Hunted or Busted: A Side Story
Dusted 15: The Fox and The Hood: Silver With Envy
((((((((Hunted))))))))
Ruby bounced on her feet anxiously as she watched the Airship dock into place and power down. She smiled and steadied herself as she waited for the ramp to come down and her roommate to board off. He had just finished a two-week long mission away from home and was finally coming back today. It was a longer job than expected, but now that he was coming home she could show him just what she had prepared for dinner.
Ruby had finally perfected her ramen recipe, and she was going to cook up a bowl of it tonight in celebration of his return.
That was normal, right? It was just a simple celebration with her roommate/best friend for his return from a hard mission. He had done the same with her multiple times, celebrating her return with a movie night or going out to eat. This time she was just going to cook something special instead.
It wasn't weird or suspicious or anything. It didn't matter what stupid thing Yang said about her and what she might have mistakenly muttered while absolutely sloshed on the cheap booze she so obviously forced into their hands.
Yeah, it was all the booze's fault. You know the old saying; a drunk person's words in no way, shape, or form correlated to what the sober person actually thinks and should be ignored in their entirety.
That old saying just rolls off the tongue.
The young Huntress finally came out of her thoughts and noticed the Airships were starting to land. She lifted herself up and went running over with the other civilians to wait for the people to step off. Watching dozens of people fill up the landing pad as she tried to spot her best friend.
She immediately recognized the adorable fox ears poking out in the crowd and made her way over to see him. Ruby called out, "Naru-"
"Uzumaki!"
When she made her way through the crowd it was in time to see Naruto being flanked by a man and woman who looked to be Hunters as well. The man greeted him with a grin and punch to the arm as the woman laughed and hooked an arm around his shoulder, pulling him in closer and putting her chest and the frankly unnecessary, slutty cleavage she sported against his arm.
"Hey man, it was great to work with you. I thought you were another green horn that was in over his head, but damn if you didn't prove me wrong."
"Yeah! That Beringel kill? Masterpiece!"
"Yeah, that was kinda just a mad wave of my arms to save myself." Naruto admitted before smirking and shrugging one shoulder, "Still pretty damn great though."
"Oh real modest. Hey, if you ever want to go for drinks just give us a call, alright?" The man clapped his back and waved him off, "See you around man."
"Don't be a stranger stud." The woman kissed his cheek and slid her arm off before waving him goodbye.
Naruto chuckled and wiped his cheek before hefting his bag up his shoulder again. He turned but stopped in surprise before grinning, "Ruby! I didn't know you were coming to meet me." The blond Faunus beamed a smile and leaned down to give her a tight hug. He noticed that while she hugged back, she wasn't squeezing back with the same enthusiasm he did at seeing his roommate again. He pulled back and tilted his head, "Ruby – uh – you okay?"
"Of course." Her eye twitched subtly as she looked up at him with a smile totally devoid of warmth and security, "Welcome home."
((((((((Hunted))))))))
"So I had to chase after this Beowolf that was going after this little kid – screaming and crying and terrified out of her mind. So I shoot it in the back and kill it, and then grab her before she can get too far and calm her down. But when I got there, I was surrounded by a pack-"
It was a great story. Truly a tale that rivaled Uncle Qrow's old stories that helped put her and Yang to sleep. It was an amazing, badass retelling of heroics, honor, and Grimm-slaying. And she found herself unable to totally enjoy it while she cooked their ramen.
Once again Ruby's thoughts went back to that woman that draped herself over Naruto like a blanket. Flaunting around that figure and those breasts like she wanted his attention. At least Yang had the decency of being her sister so she wasn't allowed to critique her on what she wore. But that lady was free game, and she certainly looked like she was giving it out for free.
…
Was this jealousy or spite? Why would she be feeling these things? That's so weird. And stupid. Stupid weird feelings. It was that lady's fault for acting all flirty and familiar with her roommate after just one mission. Hell, if she was the one barely dressed at all, kissing Naruto's cheek and throwing herself over him so his arm was sandwiched right between her breasts like that…
…
What was she doing again?
"I can't believe you're making ramen for dinner." Naruto reminded her, completely oblivious to her rapid thought process as he smiled and inhaled deeply, savoring the wonderful aroma. He bounced in his chair at the counter by the stove and quickly stood up, "Can I get a look?"
Ruby silently nodded and stepped back to give him room. He came around and stood over the pot, stirring it around and marveling at its color. He smacked his lips but stopped from slurping it up right then and there, "You did such a great job with this Ruby! I can't believe how good you've made…this…"
He blinked in confusion and looked over his shoulder. He then looked down and noticed Ruby was leaning back into his back while he looked at their meal. She wasn't looking in his direction but just staring at the wall with a firm pout on her face. She slowly looked up at him but quickly noticed his gaze and turned back away.
"Um...Ruby?"
"Hmm?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah sorry, just a little lost in my thoughts." She pushed herself off his back and stepped around the kitchen island, making sure not to meet his eyes while her face was turning pink. She grabbed a remote and pointed it to the stereo, "Hey, do you wanna listen to something? I feel like some music would really make the meal better."
"Uh, yeah sure. Anything particular in mind?"
"Nah, just flipping through some channels." Ruby said as she fiddled with the remote, "I'm sure we'll find something-"
"-cha wish ya girlfriend was hot like me!~"
Ruby quickly changed the channel in a panic. She looked over and noticed Naruto hadn't paid attention to the music. She took a breath in relief before trying to continue the conversation, "U-Um, you know it's been really boring with you not around."
"Yeah, it sucks when one of us leaves for awhile. Sucks the life out of the apartment." Naruto agreed, "What'd you do while I was away?"
"Oh, the usual. Checked the job listings, played some games, watched TV-"
"-et funky with ya fingers~, ya gotta get funky with ya fing-"
"Thanks for coming to meet me by the way." Naruto, concentrating on the cooking and oblivious to the music, thanked Ruby as she flipped the channels in a panic, "You really didn't have to do that."
"Are you kidding? Don't even think I wouldn't come. You come greet me whenever I come back from work. Plus when I saw you-"
"-y body~, my body is telling me yes-"
Ruby growled, "I-I was really glad to have you back! And I thought ramen would be the perfect meal to-"
"-t be scared~, you got the mood prepared~, go on and kiss the-"
Naruto finally noticed that the music kept cutting off before the songs could complete. He looked up in time to see Ruby huffing in anger and furiously flicking through the stations, "Nothing you like?"
"All bad stuff today!"
"Alright then," He shrugged and took a small sip of the ramen with another spoon. He moaned in delight, "Hey why didn't you invite Yang to join us?"
Ruby flinched and looked away in embarrassment, "O-Oh, Yang couldn't come today. She had to do something important."
"What was it?"
"S-Something important! I just said! And if I forced her to come-"
"-when it's in a three-way~, ~with a honey in the middle there's some leewa-"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Ruby spiked the remote across the room and watched it explode into pieces. She took deep, frantic breaths to try and calm herself before she looked over and saw Naruto staring at her. The Huntress tidied herself up and nodded, "Diarrhea. I think that's what she had to do."
"So~ no music?"
"No music. And get away from there!" She quickly made her way back over to the island and shooed her roommate away from the stove, "I'm the one that cooked this thing so I don't want you finishing it up. Go sit down and let me do my magic."
The Faunus couldn't help but laugh as his friend forced him away with a rapid flap of her hands. He stepped around the island and sat down at the counter as he watched her work, "Glad to see you're taking such a passion with cooking."
"Yeah, didn't think it'd be as fun as this but I was really wrong." Ruby chuckled as Naruto laughed as well. The two friends stayed silent, Naruto rummaging through his Scroll as Ruby perfected her dish. However after a few seconds she nervously looked up from her pot and over at Naruto. She inhaled deeply, "So about the people you worked with..."
"Hm?" Naruto looked up, "Oh you mean those two who were talking with me when I got off? Yeah they're a married couple who take Hunter jobs together. We worked together on the job."
"Yeah cool totally," Ruby muttered, "So when I came to pick you up that married lady was kinda growing out of your arm. Was there something about that?" She tried to shrug like she didn't care, "I mean if she was just flirting then that's cool..."
"Oh," Naruto's expression pinched up, "You saw that huh?"
Ruby's guts twisted at that response.
"So I met them while being debriefed about the job and we kinda hit off pretty well. We worked together the first day and I showed them that I had quite a bit of experience for someone who's only been a Huntsman for less than two years. But they were nice and friendly. And then one night during the assignment..."
"Y-Yeah?"
"She came to my room...dressed in see-through lingerie."
Ruby's grip nearly bent the ladle in her hand.
"And she wanted me to...to sleep with her."
"Did you?!" Ruby nearly jumped over the stove, "Did you actually-"
"Ruby the pot-"
The ladle caught on the side of the pot and tipped the whole thing over. It toppled to the floor and spilled all its contents in the process. When it was over the two roommates could only stare down in horror as their dinner was ruined beyond comprehension.
...
Naruto sniffled and tried to stop the tears from falling.
((((((((Hunted))))))))
"Well it's not ramen but it's still pretty good." Naruto bit down into his grilled cheese with a hearty crunchy and reveled in the taste. He wiped his mouth, "I definitely didn't teach you this on the road."
"This I know how to do. I used to want to eat these all the time when I was a kid, and Yang said she could make the perfect grilled cheese." She turned the sandwich around on its pan and looked at the golden crust the bread had become, "Of course she had started to use her Semblance more often so she tried to cook the sandwich between her hands. I realized if I wanted one, I had to make it myself." She proudly puffed out her chest, "I might make the best grilled cheese in Remnant."
"No argument here."
She was disappointed that they couldn't have the meal she worked so long to make, but a quiet night just eating sandwiches didn't sound that bad either. She dropped her sandwich on her plate and sat beside Naruto as they munched blissfully on their treats.
Ruby was about to take a bite out of her sandwich before she paused, remembering what caused their meal to be ruined in the first place...
"So...what happened when she asked to sleep with you?"
Naruto rolled his eyes and rubbed his hair, "She asked me to have sex with her, and even though I was surprised, I was kinda reacting to what she was wearing."
"Naruto, please tell me you didn't sleep with a married woman."
"I was so confused...and I only got more confused when I noticed her husband standing two feet behind her."
...
Ruby blinked, "What?"
"Yeah apparently they both came over so she could proposition infidelity with me." Naruto took a bite of his sandwich and shook his head, "I asked what the hell was going on and they just said it was fine. Apparently she was interested and he had a fetish, for cuckoldry."
Ruby grimaced, "Oh."
"Yeah, and she requested that after I was done we invite the husband over and, I quote, 'Make me the victim in an unfortunate King Taijitu pincer attack.'"
"Oh my god!" Ruby's eyes were wide in horror as she realized what that innuendo entailed. Her eyes darted around rapidly before shaking her head, "S-So what happened?"
"I told them I had a headache and closed the fucking door before they could make their way in."
"B-But they invited you to beers too?"
"Oh no way in hell am I meeting either of them drunk and with my judgement impaired."
"Good because that was - that's just really weird."
"S-Should we be kink-shaming them?"
"I'll shame them if you don't want to! They come to your door offering to swing! What the hell?!"
"That's totally weird, right?!"
"Super weird!"
After a while the two started to ease in conversation, indulging more on the ridiculousness the blond had faced with the two Hunters. Ruby couldn't help but break into laughter as Naruto tried to stop her but started laughing as well when he saw the humor of it.
As they relaxed into their easy talking and their makeshift dinner, Ruby realized what this really was. It wasn't some kind of infatuation. It wasn't any feelings she was burying down. It wasn't what we Yang was so sure it was.
It was just comfortable. It was nice. She had fun being with her best friend and she enjoyed how much they could trust in each other. It wasn't anything romantic. It was just...
Friendship.
...
"Do you want to go to the fair next week?"
Naruto looked up from his bite as Ruby elaborated, "There's a fair with a fireworks festival afterwards and I thought it'd be fun. You wanna go together?"
"Definitely. It's a date."
"A date."
...
Okay she might have just shot herself in the foot with that one.
((((((((Hunted)))))))))
Done
Man, writing these two goofballs really takes the edge off me. I'm sitting here trying to write big stories and difficult events and when I'm overwhelmed I think 'Oh yeah, I have a story about two total dorks hanging out with each other'.
I know this story isn't very popular but it has the most calming effect on me possible.
Plus with all the crazy crap about to happen in RWBY proper, I think we could all use some deescalation.
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Thank You and Bye
