Normally Yang wasn't the type of girl who'd forego a fun day of rock wall climbing in order to go shopping. However, in this case there was nothing stereotypical or unappealing about hanging around a department store. It wasn't for her, but rather for a pair of women who she hadn't even known existed a week ago.
It'd gone surprisingly well thanks to a little, or maybe a lot of help from browsing the CCTnet. Neither Jaune nor Yang had any experience in caring for babies, particularly those who hadn't even been born yet. After consulting a number of websites they'd ultimately decided on purchasing a stylish diaper bag backpack. It was practical, necessary, albeit a little bit expensive, but with their combined funds they'd purchased it for the expecting couple. Aside from the main compartment for diapers, the pack was covered with other tiny pouches for storing things like wet naps and food. From Yang's point of view there were so many zippers on the thing that it would put even the most fashionable huntress' outfit to shame.
Yang was ready to get out of the department store now in order to continue her free day with Jaune, and found the boy in question at a small jewelry kiosk. Strolling up behind him, she was tempted to do something in order to scare the boy since he seemingly hadn't yet noticed her approach. With a feral grin on her face she brought her arms up, hands curling into wicked claws, before closing the last few feet in a single lunge.
Jaune yelped in surprise as her fingers sunk into his shoulders, leaping up and earning the attentions of the many passersby all around them.
The blonde girl stepped back, laughing at her own accomplishment as well as his embarrassment in equal measure. "Oh sorry, Jaune. Did I scare ya?" she asked knowingly.
To her surprise Jaune didn't turn around to scold or berate her for the sudden attack, but rather seemed to shrink in on himself. "No," he lied, casting a sideways glance at her. His hands were hidden away in front of him rather than at his sides.
Yang's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you hiding something?" she wondered, trying to peer around his left shoulder. He adjusted to keep whatever was in his hands out of sight from her. "Did you get something extra for Saph and Ter?" she continued, leaning around his right shoulder now. "Something extra from baby bro without Yang's input?" After sticking her head underneath his right armpit to try and get a look at what he was holding in front of him, she decided to give up trying to do things the easy way. Well, easy for him at least.
With practiced fingers which were veterans of a hundred tickle wars with Ruby, Yang's eager digits poked into Jaune's unprotected sides, dancing up and down his ribcage as she prodded and tickled their target. The boy yelped once more, but this was quickly overtaken by squirming and giggling which he just couldn't hold back under such an intense assault.
"Y-yang!" he cried out in laughter, twisting and turning his body in an attempt to evade his attacker. "S-stop! Please!"
"Show me what you got!" she demanded, moving up to find the boy's armpits. She dug into them hard, causing Jaune to erupt with laughter as she locked him into her tight grasp. "What did you get them?"
"N-nothing!" he obviously lied. "I- I- nothing!"
Jaune kept trying to pull away, but Yang was stronger and faster than him. She kept up every step of the way, but at this rate they could be here all day. It was time to put an end to this fight once and for all.
Wrapping her arms around his chest and pressing her own into his back, Yang's vice grip on his torso was absolute, and her hands found whatever part of his sides that they could and resumed their unrelenting tickle assault. With nowhere to go now all he could do was face her torment or submit. Laughter from both of the blonde teens rang in her ears, and Yang couldn't care less if other people in the store might have been staring at them. She was going to get what she wanted, and she was going to get it now. It was only a matter of time.
Finally Jaune's senses got the better of him and he submitted. "Fine! I'll tell! Please just stop!"
Yang relented, but kept a firm hold on her prey while he recovered from her fiendish attack. With arms still locked around his torso, Yang leaned up to rest her chin on Jaune's left shoulder. "So? What'd ya get?"
She had expected Jaune to hold the item up so she could see, but his hands remained in front of his body and out of sight. "It's not actually for them," he said softly. "It's for you."
They were the last words Yang had expected to hear, and they caused her to finally release her hold on the boy. He still hadn't turned around, so Yang took a few steps to walk around the side of him. "For me?" she asked, glancing down at something silver in his hands.
Jaune nodded and held up what he'd been hiding. Yang's eyes focused on the many tiny links of silver connected together to make a bracelet. One with several other objects hanging down from those links.
A charm bracelet.
"It's not much," he began, holding it up so she could clearly see it. "And not like, real silver. I think it's just stainless steel. But I was just thinking that, you know, I wanted to get something for you as thanks for everything you've done this past week. You didn't have to do all this for me and my family, and well, it's just my way of saying thanks, I guess."
Jaune held out the bracelet for her to take, and for a moment Yang simply stood there dumbfounded. No one had ever given her jewelry before, even if it wasn't a precious metal. Not from Ruby or her dad because they knew she wasn't the type to wear it, and certainly not from any boys before. At least until now.
Still, she graciously accepted the gift, taking it in both hands as she stared down at it. "You didn't have to do that," she said softly.
He shrugged. "I know. But still."
"I didn't do any of this to get something out of it except some fun," she continued, eyes still locked on the bracelet. Specifically the charms. "And I did. Lots of it."
"Yeah, so this could be something to remember all those fun times, right?" With a finger he pointed at the first of the charms attached to the metal links. "Like the musical note is for when we all went out dancing. The starfish is for the beach," he said, pointing to the next. "The helmet is for rock wall climbing. And the little flame thing," he said pointing to the last one. "Is just for you being you, I guess?"
Sure enough, all of the four charms on the bracelet were picked out with care. Each represented something they'd done over this past week, save the last one. Fire. Fire for her being herself. For being fiery? Passionate? Dare she say, hot? She didn't want to look too deeply into that last one, but at the same time this was a guy buying her jewelry. If there was ever a time to look deeper into something, it was now.
Guys didn't buy girls jewelry as gifts if they were just friends, did they? Honestly Yang didn't know. No one had ever done it before so she had no experience in it. Maybe it was perfectly innocent. Or maybe their time together had awoken something inside of him, and who could blame him? Just like the fire charm symbolized, she was pretty hot. Who wouldn't fall for her? Would Jaune? Had he? And if he did, was she okay with it?
She almost became too lost in her thoughts to respond to Jaune's explanation, but finally she was able to tear her eyes off of the gift and look the boy in his eyes. It was a shame he couldn't do the same, and as soon as they'd met his blue ones darted away embarrassedly.
"So… yeah, that's what that is," he finished, rubbing his hand against the back of his neck.
"It's really nice," she finally said back to him. She fastened it onto her right wrist so she could admire it the way it was supposed to be. Despite the fact that she should have been used to the feeling, what with Ember Celica often adorning both her wrists, it felt unusually weighty to have the small bracelet on. "You have a good eye for this stuff."
Jaune chuckled softly. "Just another perk of being the crash test dummy for seven sisters."
Yang joined in, only being able to imagine what those girls might have done to him in his past. The image of Jaune decked out in earrings and necklaces was one she could picture clearly in her mind. Add the makeup, dresses, and hairdos, and he might make a pretty cute girl.
"I don't know what to say. Thank you."
He shrugged again, still smiling even as he was unable to meet her gaze. "It's no problem," he said bashfully. "I mean like I said, you did me a major favor with Saphron. You didn't have to do any of it, and you were a great friend the entire time. The best girlfriend I could have asked for. You didn't only make my week, you made hers too."
She had indeed been the best girlfriend she could possibly be. It was a role she'd grown to adore over the last few days. A role that sadly, come tomorrow when Saphron and Terra left to return to Argus, would be over. The charade would come to an end and all would return to normal. All she would have of the experience would be her fond memories of Jaune's family and the role she played in it.
Memories, and this bracelet.
"Haha, yeah. I'm just awesome like that aren't I?" she forced out, feeling antsy and needing to do something about it. Something very specific that would require some alone time. "Hey, so, um, could you excuse me for a minute? I gotta do something real quick."
"Oh, sure."
With a final nod of affirmation Yang spun on her heels and walked off to another part of the store, making sure to be able to hide herself behind the strategically placed shelves and displays. Whipping her scroll from a pocket, Yang brought up one of her newest contacts and began typing away.
Hey, Saph, she texted. Got any good gift ideas for Jaune?
It wasn't right that Jaune got something for her as thanks for the last week while she got him nothing in return. After all, she'd been having a blast just as much as he had. She'd gained new friends in Saphron and Terra. Friends so close that they felt like family. Family that after it was all said and done, wouldn't have a reason to stay in touch with her anymore.
Family that would abandon her.
Yang shook her head. They're not abandoning you, she thought to herself. They were never yours to begin with. It was all a lie.
Moments later Saphron responded, but rather than with a text message, Yang's scroll buzzed as the name came up on the screen.
Accepting the call, Yang put the device to her ear. "Hey, Saph."
"Hey, hey!" her fellow blonde yelled back cheerfully. "So what's this about gift ideas? Are you two still out right now?"
Yang nodded despite the fact that it went unseen by the other woman. "Yeah. Jaune got me something nice out of the blue, and it kind of blindsided me. Normally I'd have time to think about what to get someone, but I'm kinda in a pinch here."
She heard Saphron hum over the scroll. "Yeah that sounds like Jaune, all right. So what'd he get you? What kind of price range are we talking here?"
It shouldn't have felt awkward to admit what Jaune had gotten her, especially under the pretense that they were dating. She was glad Saphron couldn't see her face. Both the smile that curled up her lips and the blush that warmed her cheeks.
"He got me a charm bracelet," she confessed. With her right wrist next to her face she found herself staring at all the charms which dangled down from it. Each of them was a fond memory she'd carry for the rest of her life. "Not overly expensive or anything, but it's really nice and thoughtful. So I dunno, thirty lien? Forty?"
"Ooooh, nice," Saphron cooed. "Okay, forty lien is plenty to work with. First thing that comes to mind is anything Pumpkin Pete. Did you know he wanted a hoodie so badly that he went through fifty boxes of that cereal just to get it?"
She didn't. That was quite an achievement. It was a wonder Jaune wasn't much thicker thanks to all that sugary cereal. "Wow, I didn't. So anything Pumpkin Pete…" she trailed off thoughtfully.
"How about eatable panties?" Saphron offered next, causing Yang to choke on the very air she breathed. Even without seeing her Saphron had heard the reaction, and her cackling laughter rang through the receiver of the scroll so loudly that Yang had to remove it from her ear. "Oh my gods I wish I could have seen your reaction! Are you okay?"
A pouty frown crossed Yang's face. She was supposed to be the one who dished out the provocative comments, not be on the receiving end! Was this what it was like for victims like her sister and Weiss? Was she going up against the next level of Yang in the form of Jaune's sister? Was Saphron just Yang 2.0? The next stage in her prankster, trolly evolution? Her final form?
"I'm fine," Yang growled at the scroll, though without a trace of malice in her tone. "So back to real ideas…"
"Who says that wasn't?" the older girl replied coyly. "But fine, fine, real ideas. So we've got Pumpkin Pete. What about clothes? Like a nice shirt or something? He could always use more nice clothes instead of that hoodie he practically lives in. Or I know he's into X-ray and Vav. Or some of those Bumko Pop thingies? Jaune likes those."
Outside of… eatable panties, Saphron had provided a wealth of options for Yang. She just had to hone in on the correct one in the next few minutes before her absence from Jaune became overly-conspicuous.
"I think those'll work," she smiled, filled with new confidence. "Just have to find something quick before Jaune starts trying to find me. I kinda wanna make this a surprise like how he did with me."
She heard Saphron chuckle softly on the other end, and Yang could practically hear the smile on her face. "I know that feeling. Don't worry, you'll do great. I believe in you. Anything you wind up getting him will be good because it's from you. Jaune's kind of a sap like that."
Wasn't that the truth? Yang found herself leaning up against one of the store displays and closed her eyes. She began picturing a surprised and genuinely happy expression on Jaune's face when she handed him whatever mystery gift she had yet to pick out for him. That bright smile of his filled her body with warmth and joy.
"Yeah. Yeah he is," she agreed. "Sorry to cut this short but I gotta go. I'll call you later."
"Get pictures! I wanna see his face when he gets it!"
Yang's smile threatened to split her face in two, and she breathed a soft laugh through her nose as her mind shifted to what must have been Saphron's desperate and pleading expression. "I got you. Don't worry."
"Thaaanks! Talk to you later, Yang."
Yang nodded again, though the gesture still went unseen by its intended recipient. "Thanks for everything. See ya, big sis."
She ended the call as soon as the words had left her lips. Words she'd wanted to use at least before this was all over. They lingered in her mind long after they were uttered, and Yang felt a warm and fuzzy feeling overtake her stomach.
She'd never been a little sister before. She'd never had a big one. And despite the fact that Saphron wasn't one by blood, despite the fact that she wasn't her future sister-in-law, she still felt like one. For people who'd only known each other for a week, they got along together like it had been a lifetime.
With a strong sense of purpose and an equally large amount of giddiness at seeing his reaction, Yang set off to find a worthy gift for Jaune. One that would bring him joy. One that Saphron would approve of. One that would fill Yang herself with a sense of pride and accomplishment at brightening up a good friend's day.
Jaune opened the door to the small diner, holding it so that Yang could step through after him. With their shopping trip out of the day the two had opted to grab some lunch down in Vale. The day was still young, and he had no idea what they would do for the remainder of their day of skipping classes, but for the moment both of them were starving. Rock wall climbing and shopping around a large department store would build up a large appetite even after stuffing their faces with waffles and pancakes, and both blondes were eager to sink their teeth into something meaty and most likely very unhealthy.
After being seated in a small booth by the window, the two grabbed their menus and began browsing through their options. The simplest ones were usually the best, and Jaune's eyes were immediately drawn to the cheeseburger meal. What immediately jumped out to him wasn't that it included fries, but the fact that it did probably meant that Yang would be stealing some of them from his plate. He couldn't help but smile at the thought even as he stared down at the printed words.
"Hey, Jaune?"
At first he assumed she was going to ask why he was smiling, but a glance up showed that Yang's eyes were still glued to her own menu.
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever done something you knew was really selfish, but did it anyway just because you wanted it so much?"
His eyes narrowed in confusion, but still Yang didn't look up. It was an oddly specific question, especially since it had come out of nowhere. He pondered it for a few seconds, but sure enough he knew his answer without a trace of doubt.
"Yeah," he confirmed, thinking back to many months ago. "I have."
His answer finally caused her to look up at him, and Jaune felt the serious eyes of Yang boring into him. "Really?" she asked incredulously. "Honestly I'm surprised. That doesn't seem like you."
He supposed he should take that as a compliment. There were worse things in the world than to be thought of as selfless or virtuous. "It wasn't like, bad or anything," he told her. It was the truth. His selfishness hadn't come at anyone else's expense. Or had it?
"Do you feel bad about it?" she asked. "Or guilty? Like, wanting what you want when it's all just for you?"
He didn't. At least not anymore. He may have started as nothing, less than nothing even, but thanks to his friends and his own hard work, Jaune had become something far greater than if he had not taken the risk. If he had not been selfish. He may have taken some other potential candidate's spot due to his false transcripts, but in the end it had worked out for him. For his team. For his friends.
"I don't," he admitted truthfully. "I did do something selfish, but I can honestly say it was the best decision I've ever made in my life."
That last comment seemed to pique Yang's curiosity, and she set her menu down on the table in front of her. "Do you mind me asking what it was that you did?"
He didn't mind her asking, but he wasn't sure if he should tell her. So far his secret was one that only Pyrrha knew about. Well, Cardin too, but after his actions in Forever Fall it was safe to say that the other boy would be taking that secret with him to the grave. Luckily for Jaune a waitress came by to take their orders, giving him time to think about what he was going to say in response to Yang's query.
Jaune scratched his neck, glancing away from Yang as he pondered his options. On one hand it would be easy enough to keep it to himself. On the other, it wasn't like he couldn't trust her. Even before all the time they'd spent together recently they had been good acquaintances. Friends even, bound together by the glue that was Ruby Rose. Now however, they were indeed close friends. He trusted that she wouldn't rat him out. However, would she think any less of him for what he'd done?
A friendly waitress came over and took their orders before he could speak. He was grateful, as it bought him a little more time to think about how he wanted to answer.
Those prying lilac eyes of hers were intense, and Jaune felt the curiosity inside of Yang eating away at her, and in turn, himself. He could answer the question, but maybe not divulge the entire truth. At least not all at once. Piece by piece. Let her digest it little by little.
"I wanted to become a huntsman," he told her. There was far more to it than just that statement, as shown by the weight he put in those words. As if he'd made some sort of grand confession to a crime he'd committed.
Yang, obviously not in on the true meaning behind the words, eyed him quizzically. "What's wrong with that? How is wanting to be a huntsman selfish?"
How could he phrase it in a way that wasn't a complete confession of his lies? "You know how I used to be," he began. "And honestly how I still am. There's no way I was good enough to get in on my own. Someone better than me deserved to pass initiation. I got lucky then. I got lucky to have someone like Pyrrha as my partner. She accepted me with open arms and helped me more than I deserved. There's no way I should have been able to make it this far, but I did."
Maybe he should feel guilty about it. After all, due to his skills, or lack thereof, someone could have been hurt because of him. Someone could have been killed. He had been, and at times still was, a liability. Yet he still didn't feel guilty. Did that make him a bad person? He already thought he was selfish, but he didn't think of himself as wicked. He simply wanted what he wanted, but hadn't done anything out of malice or ill-intent.
With her hands folded on the table, Yang didn't appear at all perturbed or upset by his pseudo confession. "You passed though, didn't you?" she asked rhetorically. "During initiation I mean. None of us could have done that alone. It took eight of us to get by and beat those Grimm. It was all about teamwork. The whole point was to form our teams. And we did. Yay us. Go teams."
Yang gave a small fist pump with her last words, and Jaune couldn't help but smile at her rather laid-back response to his heavy words. Still, he pressed the issue, perhaps wanting her judgment for his selfishness rather than her hand waving it away.
"Yeah, but it's not like I did this for any noble reasons or anything. Not like Ruby wanting to be a hero to help people and stuff. It's like…" he trailed off, considering how to phrase the next part of his thought process. "I did it to impress my family. To live up to their standards." He shrugged. "Or at least the standards I made up in my own mind. It was all for me. Not to become some protector of humanity or whatever."
Even without the fake transcripts he'd given Yang more than enough ammo to judge him and his desire to become a huntsman. Yet to his surprise, she still refused to do so.
"And I became a huntress because I'm a thrill-seeker," she shot back with a smile. "Not to be some oh so wonderful grand protector of humanity either." She made sure to emphasize the flowery words with a horribly pretentious accent, teasing him for using them in the first place. "I wanted a life of adventure and excitement, and not knowing what would happen tomorrow. Considering I've been pretending to be your girlfriend for the past week, I'd say it's worked out pretty well so far."
Truth be told, Yang's own confession made Jaune feel a little bit better about his own motivations. Was his own selfish desire really that bad in comparison to wanting to become a huntress just to walk on the wild side and have fun? In his mind it wasn't, and yet Yang seemed to feel no regret for her own reasoning.
"If you ask me there's no such thing as a totally selfless act," she continued. "I think most of us want to be huntsmen for less than noble reasons. We want to be cool. Or admired. Or pick up chicks. Like, why did Cardin decide to be a huntsman, you know?" A moment later she breathed a laugh, glancing down at the table as she shook her head. "Sorry, this isn't the kind of deep conversation I was planning on. Where's that food? The sooner we can stuff our faces instead of talking about our hopes and dreams the better."
Jaune smiled in turn, and he appreciated her candidness. He also liked how despite being an absolute ten out of ten bombshell in the looks department, Yang had absolutely no qualms about stuffing her face full of greasy food in public. Somehow it had only added to her charm and attractiveness when she'd done the same with pancakes this morning.
"It's okay. If you don't mind me asking, why'd you ask the question to begin with? The whole selfish thing?"
The smile evaporated from Yang's lips, and as she glanced away Jaune feared he'd asked a bad question. Thankfully she responded before he had much time to feel bad about the question.
"Because there's something I want, but I don't know if I went about getting it the right way," she replied cryptically. "And I'm afraid if I go after it and get it, then the whole thing might be rotten. Like building a house on quicksand or something."
He had no idea what she meant by that, and in reality it was fine that way. He hadn't spilled his guts about his transcripts, and so he had no expectation that she would do the same about whatever was bothering her. All he could do was offer the same level of morale support as she had him.
"Well like you said, there's no such thing as a selfless act, right?" he asked. "I like to think I've gotten to know you pretty well over the last couple semesters, and especially this week. You're a good person, Yang. If you want something I'm pretty sure you didn't go about getting it the wrong way. At least not in a way that could hurt someone else. I know you wouldn't take something at someone else's expense. So if there's something out there you really want, I say go for it. At least give it a shot and see how it works out. If it doesn't at least you tried, right?"
Yang nodded, still avoiding his eyes as she seemed to look everywhere in the diner but him. He saw her tongue poking around the insides of her cheeks, and it appeared she was still deep in thought. He hoped his words had helped her, or at least given another perspective in whatever internal dilemma she was facing. Finally, with one more strong nod seemingly more to herself than him, her eyes flicked back up to meet his.
"Maybe you're right. I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Yang reached down underneath the table into one of her pockets. What came out was a tiny bag with something inside it, and she set it on the table between them. "Here," she said, urging him to take it.
Jaune eyed the bag curiously before glancing back up at her. "What is it?"
"It's for you," she said, giving it another little nudge with her fingers. "Go on."
He knew he shouldn't have treated the bag like it was a bomb about to go off, so Jaune took it and reached inside, finding a white box which was indeed small enough to have fit inside one of Yang's pockets. Lifting the top off, he found an item which gave him pause, causing his eyes to widen and his lips to part.
Attached to a black leather cord was a pendant in the shape of a rabbit's head. More specifically, Pumpkin Pete's head. It looked to be made out of pewter, and was etched with a surprising amount of detail and care. Jaune took it out, holding it in front of him in both hands as he studied the face of his favorite cartoon mascot.
"Wow, Yang," was all he could say, fighting to tear his eyes away from it to look back up at her. What he saw was the warm and smiling face of his friend appreciating his reaction. That, and her scroll held sideways with the accompanying soft click of a picture being taken. Was she documenting the moment as a memory for later? Why hadn't he thought of that when he'd given her the bracelet? "This is really nice. What's the occasion?"
"The occasion?" she echoed, raising both of her eyebrows to emphasize the question. "Says the guy who just bought me a charm bracelet," she said, bringing her hand up to show it off with a shake. "Like you said, it's a thank you for being so awesome this past week."
Jaune found himself rubbing his thumb against the details of the pendant's surface. A moment later he unclasped the tiny hook which held the leather cord together and wrapped it around his neck. He fiddled with the thing behind his head, trying to reattach it without being able to see it.
Watching this, Yang stood up from her seat in the booth and moved around to stand behind him. Her hands stopped his, and in no time she had hooked the cord back together.
"There," she said, allowing her hands to rest on his shoulders as she stood behind him. "How is it?"
Jaune glanced down at the pendant resting against his chest. He felt its weighty metal even through his shirt. He still couldn't keep his hands off of it, and for good reason. He'd never been given a gift like this from a girl. Sure he'd received birthday gifts from his sisters, but they were family. That was to be expected. This was a gift, and a thoughtful one at that, from a girl who wasn't his family. Despite the fact that he knew it was completely innocent, it still meant a lot to him. It carried a weight to it which was more than mere metal.
"I love it," he said honestly. "When did you even get this? And how'd you know I was into Pumpkin Pete?"
Yang moved back around to her seat, plopping down with a smug grin on her lips. "Back at the store," she answered casually. "And aside from the fact that you always wear a hoodie with the thing's face on it? I talked to Saphron and she suggested anything Pumpkin Pete. So I figured since you gave me something to wear," she said, once again holding up the bracelet for him to see. "I could get you something to wear too. Being put on the spot like that I didn't have time to think of something super sentimental, but I figured you'd appreciate something you're into just as much."
He did indeed appreciate it. Despite what some of his sisters might have said he wasn't the type of guy to wear earrings or bracelets, but a cool pendant like this was something he would absolutely wear with pride. It would go great with his hoodie when he was able to slip back into that.
"It's really great," he smiled, unable to get over just how great both it, and Yang were. "But you were only gone in the store for like five minutes. You had time to talk to Saph and find this?"
Yang's smile softened as she looked down at her hands. The left one was toying with the charms on her bracelet. "Nothing in the world can stop me when I find something I want," she answered back. "Five minutes is all it takes."
The words brought Jaune back to Yang's question about selfishness. He still wondered just what it was that she wanted, but after hearing what she'd just said he had no doubt in her mind that she would get it. She really was a remarkable girl. She was more than just the beauty she possessed in abundance. She was a kind, caring, and thoughtful young woman who brightened up the days of everyone around her. She burned with passion and drive, reaching for the stars and not quitting until she'd plucked them all from the sky. She was the kind of person you wanted to be around at all times not just because she was so amazing, but because she would force you to become more than you ever thought you could be on your own.
She was the kind of girl you wanted to introduce to your family as your girlfriend. Having already done just that, it was truly a shame that it would all be over soon.
"Hey, Jaune?" Yang asked, breaking him from his thoughts.
He blinked, focusing his undivided attention on Yang again. "Yeah?"
She leaned across the table, reaching out to run her fingers through his long, blond locks. "Remember how I told you we needed to do something with this hair?"
She might have mentioned that on some occasion, probably when they were all out with his sister and Terra, but he couldn't quite recall it. Still, he played along and assumed that she was speaking the truth. "What about it?"
Yang sat back down in her seat while she examined the boy across from her. Or more specifically, his hair. "Well, would you be opposed to actually doing something with it?" she asked. "I have an idea for it."
Jaune's arms moved instinctively, elbows resting on the table and hands up and ready to defend his head at a moment's notice. It was ingrained in him after a lifetime of growing up with his sisters. "I don't know…" he said warily. "The last time a girl messed with my hair I wound up in braids. I'm starting to get Great War flashbacks…"
The admission made Yang laugh. "Relax, Jaune. It's me."
His face held its stone-cold expression. "That's not exactly reassuring."
Those words only made Yang snort a laugh again. "Oh come on, I'm not nearly as bad as Saphron," she argued. "Aside from that little bit of teasing on day one I've been the ideal girlfriend."
He had to admit she was right. She'd made him look like a million lien in front of his sister. She'd made him feel that way as well. Being Yang's fake boyfriend had been a blast. Every moment they spent together, real or not, had been fun.
Jaune nodded begrudgingly, forced to concede her point. "Yeah. You have been."
She leaned in over the table excitedly as she peered into his eyes. That mischievous little smirk on her lips threatened to undo all the reassurance she'd instilled in him. "So trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about," she pressed. "I'm just talking about a haircut, no braids or anything. If we really were dating, this is a haircut that I think would look really good on you. One that'd make you look super hot and attract all the ladies."
The words were intriguing. Jaune rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes glancing off to the side. "All the ladies…"
Yang leveled a finger at him, regaining his attention in an instant. "Buuuut, if I was your girlfriend I'd also have to fight off all those skanks who'd think you're a hot piece of man meat. So just be ready for that when we have to make more appearances with your sister."
"Right," he smiled, glancing down at the pendant resting on his chest. "Honestly it might be kind of fun to see what jealous Yang looks like." His smile deepened at a certain memory which sprang to mind. "When she's not suggesting a threesome to some random girl at the beach…"
The words brought a glower and a growl from Yang, who clearly still wasn't over the fact that she'd made an absolute fool of herself due to a misunderstanding.
Jaune brought his hands up defensively to try and diffuse the time bomb who was Yang Xiao Long. "Whoa, whoa, Yang," he tried to say, but the fact that he couldn't help but laugh while doing so ruined any sense of apology. "Come on, that was funny. Remember?"
Yang's eyes were narrowed, clearly not amused by his jabs at her rare social awkwardness. "Wasn't funny for me…" she grumbled.
He was about to try to apologize again, but a familiar waitress approached carrying trays with two plates on them. Jaune pointed behind Yang, happy to have a welcome distraction like this at such an important time. "Oh look, food!"
Yang turned just in time for the waitress to park herself at their table and place their respective plates in front of them. Lilac eyes lit up with delight, chasing her bad mood away and replacing it with a simple and endearing love for food. "Oh my gods that looks good."
It did indeed. If this was to be his last meal before the metaphorical execution of his hair, then it would be a good one.
Yang was right about one thing. She wasn't like Saphron in regards to her teasing a baby brother. She'd had his best interests in mind for the past week. If she had an idea for a haircut which she thought would look good on him, then he trusted her judgment and intentions.
As Jaune dug into his own cheeseburger, he could only wonder what the girl had in mind. He wondered what she would think about him if his impending haircut was indeed the kind she'd want for him if he was her real boyfriend.
Yang's day off had been a blast, but it was finally over now. The evening had come, and they'd said their goodbyes to Saphron and Terra after dropping their gift off at the hotel. Now it was time to return him. It was time to face the music. It was time to pay for her crimes.
Standing in the hallway in front of their respective rooms, Jaune and Yang held each other's gazes. Somehow Jaune seemed taller now. He looked more mature. Dare she say, he even looked… hot.
With a fresh hairdo and product in it to spike it up, Jaune looked like a new man. Emphasis on man. The long and gangly locks hadn't looked horrible, but they did add to a sense of immaturity which he'd come to Beacon with. Now, however, after training with Pyrrha, after abandoning his pursuit of Weiss, after finding the confidence and self-worth to be the best huntsman he could be, Jaune seemed like he'd grown both emotionally and physically.
After all, had Saphron not exclaimed that her brother now looked like a 'total Chad' when they'd seen her at the hotel?
"So…" Jaune said, breaking the silence.
Yang nodded. "Yeah."
"I had a great time today." One hand came up, his palm gently tapping down on his newly spiked hair. "And you were right. This looks really great."
A great time. It was as if Jaune was dropping her off at her front door after a date. If they actually had been dating he would probably give her a good night kiss. Then she would go inside, lean up against the closed door, and sigh blissfully as the feel of his lips lingered on hers.
None of that would be happening tonight, however.
She shrugged to feign indifference, but was really in total agreement. "No problem."
"Tomorrow's probably gonna suck," he continued. "Probably get detention for skipping class. Saph and Terra are leaving too."
The first part wasn't an issue for Yang. She expected and accepted detention for their actions today. It was the second part that hit her hard. Despite the fact that it was as inevitable as a Glynda Goodwitch chewing out, she didn't want Saphron to leave. She didn't want this experience to end.
She didn't want to go back to being alone.
"Yeah," she lamented softly. What more could be said?
"We could meet with them one last time," he suggested. "To see them off at the airship terminal."
Yang nodded. As much as she would hate saying goodbye, she did want at least one more time with them. She wanted to give both of them a hug. She wanted to hear how much she'd be missed by Jaune's family. She wanted to tell them how much she'd miss them as well. After all, once they left this would all be over. Saphron wouldn't be her big sis anymore.
"I'd like that," she said softly. "Are they leaving before or after class?"
"After. I'll text them that we'll have detention, and that we'll meet up with them after."
It sounded like as good a plan as any to Yang. She smiled weakly and nodded once more. "Yeah. Sounds good."
Jaune nodded as well, their plans for tomorrow decided. "So… I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Jaune turned away and stepped to his own team's door. Yang was about to unlock hers with her scroll, but stopped just short of doing so. She spun back around to see Jaune. "Hey, Jaune?"
He froze mid-motion and looked back. "Yeah?"
She didn't know why she was saying this, but said it nonetheless. "Good night."
For a second he stared blankly at her, but a soft smile crept up onto his lips before he spoke. "Good night, Yang."
With nothing more needing to be said, both teens entered their rooms. She didn't know what Jaune would find in his or what the reactions of his teammates would be, but when Yang stepped into her own she found all of her teammates occupying it.
Three heads looked up from what they were doing. Weiss was the first to speak. "Well well, look who's finally decided to grace us with her presence."
Yang shrugged at the sarcastic quip. What could she say? She had been gone for a whole twenty four hours now. She had no excuses except for the truth, and right now the truth wasn't something she wanted all of them to know.
"Yang!" Ruby exclaimed next, hopping off of the top bunk and rushing toward her. "What were you thinking? Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in? You can't just skip-"
Yang held up a hand to stop Ruby in her tracks. Not an easy feat for someone who both ran and talked as fast as she did. "Ruby," she interrupted. "I need to talk to Blake." Her eyes flicked to regard Weiss next. "Alone."
Ruby's face scrunched up in confusion as she stared up at her sister. "What? Alone? What are you talking-"
"Ruby. Please."
She held Ruby's gaze for long seconds, and to her sister's credit, she realized that something was up. Something serious which deserved her respect and understanding. That didn't mean she was happy about it though. She exhaled harshly, shoulders slumping before her lips pursed up in a pout.
"Fine. You can talk to Blake about it but not me," she grumbled. Moving over to where Weiss sat on her own bed, she grabbed the girl by the hand and pulled her up. "Come on, Weiss. Let's go."
"Go?" the heiress asked indignantly. "This is my- hey!"
Ruby would not be denied, and she dragged a protesting Weiss with her to the door. After leaving and shutting the door behind her, Yang was left alone with her best friend and partner. A girl who she could discuss anything with. Right now she needed to talk about this to someone who wasn't Ruby. She knew what Ruby's reaction would be, and that was undying support and glee. She needed someone objective and mature enough to give her the cold, honest truth.
Blake was lying on her bed with a book in her hands. It was time to drop the bombshell she'd been keeping from her team for the last week.
"So I slept with Jaune last night," she spoke plainly. Like it wasn't a big deal at all.
To her surprise, Blake didn't react. She didn't yell in surprise. She didn't even lower the book from her face. She just… kept reading.
Yang frowned. After clearing her throat she spoke once more. "I said I slept with-"
"I heard you the first time," Blake interrupted. Finally she lowered the book, allowing her golden eyes to gaze upon her partner. There was no judgment in them. Blake was as unemotional as always when it came to matters not concerning the White Fang and Roman Torchwick.
Yang's hands came together, fingers toying with the charm bracelet on her wrist. "So… shouldn't you be more surprised?"
While she hadn't actually slept with Jaune, at least not in the sexual context, Yang still wanted to see how Blake would react before she explained the actual truth of it. So far the faunus' reaction was less than ideal. In fact, it was unusually accepting for such a bombshell.
"Consider me surprised."
Yang tilted her head back and groaned at the ceiling. "Ugh! You suck at this, Blake!"
"Honestly? With how you two have been acting the past week and the fact that you're always sneaking off to be together, I'd be more surprised if last night was the first time."
That wasn't the rationale Yang had been expecting to hear, but now that she'd heard it she couldn't exactly argue with it. She and Jaune had grown unusually close over the last few days, and they both must have been conspicuous in their absences.
"For the record, we didn't have sex," Yang explained. Blake's reaction hadn't been as entertaining as she'd hoped, so it was time to clear the air. "We slept in the same bed. That's it."
Blake hummed. "I see."
Again, her rather detached reaction made Yang frown. Blake was making Yang do all the work here and taking the fun out of it. "Don't you want to know why?"
The other girl shrugged. "What you do in your free time is your business. I'm not here to judge you."
While Yang was appreciative of her partner's acceptance and maturity, right now she wanted to be judged. She had a whole plethora of emotions churning inside of her, and she needed to get them off her chest. She needed to talk about these things with a girl who would be brutally honest with her.
She was about to continue, but the door opened back up and a rather angry Weiss stomped back inside. "I have no idea what I was thinking, but I'm not leaving my own room! Anything you have to say to Blake you can say in front of me as well!"
Well, if she really insisted on it…
"I slept with Jaune last night."
Weiss spun on her heels and reached back for the doorknob. "And that's my cue to leave."
"Weiss, I'm kidding," Yang called after her. The heiress turned back, hand resting on the knob but not turning it. "Well, half kidding. It's not what you think."
Offering her trademark cold glare, Weiss was still positioned to make a quick exit should things escalate. "I'm completely in the dark here, so whatever I'm thinking is entirely your fault."
That was true enough. It was time to explain to both her and Blake about what was going on. About what she'd been doing the last week. About the confusing and conflicting feelings inside of her right now.
"So, look. It's like this…"
She explained how it all began as a favor for Jaune. She told them about Saphron and Terra. The fake relationship. The dates. The times they spent alone together. The beach. Dancing. Pancakes. Sharing a bed together. The entirety of the last week was laid bare for her two teammates, save for what she was feeling inside right now. That last little bit of information could only be revealed once they'd had time to hear and digest everything she had to say.
When she was finished a brief period of silence settled over the room. At least until Weiss spoke. "So he finally got a haircut?" she asked. She snorted something between a scoff and a laugh. "It's about time. Honestly what is he thinking with hair like that? There's a reason I called him scraggly."
Weiss hadn't seen his new style yet. Yang wondered what she would think of it, and him, when she finally got a glimpse tomorrow. A jealous part of her wondered if she'd even reconsider giving him a chance with his new hairdo.
"So the hair isn't the important thing here," Yang explained. "The important part is, well…"
"His family," Blake finished for her. The girl was sitting upright now and giving her undivided attention to her partner. "And how you like being a part of it."
Like was an understatement. Yang loved being with the Arcs. She loved being Jaune's girlfriend around them. Being with him and them filled a void in her heart which she'd tried to fill with many things. Fighting, huntressing, finding her mother…
"Yeah," she admitted bashfully. It was a bit embarrassing, but she had come here to be judged, after all. She wanted someone to evaluate and potentially validate her feelings. "Do you think that's stupid?"
To her surprise, it was Weiss who spoke up next. Seated on her own bed next to Yang, she smiled up at her. "Of course it's not stupid," she said. "Speaking as someone who has a big sister of her own, I know all too well how important they are. How much I look up to and admire her. How I… seek her attention and validation. How much I want to be just like her when I'm older."
Yang didn't know if she wanted to be like Saphron considering their wildly different lifestyles, but she knew that this last week of having a big sister was amazing. When they'd all been out at the nightclub last night Saphron had taken her hand and told her that she and the rest of her sisters were there for her. That Yang could call her 'big sis'. How could one experience that level of love and trust and not feel something?
"Yeah, it's been pretty wild," the blonde agreed. "And now because Jaune and me won't be dating anymore… I'm going to lose her. Unless, maybe, I don't know, I actually do become Jaune's girlfriend…"
The real topic at hand had finally been broached. Yang's emotions were churning and roiling like a violent tornado, and she didn't know how to feel about any of this. It wasn't like her to be charmed by a boy, but the last week with Jaune had opened up her eyes and introduced her to new experiences. She liked spending time with him. She liked going out to eat with him. Going shopping together. Hanging out at the beach. Dare she say… she even liked the feeling of waking up next to someone in the morning. How incredible was it to feel warm and content next to another person you liked and trusted like that?
Blake hummed thoughtfully. Weiss was quiet. It wasn't every day that the three of them discussed romance. Even Weiss' interest in Neptune had been a personal topic for her which she didn't ask for nor need the opinions of others. And Blake, for all of her smutty romance novels, had never once told them she harbored feelings for Sun. Yang wondered if the two of them would be comfortable talking about things like love and relationships with her.
Seconds ticked by without response, and Yang felt a little bit self-conscious. She nervously hooked a lock of hair behind her ear. "So…"
"So do you like him like that?" Weiss asked pointedly. Leave it to the Ice Queen to be cold and direct in her questioning.
It was a question Yang herself had trouble answering. A weak shrug of her shoulders told the entire story. "I don't know."
"But that's not a no," Weiss pointed out. A moment later she pointed down at Yang's arm. Specifically her wrist. "I've never seen you wear jewelry before either, and here you are wearing earrings and a bracelet." The girl blinked, face scrunching up in confusion before those icy eyes turned accusatory. "Hey, are those my earrings?"
Yang smiled weakly, and shrugged once again before letting out a laugh. She removed Weiss' clip-on earrings and handed them to her. "Guilty."
Weiss harrumphed, and in an instant her line of thought had been derailed. Blake was next to speak, and leave it to Little Miss Perceptive to point out that the bracelet did not belong to Weiss.
"And where did you get that?" she asked, gesturing to the silver around Yang's wrist.
Yang's left hand moved to toy with the charms, another nervous habit she realized she'd picked up since putting it on. "It's… from Jaune," she admitted.
Another hum from Blake. Weiss was still staring daggers at the blonde. The latter may have been judging her for her secret borrowing, but Blake on the other hand…
"It's okay, I got something for him too," Yang quickly followed up. "I got him a pendant necklace."
Blake's eyebrows rose at the confession. "So you're exchanging gifts now? Jewelry?"
When she put it like that it didn't sound nearly as innocent as it was. "I mean, it's no big deal…"
"Exchanging jewelry is always a big deal!" Weiss exclaimed. "Do you know how happy I would be if Neptune gave me a bracelet?"
Based on her excitement, Yang could imagine it would mean a great deal to her. As much as she'd just downplayed the exchange herself, Yang would admit that it did indeed feel really nice to receive such a gift from a boy.
"I mean, it's still not real…" Yang argued. "None of this was."
"Oh don't give me that!" Weiss snapped.
The outburst surprised Yang, and she stared at Weiss in confusion. "What?"
"Oh I don't know if I like him or not! It wasn't real!" the heiress echoed almost mockingly. At least the tone of voice attempting to mimic Yang's own suggested as much. "I'll just go out on dates with him, meet his family, go to the beach, go shopping, buy him gifts, and literally sleep in the same bed next to him!" Weiss' gaze hardened, indicating an end to her performance. "Listen to yourself, Yang. Speaking as someone who's been your teammate for the better part of a year, I've never heard you be so indecisive. Especially about something as obvious as this. Of course you like him!"
How could Weiss be so certain when Yang herself wasn't? Was it just one of those things where an outsider looking in had a better perspective than the one going through it? Was Yang's own judgment compromised and biased? Was it really that easy?
"It's not that simple," Blake interjected, ruining the confidence Weiss had just pumped into her. Yang's focus turned to her partner now, and she was ready for the cold and calculated logic of her best friend. "Yang, ask yourself this. Do you like Jaune, or do you like his family? Or maybe, do you like just being with someone?"
What was this, one of Dr. Oobleck's quizzes? Why was Blake asking such hard questions that she had no idea of the answer? Another shrug of her shoulders spoke volumes, yet she spoke nonetheless. "I don't know. Does it have to be only one of the three?"
Blake shook her head. "No, but it's important to figure out whether you like being with Jaune because you have feelings for him, or because you like the fantasy world you two created together."
A fantasy world. That was a good description of it. Yang truly was living a fantasy right now. One with the perfect boyfriend. The perfect in-laws. The perfect dates. Everything about it up to this point had been perfect. Even the flaws. Yang found the perfect humor in her little kerfuffle at the beach where a stranger thought she was propositioning her to a threesome. Waking up cuddling with Jaune had been the perfect awkward moment shared between the two. Everything they'd done together so far had indeed been perfect.
"Well what if I can make fantasy into reality?" she asked.
"Relationships aren't like that," Blake countered. "Real ones at least. Not every day is some great time together where it's all sunshine and rainbows. What about the boring parts? What happens when there's a disagreement or a fight? Or you want different things? Will you still like spending time with Jaune when Saphron and Terra aren't here? What if he wants to settle down with kids while you want to be a huntress always looking for some new adventure? Will you act the same way with him when it isn't a fake fantasy just for show?"
Leave it to the Broody Blake to be an absolute downer, but at the same time she was a necessary one. Blake was asking the important and hard-hitting questions. Questions Yang would have rather ignored and kept on living her perfect fantasy. She knew that real relationships weren't like fairy tales, and not everyone got a happily ever after. Sadly even Yang's perfect fantasy wouldn't get one of those. Come tomorrow it would all be over. She was a princess who would not be rescued in the end.
Then her thoughts turned to today. A day in which she hadn't spent time with Saphron and Terra until the very end of it. Today had just been her and Jaune. Today had been them giggling like idiots stuffing themselves with pancakes and waffles. Today had been them rock wall climbing and him intentionally falling into her arms just to make her smile. Today had been shopping and receiving unexpected gifts from each other not for any special occasion, but because they genuinely enjoyed and appreciated one another. The fake in-laws hadn't been there and she'd still had a great time. Today had been all about them, not Jaune's family.
Yang frowned, staring at her lap and the arms which rested atop it. Her eyes always came back to the shiny bracelet which adorned her right wrist. "I mean, I don't not like the guy," she admitted softly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not head over heels in love with him or anything. That'd be stupid. But I do like him. He's a really good person. I have a lot of fun when I'm with him, even when his sister isn't around. And with that haircut… he's actually pretty hot now."
Was it wrong that she was a bit shallow and materialistic? After all, what person her age wasn't? People may have had beautiful insides and all that, but outer beauty mattered as well. She wouldn't have spent so much time caring for her hair if it didn't. Now Jaune had nice hair too. So what if she found him more attractive now than she had this morning? Sue her! She had wants and needs too!
"I mean…" she continued when no one said a thing after that last little admittedly shocking bit. "When I'm with them, with Jaune, I'm not a huntress anymore. I don't have those responsibilities. And as awful as it sounds, I'm not the big sister who has to look out for someone. I'm just... a teenage girl. A girl with a boyfriend. And we have fun together like normal people. I know you're going to say that I chose this life, and I did, but... is it wrong to want to have something normal too?"
It didn't even have to be completely normal. Her parents had been huntsmen too. Who was to say that she couldn't have something like they did? Taiyang and Summer had been friends and teammates before getting together, and they'd forged a wonderful relationship and started a family before her tragic disappearance. She and Jaune, if she so desired, could absolutely make it work even if they were both huntsmen. Or just one of them. Her career didn't have to be a deal breaker.
"So do something about it," Weiss pressed, being the voice of encouragement in this. "The Yang I know doesn't dither and dally. If you want Jaune, go after him."
As much as she enjoyed being decisively told what to do, Blake's questions still echoed in the back of her mind. "But what if-"
Weiss held up a hand to halt Yang's words. "No buts! If you don't then you'll spend the next three months moping about what could have been, and I'm not dealing with that. I know I'm probably the last person who should be involved in Jaune Arc's love life, but if you feel something for him then you owe it to yourself to explore it. If it doesn't work out then at least you can say you tried. That's the Yang I know. The one who goes for what she wants and takes it by the throat."
The throat. Or in the case of a certain club owner, the balls. Yang was indeed all about action and decisiveness. So why was she so indecisive about this? Really, what could go wrong? If there were boring and bad parts like Blake suggested then she would cross that bridge when she got there. It wasn't like that risk was exclusive to Jaune, right? Any future partner she chose would come with the risk of things not working out. Any and all relationships came with problems. That didn't mean it wasn't worth trying, right?
Yang nodded appreciatively, a smile creeping up on her lips. "Thanks," she offered graciously. "Both of you. I really needed this. I needed to hear all of this stuff. I couldn't have done it on my own."
Blake nodded back at her wordlessly. Weiss offered a surprisingly warm smile in return. "Of course. That's what friends are for."
Yang was truly blessed to have the greatest friends in the world.
The only questions which remained now were how she would go about pursuing this. What would she do? How would she do it? Perhaps most importantly, when would she do it? Tomorrow was the final day of their act, and after it was all over things might get tricky.
Jaune had barely had time to blurt out the explanation of where he'd been last night and all day today before there was a pounding on the door. Being the only one standing aside from a hyperactive Nora who'd just got done prodding him in the chest with a very pointy finger, Jaune turned and pulled it open to reveal an upset and pouty Ruby on the other side.
"Ruby?" he questioned, barely having time to register the girl grabbing him by the front of the shirt and pulling him outside.
"I have to borrow your leader for a minute," she squawked to his teammates, not bothering to wait for a response before she started dragging him down the hall.
Jaune didn't have time to protest, and his legs began unconsciously moving to follow the pint-sized leader of Team RWBY. Down the hall they went, to where he could not say. All he knew was that Ruby seemed upset by something, and it was time to find out exactly what was going on.
"Ruby!" he protested. "What's going on? Where are we going?"
The girl released her hold on him, and she turned around to reveal a face filled with adorable anger and contemptuous cuteness. "I got kicked out of my own room!" she snarled. "Me! Ruby! The 'R' in Team RWBY! Kicked out! By my own sister no less!"
Well that explained that. It also gave some reason as to why she'd come over to his room and dragged him out of it. She wanted to vent to someone, and apparently no one in her room was an option. He wondered just what was going on over there if Yang had decided to kick her own sister out.
"Okay… but why?" he asked.
The girl threw her arms up in the arm. "I don't know!" Her gaze on him hardened, and a silver-eyed glare akin to that of a mythical gorgon gave him chills as she stared up at him. "But you, mister, are going to tell me."
She poked him in his already sore chest to emphasize the words, and without his breastplate it was like being stabbed by a very angry and very pouty dagger. Ruby, for all her strength and skill, was still hilariously cute when she was upset. He was sure that he wouldn't have thought so if she was on the opposing side on a battlefield, but here and now there was no getting over the fact that his first friend at Beacon Academy was adorably unthreatening in this moment here and now.
Jaune put his hands up defensively in hopes of blocking more finger stabs should they come his way. "Why would I know?"
"Because you were with her, weren't you?" she pointed accusingly. "Out all night. Never came home. Vague texts from Yang about… about… staying at some hotel! So where were you all day today? What were you doing? The teachers were all pretty mad you were gone. Especially Professor Goodwitch. You'd better believe you've both got detention starting tomorrow!"
Of that he had no doubt. Had it been worth it though? Totally. Jaune had a great time with Yang today. He'd had a great time with her all week. It was just a shame that starting tomorrow life would be back to normal. Despite the fact that no one else even knew of their little secret, he would once more be single when Saphron and Terra left for home.
He would miss being Yang's boyfriend. He would miss all the things they did together. He would miss feeling… wanted.
"It's… complicated," he offered in his defense.
"Complicated?" she echoed. "Nuh uh! I've had it up to here with all these secrets," she said, holding a hand above her head, yet amusingly still only at chin level for Jaune. "It's one thing for Yang to keep secrets from her little sister, but you, Jaune? My BBFF? No more! You're going to tell me what's going on, and you're going to tell me the truth!" Ruby stared up at him with intense silver eyes and an even more intense pout on her lips. "And I'll know if you're lying! I've got… got… great lie detection radar!"
He knew that she'd been following him and Yang trying to discover what they were doing in their free time. Now Ruby had even been kicked out of her room for some reason. Maybe she did deserve to know the truth. Maybe she didn't. Or maybe, just maybe, Ruby would be able to provide some kind of insight into Yang's mind which he didn't know about. Insight which could maybe give him a chance to realize something which had snuck up on him quickly, and over the past couple of days had begun burning hotter than the sun in the middle of July.
Jaune had fallen for Yang. It was only supposed to have been an act, but how could a guy not feel something for a girl like her after all they'd been through?
The charm bracelet had been about more than mere memories. He hoped that on some level that it might make her think about him in the same way he was thinking about her. Even if he said nothing about it, maybe she would look at him in a different light beyond mere friendship.
They were far away from their respective rooms, but Jaune led Ruby into the stairwell of the dormitory building for extra privacy. What he was about to say was not for prying ears.
Taking a deep breath, he looked his friend in the eyes. "Do you promise to keep this a secret?"
Ruby nodded and ran a finger and thumb across her lips for extra emphasis in her ability to keep his confession a secret.
With that done Jaune gathered up his wits to try and explain this as plainly and concisely as possible. In the end all he could come up with was the lamest and most juvenile way possible to express his feelings.
"Well you see, the thing is… I kind of… like Yang. Like… like-like her…"
Her face was blank for a handful of seconds, but slowly, like the plodding movement of the minute hand of a clock, her lips curled upward. A full, toothy grin erupted shortly after, and mirrored eyes which had been filled to the brim with anger and spite were now wide with glee and wonder.
Ruby's hands squeezed shut in tight fists, and her slipper-clad feet jumped up and down excitedly. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!" she squealed with delight. "My sister and my BBFF? This is incredible! This is amazing! This… is… so awesome!"
Her reaction was the best possible one that Jaune could have hoped for. He was glad to have brought her to a secluded area, or else the entire floor of the dormitory would now know that he had feelings for Yang.
Jaune held his hands up to placate her. It wasn't really what she was thinking, after all. "Wait, we're not actually dating," he clarified. "Not at all. We were only like, fake dating to impress my sister."
"Your sister?" Ruby gushed excitedly. "When do I get to meet her!"
He had no idea Ruby might even be interested in that sort of thing. He shrugged casually, not exactly knowing how to answer that. "I don't know. She's leaving to go back to Argus tomorrow."
"Argus!" she echoed again. "But that's like a bajillion miles away! When will I get another chance to meet her?"
Should he bring her along tomorrow when he and Yang saw his family off tomorrow? Ruby would probably never forgive him if he brought Yang and not her. It was a decision he'd sleep on, but ultimately probably already knew the answer to.
"I don't know," he answered honestly.
Ruby's hands came up as if silencing a crowd, and she took a deep breath. "It's okay, calm down, Ruby," she told herself. "Calm down. Focus on the task at hand. My sister." Her eyes came up to meet his. "And Jaune. Totally in love!"
The words sent shockwaves down his spine. Ruby was getting way ahead of herself here. "Now hold on, that's definitely not the case," he protested. "I mean, I have a… a thing for her, but it's only one-sided."
She shook her head back and forth. "Nuh uh. It all makes total sense now."
Jaune squinted. "Total sense?"
"Yes! I mean, come on. All the alone time together. The food stuff in the cafeteria. Bragging about how she was going on dates." Her fingers steepled together like she was an evil mastermind. "It's all coming together now. Yang was always like, super happy whenever she came back to our room after being out with you. You can't fake how she was acting when she was alone with us. She's got it bad, Jaune. Really bad."
Those words made his heart flutter and put an ember of hope in his heart, but still, he didn't want to put too much stock into what Ruby was saying. Sister or not, there was no way she could determine Yang's own feelings for him by just observing. Right?
"I don't know…" he offered weakly. After all, how could a guy like him believe that a girl like Yang would fall for him?
"Well I do!" she insisted. "You, Jaune," she said with another sharp stab of her finger. "Are a catch. I mean, look at you. Tall. Hunky. Especially after all the training you've been doing."
Well, he was in pretty good shape now. Good enough to rock a dress at the dance and show off all those upper body muscles. Not to mention his legs.
"Aaaaand," she continued. "Super nice too. I mean look at some of the other guys in our year. Ren? Kinda dull. No offense."
Jaune took none. Ren was the quiet, and if he was being honest, a little bit boring one. That didn't stop him from loving the guy like the brother he'd never had though.
"Team CRDL? Jerks. Neptune? Total playboy. Sun? Kiiiiind of a simp for Blake. Like how you used to be for Weiss."
The words stung, but they were truthful. He had had a totally unrequited crush on Weiss. His only worry now was that he was just repeating those feelings, this time for Yang. He was determined to not let things go that far. If he ever decided to confess to her and she turned him down, that would be the end of it. He wouldn't go making a fool of himself like he had for Weiss.
"But if you're taking Yang out on dates, and she's meeting your family, and you're like… staying out all night together sharing hotel rooms, that's a pretty big deal. Take it from me, Yang's not the type to let just anybody in. She doesn't get attached too easily. It's, um, it's complicated too, like you said." Ruby's expression and tone changed with those words, and the air around them became more somber. "So if she went all in with you and your sister, I'd take that as a great sign."
One of the reasons he'd told Ruby was in hopes of getting some insight from her. If there was anyone who would know the ins and outs of Yang, it was her sister. So for Ruby to say that this was a great sign, he had no choice to believe her. Right?
He smiled softly, glancing down to the floor. "That'd be nice," he admitted before looking back up at her. "I hope you're right."
"Oh I'm definitely right," she stated with the utmost confidence. "Trust me, Jaune. You came to the right person about your feelings. I, Ruby Rose, am the ultimate wingwoman when it comes to Yang. That sunny little dragon's got the hots for you, and I'm going to make sure she realizes it."
Should he really enlist her aid here like that? Or should he just let things play out naturally without interference? Jaune wasn't sure, even if it seemed like Ruby was.
"And in return, you've gotta introduce me to your sister," she stated with a smug smile. "So, tomorrow. What time are we leaving?"
It seemed as though she'd made up her mind about that. How could he say no to his best friend wanting to meet his sister?
"After school I guess," he replied. "And after detention of course…"
Ruby beamed with delight. "Great! I can't wait." She grinned happily, hands on her cheeks as she swayed back and forth like a feather dancing in the breeze. "Sister, sister, sister, I can't believe I'm gonna meet your sister!"
Jaune smiled at her innocent glee. Seeing such a reaction from the girl, how could he not allow Ruby to meet Saphron and Terra? Even if he got nothing in return for it, he would be doing such a good deed by bringing her along. It would make Ruby's day. Her entire week most likely. If nothing else that would be worth the price of admission.
And if Ruby had any sort of insight or knowledge as to Yang's feelings for him? Well, that was just the icing on the cake.
Author's Note: Yay for long chapters. Longest one yet. We're almost at the finish line.
So Jaune has his volume 7-8 haircut here. In-universe I'm sure it's supposed to look good, even though the animation for it is kind of lacking. A lot of artists out there have made it look good, so when picturing it use fan art as a reference rather than the show.
For more Dragonslayer goodness, this time of the NSFW variety, check out my latest one shot, Breast in Show.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.