A Change of Heart
Ruby opened her eyes. She was staring at the ceiling, locked in the warm embrace of the man next to her.
She knew who it was. She didn't stop him, though. For a moment, she just enjoyed it. His arms around her. His chest against her face. Her body against hers… Then she felt her face turn hot as she reeled her thoughts back in. She let out a long, shaky sigh, glancing to her side.
Jaune was fast asleep next to her. The side of his face was pressed against his pillow, and he took long, deep breaths as she stared at the faint smile on his face. Ruby's cheeks were still a bright red as she began to get up, not wanting a repeat of yesterday's mess.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Ruby almost screamed from the loud greeting, but she caught herself as she slowly slipped out of Jaune's arms. Not an easy task considering his body wanted to keep a hold of her...
"Yang? You're up early..." Jaune whimpered quietly when Ruby finally pulled away from him, and he fidgeted on the bed, pulling the covers over him as he quietly snored. Ruby tried not to think about how cute that was as Yang continued.
"Couldn't sleep," she replied. "Anyways, who's got time for sleep? We're on vacation!"
Ruby nodded in silent agreement, but she couldn't help but wonder what was on Yang's mind. The last time they spoke, she and Yang had butt heads, arguing with one another about Jaune and how Ruby had told him so much of their past.
"Look, Yang, about yesterday-"
"Ruby, it's alright," the voice replied. "Water under the bridge. It's okay."
That should have settled things, but Ruby still felt a twisting in her gut. She bit the inside of her cheek, frowning as she looked at Jaune again. She watched his chest rise and fall with every breath, as Yang spoke.
"We should probably wake Sleeping Beauty. Can't let him just sleep the day away."
"Yeah…" Ruby began to walk towards his side of the bed, planning on simply nudging him awake when her body stumbled.
Her eyes widened as she realized Yang had taken control of her body to effectively 'shove' her towards the sleeping man. "Yang!" she gasped, trying not to be too loud as Ruby caught herself. Her cheeks burned hot once more as her face hung a few inches over Jaune's sleeping face. "What are you doing?!"
"Just messing with my little sister and her BF." Ruby's face was consumed by her blush as Yang chuckled. Ruby's eyes widened again as she watched her hand rise up and gently poke Jaune's nose. She tried to pull it back, but Yang wouldn't let go of the limb. Ruby felt her heart skip a beat as Yang's chuckled faded in her mind.
Jaune stirred, and his eyes opened to find Ruby right in front of him. Their lips were inches apart as he blinked sleep away. Silver eyes met sapphire ones. Neither said anything at first as the red on her pale cheeks spread down her neck, and even onto her ears.
Funny enough, the first thing Jaune noticed was the way Ruby smelled. His brain didn't process that he was staring into her silver eyes, nor that her hand was inches from his face, but the way she smelled...
He breathed in her sweet scent as his own cheeks exploded with crimson embarrassment. Ruby almost screamed, jumping back as Jaune sat up, their lips barely missing each other. The two scrambled to pull away from one another, and in the chaos, Jaune fell off of the bed.
"Jaune!"
Ruby ran to pick up her friend, and he rose up back to his feet with her help. Their faces were close again, both of them painted red. Neither said anything as they stared at one another, letting an awkward silence fill the empty air.
The young woman wondered what the hell Yang was thinking. Jaune wondered why Ruby was so close, and… and why she had to smell so good.
As he quietly struggled to not sound like a creep to himself, he thought of what to say. "Are you okay?" he finally asked, eyes on the bed.
"Me? You're the one who fell off the bed."
"Oh. Right. Yeah, I'm good." The two seemed to realize just how close they were to one another finally, and Jaune stepped back as Ruby did the same. Neither said anything as they glanced at one another.
"I thought I saw something on your face!" she squeaked, letting out a nervous laugh as Jaune scratched the back of his head. "That's why I was so close. That's all."
"R-right." The two were silent again. Neither said anything, until Ruby pointed at the bathroom.
"I-I'm going to go brush my teeth! Bye!" She made a mad dash to the bathroom, and slammed the door behind her as Jaune blinked, staring at the empty spot that once held his friend.
"Yang! W-what was that for?! Why?!" Ruby shouted, glaring at her reflection.
She could almost see her reflection's lips twist into Yang's smile. She laughed at her little sister's embarrassment, before answering, "Just trying to help you with Blondie. We're on vacation. Why not do something crazy and catch a stud muffin?"
"What?" Ruby's brow furrowed. She didn't understand. This was a total 180 from just a hours ago. "Yang, you were mad at Jaune just yesterday."
"Yeah. Yesterday. It's a new day," Yang replied, and Ruby almost saw her reflection winking back at her. "I did some thinking yesterday, Rubes, and you're right. You don't need my approval to live your life. You should just live it, and if you want to start dating Blondie, well, that's-"
"D-date?! I-I don't…" Ruby's face was consumed by her blush again, and Yang laughed as her voice echoed in Ruby's skull.
"Sure you don't. Look, just go have fun today, Rubes. I'll be here if you need me." Ruby felt a hand touch her own and she looked down, finding one of her hands gently squeezing her other. "That's what big sisters are for, remember?"
And just like that, Yang was gone. For now, Ruby was all alone. She sighed, burying her face in her hands as she thought about what her sister had said.
Dating Jaune… Yeah, she liked him, but it was clear that he didn't feel the same way. But what about what Nora said? Should Ruby try again? What if there was something between her and Jaune? Something special…?
The young woman sighed, sitting on the bathroom floor for a minute as her heart rate began to slow. She leaned her head back, gently banging the back of it against the door behind her.
Jaune decided to get changed while he waited for Ruby to get done inside the bathroom. He really needed a distraction from what had just happened.
He glanced at his phone as he pulled a new shirt onto his body. Ren had sent a text asking him if he and Ruby wanted to hang out at the beach today.
Him and Ruby…
Jaune fought back a sigh as he combed his hair with his fingers. He still remembered Ruby, inches from his face, her bright silver eyes shimmering and her scarlet cheeks looking so soft and kissable. Just like her lips.
He hated to admit it, but Ruby really was cute. What was he saying? She was gorgeous. She was nice, quirky, and just awesome to be around. She laughed at his jokes and treated him like she actually really, really liked him…
She was pretty much perfect.
Honestly, he probably would have asked her out by now if it weren't for one simple fact. He made a promise not to, but how could he be held to that promise when Ruby was giving him so many mixed signals?!
She tried to kiss him just a couple of nights ago, and now she was staring at him sleeping? But he was just supposed to just let it go?! Act like everything was normal between them as she played with his heart?! She had to know she was giving him mixed signals, right?
Jaune closed his eyes and sighed. He tried to let his frustration out with that little sigh.
What if Ruby didn't realize what she was doing? What if all of this was just in his head? She didn't like him that way, and he was just a loser for thinking otherwise…
No, Ruby tried kissing him just a couple of nights ago! And he rejected her, just like she wanted him too…
Jaune bit his tongue as he held his head in his hands. He combed his fingers through his hair as he found himself hitting a wall, and with no one to talk to. The only person he had brought this up with was Ren, but Jaune refused to throw Ruby under the bus anymore than already had...
She was his friend. Maybe things would cool off between them, and that was all they'd be, and he could be content with that…
Jaune shook his head side to side as he pulled his pants off and grabbed a fresh pair. He frowned as he found his pants were inside out, and he started to fix them when he noticed something moving out of the corner of his eyes.
Ruby was opening the bathroom door, and he was out in his boxers. Try as he might to dress himself quickly, Ruby's silver eyes caught him where he stood.
The shorter woman's eyes stared at Jaune, frozen like a deer in headlights as his eyes widened. Then he saw her eyes glancing down to look at his boxers. He had little knight swords decorating the dark grey fabric. Part of him wondered if she liked them. He thought they were cool, even if Nora teased him about it.
Silence ticked by, second by second, until-
"Ruby, I am so sorry, just give me a second and-"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! S-super sorry, really sorry, really, super sorry!"
"Who the hell made these pants?! They're impossible to get right side out again!"
"D-do you need help?!" Ruby groaned, practically smacking herself in the face as she covered her eyes. "F-forget what I said! I'm not looking!" She quickly turned her head. "I'm looking over here! At the wallpaper! Great wallpaper!" Her eyes shifted slightly, glancing at him. She couldn't look away. So she quickly turned around and ran back into the bathroom. She slammed the door shut behind her as Jaune groaned loudly.
Her face, ears, and neck were all red as she leaned against the door, groaning in shame. Jaune could hear her muffled cries through the thin layer of wood. His face was just as red as they both wished for the end of this vacation.
"This'll be easier than I thought," Yang commented to herself. She watched Ruby and Jaune play out the scenes of some cheesy drama as she floated in Ruby's mind.
She waited, though, waiting for a better moment to swoop in and push the two together. Of course, waiting was boring, so try as she might, she found herself wandering. Her mind drifted to the what ifs, and the what-could-have-beens.
If Ruby was just like any other girl, how long would it have taken for her and Jaune to end up together? A few months? Years? Or would they hit it off immediately and just be happy?
If Yang really was Ruby's sister, would she have helped push them together?
She doubted she could have fucked up as bad as this, but who knows? Maybe a real-life, flesh and bond Yang would have been just as bad as her.
The alt felt herself drifting in the empty spaces in Ruby's mind. She wanted to be alone. She left the others to their own devices as she tried to help Ruby find love with the blond dork. Maybe if she played her cards right, she'd die with Ruby never knowing what her sister did.
If Yang had a stomach right now, it'd probably be twisted. Maybe her hair would stand up, or she'd feel her throat tighten. All the little things of life she would never get to experience first hand.
She pushed her feelings aside, focusing on helping her sister like how she was meant to. What she was born to do...
Nora and Ren waited in the lobby of the hotel, each of them on their phones as they shared a sofa and cuddled against one another. Nora played through one of her games, before she peeked at her boyfriend's phone. Ren was looking at the history and culture of the local area. Nora's eyes glanced back at her phone, and she chuckled as Ren's hand fell on her head, petting her absent-mindedly.
The moment went on for several minutes as Nora enjoyed it. It felt so nice to have Ren petting her, showing her affection in public as she nuzzled against him. She did have a question on her mind, though.
"Hey, Ren?"
"Hm?"
"Something just occurred to me. We're still in Hawaii."
"What do you mean?" he asked, glancing at her.
"It feels like we've been here for years!" Nora commented, moving so that her head was between his face and phone.
"Nora, we've been here for a few days."
"We need better time management. Maybe try to stay updated more, stick to a schedule." Ren placed his hand on his girlfriend's head, pecked her forehead, before he gently pushed her back. He gave her a small smile, before he focused his attention back to his phone.
"Hey, guys!" a familiar voice greeted, and the couple turned their heads to find Ruby and Jaune walking towards them. Ren and Nora waved back, sharing a subtle glance with one another as Jaune and Ruby came closer.
Seeing the smiling faces of their two friends reminded Nora and Ren of their little talk last night...
"So, how did your talk with Jaune go?" Nora asked as she and her boyfriend sat in their room together.
The two were on their bed, each sitting on a different side as they recounted the events of the walk earlier that same day. Ren stared at a nearby wall, feet still on the ground as Nora hugged her legs to her chest.
"It was… interesting," he replied. "I'm afraid it offered more questions than answers."
"That so?" Nora asked. "Well, Ruby told me lots of stuff. Pretty interesting stuff too." Ren continued to stare at the wall and Nora nibbled on her lower lip, occasionally popping her lips. "P-ree-tee-ee interesting."
"Nora."
"Ruby tried kissing Jaune last night and he totally rejected her!" Nora shouted, but Ren simply frowned in response.
"Yes, no doubt because she told him to."
"Huh?" Nora blinked as Ren continued.
"Ruby made Jaune promise not to date her. If she was ever 'desperate' enough to, he's supposed to reject her. Per her request." Nora knew Ren for a long time. Even longer than Jaune did.
He may have sounded calm, but Nora knew the young man was ready to break something. She watched his finger twitch as he looked away. Nora reached towards him, placing a hand on his. Their eyes met, and Ren's anger seemed to fade away for a moment.
"Ren, I don't know what Jaune said to you, but that doesn't make sense. Ruby wouldn't do that! She totally wants to date Jaune!"
"Maybe, but she clearly doesn't want Jaune to date her."
"That makes zero sense, though." Nora's brow wrinkled and her face scrunched up as she tried to put two and two together to make five. "I have no idea what Jaune told you, but Ruby told me that she wants to date Jaune."
"And Jaune told me that Ruby made him promise not to date him, even if she made a move on him."
Nora stared at Jaune, before sighing. "I'm confused."
"Agreed." Ren moved closer, and Nora watched him sit right by her side. "Jaune wouldn't lie about this."
"Yeah, well neither would Ruby!" Nora argued.
"How do you know?" her boyfriend asked. "We've known Jaune since we were kids, but we've barely known Ruby for a few months."
Nora glared at her boyfriend, her eyes sharpening like daggers. "I know she wouldn't. She and I are friends, Ren. She wouldn't lie about this! I watched her break down, crying about dating Jaune!"
Ren watched her girlfriend's face burning with a subtle red blush, and he inched away to give Nora some space. "I'm sorry. I was just playing Devil's Advocate." Nora grunted, squeezing her legs against her chest as she scowled. Ren offered a sympathetic smile, placing a hand on her shoulder. She didn't pull away, and so he continued.
"This does create quite the mystery though. If what you say is true, I can't imagine why Ruby-" He caught Nora's eyes glaring at him. "Or Jaune would lie about this. We're there friends."
"Ruby wouldn't lie to me," she stated, taking a deep breath. When she released it, she rubbed her head and confessed the truth. "But Jaune wouldn't either. Neither of them would without a good reason."
Nora bit her lower lip, before sighing. Ren was right, and Nora felt an inkling of shame stab her in the back. She shouldn't have thought Jaune was lying. She knew the man for years. He was like a brother to her. Jaune was a good man, one that she should trust…
But she just didn't understand any of this. Why would either of them say what they did? It was a mystery to her and Ren, but rather than shrug and give up, Nora felt a fire being lit inside of her. She clenched her hands, balling them into fists as she punched at the empty air.
"The game is afoot, Watson!"
Ren blinked, before he smiled at his girlfriend. Her joy and eagerness was infectious, even if he was better at hiding it.. He reached out to her and she fell towards him. The two embraced one another, and the simple gesture was enough to ease both of their racing minds.
"So, what's our next move, Sherlock?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Nora held her hand out, panting an image in her mind that she was sure Ren could see. "We get Ruby and Jaune to get over this weird, miscommunication thing, figure out what the hell they're talking about, watch them get married, I become an aunt, and we all live happily ever after!"
Ren basked in the moment, enjoying the feeling of Nora's body against his. He savored it, before he voiced his frustrations. "I can't understand Ruby, though. I don't know why she would treat Jaune like this. The way he made it sound…"
"He tried defending her, didn't he?"
"He did."
"He can be kind of dumb, huh?" Nora smiled.
"He certainly has his weaknesses."
Nora pulled away from Ren and sat beside him, lifting an arm up to wrap it around him. She placed her hand on his shoulder as she gave him a one arm hug,
"Ruby's a good girl. I don't see her lying, or being good at it."
"I thought she was, but the truth is, we barely know her."
Some might have taken offense at the statement. There was anger in Ren's voice, but Nora squeezed him in a hug. These were the little benefits of finding your other half. When you loved someone, and they loved you in return, you could be honest. Sometimes painfully so.
Nora gently held Ren in her hand as she defended her friend. "She is nice, Ren. I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this. I know we will." He looked at her and smiled, nodding his head. She hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
"We might just have to confront her about it. See if we can get a direct answer."
"Yeah," Nora muttered. "Maybe…"
"How'd you two sleep?" Nora asked, before she embraced the two with a quick hug.
"Oof, uh, g-good," Jaune replied, with a subtle shade of red on his face.
"Yeah. G-great," Ruby agreed, yet her smile didn't seem to reach her eyes.
"Ooh. I sensed hesitation." Nora released the two with a wink as Ren spoke.
"Coco and Fox are meeting with their families today. So we have the whole day to ourselves to enjoy the scenery."
"And tomorrow, the Bachelorette party! Whoo!" Nora cheered, catching several glares from those walking by. Ren placed a hand on Nora's shoulder, silently asking her to calm down as Jaune and Ruby smiled.
"I've never been to a Bachelor Party," Jaune admitted with a chuckle.
"Whoo! Strip clubs!" Nora beamed, before patting Ren's back. "As your girlfriend, I'll let you get one lap dance. Only one, though. Anymore and I will break someone's leg. Maybe yours."
Ren just rolled his eyes at Nora's teasing remark, before he spoke. "Please don't talk about strip clubs so loudly, Nora."
Nora beamed brightly as Ruby and Jaune chuckled, leaving the events of this morning in the past.
"You mentioned wanting to go to the beach?" Jaune asked, glancing at Ren.
"Yes, but that won't take all day. We can find plenty of stuff to do besides that," Ren commented, before his gaze drifted towards Ruby. The young woman caught his eyes on her, and she smiled, but the gesture wasn't returned.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Their eyes met for what must have been half a second, but Ruby still raised her brow and tilted her head in confusion. Then his mood shifted and he gave her a small smile.
"Either way, let's just try and enjoy our vacation together.
"Whoo! Exploring time!" Nora shouted, earning more glaring eyes from those around her and her friends. Ren patted his girlfriend's shoulder, trying in vain to quiet her down before she suddenly stopped. She patted her hip, before looking around. "Uhh, Ren, did you grab my wallet?"
"I did not. Why would I have?"
"Darn it, Ren! I can't be asked to be responsible for my own property." Nora glanced at Jaune and Ruby, a faint blush on the ginger's cheeks. "Uhh, be right back, gang," she apologized, before grabbing Ren's hand and pulling him along.
After Ren and Nora left their friends' sight, Ren asked his girlfriend a simple question. "Do you have a plan for our next move?"
"Plan?"
"Yes. You wanted us out of earshot so we could discuss what to do about Jaune and Ruby. Perhaps you wanted to push them into each other so they'd kiss, drown one of them so the other gives them mouth to mouth, or something equally ridiculous?"
"..." Nora blinked, before she scratched her cheek with her eyes on the ceiling. A small smile formed on her face as Ren raised his brow.
"You really did just forget your wallet, didn't you?"
"Heh… Y-yeah. Ooh, but I like your drowning idea! Let's do that."
"Let's not."
Ruby and Jaune sat side by side with one another on a large couch in the middle of the lobby. Neither said anything as they did everything they could to avoid looking at one another. Ruby gently patted her lap, bobbing her head to a song in her head as a familiar voice spoke up.
"So… You going to say anything?" Yang asked.
"Nope. Just gonna sit here and wait until Ren and Nora come back."
"Mmm. But what if I did-?" Ruby felt her left hand move, and she quickly grabbed it, squeezing her own wrist as she tightened her lips.
"Yang, no! I don't want you embarrassing me again!" Her arm wriggled slightly in her grip as Ruby scowled. "Stop it!"
There was silence in Ruby's mind, and it made her skin crawl. She kept her eyes down, only looking up when Yang finally spoke.
"Hey, I'm sorry, Rubes. I just… Just trying to help you talk to Blondie." Ruby cringed at Yang's words. She sounded so hurt, and she was quick to try and bury the hatchet.
"I-I know. I just-" The young woman glanced at her blond friend, and she took a long, deep breath. "I don't want to mess things up between Jaune and I. So please, please, stop embarrassing me," she begged.
"Alright. I promise, Ruby." Ruby gave a subtle nod, thanking her sister, only to blink as Yang spoke again. "But for what it's worth? I think you two would make a cute couple. You like him, he obviously likes you… You two would be good together."
"You… you really think so? You really mean that? Yesterday you said-"
"Ruby, I promise. I mean it, who wouldn't want to date you, Rubes? You're cute, smart, and awesome! Jaune would love a girl like you."
What Yang was saying was nice, but there was just something about it that felt wrong to Ruby. Her brow wrinkled as she spoke to her sister. "Why the change of heart, Yang? You were so mad at me for talking to Jaune..."
"I know I was, and I'm really sorry for how I acted, sis." Ruby felt the hand Yang was controlling squeeze Ruby's, as if her sister was really there, asking for her forgiveness. "I messed up, but I want you to know that I'm going to make things right. If you want to get with Blondie, I say go for it. You have my approval."
Ruby couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her lips curved into a smile as she tried to hide the giggle slipping out of her mouth. Her heart bounced hearing her sister being so supportive. All Ruby could utter was a warm, "Thanks, Yang."
She was happy, and she enjoyed the momentary joy, but it didn't last. Even with her sister's approval, Ruby couldn't help but think about the night that she and Jaune had spent together. How happy they were, but also how she had tried to kiss him… and he rejected her.
Even with Yang's help, if Jaune didn't like her, then what could be done? Ruby would accept his feelings and move on.
She felt a twisting in her gut as she closed her eyes and sighed. She wasn't even sure how to describe her own feelings for Jaune. Did she actually have a crush on him? Did she… did she love him?
What if it went wrong again? She couldn't take it if things ended up like… like Adam, but Jaune would never act like Adam. Right? No, he was her friend!
What about Yang and the others? How would Jaune react to them? Would she end up in an asylum just like her mother?
He wouldn't just throw her away...! Then again, her mom probably thought the same thing about Tai...
Questions raced through Ruby's mind as she opened her eyes and looked for something to distract herself. Her eyes soon spotted something of interest, and her eyes locked on the familiar face.
Cardin was across the lobby, walking around with a distinct frown on his face. Ruby knew that frown well. She had worn it dozens of times before. That was the look of someone who had no idea what they were doing, or where they were going. A mix of confusion, frustration, and loneliness.
Should she help him? He looked like he needed it. But should she…? This was Cardin, someone who almost everyone she had met so far seemed to dislike, and Ruby couldn't even really blame them. From what little she had seen, Cardin was a jerk.
But to Jaune and Velvet, he was more than that. He was a horrible bully, someone who made their highschool years a total hell.
Yet the urge to help still pecked at her heart. A vice she had inherited from her mother.
What was she supposed to do? She glanced at Jaune, and he either didn't notice his old bully or ignored him outright. Should Ruby have done the same?
Ruby never got an answer to her own question. "There they are," Jaune smiled, waving at Nora and Ren as the two waved back. Ruby rose up with Jaune, following him to the others as her silver eyes stared at Cardin walking aimlessly through the lobby…
Eventually she lost sight of him, and she pushed her thoughts of him to the depths of her mind. She had other things to focus on, and couldn't waste time with someone like Cardin.
Still, a part of her wondered if she should have asked if he was okay, or even invited him to come along with her and the others. Those questions soon faded from her mind, brushed aside without a second thought.
The four made their way to the nearby coast, and each of them marveled at the sight. The sand was an almost golden shade, and the sea was the brightest blue any of them had ever seen in a long, long time. The water sparkled like diamonds as people played in it. Each of them could see boats in the distance, riding across the shimmering sea.
Ruby stopped walking entirely and just admired the sight, mouth agape as she took in the beauty.
"Whoa… It's so beautiful! This place looks so different compared to at night."
"Yeah, it's amazing," Jaune commented, staring off into the horizon by her side. "I've always loved Vale, but this… this is amazing."
"Mom always used to tell me how beautiful Vale was. I think she was always kind of a city girl, even after she moved to Patch. She would tell me how tall the buildings were, how amazing the city was at night. Dangerous, but… just really amazing," Ruby beamed. "She loved the city."
Ruby beamed at the memory of her mother, before she glanced at Jaune. Her beaming grin turned into a softer smile as she gently hit him with her elbow. "You know, you really saved me back then. When we first met."
"Ah, it's no problem. Just doing what any young, strapping hero would do," he laughed, elbowing her back.
"Strapping?" Ruby giggled. "Do you even know what that means?"
"Sure I do!"
"Really?" Ruby inquired with her arms crossed and a smirk on her lips. "Use it in a sentence."
"'Oh, man. Jaune's so cool. He knows what strapping means!'"
Nora and Ren watched the two, a few feet behind them. They were just as enthralled by the view before them, but neither said anything as Jaune and Ruby fell into a fit of laughter together. They simply shared a look, a bright smile on Nora's face as Ren shook his head.
Ruby laughed, clutching her stomach as she felt a voice tickle her mind's ear, and she turned her eyes to her side, as if expecting to see someone. Of course, there was no one there physically, but in her mind…
Weiss woke up to the smell of saltwater. To the feeling of hot sand between her toes. The sun beaming down on her. The sound of Ruby and Jaune's laughter.
They laughed as Weiss contemplated last night, and all that she had heard, and all that she now knew. She wished she could talk to Ruby about it, but Yang swore her and Blake to secrecy. That the oldest of them would talk to Ruby and work things out.
When exactly would Yang tell Ruby the truth?
Weiss wondered if she should have trusted Yang, but it was too late now. She'd give the older alt a few days and see what would happen. Until then, Weiss wanted to forget about her possibly imminent death and just enjoy the moment.
"Good morning, Ruby," she greeted, hiding the quiver in her voice.
"Weiss! Good morning!"
"So, where are we going?"
"Just out walking along the beach. Might splash around in the water. No real plan, honestly."
Weiss was silent for a few moments as the ocean's breeze gently swayed Ruby's hair. She took a deep breath of it, and Weiss smiled as they shared the salty scent of the sea. Ruby closed her eyes, only for Weiss to open them, savoring the image of the world around them.
"Ruby?"
"Yeah, Weiss?"
"Would you mind if I took a stroll on the beach later today? I just… I want to remember this day."
"Sure thing, Weiss. Of course you can!" Her voice was kind and warm, and it was enough to give Weiss some comfort. But Ruby could only do so much, especially against a problem she knew nothing about.
Weiss faded into the deeper recesses of their mind, and it was there that Weiss and Yang spoke to one another.
"You okay, Weiss-cream?" Yang teased her as always, but her joke only did so much to hide the pain in her voice.
"I'm fine," Weiss replied. "How was this morning?"
"Might have come a little too strong in the 'Get Ruby and Jaune to bang,' plan."
"Please don't call it that," Weiss shuddered. "That's disgusting."
"Blake would probably say something like, 'It's not our body, it's Ruby's, blah, blah, blah. Hiss.'"
"You have an interesting depiction of Blake in your mind."
"Yeah. It's awesome. I'm a little voice in someone's head who has a little voice in their head."
The two laughed at the joke. The kind of laugh one gives when they're at the end of their rope and staring the consequences dead in the eye. A laugh that held no real joy, only a desire to fill the void. It was bitter, but tolerable, almost like medicine.
It was as much as they could do as they signed their own death warrants. Of course, while Yang treated her possible death with a joke and snide commentary, Weiss tried to hold on to some thread of hope.
"You know, it's entirely possible nothing will happen."
"Yeah. Maybe. Course, we could also count the ways this could end in disaster," Yang retorted. "One: Ruby gets with Jaune and we all die."
"Yang-"
"Two: Ruby gets with him, he finds out about us, he leaves her. Three: They get together and Ruby never lets us out ever again."
"Yang."
"Four: Jaune finds out, calls Ruby a freak, and gets her institutionalized like mom."
"Yang!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I mean Ruby's mom. Not my mom. Not your mom. Ruby's mom." Like a cracked dam, the words flowed out from between Yang's lips. Words filled with hate, and venom, and an anger that almost caused Ruby's hand to freeze up.
"Yang!" Weiss' voice echoed throughout the dark chambers of Ruby's mind. Yang didn't say anything. The other alt swore if Yang had teeth, they'd be grinding against one another. Nails digging into her palms, brow wrinkled, all the things she'd do if she had a body.
Weiss spoke again, and her words were trembling as she tried to offer what comfort she could. "I'm scared too."
"I'm sorry," Yang whispered. "I just… Guess I'm just not as hopeful as you are. Maybe I don't even want hope. Maybe I just want this all to be over."
Weiss wasn't sure what to say to that. She just laid there by Yang's side, quiet as she muttered to herself. "How am I supposed to tell her, Weiss? How am I supposed to tell my best friend that I tried ruining her life?"
"I don't know…" Weiss couldn't find the words to say. She couldn't think of anything to say that would make this tolerable. She just tried to embrace her fellow alt as Yang's voice trembled.
"I don't want to die."
"I mean… E-everyone dies sometime, right?" Weiss muttered. "How does anyone deal with the knowledge they could die?" Yang felt something press against her. She felt warmth, and compassion in a kindred spirit. "I still have hope that we'll all make it out of this okay…"
"How?"
"Because I'm too scared to give up."
Yang had never heard Weiss like this before. She clung to hope like someone dying of thirst would cling to a bottle. Even if that bottle was empty, even if nothing were to come from it, she squeezed it tightly against her chest, desperate for something.
"I better get back into character," Yang muttered, pulling away from Weiss. The alt vanished from the depths of Ruby's mind, leaving Weiss alone in the dark.
Jaune, Ruby, Ren, and Nora walked deeper into the beach. They felt the sand against their feet as they basked in the warm rays, each of them smiling as they made small talk. Ruby laughed at Jaune's jokes and Nora's silly antics, but the voice of her oldest alt kept poking at her.
It wasn't anything too bad. Honestly, Yang didn't really talk that much, but every time she did, she'd tease Ruby about her feelings for Jaune, urging for her to make a move.
Ruby's cheeks were red as she tried her best to ignore her snickering sister.
The young woman glanced at her friend. Jaune was in the middle of talking with Nora. He had a smile on his face, and Ruby had to admit: Yes. He was handsome. She was never really sure if she had a type, but if she did, Jaune fulfilled a lot of the criteria.
Physically, he was great. Emotionally and mentally? He was amazing. He liked a lot of the same stuff she did. He was nice, and funny, and he just made Ruby's heart jump just from talking to him...
Ruby wanted to bury her face in the sand and just die of heatstroke under the burning sun.
She wanted to argue, she wanted to yell, she wanted to… to do something other than acknowledge her own stupid feelings.
But the simple truth was, yes. She did like Jaune as more than a friend. The hard part was that Jaune didn't like her back. Not that way…
Of course, Yang seemed to disagree.
"Hey, Jaune, what do you think of our swimsuits?" Nora suddenly asked, causing both Ruby and Jaune's eyes to widen.
"Uh, you two look good," he replied, clearly avoiding looking at either of them.
Nora rolled her eyes, before skipping forward and wrapping an arm around Ruby. The two turned to face Jaune, Ruby basically a prisoner at this point to the older girl. Nora had her locked in a one armed hug as she beamed.
"Aw, come on. You didn't even look."
Jaune quietly accepted defeat and looked at the two. Ruby was wearing a one piece bikini made of black material, but with red stripes going down her back. It wasn't anything too risque, but knowing Jaune's eyes were on her body immediately made the young woman blush.
She had never been the type to go for sex appeal. Showing off her skin wasn't really something Ruby did. It just wasn't her, partially because the young woman was rather embarrassed by the curves and size of her figure.
Nora, on the other hand, was slightly more Yang's style. Her bikini was a two piece, with a skirt at the bottom that only seemed to accent her hourglass shape. Nora was already a very beautiful young woman, but her attire only made that more obvious. She was attractive, and she knew it, and comparing their bodies together, Ruby wondered what she had to offer besides a bit more fat…
Jaune gulped as he stared at Ruby.
She was… she was really, really pretty.
The first word that came to his mind was soft. She looked so soft, he could only imagine how good it'd feel to hold her in his arms.
She was so small too. He wanted to hold her tight to protect her, but also to… to feel her body against his. Her body was incredibly curvaceous and flawless, but it was more than that. If she was just sexy, Jaune could understand it, but it was so much more.
Her eyes were breathtaking. They were one of the first things he noticed about her all those years ago. The way her eyes sparkled and gleaming.
And her hair. Her soft locks perfectly framed her face, a beautiful contrast to her moonlight skin. The hint of blush on her face matching so well with the dark red that colored the tips of her bangs.
He could stare at her for so long, yet he felt guilt bubbling inside of him. He didn't want to be a creep. He was quick to try and avoid staring at Ruby's body, yet part of him wondered if it was too late.
Jaune gulped, finally answering Nora as he tried not to think of how perfectly Ruby's body filled out her swimsuit, or how her silver eyes made her an incredibly exotic, unique beauty, or the way her hair perfectly captured just how beautiful her face was…
He really wished he could stop thinking about Ruby right now.
"Nora, you look good. Ruby, you look um… You look really good," Jaune muttered, scratching the back of his head as his cheeks turned red.
A fact that Ruby did not miss. Was it just because the question made him feel awkward? Or did Jaune actually think Ruby looked good…? The question just made Ruby's cheeks burn hotter as Ren cleared his throat behind the blond.
"If you three are done, I could use some help setting up our spot?"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Nora beamed. Ruby and Jaune didn't say anything, only nodding their heads as they chose an empty spot of sand to call their own.
Once everything was laid out, the four sat down under the sunlight. Ren reached into a nearby bag to take out a book, earning a glare from Nora.
"Really? A book? At a beach? You make me sick."
"Noted," he replied with a small laugh, opening to his page.
"I think it's pretty cool. I love reading," Ruby admitted. "What's the book about?"
"Classic murder mystery. A group of friends meet up again at a mansion in the middle of the winter, when a murder occurs and the group has to find out who did it."
Ren and Ruby locked up, and the latter smiled at him. This time he returned the gesture, though Ruby still noticed it seemed to take just a little longer. Just half a second, but she still noticed.
"Hey, Ren. Wanna help me with my lotion?" Nora teased, a smile on her lips as Ren looked at her. He seemed to quietly chuckle, before he sighed dramatically and held his hand out to her.
"If you insist." His book laid behind him as she handed him the lotion. Nora laid on her chest, smiling with pride as Ren began to move his hands up and down her back.
Ruby watched the two with a grin on her face, and the slightest blush. Nora and Ren seemed like polar opposites, yet here they were: Clearly in love. It was sweet, and it even gave her a bit of hope for-
She cursed her mind as it came back to her feelings towards a certain someone, when that same someone spoke up.
"You need any help with your lotion, Rubes?" Jaune asked. The young woman turned to look at him, blinking as he seemed to realize the implications of what he had just said began to sink in. "Uhh…N-not that I should help you. M-maybe Nora should."
Ruby's cheeks slowly began to heat up as Nora snickered behind them. "Nothing wrong with getting a hand or two from a friend!" she teased, leaving the two blushing as they kept a healthy distance between them.
The dark-haired woman hugged her knees to her chest as Jaune stood up, whistling to himself.
"Well, I'm going to hit the water. Anyone wanna join me?" the blond quickly asked, eager to change the subject.
"Give me a minute and I'll join ya," Nora beamed.
"I'll stay here. Get some reading done and keep an eye on our stuff."
"I'm actually going to take a walk," Ruby revealed.
"But we were just walking." Nora pouted slightly as Ren massaged her back. "You sure you don't want to come join us in the water?"
"Maybe after. I just want to walk for a bit. I promise, I'll be back soon," Ruby smiled.
"Alright. Don't stray too far, and don't talk to strangers," Jaune joked, before he pulled his white shirt off of his body. It fell to the ground as he stretched his arms to the sky. "I'm going to go enjoy the water."
Ruby would have shot back with her own joke if her brain wasn't suddenly distracted. Her eyes widened, taking in every detail of Jaune's naked chest. She didn't even blink as she stared at his body, drinking in every dip and detail of his body.
This was the first time she had ever seen him shirtless, and her earlier thought about him being attractive were… Well, she corrected it to being really attractive. He wasn't a bodybuilder, but instead the young man was a slender build. Not skinny, but athletic.
Jaune clearly worked out, at least a little, she thought as her silver eyes drank him in. He sort of gave her a Prince Charming-vibe. Considering his bright blue eyes and golden locks, that wasn't hard to imagine.
Plus his knightly nature? She could easily see him slaying a dragon to rescue her from the highest tow-
No. No, no, no. Stop, brain! Yang, did you do that?! No answer. Ruby hated to admit it, but she was the most likely culprit for that train of thought...
Part of her felt bad. Jaune was such a handsome man, but he also had this cuteness to her. An endearing dork that stole her heart.
Her lips parted as she tried to think of something to say, only to jump as a hand gently smacked her thigh.
It was her own hand, and Yang's voice whispered in her ear.
"Down, girl. Breathe."
"I wasn't looking!" Ruby shook her head, her cheeks flushed as she stood up and started to move. She bid the others goodbye as she tried to rid her neck and ears of her blush.
Weiss opened her eyes to a shimmering coast. The sound of waves crashing against the ground, and the laughter and idle chatter of those enjoying the sandy shores filled her ears.
It was amazing, and for a while, Weiss just melted into the scene.
She enjoyed herself, walking forward past the smiling faces of strangers. She glanced down, frowning slightly as the black swimsuit she was wearing. Certainly not her style, but she would make do…
Hm. What was her style?
She had always wanted to stand out, to be unique. She worked hard to get Ruby the best grades in class, and she never asked for a reward. She did her duty, but if she did want something of her own? If, perhaps, she was given the chance to buy her own outfit like Yang did?
She would wear white. White was a beautiful color. Simple, pure, and refined. The lack of color wasn't emptiness, it was purity. Almost holy, she imagined. Yes, the clothes she bought would be white, something to give her a bit of class. An air of regality. She almost imagined herself akin to a princess, or queen.
Weiss laughed quietly at the idea, walking past a happy couple as they nuzzled against one another. She waved at the two men, and they actually waved back with their own smiles.
They had no idea that this body wasn't hers. That it didn't reflect the woman inside...
What would life be like if she were to just… be a person? Not an alt, not Weiss; a piece of Ruby Rose, but as Weiss Rose.
Hm. That didn't particularly sound right. Weiss…
Her eyes widened for a moment as she thought about what kind of last name would pick if she could pick one. Would it be something American? Perhaps something more exotic? Perhaps from Germany? She always did have a love of the language…
The young woman came to a stop by the water, shaking her head slightly to clear her head. She felt her feet sink into the stand as she walked aimlessly. The destination didn't matter. The journey did.
There was a rush Weiss couldn't have explained when a volleyball rolled by her feet. She glanced at it, and then looked up to find several faces staring at her. One man had his hands up, motioning for her to throw it over.
For a moment. Just a moment, Weiss considered asking if she could join the game. She quickly shook such a thought from her head and instead she picked the ball up and threw it as best she could to the players. Of course, as best she could was several feet to the side of the man, but at least she was close.
They stared at her with mixes of annoyance, gratitude, and amusement as Weiss blushed, quickly leaving them to their game.
Imagine if she had actually asked to join them. Ha. Her, playing volleyball. Like she'd ever waste time doing that when she could be… what? Studying? Studying not even for herself, but for Ruby?
Weiss let out a quiet sigh as she walked. Her mood felt like it had been punctured by reality, and now it was left deflated as she kept walking. She had never really questioned her place in the grand scheme of things, but looking at it now, it was clear to see that she was trapped in a canvas.
She could be magnificent. Truly, impossibly amazing. She could excel in her duties, earn success after success, but at the end of the day, they weren't really hers, were they? No, she was painting a gorgeous painting on Ruby's canvas.
All of Weiss' accomplishments were Ruby's in the end, weren't they?
The young woman let out a sigh as she began to walk towards the water. She stood on the wet sand, feeling her toes wriggle in it. She smiled at the sensation, closing her eyes to enhance the sensation. It felt squishy. Maybe even a little gross.
But it also felt real, and Weiss' smile slowly returned as the cold water splashed against the soles of her feet. It flowed past her, before receding back, and a laugh actually slipped out of her mouth as she held her arms out to her sides. It felt like the water was pulling on her, trying to bring her into the sea to live out the rest of her life… out there.
Out there… Free to be who she decided.
What if she were to die? What if Yang and Blake were right? Did Weiss have to die for Ruby to be happy? It didn't seem fair. Why the hell was she even born if this was all her life had in store for her?
Study for Ruby. Live for Ruby. Die for Ruby.
Weiss bit the inside of her cheek as the water tickled her toes again. No. She wasn't going to think that way. She wasn't going to villainize her best friend. She refused.
Whether or not Ruby ended up with Jaune, Weiss and the others would be okay. They would live, and they'd be by Ruby's side for the rest of her long life, because none of them were going to die.
Weiss felt a tightness in her chest as she stared out into the blue horizon. The calm, almost empty sky, the vast, endless ocean… Staring off into it, her problems felt so small.
It was a feeling she wanted to hold onto. This peace and quiet. This serenity.
"So, you decided to play in the water anyways, huh?" a voice asked, and Weiss turned her head to find the dark-haired guy who was friends with Arc approaching her. His name was… was…
"Oh! Ren, right?" she asked, and she immediately flinched as he raised his brow.
"Um… Yes, that is my name."
"O-of course, it is. To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, crossing her arms and standing up straight. "Ruby! Ruby, get out here! Help me!"
"What?! What is it?!"
"One of Arc's friends is talking to me! I don't know what to do!"
"Ruby? Did you hear me?" Ren asked, and the alt replied as quickly as she could.
"What? Oh, yes, of course," Weiss nodded her head as Ren stared, seemingly awaiting an answer. "Ah? I'm sorry, I suppose I did not. Would you mind repeating yourself?"
"Weiss! I don't talk like that! You're being too formal!"
"I'm just talking, just be quiet and switch already," Weiss huffed, glaring at the corner of her vision before glancing at Ren again.
"I wanted to talk to you about Jaune."
"I see," Weiss slowly uttered, nodding her head. "Um, dude," she added, trying her best to imitate Ruby's tone. It was clear she was failing as Ren stared at her in confusion. "My… my man?"
"Weiss, please stop!"
"Then switch with me!"
"We can't in front of Ren!" Ruby huffed. The process was switching over would essentially put their body in 'sleep mode' for a few seconds. Easy to do when you were blending in a crowd or walking alone, but both of them knew Ren would be able to tell something was wrong.
"Just allow me a moment to get something, and I'll-" Ren placed his hand on Weiss' shoulder, holding her place as the shorter woman glared at his hand.
How dare he touch her without her permission? She had half a mind to… Well, she wasn't sure what, but she was still mad! She quietly fumed as Ren spoke again.
"Actually, I need to talk to you now. It's important."
"Oh. Okay. Fine. What do you want to talk about?" Weiss asked, her brow furrowing slightly. "What am I supposed to do? This idiot is harassing me." "Can you just make it quick?" she requested, earning a glare from the dark-haired man.
"Weiss! Stop being a jerk!"
"Me? He's the one being a jerk!" Weiss replied, before looking at Ren. "Um, sorry, um, man? Go on." Weiss could hear Ruby groaning in their head as she nervously gulped.
Ren's sharp eyes relaxed as he explained, "I wanted to talk to you about Jaune."
"Oh no," Ruby sighed.
"Oh." Weiss felt her cheek twitch. She looked away as she nodded her head. "What exactly did you want to talk about?"
"The two of you explored the area by yourselves a couple of days ago. You spoke to one another. Can I ask how that was?"
Weiss didn't answer. She avoided Ren's gaze and thought as loudly as she could. "Well, Ruby? How was you and the other dolt's date?"
"I-it wasn't a date! J-just tell him it was good."
"Good. It was good," Weiss quickly replied. She frowned for a moment, before she quickly shot back at him. "What exactly is this about, Ren?"
"I just wanted to talk to you. Is something wrong?" he asked, and Weiss shook her head.
"No, no. I'm just… I… I just need to do something. Will this take long?"
"Weiss! Stop being mean to him!"
"I'm not being mean, I'm trying to get us out of here so we can switch and you can talk to him! I barely even remembered his name!"
Ren had always been more observant than his friends. He loved Nora and Jaune, but there was something to be said about not talking. It made it easier to listen and watch, and right now he saw something strange in Ruby's eyes.
There was something off to the silver. He hid his confusion with a mask, but he could see it clear as day. Something was off, but what it was specifically, he had no idea. Just something...
Her eyes avoided him. Her voice had the slightest tremble to it. Her fingers were nervously fidgeting and twitching.
Ruby was acting off. Her stance and posture didn't match up with her usual behavior. She was defensive, yet clearly annoyed and angry with him. He hadn't been expecting her to lash out like this.
Perhaps Ruby was just upset, but that didn't seem right. It was a gut feeling inside Ren's chest as he spoke bluntly towards the young woman.
"What do you think of Jaune?"
"Of Ar-Jaune? Um, he's-" Ruby's eyes moved again. Like she was looking for something, before she replied, "I like him. He's funny. And nice.."
Her dialect was just slightly off. Even her voice seemed a bit different. A slightly lower pitch. Off… Ren's eyes didn't leave her as he moved closer. His mind traveled to yesterday, and the feelings of anger that had bubbled in his mind.
He didn't want to be the bad guy. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but if his friend was walking into a pit, he was going to try and stop him.
"Funny and nice. Is that all you feel about him?" Ren asked.
"What do you mean by that?" Ruby asked, glaring at the other man, before her eyes widened. "Er, I mean, isn't that enough? I mean, we're friends, right? He's my friend, and you're my friend too."
"I am, but I just want to get to know you. I just want to talk."
Ren nodded his head as he stood by her side. He moved, trying to get her to look at him, and she turned her eyes away again. Her lips curled into a frown as she sighed.
"Why are you interrogating me?" Ruby asked as she finally locked eyes with Ren, glaring at him.
They were the same silver eyes he had seen plenty of times before, and yet his mind couldn't help but notice how different she was acting.
"Ruby, I just want you to be honest with me."
"I am!" she replied, raising her voice, only to flinch slightly. "I mean, I am. I just don't understand why you're asking me so many questions," she angrily huffed.
"I haven't asked that many questions." Ruby almost rolled her eyes, but she seemed to catch herself. She kept her arms crossed as she looked at straight in the eyes. It seems she was quickly losing patience, and so he decided to simply pull the bandage off. "Then let me be direct," Ren sighed. "I want to know why you told Jaune to reject you if you ever tried dating him."
Ruby blinked. Weiss blinked. They looked at Ren with wide, silver eyes, before their brow wrinkled. "What?"
END
Hey. Surprised to see me? Saw some people saying this story was dead, or that it won't be updated because I write porn.
I just want to say, I don't blame anyone for thinking this story was dead. I get it. It's been a long since since I updated, but I promised I'd finish book 1, and I meant it.
Ah, but I'm sure some of you are thinking 'Now to wait another year for an update. This story will be done by 2030...' Ha, no. In fact, I've written four or five chapters and I'll be posting them on here in the coming weeks. I'm thinking two weeks between each update? Roughly, nothing set in stone. But yes. This chapter is done, the chapter after it is done (save for some editing and proofreading), and the one after that, and the one after that.
I've been working on this story bit by bit alongside my more 'niche' work. Like I said, Book 1 will be finished. I try my best to be an author of my word.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I wanted to try and make sure every characters focused on, alt or fleshy person, had some emotional stake in the story. They're all people, and the events all affect them. Weiss is especially fun to write, I think. Translating her family issues in the show to her relationship with Ruby and the other alts is fun.
Also, Coco is apparently a lesbian in canon. I did not know that while writing this, obviously, and I'm not changing my story to fit canon. I've already messed with canon for this fic. I do imagine Yatsu is gay as I write him for future chapters, but I haven't really found any place to organically add that in.
Anything else...? Oh, yeah! Stay safe, good luck, and remember, you are loved.