Chapter 14: D-day
You might notice that some things are alluded to. Some people seem to believe that it is an over-exaggeration of how someone who adheres to a philosophy that is as distasteful as Nazism. Some people can wholeheartedly believe in a cause, to the exclusion of another group of people. Fanatics and zealots are everywhere, even in the kindest of people.
He felt himself wake up, the alarm clock already ringing once, the warm bed sheets giving him little solace as he began to crawl out of them. He knew that Yang would want him to be well-groomed for the exercises that they'd do. He belatedly realized that they said that they'd go on a shopping date, so he figured that it might be different.
He walked to the phone. Calling Yang would be important, and it would be secondary. It was half-past seven, so Yang would be awake. Summer said that every good person rose at the crack of dawn or before, so Yang would undoubtedly be awake already.
He stood there in his underwear at the phone downstairs, waiting for the phone to stop the dialling tone, a tired voice answering it after exactly thirty-one seconds. "Xiao l- ah, no, Rose , yeah, what do you want?"
"Hey there, Mister Xiao-Long, is Yang awake yet?"
He wasn't sure whether she would be, given that Summer wasn't around. If dad was away for something, most of his sisters didn't wake up before noon if they didn't have to do their job or whatever. With dad around, it was 'Breakfast or bust'. Whatever that meant he'd never quite gotten, but Saphron had laughed really loudly as he said it, to some of the other's irritation.
"Yang! It's your blonde stud, calling for you! Ain't you a dear peach, getting a call so early in the morning?"
The man sounded in good spirits, as he shouted for Yang, the time that it took for her to appear being almost a minute and a half.
"Hey Jaune, calling to cancel our hot date?"
He frowned, as he shook his head. Realizing that it wouldn't translate through the phone, he spoke up.
"No. I just wanted to know if we were to go and exercise first. Summer said that a proper routine is important."
Summer had said a lot of things that were important. She had been active and caring. She didn't judge him for being awkward and weird and different. Ruby was nice, just like her mother.
"Ah, no, not today! I've got to look pretty for my cute blonde hunk, after all."
She sounded like she was lying. It wasn't nice to lie to people, but it was what was needed. He was after all, the diversion. Yang loved Blake and Blake loved Yang. That was how it should be. Blake was a little strange to him, but she was a different species so it was perhaps normal.
"I will try my best too. You always do, though."
She coughed, perhaps because she'd swallowed some saliva. He did that too, when he was distracted.
"Thank you."
There was no lie there, as far as he could tell. He tried to go over the little list of things that you did when you spoke to someone on the phone, remembering what Miss Salem had said to him about etiquette and the rules. She had been a good lady, someone who seemed not to bother with the lies. She took the time to explain things, especially when he was struggling a little with some things.
"Do you want me to head to the mall by myself, or will you pick me up?"
Yang's voice didn't come from the phone for a moment as she obviously seemed to think a little about what she was going to do.
It wasn't that long a walk. Only twenty minutes or so. "Do you think you can walk there?" She asked, to which he responded with an affirmative. It might be nice to walk for a bit, to get some exercise in. "Good, then we'll see you there at... say, twelve? Sandy's a late riser."
"Your stepmother isn't that bad... But she's used to working nights, Yang."
Her father commented in the background, the man giving a loud sigh for some reason. The man didn't know that Yang and Blake were together and neither did Sandy. He would help Blake and Yang. That was the right thing to do.
He walked back up the stairs, getting a fresh set of underwear and a new shirt to wear, getting a quick shower. He remembered the dream pretty well. The warm water was turned up a lot more, the steam fogging up the mirror. It had not been a pleasant dream to him, knowing that he was going to suffer the fate as many others had before.
It was the fate of the retard to die by the hands of those who held the power, the pure people who had the power in the world. It was different in Europe, he knew. There was Germany, a big country. Weiss was from Germany.
"Jaune? "
He peered out of the shower, his hair plastered to his face, noticing his youngest sister standing there. "Can you turn the shower heat down a bit, I'm trying to brush my teeth." He nodded, turning it to a better heat. The warmth was less, but he still felt dirty.
"Thank you."
He heard, as she started to brush her teeth after the fogged-up mirror had cleared a little, Jaune brushing the sponge over his body after soaping up a little. It was his own personal little grooming ritual, to get clean. He sort of missed the regular soap that they'd used for a few years, it'd smelled nice.
He hoped that they'd get something like it again. He would've liked to forget that he met Cinder. They hadn't believed him. They hadn't believed him and said that he had lied. He didn't lie, that was not a good thing.
"Hey, Jaune?"
His sister spoke from behind the shower curtain, her voice soft. "Did Miss Rose ever do something like that to you before? Dad was upset."
"No. If she had wanted to kill me, it'd have been over with a snap. She's not very tall, but she is probably stronger than me."
He didn't know that for sure though, but Summer had been stronger than he was, so he could believe it.
"Oh. And you're not... upset?"
She sounded a little sad. He didn't really know what to say aside of a simple "No.". Did it matter that she'd hurt him? No. She'd apologized and once you apologized, things would generally be okay unless the person was still hurt.
"Dad is. Upset, I mean. Mom doesn't know yet, she'd freak."
Mom had not believed him when he said he hadn't done anything to Cinder. Cinder was his friend, but she had said that he had done something really bad to her and mom hadn't believed him. She'd said she had, but she'd never looked at him with those warm mom eyes. His sisters didn't know about much. It didn't concern them.
"Mom always gets in a huff, dad says. She'll calm down. It's nothing important. She apologized."
It wasn't something to bother with. If he died, it'd be another retard out of the world. It was what he deserved after all. He smelt the cigarette smoke again for some reason and his eyes stung a little. He shouldn't have used shampoo. That got in the eyes.
He noticed that he still had the bottle in his hands and frowned. "It's not... I mean, we've had a few bad boyfriends but- Nothing like actual throttling."
He thought back to Blake. She'd had a boyfriend, Adam, and she'd said something about it when she was making him feel great to make herself feel better.
"You shouldn't be hurt by anyone."
He said, some resolve in his voice. "You're my sister. You're supposed to be kept safe." It was something that brothers did for their sisters, dad had said.
Her laugh was a little nervous, as she seemed to deliberate on what to say next. She was thoughtful. He liked that. Not the brash energy of the twins. "That's something that dad would say, Jaune. What do you think?"
"I want you to be happy."
He wanted them all to be happy. He didn't know whether he might need to die to make them happy, so they'd be rid of the burden that was a retard, but it was something that he could do, if it would. He would miss Ruby, but it would be okay. Ruby was smarter than he was, after all.
"Jaune, we want you to be happy too."
She tugged the curtain open a little, looking at him with a serious expression. Her glasses were fogging up a little now, as she looked him in the eyes. "If you're not happy, how do you suppose we'll be happy, huh? You're our little brother, even if you don't wear the dresses anymore."
The dresses didn't fit him anymore. He'd grown too big for them and his sisters had stopped wanting to practice on him. They were his sisters so they had to be loved. You loved your family, that's what everyone said.
"I feel happy when I am around you."
He also felt happy when he was around Ruby and her mother, and Yang. Yang a little more, to his shame, than Ruby. Ruby was... not so great. She was asking questions he didn't feel comfortable with. She was his friend, but she was asking things that he didn't want.
"That's... good."
She paused, looking at him. "So, not going for a run with the Rose clan?" She tried to make a joke, as she did at times, her smile trying to make him feel at ease, or so it'd been explained. People smiled to give a better impression of themselves to others. He smiled weirdly, or so he'd been told.
"No, I will be going to the mall. I should ask dad for some money."
He was going to ask for fifty dollars. That would get him a shirt at least and maybe a new set of jeans. He wanted to look good, so that Yang could be happy with his performance.
"Shopping for a date, Jaune?" Her tone was light and teasing, as she showed some interest in her eyes. "Finally convinced the Schnee girl to bend the knee to your suave charms?"
He shook his head, her eyes glinting with interest. "Ooh! It's Ruby!" Another shake of the head, as he closed his eyes. "Or that girl that's her sister, Ying or whatever."
"Yang." He corrected, her eyes shining a little as she got the same smile on her face as Saphron did when she'd gotten some particularly interesting thing to hear.
"She's in a relationship."
He clarified. His sister's face showed some annoyance with that bit of information, but she seemed to let it go after a moment of pouting.
"So, just the guy to bring along for a critical eye on how things look, aren't you?" She pulled back as he scrubbed over his legs.
"Probably. Her girlfriend is meeting her for something in a few days, I believe."
A soft mumble of 'what a damn pity' came from his sister, though he didn't know why it would be a pity. She couldn't be implying that it'd be him and Yang dating, right? Retards didn't date people who looked that good. It was not allowed.
He towelled off and then got himself ready, getting a pair of easy pants on as he walked down. He'd make sure to look better after breakfast, he felt a little hungry.
"The man of the morning!"
His youngest sister announced, drawing ill-amused sounds from some of his other sisters, his father reading the paper. "So, do you think you can pick me up some foundation of this brand?" The cup was held up, the brand visible upon the top. He'd remember it. The number was easy to remember, EL-13853L-2319. Simple numbers that he could remember.
"Yes. Dad, can I have fifty dollars? I'm going to the mall and want to buy something. I'm going with Ruby's sister."
It was allowance that he got, but rarely asked for an advance. A date cost money, but his father looked up from his paper, as the man looked at him for a while before he nodded.
"Take the girl out for something to eat as well."
The man said, his sister obviously having said something about it. His mother looked at him, or precisely, his neck. He felt a little uncomfortable. The feeling was uneasy to the extreme.
"What's this about a date, Jaune?"
She asked, her voice sounding a little strained. He smiled. Mom was a good person, she was mom, but she didn't believe him very well.
"Ruby's older sister wanted to go clothes shopping, her stepmother is coming as well. She needs a guy's eye on stuff."
It was the best explanation that he could give, knowing that she probably wouldn't believe him if he said that it was a prelude to a date.
She hadn't believed him when he'd told the truth. Dad patted him on the back, even with everything having ended as it was. Dad was nicer, but dad didn't like his unnaturalness.
The bills fit in his wallet, the man's warning not to spend all of it on candy having been heeded. It wouldn't be like when Ruby had suggested an epic candy bonanza. They'd been sick for a day or so. Not worthy for a repeat.
He got a set of comfortable jeans that didn't stick too much under the warmth of the sun on, making sure that his hair was combed well. It would be messy after a bit, but it was the idea, or so he'd been taught. Mom had been a little silent, but her eyes had been on his throat, no doubt wanting to know what had caused them. She hadn't asked, but dad had been given a look that would mean words between mom and dad.
He hadn't minded spending some time with dad when he was younger. The man had taken him fishing, to the range to practice (not that he was super-good with rifles.) and learn how to handle them. He had been a little clumsy, but he'd managed to hit. Dad had been proud, somewhat. He'd said that a man needed to know how to fire a gun, because if you had to fight against spooks you'd need to be prepared.
He had asked whether Halloween would be hunting season for ghosts, which had made his father laugh. It'd been stuff that had made him feel connected, even though dad denied that there was anything wrong with him. He was wrong, but dad didn't see that.
He got to the mall in time, the sun warm and pleasant, not as hot as it had been before, waiting around in the parking lot. He saw the car pull up and Yang park it, Sandy sitting at her side, looking a little irritated. Yang was a bundle of energy, getting out of the car and walking to him with a sway to her hips. The short top that she wore unveiled her stomach, showing the abdomen that'd been trained and muscular. The shorts that she wore showed her legs off and her shoes were an easy yellow and black, some brand that he didn't quite recognize.
"Hello there, good-lookin'... Coming my way?"
He supposed that he should, as he smiled. It was all for her benefit.
"Well, yes. Unless you'd like me to go the other way?"
She shook her head, smiling, her hand grabbing his own. Ruby's hand was lighter and smaller than Yang's, Yang's hand a little rougher from the amount of exercise that she did.
"Of course not, silly. Sandy? Let's get to shopping, shall we?"
Yang was uneasy. She was uneasy and it showed. Every little twitch she made was uneasy, as the forced state of happiness was hard on her. He knew how that would feel. Everyone told him to be happy that he'd had a hot woman, but Cinder had only been a woman who hurt. Not that they'd believe him, though.
"Yes, we should."
Yang leaned against him. She smelled nice. He felt himself squeeze her hand a little harder, her smile a little better.
"Someone's going to get lucky later..."
She purred, a happy purr that wasn't fake. He hoped that she would sound like that more often, as she brushed her lips against his cheek, Sandy looking at the two of them with her own look of slight disapproval behind the smile that she had. He could see it in her eyes.
"I am pretty lucky already. I have a beautiful girl with me."
She smiled, as her cheeks tinted pink. The smile was genuine, he knew. She was a wonderful girl but she'd never be his girl. She was with Blake and that was a good thing. She'd just hurt when she was with him.
"Gosh, Jaune."
Her voice was light as she brushed her fingers over his chest. She was making him feel happier, as she looked at him. It felt right, just like with Summer, as her fingers stroked over him, his smile more genuine. She looked at him and froze up for a moment, just looking at her, her cheeks glowing with redness for a moment.
"That's a really sweet thing to say. I hope dad won't mind if I'm going for a nice copy of him."
Sandy gave a sound as if she disagreed, her eyes not looking so very happy about the comments that Yang was giving. They walked into the mall, the temperature changing from the warmth outside towards the cooler inside, a whole breath of fresh and cool air hitting him, mixed with the smells of sweets and other stuff from the nearby stores, the racks on display having an assortment of sweets.
He remembered about his sister's foundation. He shouldn't forget that. "I need to get some foundation. Can we get some? Amber needs some." Yang smiled at him, a smile that was as sweet as sugar and fake.
"Of course, don't you worry. I should get something nice for myself as well. Gotta look good for my man, don't I? First though... Vicky's Puzzle!"
She was looking good already, he knew. He should comment on it. That was nice.
"You always look good."
He said, her smile broadening a little, her eyes glancing at her stepmother.
"Ooh, I'm going to see whether there's something nice that you'll love, Jaune..." He knew that she was just trying her best to act like the girl her father wanted to see. He didn't want her to be sad. He had made her mother sad, so he hoped that she'd feel better too.
The store was one called Victory's Puzzle, the women on the advertisement sheets looking young and pretty and pretty half-naked. It wasn't really something that he paid much attention to. They were nice, but he had seen people who were much more interesting. Why some guys at school had said something about models and this was just mystifying. Ruby had been subject a few times too of the talk, but he'd said that Ruby was a nice girl that didn't have such a look.
"Now, just take a seat there and I'll be right out..."
Yang pointed to a seat, which he took. It was proper to follow orders of a girl when she took you shopping, his sisters had said. He looked at Sandy, who was shopping for herself it seemed, looking at the bra's that had been on display. He hadn't really paid attention to where Yang had went, but he paid attention to the woman as she looked over the articles of clothing.
She noticed and gave him a queer look, his gaze not turning away. He wondered what she thought, aside from the disgust. "Can you stop staring?" She hissed at him. He nodded, and she marched back over to the bra's. It seemed that she was deliberating on something.
'It's the wrong size for her though. A smaller band would give her more support.'
Shopping with Saphron let you go to places where you would learn about all sorts of interesting things. Female pleasure things and the like, even though many of the women had given him a look that was odd until Saphron had said that he was her little brother and 'different'.
Saphron was one of the best sisters that he had, though they were all great. He hoped that Sandy would try a smaller one. She'd get marks with a bigger bra. Yang was large, eclipsing Sandy. He wondered for a moment whether Yang would mind if he helped Sandy with her bra. It would be nice and the woman would be distracted.
'I guess helping isn't a bad thing.'
He got up and walked over, tapping the woman lightly on the shoulder, to which the woman jolted. "You should go for a smaller band. It would make you get marks if you wear the bigger one. It would fit, but you'd feel the pinch all-day. That's not good for your back"
"What do you know, boy?" He didn't like her tone, frowning. She startled a little from the face he made.
"My big sister is good at this. Get a smaller band and it will fit better. You don't have a large cup size, this is two sizes too big for you." It was just advice, but she looked angry at him.
"I don't need to be lectured by a boy who dates my stepdaughter."
He shrugged. He had just tried to help her and it was not going to be something that he'd get in trouble with over this bit of assistance.
"I just wanted to help."
He knew that he was sick in the head. Everyone said it, everyone thought it. She knew it too, because she was upset with him. He hoped that she got along with Ruby well, because Ruby was a bright girl, a smart girl.
"You don't like me much, do you?"
The woman looked at him with a look, his eyes looking down at her. She was shorter than he was, smaller in frame and delicate. She was someone who looked like they would fall down with a stiff breeze.
"Oh, I don't like to be lectured on stuff that a teenage boy probably knows nothing about."
The answer wasn't what he thought it would be, but the underlying emotion was there. It told him to go away, so he did.
"Oh, okay." He turned and went back to his seat.
Yang emerged, a set of bright red lingerie visible, doing a little pose for him, wagging her eyebrows at him. He reacted immediately, as she arched her back. He felt a little guilty, closing his legs.
"Spread!"
The voice of Cinder made him spread, his eyes looking at Yang, who gave him a soft smile of understanding. Yang understood, probably better than he did, what was going on. She was someone who cared, just like her mother. Ruby didn't really care much about things besides being a good friend, she was smart.
"Like what you see, lover boy?"
Her voice was warm, almost like a pleasant warm shower, leaning forward to show him what she looked like, her breasts captured by the fabric.
'Blake is very lucky.'
"Yes."
He couldn't deny that he had an erection. The sight of her made him feel happy, but he knew that she might kick him if he showed signs of it. Cinder always kicked him if he reacted to her presence. She had been his friend, but friends hurt sometimes.
"Good, I've got a few more waiting for you... One moment."
Her fingers brushed over his cheek, her lips pressing against his cheek in a feather-light kiss. For a moment, he wondered whether he could be the one who would have Yang dress up like this for something like making love. It wasn't possible of course, Yang was a good woman, someone who was great at fighting and being strong.
She emerged after five minutes in a thin-laced black thing, posing. "And this, hmmm? Doesn't it make you feel good, Jaune?" Her voice made him feel good, his smile warm. It felt almost like he was feeling something, but retards didn't love, retards weren't able to love.
"You're more beautiful than your stepmother. She doesn't look as great as you do."
He didn't know why he said that, but comparing Sandy to Yang was like comparing a messy room to an orderly one. It was a simple fact. Comparing the two was easy.
"Don't let her hear that."
Yang mumbled, which he remembered. Sandy wasn't anywhere there, but he could see Yang's look.
"You look really good. It makes me feel good."
He tried to hint, as she looked down, giving a smile at him.
"Good boyfriend."
The kiss to his cheek lasted a little longer, as her lips whispered softly to his ear. "Thank you for coming along. It'd be another day of suffering if you hadn't..." He didn't know what her deal was with Sandy. She was her step-mom and Ruby's step-mom, but it wasn't like she was rude, yet. But he didn't know really what Yang's issue was.
"You smell nice too."
Yang grinned, sauntering back, her rump moving with a sway that had him hypnotized. She was a nice woman, someone that cared a lot for Ruby and her mom. Sandy emerged from one of the changing rooms wearing something a little more conservative, the band size still wrong
'She should have taken my advice...'
He wasn't going to offer it again. He looked away, waiting for Yang to come out again and when she did, he licked his lips. The new set of underwear that she wore was something that made her breasts look even fuller, a corset-like garment that just made her look sexier than before. It was red and black. He just waited, as she stood in front of the mirror. Sandy looked at her with a look that was not friendly.
He'd seen it in some of his sisters' friends. They were not happy with how good his sister looked in comparison to them. When she'd been gone for a moment, they'd started to talk. When he told his sisters, whoever was the one who had the friend, those friends generally didn't come around anymore.
"So stunned to see me that you've gone mute, robot boy?"
Her voice was in his ears as she leaned against him, aware that she'd been getting closer to him again. He reacted again and he felt her lean against him, smiling at her.
"I'd go mute for you if you'd want me to, Yang."
He froze. That hadn't meant to slip out, it had been a thought in his mind, just because she felt good. Yang was with Blake and he shouldn't feel for her what he felt, but she was sensual and arousing, her mother's training for making her girls happy remembered and he felt afraid that she would react, his face showing his shock.
"Hmm, that's a good boy."
Her eyes were understanding and warm, as she kissed his nose. "Mama Yang's got something for you if you behave, Jaune." He hoped that it was forgiveness for having felt something nice. Retards shouldn't feel nice, retards only broke up happy relationships.
"Thank you."
He said, though he knew that he would not be getting anything that was nice like Summer's lessons. He imagined it for a moment, feeling Yang touch him. It would be something wonderful, something magical, but it was for people who were good and alright in the head, not a mistake like him.
"Which one did you like best, Jaune?"
Her voice was like a pleasant lure in his ears, as she stood there. She wasn't the tallest, but he was seated right now. If he had to pick, he'd have to say the black one. Black and white had a good contrast, which he thought would look great on her.
"Black. The colour makes you look like a goddess and it makes your breasts look nice and full."
It was not to be said, but he'd said it. He'd have to punish himself for that slip-up, because retards weren't supposed to think about the pure people. Yang was beautiful.
"Oho, you were looking! Black it is!"
She smiled at him and then looked a little more approachable. "It's okay. I wanted your opinion, you're the boy I date, so I want to know what'd make you feel good. I don't have to buy them." She was deflecting. She knew that she had to play the part of girlfriend and she was trying and he'd failed.
'The black one makes you look wonderful.'
She was too good for him. Blake would love her, even with her Faunus urges. He felt a dash of selfishness, something that he had been told to suppress at all costs, go through him. Retards did not want things, they were told where to go and where to work.
"I like the black one."
He wasn't sure whether it was the right hting to say, but he did it. "The red one makes your hair look a little muted whilst this one just makes you look a little like Cinder." The name slipped from his lips, as Yang nodded, understanding now. Cinder had worn black and red as well, saying that it was the colour of her pure people.
"Let's go for something to eat after this, Jaune."
She said, before she walked into the dressing room again, his eyes glued to her rear. Comparing it to Blake's was actually hard, because Blake had a wonderful set of buttocks, but Yang just made it look easy to strut sensually towards the dressing room.
Twenty minutes later, they were waiting in line, Sandy having picked a spot out already and decided to guard their purchases, the woman busy on her phone, no doubt getting something done. Yang held his arm, her fingers laced with his own. The closeness was good. He didn't feel like he deserved it.
"The best thing about you is your nature, Jaune."
Her voice was soft, as she leaned against him. There were three more people in front of them, her eyes looking at the menu. He knew what he would take. A burger with no cheese and with fries.
"You're someone who can't really see the world as we do yet you're so nice."
He knew that, and she pressed herself a little tighter to him. Her breast touched against his arm, a soft and plump feeling. Warm, comfortable and something that made him feel a tingle. "I'm never going to either. It'll end when I die." He knew that. They would come for him, he knew. Cinder had said so, and they'd start with the weak and the mentally infirm.
They would come to take them all and then put them in the camps. He wondered whether it would be through gunshot or the chamber. He didn't really like to feel pain, so he hoped that it would be through the gun.
"But that'll be a long way to go yet, right?"
She smiled at him. He smiled back at her reflexively, the look in her eyes warm and longing. He wanted her to smile at him like this more, he wanted to feel like she was his girlfriend for real. Summer and Yang both had that look in their eyes that told him that they understood, more than Ruby.
"Who knows? I'm really happy to be Ruby's friend."
He said, knowing that it would probably be misunderstood. Everyone misunderstood. Ruby was not the dull girl people thought she was.
"I'm happy to be your girlfriend as well."
It was an act, he knew. She would have to act, because Yang loved Blake. Her hand squeezed his own, and she smiled at him with that delightful little smile that made him feel almost human in his motivations, almost like he was really just an average young man instead of something that should have been executed by those who knew better than a retard.
"I'm not saying that it's true love, but..."
She looked away, a smile on her lips. "You've shown me something over the past week that I'd ignored, because... things. Blake sees it. You give her a look and she's all passion and fire." She loved Blake. Yang wasn't a girl that would go back on her promises.
"You're wonderful together."
He said, knowing that she might not like the words that he spoke because they were uncomfortable. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, because she was his friend and someone that he liked.
"Hush."
She blushed, looking away and she pulled him closer. His arm was pressed against her breasts, as she leaned up and kissed him. It was a light kiss that made him feel a little breathy, her fingers lacing tighter with his own, as her lips departed from his own.
"You're my boyfriend, don't go thinking about other girls, sweetheart."
She was understanding, indeed. Playing the girlfriend, kissing him and acting shy, it was all like in those movies about dates. The actors would depict shyness and light kisses, whilst getting something. She wouldn't have feelings for him. He would've liked that. He really would've liked that. Retards didn't love, but sometimes women took 'pity' on people like him. Paid pity, doing stuff that no retard should feel. Cinder had told him that well enough, letting him know that it would be something horrible to even get to sleep with a woman.
"Can I... have your order, please?"
Someone called out and Yang gave a soft eep, her head turning around, her smile brighter than before.
"Burger and fries, don't skimp on the ketchup and mayonnaise, and some onion rings, yeah. And for my lovely boyfriend..." She waited for him to speak.
"I would like a burger with no cheese and fries. Oh, and a milkshake with cherry flavour."
He remembered Yang saying that she was more a cherry type of girl when they'd gone out for ice-cream with Summer once, nearly a year ago or so. It had been one of the first times where he'd really felt like he belonged, even with the awkward tension between him and Ruby that had eventually dissolved after the great 'Snickers Debate'.
"My, that's a daring proposal... A cherry milkshake." Yang's voice was light and teasing as she spoke, as he looked at her.
"You like cherries better than strawberries. I remembered that, when we went out for ice-cream. You had a pistachio, cherry and banana ice-cream cone."
He remembered such little things. Not that it mattered much, but Yang had looked nice, even if she was a little distant at times, not quite trusting him. She'd seen him for the retard he'd been, before Cinder had educated him properly in what his role would be.
"You remembered all that? Gee, I should have you rearrange my wardrobe. I forget where my bras are kept."
He remembered how his sisters had organized their underwear. He often did the laundry the quickest in the household, and he always made sure to put the washer on the proper setting in order to make the laundry for his sisters go faster.
They never complained about it, as long as he put it in the proper spot. With seven sisters, one out of the house, one never bothered really to be as polite as possible. He had seen most of his sisters in varying states of undress, but they'd never really paid much attention to him. He was just their 'odd and silent brother' according to one overheard conversation.
He didn't get why that was 'cute', but it must've been some sort of intrigue about the retard in the attic. That's where they kept the retards in history, or so he'd heard. His room wasn't in the attic, but it was on the second floor. It wasn't a good retard room, but it was nice and orderly.
"I can help with that. I'm good with folding laundry, mom says."
She smiled at him, a human smile. A smile that retards shouldn't get, but he felt a little happy inside because of her smiling at him anyways.
Picking the tray up with their order, he guided it towards the table where Sandy sat, disinterested. He watched Yang pick her burger up and take a bite from it, looking into his eyes and her knee brushed against his own, no doubt a little mistake of hers.
"Looking good, lover boy..."
Her knee brushed up and down his own, a pleasant sensation, almost like she was happy to be with him. It was a lie, obviously, but he could imagine for a moment that they were together.
"You look much better."
He said, looking into her eyes. Everything just seemed to lose focus, as he looked into her eyes. There was that wonderful feeling inside him that came like a wellspring rushing up from deep inside him, something that Summer had as well, his gaze not able to be pulled away from her, as he felt the seriously strong like come up.
"Gee, flattery is the way to a girl's heart, y'know?"
Her voice came from a distance, as he felt that tingle shoot through his spine, up and down. It was a strong like, retards didn't love people, there was just something of a strong like, as he looked into those wonderful deep eyes.
She was red in the face, probably from the strong taste of the burgers, his eyes finally drawn away from her as the warmth settled down, her cough drawing his attention from her. "The burger's going to get cold, Jaune." Her voice was muted, almost regretful.
"As much as I'd love to stare in your eyes, there's still food."
He hadn't heard a lie. That was good. He chewed his burger, watching her thoughtfully. He just watched her, her breasts catching crumbs as she ate, slowly. There was another bump of her knee against his own and he felt himself react. He didn't know really why he was reacting so much to her, but with her beauty, it was like a natural thing. He brushed his knee against hers, following her lead. She dropped a fry, her eyes meeting his, as she smiled.
A shy smile, as if she really liked it. That was impossible, after all, but it was a nice thought. "The milkshake might be getting warm." He said, and she snapped to attention, taking it from his tray. She wrapped her lips around the single straw in it and then sucked, a line of red entering her mouth, her eyes looking with something in them, as she sighed slowly.
'I hope she doesn't get brain-freeze...'
She held it out to him, her eyes aglow with that hint that a tease was coming. "C'mon, sweetheart... Taste it." He tasted it, the coolness making him feel a little cooler on the inside, as he watched her carefully, her eyes looking at him and a smile on her lips.
"Hmmhmm... That's the Xiao-Long manner of kissing. "
Sandy coughed and they both seemed to realize that she was still there, the woman looking a little snippy at the two of them, and Yang let him have the milkshake. He knew that the moment had been ruined thanks to him, because he'd bought her the milkshake. It had been something nice, but now someone was upset with him and her.
"Now, we should get you that makeup thing you needed, big boy... Then we're off to the clothes store! Mama needs a few new shirts, yeah!" Her easy laugh was something that made his spirit rise a little, her hand brushing through her hair, a hair-tie pulled through the hair and putting it into a ponytail. She looked like she'd have the issue of hair getting everywhere whilst fitting clothes that his sisters had as well.
"You look fine as you are." He said, making her grin.
"Gotta get working on your skills of getting the mood properly, Jauney boy."
Her wink showed that she wasn't serious, but he doubted it. It wasn't something to think about too much, knowing that he was one of the people who had been born with a broken mind and a decent body.
"Miss Salem said that I had to work on recognizing visual cues. She's in Ibiza now, I think."
She had said that she was going to take a long holiday to think about some things about his case and that it wasn't because of him that she was going away. He trusted her. She was someone who would be honest with him and said that she was behind him the whole way. She cared because she had said so. It had breached her professional ethics, but she had said that she felt strongly for him and that it hadn't been a punishment that he had experienced, but abuse.
He stepped into the strongly-scented shop that had the makeup products with Yang and her stepmother, immediately going for the products that he knew his sister liked. He looked at the products on display, finding the proper serial number's slot to be empty.
'I guess they don't have it...'
He felt a little bad for his sister, but he knew that if it wasn't there, it wasn't there. A light touch to his side and Yang was there. "You need this? Oh, there's a shade just a little brighter that you'd also take."
"But... It should be this one. She wanted this one." He tried, but Yang shook her head. She grabbed the wrong one and held it up.
"See? Just a shade brighter than the one your sister wants, but it's the same brand."
That was true, he guessed. It would be alright, he hoped. He'd pay for it and hope that his sisters would want it. He looked at Yang for a moment before deciding to do something boyfriend-like.
He walked over to the rack with lipsticks, looking at the bright colours. He was sure that she'd like something nice and bright, Yang was like a sun, shining with a joy and zest for life, so she'd need something nice to wear on her date with Blake.
"Looking for something for the sister, robot boy?"
He didn't mind her nicknames much. It could be worse. The R-word was worse, in his opinion. He looked at bright yellow first, before dismissing it. She wouldn't look so nice with yellow lipstick on, it would clash with her beautiful eyes. Blue was out too, because it'd make her look like a Barbie doll. She was too pretty to be some standard model.
"I'll be browsing the perfume section, kids..."
Sandy announced, as she walked off. He barely even noticed it, his fingers sliding over the colours.
'What colour would suit Yang best?'
Ruby enjoyed strawberry red, but Yang was not a yellow girl. Black would not look great. Purple was more Blake's colour than it was Yang's, but he knew that he'd have to go to the other colours...
A deep cherry red he noticed, giving her a look and then smiling and picking it. "Ooh, daring! Someone's going on a hot date."
'You are, and Blake will like it.'
He knew that the Faunus girl would. Blake liked Yang and Yang was only pretending. She'd said that she was pretending so he believed her. It hurt a little, because it felt really good being out here with her, but it was all so she would be better and happier. He wanted them to be happy, even if he didn't get to be happy. They were safe and they were nice, even if Weiss was not nice.
"Now, some perfume."
He knew that Yang would like something that was a little more like her. Something nice and breezy, with that hint of summer warmth that she had as well. Several of the testers smelled like chemical waste, or a really bad toilet to him. He looked over the different scents and thought for a moment about what would really make Yang spring out.
He closed his eyes and just went by scent, plucking some of the scents out and smelling them. She was silent as he did so, probably amused by his seriousness or just humouring him.
He looked at the scent that smelled the most like Yang, the price tag making him worry for a moment. There wouldn't be much left after that, but it was for Yang. Dad had given him some money and he'd have to buy a shirt as well. Maybe some jeans.
He'd buy it tomorrow, once he got some more money. It'd still be there, he hoped. It would be a nice gift for her. He remembered the name and the price and the serial number on the tags, evry single one.
'You deserve to smell good.'
She smelled nice either way, but it was still something that he wanted to give her. The lipstick would have to do for now. He went to the cashier at the register, the woman looking at him and he tried his best smile. "I'd like these." The woman looked at Yang at his side, smiling.
"The girlfriend's happy with a guy like you, hon."
He nodded. His girlfriend, if he ever got one, would probably be happy. He didn't know whether retards could make other retards into their girlfriends through some measure, but he hoped that he'd find love eventually before they'd kill all of them.
He put the bills on the counter, the cashier giving him his change. The coins felt a little heavier in his hands but it was for a good purpose. He put the foundation in his pocket, together with the lipstick. He'd give the lipstick to her once they were outside. His nose was starting to itch and he wanted to sneeze.
"So, let's get to the department store! I need some new shirts."
He smiled at the eagerness that she showed, watching Sandy's face look a little compressed. He liked Yang's energy. Ruby was a lot of energy and a little focus, whilst Yang was energy and focus, with her attitude a little more evened out than Ruby's.
As they entered the place, he caught sight of the rows and rows of different things, noticing that the escalator was still functioning. Yang's hand had grabbed his own and she was rubbing a finger over his own, her eyes bright and with that sparkle of mischief that would've sent people running.
"How about we go get you some shirts and maybe some new pants too... And we can go and look for a dress for me?"
She smiled, knowing that she would have him accompany her. He was going to be a good boyfriend for her. Even if it was all fake, he enjoyed her presence. She was fun and her mom was fun too, even if both were a little sad at times for different reasons. It was okay though. "That'd be nice."
"Play your cards right and it'll be on your bedroom floor, buddy." Her teasing grin was a sign that it was a joke, probably somewhat crude in nature.
"What cards? I don't really play cards. Dad said that poker was a good game but I never really liked that. I liked solitaire though. I should clean my bedroom floor first, too. I wouldn't want it to get dirty." She smiled at him, a really pretty smile.
"Don't ever change, Jaune."
He wasn't going to. Retards never changed from their stupid state, they never knew how the world worked. He didn't. Dad probably knew, but he'd never really asked.
An hour later and thirteen different shirts later, he had finally gotten a nice set of jeans that Yang approved of, having fussed about how the others fit for a bit, a shirt with a print on it. He wasn't sure why it was that exact thing, but Yang had said that it'd make him look 'cool', so he approved of it. She had better ideas than he did.
He waited for her to emerge from the changing stall in the women's section, Sandy somewhere else, out of sight. The woman had given up after Yang had said that she'd wanted to try on another thing, the dress that she'd picked out looking nice. The curtain rustled and she stepped out. It was a nice white dress.
It fit her, she looked gorgeous in it and without any blemish, his body responding like it should. He liked her and she looked sexy and gorgeous, but he could only look. "So... Did I just stun you with my beauty?" Her voice was like a light brush of something soft, as she stood there in front of him like someone who deserved to be there. "Or should I come out again?"
"You look sexy."
He was honest, voicing his thoughts. He couldn't deny it. The dress was white and she looked good in it. It made her skin, which was slightly tanned from the sunning outside, look like it belonged there.
"Like an angel."
She smiled, showing her teeth, her eyes half-closed. "That's good."
He watched her get back into the changing stall and shuffle a little, the legs below switching a little, his eyes closing to block the sights out for a moment, opening them when he heard the rustling, spotting her coming out. A similar shirt like the one that he'd gotten for himself, the receipt still in the shopping bag. He liked how it looked on her, her chest making it fall a little loosely.
'You look too pretty for someone like me.'
She was too pretty indeed, with her beautiful eyes impish, a smile on her lips. It had been a contrast to how they'd been only a week earlier, but he hoped that it would continue. She leaned closer, looking around for Sandy, her hands grabbing his own.
"Thank you for doing this. Blake doesn't have the patience and wanders off sometimes... It's nice to... y'know?"
Her voice sounded genuine as she spoke, her eyes glowing with that hint of something. He wanted to kiss her. He liked her and it felt good to think about kissing her.
She came closer, taking a deep breath and then exhaling softly, her smile soft, her fingers holding to his own a touch harder than before. It was a delicate moment for him, as he felt the need to kiss her grow even stronger, as he felt a surge of something that was forbidden. She was not her mother, not the silver-eyed beauty who had been gone after hurting him, but she was a pretty woman.
"You look really nice."
He said, and her lips parted softly, a slow exhale, as she smiled. He wanted to kiss her but he wasn't sure whether he should. She was too good for him.
"That's good. Hey, I've got something really scandalous, give me a moment."
Her eyes looked into his own, a bedazzling smile appearing onto her lips as she did, turning around and making it really hard for him to look away.
'I like her a lot.'
She was like Summer, but with less sadness. She was a girl his age and he felt awkward now. He shouldn't like two girls, that was bad. Cheaters always got punished, according to his sisters. He sat down again, trying to keep his thoughts on the present. It was going to be a while without Summer, a week or so, so it would be time spent getting to be Yang's boyfriend. Summer had been teaching him to be a good boyfriend for her daughters...
Yang stepped out of the changing stall with a spring to her steps. "Yee-haw, how's this look, eh? Do we look sufficient enough to be Mae-Sue and Beauregard, kissing cousins?" He didn't exactly know what she was referencing with that, but the flag-print top looked nice. He just stared.
She posed, her generous chest making sure that the cross looked a bit stretched. He just watched. "Come on, you've got to get with the joke! Dixie represent! Yarrhh!"
She moved with a skip to her step, the shorts that she wore making her look like one of those girls from the Dukes of Hazard, but sexier. She was Yang, after all. She'd make a stuffy sweater look nice.
"Or, are you just thinking about the two of us kissing?"
He was doing more than just that. She was beautiful. He said so to her. "You're beautiful."
She smiled, her eyes just losing focus for a bit, taking a very deep breath. She looked a little uncertain, or at least, he thought she looked a little uncertain, he wasn't quite sure.
"I'd rather kiss you as a boyfriend than as a cousin."
She trembled a little after he said that, just like Summer had. Her eyes looked at him and she took another deep breath, exhaling through her nostrils.
"It's going to be hard to make jokes, Jaune."
Her voice was a little breathless, even though she'd breathed in a few times. "Going to be really hard to..." He smiled at her. She was a wonderful big sister to Ruby.
"Blake is happy to have you as a close friend." It was as close to the truth as he could get, as Yang looked away, her cheeks red and her flushed face looking a touch out of it.
"I'm really happy that you're Ruby's big sister. Ruby looks up to you."
Yang mumbled something, as she smiled. "Mom had a print bikini, I figured I'd get a shirt... Just as a bit of pride, from where she's from. You like it, don't you?" He nodded, smiling. She would look good in a jute sack, with holes in it.
"You're pretty in anything, Yang." She turned around, her ponytail flicking against his face from the motion. "You're as pretty as your mother." She took a few quick steps, turning around and looking at him. A smile on her face and her clear laughter.
"That dress is going to land on your floor if you keep it up, boyfriend."
He would have to clean, if that was the case. That should be a good task for when he got home. He wondered what she'd wear aside from the dress. You didn't toss dresses onto the ground that easily.
"I'd have to pick it up and clean it. It's too pretty to be on the floor." He said, the smile on her face broadening a little.
"Oh, if you're such a dear... Let's get these paid and get something nice at the food court. I can do with a sundae..." He pulled the tube of lipstick out, smiling at her as he held it out. This looked like a good moment to give her the gift.
"This is for you."
She blinked, looking at the tube and then smiling. He wanted to imagine for a moment that he really was her boyfriend, rather than pretending to be her boyfriend. To give his girlfriend something that she'd wear, something that suited her, her cheeks looking hot.
"I need to... y'know, get this thing off."
He nodded to her. "So, I'll just be a moment." She was breathing a little deeper. He noticed that her eyes were looking at him as she turned around.
"No peeking."
She smiled and winked, and he sat down. He wouldn't peek. If she said that, he wouldn't. He was curious though why she'd said that. She emerged, wearing her top. The muscles of her abdomen were well-sculpted, he noticed again.
"You didn't peek, aww... Didn't want to see the burning hot Yang in her underwear?"
He wanted to. She was nice and sexy and it was such a nice thing of her to ask him. "You said that I shouldn't." Her smile softened a little, as she sat herself down on his lap. It was awfully sweet and she smelled good.
"Good boy, that's more than what I'd say of..." A sigh came from her lips as she rolled her shoulders. His eyes looked at her face, watching her there.
"Well, no use crying about spilt milk..."
She was a good sister to Ruby and he was happy to know her. "Let's get some new clothes paid up for me! If you're a good boy, we'll cuddle on the way back."
He would be the best boyfriend that he could be, even as they tracked down Sandy standing next to one of the vending machines, the woman's eyes turning a little colder as they saw Yang stand there. He knew that she didn't like Yang very much, even as Yang held her bag, carrying her purchases, Sandy's own purchases looking a little less than Yang's volumes. He grabbed her hand and squeezed, feeling a sudden feeling of happiness.
It felt good, being here with Yang. With Summer it would also feel good, but Yang right now was shining like the sun, like a beacon of light in the darkness that called him home. Her fingers squeezed a little in return, as her hand stroked over his own.
'I would like her to be my girlfriend.'
It would make Summer happy too. Summer was worried that being gay would make Yang be sad.
'I shouldn't forget that it is just pretending.'
Yang liked Blake. She'd never like him too, even if Blake wanted to do things with him. It should be a blessing, something nice for the retard. He wasn't like Yang, he wasn't worthy of her, but he could dream for a little moment, holding her hand.
He smiled at her and he liked to fantasize for a moment, even with them leaving the department store. He almost missed the familiar perfume in that rush of fantasy, but the voice that spoke up definitely made him freeze up.
Familiar and with that little curl of the voice that showed the accent that hadn't been banished yet, his eyes falling onto the dark hair that curled slightly, golden eyes looking at him, looking with that distaste within them that was not to be banished. He idly noticed that the lipstick was red today, her features perfectly made up as always.
"Hello, Jaune."
Cinder Fall looked just as he remembered her. The dark red dress fit her perfectly, as her eyes held that look of disdain perfectly, accusing him and telling him that he was going to be exterminated. The cops would get him again and take him away and there wouldn't be anyone who would come to help him, he'd die.
That's what happened to the retards who didn't have the purity of blood and mind required, after all. Everyone would know. His sisters would hate him and Ruby would hate him. She'd make him get taken away again and say horrible things again.
He ran away, without looking back.
Cinder Fall, ladies and gentlemen. Guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of Jaune and be pretty and wicked. Witched Bitch of the East.
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