Chapter Text
Can You Feel The Heat?
Chapter 1: Fish out of water.
The city felt too loud.
Not in sounds but in presence. Too many footsteps, too many bodies, too many smells until Jaune could not tell where people started, and the city ended.
Vale was not built for him.
Or maybe it was, once upon a time.
But any sense of comfort that may have remained was no longer existent. He yanked his bag strap closer, clutching his possessions tightly. The transport platforms were packed; he could already see some students for Beacon. Future huntsmen in training.
They were in loose groups, laughing, talking, brushing against each other with an ease that was vacant from himself.
Ears flicked.
Tails swayed.
Eyes tracked him for just a second too long before moving on.
Human.
The word wasn't said out loud.
It didn't have to be.
Taking a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. "You got this, Jaune…" he muttered under his breath, "You trained for Beacon, you can handle Vale."
A pair of faunus passed him; one glanced over their shoulder at him. Eyes tinted with curiosity, not hostile, he felt his shoulders tighten.
Don't shrink
That would be the worst thing he could do
He willed his muscles and pushed himself, making sure he stood to his full height. He stepped off the platform and into the shuffling crowds and made his way to the exit and into Vale proper.
Beacon was tomorrow. One night. That was all he had before everything started for real.
He tapped his bag strap. He could spend it lounging in his hotel room, but that would be pointless, wouldn't it?
He would just waste his time thinking every which way, and he would mess up his initiation.
Or as he took his first steps into Vale, he could take his first steps into the light. Not to hide, but to be himself and explore.
Jaune glanced down the street.
Lights were already coming on, the city shifting from day into something brighter, louder, more alive. Music spilled faintly from somewhere ahead, bass threading through the air like a heartbeat.
He hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…Yeah, this is a terrible idea."
And started walking anyway.
Every step took him deeper and deeper into a changing mirage of Vale, and there was less quite conversations. More laughter, more movement. Pairs and groups meandered down the streets between neon lights.
Jaune edged closer to the club entrance, casting a glance over himself dressed in tight blue jeans and a black shirt. The last thing he wanted was to get rejected entry because of how he dressed.
Taking another step closer, he tried to look not as out of place as he felt.
Who was he kidding? He felt and knew he was out of place.
"First time?"
The voice came from his right—warm, amused, and way too close.
He turned, and before any words could leave his lips, his brain short-circuited.
She leaned against the wall beside the club, almost as if she owned it.
Golden hair shone bright against strobe lights, cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, lilac, he noted, shone bright and sharp. Narrowed on him, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up; it felt more than the passing interest that he experienced all the way here.
Her gaze had a weight, almost like he was something worthy to observe. Then there were her ears.
Lion
Angeled forward slightly as she observed him, his eyes catching her tail swaying behind her - slow and deliberate swishes. Her tail was thick, powerful, with a dark tuft at the end.
A cropped jacket clung to her, a fitted black top hugged her. High-waisted shorts, long legs that ended in combat boots. Fingerless gloves covered her hands.
His shoulders sagged a moment.
"That obvious?" He managed without stuttering
Her lips quirked into a smirk.
"Yeah"
"That obvious and that bad?"
"Relax," she hummed, pushing herself off the wall. "Everyone looks lost their first time here."
First time in Vale or in a club? He wondered
She stepped closer, not invading his space but definitely not being polite. He felt the difference in their presence; she was grounded and confident.
This was her territory, no danger, but just a matter of fact, he was in it.
Her gaze flickered over him once more, his clothes, his shoulders and his arms.
Then right back up to his face.
"Are you gonna head in?" she asked, "or do you just plan on standing here all night?"
He sucked in a breath
"I was thinking about it."
"That doesn't answer my question."
He huffed, his shoulders bouncing, "I am getting there."
Her tail swished, amused.
"Right"
Her head tilted, some of her bangs following, "C'mon," she said, "You'll be fine."
His brows furrowed.
"You don't know me?"
"Don't need to."
His brows furrowed even more.
"That's… not reassuring?"
She smirked, "It wasn't supposed to be."
Before he could even say anything further, she turned to the club entrance, taking a step. She glanced over her shoulder when he didn't step behind her.
"Well?"
He glanced back at the entrance, and light slipped out of the edges, the door firmly shut for now. He then turned back to her. Letting out a deep sigh.
"... Yeah, alright. Why not"
"Good answer"
He stepped beside her. This is a mistake, Jaune…
"Jaune, by the way," he finally introduced himself
She glanced back, her eyes twinkling for a moment. A grin tugged on her lips.
"Yang"
"Nice to…"
The door to the club swung open, and then it hit him, almost causing him to take a step back. The deep thumping music, the mass of people, voices layered between laughs and screeches. Bodies moving and sloshing.
It was alive
Yang noticed him falter. Her head tilted slightly, eyes narrowing fractionally, narrowing in focus.
"You good?" Her voice cut through the music and hubbub with as much clarity as Crocea Mors
"Yeah… Yeah, I am good." That was a fat fucking lie.
He stepped forward, his legs feeling heavier than when he wore his armour. He couldn't turn away, not now. Arcs don't back down, turning away would just be… worse.
He could feel her eyes continuing to watch him; her grin had now turned into a smirk.
"Stick with me, you'll survive." She said
Another breath escaped his lips, honestly it almost sounded like a laugh.
"Comforting"
No reply, she turned back to the entrance and strode forth. Like she belonged.
Clenching his fist once, he followed after her. Another cool breath, trying to placate his warming chest.
Because at this point?
He was not sure what else to do.
The music did not just fill the club; it lived in it. Claiming the walls, seats and pillars.
Jaune felt it the moment he crossed inside, it pressed in on him - the bass hitting through the floor and his shoes cascading up his chest. Lights burst in flashes, sharp pulses cutting the darkness, illuminating bodies.
Bodies that were moving, not just to the music but something more - something he didn't have.
Yang didn't slow down; she kept striding.
Slipping into the crowd as it parted for her, weaving through the bodies that he could not match or emulate. He tried to keep sight of her and her golden mane.
"Hey… Wait…" he tried to call, till someone bumped him
Her lilac eyes glanced back at him. "Keep up!" she called, grinning
Easy for you to say!
He pushed forward, trying to be delicate but also trying to use his height to his advantage. When she weaved, he bumped and clashed.
A laugh caught through the music, ignore it.
More voices joined, and a scent hit him as he passed a group. Sweet, sharp and unfamiliar. More and more smells, too much
The world slowed, the music distorted, the room felt hotter. He felt lighter, not in a good way.
Yang noticed, of course, she did, she slowed, allowing him to catch up. Once more, he felt her gaze assess him; it was quick, and he couldn't catch it in full.
"You're stiff."
"I am fine," he replied, liar,
She raised an eyebrow, "You look like you are about to brace for impact."
"That's just how I look!"
She kept her eyebrow raised, "Uh-huh."
Her tail flicked behind her, slow and thoughtful.
"First time somewhere like this?"
He sighed, "Yeah…"
Yang hummed, "Figured"
She reached out, not a grab, just brushing her hand lightly against his arm, guiding him to the side as a group surged past.
"Stay close, less overwhelming that way."
Jaune nodded, grateful for the life vest thrown his way.
They moved again, together, slow this time. Not weaving in between people but skirting the edges where there were fewer people.
He took a breath, his heart hammering less, only a bit less. "This is more manageable."
"Look at you!" Yang replied "Adapting"
"Pfft, I am absolutely adapting." His lips twitched into an almost smile.
"Give it a minute."
Then the music surged, louder and heavier and the crowds of people pressed like a tide. He stumbled as someone bumped into him, another unfamiliar smell.
Then another, unknown,
And another, different.
His stomach dropped straight to his shoes; he froze. Oh no
Yang turned to him immediately.
"Hey-"
"I…"
Too late
He doubled over, his hand catching his knee. The other shooting out, for anything, for balance, for hope, for anything to stop the surge.
The hope was Yang. The collateral damage was her boots.
There was a brief, horrible, horrible moment when the world stopped, the music droned out, and everything froze.
That wasn't true; it was just his brain trying to stop itself. Everything kept going, but him? No Jaune was frozen in fear and impending doom. Time stopped.
He glanced down, and his lips were wet. Then he dragged his eyes upwards with whatever non-existent dignity and strength he had left.
"I am soo sorry…" he said, weak and mortified.
Yang didn't respond; she just stared at her boots, then another bass drop happened.
Another beat.
Jaune was real re-considering his choice to come out.
She laughed
It somehow cut through the music and din, she laughed!
Not forced, not polite.
A genuine, honest-to-brothers, genuine, sharp laugh.
"You just threw up on me," Yang said. Why was she grinning? It was an honest grin, like one would have when they were telling an interesting story.
He blinked, "huh?"
"Wow," she continued, nudging one boot against the floor, "That's a first."
"I didn't - this wasn't-" He rubbed his hand over his face. "I swear, I wasn't aiming for you."
"That's reassuring." Yang cocked her eyebrow at his answer
"Uh, it shouldn't be?"
Yang snorted, shaking her head. Her locks swished with the motion.
"Relax," she said, "If I couldn't handle a little bit of a mess, I wouldn't last five minutes in a place like this."
"That… is not the lesson to learn from this."
Her tail flickered again, but differently, sharper - not angry.
Interested
"You gonna pass out too?" She asked, her gaze on him once more, "Or was this the grand finale?"
Jaune swallowed. The lingering aftertaste was disgusting. He shook his head at her question.
"Shame," she said. "You were making an impression."
"I don't think it's the kind I want."
"Depends who you ask."
She stepped closer—not away—reaching out to steady him as he wobbled slightly. Her grip was firm, grounding. Yet her hand was soft, a sisterly edge to it?
"C'mon," she added, already turning. "You're getting water before you embarrass yourself further."
"I feel like that ship has sailed."
"Maybe," she said over her shoulder, "but I'm curious how much worse it can get."
Jaune groaned, following her touch and movement.
Because somehow, impossibly—
She hadn't left.
Pushing through the crowd once more, he found himself in a side hallway, tucked in. The music is present but fainter. The air was cooler, and he felt a bit more relaxed.
Yang grabbed a water bottle, tossing it to him.
Nudging her chin to the bottle, "Drink."
Jaune caught it, almost dropping it…. He twisted the cap off and took a long, greedy gulp, washing away the soreness and taste. The refreshing coolness surges to his stomach to stamp out the heat.
Bottle clutched in his hand, he exhaled. "Okay… I might not die." His other hand kept him propped up.
"Good," Yang hummed, leaning against the wall opposite, arms folding. The second time he has seen that pose today.
"You always handle first impressions like that, Jaune?" she asked, a teasing edge in her voice.
"Only the important ones," He snorted.
"Bold strategy, blondie." He sighed before his eyes bounced from the ceiling to her
"It's not strategy, just sorta what happened."
His eyes were drawn to her boots, wincing once more. "I am so sorry."
She followed his gaze, "It's… disgusting, but they will clean."
"That… that isn't the point, Yang."
"Nooo…" she pushed off the wall, "The point is you didn't run."
"Run?" He blinked
"Most people would," She hummed, gesturing to the door they walked through. "Embarrass themselves like that? They would be running."
"But, also, most people don't lose a fight to gravity… or whatever that was," she hummed, her lips twitching.
He reddened at her observations. "You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
"A teeny bit."
"I…. thought about it, running, I mean," he admitted. He did, but this was not how he wanted his first day in Vale to go.
"Oh yeah?"
He nodded, "But it wouldn't be right."
"It didn't feel right," he followed up
A small pause claimed the air between them.
Yang's ears angled forward slightly.
"Huh," she said, not mockingly.
Just considering, her tail flickered once behind her, slower now.
"You're weird," She declared, more like decided
He huffed a small laugh, "I am getting that a lot today and tonight."
She continued, "... Good Weird."
"You are not from around here?" She queried, her head tilted to the side
"No," Jaune replied, "Vale's my first stop."
"Mhm"
"That bad or that obvious?" He joked
"Neither, just explains things."
Jaune's shoulders dropped as he leaned back against the wall, feeling better. "That's worse, though?"
"Not really," She replied, almost sing-songing her reply
Another pause, he was starting to dislike these.
"You know most people try waaaay harder in there. Way harder than you did," She cut through the silence.
"That's not comforting?" He cocked an eyebrow
"It's not meant to be."
More silence claimed the air. He noticed her tail flicked again, more idly than anything.
"But people also try waaay harder to pretend they are fine, when they actually aren't," she continued, her eyes still on him.
It hit him, his shoulders dropping before he perked up once more.
"I was fine," He insisted. Her eyebrow shot up immediately
He stopped before he could say anything further. Sighing as he rubbed his hand over his face. No, he wasn't fine.
"That's what I thought. But that's also good," Yang grinned
"Come again?"
"It means you aren't completely useless," She added, her fingers tapping against her arms.
He clenched the bottle for a moment.
"Was that supposed to be encouraging?" It sure as heck did not feel like it
"It's my version of it."
He sighed as he took another greedy gulp of water.
"I think that's the most honest thing I have heard since I came to Vale."
Yang hummed, "Careful, that's a dangerous preference to have around me."
He shivered but could not help but ask, "Why?"
"I don't reeaaally do polite."
His eyes were fixated on her boots once more, then back up. "I noticed that."
"There it is!" She smirked, "Learning!"
Another pause followed, but this one was less awkward. It was just present.
Yang broke it, pushing off the wall, her folded arms dropping.
"Alright," she said. "You good to stand without dying, or am I walking you out like a lost puppy?"
Jaune straightened a little too quickly. "I can walk."
"Debatable."
"I will walk."
She studied him for a second.
Then nodded once.
"Good."
She turned toward the exit—but paused before opening the door.
Turning back to look at him, her eyes gazed directly at him.
"You are coming to Beacon's initiation tomorrow, aren't you?"
He nodded, "Yeah, that's the plan."
"Try not to do that there," she added, jerking to the club before resting back on him.
He groaned. "I'm really starting to regret this becoming a defining moment for me."
Yang's grin returned—soft, easy.
"Too late," she said.
Then she opened the door.
"Xiao-Long, Vomit boy"
Then she was gone, leaving him in the hallway with a feeling, not confidence, not embarrassment, just a nagging feeling of someone who could have left him and walked away, but of someone who did not.