When he straightened back up, it was with a crimson face, and him wiping one hand across his cheek. His legs honestly felt a little weak.
Roman, the bastard, laughed his ass off. "Oh, she's not letting you go for the daughter comment, is she?" He grinned and nudged the girl, who ignored him entirely and dug into her treat. "I've never seen her so affectionate, but then again I've never seen her so annoyed, either. You bring out the best and worst in her. Congrats."
He sat down opposite them, still rubbing his cheek and still not trying to look at the pretty girl. She was very small, but it had been more exhausted idiocy that had led to him calling her a child. There was no way he could misinterpret those curves, nor the way she swayed her hips when she moved.
It was far too late when he noticed her eyes locked onto his. She'd seen him looking – and seemed more than pleased. She casually ran her tongue over the spoon in punishment, making sure her mismatched eyes watched him as she did.
Jaune swallowed and tried to ignore the uncomfortable tightening in his pants. If Neo's smug look was any indication, she damn well knew.
"I-Is she ever going to stop getting me back for that? I said sorry."
"A wise man once told me that a man forgets but never forgives, while a woman forgives but never forgets." Roman paused to let the message sink in, and then smirked. "Neo, on the other hand, neither forgives nor forgets. Get used to it."
She winked at him when he turned to look at her, and Jaune groaned to himself. He wasn't sure if it was heaven or hell, but it still left him red in the face and feeling like an idiot.
"How is business going?" Roman asked. "Anything good happen today?"
Jaune regaled the two with his tale of the day, mostly of the teachers from Beacon and their almost-fight. When Roman first came, he and Neo had been almost wary around him, like they expected him to say or do something. When he hadn't, and when it was clear he wasn't going to, they'd quickly relaxed, and they'd become a regular fixture for the last three nights.
Always when he was about to close, and always when he had no one else in the diner.
"Sounds interesting," Roman laughed. "You're certainly drawing your fair share of attention, kid. You sure you want to be the kind of place that caters to huntsmen, though?"
"What do you mean? I'm open to anyone."
"You might be, but it's not the same. You already said you've noticed less custom from normal people, well that isn't an accident. Huntsmen and civilians don't mix."
"I'm a civilian."
"Normal civilians," Roman drawled, rolling his eyes. "You don't count."
"That's nonsense. I've seen loads of huntsmen walking down the streets and no one runs away screaming when they do. Vale is filled with people, both huntsmen and not."
"Yeah, but they don't mix," he repeated. "They can exist in the same place, but the culture is different, and they don't like to mingle. Look, I'm not trying to trick or even confuse you, Jaune. I'm just answering your unspoken question." He shrugged and finished his drink. "Don't take my word on it, though. Ask around, or better yet, keep your eyes open and see for yourself."
Impatience warred within him for a second, but he forced it down. If he just asked Roman, then he wouldn't get an explanation, and even if he did, he'd still have to see it himself to believe it. "Alright, I'll keep my eyes open."
"And I'll be there to say `I told you so` when you figure it out," Roman laughed, slapping some lien down on the table.
Jaune sighed. "You always tip too high."
"You're open after hours. Consider it a premium rate. Besides, money comes easy to me – it's like a natural gift I have."
"Yeah well, you shouldn't say that too loud. Someone might try to rob you."
"Somehow, I think I'll be okay on that front…" Roman laughed to himself and stood up, picking up his cane once more. He didn't have a limp, so Jaune had no idea why he had such a thing – but Roman was pretty eccentric, so maybe it was a part of the outfit. "See you tomorrow night, kiddo. Thanks for the treat; it's hard to find places open late like this, and even harder to find ones with service like this."
"I literally don't even do anything," he said.
"That's the point. Let's just say I'm used to a veryspecific reaction from most people. It's nice to find someone who acts normal around us. It's a nice change." Roman smirked when it was clear he didn't understand. "You'll get it in time, kid. Anyway, you ready to go, Neo?"
It was only when Roman said the name that Jaune realised his mistake. He'd turned his back on the girl and left himself open.
He yelped and jumped forward when her hand slapped against his backside. His cheeks, which had only just started to go back to normal, were bright red again, and the girl laughed silently as she sashayed past him.
She made sure to turn and blow him a kiss before she left.
And Roman made sure to laugh himself hoarse at the same time.
Jaune rubbed his behind as they left, trying to regain his racing heart. He'd never received that kind of attention from girls before, and certainly none as pretty as Neo. Heck, even his customers had started to make it a sport to see who could make him blush the most. He groaned in embarrassment and picked up his mop once more.
"Why do I keep getting the weirdest customers?"