Maybe~"
"I'll keep it in mind," he said, for what felt like the fifth time. "You know I work late. It'll have to be when I get settled in enough to take a day off or hire some part-time staff."
"We could provide some."
"Part-time staff that aren't gangsters, Melanie."
"Boo. You're so picky." Melanie laid a hand on his left arm, and Miltia took the right. "Even so, the offer still stands. You need to loosen up and relax. You'll never get rid of that pesky V-card if you work all day, every day. Get out and meet some people."
And now they sounded like his Mom. That was more than a little awkward. They were probably right, though. All work and no play wasn't going to do anything but wear him out. "Tell you what, if I make up enough money at the end of the month, then I promise I'll come down for a night. That sound good?"
Apparently, it did.
"Really!?"
"You promise?" Melanie asked, surprised. "Oh, who am I kidding? You're one of those guys who always does what they say, aren't you? Such a goody-goody. Well then, we'll hold you to that. Right, sis?"
"Damn right. I hope you can dance, lover-boy."
"I think I ca-" His words cut off as the bell on the door jingled, it opening far harder than it had any right to and slamming back against the wall. The person that pushed through was familiar, and judging by her red face, she'd run the entire way.
"Hey Jaune," Yang Xiao-Long yelled. "I lost my scroll somewhere. Did you see-"
She saw the two girls hanging off him.
Her eyes flashed red.
/-/
Yang took the scene in instantly. The two sisters – the same ones from Junior's club, and they each had a hand on Jaune, who looked none the wiser as to who they were or why he shouldn't be near them. They didn't have their weapons out, but she knew that could change without warning.
They've got him and I can't do anything while that's the case. I should have let the others help me look for my scroll. Damn it. Yang looked for any help, but the diner was empty apart from them. A perfect time for some mobsters like them to come by and try to shake him down. That he was unhurt was a good sign – she'd got here in time.
"Let him go and get out of here," she said. "If you're quick about it, we won't have any trouble."
"Oh, we won't? Isn't that kind of her, Melanie?"
The first turned to the second, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, so sweet. Sorry, Blondie, but we didn't come here to leave straight after. We've got an order, and we need a certain someone to fulfil that for us." The white-dressed girl leaned on Jaune's arm, her fingers trailing up his shoulder. "Why don't you split and leave it to us?"
And leave him with the two of them? Not happening. Ruby would freak if she found out something happened to her best friend. Yang wasn't going to be the one responsible for that. Besides, she liked the guy too.
Ember Celica clicked into place. The twins clearly recognised it and took a step back. Good.
Jaune was less pleased.
"H-Hey, no violence in the diner! Yang, please. It's fine. They're customers!"
"You've got no idea who they are!"
"Huh, they're Miltia and Melanie…"
Not what she meant, but that was fine. If he'd known the truth, he'd have been more afraid – but maybe ignorance was bliss. It wouldn't keep him safe if they decided to rough him up, however. That was up to a huntress like her.
Yang lunged.
Her fists thrust forward to fire a shot, but it wasn't like she was going to unload in a friend's place. The Malachites didn't know that, though, and raised their hands to shield their faces. That took them off Jaune, which was her main goal. Got to get him out before he gets hurt!
There was no time to be fancy, and no time to risk him. She caught him by the elbow and tugged him back and behind her – planning to cover him with her own body until they could get out of range. She dragged him roughly behind her, ignoring his sharp gasp.
There was no ignoring the crack, however.
/-/
He wasn't sure how it happened. One moment he'd been between the two sisters, and the next – Yang had his arm in a grip of pure steel and was pulling him away. He didn't have the time to complain, nor even to resist. Yang dragged him back behind her.
She meant well. He knew that.
She thought he was in trouble, that he needed help… that she was the only one around to provide it. That was probably why Melanie and Miltia didn't stop her, because they figured it would be safer if they didn't intervene and start a fight.
His body sailed back, still propelled from her initial tug and unable to catch his footing. She kept hold as he stumbled past, maybe thinking it a better idea not to let him fall through a window. Like a ball on the end of a piece of string, his body swung back, fuelled by her momentum. Her grip was tight, pulling him to a stop. The string, his arm, snapped taut.
Something had to give. With aura, training, and muscles like steel - it wasn't Yang.
It was a dry, crunchy sound that echoed unreasonably through the room, shocking even him by the sheer volume. A volume he could feel rumbling through his body. It took him a good second or two to realise what had happened – and a second longer for feeling to kick in.
Even then, he was so shocked that it came out more as a gasp than a cry.
"Oh…"
It didn't express what he felt. Not even close. Agony seared through his left arm and raced up to his shoulder, where something throbbed, pulsed and twisted in equal measure. His legs buckled as a feeling of intense nausea rushed through him. It didn't get any better when he saw the shape of his shoulder. Though no flesh had torn, it was aligned in a way that could only be called wrong.
Yang gasped.
"Oh my God…"
Melanie stepped back. "I-I'll call an ambulance!"
"You fucking idiot!" Miltia roared. "What were you thinking!?"
"I-I didn't mean to… I-I just pulled him back!"
Yang's face filled his vision. She was frightened and afraid, her eyes filled with such horror and guilt that he wanted nothing more than to pretend nothing had happened, just to make her feel better. He couldn't, however. He couldn't say anything at all. His teeth were clenched shut, a low whine all he could manage. His eyes were filled with tears.
She hadn't meant to.
Yang hadn't meant to hurt him.
Miltia and Melanie hadn't meant to put him in danger.
It was an accident. No one was to blame.
But at that moment, as his vision faded, as he felt hands settle him down to the floor, even as Melanie's voice echoed in the background, calling out his address. At that very moment, he understood. Understood why huntsmen and civilians didn't mix. Why Mrs Robertson had hidden Grey away and wouldn't be coming back.
Because what a huntsmen meant, and what they were capable of, were two different things. Huntsmen and huntresses were brave, skilled and powerful.
He wasn't.
He was fragile.