Chapter 8: The preparations that are made.

Another wonderful chapter for you wonderful people who leave a review. More stuff! It starts with a Yang...


It was a slow moment, seated on the couch and watching Weiss and Ruby interact. With Summer currently bustling in the kitchen, humming something loudly in the background, his gaze rested on Ruby, who was animatedly chatting with Weiss.

Weiss didn't know, or at least, didn't fully know. That was good. It wouldn't be nice if Weiss knew. They'd make fun of him. It had been… tough. Cinder had said that it would be and he believed her.

"Jaune, think I can borrow you for a bit?"

The question came from Yang, and he rose. She was a bit shorter than him and probably a little bit less able to get some of the bigger things. He wasn't the handiest around the house, but he could reach many things.

"Sure."

He liked helping. Yang was friendly, if you didn't annoy her. Blake looked at him with a look, her eyes perhaps a little angry? She had kissed him, after all. Did that mean that she was angry or that she was upset?

'Is Yang going to blame me for kissing Blake?'

Miss Salem had said that girls acted weird sometimes, but that it was completely understandable in some situations. The sessions had been discontinued due to the summer holidays, the woman's pale hair and face having been quietly hopeful the last time that she'd seen him.

Following Yang to the shed, he was aware that Summer's car had been freshly washed, the paint on it glistening, Yang leaning against the car without a care. "About what Blake did… I'm sorry." The apology was usual for people. People always were sorry, but that didn't mean that they always mean things.

"Everyone lies, Jaune… Everyone, except me. You can trust me, right? We're friends… Now… Close your eyes..."

"It's okay." He said with a smile. Yang's face seemed to go strange, as she turned her head away. "She didn't hurt me."

"No, she… She…"

Yang sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair. "She's such a willful girl, I occasionally wonder whether she'll run away from me. We've been through a lot and… Well…" There was a look in her eyes that he'd seen in Summer's as well. "She shouldn't have kissed you. It's a… pheromone thing, or something."

He could understand that. It was something like cats would do. "She can't help it. I don't mind, really."

"You can't help who you are, Jaune. Now… Don't you fucking CRY, Jaune… Men don't cry, isn't that what they've always… Oh… Here, let me help you up."

"You… You should. It's not… It's not okay. She said that she kissed you."

There was some emotion in her voice that showed her hurting, her pain. It was a rough emotion that he understood well. Everything was pain for the people around him, because he didn't understand them.

"She was passionate. Ruby doesn't quite kiss like that."

He would have continued to mention Summer, but the look in Yang's eyes changed.

"She told me that she feels for you… and I'm… Don't hurt my little sister, Jaune. I know you don't mean to, but…"

The resignation on Yang's face was real, letting him see the face that she kept hidden from the world whenever she was out and about.

"She's with Weiss." That was the fact. "I was nothing but some entertainment for her. That's logical."

'Who would ever look at me like that? She was right, after all.'

Yang's face looked conflicted. "It's not… You're a good guy, but… I mean, no disrespect to you but…" It was a dismissal. He knew that. "She's always been the quiet girl and Weiss…"

Saphron had explained to him very simply. If you were a lesbian, you didn't like men. That's what it was, after all. Lesbian. Homosexual. Liking the same gender, sexually and emotionally. Yang was probably interested in both, but there had been no clue.

"I just want her to be happy. Mom is… She's a bit better when you come around too. I think she misses being in contact with dad. When my mom left..."

Summer gave nice hugs and looked a little happier when he did. "I saw your father yesterday. He was there with Mister Branwen." The look on Yang's face brightened a little at the mention.

"How was his wife? She's usually a nervous wreck because I look so good and she can't handle Ruby well... I always have to mind Ruby when she's around."

That sounded reasonable. His sisters occasionally had tried to interact with him. Saphron was best, because she didn't judge.

"She looked a little nervous. I returned Mister Branwen's phone, though your father's name was on it."

It had confused him a little. Yang shrugged. It seemed that it wasn't something to be really concerned about, or at the least, not something that Yang would be concerned about.

"They do that, I guess. Old people do that."

The melancholic look settled on her features again, as Yang gave a bittersweet smile. "So... What's so special about the kissing?"

He shrugged. He didn't really know that. Summer kissed the best. She was warm and understanding and she got him in ways that he didn't imagine. "Maybe it's a thing with women?" He suggested, as Yang rolled her shoulder lightly, a soft sigh coming from her lips.

"Maybe. I don't want you thinking that it means anything, but I am a bit curious now." He looked unsurprised. If she wanted a kiss, he could kiss.

"Do you want to kiss?"

He asked. Asking was polite and it showed your intent clearly. Summer needed a kiss sometimes when she was sad. Yang gave him one of the looks that came standard to her, as she put a hand on her hip. His eyes noticed that her chest did a little wobble.

"Well, since my Blake's been abuzz... Don't mind if I do."

She got into his personal space immediately, her eyes looking into his, a smirk on her face, as her lips came closer. Imitating what Summer and he had done, his arm wrapped around her, a soft squeaking sound coming from her, as he kissed her straight on the lips.

She pushed against him, the kiss broken after an instant, her eyes looking at him with a look. "Woah... That's some passion there, robot boy..." He frowned. That nickname he didn't like. Vomit boy wasn't nice either.

"Can't say that Blake was wrong though... That's some energy you've got there... and you can let go of me now, by the way." His hand hadn't left her back, the grin on Yang's face easier.

"My... I do remember making an offer..."

He frowned. Summer had said that she'd wanted to have sex with him. He trusted Summer more than he trusted Yang. She'd fooled him once, and he wouldn't be fooled twice.

"How do I know you're sincere?"

He inquired, his eyes meeting hers with that same stare that Blake apparently found irresistible. Yang's lip curled up slightly, as she leaned against him.

"Simple, if I win... You get to watch this gorgeous body from a distance... And if you win, you get to join in." The smirk on her face was a little off, as she let her eyes roll over his body, like a slow waltzing pace. "Blakey's been in a mood... So I guess I better indulge her." There was something in Yang's tone, a fear that she didn't voice.

"I'm not doing this for Blake." He said, as he watched Yang's expression. "Your mom got mad at Blake for kissing me."

Yang winced. "She... didn't tell me that." The girl had lied to her partner and lover, so it would stand to reason that it wouldn't be a good match. Liars were the worst.

You could never tell whether someone told the truth, once they had been caught in a lie. There was just such dishonesty...

"She lied to you, Jaune. I am sorry for partnering you with her. I just wanted you to be safe, not... that. That was wrong, Jaune. Very wrong."

Miss Salem had been honest. She'd been able to understand him, at least somewhat. It hadn't been nice. Cinder had told the truth as well. Truth always hurt.

"It's okay. I don't have to interfere with your relationship. It's water under the bridge."

Yang looked sad now, as if he'd said something wrong. She bit her lower lip and then turned herself away, just as everyone else did.

"It's... How do I explain this... It's not okay. She's a great girl but... but it's been tough since Adam beat her into the hospital for her to trust me. That she's fond of you... That's great." She sounded as if she wanted to say something more, yet her eyes looked so sad.

So he turned her head and kissed her. She trembled a little after his lips parted from hers, as she looked at him, her eyes downcast. "Feel better." He said, trying for a smile. There was a look on her face that was just as lost as her mom's.

"It's not... It's not like that. It's... Jaune, you simple little moron."

The smile on her lips was enough, as she went for a hug. It felt nice, being hugged by her. "Don't kiss girls on the lips where a cheek kiss would do, you silly." He wanted to argue that he wasn't a simple person or silly, but she was already in motion.

"No, I mean... You're going to play a game with me. If I win, you get to watch. Blake kicks on your gaze, so I'm not going to deny her... I mean, most guys like girls fooling around, don't they?"

He shrugged. He didn't much know about that. Lesbian sex involved a lot of screaming of 'oh yeah' and Saphron being all excited. The walls were rather thin, after all.

"And... Well, we're not against guys... I guess we can fit in some head for you... Wouldn't you like to be one of the first guys to get the Xiao-Long Dong experience, huh?"

Her grin was cheeky, yet those eyes were still cautious. She was a good friend though. She cared for his friend, which made her a good person, just like Blake and Weiss and Ruby.

"Do you have experience?"

He asked, as a curiosity. She blanched. That much clued him in as to whether it had been the truth or not. Her mother was much more honest, he thought. Summer didn't lie.

"Nothing that some hands-on stuff won't fix, Jaune. I'll have your dick polished to a fine shine, yep!"

She was exaggerating. It was visible in the nervous twitch that was in her eyes. She was afraid of something, he could tell. He hugged her. She stiffened.

"You don't have to." He told her. She didn't have to. Nobody had to. Nobody would want to. Summer was teaching him how to be a good man for her daughters. Summer was right. Yang and Ruby might be hurt.

"I'm..." The blonde in his embrace stiffened some more. "I'm just trying to..."

She felt a little like Summer. "You don't have to. It's okay." A bittersweet smile came to her lips.

"Y'know, that's the kindest thing a guy's said to me today." Logic dictated him to point it out.

"I am the first guy that you've seen today." That was the truth. She grinned, as her mood seemed to lift.

"Yep, and I know you'll keep your hands off my sister too. Little miss Schnee seems in a huff." He nodded. Weiss certainly was someone who didn't mince her words, even if Ruby didn't notice.

"She's a lesbian. She doesn't like men." Yang grinned, poking his side. He noticed that he was still hugging her.

"More men for me... So, lover-boy... Are we going to be hugging here for a while or are we going to have like hot wild monkey sex on the car hood?" There was a soft teasing to her tone, one of her major tells that she wasn't fully serious.

"Be sure to use a condom... I have no aspirations of becoming a grandmother yet." Summer's tone was light as she seemed to be located behind him, Yang stiffening a little as she heard her mom speak up.

"Hey, I've got to get the goods whilst I can get them, right?" She sounded nervous, her eyes looking everywhere but at him. A hand squeezed his butt.

"This fine butt won't lie, but you've got to stop lying, Yang."

He moved away from Yang, rubbing his bottom, a smile on Summer's face. It was clear to him that Summer was just teasing him. That pinch had hurt a little, but Summer seemed to be happier now.

"Alright, alright... I was just teasing you, Jaune."

She admitted, an easier smile on her lips now that she had admitted it to him. It was nothing too important, he knew, something that would need repeating every once in a while... But it wasn't too bad.

"It's okay. I'm used to it."

Yang didn't smile as he said that, as Summer tapped his shoulder. He looked at her.

"Lunch is done, honeys... You will take a shower before bed, Yang Xiao-Long."

The words were there to caution the blonde, who looked at her mother with a spark of impishness in her eyes.

"With or without the hot blonde hunk, huh?"

Yang was far more teasing than usual, probably because she'd just been kissed. Summer acted a little livelier when he kissed her, and he liked that in her.

"Preferably after he's done with his shower, yes... He'll be staying over tonight, remember?" Summer took the tease in stride, as her eyes looked at her daughter with the gaze that his mother occasionally gave to one of his sisters when she'd been bad.

"Sure thing, mom... Spoil my fun, will you?"

Yang pulled away, and Summer watched her as she left, looking at him with her silver-eyed gaze.

"If I wanted to spoil your fun, I'd have put you in a chastity belt, Yang."

Summer said, Yang's snort of amused laughter enough to say that she'd not taken the comment to heart. Summer shook her head, slight amusement in her expression.

"She didn't do anything bad to you, did she?"

There was a hint of concern in her voice. He trusted her. She looked at him without scorn of thoughts that didn't fit.

"No. She was a bit concerned about Blake. She wants to play a game and if I win, I can do stuff with the two of them." It was honesty, honesty to the very core, which drove him.

Summer's expression didn't change. There was no look of relief on her face that her daughter was taking an initiative, only a dull look. "Is that... wrong?" He ventured to guess aloud. Summer's eyes seemed to find him once more, a smile on her face that looked closer to a grimace.

"No, sweetie... No, that's okay. That's... That's..." She turned away. She inhaled sharply and then exhaled.

"It's fine. Make her happy too."

She wasn't happy. He could see it from the way that she stood. He knew it, and he touched her side. She turned around, a flash of silver, and she pressed him against the car, her lips against him, her hands clawing at his shirt.

The passion exploded, and then dimmed, as horror filled her eyes. She broke the kiss, looking at her hands, shaking and quivering for a few seconds. He looked at her. "Summer?" She flinched away, as if struck. Those eyes looked at him and a strangled noise came from her throat.

"I... I should check up on the girls."

There was something of desperation laced through her voice, as he took a step, but she nearly bolted. He wondered about whether it was him.

He'd done something bad again. Just like always. She'd ran, because he was a freak.


He sat down, his face blank once more of the emotions that he felt. Summer didn't meet his eyes, busy with cutting Ruby's food into little squares, shoving the plate to her daughter whilst Yang and Blake were busy talking, Ruby's enthusiastic recital of something that she'd watched uninterrupted by Weiss, who merely looked at him with that hooded gaze.

Summer looked at him, before she pulled back. An odd look was in her eyes, as if she wanted to say something. "... make the best out of the best, of course. I'm not going to go like Blake and say 'that's so booooring...'" Ruby continued on, Weiss turning her gaze to her girlfriend once more and smiling.

It was a genuine smile, a smile that she loved Ruby, something that she would never do for him. She was in love with Ruby, not with him. "I liked it, you know... I just thought that the dance part was boring." Blake commented, looking at Ruby with those eyes that were a little distant. Her eyes met his and she looked down. Yang squeezed her girlfriend's side, making the Faunus hiss. "Yang!"

"What? Caught the eye of a cute boy, huh?"

The teasing was on, as Weiss made a disgusted sound. Ruby just continued on, undisturbed by the comment, Blake looking at her girlfriend and making a foul face.

"Not. A. Word, Yang."

The blonde winked at him, as she draped her arms around her girlfriend, pulling her close.

"Blakey here's got a love for blondes, Jaune... Care to give her a spin in the bedroom, really bang that cat till she meows?"

The crudeness was understandable, even as he pressed his lips together. He could see that she was just trying to get Blake riled up. Her offer hadn't been serious, he knew. Why would she offer something like that?

"Yang! No! Stop!"

He looked at Yang and looked her in the eyes. Lavender-lilac coloured eyes looked back at him with a challenge in them, as if it were a gaze that he had to meet.

Golden eyes stared at him, as he smelled the cigarettes that she preferred, the feeling of her fingers sliding over his skin, her voice a breathy whisper in his ear, even as she pressed him down.

"Who would care for you, Jaune... Nobody. Once your parents die and your sisters marry off... It'll be you alone."

He noticed that she'd moved her gaze away and that his hand was gripping his thigh really tightly. "Well... Someone likes what he sees."Yang tried to make light of it, but she seemed unnerved. He probably did something wrong, undoubtedly. It was true what she'd said, after all.

"Do you want a sandwich, Jaune?"

Summer asked, her voice soft as she spoke, holding out a sandwich that'd been worked on. It hadn't been cut into little slices for him to munch on, a smile given to her.

"So, what's on the agenda for tonight, girls? Some romantic movie?"

She asked, as Ruby stopped talking and excitedly made a few suggestions. He smiled at her. Ruby liked movies. Weiss looked at him with a look that said that she didn't approve of his look.

"Maybe something a bit action-comedy? Mister strongman over there looks like he'd enjoy a buddy cop movie."

Those types of movies were alright. The jokes didn't always go over well with people, he found, but it was more or less a thought that he had at times.

"Titanic!"

He blinked once as he heard that title. That was a movie that he'd seen multiple times. His sisters just started crying when the guy drowned. He didn't quite understand why. People died when they stopped to live. He knew that, and they didn't like it when he pointed that out.

"Titanic it is... Any objections, Mister Man of the House?"

Summer's voice sounded amused, as he shook his head. "Splendid! Now... Eat up. That sandwich is going to walk away on its own accord if you don't eat it."

She sounded happier now, as her eyes looked at him with a look that made him feel better.


That evening, they had all gathered around the couch, the movie starting up once Ruby had gotten another bag of microwaved popcorn, Summer nestling herself up against him. She was sat between him and Ruby, her arm wrapped around their shoulders, a smile on her lips as the movie started.

It was soothing in an odd manner as Summer brushed with her fingers over his back, his eyes closing, the low lighting of the living room giving the screen more of a glare than it had been. He let his eyes go around, letting his eyes feast on the people who were there. Yang and Blake were giving each other looks that were definitely not for the people outside of a relationship, the golden eyes of Blake much reminiscent of Cinder's.

He closed his eyes. It was already the case that he knew what was going to be said at every point of the movie. Allowing his mind to wander a little, he pulled Summer just a touch closer. Her hand wrapped a little tighter around him, as she leaned over, her head against his chest.

As the movie proceeded he caught sight of the hands starting to wander. He'd never really paid much attention to the others whilst he had been Weiss-watching, but Weiss was almost regal in her nature, Ruby's hand locked with her girlfriend's, staring at the movie with wide eyes and smiling at some of the scenes. Summer's other hand started to trace little patterns on his chest, before she slowly slid down.

His hand brushed over her head, a soft sigh coming from her lips. He continued to half-watch, every scene perfectly happening as it was supposed to happen, the feeling of Summer's head against his chest enough, the woman having dozed off.

At the final point of the movie, it was a slow groan that drew his attention, Summer's head lifted up and looking at him, one of the prettiest smiles on her face as she mouthed words. She laid her head down again, dozing off once more, her hands gripping him, the woman curling up against him.

It felt right to him. She needed comfort and stability, just as he did. As Yang pushed the lights back up to the full volume, her eyes looked somewhat amused at the sight of her adoptive mother hugging him. "Looks like you've caught a rose, Jaune..." Her grin was broad and amused, her nudge to Blake enough, the Faunus looking at the two of them.

"Yeah, mom sleeps around this time. We've got to be quiet. It is nearly ten, after all..." It was not surprising. Even he kept a good schedule, to see that Summer did the same was just a relief. She was a nice woman, after all. Nice women enjoyed their sleep at the pre-ordained time.

"Do I wake her up?"

He asked Yang, who shrugged.

"Give her a kiss, sleeping beauty always got woken up by a kiss."

Ruby added, and Jaune lightly pulled Summer's head up, giving her lips a gentle kiss.

Summer's eyes opened wide, an emotion in them, before she calmed and pulled herself up. "Hello there, beautiful prince... I guess I'm the princess now, eh?"

The smile on her lips was soft, as she got up. "My, that makes me want to know what you'd do to this sleeping beauty if she didn't wake up, hmmm?"

"Mom, that's gross! He's seventeen!"

Yang's voice cut through Summer and there was a dark emotion in those eyes, as the eyes narrowed.

"So are you, Yang. You're old and wise enough to know when I'm joking, right?"

There was an irritation in the woman's voice, as she got up fully and stretched. "Now... Do we see another movie? Does anyone need another drink?" He didn't mind another movie. Summer looked like she wanted to do some more sleeping. She looked tired, a bit crabby and slightly ill-tempered.

"I'll have some pepsi!"

Ruby said with her enthusiastic little chirp, Weiss giving her a smile that he interpreted as fond and Yang grinned.

"Give us a beer, mom!"

Summer's snort was enough of an answer, but the woman didn't comment on it.

"I'd like some tea, if you don't mind..."

Blake said, her voice soft, her gaze not looking at Summer, clearly distracted by something.

"I'd like some tea as well, Miss Rose."

Weiss' formal tone was soft and he would've called it wonderful before, but it was just soft.

"I'd like a Pepsi as well."

He said, Summer smiling at him as he said, reaching forward to ruffle his hair.

"That's a good boy! Mimicking my daughter!"

Her amusement seemed short-lived, as she fixed Yang with a look. "Select a movie that's nice. Not that weird raunchy stuff that you and Blake were 'watching' together when I came home." Yang flushed.

"Mom! Ruby and Weiss were in bed already, not doing anything different than that!"

There was a story to be told there, he knew. Summer sighed, as she walked off to the pantry to fetch them their drinks, his eyes watching her butt move slowly.

"Sooooo... Got thoughts about my mom, huh?"

He heard Yang say in a teasing tone of voice, as he turned his head to look at her, the big shark-like grin on her face making her look like she'd gotten a role as the shark from Jaws.

"I do not have thoughts about your mother."

He had plans with her mother. They were different from thoughts, he knew. Summer had already said she would do the sex with him. That was a promise. Not a thought. Important distinction.

"Oh, but you were looking."

He looked at her, not quite understanding what was too wrong with that.

"You were offering a threesome with your girlfriend and me too. Should I just not look?"

Blake's eyes looked at Yang and she hissed like a cat on a hot tin roof.

"Yang!"

The cocky grin on Yang's face was a sure sign that she didn't take it too highly.

"What? You said to me that you'd want him to extinguish the fire in your pussy, pussycat... So I figured I'd get some fun out of the deal."

The look of ill-ease and annoyance on Blake's face was there, her cat ears twitching a few times as she took a few deep breaths.

"Yes, but... Your mom caught me and I-"

Yang looked her girlfriend in the eyes.

"Consent, that's important. Saphron always said that everything is consensual, unless your girlfriend wants you to choke her out and make her call you mommy. She didn't like that much, but she said so to big sis." The conversation had stuck with him. Marble hadn't been too happy with that news, especially with Terra calling them 'appetizers'.

"That is important, yes. But that isn't eh..."

Yang turned her head to Blake, who shrugged. "No, I don't think that's going to happen." Blake gave her girlfriend a look, Yang making some sort of facial expression that made no sense to him.

"It's okay."

He knew it well. Nobody would really see him for who he was. Some people did. Most didn't. Even his father did not see him as he was, always trying to get him interested in things that he didn't like.

"S-so... What shall we watch? Any suggestions?" There was a raised hand. Ruby's. "Yes, Ruby?"

"Grease 2!"

He smiled softly. Summer and Ruby both liked Grease. Weiss and Yang looked like they wanted something else.

"If that's okay with you guys?"

He shook his head. He didn't want to watch another Grease movie. "How about the original Ghostbusters?" He suggested. That was always a nice one to watch. The scenes were more interesting.

"Well, someone's going to be busting something later, heh... Sure, we can watch that one." Yang patted his back enthusiastically.

"Behave, Yang..." Blake cautioned, her voice lighter, as she grabbed a hold of Yang's side and gave her a tug away. "You'll turn straight if this keeps up."

"Pffft, as if you'd mind when blondie here keeps looking at you. Who was it who kissed him, eh?"

Blake looked embarrassed if he gauged the reaction right. Weiss looked a touch less comfortable, giving him the evil eye and pulling Ruby closer. Ruby was nosing her girlfriend's cheek. A small stab of something that might be pain went through him. He thought it might be jealousy, but it could just be loss.

He wasn't supposed to feel much. He wasn't supposed to...

He hated cigarettes. She always smoked. She always made sure to smoke when she was around. She'd light one up and then smile, her golden eyes observing him. She never looked nice, like she was supposed to be.

"Aww, can't the little Jaune handle a bit of smoke? Tough luck, boy... It's just one of the things that normal people do... Now... Sit."

"Drink?" Summer's voice called him out of his thoughts, seeing the can in front of him. It was still cool, condensation on its metal surface. "Don't zone out, sweetie... You'll miss the movie." She smiled at him. That was a nice smile.

"Thank you, Summer."

He used her name, as he should. She smiled a little more. She handed the next can to Yang.

"Heineken? Mom! I'm not even 18 yet!"

The mocking laugh from Summer stopped any further complaints.

"As if your girlfriend couldn't get her hands on some beer... Drink up, fire-fly. You wanted beer, you got beer."

The smirk on Summer's lips was broader, as her gaze rested on her daughter, challenging her. Yang smirked, even with the tea being passed to Weiss and Blake, a few cubes of sugar added, as Summer went to the movie player, pulling the movie out and then inserting it into the player, her eyes amused as she got herself on the couch with him, planting herself in his lap, leaning against him.

"I've got my best seat in the house... Right Jaune?"

The smile on her face was teasing, as she leaned against him. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her a touch closer. He saw Ruby smile and giggle, whilst Weiss merely looked sour-faced. Weiss didn't speak to him much. She was too absorbed by Ruby's pace, by the way that Ruby made her smile.

"Now mom... Don't steal our man."

Summer's head turned to fix Yang with a look that he didn't catch. "I mean... Sure. Take your seat." The smile on Summer's face was enough as she hopped off his lap, sitting herself next to him. She was warm, leaning against him with a smile on her face. It made her look pretty.

"Good girl... You're just like your mother, yielding when she was met with the Rose Stare! Super-power, just like that British bear... Yeah." The smile on Summer's face was wonderful, her eyes glowing lightly, as the movie started.

Once it was finished, he watched as Weiss and Ruby got up, Ruby half-asleep already. Weiss had to drag the girl up the stairs with a fond smile. He noticed how she only smiled when she was around Ruby, like the other things in the world did not matter.

'Nobody would smile at me like that... Summer is just doing it for Yang and Ruby.'

"Where does he sleep, mom?"

Yang asked, pointing at him. She looked a little out of it, as Blake looked at him with eyes that seemed never to meet with him. Her girlfriend's teasing was just natural and par the course for Yang, he knew... But it would not be something to dwell on.

"Let me get a blanket for him and set him up on the couch... You two should hop in the shower quickly. I want clean girls in bed, even if you do get dirty later on."

There was a hint of steel in the woman's tone of voice, yet Yang ignored it, giving him a wink. She smirked at him and then licked her lips, noticeably.

"We'll sell you the shower water later, Jaune..."

With another flirtatious wink, she was off, dragging Blake behind her, his face looking a little tenser than before. Summer looked at him with a look, as they were left alone for a bit.

"Did you... did you have fun?" Her voice was softly questioning him, her eyes looking at him.

"I did." She smiled, a radiant smile that looked perhaps a little tender, like her daughter did when she had some sort of difficulty. "Did you sleep well?" Her eyes looked at him with a hint of amusement sparking in their silver depths.

"Of course, darling." The wistful tone was there, as she came closer.

"You should shower before bed... Yang probably will make enough noise to wake the dead if you're a bit loud. Raven's always a naughty bird, isn't she?" There was a warm smile on her lips, as her eyes looked up at him. "I'll get... I'll get the..."

She blinked, a frown coming to her face as if she realized something, before the eyes widened. "I'll get you a blanket. I'm..." She pulled away, her tongue tracing over her lips. She shivered. She didn't feel cold.

"Go and get a shower after Yang... and her girlfriend. She's... She's going to see what a wonderful man you are."

He doubted that, honestly. He wasn't sure whether there would be anything between Yang and him. He was broken, not able to fit in.

As he did as she asked, he waited in front of the bathroom, hearing the soft murmured conversation. Blake opened the door in her Yukata, startled by his sudden appearance. "Summer said that I should take a shower after you two are done." There was something in her eyes that made him feel uneasy. She leaned forward, taking a deep sniff of his scent.

"I won't do anything to you, I swear."

She said, her voice soft. "I'm... I'm sorry. I'm not... I'm not sure." He understood her. She must have been weak for a moment. Men didn't cry. But he wasn't a man. Neither was she.

"It is fine. I make mistakes too."

She looked a little bad. It was not sadness, but something else. Yang looked at him over Blake's shoulder, wearing only a thin nightshirt and the bright yellow bra below it. It suited her, though the thoughts did not come.

"My... Chatting my girlfriend up, you naughty boy? Mama Yang's going to take offence."

He regarded her with a flat stare, as he had been told to give someone. People liked it when you looked them in the eyes.

"The shower's all yours. Don't use my shampoo."

He went for the bottle of men's shampoo that'd stood mostly full on the small side-table, knowing that the fancy german stuff was Weiss' and the rose-petal blush red strawberry-scented shampoo was Ruby's. Blake seemed to use something that was specifically for Faunus hair, or so the label said.

A quick shower, before he stepped down. Mister Xiao-Long's pyjama's had been perfect for him. The man was slightly broader in the shoulders, but they fit him well. He caught sight of something on the floor in front of Summer's room, picking it up.

'Hmm...I think she lost this.'

He held the small thing on his hand, watching Summer stand there, the bed on the couch already made, a nightgown on that exposed most of her body. "Hello there, good-looking..." Her voice was low, as she prowled to him, a southern drawl coming from her lips. Her nipples peaked against her nightgown, the body that was fit and lithe standing there like she was waiting for something, her eyes half-closed in what he assumed to be a seductive manner.

"Coming my way, or are we going to be riding a rodeo together, hmm?"

Her voice was more confident, as her body pressed against him, his hand moving away, in order not to drop it. She pushed him down onto the couch, her hands rubbing over his chest. There was a look in her eyes, even as he noticed their moistness, the look in them hungry, as if she was a fine diner at a restaurant that served just the right steak.

"I'm going to make you feel like a cow that's just been milked, sweetheart... Yee-haw..."

The lighting was dim, even as he held up his hand. He'd better show her, before he would drop it. He didn't like it when things got dirty. Cleanliness was important. Always being clean was important too.

"Summer?"

He asked her softly, her gaze lifting up, her hands already on the pyjama pants, rubbing over the bulge that laid there. She looked at what he had in his hand, the colour draining from her face. She started to shiver and shake, as if she was really cold. He held it a little closer to her face, only to see the eyes fill with tears.

"Did you drop this?"

She nodded. She looked really really sad right now. Kind of when Miss Salem heard about what Cinder had done. He didn't like it when she was sad. He rubbed over her shoulder, trying to make her less sad. Should he hug her? He liked to hug.

"I'm sorry... I just... Can't. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

She whispered softly, her voice breaking lightly before she moved away from him, stumbling back, catching herself and leaving him sat down there, her fingers having snatched the thing out of his hand and then half-bolting to the stairs, turning her head around, mismatched eyes looking at him, a deep wine-red and a bright silver colour meeting his eyes, before she fled. Her steps were graceful, as he knew that he would be alone again.

'Just what a retard deserves.'

He turned off the lights before he crawled into the makeshift bed on the couch.

It had just been a coloured contact lens. She probably had dropped it when she exited her room. Why had she fled?


Well... This is certainly interesting to write. I hope everyone is enjoying the story, even if there's not so much focus on the hot and heavy parts. That'll be coming later.