Yang knew she'd come back to Junior's bar at some point.

It was inevitable, given how useful he was. Information? He had it. Dust and ammo? He had ways of getting it. Rare things to use as gifts for family members? He had twenty.

But she never expected she'd bring Ruby with her.

The two were riding on Bumblebee, Ruby clinging to her back with a bright yellow helmet shielding her head—Yang having given her the only helmet she had. She was silent as she pulled into the club's parking lot, shoving her keys back in her pocket as Ruby stepped off.

When Ruby pulled off the helmet, her hair was incredibly messy—and had quite a few strands of blonde mixed in. "Bleh. How do you see in this thing with so much hair?"

Yang shrugged, hand on her hip as she took the helmet back. "I don't usually wear it."

She took Ruby's wrist, guiding her toward the steps. Her eyes flicked back, worry flooding her features for a second before being replaced with a practiced, calm expression. "Ruby, I need you to listen closely, okay?"

Ruby nodded. "I'm all ears."

Yang turned, laying her hands on Ruby's shoulders. She gave her sister one of the more serious stares she'd ever given. "The people in this place are not good people—understand? If they offer you anything, don't take it without asking me first. Don't talk to people unless they talk to you first and do not mention that you're a huntress. Just be quiet, follow my lead, and everything will be fine."

Ruby gulped. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Yang shook her head. "Honestly? I'm 100% sure this is a terrible idea—that's why I had you bring Crescent Rose." she pat her shoulder, giving her a small smile. "You don't have to worry too much—they won't touch you if they know what's good for them."

She turned around, taking Ruby's wrist again and guiding her up the steps. Her eyes flicked ahead, narrowing at the bouncer—flashing red for a split second.

He wisely decided to let her and Ruby in.

As Yang walked in, she pulled Ruby behind her. Almost everyone in the club had their eyes turned to her, all the employees' eyes wide as they saw the girl that had completely trashed the place last time standing there.

She smirked, holding out her hands. "Miss me?"

Within seconds, almost forty guns were aimed at her face.

Ruby yelped as she saw that, seeing her sister calmly standing there despite being held at gunpoint by dozens of people clad in tuxedos with dark-red glasses. Is she nuts? These guys look like they'd sooner kill us than help us! They look kinda like the people helping Roman Torchwick, actually…

"Stop! Stop! Do you idiots want to get pummeled?"

The armed men lowered their weapons, a taller man walking past them. He had short-cut black hair, dark eyes gazing at them with clear disdain. He had a beard as well, clad in a similar tuxedo to his employees/gang members. Ruby could tell at a glance he was in charge.

Yang didn't flinch, taking a few confident steps forward before smiling at the man. "Sup, Junior? Miss me?"

"What do you want, blondie?"

Yang took a step back, feigning distress as she placed a hand over her chest. "Wha—? Me? I can't just stop by without having some kind of reason for it? What do you take me for, Junior?"

"You either want information or a drink—so let's get to business."

Yang blinked a few times. "Straight to the point—fair enough. I need two passports, one for me and one for her."

She gestured behind her, prompting Ruby to hunker down slightly.

Junior's brows furrowed, eyes searching Yang's face for some kind of trick. Though, when he found none, he simply leaned back. "What's the catch? Got some kind of trouble keeping you in Vale? Need to run?"

"Nope. Just need you to cut through a little red tape."

Junior's expression only got more confused, scratching his head as he nodded a few times. "Ugh…yeah, if you've got the lien, I can get you the passports. When do you need 'em?"

"Less than two weeks."

Junior blinked twice. "I…this is a joke, right?"

"Yes or no, Junior?"

Junior shrugged, at last giving up on trying to decipher Yang's reasoning. "Yeah, sure. Come to the back with me, we'll work out the details."

Yang nodded, pulling Ruby through the crowd of thugs toward the bar before leaning down. "Just stay at the bar, I'll be back in a minute."

Yang disappeared through a nearby door before Ruby could respond.

Ruby stared after her for a second before looking back, heart slamming in her chest as she saw the many patrons and employees staring her down. Okay, Ruby. Just act natural—actually, wait, better plan! Act like Yang!

Ruby hopped up onto the stool, grabbing the edge of the bar.

She cringed as the stool scraped against the ground, pulling it to where her arms could at least rest on it. Her hands reached back, pulling her hood up for some sense of comfort. She clasped her hands in front of her—taking slow, quiet breaths to calm herself.

"First time, darling?"

Ruby turned to her left, blinking a few times as she saw a man staring at her. He was easily four—maybe five years older than she was. Dark hair was swept back over his head, a flannel shirt buttoned up to his chest over jeans and a pair of black boots. He looked like what Ruby imagined when she heard the word 'lumberjack'.

Ruby pulled her hood back, giving a nervous chuckle. "Uh, why do you…you know, ask?"

The man shrugged, drinking from a glass of some brown liquid—and while being Qrow Branwen's niece meant she had some knowledge of liquor, she had no clue what it was. "I come here a lot—never seen you before. So, what's your story?"

Ruby looked away, gently petting her hood as she tried to remain calm. Okay, just don't bring up that I'm a huntress, right? That's what Yang said…maybe I should make an excuse—go to the bathroom or something and text Yang where I am. Then again, he doesn't seem bad…wait, if he's here a lot, he might know Yang! That should put him off, right?

"Just here with Yang, that's all."

His eyes widened a bit. "Really? Didn't know Xiao Long got a new girl."

Ruby blinked a few times, brows furrowing as she stared at him. "New girl? What do you mean 'New Girl' I'm not a new girl! I've been with her my whole life—if anything I'm her old girl!"

The man sucked in air through his teeth. "Ooh…sorry to break it to you this way, then."

He waved a hand out toward the dance floor. "Hey, she doesn't know what she's missing. Plenty of fish in the sea—and you're a really cute lure."

Ruby's face went red as she looked away, more and more confused. Is he flirting now? What does that have to do—what am I supposed to—I can't think!

The man leaned over slightly, patting her shoulder. "How about a drink, huh? Might help you take your mind off her."

Ruby gulped, leaning back from his hand. "Nonono, it's fine! I'm fine—I don't need anything! I'll just wait for her to get back and figure out what the heck is going on! Thanks for the offer, but, I'll have to pass."

The man leaned back, gesturing to the bar. "Aw come on—you're at a bar, aren't you? Might as well. Come on, first round's on me."

Ruby gulped. Now'd be a GREAT time to get back, Yang!

"Found her, Melanie."

Ruby looked to her left, seeing a girl clad in a red dress step between the man and her. A face clad in heavy makeup greeted her as she looked up, seeing the girl's black bob-cut blending with her black boa. Two feathers—one white and one dark red—poked out from her hair. Her bright green eyes stared into silver, an understanding look on her face.

"Took you long enough, Miltia. We were looking for ages."

Ruby looked to her right, seeing who she guessed was Melanie. The girl was practically identical to Miltia, barring she was clad in different clothes and had more light-blue makeup than red. Rather than the feathers, she had a white flower in her hair, her boa white, and pulled across her front rather than her back.

Her dress was white, with a bow over the top and a belt with a strange, multi-colored stone and chains over her waist. She watched as her hand came up, revealing a pair of white gloves.

Miltia glared at the man, Melanie turning Ruby and leaning toward her ear. "Answer 'Sorry, I thought you said left' if you need us to stay with you. Say 'I forgot' if this guy's a threat. Anything else and we'll leave."

Melanie leaned back, a faint frown on her face. "We told you to meet us by the right side of the club, remember?"

Ruby looked between the two, eyes flicking back to the man who'd offered her a drink.

"Sorry, I thought you said left."

The twins looked at each other before taking seats at the bar on either side, pulling themselves closer to either side. Miltia glared at the flannel-clad man until he, at last, took his drink and walked away—taking a seat a few spots down. "Are you okay?"

Ruby nodded, smiling at the two. "Yeah—thank you so much! I mean it was just so confusing because I've never been hit on before—let alone at a bar—and then he goes on talking about Yang and me being her 'new girl' when if anything I'm her old girl 'cause I've been there since I was born and then offering me a drink and telling me I was a cute fish or something and—"

Ruby took a breath.

"Sorry if I'm rambling—I do that when I'm nervous."

The twins smiled, both giggling slightly before leaning back. Miltia leaned over, eyes staring into Ruby's. "It's okay…what was your name?"

She crossed her arms, sticking out a hand to each. "Oh! I'm Ruby!"

The two shook her respective hands, all three leaning against the bar afterwards. Ruby looked to Miltia—who seemed to be the more talkative of the two (it also helped the two had a very similar sense of style). "So, uh, what brings you two here, anyway?"

"We work here."

Ruby nodded, looking between the two before turning ahead toward the bar. She tugged at her hood slightly, mouth going dry as she tried to think of something to talk about. Come on, come on—social part of brain, activate! Turn on! Now! Come on! Give me something to work with, here!

Thankfully, Ruby didn't have to come up with anything. Miltia did that for her. "What're you doing here anyway? You look a little young for a place like this."

Ruby gulped. "Well, uh, that's cause I am, sort of. I'm not here to drink or dance or anything—I just came here with my sister. She went back with the really tall, black-haired guy a few minutes ago to see about…uh, something."

Melanie nodded a few times, leaning against the bar. "Miltia, didn't she walk in with Yang?"

"Yeah, Melanie."

Ruby tilted her head slightly, a confused expression on her face. "You know my sister?"

Miltia nodded. "Yeah, she picked a fight with our boss and kicked both of our asses." she gently rubbed her left thigh. "Took me weeks before I could walk right again."

Ruby's eyes widened, recalling when she last saw Yang at this place. "Uh, why did she do that? It doesn't sound like her to just go out picking fights."

The three were silent for a moment.

Ruby coughed. "Well, actually, that sounds exactly like her—but normally she has a reason!"

Melanie shook her head, stretching slightly on the bar as Miltia laid her elbow on it, resting her chin in her hand. "She didn't this time. She grabbed our boss so hard his grandkids will probably feel it. Then said they should kiss and make up before punching him across the damn club."

Ruby frowned, face tinting red as she tapped her index fingers together. Her voice rapidly went from a defensive one to a meek one of begrudging acceptance. "Okay, yeah, that…that uh, sounds like her. Sorry if she hurt anyone too bad. She, uh…gets a little carried away sometimes—and by that, I really mean all the time, since her whole fighting style is basically her weaponizing temper tantrums—but I swear she's normally a really nice person!"

The twins stared at her in silence.

Ruby gulped, pulling her hood up with one hand, tugging at her collar with the other as she averted her eyes. "So, uh…what do you guys do around here, anyway? I mean I'm guessing security because of what you did with Yang but you also have on a lot of makeup and are wearing dresses that kind of look like you'd dance—not that there's anything wrong with dresses, I mean I'm wearing skirt right now, but—"

Ruby took a breath.

"It's just that what you're wearing looks a lot more like dresses for dancing than fighting with how ornate they are. Not that dancing isn't hard—I can't dance worth anything so I'm really impressed by anyone who can dance or fight in heels—but you know. I…uh…" her face tinted red. "Sorry, I just…"

Miltia smiled. "Lost your train of thought?"

"Nah it's, uh…more like I have a few dozen trains of thought running, and sometimes they just…"

Ruby tapped her fists together before miming an explosion—a little 'poof' coming out of her mouth. "You know?"

Melanie gave Ruby a quizzical look for a moment. "Do you always talk so fast? How do you not get the bends or something?"

Ruby's face matched her hood. "No, just…I talk when I'm nervous—which makes me more nervous so that I—"

Miltia held up a hand, Ruby clamping her jaw shut as the older girl laid a hand on her shoulder. "We're bodyguards for Junior. We don't dance professionally…" her eyes trailed to Melanie. "Well, I don't, anyway."

Melanie's face tinted pink as she stood, glaring at her sister. "Will you ever let that go? I didn't pick my clients—not my fault he happened to be there that day!"

"He thought I was you! You cost me—"

"I was making money to keep us alive! What were you doing, huh?"

The two were mere inches from each other, teeth bared as they stared each other down. Melanie was leaned down slightly, foot tensed in a way Ruby recognized as ready to deliver a swift kick to the side. Miltia, meanwhile, had her arms pulled back, a dark-red claw on her right arm extending.

Ruby hopped from her stool, stepping between the two to try and diffuse the situation. "Woah, hey! You two are sisters, aren't you? Even if one of you messed up, that's no reason to try and kill each other, right?"

Given the two kept glaring, Ruby started to wonder if she wanted to know their answer.