Chapter 18: A trusted force
Yang's certainly conflicted now.
He woke up slowly, the low groaning that he made as he remembered the dream he'd had during the night, a memory strangling together with the truth. He turned around, a soft groan as his fingers touched himself, the heated dream of touches and whispers, of golden hair and lavender-like eyes.
It was wrong, he knew, but it felt good. Imagining Yang's touch on him, to feel her touch him in the spots that were pleasant and not feel the sting of pain or the humiliation, moaning her name as he touched and stroked. She was nice, she was wonderful and she was-
A stern knocking on his door, as the annoyed sound of his older sister Marble was heard loudly from behind it.
"Stop moaning! The walls are fucking thin, Jaune! Jerk off when we're all unconscious, we don't need to hear it!"
Shame flushed through him and he stopped. "Sorry, sis." He'd been close, but he'd made too much noise. He'd be careful about that next time. He'd nearly forgotten that Yang was someone else's girlfriend. It was just pretending, after all. He shouldn't be feeling good about her, touching himself to the hot nice dream that he'd had.
'She's not for me. She's with Blake, she's not going to want someone broken like me.'
It was already a blessing from the heavens that she'd let him put on sunscreen. Her breasts had felt nice. It had been a pleasant touch and she'd-
'She said that she wanted to stop pretending. After it's done, we'll just be Yang and Jaune.'
It felt a little bad, but the pain in his chest hurt worse now. It didn't feel right. It didn't feel okay to him. Of course, there were things that he had to consider, like time and place, but...
'Ruby said that we were going to meet up with Weiss... didn't she?'
He wasn't sure what to think about that. He was sure that Weiss wouldn't like that, but if Ruby asked... Ruby was his friend, he should at least try to do as she wanted.
He was downstairs after having a brief shower, having gotten clean exercise clothing from the hamper. Mom had done the laundry, he supposed. It was nice to have clean clothing. He sat down between his twin sisters, who looked like they were still half-asleep. They'd had a long night or something, studying for this and that. He didn't really know what the issue was with them. Most of the things he'd read about in their books weren't that hard.
He'd corrected three parts of the equation that'd been printed in the book because it'd not really made sense. It was a little annoying, because the answer was incorrect. They hadn't liked it very much, but it'd been the wrong answer and he'd told them so.
"Anything fun on the schedule, Jaune?"
Connie asked, grabbing the jam and spreading it over the slice of bread in front of her, sprinkling a generous amount of sugar over it.
"Hot date, cute girl to bother you?"
He could tell them about what Ruby had planned but he wasn't sure whether he was right to do so. "Exercising with Yang. Maybe going into town with Ruby to meet her girlfriend." The look on his sister's face was warmer than most times, as she tried to make some sort of connection. They all were his sisters, even if he got on best with Saphron.
"And when will you be bringing home a girlfriend, eh? Our little brother needs to realize that he's got a cute lil' skull on his shoulders, so why aren't the girls looking at you?"
There was a sharp look from his mother, which he noticed in time. He was about to say something about Cinder, but his mom had said that it'd be best if he kept silent about it, because it would make his sisters sad. Dad didn't believe any of it, so it was okay, but mom was afraid of what his sisters might think of him.
"Perhaps they need glasses?"
He tried, which drew a grin from some of his sisters, one adjusting her dark blue glasses, giving him a grin.
"We should give him a makeover. Make his hair nice and short and spiky and then send him into the shopping mall... He'll be beating off girls without trying."
He blinked at her, as Constance nudged her.
"Hey, you can't deny that he'd look somewhat better with his hair cut a little shorter. Make him look like he's Sir Pussyslayer of Arc."
His middle sister received a playful smack to her side from the sister on her right.
"No swearing at the table, Carmen..."
He sighed, knowing that they meant well. It was simply that they didn't understand what he needed. They couldn't be blamed for being born whole and pure rather than disturbed and broken in the head.
"Sorry mom, but Jaune's got to bring home a girlfriend one of these days, or he'll be some sad loner loser... I wasn't born hot either, but now I'm hot enough!"
His mother looked very annoyed with Carmen. It wasn't her fault that she liked to joke about her own status, though he wished that she'd bring home someone too. He worried about her sometime.
"You haven't really gotten much luck. Connie has dated fifteen people. You have dated three."
Carmen's lips thinned, as some jeers came from her other sisters. There was something about her that seemed to show her displeasure, her eyes just a bit hurt. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay... they weren't that great."
He knew. She'd been hit once. That hadn't been nice. He'd seen dad get angry. That had been very not-nice.
"But I'm still hot!"
He checked the clock and then guessed that he would be best getting ready for Yang. She was still doing exercises with him, to get him to be a better and healthier person. That was a good thing. He got out of the house with his bag, finding that the car was already parked in the front, Yang looking at him with something in her eyes, pushing open the passenger side door.
"Hey there, big boy... Gotten ready for me?"
She didn't sound very great, but she made an attempt. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She had that lovely smile on her lips again, he noticed.
"Guess you are, Jaune. Let's do a run and..."
She paused, as she looked away. "And talk about stuff, okay?" He didn't mind talking, as Yang started the car. She wasn't going to make the day anything less than wonderful, as she let her gaze rest on the dashboard as the engine rumbled, pulling out of the spot where she'd parked. She smelled good, like lemon and cinnamon today.
They drove to a spot a little further away from their usual spot, Yang parking the car, getting out and then looking at him with a look he couldn't quite identify. He was sure that she would start to talk, but she hadn't spoken a single word. She looked at him a few times, her eyes meeting his own and her lips just starting to move, but no sound coming out.
"Are we going to start running?"
He asked, and she nodded, getting started on her stretches. He did his own, a different type than hers. Summer had said that they'd work better with his body. Yang was built differently from him and she was shorter. Summer was shorter too, and Yang did some of the same stretches that Summer did.
As they ran, he let his mind drift to the pleasant dream of the night. He'd touched himself and he felt bad about that. It had been so warm and comforting, almost real. He'd felt desire, love and something else. He wanted to feel love, but a retard shouldn't love.
'I really want you to be happy.'
They continued to run, far longer than previously was the case. They'd done nearly five miles or so by his internal estimation when Yang tapped him on the shoulder, her face heated and sweaty. Patches of sweat were making her top cling to her upper body, her chest heaving. The sight of it made him react, his body automatically angling itself a little more to guard himself from such shame. Yang wouldn't kick him, but she might not like it. She was Blake's girlfriend.
"Jaune, I'm-"
She sighed deeply, as she looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
She shouldn't be sorry, not in the slightest. She was Yang and she was good for her little sister. He smiled at her, trying for the best smile that he had. She looked a little flustered, her breathing a little louder.
"It's okay. We went a little longer than we do usually."
A lot longer, actually, but he knew that softening things a little made girls feel better. His sisters had said that you never should call a girl who gained a lot of weight fat, but that she'd just gained a little... Though it was a lie. Fat people were fat.
"That's not it, you silly- Oh, I don't even know why I'm..."
She looked conflicted, he noticed. She wasn't focusing on him, as she leaned against a tree, her gaze going up to the sky.
"I'm here for you."
He didn't know why he said that. Those were words that you said to someone that you loved, not for someone who was as pretty as Yang and who was with another girl. She was someone who made the world feel a little easier when she was around.
"I know, Jaune."
Her voice was light, as she got an awkward smile on her face, turning around to face him. "I know."
She knew a lot more than he did. It was good to be around her, because she knew a lot more than he did. "Jaune... If you were normal, and I was your girlfriend-"
She hesitated mid-sentence, her eyes looking at him with a sad look that seemed to be deeper than before.
'But I'm not normal and you're not my girlfriend.'
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it like that."
She spoke softly, her voice apologetic. He forgave her. She wasn't someone who should worry about a retard, after all.
"If you were with me... if you were my boyfriend, would you-"
She looked tense, as her eyes seemed to ask of him something that he didn't know how to answer properly.
"Would you love me?"
He looked at her and wondered whether this was another test, whether this was just to test his resolve.
"Yes. I can't love people though, it's not allowed, but I would. If I could, that is."
She seemed to look really sad for a moment, as she looked away. He couldn't see her face but her shoulders shook a little.
"Would you... Would you want me to sleep with someone else, if you were my boyfriend?"
He frowned, remembering Blake. That had been bad. Yang hadn't liked that, and he wouldn't want to see her face like that again. Mrs Belladonna had been quick to interfere with her daughter.
"No. You would be mine. I don't want to share someone who I love with anyone. My sisters will get married and the family will grow bigger, but my girlfriend would be mine alone. If you were my girlfriend, I would never share you with anyone else. I'd marry you, eventually. Such a decision shouldn't be rushed."
It was simple. He couldn't deny that the thought of someone who accepted him for how he was being with someone else was disgusting. You didn't do that with someone.
"I... I see."
She seemed to have a bit of a panic attack, her breathing coming really fast, as she trembled all over. He hugged her, trying to make her calm down a little. He felt drops of water hit his arms, as she sniffled. She didn't calm down quickly, but he just held on. She needed this, he guessed.
"That's really nice, Jaune."
Her voice was soft, as he held on to her. She kept shivering, as he held her, a soft sigh coming from her lips.
"You're pure. You don't worry about stuff that bothers you, because you've got a big heart."
He didn't think he was pure. He was corrupted since birth, something that had been born wrong and twisted, a good body but with a sick mind. It didn't matter to him that he was like that, as Yang shifted a little, turning around. With how he'd hugged her, it meant that they were face-to-face now, having leaned down a little.
"I'm not very great as a friend, am I?"
Her voice was soft, her eyes looking into his own. He shook his head, his eyes looking at those delicate features. She was a beauty. She was beautiful, just like her mother.
"You're my friend. Even if you're Blake's girlfriend, I will be your friend."
Honesty was the best thing, as he watched her. Her eyes looked conflicted, as she gave a soft sigh, hugging him with a lot more strength than before. She laid her head on his shoulder, as she tightened that grip a little.
"I'm not... Jaune, I'm not a good friend. I'm not."
She kept on saying that, but it wasn't true. She was better than Weiss or Blake. They didn't see things from another perspective. Weiss had said that she'd never want to be around him and Blake was just bad for dismissing Yang. It hurt to be dismissed, he knew.
"You're someone who burns brightly like the sun. You don't judge me. Your mom said that you were one of the best daughters she has."
He thought that Summer had said that, but he might be misremembering it. He didn't know, he felt fluttery and weak at the same time. She was here with him but she was sad.
"Mom... Mom was right." She mumbled softly. She looked sadder now, as she seemed to shiver.
"I should've listened to her."
He didn't know what she was talking about. It must've been some conversation that he'd missed because he wasn't there, but he knew that Yang would be fabulous and amazing either way.
"She loves you."
He said, Yang pulling away from him. Her lips mouthed something, but he never learned how to lip-read, so his eyes merely watched those eyes of hers. She leaned closer and pressed her lips against his own, a gentle kiss that seemed to make his heart explode with the thumping that it did, as her arms wrapped tightly around him. She broke the kiss and gave a soft smile.
"Thank you, Jaune."
She looked a little happier now, as she sighed deeply.
"I needed that hug. I'm sorry, I-"
She was confused. She was with Blake, after all. "Ruby wants us all to go into town with her." Yang said, sounding tired.
"Do you mind? We don't have to go if you don't want to."
He didn't. As long as Yang was with him, he'd like to think that he was safe. Yang was someone that he liked a lot because she was nice.
"No. As long as you're with me, I will go anywhere."
She turned red in the face, as she looked down to the ground. "Not fair. I'm not your mom. Ruby said that you go shopping with her a lot." She mumbled, shaking her head, her voice a little lighter, as she seemed to be embarrassed. He would probably get embarrassed too if he didn't know that his mother was always able to get the proper things for him. He needed new underwear at times but he never remembered the sizes.
"You're much prettier."
She was. She nudged him with her knuckles softly, her light laugh growing louder.
"Flatterer. There's... Ah hell..."
She sighed, not finishing her sentence.
"Let's just run, Jaune."
They returned to Summer's house after an hour, Yang taking the shower first. He cleaned himself up in the shower, Sandy in the background, on the phone. He could hear Summer's name a few times, as she was obviously talking with someone about something, talking about returning back to Taiyang's house.
'I wonder if Ruby is up yet.'
Ruby was probably still asleep. She liked to sleep in.
"Hey there, loverboy... Come, the shower's all yours."
Yang appeared, a light yellow top worn by her, giving her breasts a nice outline. It was nice to see, and he felt himself respond. She wasn't someone who restrained herself easily, as she left him at the bathroom door, leaving him to prepare himself.
He stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him, getting into the shower after grabbing the sponge. He'd get clean, no matter what. If he was going into town, he would at least look presentable. A shame that he didn't bring the nice clothing... but that mattered not. Yang would be there with him.
'She's nice...'
He felt his body react to her, the thing between his legs growing hard. Touching it wasn't good, but he wanted to. She was such a sexy young woman, she was such a good friend.
He felt desire, a sick and twisted feeling that burned within his guts, that moved around like a live serpent that writhed and coiled inside, like a burning snake that carved its way through his guts. A slowly increasing rumble inside him and he felt the desire slowly taper off, as he just washed himself. He couldn't allow himself to get distracted, to get dissuaded from being the good boyfriend that he had to pretend to be, to allow himself to feel those cravings.
He pushed open the door after he'd gotten the shower tidied up, using his towel to wipe the walls, feeling the warmth of the summer heat on his skin. He spotted Ruby, dressed in the red cloak that she and Summer had as a fashion statement, already seated at the table. Yang was buttering a slice of bread and then put it on a plate on the empty spot, smiling at him.
"Buttered your bread for you, so I figured that'd be the good girlfriend-ey thing to do."Ruby looked at her older sister and frowned. He didn't much like that look on her. It made her look not very nice.
"He's my friend, Yang. Don't steal him from us! Weiss just has to learn how to accept that I love her and him."
There was a moment where he could imagine Weiss' face, as Yang frowned, sighing. He sat down next to her and he laid an arm around her and gave a soft squeeze. She might need that. It wasn't something that he would deny her. Everyone needed a supporting arm at least once in their life. It wasn't going to be a bright day for Yang if he didn't support her.
"Weiss has her own thoughts, Ruby. You can't decide for her who she likes or what she likes."
There was an angry tone to Yang's voice, he guessed, as Yang looked at her younger sister with annoyance in her eyes. It wasn't a good look on Yang's face, as her father frowned at her.
"Don't bully your sister, Yang. She's not going to steal your boyfriend."
The warning tone was something that made Yang flinch a little, as Ruby smiled at her older sister. Sandy's look at her husband wasn't the happiest, as she pressed her lips tightly together. Jaune thought that she didn't like him much.
He squeezed Yang a little harder, just to make her feel better. "She's my girlfriend, Ruby." The man looked at him, as Yang leaned against him, a soft sigh coming from her lips.
"No, she's not. You're our boyfriend. We'll all be happy together, I just know it. You, me, dad, mom, Yang, Weiss and Blake."
He hoped that she wouldn't continue with that. It wasn't a good thing. Blake and Yang weren't really good for each other right now, but they were together. He wasn't really wanted.
"You can't just decide that for us, Ruby."
Yang spoke softly, her eyes looking a little sad. She didn't look so very happy at this moment. Her father dropped the subject, starting to talk with Sandy about something that they were going to do, the woman's eyes never really leaving Yang, a look that was angry and irritated, though it was masked well.
He knew those eyes. Cinder looked at him like that too. Disgust and displeasure. Yang wasn't really liked much by the woman.
They got into the car after breakfast had been done, Yang looking at Ruby with a look that wasn't very pleasant, undoubtedly about what Ruby had said earlier.
"Where are you meeting Weiss?"
Yang said, her voice sounding a little pinched, her eyes glinting with something that seemed to hold more feelings in it, something that seemed to burn and writhe, her breathing shorter and with more heat to it as if she was trying to suppress her anger. He didn't like to see her angry.
"We'll meet her at the café! She'll be so happy to see that I've brought guests. She's been curious about how you'd feel in bed, Yang, but that's a secret... I guess I wasn't supposed to say that, but who cares? It's Weiss! She's my best friend in the world!"
He watched Yang, tuning Ruby out some more. Yang's expression was dark, her eyes holding dark emotions. It felt a little like with Cinder, when Cinder had first found out the horrible truth of his degeneracy.
"I guess it's a double date then..."
Yang mumbled, her voice sounding really sad. Ruby just chattered on. Yang's head turned around, the car jolting a little as she hit the brakes.
"Don't you ever say that again, Ruby! He isn't your toy! You can't decide for Jaune what he wants. Don't you know how much that would hurt Weiss?"
Ruby had said something, but he hadn't heard what she'd said. Yang shifted gears and the car moved again, but there was something in her eyes, as she gave him a look. It was one that made him feel warm on the inside, even though he was just pretending to be her boyfriend. She was still his friend, still was the cool girl that made him work out hard and haunted his dreams with her wonderful self.
'I wonder what it would be like...'
Ruby skipped ahead of them as Yang lagged behind with him. She looked moody and tired, her eyes looking around with an expression that was sad.
"Hold my hand, Jaune."
He did, and it felt proper. She had a nice, small hand. Some calluses, but nothing that really made it less soft. She gripped his hand tightly, as she leaned closer. "Ruby means well." He said. She was still his friend. Cinder shouldn't get her hands on Ruby, because it would ruin Ruby's purity. He didn't want to see Ruby die. He could die. He wasn't worth that much, but Ruby was someone who made the world brighter.
"She's not... She's not like you, Jaune. She doesn't think, she doesn't know what her words do to people..."
The lamentation was much like that of his mother, when he did something that she didn't quite understand. It was something that brought with it a lot of confusion, mistakes and a lack of explanation.
"I don't lie to people. It's not honest."
She looked stricken, as her gaze turned away. She sighed, a bitter smile coming to her lips.
"I lie a lot. I'm not very honest, and I've been lying to someone for a while now."
There was always that, with her father being against her relationship with Blake. She'd been lying to her father, but it was okay to him. Yang couldn't be sad. She was too nice to be sad.
"It'll be okay. I believe in you. You only lie if it would make someone not hurt."
She stopped, her eyes looking at him, his gaze drawn to her face. She looked at him with eyes that were so sad.
"I think you're one of the most honest people I consider a friend. Except Ren, he's never able to lie. Nora does, a lot. But she has Ren. He keeps her honest. He said he would make her an honest woman."
Yang looked at him, her lips parting as she gazed at him, her eyes never quite fading from his own. "I should stop lying to him." She muttered, seemingly more to herself.
"Your father would understand. He's not bad. He said that he'd take me on a one-way trip out somewhere far away and that he'd deal with me if I had hurt you. They wouldn't find my body."
She winced and looked angry. He hoped that he hadn't said too much. He didn't want to make her upset with her father.
"Damn it, dad...Not again..."
She mumbled, looking sadder than she had before. "I won't let him." She was not going to be able to stop her father. The man had looked serious to him. It wouldn't be a great loss for the world though, he knew what he was.
"Come on, slowpokes! We need to get to Weiss."
Ruby interrupted them, but it was okay. She was Ruby, so it wasn't bad. She was his friend.
They entered the café, finding Weiss seated at one of the tables to the side. Weiss looked a little less cheerful than before, her forehead having a fading bruise on it, pushed to the background with makeup. Cool blue eyes looked at him and he was reminded that she was one of the pure people once more. She would deal with him if he acted too retarded.
The nice white dress she wore was embroidered at the hem, and she showed a little cleavage. It was a good look for her.
"Ruby, why are... why is he here?"
Ruby smiled at her girlfriend, as she sat down in front of Weiss, motioning to the seats. Yang took a seat next to Weiss, her eyes looking at her younger sister.
"Because we're all going to be friends, Weiss. I love you and I love him. We can work out the details later."
Weiss didn't look so happy, as she gave a baleful look at Yang, as if she blamed her for everything that had happened. That was wrong.
"I said it before, and-"
Yang's hand grabbed Weiss's small hand and Yang gave her a stern look. It was a good look. Summer got that look too when she was doing something that she wanted.
"Ruby, go and order something for yourself. We'll keep Weiss company whilst you get the drinks."
He could see Ruby getting up, smiling, Yang sliding a bill over. "Get me a Pepsi, and Jaune too." Ruby snatched the bill and walked off to the counter, Weiss looking conflicted between the grip that Yang had on her.
"Listen, Schnee... Look at him." A finger pointed at him. She had good nail polish done.
"What do you see?"
There was a softness in Weiss' eyes that hardened when her eyes fell on him.
"A guy who doesn't know what to say, can't lie and makes me feel uncomfortable. What is your problem, Xiao Long? Why did she bring you here with him?"
Yang's face showed dislike. Weiss was just saying what she thought. It was alright. "Weiss, look at him, a good hard look. Look at how he looks to you, as a German." Her voice was light, as Jaune got a bad feeling in his stomach.
"Think back to your history. What would someone see in him, say, around the 40's?"
Weiss looked at him with a look of disgust in her eyes. "A sick individual. Someone who glorifies National Socialism." Her voice was soft, yet it bore hate. Those eyes looked at him with a look as if he was the lowest thing on the world, to be crushed below her heel.
Cinder looked at him like that too, once she knew. She'd said so. Who cared if he went up to ashes?
"He's got autism, Weiss. He was laybensunwerdig leben, though I'm probably mangling that."
A frown on Weiss' face, as she looked at the blonde. He caught sight of Ruby at the counter, ordering their drinks. Ruby was always bright and sunny.
"But he's Aryan in looks, why would th-"
Weiss' eyes changed, something deep in them seemingly shifting, as if she was looking at him for the first time. She looked at him and seemed to tremble, as something seemed to push together in her mind.
"Cinder burned into his skin two letters. L.L. Mom knew what that meant, probably because she'd had to sit through lectures on that stuff. So do you, being German and all that hoohah. What did they do to people who weren't mentally alright, Weiss?"
Weiss blinked. She looked a little sad, and now a lot sadder. He didn't quite understand why. She had been honest and clear about what she thought of him. That was honest and he could understand that.
"Oh."
He watched her, as she trembled a little more, those eyes looking at him with what seemed to be pity. Something else, as she looked at him with that gaze that seemed to try to put the pieces together for her to get. He helped her with that. That's what a friend did.
"We're all going to go up in ashes. That's what we deserve for being broken in the head. Ruby, me. All up in smoke. The stupid people go first."
Weiss looked sick, even though he'd not spoken it loudly, he'd tried to convey it the best he could, Yang turning a little pale as well. Weiss was shaking and trembling, though her eyes didn't move away. Yang looked sad, as she looked at him, letting go of Weiss' hand.
"I need... the bathroom, Entschuldige mich."
Weiss moved towards the bathroom and the door closed down. She must not be feeling very well, because she'd looked at him as if he was worth something. That was wrong. He wasn't worth much, he was just a retard who'd never find love, never find someone who would love him for how he was.
"Hey, where's Weiss gone off to? Is she sick?"
Ruby asked, Yang not really responding. She just looked at him with a look that was sad and yet understanding. Weiss returned from the bathroom a few minutes later, looking a little pale, smiling with a wavering smile on her lips as she saw Ruby. It was a good thing that Ruby and Weiss were together. He wouldn't want to hurt the two of them.
"Let's... Let's go to the cinema, alright?"
Weiss suggested, looking at Ruby with a questioning look, as if asking for permission. It was clear to him who was more in control amongst the two. Ruby led whilst Weiss followed.
Ruby started to chat at Weiss, who looked at him a few times. He tried his best not to make her too angry, hanging back with Yang. Yang was silent whilst they walked, the drinks that they'd had before still in the back of his mind. Weiss hadn't finished hers and she'd looked at him, but she'd not spoken to him.
"She's wrong to dislike you. Whatever Fall did... it's wrong."
Yang sounded stern, trying to convince him, but she didn't know what it was like. He would keep Ruby and Yang safe, no matter what.
"She understands now, I think. You aren't wrong in my eyes."
He hoped so. Yang was someone who was honest and beautiful. He had to say that in comparison to Yang, every other girl paled. Summer was nice and beautiful, but Yang was better. It fit, and it didn't feel right that she was with Blake inside him. He felt the desire to take her for himself, even if it was wrong, even when the girl was with another.
He felt lighter, as he looked at Yang's bright eyes. Yang was someone who was special to him. He wondered if the chest pain could be love. If it was love, it might explain things a little more. It felt good, even if it hurt a little.
"You're wonderful."
He repeated, softly. She winced, as she came closer.
"No, I'm not honest with people."
She mumbled, as she looked at him with mysterious eyes.
"I'm lying to someone and... And it hurts."
He shook his head. "It's for the right reasons then. You don't make mistakes, Yang. You're better than me. I make a lot of mistakes." She didn't speak up, letting her eyes go towards Ruby and Weiss, who were chatting. Weiss looked a lot happier now that Ruby was with her again, rather than sad at him for being weird.
"No, you don't make mistakes... It's just like mom said. Just like what she said, it's all coming true... Blake..."
That made no sense, but Yang seemed to be calmer as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She looked at him with a look, even though her dad knew that she was a lesbian, just like Ruby.
"Summer is nice. She didn't mean to hurt me."
He believed that. She apologized, so it was alright. Yang looked at him and then smiled, a smile that was warmer, as she kissed his cheek. It felt good.
"God... You make it so hard sometimes, you silly, silly goof."
Yang said, her voice soft as she spoke, looking at him. She smelled good, like she was happy. That was a good feeling.
"Do you want to stop pretending?"
He looked at her and thought about it. He had said that he would keep pretending, rather than giving up on her. She was Yang and her relationship with Blake was very important to her.
"I want you to be happy with Blake. If I need to pretend to like you, I will do it for you."
She looked complicated for a moment before she laughed. It was a little higher than before. "Oh, I'm sure that you'd do it for me, loverboy." Her eyes were warm and lit up, a sadness in their core that seemed to grow.
"Blake's going to be out of the picture for a while."
He knew that. She was going to get her treatment and be together with Yang again. Yang wanted Blake to be happy, so he would support her during that time. Blake was with Yang, after all.
"I guess you'll have to suffer my presence for a while then."
She looked a little sad, her eyes softly peering into his own as they walked to the cinema and she spoke very softly.
"It's not suffering. You're a fun guy, Jaune."
He liked hearing that. It made him feel warm. Once they'd selected the movie, something that was entirely girlish about a love relationship between a Faunus slave and her human master, they got to their seats after getting some popcorn and sat there to wait for the movie to start. He was sat between Ruby and Yang, with Yang's hand grabbing his own.
'Broken Fangs... hmm...'
It was an interesting movie, he guessed. The dynamics between the slave and her owner just seemed to be different from the other slave, who resisted her imprisonment. He wasn't sure whether she was doing the right thing by resisting someone who had power over you. It was a slavery-era drama, so it was probably something that wasn't too right, but it was an alright movie. It ended on a conflicting note, with the movie finally moving to a place where the slave could be happy with her master. It was enough to make the girls look all teary-eyed, even Yang.
"I've got to go to the bathroom. Yang, I need some help."
He looked at Yang and then watched her apologetic look, as she sighed.
"Sure thing, sis..."
He wasn't quite sure what it was about, but he knew that Ruby had some issues with going to the bathroom in places where she didn't feel secure. He looked at Weiss, who was looking away from him.
She moved out of her seat and he moved with her. It wasn't nice to leave someone alone. Weiss didn't deserve to be alone when her girlfriend was just off to the bathroom. She looked at him, but it didn't make him feel so bad. There was something in her eyes that was sympathetic, perhaps just a little more.
"Is it true that... That Fall did something like that to you?"
She asked, her voice sounding soft, Weiss leaning against one of the pillars. The white dress that she wore with the snowflake earrings made her look like a goddess of ice and snow, as her eyes met his again.
"She said it was what a retard deserves."
He didn't speak up loudly, but Weiss looked at him.
"She wasn't happy. She made me sing the song. She's pure and I am not."
It was a dull, dead tone that he used, as he remembered Cinder's treatment again. Weiss looked guilty, if that was the right emotion.
Her eyes did not glance away from him, her gaze watching him carefully for anything that he might not tell her. She was one of the pure people, her hair as blonde as those who should lead, her eyes as clear as the sky.
"What song?"
Weiss asked, her voice sounding perhaps hesitating, as if she didn't want to ask but curiosity compelled her to. There were some people around, but he didn't really think they were paying attention. He hummed it, the words not really nice, he thought. She looked sadly.
"Oh. That song is banned in Germany. It's... it's a bad song. Very bad. I'm sorry, Jaune."
She might be sorry, but that didn't erase the fact that he had been born wrong, that he'd been born as a retard that made people sad. It wasn't right. It wasn't good to be broken and wrong.
"I'm sorry too. I thought you were like Cinder."
He felt really bad about it too. Weiss' face looked disgusted, and she was still looking at him with those eyes when she straightened herself out, giving him a serious look. She looked really pretty when she did that, but she was gay.
"I might..."
She looked like she was swallowing lemon juice.
"I might have been hasty with judging you. I do not wish you dead. I had thought that, well..."
He could understand her. She hadn't been around. Most of what she had heard had been second-hand. He didn't want to rape her, that was wrong.
"I shouldn't have said that to you. Ruby is- She is the girl I love and- And I don't like boys." He understood that.
"But, you're her friend and- And I'd like to be your friend, because Ruby trusts you."
He trusted Ruby too. She was his friend. Weiss was... perhaps not so good a friend, but they were getting better. Just like in the story about the prodigal son who came back home.
"You're good for Ruby."
He said, but he nodded afterwards to confirm it to her.. "I'd like to be just your friend. My sister Saphron is like you too. Her wife is nice."
He didn't mind the teasing, Saphron was amazing. She always brought something nice, even if it was just some really odd thing she saw in a store.
He wasn't going to be the one who would bother with keeping a grudge. If Weiss wanted to be his friend, that was good. Weiss smiled at him softly.
"Fall hurt you... Does it still hurt? Yang said that she burned something into your skin."
He looked at her and closed his eyes. It ached a little at times when he sweated a lot.
"It's between my legs." Weiss looked a little queasy at that. She looked like she regretted that she had asked. "She smoked a lot. She put it out and made two L shapes. Yang cares, she said that she didn't want something like that to happen to Ruby too."
Blue eyes looked at him, and he looked around a little nervously. Weiss had a really intense look in her eyes.
"What was that about Ruby? Did that woman say something about her?"
He wasn't sure whether he should tell. It was his word against Cinder's, it wasn't right.
"I'm not sure I should tell. Summer looked really angry when I told her."
Weiss looked worried, as she came closer. She laid a hand on his arm and her eyes looked really deep and emotional.
"You can tell me, I'm your friend, I'm... I'm her girlfriend, you can tell me, right?"
He looked around, hoping that Yang and Ruby would be back soon. He didn't feel very comfortable, as Weiss looked at him with a strict look.
"Please?"
He leaned closer and whispered it in her ear. She inhaled sharply, as she got out of his personal space, a look on her face that was not good.
"No, that wouldn't... She wouldn't but..."
She looked at him with eyes of mistrust and suspicion. He didn't like that. She looked angry.
"Are you going to do something like that to her, Jaune?"
He shook his head, as Weiss seemed to be relieved by that answer, her fingers tracing over her dress, smoothing it out.
"G-good. Not that I thought you would, but..."
She looked and sounded uncertain, which he could understand. He didn't think he'd ever get to have sex with someone before Summer showed him and even now, it just felt awkward. She might have done something wrong, but he didn't really care. Summer was nice and she felt good to him. He could understand that feeling inside her that kept her going.
"I don't want people to hate me, even if I can't understand them."
Nobody wanted to be hated, he knew. Some people did deserve to be hated. Cinder had hated him and he had deserved it, or so she'd said.
"I guess nobody does."
Weiss said, looking at him with her eyes sad. "I've written that letter, though it seems I must... re-write it a bit." She mumbled something under her breath in German, shaking her head, her smile brightening as she saw Ruby appear once more.
"Weiss! Sorry we're late, Yang had to pee too."
Weiss smiled much more genuinely as she saw her girlfriend. He hoped that Yang would smile some too, as she just looked a little weathered. It wasn't like Yang to be looking sad. She deserved to be happy.
He couldn't make her happy, because Yang was gay, just like her sister. She was with Blake and you didn't force yourself between lesbians. That wasn't good.
"Hey there, boyfriend."
Yang came closer and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his cheek and letting him feel her breasts press against him.
"How's my big bad blonde been, huh? Getting bored with the snoozy Schnee?"
She was just playing with him, just toying with him and trying to pretend. It was okay, of course it was. Summer had said that he'd need to keep them safe and happy. He wouldn't fail at that. "We had a talk. We're friends now. Still." He glanced at Weiss, who was quietly talking to Ruby. Blue eyes met his own and she smiled.
A soft kiss to his cheek, as Yang grabbed him by the hand again and squeezed. "I'm happy." She looked happy too. Maybe just trying to act, but she looked happy to his eyes. He liked looking into those eyes.
"How about we go to get something to eat? It's around four, maybe we can just get something and..."
Yang looked at him with a playful look in her eyes, giving a win, a serious expression appearing on her face suddenly. "Yeah, you look fit enough. You can carry the bags." He blinked, looking at her and she smiled again. "Of course not, silly. We're all going to put in the work, if you're up for it."
"We're going to shop too, Weiss! Food, then shopping! We can get that nice new thing that Yang saw in the stores... Ooh, I hope you don't mind if we go and-"
Ruby was chattering at Weiss, who looked charmed by it, her attention never fading from Ruby, not unlike Yang, who smiled at him.
"Going shopping is okay, right?"
Yang's voice was calm, as Ruby tugged Weiss with her, not giving her much of an option as they walked towards the exit.
"I'm not overstimulating you, am I?"
He shook his head. He smiled at her. She was trying, just like mom. Saphron said that she'd like to help out too, if she lived closer. Terra was just busy a lot.
"No. We can go shopping."
Yang's hand was light as it touched him, and she smiled at him, a beautiful smile that made his heart beat a little faster. It was so nice to see her light up like that, almost as if she was interested in him. He smiled back at her and she seemed to enjoy that, her teeth becoming visible.
"Good, I'm... I'm going to look for something nice."
She winked at him and it became hard to stop his heart from beating so fast, his eyes looking everywhere except at her. It was a slow and steady thump-thump-thump that beat faster and faster.
"You look good in anything, Yang."
She smiled at him and pulled him closer, her eyes having a look in them that made his heart's beat increase, coming closer, as her tongue licked over her lips.
"Oh, don't worry... I'll make sure that it'll be just good enough." She smiled and it looked nearly genuine, if he didn't know she was just acting. He wanted her to look at him like that, but she was with Blake. Weiss and Ruby were back together, and Yang and Blake would be together as well.
He stood outside of the store with apparel, waiting for the girls to come out again. Yang had said that it was time for some girl-shopping, and he wondered how long they would take. He checked his phone, trying to keep track of time. He knew that it would be nice to eat with Yang and Ruby, but he wasn't sure whether their father would really like that. He didn't know whether her stepmother would either, on second thought.
"Jaune! Look! Look!"
Ruby nearly leapt at him, holding something in his face. Silver, he noticed immediately, a wrist-bangle, looking like it had been expensive. He caught sight of Weiss looking happily at Ruby, as Ruby nattered along, Yang emerging from the store and giving him a wink. He smiled back, as Ruby said something about silver and how cool and cute it was.
He tuned her out. Yang was looking better than she had, as she sauntered up.
"Alright, girlies... Time to get something to foodinate our bellies."
Her hand was warm in his own, not leaving it. It felt nice and comfortable, the feeling of her hand in his own. It was just pretending, she'd said so, but he would like to hold on to this feeling for a while. She was a good young woman, eighteen soon, if he didn't forget.
The burgers and fries were for Weiss' platinum card, the pale-haired blonde girl looking at him and giving a little nod to say that it was alright. He felt happy, Yang smiling at him and stealing one of his fries right from his fingers, slowly nibbling on it whilst looking into his eyes. She was acting just like in the movies and series, but it was all pretending. Weiss must need to see something like this to feel better, so Yang was just acting.
As she dropped him off at his front door, she fixed Ruby with a look and got out of the car with him.
"Hey, Jaune? Tomorrow we won't be exercising. Wear something nice, Mister boyfriend."
She smiled at him, her eyes looking into his own, a cocky smirk on her lips that she usually wore when she was being bold.
"Let's go on a date, you hunky blonde..."
There was a burning determination in her eyes, as she stood on her tiptoes and gave him another kiss, her lips against his own. She held the kiss for a little while as she just held on, her smaller stature just feeling right. He kissed her back, knowing that it was just her pretending, for her father's benefit.
It was almost saddening to let go of her, her eyes looking up at him. The light of the streetlight made her eyes look almost moist, her breathing a little heavier, as her top looked like it was a little tight. She swallowed, before she straightened her shoulders.
"Tomorrow at eleven I'll pick you up. I demand my boyfriend look fabulous, and I'll leave the evil stepmom at home."
There was confidence in her voice as she said that, and he couldn't deny that she looked fabulous. "I'll be there, looking like your boyfriend should." He said, trying to reaffirm to her that he would do his best. Summer had said that it would be his job to make sure that Yang was happy and safe. He'd make sure that she was safe and that Ruby was happy too.
"Yeah, because we both know how well Blake treats me, right? I'm hoping you do a better job, Jaune."
A light tone of voice, although her voice sounded a little sad. She was still with Blake. This was just another part of working with her on fooling her father.
'It's not real. She's not really telling me that it'd be...'
"I'll do my best. You're not someone I want to see be hurt."
She smiled. That smile made his day worth it, as she patted his side.
"Hey... Don't worry about Blake anymore. She's..." He could see her hesitate, her eyes sad.
"It's going to be over for us soon. She'll be back after the break and- And all will be over between us."
She looked at him with her eyes yearning, as she rubbed over his side. It was natural. She'd be over the little bit with him. They'd be together again, of course. That's how things went for people like him.
Never loved by someone who was beautiful like Yang, always of use. Summer was wrong to say that Yang and Ruby needed someone like him, one of the first things that she'd been wrong about.
'Of course it'd be over for us soon. I shouldn't have thought that it'd be more than her trying to make sure that she doesn't get into trouble...'
"Don't look at me with that frown on your face, Jaune. Let's have fun tomorrow."
She smiled and he felt himself smile back at her. She was Yang and it was alright. He'd make sure that he would be the boyfriend that would never be real.
"Let's have fun, Yang."
He felt drained, feeling how his body just slowed down.
"Of course. I'm looking forward to making sure that my boyfriend gets a great date out of it. Wear your new clothing, and we'll be a matching pair."
Her lips formed a smile and he couldn't stop himself, as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. It was sweet of her to try and make him believe it too, like she'd actually want to, and she kissed him back, no doubt to humour him.
'it's not real. Cinder was wrong but there's no way that someone as good as Yang could ever...'
She broke the kiss first, her cheeks red, eyes looking at him. "I'd like to do that some more, boyfriend... Hmm... A girl can get used to this, y'know?"
He felt like he was lost, and she was the one bringing him home. He didn't like to be lost, but at this moment, he just couldn't stop himself. If it was a lie, if it was all something that he couldn't ever get, he'd want to believe it for a moment.
'It's all pretending, it's not going to be real, but... but she's nice and she'll be happy. Her father wouldn't want her to be gay, so I'll just help her pretend.'
"I'm going to make you happy, Yang."
He didn't want to do anything else. If she'd ask him to hurt himself, he would. She was worth it.
He liked her. He liked her much more than most other girls. Summer was... Summer was less important than Yang.
"Thanks. Keep some of that love in store for me, sweetheart. I'll be the darling of your mother's eye... And probably the girl who'd make your sisters turn pale with jealousy."
She winked. He didn't look at his sisters like he looked at Yang. That was just creepy and something that a loser would do.
"You're already an angel."
She seemed to grow red in the cheeks, looking away, her fingers toying with a few strands of her hair.
"I... I gotta go. Ruby needs to get home and... And we need to get some sleep. She's got a bed-time, yeah."
Ruby didn't look very sleepy. Yang got into the car and then waved at him, driving off. Ruby had started to talk about something and Yang's cheeks were burning red.
'It's just pretending, she said. She wanted to stop pretending. She's with Blake.'
He didn't think Blake deserved Yang, really. Nobody should want to have their girlfriend say that someone could just do things to them that they didn't want.
He entered his parents' house through the front door. He caught sight of his father seated in his chair, looking through a few magazines. The man looked up, his eyes a little wary for a moment before he smiled.
"Hey there, champ. Been with the girls for a while, huh?"
He looked at his father for the longest while before he realized he was supposed to respond. "Oh. Yeah. We went to the cinema. Weiss forgave me. We're friends again." He wasn't sure whether his father knew. Probably. Dad always knew things. Dads were always watching, always waiting. Dad had basically stalked Terra like a deer on her first five dates with Saphron. Mom hadn't liked it, but Dad had been adamant. The rifle had been left home on the fourth date.
"Say, you're still doing those exercises with Ruby's mother, right?"
The man looked at him and there was that moment where Jaune could see worry in his eyes. He shook his head.
"She's currently visiting her best friend. I don't know where she's buried. Yang took over. We went running."
The man's eyes were on him the whole time, as his mother passed by, giving him a small smile as she brushed a hand through his hair.
"Good run? Nice girl?"
His father asked, sounding a little less strict, the edge of his voice blunting, as he watched his father push the page and glance at the magazine for a moment before he answered in reply.
"We ran a little longer. Ruby took me to the cinema with her girlfriend. We had dinner later. It was nice."
He wondered why his heart hadn't calmed down, as his mother passed by again, carrying something in her arms, laundry, he guessed. "Is everything okay?"
"Don't worry about it, Jaune. Everything will be fine."
His mother's voice spoke as she grabbed the bag he'd had on his shoulder, which he allowed her to take. She was going to do the laundry. A lot of sisters meant a lot of laundry.
"No exercise tomorrow, so it's got time to dry."
He said, trying to be helpful. His mother smiled at him, giving him a hug. It was a little tighter than usually was the case. She was a little emotional.
"Son, I've heard some bad news... Do you remember Frank? The one from the barbecue?"
Jaune nodded, his mother looking a little worried all of a sudden, his father's face more serious than before.
"Are you sure you want to tell him, honey?" The man looked at him and then nodded, clearly deciding that it would be best to do so.
"Jaune's seventeen, darling. He's a big man now, he can hear some bad news."
The man looked up at him. The magazine was closed and Jaune felt a shiver go through him as his father looked seriously.
"Frank's gone bad, son. He's killed a lot of people, and-"
A look that was like dad's usual when he was trying to find the thread of the conversation, when he'd just lost it for a moment.
"And I want you to know that it happens to good people sometimes, when they're under a lot of stress."
That makes sense. Dad knew what was best. Mister Taiyang was a nice man, but at times not so nice when his daughters were threatened.
"Oh. Is he going to kill you?"
His father looked surprised at the question, but glanced at his mother, before shaking his head.
"Not likely, son. I just want you to... Did Summer ever do... weird things? Things that scared you?"
He couldn't really remember when he had been scared by her. He'd been scared by Mister Frank too, but the man had understood. He knew that his father was just trying to look out for him.
"No. She did not scare me."
It was true. His father looked at his mother with a look that was almost certainly 'I told you so'. He hadn't been scared, but Yang had been scared for her mother. Blake had been scared when Summer had torn her off him.
"And this... Blake girl, your mother said something about you getting a blow from her, what's her situation? Is she frightening to you?"
His father asked silly questions. Blake was together with Yang, and it wasn't going to work out well with him in the mix.
"Oh, she's going into therapy. Her mother said that it was something biological. She's lost a baby because her boyfriend stabbed her. It makes her less... cognizant? Hmm..."
He mused aloud. Mrs Belladonna had been nice. His mother looked a little shocked. "Her mother said that she'll be going into therapy though. She's a nice lady."
"Ohhhkay." The man sounded like he wasn't sure. His mother gave him a strict look. "Well... Just be okay, alright? I don't want to hear about my son getting into trouble thanks to someone who's not fully in their right mind." His mother coughed, and his father groused.
"He's in his right mind, woman. There's nothing wrong with our son! Sure, he's got a few hang-ups socially and hasn't brought home a girl yet, but that's okay! I put eight babies in you, he'll have his time to shine. Eesh."
His dad didn't accept that he had autism. He didn't really like to think about it. It was how he was and dad didn't accept that.
"You know what I mean, Jack! They called me when you were out, and I had to answer all those uncomfortable questions about Jaune!"
This was looking like another argument, and he cleared his throat. His mother and father looked at him, his mother's gaze softening.
"Don't worry, sweetie. We're not mad at you, we're just... Not always getting along super. How about you go and get ready for bed? Do you want me to wake you up at seven?"
He shook his head. "She'll be picking me up at eleven." He knew that Yang would be on time. She was not going to be late.
"Who's picking you up at eleven, sweetheart?"
He watched his mother, not sure whether she was properly understanding that Yang was going to pick him up.
"Ruby's sister, the one who's dating Blake. She said it'll be a date. Her dad doesn't like that she's like Saphron."
His mother sighed, as his father merely grumped something about perfectly fine young gentlemen.
"Just make sure not to hurt her, sweetie. We don't want another incident like with Cinder Fall, okay? Always listen to a girl when she says something, and don't touch her anywhere."
He wouldn't. He knew his place, and his mom was just concerned. She hadn't really believed him. She'd seen that picture.
"I won't. She's a nice girl." His mother frowned a little.
"Ruby is a nice girl too, but she's sixteen... You're nearly eighteen, Jaune. I don't want you to go to a bad place."
She was concerned, he knew. He guessed that she meant that he shouldn't go to jail. That's where he'd die. Cinder had said so. The police would come to take him away and he'd die.
"I'll be good. She's with Blake. She doesn't want to do anything with me."
His mother looked concerned, but his father nodded. "Good. Go for a girl that's within your range. If she doesn't want you, there's more fish in the sea." He nodded. Yang was too beautiful for him, she'd never see him as anything more than just the friend of Ruby.
He crawled into bed an hour later after his mother and father had tried to connect a little more, his mother giving him a hug. His father had given him a pat on the shoulder, though that was as close as it got for him.
'I'll do my best, Yang. I'll make sure that you don't lose that beautiful smile. Blake isn't great, and you might hurt a lot, but you can make it work.'
He wasn't good for her, anyways. He was just broken.
Sometimes, a misunderstanding is created by a simple interpretation of the facts. Yang is falling pretty hard, though. Dragonslayer looms in the distance!
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