Professor Arc

Chapter 11

Jaune ducked beneath the metal cane, feeling it whistling by overhead. His own counter attack was easily thwarted, the criminal before him batting the blade aside by rapping his hand on the flat of Crocea Mors. A move only really made safe by the virtue of having an aura that would prevent any serious damage. It was a trick he would need to remember, and a sign of Roman's experience.

Any further thoughts were lost however as the orange haired man lunged forwards, wielding his cane like a rapier as he laid three rapid blows out against Jaune's body – his shield covering his head to block that one, but the other two solidly striking his rubs and his thigh.

"You shield the face and you lose vision." Roman tutted, going for the same move again – though this time Jaune put Neo's lessons to the test, spinning to dodge beyond the strike. "Better kid. You can't afford to lose sight of me."

"Are we fighting or talking?" Jaune gritted back.

"Which would you prefer?"

"Talking... definitely the talking."

"Then maybe you should have thought of that..." Roman began, before suddenly being inside his guard, knocking both his sword and shield aside - driving a fist into Jaune's gut. "-before you came and botched up my operation here!"

"In... my defence..." Jaune coughed, pushing himself to his feet. Neo had taught him the importance of always getting back into your guard position – no matter how much it hurt. "I only came to protect my students."

"Oh I gathered that. What were those words? 'Trust me, I'm a hunter' pfft. You do remember that you're not, right?"

"I know that. But I'm a teacher now, I can't just abandon them – people would ask questions. I'd be screwed."

"Maybe you should have thought of that before you took the job kiddo."

"I had no choice! They wouldn't take me on as a student, it was your records that were too good, made me sound too powerful."

"You always had a choice. You just chose the easiest one. You made a deal with the devil, and the funny thing is... he always comes by to collect. Not to mention, it was you who wanted to look like the best – you didn't think the lies through properly."

And you let me make that mistake. Jaune thought, but didn't bother saying out loud. To suggest that Roman had thought that far ahead... was that the truth, or was the clever bastard just playing with his mind? Either way, there was no denying those words. He'd been a damn idiot when he had asked for that, he'd wanted to stand out – forgetting about what happened to those that did.

"So what happens now?" Jaune asked, nodding his head towards their surroundings. "We both know you could kick my ass at any moment, what's stopping you?"

"Not bad, kid. Looks like you're starting to learn something after all. The robbery is borked, with all this ruckus no doubt the police are already on their way – along with whatever help you called in. I have to retreat with my tail between my legs."

"So... you going to go now?" Jaune tried, hoping his voice didn't sound as hopeful as he thought it did.

"Thing is..." Roman began, walking back and forth while spinning his cane, as though discussing something as mundane as the weather. "My rep is going to take a real blow from this, and the boss-lady is also going to be on my case. I mean losing to a bunch of teenage students? That looks really bad."

Jaune didn't say anything. Roman effectively had him by the balls – able to sell out his secret at any given time if he wanted to. It would bring everything crashing down on him. He would be finished...