Thanks to Jack Wayne for making some fan art for this, which marks the new cover. You can see more of his work on his deviant art. I would link it, but obviously I can't on this site, so one would have to Google it.
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 15
It was a cruel joke that he woke up at five on his day off. By now it had become a habit he couldn't shake, and even trying to sleep in didn't help. His instincts screamed that he was late, that Velvet would be waiting for him to open the store, that Marron would be tapping his feet, wondering what he was going to do with the batch of cakes he'd baked. Until eventually, whether he liked it or not, he stood up and accepted that he'd become something he swore he never would – an early riser.
But it did let him catch Blake before she departed. She was groggily waking up on the couch, not quite as alert as he was but unable to sleep through him brushing his teeth. He plodded out in his pyjamas and dressing gown, eyeing the dishevelled head of black hair as it poked over the couch.
Funny how he'd had fantasies of things like this, yet the truth was far less sexy. Blake looked exhausted, both physically and emotionally. He'd left her to make the call last night in private, knowing she couldn't do it while he watched and listened in. Jaune paused by the kitchenette to pour two glasses of water, gargled his into the sink, and then sat down opposite her, pushing a glass across the table.
"How did it go?"
"You were right," she whispered, accepting the drink. "Ruby was worried…"
"I figured she would be. How is she now?"
"Upset, annoyed, but relieved to know I'm okay…" Blake let out a quiet laugh. "She wanted to help me find them but I said no. I don't want her to be in danger or get into trouble. I'm glad she feels better, though. When I first heard her voice she sounded so afraid. I… I felt terrible."
"She's your friend," he pointed out. "So, what happens now?"
"I'm going to investigate this tonight." She tapped the papers he'd gotten from Junior and the Malachites. "I'll go and see what happens and get my answers, but if I don't get them or they're not what I want, I'll return to Beacon. I promised Ruby I would." The faunus sighed and reached up to push her hair into some semblance of order. "Either way I'll be out of your apartment. Thank you for letting me stay here, Jaune."
"No problem."
"That's a lie." She glared at him. "I know it was a time sink for you."
"Okay, it was a problem, but I don't mind," he amended. "Or I forgive you. Whichever works. I'm just glad you made up with Team RWBY. When are you leaving?"
"Now," she said, standing. "I'll get some food in Vale and finish this tonight."
"Good luck, then. It's my day off, so I'm going to relax here for a few hours, then take a wander around Vale." He watched the huntress nod and make her way outside. Only once she was gone did he kick his feet up onto the table and lean back.
Things were finally going right for a change.
/-/
`Sorry, we're closed`
Pyrrha stared at the sign and felt her spirits drop down somewhere to the vicinity of her ankles. Her eyes scanned the door in a panic, finding the opening hours, where she quickly realised that Jaune's didn't open on a Wednesday, leaving her stood outside like a fool.
A fool who had, for the first time in her life, done something she'd never have considered before. She'd skipped class. Oh, how the media would balk if they knew. Her Agent would have her head, as would her parents. The image of Miss Perfect, a role model and icon for children, teenagers and adults alike, skipping school like a delinquent, would have been too much for many. She wondered how much worse it would be if they knew she was doing it for a boy.
That thought sent a strange thrill through her.
Not the boy part, though that was true, but rather the thought of the shock on their faces. Would it be a moment of realisation for them, when they finally discovered she was a real person and not just an object to be admired? Probably not. They'd blame Jaune and say she was misled, but it was still nice to imagine throwing off their expectations like that and rattling the chains.
Of course, she also knew she'd regret it later. Miss Goodwitch wasn't the kindest of teachers when it came to those acting out, and while she had a feeling Professor Port wouldn't even notice her absence, Doctor Oobleck was sure to.
But it had all been worth it – because all through the night she'd been thinking about spending more time with her new friend. A friend who looked and talk to her as she was, a normal girl, instead of to Pyrrha Nikos, Invincible Girl. Such a simple thing, and yet each time he laughed at one of her comments it felt like she'd walked out of a desert and into a cool rainstorm where she could bask in the life-giving water. It was an odd metaphor for simple conversation perhaps, but there was no denying how she felt. Whatever the case, she'd been willing to face even Miss Goodwitch's wrath to feel that again.
But now fate was truly laughing at her.
"I skipped class for nothing," she whispered, and this time there was no joy – only the feeling of a heavy weight pressing down on her shoulders. She was in trouble now, big trouble. "Maybe if I hurried back I could make it for history…" It wasn't likely. It was only half past nine, but that meant it was halfway through Port's class. She'd have to take a Bullhead, and then get changed back into her uniform. All of that before ten. Even then, the school's records would show she'd left campus
I'm such an idiot. Why didn't I check the times yesterday?Because she'd been too busy chatting and having fun. Well, I'll be paying for it now, I guess.
She was about to turn away and trudge back to Beacon – and detention – when she caught sight of a misty figure through the glass. Jaune arrived at the back of the store, dressed in dark blue jeans and a white shirt, replete with an open mid-grey jacket he wore over the top, open-chested. She'd never seen him in casual clothes before and couldn't help but stare.
That was exactly how he caught her, face practically pressed against the glass like some child gazing at a sweet treat, except that she looked much worse for being a young adult and the fact she was staring at him. He actually flinched for a second, and her heart fell. But when he laughed and waved, she relaxed. He moved towards the door, bringing a small key out of his back pocket and unlocking the door.
She stood awkwardly in the street, feeling like a complete idiot.
"Pyrrha," he laughed, once he had the door open. "Hey, I didn't see you there. I close on a Wednesday. Sorry about that."
"It's my fault. I didn't think to check your opening times. I'm sorry for startling you like that."
"Eh, it's fine. I'm surprised a pair of twins I know haven't already done the same. Did you come for a drink? I can make you one if you like."
The offer was tempting, more for the company than the drink, but she shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair for me to ask you to do that on your day off." As much as that pained her to say it. At least she'd gotten a chance to talk to him, and weirdly enough that satisfied her. "I should probably make my way back to Beacon, anyway."
"Oh yeah. Don't you have classes today?"
"Um, no, I have… well, some free time…"
"Really? Well, I was just going to go for a wander around Vale," Jaune said, locking the door behind him. "You're free to come along if you like. If you're free, I mean. You don't have to."
Common sense said to say no. If she went back now she'd be late, but she might be able to make an excuse and beg forgiveness. It wouldn't be enough to stop Oobleck assigning her more work, but she wouldn't get in trouble for it.
But on the other hand…
"I'd love to, Jaune."
/-/
Blake eyed the docks through the chain-link fence and read through the documents held in her hand. This was the place, and true to Jaune's Intelligence, there was a shipment coming in right now, one from the SDC. She could see the snowflake-marked containers being moved off the vessel by large industrial cranes. Forklifts then moved them around, stacking the giant things about the dockyard. The SDC didn't tend to advertise their shipments nowadays, not with the White Fang around, so finding out about one could be tough.
Which raises the question of how Jaune did in the first place…
"No. He's helped me out enough. I'm not going to start feeling paranoid about him." It was bad enough with the White Fang. She, and Team RWBY, really didn't need more drama added on top. Still, the dock would make a tempting target for whoever was stealing all this dust, and with it being the SDC the blame would naturally fall onto the White Fang.
It was the perfect framing. Next morning's headline practically wrote itself. Blake checked her scroll. It was mid-afternoon, which meant there was plenty of time until the thieves would feel confident enough to make a raid.
After so long spent looking for leads, she now had time to spare. It wasn't as great a feeling as it could have been, what with her team worrying in the background. Blake let out a long sigh and stared at the containers once more.
"This is an interesting past-time," a voice said from beside her. "I do not see the appeal but will nevertheless join you in this."
Blake froze. It took a second to remind herself she was doing nothing wrong and that she didn't need to freak out, let alone make a run for it. Even so, her heart beat a little faster. How distracted had she been that someone could sneak up on her like that? Her eyes flicked over to see a girl with bright orange hair and green eyes, dressed in an odd combination of pale green and black. She looked vaguely confused.
"Excuse me," Blake said. "But who are you?"
"You are excused," the girl replied, not quite understanding. "And my name is Penny. Hello."
Blake stared at the girl.
"Would you like to be friends?" Penny asked.
"Excuse me?"
"You are excused again. Are you feeling well? I know some limited first aid."
Was this girl for real? Blake fixed her with the best glare she could, one that really accentuated her feline appearance and had more than once sent people hurrying away in pursuit of more friendly conversation. It had even been enough to make Yang back down before initiation, even if Ruby hadn't quite realised what it meant.
This girl was made from the same stuff as Ruby, apparently. She weathered it with a smile and a tilt of the head, until eventually even Blake had to blink and look away. Okay, that hadn't quite gone as expected.
"Is this communication without words?" the girl asked. "I hear that is something only the closest of friends do. Sensational!"
No. It was too early to deal with this. Ruby would have been aghast, while Yang would have shaken her head and even Weiss would have had a word to say about being polite. Either way, they weren't here, so no one felt the need to reprimand her when she turned and walked away, ignoring the girl entirely. The message was clear, the dismissal impossible to miss.
"Wait, friend!" the girl called, jogging after her. "You haven't introduced yourself!"
/-/
Jaune hadn't exactly thought through what he and Pyrrha were going to do, which made him feel like an idiot and reminded him for the tenth time why he didn't have a girlfriend to his name. Oh sure, he'd asked Pyrrha out – to come out, he meant, nothing more. He wasn't going to make a mistake and start jumping to conclusions. Not this time, he thought, recalling one or two occasions in the past where he'd mistaken girls as being interested in him when, against all odds, they'd just been nicepeople.
Either way, the decision to invite Pyrrha to spend some time with him had been impulsive and random, and he'd been amazed when she'd agreed. Now he was even more amazed, though for all the wrong reasons.
"So… what would you like to do?"
"I don't mind," Pyrrha said, smiling. "What were you thinking of doing?"
Yep. He'd run afoul of an age-old problem; that of having no plan. Wandering around wasting time was all well and good when it was just him doing it, but he'd invited Pyrrha out, which meant they had to do something, and that was where his mind started to dredge up a big, fat, nothing.
Do I say I've got no idea? No, that makes me sound like an idiot. I invited her out. I can't make her decide what to do. Besides, she's already said to do whatever I had planned. He bit his lip, walking forward with Pyrrha beside him, hoping to buy time under the pretence of heading to their destination.
Did he take her to a restaurant? That felt too presumptuous and he hadn't even asked her if she was hungry. Wait, did he ask? Wouldn't she let him know? But what if she thought he wasn't hungry and didn't want to be a bother?
What if he wasn't hungry!?
Then I don't eat, idiot, he berated, feeling every part as stupid as he probably was. Nothing too formal, but nothing too casual – and he didn't even really know what Pyrrha liked to do in her free time. That meant the arcade was out. Maybe a book store – or would that make him seem too bookish? What did he even need from a book store?
"Is everything okay?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yep! Everything is fine."
"It's just that… we've been walking in a circle for the past five minutes. Are we lost?"
Jaune came to a stop. Pyrrha did the same beside him. Great. Absolutely wonderful. He couldn't even hang out with a friend without looking like some kind of moron.
"I might know the right way," she said, as helpful as ever. "Where were we headed?"
He mumbled something under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nowhere," he said, louder. Pyrrha looked concerned, so he sighed and took the plunge. "I've got no idea where we should go. I was just going to walk around aimlessly, but then I thought I could invite you out, but I've got no idea what to do." He barked a short laugh. "Funny, huh? Invites someone to hang out and then doesn't do anything."
And now Pyrrha was laughing at him. Jaune huffed and stuck his hands into his pockets. She noticed and held out a hand to stop him walking off in defeat. It still took her a few seconds to get over her hilarity, though.
"I-I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have laughed." She snickered again, just to rub it in. "It's just… I didn't know what was wrong and I – ha – I didn't expect that."
"That I'd be an idiot?"
"That you'd be worried about me not having fun," she countered, and he looked away, cheeks flushed. "That's sweet, Jaune."
"I-I just meant it as a friend."
"But it's still sweet." She smiled. "I'm not sure what to do because I'm as new to Vale as you are. We could grab a tour guide, though. Maybe we should just explore the sights here."
Jaune was ashamed at how relieved he felt for her making the suggestion. Despite her words, he still felt it should have been him to come up with the idea. "That sounds like an idea. Those places are usually pretty popular."
Pyrrha's face went white. "O-On second thought, how about somewhere a little quieter?"
"Huh?"
"The cinema," she said, face lighting up. "We could go watch a movie."
"Isn't that-?" He paused. He'd been about to ask if that wasn't a little too much like a date, but that felt silly. Sure, people took their girlfriends to the cinema but so too had his mom and dad taken him and his sisters, and he'd gone with his siblings on other occasions too. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. We should go see what's showing. What kinds of movies do you like?"
"I'm okay with anything, so long as it's not a tragedy."
"I'm more of a Spruce Willis guy myself." He only had a second to decide that was probably a bad thing to boast about, but Pyrrha beat him to it by laughing.
"I liked his last movie."
Jaune froze. "You did…?"
"Sure. The effects were a little much and he can't actually fight as well as he thinks he can, but I could get behind his desire to save his estranged family. I thought he acted that out quite well."
"I heard he's got a new movie out," Jaune said, a more honest smile starting to spread over his face. "Want to check it out?"
"I'd love to."
/-/
"That was awful!"
"I know!" Pyrrha giggled, one hand on Jaune's shoulder for support. She stole a glance at his face and laughed all the harder. Jaune looked positively offended.
"I mean, wow. What the hell? That was… that wasn't just bad, it was…"
"A Bullhead wreck?" she offered.
"Ten Bullheads crashing at once! With Nevermore picking over the remains!"
The sheer passion he said it with was her undoing and she bent double in laughter. The movie had been bad, painfully so, but in some weird way that had made it all the better. She'd heard of `so bad it was good` before, but this was something else.
"T-The final fight," she laughed.
He slapped a hand against his face. "Oh Gods, don't get me started. I can fight better than that, and I'm… I'm me! Hell, I bet you could fight ten times better than he could."
Absolutely. Easily. Anyone else in her position would have been offended, and most normal people would have been shocked there was even a question. Pyrrha didn't stop laughing though. "What about the love interest?" she giggled. "I've never seen a woman so aroused by explosions before."
"Ugh, yeah. Talk about shallow. It was like she loved him before he even appeared on the screen." Jaune snorted. "What a waste of time. You want to grab a pizza or something? I need to wash down the disappointment. Spruce Willis was my childhood hero!"
"Sounds good to me." Pyrrha just about managed to stand without his support. Her face was red, though for once from laughter and not embarrassment. It felt like the awful movie had shattered the awkwardness between them. She appreciated it that, even if nothing more. "Why don't we get something to go, though?" she asked, hoping to avoid sitting in a restaurant with people who were sure to recognise her. "My treat since you bought the movie tickets."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled and nodded, pulling out her purse. "I remembered it this time."
Jaune laughed. "Hey, that's an improvement already. Shall I come with you?"
"And do what? You can't help me carry a pizza with that arm." She nodded to his sling and he blinked, seemingly haven forgotten it himself. She pushed him away before he could offer anyway. "Leave it to me. I think I can handle ordering a pizza. You can wait over there at the park. We can eat while we walk around it." She pointed to a nearby expanse of grass and trees and Jaune nodded. "What do you want?"
He rattled off an easy order, little more than cheese and tomato, and Pyrrha quickly jogged over to the take-out to order it. There was a short queue at it and she joined the back, only for the man behind the counter to stop and stare.
"My word, is that Pyrrha Nikos!?"
Those in the take-out turned instantly. They had sight of her before she could move, before she could even think of what to say or do. She smiled awkwardly, hiding how uncomfortable she was behind a fake smile she'd worn a hundred times before. "Hello."
"My word," the large man repeated, pushing his way around the counter. No one stopped him, not even the woman he'd completely stopped taking an order from. She was staring, too. "Pyrrha Nikos in my store. I cannot believe it! A-Are you here to order?"
"Yes, but I'm happy to wait-"
"Nonsense! Please, please, come. Marco," he called, shouting to a man in the back. "Come and bring a camera. I want a picture for the wall. Pyrrha Nikos, as I live and breathe." The man bellowed a laugh, wrapping a meaty arm around her shoulders. "I was there for your first fight, you know. Such a display!"
"O-Oh, I remember that." She hid her discomfort as she was brought to the front of the take-out. "It was a good fight. My opponent was very skilled."
"But not as skilled as you," he cheered. "Didn't he quit the scene after that?"
"Yes…"
Because of her, mostly. She remembered confronting him after, asking why he wanted to quit, and having it explained that he hadn't even been able to touch her, that he'd been humiliated. She hadn't just beaten him – she'd crushed him. He never recovered his confidence and quit soon after. What point was there in continuing when the Invincible Girl forever stood between you and any chance of winning?
Her Agent had called it childish and told her to ignore it, but it was impossible to ignore just how many bright-eyed youths had quit after facing her. They'd thought themselves strong, or at least capable, but against her they'd tested themselves and come painfully short. Most never recovered that drive, that confidence that she took on the end of her spear and splintered on the ground.
A camera flashed. Pyrrha's smile was automatic, plastic. More flashes came as those in the crowd took their own pictures, many begging for her to pose with them. She nodded and did so, answering questions with a yes or no where required but nothing more. Someone touched her hand, someone else her back, and there was even one who reached for her hair but missed as she twisted aside.
Smiles and laughter, words written on paper, hands around her shoulders, some lower than they ought to. She kept her back straight through it all and pretended to remember the names of the twenty or so people who asked her to dedicate a fight to them. Her hand ached from the messages she had to write when signing her autograph. Someone spilled mayonnaise on her blouse.
She felt dirty and used, even before the man took her order, cooked her pizza, and then assured her she needn't pay for it. "It's enough that I have proof you came here," he laughed, indicating his scroll. "That someone like you would eat at a place like this – people will be amazed!"
"I'm glad for you," she said, smiling weakly. "I-I have to go, though. Thank you for the meal." She nodded to the boxes in her hand and slid toward the door. She didn't miss how a few people did the same, eschewing their meals in favour of following her.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be a problem with the door after she left, because they got stuck trying to open it. The lock had jammed. The metal lock. She fled back to the park, eyes wide as she looked for Jaune. He was sat on a small wall, having given up the seat there for an obviously pregnant woman. She hurried towards him.
"Pyrrha," he said, smiling and standing. "You managed-" He saw the state of her. Not just her outfit, but her expression. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Can we move along a little?" she asked, taking his arm and dragging him before he could even think to ask why – or even answer at all. "I, um, I saw the person from Beacon I was arguing with," she lied. "I wanted to avoid them. You don't mind, do you?"
"N-No?"
"That's perfect. Thank you, Jaune." Her Semblance would have faded by now, so she dragged him into the trees and off the main path, behind a thick bush where they couldn't be seen. No feet stampeded past, so she figured she must have lost them entirely.
Jaune was staring at her in confusion.
"It's complicated," she said, laughing nervously. She hefted a small box up. "Pizza?"
"Sure." He smiled and took the box, pinning it against his chest and opening it up to take a slice. He didn't question her story, nor did he ask for a further explanation – and for that she felt nothing but the utmost gratitude. "So, we're going to do something different next time, right?"
"Next time?"
"Next time we hang out," he said. "I mean, that movie was a pretty big bust."
Next time. Next time, next time, next time. Two simple words, and yet ones that had never sounded as good as they did at that moment. He wanted there to be a next time, maybe even more than one. She fixed a fake smile to her face again, but this time it was in reverse. Had he known just how much those words meant to her, she had a feeling he'd have run for his life. She smiled like a professional so that he wouldn't see her grin like a child.
"Definitely something else," she said. "Maybe I'll come up with the idea next time."
"Heh. I'll look forward to it."
Me, too, Pyrrha thought, nibbling on some pizza with a guy she'd just met, hidden behind a bush in a central park. The night couldn't have been any more perfect, and what was more the police sirens that rushed by prevented any of her stalking fans from hearing their muffled laughter.
/-/
Pyrrha was still on cloud nine by the time she reached Beacon. From ten in the morning until seven in the afternoon – a full nine hours spent out in Vale with a friend. It was something she'd never experienced before, and even though that felt like such a ridiculously long time, she wished there could have been more.
There had been a few close calls, though. The person selling tickets in the cinema had recognised her and even said her name. Luckily, the queue behind had complained about the wait and he'd been forced to let her through without making a scene of it. After that she'd hidden in the bathroom while Jaune bought them some snacks, and only come out when it was time to go inside. The dark lighting inside had prevented anyone else from getting a good look at her.
I'll have to think up a better solution in future, she thought. People are bound to recognise me eventually. Maybe I should tell him…
The thought sent her stomach into tight knots and she dismissed it soon after. She would eventually, but not now. Jaune was fun to hang out with and made her feel like she was actually liked as a person. Maybe he'd be the same once he found out, but maybe he wouldn't. Could she really give up on the happiness she had now?
It doesn't hurt him not to know. It's not like I'm lying about having a contagious disease or something. Besides, everyone had secrets. That was normal. It would be better if they became strong friends first, and then she could reveal it when she was ready. It would give her the most time to plan the best way to handle it.
And maybe they could become even closer friends before then.
"Ahem. Miss Nikos?"
Pyrrha's heart fell. She recognised the voice, and the tone, and neither spelled well for her. She turned to face Miss Goodwitch, who was stood behind her with arms crossed and lips pulled down into a wide frown. It looked like it was time to pay the price for her actions.
Though even then, she didn't regret them. She felt better now than she had ever before. She'd practically been on a date with a guy.
"And where have you been today, Miss Nikos? I understand from Doctor Oobleck that you were absent from his lesson. You also missed mine."
Lying would have been pointless. Even if Miss Goodwitch didn't see right through it, she was in casual clothing and not her uniform. The Bullheads also had full record of where she'd been. "I was in Vale."
"During lessons today?"
Pyrrha winced. "Y-Yes."
"And were you by any chance fighting terrorists in the flaming remains of a warehouse district on the docks?"
Pyrrha stared at the older woman. That… was curiously specific. "Um. No?"
"Then you have even less excuse than Miss Belladonna," Glynda snapped, making Pyrrha flinch and look down at her feet. "Of all the people I would expect this from; you were not at the top of that very small list. I hope I will not have to discuss this with you again."
"I'm not in trouble?"
"Did I say that, Miss Nikos? Detention with myself, tomorrow afternoon and for the day after. If you value your free time more than you do the education we can provide, then perhaps depriving you of that will be a suitable punishment. Am I understood?"
Thursday and Friday. That was two days where she wouldn't be able to visit Jaune's and spend some time with him, although she'd still have the weekend. That was enough. It would have to be. "I understand, Miss Goodwitch. I'm sorry about today."
"You're fortunate I have more pressing matters to deal with or I would drag you to the headmaster to explain yourself now. As it is, Miss Belladonna has left me with more than enough paperwork thanks to her little stunt." Glynda shook her head, and then snapped her attention back to Pyrrha. "Well, what are you waiting for? Move along!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Pyrrha kept her head low as she fled, hurrying back to her dorm. It was just as much to hide her smile as it was from shame. She didn't think Miss Goodwitch would appreciate it. Well, the detentions would be bad – and people would whisper, too. That didn't dampen her smile, nor did her team's odd looks her way as she bustled into the dorm and hurried to her wardrobe. They might have asked where she was all day, or why she hadn't let them know she was skipping, but they didn't bother, and she didn't bother to tell them. Her smile didn't even waver when Russel looked her way and snorted, going back to reading a text book he had open on is lap.
None of it mattered. Not anymore.
/-/
"You do realise I'm closed today."
"Do I look like I care right now?" Roman sagged down onto one of the seats and fanned his face with his hat. "I've had a hell of a night and it's probably about to get worse for me. Give me something strong – and a slice of something so sweet it'll rot my teeth."
Neo waved her hands in the air like a person signalling a landing Bullhead.
"She'll have the usual."
Jaune sighed and went behind the counter to serve them. Even if it was his day off, the two looked like they needed a drink, though if he were honest Roman looked like he needed something stiffer than coffee. He prepared their drinks, brought out a larger-than-average slice of chocolate cake with cream, and then spooned four different flavours of ice-cream into a bowl and pushed a wafer into it.
He staggered back carrying all of it on a tray propped between his arm and his chest, nodding his thanks when Neo reached up to take it with a wide grin.
"Sounds like you've had a tough night," he said.
"A tough night? That doesn't even begin to describe the fiasco I just went through. Bloody animals!"
Jaune blinked. "Don't you work in removals?"
"Yeah, of course." Roman waved a hand, sipping from his cappuccino. "Ah, that's good. So, we were out removing some stuff – as usual – when this bloody girl and her pet cat got stuck underfoot. You know how they do, always sticking their noses where it doesn't belong."
"Little girls or cats?" he had to ask.
"Both!"
Well, he didn't know much about either of those things, but maybe it was a hazard of the job in removals. Family members, pets, or maybe just inquisitive children making Roman's life harder. He could imagine the problems that might cause if you were carrying delicate things. "You tripped?"
"You might say that. I had some `associates` with me and they proved about as useful as a chocolate chisel. Spent all their time chasing the stupid thing around but never managed to catch it, then the weird girl got involved and it all went down the drain. Idiots, the lot of them!"
"What happened?"
"Dropped some of the stuff, lost some more." Roman bit into his cake and continued with his mouth half-full. "Boss is going to be pissed after this. Hm. You mind if I bring her some cake? Might save my ass."
"I'll have a platter made up for you," he promised.
"Ah, you're a good kid. Best in the city, I swear. Seriously, though, don't get a cat. They're not worth it."
"I think I know what you mean," Jaune said, smiling at the thought of Blake finally meeting back up with her team. "I had a stray staying here for the last night or two. It was a bit of a hassle."
"You find her owners?"
"Yeah." In a manner of speaking, though he was sure Blake would hiss if she heard him say that. Yang would find it hilarious. "I got her back to her family."
"I'm not sure we're even talking about the same things anymore."
"Maybe we're not…"
Jaune and Roman shared a long look, before they burst into laughter. Yeah, Blake would kick his ass if she knew he'd talked about her like that, but it wasn't like he could tell Roman he'd been playing bunk to some random girl. The guy would tease the hell out of him.
"Ah, that's better," Roman said. "I needed a good laugh. You're a godsend, kid. Even my boss thinks so. She keeps saying she can't wait to come back and sample what you have to offer."
"Well, hopefully I'll be able to," he said.
Roman caught the hesitation. "Something wrong?"
"Just some competition," Jaune said, trying to make light of it. "A rival company has been pretty aggressive lately. They've even decided to open a coffee shop not five doors down."
"A little place?" Roman asked.
"No. It's a big chain. Café Prime."
"I know them. Standard coffee, standard service, standard everything. If I order something from there it barely tastes any better than what I can make in my kitchen. Can't stand the place. I can't stand mediocrity."
"Well, you are a little… uh… flamboyant."
Roman raised an eyebrow at that, flicking his orange hair back. "I'll take that as a compliment, but only because I'm not going to bite the hand that brews for me. Not when you've only got one hand left. This Café Prime, though. They causing you problems?"
"It's just a little competition. I don't really like to talk about it." Jaune sighed and sat down, feeling a little awkward doing so – but it was his day off and it wasn't like there were any other customers to serve. "Everyone keeps asking if I want help, but this is normal. Companies compete with one another and I need to prove I can do this on my own. I don't like complaining about it."
"Why?"
"Because it makes me feel weak," he admitted. "I doubt they complained when I showed up."
"You'd be surprised, and besides, it's not like they're going at you one-on-one. This isn't a fair fight and there's no weakness in accepting a little help every now and then. Why do you think I have Neo with me?"
"That's different. She's your assistant, and besides, you probably need her to help with heavy lifting."
"And you needed your new employees to help you run this place," Roman pointed out. "I'm just saying make sure it's not your ego keeping you from accepting help. Café Prime will do whatever they can, and if that means asking people for help, they'll do it. There's pride to be had in beating them back on your own, but that pride can trip you up if you're not careful."
Neo evidently agreed, placing a hand on his knee and nodding her head. He wasn't quite sure how but she managed to make the motion – even while she had a spoon sticking out of her mouth – vaguely reproachful.
They didn't have the full story, though. They weren't right… were they? No, this wasn't him being egotistical. He'd failed to get into Beacon and this was his chance to prove he wasn't a screw-up. He had to do it on his own, otherwise what was the point? Sure, he could rely on the Malachites, and maybe Roman, and even Team RWBY and CFVY. Hell, there were plenty of loyal customers who might help, but that would mean he was using them to do his dirty work.
"I'll keep it in mind, Roman. I promise. Let's talk about something else, though. Okay?"
"Hm, if you say so." Roman popped another bite-sized chunk of cake into his mouth and licked his fingers clean. "So, you found any nice girl to bring back and shag, yet? Any pretty girls you spending your time with?"
Jaune's mind – treacherous as ever – flashed to what he'd spent the day doing. His cheeks flushed.
And Roman, damn him, noticed immediately.
"Oooh…"
Heads up; still sick. It's not over-working as some have expressed concern on, or at least I don't think it is. My whole family came down with flu a week or so back and I was the only one who didn't catch it. Turns out I did, lol. Just delayed.
I skipped the dock fight scene here because a) it's not the focus of a story like this, and b) you've seen it all before. I let Penny meet Blake to facilitate a resolution to that, and yes, I kind of just leave you to accept that Penny and Blake could handle it. I'm sure there is plenty of room to question that, but again, it's just not the focus of this story. The focus was on how Jaune helps with it, not only in terms of providing Blake information, but also helping her make up with her team.
On Pyrrha, well, if it seems unusual for her to break the rules for something like this, then rest assured that is the point. I wanted to portray a Pyrrha who doesn't get Jaune, Ren and Nora, and who does have to live with her `no one sees me as who I am` problem. I know the show mostly ignored it apart from Weiss (and only Weiss) mentioning it in a single episode, but since she basically told Jaune that everyone saw her as her title and name, I wanted to explore how that might actually be.
She probably feels a little desperate here, but I can't help but think she felt that in the show. She did spear Jaune to a tree, after all. All because he'd not recognised her name. That is a little forward of her, and it'll have only gotten worse since Beacon didn't deliver on what she hoped for. Anyway, she'll be absent for the next chapter or two, mostly due to her detentions. I know it's been a bit Pyrrha-focused last few chapters, but Team RWBY, Velvet and Russel will come back next chapter.
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur