Breaking Through the Bottom of the Bottle
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Five years after Beacon, Jaune's still going home alone as often as not. An unlikely encounter with Yang may have just the solution- drinks, company, and a hell of a lot of pickup lines.
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Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. Duh.
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[The fourth hour he began to slip.]
They stumbled into another bar. Well, Jaune stumbled- Yang supported him, ready to help him if he needed it since he refused to give up his one-sided drinking contest. They'd already changed bars more than once to cool off, but he was still red- as much from the liquor as the latest topic, a saucy tale of conquests.
From her position at his side, his arm over her shoulders, Yang unleashed her latest offensive before he even sat down. Her hand- the natural one- reached lower than strictly appropriate and squeezed even as she guided him to a booth.
"Excuse me, but is this seat taken?"
She might have been saying it to him- or maybe past him, to the person on the other side. Whether there was someone else over there or not, Jaune didn't even know. He'd stopped looking at anyone else awhile ago.
"So, Yang, how was heaven last time you were there?"
"Haven?" she responded, surprised that he was changing track. "Well, everyone was doing fine-"
"No," Jaune interrupted, reaching out and grabbing her attention- and arm. "Heaven. Because Yang, you are divine."
"I'm no angel, I was kicked out for being naughty." She leaned closer. "Want me to show you why?"
There was a pause as Jaune's breath hitched, and he didn't look up.
"Jaune?" Yang eventually prompted, stirring him. "You alright? My eyes are up here."
"I'm fine!" Jaune stirred. "I wasn't looking at your breasts- just your heart." He paused. "It's very big," he added.
"Nice save. But you've been a bad boy- do I need to go to your room?"
Jaune couldn't help it. He licked his lips, and said "Yes."
Yang stilled, but only for a moment before she exploited the opportunity. "Do you sleep on your stomach?" she asked out of the blue.
"No," Jaune answered.
"Can I?"
"Yang..." Jaune groaned, frustration and something else.
"You know, Jaune, with a family as big as yours, you ever thought about running an orphanage? Because I'd definitely give you kids."
Something flashed, and Jaune spluttered. "I can't believe- I can't believe you'd use that one," he said, somewhere between embarrassed and shocked and… not quite upset.
Yang thought on it- the requirements of leaving an orphan behind- and winced at the unintended implication. She really should be the last one to use that one. "Not what I meant," she tried to clarify. "I just thought… there space in your heart for one more?" she tried weakly.
"There's only one girl on my mind now," Jaune said, absent drunken cheer. Yang's smile fell, and she was beginning to look away when Jaune continued.
"But in ten years, there could be another," Jaune promised.
"Oh?" Yang asked, not sounding particularly optimistic as she look away.
"She'll call you Mommy."
Yang's breath hitched, and Jaune gasped too as he realized what he said. Even as Yang's head pivoted to look at him, an expression of fright and realization was crossing his.
"Yang-" he began.
"Jaune-" Yang tried.
"Sorry," Jaune finished first, a fright and horror crossing his face. "That was too far."
"It wasn't," Yang tried again, too late to pre-empt him.
Jaune shook his head, grabbing it even as he tried to gather back his wits. "No, it was totally uncalled for," he said, reminding himself why. "Even for friends-"
"Jaune-"
"Especially for a friend with a guy she's seeing tomorrow-"
"Jaune."
"I just got carried away, I didn't m-"
"Jaune!" Yang repeated, ignoring the looks they were getting as she reached with her right arm and squeezed with a pressure he couldn't ignore.
"Jaune," she said a final time, sure she had his attention. "It's alright. I didn't mind."
Jaune slowly uncurled. "You didn't?" he blinked, as if not believing. "You should."
"It was a good line. Short. Sweet. I loved it. Why wouldn't I?" Yang asked.
"Ruby minded."
And that was the rub, wasn't it? It'd been the line, the sentiment, that had unraveled so much and sent past certainties tumbling down. But this time, this woman didn't flinch, didn't stand back or look away.
"Well, I'm not Ruby," she said simply looking him the eye without apology and with sober seriousness. "And I wouldn't be flirting with you like this if I wasn't ready for something like that."
Something in what she said- the meaning Jaune heard- almost made his breath catch. Almost made him assume things once more. But that would be silly. He took a deeper breath, and relaxed.
"Sorry," he said again, though this time for his reaction than the original non-offense. "I just… slipped up. Forgot who I was with for a moment."
"You thought I was someone else?" Yang asked.
"I forgot why I shouldn't get carried away," Jaune clarified. "I haven't felt like this since…"
Five years ago. The night on the town before graduation. The last time she- they-
"We flirted back then, didn't we?" Jaune recalled. He couldn't remember why he'd tried to forget. His memories were hazy from his drunken state now, even though he'd been about as sober back then.
"We were- are- just a couple of friends having a good time," Yang defended. "Nothing wrong with that."
"No, it's just-"
What do you mean, 'no'?
You… you don't really mean that.
I do. I really do.
That's just the alcohol talking. It's making you say things you normally wouldn't.
Nuh-uh. I'm just- ugh- forgetting why I wouldn't. Uncle Qrow calls it- calls it- liquid courage. Why won't you- you believe me?
'cause you're one of the bravest people I know?
Can't I be afraid of some things?
You definitely can't get this drunk.
Hy- he- hiccup- hypocrite. You, you're drunk too!
Not as much as you. Come on- I'm taking you home and putting you to bed.
You mean-
Your bed. Your dorm, with your team. I'm sure Ru- Ru- I'm sure Team WBY wouldn't want anyone taking advantage of you.
You could take advantage of me.
Yang…
Really. Even- even Ru- even she wouldn't mind.
…I would. I may be drunk, but I'm not- I'm not that kind of guy. I'm your-
"Friend. Right. I almost forgot," Jaune whispered, remembering what he'd hours ago claimed to have forgotten.
He tried to compose himself- to gather his composure and force back sobriety and propriety by sheer force of will. He pushed himself away from the table, and away from her.
"I think," he managed, clawing for self-control and self-restraint, "I think I'd better stop."
"I think you need another drink," Yang countered. "Something to distract you. Here," she said, sliding him another.
"Yang, I'm not sure," he began.
"It's fine," she reassured. "I'm buying for both of us, remember? Drink up- it'll take the edge off and help you stop worrying," she said.
Jaune frowned even so. "You're… not concerned I might get carried away?" he asked, seeking reassurance.
"Trust me, Jaune- if you try something I don't like, you'll be the first to know."
There was something odd about Yang's promise- some sort of secretive joke- but Jaune couldn't make sense of it. He gave up trying to figure it out and decided to trust her. He did trust her, and sober friends looked out for drunk ones.
"Sorry about that," he said a few swigs later, worries fading. "Almost made a mess of things."
"I have that effect on people," Yang said neutrally as she watched him carefully.
"Mm," Jaune hummed non-committedly. "I was feeling a little off today, but you know what Yang?" he asked, trying to re-kindle the mood.
"What?" Yang asked, leaning back and giving him an impressive sight.
"You definitely turned me back on," Jaune admitted, wagging his eyebrows even as he took another sip.
Yang relaxed, glad things were back on track. "You're like a candy bar, Jaune- half sweet, and half nuts."
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End Fourteenth Round
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Author Note:
And so Jaune starts to slip. Only took two weeks and fourteen rounds, lol. But- gasp! Things are starting to go well! You know what that means!
If you start feeling a little unease in the pit of your stomach going forward...
And also so, another little bit of backstory previously foreshadowed is now delivered. Jaune's not just comically oblivious- there's history there, yo.