Troubled Hearts: Competition

The hustle and bustle of this street had a calming effect on Neo, and she sat for what felt like hours gazing outward. The building she sat by was the same she stayed in, the same that he stayed in as well. So Neo sat and waited for Jaune to walk out, letting the rest of the day pass on by. He said he only did a little work, I guess he must not have to get up early for it either. She was waiting for someone who was with the people who had destroyed her previous life. And it didn't bother her.

People came and went through the large double doors that marked out her current home. A hotel, back when it was just her and Roman taking center stage in the crime ring. Now only very important Huntsman were living there, along with her in the prepared safe room. You were always two steps ahead of the jobbers, so why weren't you ahead of that witch? The thought had crossed Neo's mind less since meeting Jaune, but she still let it wander in from time to time. It helped to keep his memory alive.

"Ok, thank you. I'm sure I was just having a bad dream then." A familiar voice, and Neo turned to find the boy she was looking for. Back in the same hoodie and scattered plates of armor. She was going to have to teach him the finer styles of the world.

"Wait, mister Arc, you almost forgot your weapon!" An attendant ran out after him carrying a short sheath with a handle. Ah, that's right. Still have to carry it around thanks to her. Neo tapped the tip of her parasol on the concrete, feeling the sturdiness of the unique weapon. She wasn't about to be near those monsters without it. Getting up from her spot, she threw up an illusion to mask herself and followed the blond boy. It was all a great game to play, shocking him had become something that was quickly topping her list of enjoyable activities. Jaune walked briskly in front of her, stiff but slowly loosening as they went.

Neo saw he'd finally woken up as he spun around a piece of garbage, trying to act cool. Still trying to be that one cool kid, huh? How hopeless. She quickly ran up behind him, daintily laying the Scroll she used on top of his head. Jaune stopped dead in his tracks as the weight settled onto his brow, and he reached up to pick the small device up. Her breath slowed as she waited for him to turn around and greet her. Instead, he simply kept walking and Neo felt her heart sink just a bit as she jogged back up to him and past him, letting the illusion shatter to reveal her presence.

Jaune grinned at her, the mirth in his eyes spilling out as he tried to keep a cordial look. "Oh, Neo, I'm glad you're here. I was afraid somebody had dropped this Scroll on my head." His tone grated while she pondered whether he could take a foot to the face. She snatched back her voice, and let her fingers craft the perfect response.

'I was just following a silly boy who thought he'd look cool spinning around some trash, but I see he's already got it all under control. I should really go then.'

"Hey now, I was just playing. Hey! Don't walk away!" Neo skipped a bit, twirling around to see Jaune starting to chase after. A quick flash of some tongue and an illusion and she was gone. He ran into the ghost before it dissipated, a forlorn look taking over as he lost track of her. Oh, now you want to be all serious? Alright. Sneaking back behind him, she slipped the Scroll into a pocket and ran a finger lightly along the base of his neck.

"Alright, alright, you win!" Jaune fished the device out of his pocket, reading the words quickly before holding out her voice. Neo grabbed it gently and began walking slowly ahead. "Well, I'm not doing much today, just going to the wall to file some paperwork. What about you?"

She thought back to how her morning had gone, remembering how the need for money had always been solved. The shopkeeper was an okay gentleman, not too much of a cheapskate with his customers. Still, payment was payment, and the broken fingers were going to be a hearty reminder to button his lip next time she came calling. Although it would have been nice not to need force to get what I want.

'Well, I had to shake down this one guy for some protection money he owed. He didn't want to cooperate. So I had to break some fingers, and it was a splendid day for it.'

Neo watched as he read the words, expecting a quick little laugh out of the goofy boy. Instead, Jaune's face slowly drew into a frown before handing the rectangle back to her. She tried to lighten his mood with a snarky smile. He still kept the frown, deepening as they walked.

"That isn't something... normal people do," Jaune warned, a dour look in his eyes. "I'm not really sure how to take it."

She felt a lump start forming in her throat, the panic of being left alone again rising swiftly. 'I only did it because it was easy, please don't be mad.'

"It's not something that can be ignored. Neo, you can't just go around and hurt people."

Neo tried to put a bright smile on, but her mouth and her eyes just stayed in the same forlorn position. She was going to be alone again. 'I'm sorry, I just had nowhere to turn to'

"It's still not right. He's going to need help from what you did." Jaune turned to walk away, and she just stood there feeling the weight of his words. But it's all I know. So she followed him, to try and figure out something she could do. The specter of loss watched her, and she couldn't hide the fear of being left again. Neo watched him walk for a while, straight backed and focused now. They went for a time, silence both imposed and expected their only company.

"If you want, we could try and find a way to get a normal job for you." Neo stopped at his words, taken aback at the simple kindness. "Just, no more hurting people. Okay?" Jaune looked into her eyes, and she saw the hope in his, that she could be a better person. I can try, maybe I can also teach you when we see each other again. Her smile lit up a face framed in brown and pink hair, eyes fluttering in an attempt to convey her emotions. She placed the Scroll in his hands once more, letting her voice reach out again.

'I'll try.'

Jaune walked along his route, the fastest way toward the barrier wall to the other half of the city. His mind rolled over possibilities, the slow churn of thought probing each option for Neo. Or he might simply be stalling for time, it really was a toss up at this point. She can't speak, but she can fight. Maybe a night watch? No, how could he prove she was just another person and not some criminal? Would they even ask? His mind kept rolling over the same questions, over and over until they started getting flipped around. And on he walked.

Neo's finger brushing lightly against his arm brought him out of his trance. She presented her Scroll, the voice she had. 'Is it alright that I'm coming with you? I'm not used to dealing with the authorities.'

"I'm sure they won't care, the last time I brought in a kid from the rain they just shrugged and went back to work." He didn't think it would be a problem, or at least not a severe one.

The device was shoved back into his hand. 'Are you saying I look like a child?'

Jaune felt the heat rise in his face at the implication. "No, no! It was just an example." He wasn't saying anything bad, just trying to make his case. No matter how short she was.

Neo slipped away back behind him, the stamps echoing outward from heeled boots. Jaune thought a little harder on his choice of words, trying to place them just a bit better for the next time. Dad never said it was this hard, and Pyrrha never fought back like this. He felt the heat rise a little at his thoughts, chastising himself for such flippancy for the dead. But... was she really dead? Jaune walked for a little while when he noticed a distinct lack of something. There were only one set of footsteps, his own.

He whipped around, searching for any sign of the short woman or anything she could be hiding behind as a joke. The only spot was an alley a little ways back, and he sprinted towards it with a sinking feeling in his gut. Rounding the corner he came face to face with one of the faces of his past, back to torment him now. Clad in the same red dress as the last time he saw her, the woman who had ruined everything, standing with hand raised against Neo. Jaune drew his sword, not caring if this woman still could destroy him with a flick of the wrist. He charged.

And his weapons were wrenched from his hands, pulled over to a familiar figure. Pyrrha, or what had to be Pyrrha behind the ornate mask and nearly pitch black dress. She stood with his sword and shield hovering in the air along with the umbrella that Neo was walking with. The alley was a quiet place, no doors along its length and only an occasional window. The perfect spot to dispose of someone unwanted or unneeded.

"So, we see eye to eye again little Neo. Oh yes, you dislike that so don't you?" Cinder had a glow to her eyes, and Neo stared back daggers. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"

Jaune saw a flash, and the Scroll sailed through the air at him. Catching the small rectangle, he opened it to find Neo's retort. "Uh, miss?"

The woman glanced over at him, eying him up and down as he stood awkwardly and unarmed. "Well, look who joined us. I said I believed in destiny, but this takes it to a different level. Well, what is it boy?"

"Well, she said... Neo that is, she said that you are a 'charlatan who took advantage of Roman for your own ends'."

"Oh, did she? I'm sure she'd love to hear all the things that he wanted to do when I snatched him up into our plan. How he wanted to settle down from all the heists?" she cooed the words with a detestable tone of superiority. Jaune walked over to stand next to Neo, handing the small device back to her. She shoved it back into his hand a moment later.

"She says that 'harlots don't deserve to speak if all they do is' uh, Neo? I think you misspelled this." He pointed out the word while Cinder just stood there. "Okay, I think we've got this now, sorry you had to wait. So 'harlots don't deserve to speak if all they do is spew filth from their mouths' which I would tend to agree with."

Cinder blinked at him, then blinked again. The snarl began riding up the side of her mouth in a slow but steady crawl. Her eyes lit up, and fire crackled around outstretched fingertips. Well, I might have pushed too hard. This is it then? And he readied himself, trying to think of the good times, the time he had with Pyrrha, the extremely brief time with Neo. He wasn't going to have to worry about a job now for her.

A light, floating sound started behind Cinder, slowly but surely erupting into the divine sound of laughter. Familiar laughter, and Jaune knew the truth as soon as he saw the source. The black clad woman was indeed Pyrrha, and she was stoically laughing while standing stiff as a board. She's laughing, but at what? Cinder's flames flickered and died as she stared incredulously at her laughing colleague. Anger split her face, the perfect lines of beauty contorting to new shapes. Perfect? She's trying to kill you man!

"Oh, you find it funny? And what else do you think is funny?" And she waited, Pyrrha's laughter dying down while her opponent stared at her. "It would be a trifle to kill him, and not even a passing hint of pain. Don't give me that little lilt of jealousy, I have half a mind to take him from you just to prove a point!" Pyrrha just stood there, slow pulse of red on her collar the only sign of life. "Alright! That's how it's going to be. Boy!"

Jaune jumped at the mention, looking back to see amber eyes staring him down. "Um, yes?"

"What is a good place to get something to eat? We're going to have a chat, you and I, and we'll see why this... girl likes you so much. Come along." And she walked away, leaving the trio to stare after her. Jaune turned to look into Neo's eyes, trying to find some clue as to what was going on. She just shrugged.

"I guess I'll follow her, it's not like we can do anything else, right?" Neo just stared back, frowning in a concerned way. "I'll be alright if that conversation is any indication." He didn't really think it would go that well, but what could he do against someone like that? So Jaune turned to walk away before looking back at the other woman from his past. "Bye, Pyrrha."

As the man walked away, a light breeze picked up and caught rosy locks in the wind. A hand twitched, trying against it all to wave for her love to come back.

A cozy place, and a small group of people unaware of her. It was all so funny, she just wanted to throw her hands up and scream at them all to bow down before she burned them alive. Or was that the emotions bleeding through talking? Cinder couldn't tell anymore, the haze of red and green was nearly overwhelming. This is the most inconvenient thing. Even Mercury was more useful than this piece of trash. Still, it was how Salem had told her to proceed, and she wasn't in a place to argue yet. But she would proceed at her own whims.

"So, Cinder, is this what you had in mind?"

Cinder turned back to her company, a young boy with a strong sense of right it seemed. Jaune Arc, from what she'd gleaned from Pyrrha, was a goofy, kind, and strong willed boy. It was going to be a pleasure breaking him with guile and beauty, the traits she'd had for so long now. But it is a shame, he does seem to care about that girl genuinely. She shook her head, trying to remove such fleeting and feeble thoughts. Men always had the same ideas, and he would be no different.

"Yes, it'll do. But what about you? Do you like the food here?" Indulge him, let him talk about himself.

"I'm more interested in why you wanted to talk." His face spoke volumes on his feelings toward her.

"Oh, I'm just here to enjoy the lovely time with you. It was nice seeing you again, although it's a shame it couldn't be under better circumstances."

Jaune shifted in his seat, the words clearly having their desired effect as he softened his face slightly. "I'd say this isn't what I expected. But then, you don't do what people expect." He stared into her eyes, the sharp blue cutting deep. No, that isn't why we're here. Stop. "Is there any reason why you came back to Vale?"

He was being clever, trying to pull anything while she was in a good mood. "I'm here to see the sights, take in the people." And take over this pitiful cesspit of humanity, but he didn't need to know that. A small yellow stream drifted by, but it was minimal enough to ignore. You know full well that was the plan when we left. The red intensified, and Cinder sighed in exasperation.

"And what about me? Am I just here to entertain you?" he muttered, letting eyes fall downward. That wouldn't do, she needed to prove a point.

"Of course not, you were the one who threw themselves at me first. And you lived, not many get to say that." That may have been too harsh too soon, but Cinder didn't care about it if the girl was back anyway.

A waiter brought out the pair's food, a sandwich for Jaune and a delectable chocolate confection for Cinder. She really wasn't that hungry but the dessert sounded exquisite. Picking at the fluffy treat, she watched Jaune slowly eat the simple fair with skeptical eyes. Yes, I suppose it is a little nerve wracking eating with someone who could kill you. But then, I've grown used to it. He finished the meal and sat with hands in lap.

"Feeling like a treat? This souffle is quite good, try some." She'd lured many men with the simple offer, a direct notice of intent.

And he got up. Wiping his mouth off, Jaune stepped out from the booth and stared down at Cinder. There was no malice in his eyes, just a simple resignation. She felt her heart pull, the cords in her chest seemingly stretching outward as his manner pulled on them again. The fogs died down, replaced with a small pink and blue. Satisfaction and commiseration.

"I'm sorry, I know what you're trying to do. And you are lovely, even for someone who I should hate. But this isn't the right time, or the right way. I should know, I tried a long time ago. Please, just leave me and the rest of us alone." And he left, slowly walking out the door after paying for his meal.

Cinder sat there, feeling the one thing she hadn't felt in so long now. She'd swayed men in the dozens to her side using beauty and guile to their fullest effect. And now she had no more confidence in them. He really is that honest? Answering mist confirmed her suspicions before being replaced with a red and green of immense intensity. Oh, yes, I am going to go at this now. Even if we have to put all of the plans on hold, he is going to be mine. And the fogs died down, almost to nothing before an answering veil overlaid her entire mind. It was a deep, dark brown. And it carried the feeling of waiting, and of conflict. Now you think we should compete?

Very well, it was best to place minions in their place on an even playing field, to demonstrate her role as master in its entirety.