Snow Day

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Ruby clasped the warm cup of cocoa between her fingers tightly, keeping it close to her face as well. The sweet aroma of the drink filled her body with both pleasure and contentment. Her digits were slowly becoming more and more rejuvenated with each passing second as the container continued to expel heat. She could rarely think of such things that made her happier, especially on a bitter cold day like today.

While Vale was normally not known for dealing with record low temperatures and snow, that doesn't mean it was exempt from them. Just like anywhere else on Remnant, there was always a chance of weather victimizing its inhabitants. Today also just happened to be one of those days. A snowstorm recently had transformed the once busy city filled with casualty interactions into a sheet of ice and snow. Businesses closed early, some roads were impassable, and even some local gatherings had to be canceled.

Of course, this also meant that classes were canceled at Beacon academy for the day. While students regularly lived on campus, they took the lives of their staff and future prospects seriously and so even though they were trained to deal with harsh conditions, they lucked out with a snow day.

"Mmm." Ruby mumbled with content after another sip. "This is hitting the spot!"

"I'm glad you're so chipper."

Ruby peeked at the blonde boy, still sporting a pout after their latest competition. There was something about a boy in a yellow jacket and gloves sulking over a loss that seemed so charmingly innocent and childish that she just couldn't not smile. She admired the dedication to the color.

"Now Jaune, we agreed on the terms of the snowball fight." She stated with a matter-of-fact tone. "Loser buys the hot chocolate. Plain and simple."

He rolled his eyes in response. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I should have added no semblances to that deal, huh?"

"Guess so." She answered while taking a long, exaggerated sip of her drink again.

Jaune sighed dramatically at her answer. Of course, he assumed that this was an understood concept. It wasn't exactly fair that she could zoom all over and demolish him with snowballs with her speed as compared to… well, his semblance. One of them was clearly outclassed. Though, he should probably blame himself for his ultimate undoing. After all, wagering hot chocolate against Ruby Rose as the prize probably wasn't the smartest move if he expected her to play fair.

Guess he knew that for next time.

"Where's yours anyway, Jaune?" Ruby questioned, noticing the boy's empty hands.

"Oh, uh, it seems like they ran out."

"What?!"

"Yeah, I snagged the last one for you." He shrugged. "Obviously I'm not going to hoard it for myself after you won the snowball fight."

"But what about you?" Ruby responded with a dejected tone, seemingly crestfallen.

He shrugged once more at her question. "Once we get back to school, I'll gladly make some in the common area. I could probably use a warm shower too. I think you managed to get snow between every layer of clothing during your last… barrage." He finished, shaking the clump of snow from his sleeve.

Ruby felt a pang of guilt at that moment as she looked down at her still-warm drink. While yes, she had won the competition, she didn't think she would take the last batch of hot cocoa and leave him nothing. "Loser buys drinks" shouldn't constitute he gets nothing and she gets to feel warmer on the inside. There has to–

That's when she thought of something. Something that turned her from her typical near-ghost like white to that of a rosy tint and then a deep red. It wasn't often the idea of sharing anything, let alone her snacks came to mind, hell she never offered to Yang, but this moment almost felt… right?

"Hey Rubes, you doing okay?" Jaune probed, bringing her back to reality. "You have steam coming out of your ears."

"I-I-I'm fine" She argued, waving her hands in front of her face. "It's just…"

"Just what?"

Ruby attempted a few times, glancing at him shyly from the corner of her eye before looking at the ground. "It's…" She tried once more. She didn't know where this hesitation came from. For as long as she could remember, Jaune was usually the easiest person for her to talk to. They had been friends since both of their arrivals a ways back.

So why the trepidation now? It was just a drink! Kids and adults of all ages did this all the time. What was it about him that was making her nervous? Was it the blue eyes that continued to probe her even now as he waited on an answer? Was it the tender voice that always offered concern for her? Was it– uh oh.

"It it it it it–"

"Uh oh, looks like Ruby is broken. I might have to ship her back if I can find the warranty."

"Shut up!" She blurted in embarrassment.

"That's more like it."

"Huh?"

Jaune snickered to himself at her response. It wasn't often he was the one to poke fun at her, so seeing him get a chuckle out of her slight discomfort wasn't truly appreciated, especially when she was trying to do something nice!

"Are you making fun of me?"

"No no, Rubes." He waved off her accusation. "Just trying to help you out."

Ruby relented in her anger for a moment, acknowledging the boy's words. He did always know how to put her at ease. It's like he knew just what to do. Even now, she felt the nervousness slowly melting away like the snow on her gloves. He was warm. He was warm like her cocoa.

She coughed for a moment, attempting to speak once more with a serious tone. "Here." She stated frankly, earning a few blinks from the blonde as she held the drink before his face. It took him a moment to understand what she was saying, but when it finally clicked in that noodlehead of his, now it was his turn to change colors in the face, something Ruby took notice of.

"I-I-I couldn't. You won. You earned it!" He stammered. "I'll be fine ser– Aachoo!"

He looked back at the girl who was now offering a playful grin from the otherside of the warm beverage. Something that made him rather uneasy.

"But Jaune~" She whined playfully. "You might get sick!"

"I really shouldn't!" He protested with a cracked voice.

Now it was her turn to laugh at his befuddlement. The boy scowled at the smaller girl's glee. She had somehow turned the tides on him and now he was on the receiving end. Just like her to one up him. Just stick it under the L column much like the snowball fight from earlier.

No. Not this time!

As if unconsciously, the blonde snagged the cup from a laughing Ruby, something she took notice of immediately. She looked on in almost slow motion as he smirked at her before taking a big gulp from the open hole on the top of the lid. The same spot her lips had been several times over now.

Then there was silence.

Awkward silence as two teenagers gawked at each other, both now sporting the same crimson tint that engulfed their entire face. Perhaps they didn't need the hot cocoa at all to stay warm on this chilly day.

"Uhh… here." Jaune spluttered, shakishly offering the drink.

"Th-Thanks." Ruby replied, graciously retrieving the cup.

"N-No, thank you. I feel good now."

Another few seconds of awkward silence continued as the two tried to fester up the ability to speak. Fortunately, that's when Ruby's scroll went off. She retrieved it from her coat pocket before giving it a lookover. It was Weiss stating they were about to watch some movies back at the dorm with the rest of Team JNPR and for the both of them to head back before they get sick like a couple of "dolts."

She giggled to herself for a moment before putting the scroll away and looking back at a confused-looking Jaune.

"We should head back. It is getting late, anyway." She spoke, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, you're right." he answered, beginning to head back in the direction of the school. "It's going to take us a while to trudge through all this anyway."

The girl met the boy at his side, ready to meet his pace as they began the trek. Fortunately, they'd have their company to keep them warm along with a nice beverage they would exchange every few steps on their way back to Beacon.

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Drinks were meant for sharing.

GodRealm