Game Night

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Living together as a new couple, trying to keep things new and engaging for both parties can always be a difficult task. Sure, you could have the weekly dinner date, or curl up on your couch and watch a movie, or maybe even get out of town if you have a string of days off together. There's several ways to be creative when you lead a normal life, working from morning to the evening before coming home to your families. Of course, that isn't always the case when you lead the life of a Huntsman or Huntress.

"I win again, Jaune!"

Yes, for those who don't know when they'll be called to action to fight back against the evil plaguing humanity next, sometimes, you just have to keep those date nights simple, and sometimes, just doing those little things are okay.

"This is such crap!"

That is, unless you'd lost yet another hand in a game that you didn't completely understand, brought on by your now girlfriend that didn't completely feel it was necessary to explain. Yeah… those kinds of nights weren't the best for everyone.

"Face it!" Ruby explained, now taking a triumphant step onto their coffee table at which they were playing. " I am the greatest player of all time! No one beats me at Red card/black card!"

"Yeah, well maybe if you explained it a little better." Jaune replied, pushing her foot off the table.

"Aww, is Jaune mad he can't beat me?"

"I hardly win at anything. Quite frankly, I'm almost used to it."

Ruby cringed at the response, sitting back down before collecting the pile of cards on the table. "Sheesh, I didn't think you were going to brood over it."

"Face it, you can't beat me at sulking."

The smaller girl narrowed her eyes at the grinning boy, shuffling the cards in preparation to deal another hand. Ruby was used to the self-inflicting humor that Jaune was… showing off? Yeah, sure, let's go with that. That being said, she didn't particularly enjoy it. Self-deprecation was good for everyone at times, but to live in that world, it wasn't normal for one's mental health.

"Why would I want to do something like that?" She scoffed, dealing out the cards to the taller blonde.

Jaune took the cards dealt to him, slapping the first card on the table. "Who knows when it might have some sort of payoff?"

Ruby continued to eye the boy up. As if being cocky about a mopey attitude was something to be proud of. What was he getting at?

"You're acting like that's some sort of skill." Ruby answered, placing two cards down on the table.

"My dear Rubes, anything can be a skill if you work hard enough. It's no different than swinging that big 'ol scythe of yours."

Ruby slammed a single card down in defiance, not willing to accept the answer of her boyfriend. "How dare you!" She exclaimed. "First of all, it's also a sniper rifle! Secondly, are you trying to say hating yourself is a skill you can hone to fight off an enemy?!"

"It's not completely wrong." Jaune answered calmly, placing two more cards on the table.

"If you think that's some master plan to get one over on someone in combat then we need to focus more on your regular training. If you–"

"I win."

Ruby blinked. "Wh-What?"

"I won the game." Jaune spoke again, motioning down at the table in front of them, causing Ruby's focus to shift from argument to his empty hand and then down to the pile in front of them.

She blinked once more, mouth agape as she tried to take in what happened. One second he was tearing himself down and then the next he was wearing a grin ear to ear as he had finally defeated her at her own game.

Ruby dropped the cards to the table, noticing how Jaune's disposition still didn't change. Had he really gotten inside her mind? Had he somehow taken her feelings for him and used them against her? This was outrageous to say the least.

"You cheated." She pouted, crossing her arms.

"I used my skills as an advantage to the game." He replied. "Plus it's not like you don't use puppy-dog eyes on me. It's essentially the same."

"N-no, it's not!" She stammered. "Plus I don't like when you talk bad about yourself. It's…"

Jaune raised an eyebrow at the girl who stopped mid-response.

"It's not appreciated when you talk bad about someone I… l-love." Ruby spoke, growing more and more red as she finished her statement.

Jaune's own cheeks grew a slight tint as he listened to his girlfriend finish her sentence. He watched as she cutely squirmed in her seat, avoiding his gaze. To say he was tongue-tied would be an understatement.

While they both had moved in together, Jaune and Ruby were still new to the dating scene. So, saying that magic "L word" was one of those things that could and usually would bring them to a crimson halt. It was something that Yang and Nora both enjoyed watching, much to the chagrin of the two teens.

Ruby coughed into her hand, grabbing Jaune's attention immediately. "Well… you won this time, so you decide what to play now."

The blonde took a breath for a moment. Finally, he had the option to pick what was next and by their rules, she had no choice but to oblige him. He pondered for a moment, stroking his chin dramatically as Ruby raised an eyebrow. He stared back at her continuing to ponder, adding on low-mumbled 'hmm' as they engaged in a faux staredown.

He admired her silver eyes, much like he had for as long as he had known her. He could get lost in them the longer he continued his onlooking. That's when he had a thought pop into his head. A thought that made him red in the face again. A bad thought. But, it was one that many boys before him have had, especially when it came to their partners.

"Bed wrestling…" He mumbled to himself unconsciously.

"Speak up Jaune. I can't hear you?"

"A-arm wrestling!"

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Be good, Jaune.

GodRealm