like he belonged.
"Ren," Jaune said suddenly, his tone oddly serious.
Ren looked up from a row of ties, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Yes?"
Jaune gestured vaguely at the poster, struggling to find the right words. "Do you prefer boobs or... ass?"
Ren froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question. He turned slowly to face Jaune, his expression unreadable. "That's... what you're thinking about right now?"
Jaune shrugged, eyeing Ren seriously. "I have to know, my brother."
Ren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He seemed to weigh the question carefully before responding in a tone as calm and measured as ever… it was almost sagely.
"Why not both?"
Jaune stared at him, his eyes widening, as though Ren had just unlocked the secrets of the universe. "Ren, you truly are my brother."
Ren's lips twitched in amusement as Jaune clasped his hands together, his expression one of exaggerated reverence.
"Truly, a man of wisdom walks among us."
"Perhaps focus on finding a suit before delving into life's great mysteries," Ren said dryly, gesturing at the racks around them. "You can ponder these things later."
Jaune eventually settled on a simple yet elegant suit, complete with a crisp shirt and a red tie. Ren chose a similar outfit, though his had subtle green accents that matched his usual color palette.
As they left the shop, bags in hand, the weight of the day's events seemed to lift slightly. The sun was setting, casting the streets of Vale in a warm, golden glow.
"Well," Jaune said, a grin spreading across his face, "I think we earned these suits today."
Ren nodded slightly, his own bag resting effortlessly in his hand. "We did. Though I'm hoping we won't have to chase criminals every time we want to run errands or just shop."
Jaune chuckled. "Vale just can't seem to catch a break. First, it's the White Fang, then these Dust thieves… who knows what's next?"
Ren gave him a sidelong glance. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it somehow."
Jaune paused for a moment, the sincerity of Ren's words sinking in. He held out a fist, a playful yet earnest gesture. "You're right. We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
Ren looked at him, breaking his stoic face, his lips curving into the faintest of smiles. Without hesitation, he raised his own fist and bumped it against Jaune's.
"Yeah," Ren said softly.
"Come on," Jaune said, breaking the moment with a laugh. "Let's head back before Nora and Pyrrha start wondering if we got lost. And maybe omit the trouble that came along with it?"
"We probably should. I don't think Nora will take kindly to missing out on the action again," Ren agreed.