Team RNJR stopped about five miles short of the next town. Money supply dwindling, Nora pointed out a derelict, yet sturdy barn on a vacant homestead. Not immediately on their path to Mistral, Jaune and Ruby volunteered to stay behind and rest up while Ren and Nora were to get supplies the next morning.
Or rather, one supply in particular, but it made little sense to waste the trip.
Ren seemed iffy on the idea, as storm clouds broiled overhead, which would certainly make getting back to the barn unlikely and risky. But everyone going meant less money for supplies, and people outside the kingdoms didn't care much for others sleeping on the streets, so lodgings would be necessary.
Ruby had a mind to ask Nora why she and Jaune oughtn't go to the town instead and have their special night in relative comfort.
The official answer, of course, was that Jaune was taking the night watch lately, and would be indisposed to travel as a pair come daybreak.
But Nora merely answered by pointing out the general sleez of the inns they could afford, and the lack of privacy afforded by paper-thin walls.
Ruby came to agree. Alone under the stars in an old barn was the better option.
She just had to wait one night. One night, and she could finally be with Jaune Arc, the boy she loved, like she wanted and tell him her feelings.
Until then, she had Nora's stainless steel plug… if only she could reach it unnoticed.
She cursed herself not planning ahead and keeping the implement in her bag out of arm's reach. In firelight, she had to sneak out of her unhelpfully loud sleeping bag (stupid zipper) grab it, and zip back under.
It was made all the more vexing by how close Jaune's bag was from hers, mere feet away with his broad back turned towards her.
Finally, she escaped with her prize and snuggled under, quietly undoing her bottom half in secret.
Staring at Jaune, she imagined his large hands as both of hers traveled down and she began her work.
'I love you' she mouthed at her one and only, just letting the vowels run across her tongue in silence. 'Jaune… Jaune! I LOVE you, Jaune…'
The moment she said it had to be perfect. The way she said it would have to be perfect.
And then he would tell her back… and they'd be together for real. No more free agents, no more meaningless flings.
Nora was her one and only use of that freedom, but after their night, no sir or madam. Her body was Jaune's alone.
The plug was cold on her sensitive skin, but in a few drags along her heat it was wet and lukewarm. She lifted a leg as she wound the plug and hand holding it further south, free hand still stroking herself as the steel tip poked into its destination.
Imagining his plentiful girth (whatever Nora said; she loved it) she pressed the lightly flared end like a big important button and stifled a gasp as it slid easily inside.
After a certain point, it sucked itself the rest of the way in, reminding her of the first time Jaune's tip slowly worked itself inside her body.
She squeezed her buttocks together, knees tight as she reveled in that penetrated feeling. Both hands returned to her front, until she opened her eyes and froze.
Bright blue eyes found hers in the dull orange light. Jaune was watching her with contentment, head leaning on his hand.
She blushed as he lifted his head to gesture for her to continue. When she didn't react, aside from flinching at his boldness, he made a show of his other hand reaching down to slowly rock his own crotch.
Trying not to unleash a high-pitched twitter as she laughed in surprise, she put on a show of her own. Her right hand massaged her breast as she ran the fingers of her left across her tongue, before bringing them back down and playing with herself visibly. She mouthed heavy, exaggerated moans, just to complete the boy's living fantasy.
With a noise of shifting cloth and his bag's zipper protesting, Jaune hefted himself towards her across the gap. Ruby had no idea where this was headed, but wormed her torso forward.
Once they were close enough, Ruby released her breast and placed the same hand behind Jaune's head, and let in a sharp breath as she kissed him with the technique she'd learned from Nora.
Once she released, hand on his cheek, he stared at her as she smiled back… before quickly and quietly slipping from his bag in one motion and diving into hers.
Ruby had to marvel at his actions and keep from laughing hysterically as he crawled down her body. Face hot and so happy for it, she heard Jaune working his jeans down until their hips were even.
Before she could say a word, he kissed her as his length sat happily against her broiling nethers, thrusting up and down her womanly flesh. It wasn't the plan, it was far too risky, but she ached for him to slip the inch or so necessary to impale her properly and make her a real woman at last…
Instead, he traveled lower, shoving her thighs high and feeling the soft tip wandering its usual haunt.
Oh… he wanted one last blaze of glory… wait…
Ruby's eyes shot open and she could only mumble into his mouth as he shoved himself halfway into her anus… taking the steel plug as a hostage.
She moaned uncontrollably into his mouth as she felt the solid object forced into parts unknown. Unaware of what he'd just done, Jaune ploughed her with obvious need, and she found she was too turned-on to care.
Nora had been aggressive too, but… that seemed like just something she did. It was hot, but expected.
This? Nobody who knew Jaune, not even his closest friends, would expect this hunger to be so pronounced and palpable. It was all for her. Nobody could show that they wanted her in such a dramatic fashion, to completely invert like this.
Screw the plug. She'd poop it out in the morning or something. Jaune's dick now… Jaune's dick goooood…
As much as Ruby loved being able to get loud and moan for him, there was something of subtler pleasure to their quick, quiet puffs.
She brought her arms in and let herself be held and acted upon by him, her insides stirred and gouged.
"J-Jaune…!" she breathed.
"H-hmm?"
Ruby gave him a deeper kiss, slipping her tongue in a moment.
"I-I'll… tell you… tonight…"
She sensed Jaune was trying to finish this fast, not truly wanting to be caught by the others.
Before Jaune could ask further, she went in for the kill, leaving nothing of herself behind as she wrapped her legs around his back and clasped his head with both hands to mash her lips against his.
The assault was too much, as he groaned, grinding his hips into her. She felt him pump deep within, his warmth filling her, and she sighed contentedly. All in Ruby Rose's world was well. No war, no Cinder, no sadness. Just a tender, loving embrace with her beloved, inside and out.
"Oh good, you're finished! That was quick…"
Ruby felt her insides nearly pulled inside out as Jaune twisted to face—
"Nora?! What the HELL?!" Jaune screeched to the carrot-haired phantom standing over Ren with her hammer held over his chest.
"WHAT?!" Ren cried in panic, raising with a snap.
*KUNGGG*
Without another word, Ren fell back in a sleep like the dead, mouth hanging open. Nora hadn't even moved. He knocked himself unconscious by his own reaction.
"Is… he gonna be okay?" Ruby asked, daring to acknowledge the situation.
"Pshhaw!" Nora exclaimed with a wave. "Time's a wastin', and, well… with Ren? When in doubt…"
"Brain him with a hammer?" Ruby suggested.
"Not a hammer specifically, I guess…"
"What is going on?!" Jaune demanded.
"Jaune!" Ruby cried. "It's okay! She… she knows."
Jaune stared. "Well yeah she knows! She just caught us with our freaking pants down!"
"No, babe, I mean she's why we're having an easier time with our… thing?"
Jaune turned to find her eyes. "Wait, you told her— Did you just call me 'babe'?"
Ruby smiled uncertainly. "Do you like it?"
Jaune hummed a dumb laugh as his cheeks pinkened, before shaking himself back to the present. "That's not important right now! Why does Nora know? ...Other than catching us?!"
"She kinda figured it out, and then she cornered me, and she thinks we're really cute together, so she wants to help?"
Jaune had a look of comprehension dawning upon him. "B-but why is she—" He turned to Nora. "Why are you here?!"
Nora put away Magnhild. "Hey, it's your turn for watch, studly. You're the one doing the nasty in broad moonlight.
"Now c'mon, we've only got a few hours to train you up right!"
"Train?"
Nora began walking out. "You want tomorrow night to be great, right?"
Jaune balked. "Well, yeah, I—"
"Well let's go then! Pants or no pants, you're coming with me!"
Sitting at the edge of a nearby bluff, Jaune blew an explosive sigh as he processed Nora's story. "Nora, I… my god. I'm sorry. I had no idea…"
Nora shrugged. "I don't exactly talk about it. I don't let it define me. I'm a huntress.
"Besides, it wasn't all bad. Once I got good at the game, it stopped being scary, it stopped being a bunch of creeps violating me. I took 'em for a ride, made 'em do what I wanted. In time, it was like I was using them. I still had to basically do what they said, but I could demand almost anything if they torqued me off. I knew I could put them in the clink if I wanted. They figured it out too."
Jaune looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. "But why even relive that?"
She smiled. "Because I'm not ashamed. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's still a part of me. I have skills I can pass on to help my friends."
Jaune stood up and paced slowly. "Not to disrespect you, but… I'm not sure how up to it I am, hearing sex advice after that story."
Nora let her lips buzz as she sighed. "Really? I'm the one it happened to, what gives you the right to be squeamish? Ruby did it for you."
"She did?"
"Mmhmm," Nora nodded, finding his eyes in the shattered moonlight. "She thinks the world of you, y'know? So do I."
Jaune turned, seemingly surprised.
"You were the one to say yes to her. You packed up, and you followed without a single complaint. Nobody's worked harder at Beacon than you have, or improved half as much in our time there."
"I didn't do it alone."
Nora put a hand on his shoulder. "She'd be so proud of you. You inspired us to come, you know that? Few lost as much as you did… so if you went, and we stayed… what excuse could we have?"
Jaune stared out at the sky, seeing what, neither truly knew.
"So… you want to live up to that? For her?"
Jaune closed his eyes. "What do I do?"
The hand on his back tugged downward, and Jaune fell flat on his back. He found two feet on either side of his head.
"Nora," Jaune began, face registering shock. "You're not wearing any—"
"Nope! Gonna toss you in the deep end and teach you to swim! So lie back, hold your breath…"
Jaune was transfixed as Nora left her standing position, hips steadily descending towards him. "...and think of Ruby."
Nora chuckled as she dusted herself off, Jaune lying stunned not far from where they started.
"W…" Jaune muttered, his face sticky. "Was I just raped?"
"Oh, duh-rama-queen!" Nora trilled. "You never said 'stop'. And now you ought to hold your own at least.
"Ooh, by the way! I was skeptical when Ruby said it, but that hypnotic thrust of yours… where'd you learn that? That's some next level technique! Wouldn't mind being on the wrong side of that…"
Jaune cricked his neck to face her. "Wait, how do you…? We didn't—"
"Oh, I meant earlier with Ruby. Someone knows their way around his hips!" she explained, smacking her own.
Jaune finally sat up. "What? You've seen me dance. It's all in the hips."
Nora stood rod straight. "Oh right… I forgot about that…"
"And how long were you watching us?!"
"Um…" Nora intoned uncomfortably.
Jaune stood up, still woozy. "Look, I appreciate your support. I do. But otherwise, what Ruby and I do away from prying eyes is—"
"Away? I could see you just fine! Your stealth technique ain't so great if you thought I violated your boundaries just walking back to camp, bucko.
"Anyway, this is a fine thanks for teaching you how to eat out a girl…"
Jaune rubbed his mouth. "Blah, I'm gonna be tasting 'girl' all morning."
"And all evening!" Nora said. "And trust me, Ruby's not gonna taste much different."
Jaune stared. "What does that mean?"
Nora felt a bead of sweat on her neck. "Uh… well, girls! They tend to taste alike… down there.
"Also, seriously, a little appreciation please. I don't let just anyone under my skirt y'know."
Jaune grumbled. "Could've fooled m—"
Jaune only heard a deep gasp as he nearly felt himself thrown off his feet. His face was on fire, and Nora stared at him, hand in backswing with an expression he'd never seen before. Her mouth was a long, thin line of a frown.
"Don't," Nora began as he held his face in pain, "talk to me like I'm some TRAMP! I didn't do what I did for any reason but because we needed to survive. Not because I wanted to, not because I'm loose.
"I only did that for you because I trust you, and want to see you two together. I haven't done anything like that for a long time, and it hurts that you'd talk like I'd flash my goods at any—"
"Nora I… I'm sorry," Jaune sulked, staring at the floor. "I didn't mean that. I shouldn't have said that, I know you better than that. That was wrong... this is just a lot at once, and you did it so readily…"
Nora huffed and smirked. "Just because I'm picky doesn't mean I'm shy… around most people anyway. If I decide to do something, no use beating around the bush; pun intended…"
Jaune gave a grimace. "Just wish you'd said something first. I don't like having to do something like that with another woman, no offense. I just hope Ruby understands."
Nora frowned. "Well she should, I coached her too."
Jaune stepped back. "W-wait, you did? Why didn't you mention…? Well, I mean… you still didn't coach her like that, obviously."
Nora turned, laughing nervously. "Well, yeah, hehe, why do that? You're not a girl…"
"Yeah," Jaune laughed, before silence fell. "So, uh… what now, exactly?"
Nora shrugged. "Well I'm going to bed. You though, I was serious about night watch, loverboy."
Jaune groaned. "Wasn't it Ren's turn?"
Nora turned, eyes half-lidded. "He's got a thrashing headache, you might recall. 'Sides, you best get acclimated to being up all night… if you're planning to be 'up all night' tomorrow.
"Night Jaune…" she said at last with a blind wave behind her.
Jaune sat on an overturned log with a sigh. "Life just gets more complicated."
Never in a thousand years did he expect the night to grant his sentiment a reply.
"Yeah, tends to happen when you're between two women."
Jaune fell on his back in a panicked attempt to stand. He managed to turn it into a backwards roll and unsheath Crocea Mors. Only now did he hear the footsteps and see glowing red eyes at the edge of the clearing.
"Who are you?!" Jaune demanded, sword out in warding. "What do you want?! Are you with those bandits?!"
The man scoffed, stepping into the pale moonlight. He was nearly Jaune's height, but with his posture it was difficult to tell, let alone the distance. Severe raven hair perched over sharp features, a face grey with stubble. Grey also was his undershirt, though the jacket with sharp black lapels might have been stark white in daylight, and long black pants covered the rest.
He was thin, but by no means weak in appearance. And he might not have stood out more than as a roguish barfly, if not for the tattered crimson cape and the fact that he comfortably moved with nothing less than an ultra-greatsword on his back.
Jaune himself had barely tested the field upgrade of his own weapon into a quasi-greatsword for the added stopping power, and that was still a considerable heft.
"Easy, junior, you'll put your eye out with that. I'm not with any bandit gang, I'm just here for a little chat."
Jaune dropped his stance, if only to de-escelate the situation, and keep his blade at an easily defended position. "About what, exactly?"
"Your partner. Ruby Rose."
"Whatever you want from her, you'll go through me," Jaune snapped, surprising even himself.
The man smiled. "That's good to hear. I'm something of a… benefactor where she's concerned. Guardian angel, let's say."
Jaune slowly nodded. "Okay, 'Angel,' so what? You've been…"
His eyes went wide, his face pale. "You've been watching us?"
The man frowned and nodded.
"How… closely?"
The angel scowled. "I think you know how closely."
Jaune began to sweat as the angel stalked forward. "L-look, if this is about… I mean, she—"
The man rolled his eyes. "Calm down, I'm not here to gut you like a trout for sleeping with her. Much as I might rather she didn't get up to that sort of thing, and much as her dad and big sis' might clobber you, I'm nobody to judge. Neither is her old man, or Yang really.
"We all got down and dirty when our folks told us not to, no point fighting a rising tide. Ruby's old enough to make her own decisions, sew her own oats if she chooses."
Jaune nodded uncomfortably, feeling less and less in immediate peril.
"And from what I've," the man's eyes dipped low, "seen… it looks like she chose you."
There was silence as he paced around, Jaune standing rod stiff.
"Oh, and don't worry too much. Bored as I get out here, I'm not terribly interested in watching you flop around on top of my— er… each other. I 'change channels' pretty fast, let's say. I don't know the details on your rendezvous with you know who…"
"But," he said, meeting Jaune's eye with a dangerous edge in his voice. "I can be damn sure that wasn't Ruby out here with you ten minutes ago."
That's what this was about. "Look, Nora was just—"
"Stow it," he ordered. "Don't care for the details. Truth be told, it's none of my business. But what is is Ruby's welfare. So I'm going to tell you this now."
In a flash of movement Jaune was disarmed, held by the collar of his breastplate, leaned back over the edge of the bluff with the forest far below. One wave of his hand, and Jaune would fall.
"By the way, how's your landing strategy?"
"Not as good as it should be…"
"Thought so…"
From this close to the man, Jaune noted a necklace he wore, a crooked plus-sign emblem with one extruded end hung crooked. It was oddly familiar.
"So let's be clear. If you're fooling around with that other girl, you end it. With her, with Ruby, whichever, I don't care. But you don't let Ruby catch you and end it that way. Let her down easy. Got it?"
Jaune hummed an acknowledgement.
"Good," the angel said, smiling under those blood red eyes. "Other than that, it's very simple. You hurt her… I hurt you. You ruin her life… I destroy yours. You break her heart? You're really not gonna like what I'll break.
"Sound equitable?" he asked, pulling Jaune back in to bring them face to face.
"That all seems very fair, yes," Jaune said, eyes like saucers as he feigned composure.
"Good answer," the man said, yanking him forward away from the ledge, and letting him faceplant on the ground as he failed to regain his balance.
Jaune began to pick himself up before those red eyes were in his face again. "Oh, and should you need a reminder," he said, gripping his blade's handle, "I'll, uh… carve it somewhere you won't forget it. You kids have fun now…"
By the time Jaune had scrambled to his feet, the angel was gone.
Morning came and the skies were fiery red, and while not sailors by any stretch, they obeyed the old adage and 'took warning'. The old barn wasn't in pieces, but a little weatherproofing wouldn't go amiss either…
Ruby watched with Jaune as Ren and Nora made to set off. Before leaving through the barn door though, Ren gave Jaune a baleful gaze.
"Jaune, I know excitement can get the best of us… but I think this is the fifth map we have lost upon finding something unexpected. We do not have global positioning without the towers."
Jaune attempted to look guilty, even as Nora poked her head out from behind Ren with her tongue out and winking, flicking a lighter in explanation.
"Yes Ren, I'm sorry. Maybe Nora should be responsible from now on?"
Ren made an uneasy face. "I would not… I once caught Nora lighting our map on fire."
Turning to find her, he found Nora with the same lighter out in plain sight, which she flicked closed as stealthily as one could in plain view of everyone.
"She never told me why."
Nora shrugged unhelpfully.
As they turned to go, Ruby called after them. "Well, uh, happy trails!"
At this Nora whipped around to stage whisper, "Ooh, tell me later if he has one!"
The pair left behind stared for a moment, barely hearing Ren mutter, "What?"
After some silence and the other couple made their way out of earshot, Jaune turned to Ruby. "I don't get it."
Ruby perked up. "Oh, Yang told me. A 'happy trail' is when a guy's bellybutton hair is in a line down to his… yeah."
They shuffled awkwardly as the other two slowly faded from sight.
"I'm seriously wondering if her involvement was a mistake," Jaune opined, to Ruby shrugging.
"Oh well, too late now!"
With that, Ruby tackled Jaune into a nearby straw pile, and began kissing all along his face and neck. He managed to grab hold of her and flip the both of them on their sides as he felt her body with his hands.
As soon as it began though, Ruby backed off with a giggle. "Roll in the hay… eh?"
"Actually, hay is green… and far messier."
Ruby snorted. "I know, dork, I grew up in the country. Well, an island, but still, definitely not in town."
Jaune looked around the shabby barn. "I'm assuming we're not going to jump straight in without…"
Ruby's eyes glimmered. "...Sprucing this place up to be the lover's getaway we both deserve?!"
Jaune laughed. "Well, if nothing else, it is looking to be a bit stormy…"
"We've got all day and night, don't we?" Ruby said, wrapping her arms around him tightly for another kiss. "Let's make it count."
And so it began. The property thankfully had a number of less sturdy buildings to cannibalize materials from, and a bunch of plywood besides.
Neither were strangers to this manner of work, and with Ruby's help it took almost no time at all to patch the gaps and breaks in the barn, and they had lots of material leftover. Which gave Jaune an idea…
He snapped his fingers as they admired their work. "Insulation!"
Ruby frowned. "Huh?"
Jaune turned to her, beaming. "Well, it's probably gonna be cold and windy tonight, so who wants to… y'know, do it while we're freezing?"
Ruby tilted her head. "I was just hoping the sex would keep us warm… didn't we just take care of that?"
Jaune gestured around the barn with a grimace. While workable from their efforts, the structure was anything but watertight.
Ruby pondered. "Hmm… yeah, I see that. So what then?"
Jaune paced. "Well, we'd need to stuff the walls with insulating materials, which means an inner structure for the barn to keep it in."
"Well, what material?"
Jaune looked around. "Well, we have straw, but not much… Leaves? Those tend to work well, but that's a lot of—"
Ruby squealed. "Ooh! Wait wait, will this work?!"
Her hood wrapping around her, she whirled skyward landing neatly upon one of the rafters as rose petals burst into being and fluttered elegantly to the floor. Jaune pursed his lips and blew up at one that had landed on his nose.
"Uh, sure, why not? You sure you can manage enough?"
Ruby sat on the rafter, rocking back and forth as her legs kicked idly. "I can do this all day."
And so she did. The two went along putting together the inner structure of the barn, Ruby using her semblance at every opportunity as Jaune swept up the floral mess that resulted, and the barn in general.
It took nearly two hours, and the resulting understructure was rather ramshackle, but with her aura reserves low Ruby admired the inside as Jaune delivered a final sack of petals to the ceiling layer.
Sweating, she spun to see it all. The sunlight came in filtered pink through the cracks of the barn. Some petals scattered on the floor from leaks, but the poking-through petals only added to an utterly romantic ambience.
A cracking sound accompanied Jaune's cry as he and a shower of petals fell through a newly made gap in the ceiling.
Though tired, Ruby widened her stance and held her arms out, catching her paramour as the petals covered them.
"Hey," she said simply, leaning it to touch noses.
"H-hey!" he replied, feeling somewhat foolish.
"I think I know where…"
Jaune stared into her eyes uncertainly. "Where what?"
She blushed. "Where I'm gonna give you my virginity…"
He didn't have time to respond before she rolled him onto the floor, straddling his stomach.
"W-what, now?"
"Nah, we've got to get cleaned up… so we can get nice and dirty again… For now though…"
Ruby yawned hugely, before beginning to lie down on him, arms entangling him as she nuzzled into his chest. "I don't… think we've gotten to cuddle before. Not r-really… Just a short nap, I promise."
Jaune beheld her as she snuggled into him, and got himself comfortable as well. He held her close, and let his eyes drift shut, the whisper of wind through the trees and barn the only sound.
Jaune awoke to find his arm asleep, the sun barely filtering through at a steeper angle in the sky. An itch on his face pestered him as he scratched it with his free arm.
He found the itch was from Ruby's soft black and red-tipped hair, as his lover nestled her head into the crook of his neck at some point. He'd always dreamed of feeling his face in the curls of a pretty girl, but the reality it seemed was an… itchy experience. He kept adjusting his head to avoid the inevitable, but eventually gave up.
The wind still swelled and sighed, but they were perfectly warm. His small movements were detected by an unconscious Ruby, who groaned adorably as her outstretched arms only sought to hug him harder.
Her hips bothering his own had also roused his sleeping dragon… and he inwardly cursed his base desires. It felt like such a perfect moment, and in spite of the dead arm… one of the happiest he could recall. Sex wasn't necessary for it, and even seemed inappropriate. It spoiled the mood.
He had to wonder… why? Why was he somehow good enough for the affection of this scarlet cherubim? What did she see in him? After all, she was the amazing one.
Buy since that night, he'd every day asked himself the same thing about Pyrrha too…
He could really only count himself lucky, he supposed.
Ruby stirred, and with a nudge of her head, he noticed it, dangling around her pretty neck.
That symbol… the elongated plus-sign thing, but hung straight. The connecting thread between the angel in his arms… and her guardian angel. The guy who threatened him six ways from Sunday for as much as giving her split ends with a bad shampoo recommendation… Great.
What had begun with a colossal yawn was seemingly ended by one, as he felt all her muscles creak and shudder as she stirred.
"Ohwwwwmm… five more minutes…" she croaked, forcing a laugh into his throat.
"Take all the time you need."
Soon however, the stormy clouds were getting closer, and the sun was getting low, and the pair opted to make their final preparations before the plunge.
Ruby took her toiletries and made for the river, disrobing entirely, with no intention of fixing this situation for… at least a few hours.
The bitter breeze made this feel a mistake, but she was used to bathing in cold streams by now. Being a girl, it was a balancing act between going as long as possible without it, and not being… stinky. Girls weren't supposed to stink. Something Yang hammered into her years ago out of acute concern.
She took a good turn in the bushes, prodding her body to do what it needed now, not later. Whatever Nora said, and as much as she appreciated it… she was not farting in front of Jaune tonight.
She was going the whole hog tonight. Specially lathering everything. Shampoo and conditioner for her hair, scrubbed to the scalp. She went after every layer of dead skin to leave herself silky smooth and milky white. She paid extra attention to her nethers, let alone the extra extra step.
With her she carried a secret weapon. It had been something she planned out for long excursions, and in practice it worked rather well.
Little did anyone know, but the stabbing tip of Crescent Rose was detachable. Well… when you designed and maintained it yourself, technically every part was detachable, but this piece was made for rapid use in the field.
A talon-shaped bit of blade, like all of Crescent Rose, it was razor sharp.
The jointed bit in her palm, she carefully trimmed her 'rose bush'. Normally this was for her legs and armpits, but she tended to her garden regularly since it started growing.
Or… since she'd let it come in fully the first time, and been laughed at in the shower by Yang for her furry crotch. Yang, as she recalled, was barely one to talk on this matter… but seemed to pay her curls as much attention as those on her head. And to this day she wasn't sure if styling them like that was normal, or if Yang was just weird about her hair.
She personally liked to have just a pleasant tuft on her pubic mound. She tried going fully hairless before, but it was a lot more regular work, and frankly she felt immature enough without going bald as a ten year old down there. She was grown, and she was going to wear the proof.
She toweled up, clothes under her arm and zipped back to the barn.
She had made it there first, and with little else to do, opted to optimize the mood.
They'd found a few lanterns and old candles on the property, and while not scented and with few surfaces off the floor to place them, still added a wondrous improvement to the atmosphere.
Blade still detached and ready, she went a step farther.
They might need to sandblast the floor after this… but at the front of the barn she scrawled the hard part (her flaming rose emblem) and the simple part (Jaune's… 'arcs'... huh), giggling girlishly as she did the ultimate cliche and encircled them with the fattest bubble-heart she could conjure.
But as she beheld her work, she wondered. Maybe they didn't need to hide this later? After all, Nora knew… it was only Ren's approval that mattered now, and why should he care?
Ruby had gotten so accustomed to frolicking about in secret, that being open about their relationship had never occurred to her. She could be Jaune's girlfriend in public.
Her ears went warm at the notion. Things might change for the best after tonight. But now she was lying, draped only in her towel, in love. Her man was going to enter those doors any minute, and they'd make passionate love at sunset and not leave each other's arms till the daw—
The door creaked open, and Ruby squirmed into her most alluring pose, cross-legged and on her side.
As he entered, Jaune found the sight of her on a blanket of rose petals… atop an actual blanket of course, they weren't savages.
Ruby saw he looked particularly groomed, per his hair. Still in his usual clothes, he looked fairly disarmed to see her so scantily clad.
"Uh, hey," he greeted, drinking her in.
Ruby bit her lip. "Hey…"
Jaune stood gormlessly as the doors closed behind him. Looking down, he saw the heart-encircled emblems and looked up to her with pink in his cheeks.
She stretched both hands forward in unmistakable beckoning, and he approached as gently as possible, kneeling before climbing over her to share an embrace.
Ruby leaned up and kissed him gently. "Okay… you ready?"
"Yeah, are you?"
"Yeah," she whispered back, before tugging at her towel. "Unwrap your present. Surprise… it's me…"
Jaune kissed her back, before leaning away, fingers between her breasts as he lifted the fabric.
He'd already seen them, but her perky breasts came into view with no less appeal where he was concerned.
Further he draped the towel aside to expose her stomach, chubby as ever. But the moment had finally arrived, Ruby holding a fist to her lips to hide the ghost of her expression.
Peeling away this last layer, Jaune laid eyes on her black and red curlies. It was a small, mid-height patch, and somehow it was adorable. A twisting circular patch, perhaps so styled to look like a rose if you squinted your eyes.
But from here Jaune finally had the full picture. Below was her baby-soft skin, stark pale, almost glowing in the ambient light. Her thighs met tightly together to her smaller hips, but even so he got a perfect view of her twin lips. Puffy, but by no means fat, they formed sleek crevices where they met her legs, and each other. None of her inner bits were visible like this… until she let her thighs part invitingly.
Stark pink, in such contrast with her white body. Every curve and crevice screamed of youth and virginity. Soft, juicy, tender. And the orbs of her buttocks sat cheerfully beneath it all to complete this picture of femininity.
He stared up to drink in the full view, the girl's cheeks crimson as she watched his eyes wander.
"This… is me," she said simply. "I hope I'm okay."
Jaune shook his head. "Okay? Ruby, you're unbelievable… just... beautiful."
Her lips pouted deeply as she smiled, her inner brows raising steeply. She didn't quite meet his gaze. "Your turn."
Jaune began to strip down in earnest, with such speed Ruby had to laugh as articles left en mass. Finally undoing his belt though, she paid rapt attention.
Pants sliding down, she followed his 'happy trail'... until it abruptly stopped.
She could just glimpse his root, before she gasped and chuckled scandalously. Not helping was his length, wide awake from this exchange, popping neatly from his jeans in one motion.
"Wh-what?" Jaune asked nervously.
"It's BALD!" she shrieked, before falling back, not taking her eyes off his fleshy rod.
"I-I thought it might be more comfortable for you… Plus it's easier to clean."
She kept laughing, with less vigor as she leaned forward to inspect it close, cheeks pink. "You didn't have to, I've felt it before, it's fine!"
"I just thought…"
"Shh shh shh shh… c'mere..." Ruby cooed, arms reaching for him, before drawing him back. She spread her legs to let him lie betwixt them as he leaned over her. "No more thinking… just feel with me."
She kissed him slowly as they ran their hands over each other. Jaune nestled over her, letting his length sit atop its ultimate target. He ran his hand behind her back, across her buttocks and up her creamy thigh. Her bare breasts mashed against his chest…Everything was so soft.
Eventually, he felt her hand on his tip. As they locked eyes, she brushed it across her folds, guiding it down where it slotted in the exact right place.
Jaune stared into her silver spheres. "Y-you don't want any foreplay?"
"We have all night for the rest. Right now I want you to take me… but there's something you need to know!"
She was on the verge of shedding a tear, even as Jaune gently pressed at her entrance longingly.
"I… I have something to tell you too…" Jaune said, looking away.
Ruby Rose wilted. "Jaune?"
"I…" he began, working up the nerve. "Nora, when she took me aside… she did sexual things with me. Specifically to my face."
Her eyebrows raised, and her heart melted. 'He's such a gentleman, he thinks I don't know!'
Ruby kissed him deep and fast, before leaning back. "That's okay! She helped me too, I don't mind. In fact, while we're sharing… I had sex with Nora."
Jaune froze, before sitting straight up. "You what?"
"Well, things got a little heated, and she offered, so we helped each other out. It was kinda spur of the moment."
Jaune just sat there, a confused expression shifting lightly as multiple thoughts flashed across his features. "But… I thought… when was this?"
Ruby's smile faded, and her little heart started beating uncertainly. "The day we fought those bandits."
"So, the day after we agreed to try being exclusive," he deadpanned, now slouched back as Ruby felt a shard of ice pierce her chest.
"Wh- wait, no we didn't!" she protested, sitting up to look him straight in the eye. "We agreed to give you my first and see how we felt!"
Jaune stood up, the gesture only minimized by his own nudity. "So after we agree to try being exclusive, after I bare my heart for you, after I promise to let you in where I'm most vulner—"
Nothing stopped him, except a snorting breath of his own as twin tears ran down his cheek. Ruby's hands clapped over her mouth. His face stretched to keep himself from blubbering in front of her. He twisted away.
"And you weren't even going to tell me before I brought her up, were you?"
Ruby stood up, finally finding her voice. "It… it wasn't… I just thought if it was my last chance to be with anyone else, I…"
"I thought it was 'spur of the moment,' and just a rush of hormones and you couldn't think straight? So you become lucid enough to feel guilty, and try to find a reason not to stop, because you really wanted to make it with Nora for some reason?"
"Nooo!" she wailed. "It would have been okay with me if you had! It was just… we were both really into it, and she was there, and—"
"She was there?" he laughed mirthlessly. "You were horny, so you went behind my back and rubbed your vaginas together or whatever… Was I just 'there' too? Any other guys fall for the 'it doesn't have to mean anything' trap? Are you even a virgin? Because you were the one initiating all this, and you were weirdly prepared with a plan."
Ruby couldn't believe this was happening. How had it gone so wrong? This was their big night, their moment! They should be lovingly entangled, not tearfully arguing as the world crashed around their ears! It was a nightmare!
"No no no no, Jaune, I swear it's all real!" she said desperately. "I just made a mistake, I messed up! I didn't think you might feel like this!"
"Nobody considers Jaune's feelings, that's new," he added bitterly.
She shrank at his tone, before muttering, "I'm sorry! But being with Nora made me realize how I feel! It's what I was going to say, because after that I didn't need to make love with you to know it's the truth!"
Jaune turned his back, and to her horror, began putting his clothes back on. Outside, a thunderclap ripped open the sky. Now and then, a heavy droplet thumped upon the barn roof. "Great, one more thing I'm not necessary for. I don't even know what I—"
"Jaune, I LOVE YOU!"
Her naked body slammed into his back as she clutched him around his middle, but he stood still as stone at her words instead.
"You…"
She gasped as her tears started to fall. "I love you!" Ruby croaked, holding him like her life depended on it. "I love you I love you I love you… please don't go…"
Jaune stood silent. "Why would you use that against me?"
Ruby let go, letting him turn to see her, his face inscrutable. "W-what?"
"I get it… I'm really easy to manipulate. You only had Nora do that to me so it'd seem fair when you told me what you did, like I couldn't judge you.
"So much of me wants to believe you, Ruby! But I'm so sick of being worthless, of holding everyone back, of competing where I never stood a chance in the first place. I never thought I'd have to compete for you like this. Not with Nora."
Ruby stepped back and shouted. "You're NOT!"
Jaune waited.
"Jaune, you're not competing! I don't love Nora! It was being with her that showed me, however good she was with my body, it couldn't make me feel like you do! That's when I knew it wasn't just lust, or a crush! I love it because it's with you!"
Jaune gave a breath of laughter. "So you still wanted me after Nora blew me away in bed, so it must be love, right?
"Stop lying to my face trying to justify it. If I ever meant anything to you, you wouldn't have done this."
Ruby stood, naked and ashamed, idly covering herself.
"I'm clearly not needed here. I'm not going home, but I'll find my own way to Mistral. This is clearly something I've got to do alone."
Ruby reached for him as he turned. "Jaune please, don't go! We need you, we need each other! Out there you'll—"
"Die?" he snapped. "I can take care of myself, don't you worry. Even if none of you think so."
Ruby stepped-up as he strode out the door and into the rain. He was really just leaving.
"Jaune…" she sobbed. "I'm sorry…! I'M SORRY!"
A/N: Chapter 7 comes out tomorrow…
...You called down the thunder...
