PA36

Jaune collapsed on the bench within the changing room, head touching the wall behind him as he let out a long sigh. His face was covered in sweat, skin flushed and red. In the distance he could hear people scream and shout, his body freezing for a second before he forced himself to relax. It was just a matter of time now… of seeing what the fallout from this fight would be.

The door to the changing room opened, a blonde figure stepping inside as Jaune rose to his feet. "Well?" he asked, taking a step forwards.

The figure turned, Jaune looking at Jaune as Jaune smirked and nodded, leaning on the door frame with a cocky expression.

"You won?" Jaune asked. Jaune nodded, rolling his eyes as though to say the result should have been obvious. After a second's thought he also tossed Crocea Mors across the space between them. Jaune caught them easily, watching as the other Jaune massaged his arms, grimacing at their weight. "You didn't do anything I couldn't reasonably do, right? This needs to be believable."

The second Jaune nodded, leaning down to take a quick drink from a nearby fountain. Jaune watched, marvelling at the subtle differences between them, most that could only be seen in the way the other Jaune held himself. Confident, smooth and graceful. It was like watching a different person entirely.

"Can you change a little? This is awkward."

The Jaune rolled his eyes and blinked, revealing one pink and one brown iris. That was only the smallest difference, but the shit eating grin that slipped across he- his face, was the biggest indicator. He'd never have been able to pull that off, which was a shame, because it made him look really good. Why does Neo pull off me better than I do? This is too unfair.

The girl, guy – girl – tilted her head to the side, giving him a demanding look.

"I'll hold my end of the deal," Jaune nodded. "Just let me get a picture of my little sister for you, then you can disguise yourself as her. I'll handle the teachers. If they think you're just visiting, then it'll give you free reign. Within reason." Neo clapped her hands together, making him feel all sorts of panic inside. Still, it was better than actually fighting Winter himself.
This had been the only option.

In time he might have been able to reach her level, but the age difference was just too much. Winter had time, training, semblance and experience on her side. There was no amount of dirty fighting that Jaune could think of to beat that. I'm confident I could fight at the level of a student, maybe even hold my own against some of the better ones… but a professional huntress?

Not a chance. Which was why he'd simply dodged the affair altogether.

"Your disguise held then? There weren't any complications? What about your height?"

Neo waved a hand dismissively, though she didn't give any explanation for how she'd handled that. Illusions, stilts – something else? Jaune was forced to simply accept that she'd managed it, since she clearly wasn't going to answer him.