Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all rights go to Rooster Teeth. I also don't own any characters in the story. All rights go to their respective artists

Chapter 4: Better Strangers

The sun illuminated Beacon as it stretched across the horizon. Not many students were awake to witness the sun doing so, and those who were, were most likely eating breakfast or getting ready for the day. Jaune was among few who were awake and the only one outside absorbing the scenery. He walked and stretched after a night being smothered with 4 cute girls. He was in the courtyard of the school where the fountain was, he couldn't help but admire his surroundings.

Birds were chirping and time was ticking for Initiation to happen. Jaune didn't really have a plan for it and only discovered that he was supposed to be in a team with some other people. Hopefully, they won't piss him off. Well, if Jaune passes Initiation in the first place.

Jaune sighed as put on his shades hoping it would make the sun not as irritating to his eyes. He then reached into the pockets of his black pants, which fit with his suit jacket, and took out a half-full pack of cigarettes. He promptly picked a cigarette out of the pack and said, "I picked the wrong week to quit smoking."

He put the wrapped stick of tobacco up to his lips only to realize he didn't have a light. "Shit, where is Cinder when you need her?" Jaune sighed to himself.

"Why need her when you got me?" A girl's voice that caused Jaune to dread and stop, "After all, I'm just as hot if not burning."

Jaune looked to the voice and his eyes twitched violently. There she was. The bane of Jaune's existence. Coco Adel. About 6 feet away and most likely here to annoy the hell out of Jaune. She wore shades and a barrette with her Beacon uniform that had a much shorter skirt that was usually seen on Beacon students. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?" Jaune growled.

"How can I? When my boyfriend is here," Coco purred.

"I am not your boyfriend," Jaune stated.

Coco ignored him and began checking him out more. "I can't wait for us to spend more time together," She said, "I am going to enjoy watching your Initiation."

"Y'know, I might just fail on purpose now," Jaune said.

"Oh, I know you won't do that," Coco said.

"Oh yeah? And why's that?"

"Because you wouldn't want to disappoint your family now? Don't you want to live up to their wishes of you being a huntsman? Don't ya?"

Jaune's teeth gritted together so intensely, it made a sound that sounded like a diamond being scraped across concrete. "How did you-" Then a realization hit him harder than Jaune could ever hope to punch. He then growled one word. "Junior."

Coco giggled. "You make me so warm inside when you growl like that~"

"Ew," Jaune simply said, causing Coco to be taken back by that response, "I'm not sure how many times I have to spell this out for you. It's simple, a damn child could understand it. I already have girlfriend-or girlfriends to be specific. And the last thing I need is a girl who annoys the hell out of me and makes me want to drive my head through five thousand walls."

Coco chuckled. "You'll be mine." and with that she walked away, making sure to sway her hips in an overly sexualized manner. But Jaune wouldn't know since he already lost interest in the girl.

But his interest is in his former employer. "That son of a bitch! Who the hell does he think he is telling people about me and my family," Jaune growled, "I am going to make sure to punch him so hard, his damn teeth fly off!"

/~/

Junior got a wave of unpleasant cold shivers slid down his spine as he stood behind the bar of his club.

"I think I need a drink," Roman said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Dude, it's only 6:00 am," Junior said as he gave Roman a judgemental look, "And why do you look like shit?"

"Why do you look like your establishment was taken down by two hormone fueled teens?"

"Touché."

Speaking of Juniors' establishment, which is entitled Junior's club, it was in shambles and going through another makeover. Junior was behind the bar while Roman looked miserable as he rested his head on the bar counter.

"So, what's goin' on in the life of Roman Torchwick?" Junior asked as he poured the ginger man a drink,

"Where do I start?" Roman groaned. "First off, the dust heist was a complete dud. I got an earful from Cinder. Then I hear Jaune is in jail again! What a huge surprise! So, I do my thing and try to pull some strings by letting money talk. I gave about 7,000 lien to an officer so that they would free Jaune! But then the officer tells me that they are unable to release him because that prick, Ozpin, already called dibs on Jaune! I was like, Who the fuck is this hipster?"

"Look who's talking," Junior commented.

Roman growled. "I tried getting money from the officer that I paid him! But you know what he said? He said, Sorry but we can't refund tips. What an absolute retarded excuse!"

"Hey, that isn't PC," Junior said.

"What! I can't use the word, retarded anymore!" Roman said, clearly outraged.

"No, the correct term is mentally handicapped."

"Fine! Where was I? Oh yeah," Roman took a swig from his drink, "He said, Sorry, but we can't refund tips. What an absolute mentally handicapped excu-I can't say that damn phrase like that and expect my dignity to be intact."

"Well, I guess it's fine for you to say it," Junior chucked, "Seeing how you are mentally handicapped."

Roman didn't even care for Junior's dumb little retarded joke. So he said, "Fuck It! What an absolutely retarded excuse! So, I leave the police station feeling like an absolute fool! And I was like Hey, at least I have Neo, who is an amazing enforcer who can make anyone cough up any debts that they owe me! But, you know what happens next."

"Yep," Junior smirked, "She decides to take a little vacation with her fellow employees."

"You're so damn lucky," Roman grumbled, "You still have Melanie and Militia."

"Hey, I lost Jaune," Junior sighed.

"Didn't he cause the damage cost for your bar to rise by 100%?"

"It is actually, 105%," Junior corrected, "He also increased our profits by 120%."

"Whatever," Roman said, "What I'm trying to say, aren't you glad you don't have to pay so much for a new wall every month?"

"Yes but actually no," Junior answered, "Jaune may not be good for the club's well being, but boy was he fun to have around."

"So you see him more as a friend rather than an employee," Roman stated, "That'll bite you in the ass one day."

"Well, your relationship isn't much different from you and Neo's," Junior said.

"I guess," Roman said. He then raised his glass of alcohol, "To kids, whatever they might do and be."

"I'll drink to that," Junior said as he poured himself a drink.

The two friends drank and slammed their glasses on the bar.

"Oh yeah. Speaking of kids," Roman said, "How did Melanie and Militia take the news of Jaune no longer being your bartender."

"Well, I can't answer that," Junior said, "Because I never told them."

"Damn."

"Yup."

"Why's that?"

"So that they don't go to Beacon too," Junior explained, "I knew if I told them that Jaune went to Beacon they would most likely go there as well. And I don't think I need to remind you of what is going to happen to that place in the future."

Roman nodded, knowing damn well what Junior was talking about.

The Fall.

/~/

Jaune was a little pissed off. No, wait. He was really pissed off. He didn't get a chance to smoke a cigarette and an ex-employer shared information about him and his family that he would like to be private.

Jaune was most bothered by the person who annoys him the most. The worst part of that encounter was he couldn't fight that damn fashionista because he didn't want to destroy a school that he plans to attend. He can't mess this up. He assured this to himself as he walked around in the courtyard where he had that unwelcomed confrontation. He was just lucky his girlfriends weren't there to see Coco or else all hell would've broken loose.

Jaune sighed, "I could really use some form of wholesome energy."

As if the universe revolved around him, he felt a pair of arms and legs wrap around Jaune. Jaune then felt the weight of a petite person, most likely female because he felt two soft pillow-like mounds on his back.

Jaune turned his head to see none other than a pink and brown-haired girl pressing the side of her face tightly to his back, almost like she was rubbing her face on him, causing him to smile. "Hey Neo."

Neo then looked up at Jaune, smiling, practically saying a warm and bright hello. When she blinked her pink and grey colored eye switched colors. Her eyes fit her outfit which is a white long-sleeved jacket, with pink outlining the article of clothing, over a black leotard. She was also wearing thigh-high white boots and black pants.

"What'ch you up to now?" Jaune asked.

Neo typed and then held up her scroll, "Just talking to you."

"Why are you typing? It's just us two," Jaune whispered.

Neo looked around to make sure Jaune was right. Which he was.

"Is this better?" Neo whispered to Jaune's ear with a soft red hue on her cheeks.

Neo's voice was quite soft and a little hoarse due to her vocal cords being injured when she was little. But Jaune didn't care, he loved hearing her voice and wished he could honestly listen to it 24/7. That sounds a little cheesy but hey, Jaune is a cheesy dude.

"Much," Jaune whispered back, "Where do you wanna go?"

"I want to get some ice-cream," Neo answered.

"I don't think they sell any," Jaune commented.

"Yeah, they do," Neo corrected, "The vending machine near the locker rooms has a huge assortment of ice cream!"

"You sure?" Jaune asked.

"I'm pretty sure," Neo confirmed.

"You sure that you're pretty sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure that I'm pretty sure."

"Are you really sure that you're sure that you're pretty sure?"

"What? I'm confused," Neo confessed.

"Yeah, I think I just had a stroke," Jaune laughed. Neo covered her mouth as she giggled. She was making the cutest little noises when she laughed. It was similar to a kitten producing multiple small meows. It was so adorable Jaune couldn't help but feel a little bit of heat rise to his cheeks. Jaune didn't pick favorites, but Neo is definitely his cutest girlfriend. But he would definitely not tell any of his other girlfriends that. Jaune then felt a soft pressure on his cheek.

Neo was poking Jaune. "Hey, you didn't actually have a stroke did you?"

"I don't think so," Jaune smirked, "So, we gettin' some sweet delicious frozen treats?"

"Yes!" Neo excitedly whispered, she raised her arm and pointed forward, "Onward!"

And with that Neo rode Jaune's back triumphantly as he rushed toward the locker rooms.

/~/

The locker room was filled with both excited and nervous incoming students for what the first step might hold. Many students were getting ready by gearing up and checking their weapons. It was quite flooded with conversations from many of them about what this year's Initiation is, but none were more excited than Ruby Rose.

"C'mon Yang! I have to be on your team!" A little rose said.

"Ruby, don't take this the wrong way, but it would be better if you look for someone you haven't met before," Yang said.

"Are you implying that you wouldn't be partnered up with me!"

"No, it's not that! In fact, I would love it if we were partners!" Yang assured, "It's just that I want you to have the best possible experience in Beacon."

"Oh, ok. That makes sense," Ruby said," It's like that meeting a stranger thing you told me right?"

"Yup!" Yang said, "And if we are partners! We could make more friends together!"

"Heck yeah!"

Yang laughed and internally sighed in relief that her sister was in a much better state than last night. But overall, she would say that so far her attempts to make her sister better have been a success!

"Sorry, Neo," A familiar voice said, "I guess the vending machines ran out of ice cream."

Yang looked over to the voice and saw a blond-haired boy wearing shades, Jaune Arc. And next to him was supposedly Neo, who was a small girl, about Ruby's size, with hair that was pink on one side and brown on the other. She had a frustrated look on her face and held a half-eaten sugar cookie with pink, white, and brown striped style frosting on the pastry. Neo broke a piece off the cookie and threw it in her mouth and chewed with little enthusiasm. She then swallowed and sighed. Rinse and repeat.

Jaune sighed and said, "If you didn't want the cookie," This caused Ruby to look at Jaune and Neo's direction, "You could'a just said so."

Yang couldn't hear Neo but she could tell the colorful teen lips said something on the lines of, "It's not your fault. This cookie's okay."

"How about this?" Jaune proposed, "The next time we go downtown, I'll buy you some ice cream. Does that sound good to you?"

Neo looked at Jaune with a smile and wrapped her arms around Jaune's torso while still holding the cookie, still holding the half-eaten cookie.

'That must be one of his girlfriends,' Yang thought to herself.

"I guess that's a yes," Jaune smiled as he patted the top of Neo's head, "We should probably go find the other trouble makers."

Neo agreed as she unwrapped her arms from Jaune and to only realize that the cookie she was holding onto was gone. This confused Yang, Jaune, and Neo. But not Ruby, in fact, she looked happy and had crumbs around her mouth

Yang facepalmed at Ruby's love for cookies. She seriously needed an intervention. It was getting ridiculous and borderline unhealthy.

"Hey! Yang!"

The blond girl looked over to see Jaune waving to her as he walked over. Neo followed behind, looking at Yang as if she saw the blond teen before.

"Oh h-hey, Jaune!" Yang greeted, surprised by the sudden attention, "How's it going?"

"Meh," Jaune answered, "How's it going for you?"

"It's ya know! Going pretty great." Yang smiled.

"That's good to hear!" Jaune then looked over to Ruby, who looked like she was trying to remember something. "Who's this?"

"Oh, this is my super awesome sister!" Yang said as she head locked Ruby, who squirmed as a result.

Ruby eventually broke free and proudly said, "I'm Ruby Rose!"

"Well, nice to meet ya," Jaune said, slightly surprised by the fact that Ruby and Yang were sisters. He put out his hand for a handshake, "The name's Jaune Arc."

Neo then held up her scroll to the sisters, causing Jaune to sigh. He knew the scroll said, "It is short and sweet! And rolls off the tongue! Ladies love it!"

Yang laughed. "I know I do!"

"Yang! That's so inappropriate!" Ruby said with a beet-red face.

"Neo, you gotta stop saying that after every single time I introduce myself," Jaune sighed.

Neo simply held out her scroll to Jaune and read, "I can't help but pronounce the truth!"

Jaune laughed. "I have the cutest girlfriend," Jaune thought to himself.

Neo blushed and Jaune realized what he had just done.

"Oh, I said that out loud." Neo nodded. "Oh well. You know me. I can't help but pronounce the truth."

That was enough teasing for Neo, she then started hitting Jaune's chest in a cute and harmless fury. This only caused Jaune to laugh and exclaim, "Stop! It tickles!"

Ruby and Yang were still there and seem to have been forgotten by the couple. Ruby was weirded out by the couple's engagement. But Yang watched with a heavy amount of interest.

Yang observed that Jaune seems to be so warm and caring with Neo. She knew Jaune was a cool dude but seeing him like this was nice. She only got to see this side of him in the police car ride and when he gave her advice on how to deal with Ruby. She wondered if she would see more of this side of him. She wondered if she could be one of those girls who brings out this side of him.

"Attention students! Please head over to the cliffs for Initiation!" The speakers announced bringing Yang out of her thoughts.

"Welp looks like we gotta go Neo," Jaune said as he picked up Neo as if he was his bride. She actually had the expression of a bride as she was picked up. "See ya laters! Alligators."

"Isn't it See ya later! Alligator?" Yang asked.

"Well, there are two of you girls," Jaune explained, "It wouldn't make sense if I had just said that."

"Makes sense," Yang chuckled, "Well then, See ya laters! Alligators!"

With that, Jaune left with Neo in his arms, waving goodbye.

/~/

"Where are they?" Emerald asked annoyed as she stood crossed armed next to her platform on the cliff that towered over a forest crowded with trees and Grimm.

"Maybe they are just admiring the scenery?" Marcy reasoned, shrugging.

"That makes sense for Jaune, but doesn't explain where Neo is," Emerald said.

"Maybe they were making new friends?"

"Like I said, it makes sense for Jaune but not Neo."

"Maybe they got lost?"

Emerald was about to repeat herself but she gave a little thought to it. "That actually makes too much sense." She knew Jaune was terrible with directions. Neo would most likely know where she is at any time but would likely not help Jaune with directions if it meant having fun with him.

"Where is Jaune and Neo?" A voice derailed Emerald's train of thought. She looked up to see Cinder looking rather impatient.

"Lost most likely," Marcy answered.

"That makes sense," Cinder sighed, "Too much sense."

"That's what I said," Emerald chimed in.

"Anyways, they should be here any second," Cinder said, confidently.

"What makes you say that, Boss?" Marcy questioned.

But before anyone could say anything, rapid footsteps could be heard approaching the group of girls. It was Jaune with his shades on holding Neo as if she was his new wife. It made the girls feel just a little bit jealous.

"Where were you?"

"I was admiring the scenery and making some new friends," Jaune responded as he put Neo down, causing her to puff out her cheeks in disappointment.

"Called it," Marcy said.

"Called what?" Jaune asked.

"It's nothing," Emerald answered.

"Whatever you say." He took out a package of cigarettes. He then took out and inserted a cigar between his lips.

"Hey, I thought you quit!" Emerald scolded as she pointed a finger at Jaune in accusation.

"I did. But I just decided that today calls for a cigarette," Jaune said. He turned to Cinder, "Hey Cinder, got a light?"

Cinder smiled as she snapped her fingers causing a small flame to hover over her hand. She then brought it to the end of Jaune's cigar, lighting it. "Let Jaune indulge in this, Em. He could smoke whenever he wants."

Jaune inhaled the cigarette and took it out of his mouth, exhaling. A wave of smoke exited Jaune's lungs as he sighed in satisfaction. "Thanks, Cinder," Jaune smirked, "That really hit the spot."

"You shouldn't even be smoking in the first place," Emerald pinched the bridge of her nose, "This school has a strict no smoking policy."

"Well, yes," Jaune agreed, "But that only applies to students. And I am not yet a student."

"I don't care," Emerald said, as she took the cigarette out of Jaune's mouth, "It's a bad habit."

"Gee, Em," Jaune sighed, "You sound like my mother."

"No, I sound like your girlfriend."

"Was that really the best comeback line you can come up with?" Marcy facepalmed.

"Well, nothing else came to my mind," Emerald blushed.

"All students! Go to your assigned platform!" Goodwitch announced to the students.

"Well, girls," Jaune clapped his hands together, "Sorry to say that we are going to cut this moment short."

"Good luck, Jaune," Emerald wished as she kissed Jaune's right cheek. Cinder saw this and didn't want to be outdone so she kissed Jaune's other cheek. Neo also kissed Jaune's right cheek. While Marcy said in her head, 'Screw it,' and just full-on kissed Jaune on the lips.

Emerald rolled her eyes while Cinder and Neo reacted with faces that said, there she goes again. They weren't really surprised that Marcy would go for such a bold expression of affection.

But Jaune didn't care, he leaned into the kiss and almost fulfilled Marcy's fantasy's - which were heavily influenced by a certain visual novel known as Knights of Affection.

"Ahem."

The two broke away to see a flustered Glynda Goodwitch.

"All students should go to their assigned pad," The blond teacher said with glowing cheeks.

"Yeah, you got it Glyndie," Jaune said.

"You shouldn't call me by my first name Mr. Arc," Glynda said.

"Sorry, Glyndie," Jaune smirked.

"Just go already," Glynda huffed, annoyed.

"You got it," Jaune smiled, "C'mon girls, let's initiate Initiation."

So, Jaune and his girlfriends walked to their appropriate platforms leaving the green-eyed teacher watching the blond bartender walk away.

Glynda doesn't quite know what to think of Jaune just yet. But she doesn't want him to fail this Initiation and knows that Ozpin doesn't just pick his allies in a lottery. So, she wants to see what Jaune is capable of.

A/N: Yeah...sorry. I have some bad news. I will be on a permanent hiatus on all my stories as of now. I am truly sorry but I am at a point where I just don't like what I'm writing. I know I sound like an asshole but I am truly sorry.

Everyone is more than welcomed to continue my stories and use the ideas from them. There is no need to ask for permission.

Thank you for showing support for this story and I am happy that people liked this story.

I wanted to finish the rough drafts so that they seem complete I have and get them uploaded and have everyone who followed the story to be aware of the situation right now.

I'm sorry.