Here we go

Chapter 28

His parents took it about as well as expected.

"You're coming home."

"Dad. No."

"Don't you no me!" Nicholas Arc growled. "You were nearly killed by some psychopath and you expect us to ignore that?"

"I don't expect you to ignore anything." Jaune paced his way out the library and into a corridor outside, waving apologetically to the stern-looking librarian giving him evils. "I'm just saying that the person responsible is gone. It was a one-off thing. Some nutcase. There's no more danger now."

A bold lie, but one he couldn't escape. It was tempting to accept his father's orders, go home and be safe, but then there was no telling if Cinder wouldn't follow and kill him just for knowing her name and face. This was a woman who worked outside the rules, as few as those were. She'd murdered Hei and wouldn't think twice of doing the same to him. Or his family. He couldn't bring her attention back to Ansel. Not with how often dad was out hunting.

"How are you so calm?" Nicholas demanded.

"Do I sound calm?" Jaune asked back, laughing a little hysterically. "I'm not. I'm really not."

"Son. Jaune…" Nicholas' face twisted with shame and grief. It wasn't what Jaune had been going for, but his father seemed to realise his anger wasn't helping his son feel any better. "I'm sorry. I – we – are so worried about you that we didn't think how you must be feeling. Are you alright? How do you feel?"

He'd avoided answering that to Qrow before, but he couldn't to his parents. "I don't know. It… I… I'm not sure what I feel." It was a crappy answer, and yet his father gave him the time to try and find a better one. He was patient and understanding. He always had been. "It's confusing. I was scared at first, then tired, then jumpy and now…" He lowered his voice. "Now I feel pleased, and I have no idea what I'm meant to think about that."

"It's not unnatural."

"Isn't it? Dad, I'm happy that I killed a man."

"No. You are happy that you defended yourself, happy that you are alive. You feel pride for overcoming such a terrible and frightening thing – and there is nothing wrong with that. I am proud of you. Your mother is as well."

Jaune's hand holding the scroll trembled. He angled it away, hiding his sniff and the arm wiping over his eyes. Another mood swing for sure, because he wasn't one to spontaneously burst into tears normally, not even when his parents said something so supportive.

I'm a mess, he thought. And maybe that's okay for someone who nearly died.

"I…" He brought the scroll back and was grateful for his father's perfectly neutral expression. If there had been pity, he might have lost it. "Thanks. I think I needed that."

"I did when I was first in your shoes." Nicholas paused. "I'm coming to Vale."

Fear warred with hope. "What?"

"Not permanently. Don't worry, I know you want your independence. There's a lot more I can say about this though, things my teachers said to me when it happened. I'm sure it'll calm your mother down if she knows I'm checking up on you as well." Judging by the loud sounds just off to his father's left, that was definitely the case. "You can show me your workplace as well. We're both curious to see it."

That…. That should be fine, right? Melanie said the club was a legal front, so there was nothing wrong with bringing his dad to see it. He couldn't argue with the face he'd feel safer having him around, better for seeing him. And there were things he wanted to talk about that he just didn't feel comfortable doing with Qrow as well.

Maybe I need this, Jaune thought. Maybe it'd help to get this off my chest.

"Yeah." Jaune smiled, and Nicholas returned it. "Yeah, that'd be cool. I… I need to find a new apartment anyway."

"We'll go hunting together. Where are you staying now?"

"Beacon."

"Beacon!?" Nicholas' brows drew together. He didn't look pleased. "Why are you in Beacon? Since when?"

Jaune told the story as best he could, watching his father's expression change from anger to panic, panic to guilt, guilt to understanding and understanding to sympathy.

"Ah," he said, smiling bitterly. "I guess I owe Qrow for that. Luckily, he's easy to please with alcohol. I'm surprised Ozpin was willing to go that far. Has he spoken to you? What has he said?"

"I've not even met him." Jaune answered honestly. "Qrow did all the talking. Apparently, he's so busy planning for transfer students to arrive that he can't take the time to see me. He apologises and assures me I'll be safe and is sorry I can't stay more than a week. That's it."

The answer seemed to please his father. "I suppose he's busy with the festival. Understandable. Qrow must have called this in as a favour then. I owe him more than a few drinks. He is… a good man…"

"Why do you sound so uncertain about that?"

"Because it's Qrow Branwen." Nicholas replied easily. He then sighed. "Ignore me. He is a very good man – a good huntsman, too. Any qualms I have with him are more to his habits and who he works with more than his character. Don't pick up on his drinking habits."

Jaune tried hard not to let his embarrassment show. He'd only been in Vale for a few months now, and he was already drinking regularly. In his defence he worked at a nightclub. There was more booze there than soft drink. The alcohol helped calm him down as well, which come to think of it was probably an early sign of addiction. Or dependency. Whichever came first.

"I'll be down in a few days," Nicholas said. "I'll call you the day before I arrive. Don't worry, I won't try and drag you home if you're that happy over there. We'll just spent some time together, talk and find you a new place to stay."

"I'm looking forward to it." Jaune was surprised just how much he meant that. He really was eager to talk. "Thanks dad. You too, mom. Love you both."

"We love you too."

"Love you!" he heard Juniper shout. "And call your sisters sometime!"

The scroll flickered off before he could reply to that, though he knew she'd hold him to it all the same. Jaune let out a long breath and put the device away. He felt lighter than he had before it, and more relieved than he thought he'd be. Qrow had been right to tell him to call and get it over with. As always, the fear of what might be said was so much worse than the reality.

He wished he could go back to Ansel…

No. He wished he could stay in Vale and not have Cinder's fingers hooked into him. He didn't want to go back – he wanted to be free of her. Aside from that and the Xiong Clan's shady business he was being forced into, everything in Vale was better. And he was on his way to legitimately earning a spot in Beacon next year. There was no denying how much he wanted that.

"It's fine," he told himself. "Things… Things aren't bad." Aside from the attempt on his life, but then he was already working on a way to deal with that. If Kane and his Ravagers were gone, not only would he be safe, but the streets of Vale would be cleaner. "That's something worth working toward. Huntsmen take care of monsters to protect people. Dealing with them isn't much different, is it?"

That was what he told himself.

/-/

"You invited a guy over?"

Velvet squirmed under the gaze of not only her team leader but her two teammates as well. Fox and Yatsuhashi rarely chimed in when Coco was in full teasing mode, but that didn't mean they were on her side or not taking part. She could feel Fox's lips curling up.

"I-It's not just some guy," she complained. "It's Jaune."

"Jaune? Barman Jaune? All the way from Vale? I mean, that's a long way to come, isn't it?"

"He's not in Vale. He's in Beacon."

Coco looked confused. "Since when?"

"Since today!" Velvet snapped. "Something happened – he was attacked again. He said the same guy we saw try and stab him snuck into his apartment with a gun."

Coco's eyes widened. Any and all amusement drained from her face like water down the drain. "Shit," she hissed. "I'm guessing he's okay if he's here. He is okay, right?"

"He's not injured…"

"But?" Coco prompted.

"He didn't look well." Velvet said. It was hard to say which part specifically had upset her, his cavalier attitude, the way he kept tensing up or just how jittery his fingers were. It looked like he'd been trying to hide it, but he obviously had no idea how bad he looked. Unwashed and exhausted, rings around his eyes. All of that made sense and she wasn't about to fault a victim of an attempted murder feeling a little jumpy.

"I don't imagine anyone would look good after nearly being killed," Yatsuhashi said slowly. "You felt sorry for him, did you not? You want to cheer him up."

"N-Not sorry." Velvet whined. That sounded too much like pity, and that was the wrong thing. "He helped me out before and I want to help him. Besides, he's… a friend…" she added uncertainly.

"He's definitely a friend," Coco said, much surer of herself. She gave Velvet's arm a light punch both in encouragement and warning. "No doubt about it. Can't believe that asshole would come back and try to finish the job, though. What's the point? It was all over spilled drinks."

"Some people don't make sense." Fox said.

"Ugh. And here I got all excited Velvet was bringing a boytoy back." Coco paused suddenly, a familiar leer slipping over her face. "Or is that still the case. Does a certain someone have any ulterior motives, hmmm?"

Blood rushed from Velvet's beck to the tips of her ears. "Coco! No!"

"Heh. You know, it's hard to tell if you're lying or not because you get so embarrassed at the littlest of things that I can't tell which it is." The leet did not disappear. "Guess I'll have to keep an eye on you tonight and see, won't I?"

"We'd best hide all the alcohol." Fox teased. "Can't have Velvet Drunkatina make another appearance, can we?"

"Y-You guys…" Velvet whined. "It was one time! One time!"

"Two times. I saw you getting him to fondle your ears."

The blush returned with a vengeance. "I was trying to prove a point about my hair! I-It wasn't fondling!"

"Aren't ears intimate for faunus?"

"No." Velvet huffed and puffed her cheeks out. "That's just stupid people making things up. They're just ears. Why would I care if people touch them?"

"You cared when that Winchester prick was tugging on them."

"Wouldn't you be angry if someone was pulling on your ears?" Velvet demanded of Yatsuhashi. She threatened him with her finger and thumb. "I'll twist your ears and see how much you like it."

"Oooh. Violent Velvet." Coco whistled. "Mommy likes where this is going."

Ugh. And just like that Coco had her on the back foot again. Every time. Every time! Velvet blushed and even Yats was a little red at that, all the while Coco cackled like the wicked witch of the western dorm block.

"It's not a thing." Velvet said stubbornly. "It's not a faunus mating habit, we don't go into heat and our ears are not erogenous zones. All those stupid rumours can go die in a fire." Under her breath, she grumbled, "Why would touching our ears turn us on? They're ears! Ears don't have those kinds of nerve endings."

"It's because cats and dogs like having their heads rubbed." Fox said.

"So do people!" Velvet raged. "It's called a head massage!"

"Okay. Okay." Coco stepped in with a nervous laugh. "Teasing gone too far. Got it. So, back to Jaune. Are we what, cheering him up? Showing him a good time? Anything we can or can't do?"

Velvet calmed down immediately. "Um. No? I just thought he looked like he needed distracting. I was going to show him around Beacon, but he says he already had the tour. I told him there'd be pizza?"

"Hell yeah!" Fox cheered while Coco groaned.

"Ugh. I suppose we could. We can pick out a movie to watch, too."

"No romance!" Yatsuhashi and Fox said as one.

Normally, Velvet would have stood with Coco on the other side, especially since the stupid testosterone and explosion-fuelled movies they liked were as predictable as they were boring, but this time, with a boy coming over and invited by her, the thought of watching a romantic movie was a little embarrassing. Velvet bobbed her head quickly, ignoring the way Coco snickered.

"Strip poker?" Coco couldn't help but suggest.

Velvet smacked her in the face with a pillow.

/-/

Jaune felt so much better stepping out the steamy bathroom after a long, hot shower. He'd avoided one that morning as he felt too worn and tired, but he appreciated it now, stretching his arms over his head and popping several joints.

"Someone looks in a better mood." Qrow said. "Something nice happen?"

"I called my parents."

"Ah." Qrow smiled, pleased. "It went well then?"

"Dad wants to come over to talk with me and make sure I'm okay." He saw Qrow nodding and assumed the guy would have done the same for his nieces. "It went well, yeah. Guess I was worried over nothing. Thanks for telling me to do it."

"Don't sweat it." Qrow leaned back on a sofa and sipped from a hip flask. "So, dressing up for something?"

Jaune knew what he was implying and laughed, feeling himself flush a little. "I've been invited to a sleepover tonight, I think. And yes, by a girl, but no, not for what you're thinking."

"How do you know what I'm thinking?"

"Because you're a letch."

"Sir. Take that back. I am a fine connoisseur of the female form."

Jaune snorted. Qrow was a character alright. "It's someone I met in the club who happens to be a student here."

"Clubbing, huh." Qrow's eyes narrowed. "First years?"

"Third, I think."

"Ah." He leaned back, relaxing. "Out for older girls, huh? Can't say I blame you. When I was a first year, the upper-year girls were the hottest things imaginable. And let me tell you, experience matters. Take it from me, your first time will be so much better with an older woman."

"La-la-la." Jaune sang as he dug around for a spare change of clothes. "I'm not listening."

"My first time was with a virgin. Well, so was I. Fumble city, kid, I tell you. Second most embarrassing moment of my life."

"What was the first?"

"Pissing my sister off and being dumped buck-ass naked through a portal into the middle of the city, then being arrested for streaking." Qrow winced when Jaune froze and swivelled his head around disbelievingly. "Yeah, my sister was – is – a grade-a bitch. All because I laughed at her for losing in a spar against our team leader."

Wow. And here he'd thought some of his own escapades back home had been embarrassing. He had nothing on what Qrow had been through. "That seems a little overly harsh."

"Like I said, she's a bitch. Speaking of, are you taking your armour?"

"To a sleepover? No."

"Not that armour." Qrow pointed to Jaune's waist. "Your rubber armour."

"Qrow…"

"I can lend you one if you like. Keep it in your wallet."

"Qrow, I'm not going to need a condom."

"Better to not need and have, than to not have and need." Qrow somehow managed to sound wise as he opened his own wallet and flicked a sealed, silver package in a square shape Jaune's way. "Maybe you're not today, but do you really want to have that moment one day and realise you can't because you weren't equipped?"

As if that was going to happen anytime soon. Velvet was a very pretty girl and he'd admit to being interested, but she was also shy – probably shyer than he was – so they weren't going to be doing anything like that anytime soon. Or ever. Even so, and with much embarrassment, he slid the packet into his wallet. Qrow had a point, and it couldn't hurt to have one on hand. Qrow's wink and the clicking sound he made with his tongue did hurt. Jaune's entire face burned dark red as he stuffed some pyjamas into a bag.

"Are you going to share this room with me all week?" Jaune asked.

"Can do if you want me to."

"It's not that." Jaune hesitated. Sighed. "I appreciate this, I do, but it feels like I'm taking advantage of you." He groaned when Qrow started wiggling his eyebrows. "You know what I mean!"

"Course I do, and you're being an idiot. What does it matter to me if I'm bunking in a shitty apartment in Vale or here? You know I barely spend any time there anyway." Qrow took another long drink. "I've got a job on Friday anyway, so I won't be around all the time. Don't worry about me. You're not putting me in a tight spot."

"Good. And thanks." It felt like he was thanking the man a lot lately. "I know it must be weird to have to do all this. Hanging around with a kid and stuff."

"It's fine." Qrow said again, rolling his eyes. "And honestly, you come across older than my nieces anyway. It feels more like hanging out with another adult when we go out drinking."

"Really?"

"You dress older, work a job and pay your bills. Those aren't the kind of things most people your age do. Part-time work, sure, but normally as a waiter or waitress, not a club manager." Qrow looked him up and down. "I reckon when most people see you out drinking with me, they peg you for twenty-five. Twenty-one at the youngest."

Really? That was a surprise. Jaune knew he was tall for his age, but he'd always thought he had a bit of a babyish face. Round and soft, not hard and grizzled with afternoon shadow like his dad. It must have been the clothes, then. The twins would want him dressed up in a way that made him look mature. The Xiong Clan wasn't going to look good if their boss looked and acted like a teenager.

I wonder if looking older is why Coco and Velvet approached me. Most people don't make friends among different year groups. Did they think I was their age or a little older?

It wasn't hard to imagine them not being able to guess his age in the neon strobe lighting of a nightclub in full swing. Out of his torn jeans and hoodie, his age must not have been so obvious. "I guess I do moan about work a lot…"

"Every adult has a moan about work." Qrow laughed. "And that's the difference. Kids moan about school or boys or other stupid stuff. I know my girls do. That's because most kids don't understand what it's like having to cover the bills, pay for electricity, put food on the table. Which is fine," he added, shrugging. "Let kids be kids. I'm just explaining why you come across older."

"Right. I guess it's not a bad thing."

"It's not. A lot of girls like older men."

And Jaune was sighing again. "Is women all you think about?"

"Booze, women and having a good time. Nothing wrong with that." Qrow saluted him with his hip flask. "Now go have a good time. You deserve one after the shit you've been through."

He couldn't disagree there. After the attempted murder, Hei's actual murder and the various gang activities, the chance to just hang out with friends, or potential friends, was a godsend. It was what he'd imagined Beacon would be – making friends, having late night parties and meeting cute girls.

All in all, he'd sort of managed all three working for the Club, but he was on the clock for the parties and most of the prettiest girls only wanted him for one thing – to get their order.

If Beacon had been quiet after breakfast, it was loud and alive in the evening. People were laughing in corridors, chatting loudly and lounging in common rooms. TVs blared loudly and balls clicked over pool tables. Vending machines clinked, people argued and a group of ten people of various ages were hunkered around a round table playing poker with chips instead of real money.

It reminded him of the club and the Xiong Clan. Not necessarily the same activities in all cases, but the gang members liked to spend their own free time gambling and messing around in the backrooms of the club, so it wasn't much different. Jaune even caught the backs of Team CRDL's heads but decided against showing himself. Maybe things would be easier in the morning, and he was already running late to meet Velvet.

Late enough that no one was waiting outside when he arrived. Jaune checked the number on the door again, took a breath to strengthen his resolve and knocked. What was the worst that could happen? Wrong dorm, an apology and walking away. There was no point worrying about it.

Am I more confident than I used to be, or is it just that I've realised how dumb a lot of the stuff I used to worry about is? Qrow's words about adults concerning themselves with more real problems came to mind. It didn't matter anyway because when the door opened, Velvet stood there.

"Jaune! Hey."

No looking down. Velvet was in a set of pyjamas that he really wouldn't have expected from her. In his head, not that he'd ever admit to having even thought about it, he imaged her wearing flannel and long trousers. The reality was that she wore a short set of satin pants that reached down to mid-thigh, and a top that only just connected with her waistband and in fact rode up with every breath she took. Something he could not have noticed if he wasn't looking down.

"Hey," he replied, tearing his eyes back up far too late for her not to look like a deer caught in the headlights. He coughed. "S-Sorry. Caught by surprise. Uh. So, I'm here. Are we still…?"

"Y-Yes." Velvet opened her door wide and rushed back in, blushing badly and leaving him to follow.

Nice one, idiot, he thought, closing the door behind him. Now she's embarrassed because you took the first chance you got to gawk. Miltia would kick my ass for that.

Team CFVY's dorm was a mirror image of the one he and Qrow were sharing, with only a few decoration changes to make it feel more their own. There was a team photo on one wall, a huge picture of a band on another and a guitar propped up in one corner by the bookshelf. Four schoolbags were heaped wildly under a desk dotted with sheets of coursework and open textbooks. The room looked busy and lived in, and messy as a result, with a lot of stuff shoved to the walls and a bunch of beanbags dragged out into a ring in the centre.

Among those beanbags were Velvet's team – Coco, whom he knew, and her two male teammates he'd only met when they came to pick her up. They looked rough. Intimidating. One was a giant of a man with biceps the size of Jaune's head, while the other was dotted with scars and had wild red hair. Despite that, or perhaps in contrast to it, they wore some of the friendliest smiles he'd seen to date. The giant's was gentle and inviting, while the scarred man with the dark skin had a cheeky and inclusive little grin, his head draped back over a beanbag and looking at him upside down.

"Yo!" Coco waved a hand. Her pyjamas were ironically the more conservative, but they also looked incredibly expensive with tassels and a silver zipper on one side. The boys were in tank tops, though with the larger one it could have been a shirt for all he knew. The guy's arms still bulged out of it. "I guess you do have a life outside the bar."

"Some life…" Jaune shook his head. "I mean, yeah, sort of." He instantly felt stupid. Talking to people at work was easy because he knew what they wanted. This was suddenly a lot harder. "Sorry. I'm pretty out of it."

"Yeah. Velvet told us about what happened."

His face drew in. "Did she?"

"Not that we have to talk about it." Coco said quickly. "Come on. We've got pizza. If Fox and Yatsu have left any. Oh right." She pointed. "Fox. Yatsuhashi. Everyone calls him Yats."

"You call me Yats…" Yatsuhashi complained. "A pleasure," he added, nodding his head. "Thank you for looking out for Velvet." His smile grew. "And Coco. They can both be a handful."

"Hey. Hey. Maybe Jaune would like to get a handful of me."

He wasn't about to go there, not when he knew there was no chance whatsoever. He mumbled his thanks to a still-embarrassed Velvet as she handed him a can of soda, then sat down between her and Coco on a beanbag provided. It wasn't lost on him how Velvet tucked her bare legs under herself.

Luckily, the pizza proved a decent distraction. Despite what Coco said, it was barely touched yet, and they'd ordered four boxes. That was probably because they weren't sure what type he liked. The answer was anything that didn't involve fish. Jaune helped himself to a ham and pineapple slice and bit into it. Still warm, gooey and full of carbs. Just what his body needed.

"It's always pizza with these idiots." Coco said. "This'll go straight to my thighs." That didn't stop her biting in cheerfully. "So, how long are you in Beacon for?"

"Only a week. I'll be gone before the transfers arrive."

"Back next year, isn't it?" Yatsuhashi asked. "I hear you're applying to come here."

"Yeah. I'm hoping I'll get in."

"I bet you will." Coco said breezily. "I'm sure Velvet would be willing to help you train as well. Right?"

"W-What!?" Velvet squeaked.

"I said, you'll help him train. Right?"

"Um. Y-Yeah. Sure."

"Sheesh. Invite a guy over and clam up, why don't you?" Jaune wasn't sure he was supposed to hear Coco whisper that. It was his training at the bar that let him do it, since he was used to piecing quiet orders together while loud music played. "So," she said, realising she would have to take the lead. "We should do something, yeah? We were gonna watch a movie later, but how about a game first?"

"No stripping!" Velvet yelped.

No one said a word. Jaune coughed. Velvet went dark red and covered her face with her hands.

"Right." Coco drawled, too amused to hide it. "I was going to suggest truth or dare. Nice to know where your mind is at right now."

"I hate you." Velvet seethed. "I hate you so much."

Truth or dare. He'd heard of his sisters playing that with friends at their girls' nights out and he'd always imagined something overly naughty. How could he be blamed when he'd been a hormonal boy back then? The reality was much less ridiculous, especially now that he was here and living it. Again, what did he expect? Velvet refused to so much as stray from `truth` and no one else did for a few rounds. Jaune wasn't going to either. While there were a lot of dangerous truths he had now, no one had any reason to spontaneously ask him what hideously illegal things he'd gotten up to.

"What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?"

"Who was your first crush?"

"Had anyone tried to seduce him for free drinks at the club?"

The questions were embarrassing obviously – that was the point – but they were innocently so and brought out laughter all around. It was the same for the rest, with questions about first kisses, fumbled opportunities and Fox morbidly recounting the story of his mother catching him fapping in his room.

Stupid stuff. No murders, no gang wars, no drug cartels. Just dumb, childish and stupid things. Jaune found himself sinking into the beanbag, stomach full and tension seeping away. Even Velvet had grown more comfortable, enough so to sit naturally and no longer keep tugging her pyjama top down. Out of the corner of one eye, he appreciated that.

"Jaune's turn." Coco crowed.

"Truth."

"Oh, come on. Someone has to pick dare sooner or later."

"You could always pick it yourself." Yatsuhashi said.

"Maybe I will." Coco huffed. "Fine, you boring, boring nerd." There was no malice and Jaune raised his drink in salute, making everyone else laugh. "Truth. Hm." He knew what was coming when Coco's eyes glanced to Velvet and her smile grew. It was the kind of smile a monster wore when puppies died.

Ah shit…

"Do you think Velvet looks sexy in her pyjamas?"

Velvet sucked in a breath so sharply she choked on it. Jaune groaned. Fox grinned, while Yatsuhashi shot Coco a warning look, not quite so amused at their teammate being singled out like that.

Jaune sighed. "What's the forfeit?"

"Lose an article of clothing."

"I thought we said no stripping?"

"There won't be if you answer the question."

He weighed it up. The answer was obvious, and his hesitation said that. Velvet was already refusing to look his way, bright red and picking at her beanbag. The question was what would embarrass her more. Hearing him say that he found her attractive, or having to sit next to him topless for the rest of the night? Probably the latter.

"Yes," he said, sighing. "I do."

"Ooooooh. You hear that, Vel?"

"Truth or dare!" she snapped.

Coco grinned. "Dare."

"Go outside and shout out how much of a bitch you are."

"Yikes." Coco sighed and pushed herself up. "Talk about overreacting. Fine. Fine. Be right back."

The door opened and closed, and there was no mistaking Coco's voice shouting through. He'd give her props for doing it, though he had a feeling Coco didn't really care much for what others thought of her. The same couldn't be said for Velvet, who was fuming.

He nudged her arm and smiled awkwardly, half-apology and half asking if she was okay. Velvet caught it, flushed and looked away. He didn't think it was because she liked him, probably more embarrassment at having a guy next to you admit they liked you. Liked the way you looked. Velvet was neither the first nor the last girl he'd thought looked stunning.

"Sorry," he whispered.

"I-It's fine. Coco is Coco."

"Not about that. I meant…"

"Pizza?" Velvet shoved a slice at him like she was tyring to slit his throat. The change in subject was as obvious as it was forced.

"Um. Sure. Thank you."

Coco came back with a rueful grin and took her spot again, crossing her legs and making shooting symbols at Velvet. "Your turn now. Gonna be a big girl and take a dare?"

"With you picking what I do?" Velvet hissed. "No."

"Then pick truth and I'll get my own back that way."

Velvet bit her lip. Neither option was good from her point of view, but only because she made it so easy for Coco to tease her. It's just a truth, Jaune thought. You don't even have to tell the truth if you don't want to. Who's going to know if you lie?

Apparently, she didn't feel the same.

"D-Dare. I pick dare."

Coco's eyes grew wider. "Really?"

"Yes!" Velvet's head bobbed firmly. She must have been really afraid of having to answer the question on Coco's lips, especially since they'd all been avoiding dares until Coco took the plunge.

"You sure? You've set the bar pretty high after making me do that. I had a nice question lined up for you, too."

"I pick dare."

"Well. Dare it is." Coco leaned back, cupped her chin and hummed. She dragged it on, almost certainly doing so to make her teammate squirm. And Velvet was squirming alright. Her entire body was writhing like a worm caught above ground. "What to do. It'd be cruel to make you go outside and embarrass yourself. Very cruel."

Cruel like you made me to, Coco's eyes seemed to say.

"Then how about… oh, I know. Kiss someone in this room."

Of course. Jaune wasn't nearly as surprised as he thought he should be, though he'd also not admit to how nervous he suddenly was. Would she do it? Would it be him? Probably not. She had two male teammates to choose from, both of whom she would be so much more comfortable with. Jaune refused to let himself get excited, or show it.

"K-Kiss…?" Velvet stammered. "O-One of them…?"

"One of them." Coco agreed. "Or me." She grinned. "Get over here if you like and I'll show you how to kiss."

This time Jaune definitely wasn't the only guy in the room having to hide a little jolt of electricity. Fox coughed into his fist and Yatsuhashi shifted in his beanbag. Velvet and Coco were their teammates, but they were also very attractive women in their pyjamas.

Velvet was caught wide-eyed staring between him, Fox and Yatsuhashi, weighing each up in her mind. With her full lips stuttering and her big, brown eyes wavering, she took a deep breath and swallowed. Then, before their eyes, reached down for her pyjama top and yanked it up over her head.

Jaune tried to be a gentleman. He tried and failed. Fox and Yatsuhashi weren't even trying, and wasn't that the point of a forfeit? Velvet wore a white bra under her pyjamas, a simple thing with a few frills and a bow in the centre. Her stomach was slim and pretty, slightly defined by muscle but not overly so. She had thin shoulders and smooth arms that she crossed over her chest. Her skin was bright pink and there was a whole lot of it on show.

"Forfeit, huh? Coward."

"Coco!" Velvet snapped, completely skipping him, Yatsu and Fox and challenging her teammate again. It felt like this was a battle between just the two of them now. "Truth or dare."

Coco leaned in. "Dare."

"Kiss one of them!"

Firing the same dare back at her. It wasn't inspired, but it was a good way to get back at Coco for embarrassing her. Given Coco's tastes, it looked like Velvet's revenge was going to be undressing her teammate just as much as she was.

Judging from Coco's grin, said plan was about to backfire. "Okay."

Scooting over, Coco placed a hand on Jaune's left cheek and drew his face to hers. He froze, as did Velvet, suddenly going white and not knowing what to do. Jaune's eyes bulged out, heart racing. Coco leaned in, winked and then moved her lips at the last second, planting a big, sloppy kiss on his cheek.

Then, as if to add insult to injury, she crawled over and planted a kiss on Fox's cheek, then leaned over Fox's legs to do the same with Yatsuhashi, who had by now caught on and leaned in to offer his cheek to her. Grinning victoriously, Coco flopped back onto her beanbag, smirked and pointed at Velvet.

"That's cheating!" Velvet shrieked.

"Hey. I only said to kiss someone in the room. You're the one who assumed I meant on the lips. You could have kissed one of our hands if you wanted."

Scowling fiercely, Velvet snatched her discarded top back, dragged it over her head and then planted both hands down, leaning in towards Jaune with a frighteningly determined expression. She closed her eyes and placed her lips to his cheek, kissing faintly before pulling back. She was bright red as she did, and Coco's laughter obviously wasn't helping.

"You know you're not meant to be able to take a forfeit back…"

"Coco. Shut up."

"Fair enough. Jaune. Truth or dare."

He was no idiot. "Truth."

"Not dare?"

"Not dare," he said.

"Can't tempt you?"

"Not if you're the one giving out the dares, no."

Coco smirked. "At least someone here is smart."

Next Chapter: 29th July

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur