A Stranger Named Jaune
It had been one week since Ruby had met Nora and Ren. Since then, Ruby and Jaune had become even closer. Not even school kept the two apart for long. They always found their way to each other, always making time for their new friend. The two had only known each other for a couple of weeks, yet they saw each other as best friends.
"That was delicious," Ruby moaned, rubbing her stomach as Jaune opened the door for her. She walked inside her apartment, followed by the blond. "I never knew there was a frozen yogurt place right around the corner."
"It's awesome, right?"
"Mmmhm!" Ruby held a large cup of the cool treat, biting into a spoonful of it as Jaune closed the door. "Mmm, their strawberry is so good!"
"I can't believe you've never been to the place before."
Ruby filled her mouth with the sugary, fruity dessert as her mind really thought about that comment. Before Jaune came into her life, she never went out. She'd make a few trips to the grocery store, Yang would visit a club or two, but nothing like this. Ever since she met him, she felt more adventurous and outgoing. Granted, those adventures were just eating out at a new restaurant, but still.
It was a nice change of pace.
"Um… Hey, Jaune?" He looked at her with a smile on his face. She felt her cheeks warm up, even as the cold yogurt chilled her lips. "Thanks. I mean, I doubt being a tour guide is exciting. You could probably be doing cooler things than showing me around the city I've lived in for months, but… thanks."
"Ruby, are you kidding me?" He chuckled, taking a bite of his own yogurt. "I love hanging out with you. You give me an excuse to visit all my favorite places, and you're one of the coolest girls I've ever met."
"R-really? Me? Cool?" Her eyes widened. It'd been years since anyone but her sister called her that.
"Yeah! I mean, you're funny, quirky, smart, I love hanging out with you."
"I love hanging out with you too!" Ruby beamed. "You're probably the funniest guy I've ever hung out with."
"Really?" His eyes widened this time, and Ruby chuckled. He looked… well, cute wasn't the word, but he looked really funny when he was surprised.
"Really." The two smiled at each other, and Ruby was reminded yet again how nice it was to have a friend like Jaune in her life. It reminded her of Patch, before her whole life went to hell there. It was all the best parts of being a kid.
"T-thanks, Rubes." And she liked being called that by him. It wasn't the most creative nickname, but it felt nice to hear Jaune call her that.
"No problem." Ruby smiled at Jaune, before returning to her dessert. The two quietly continued to eat. Neither said anything, but neither needed to. The silence was a natural change of pace as the two enjoyed each other's company.
It was a nice, quiet moment that was inevitably ended by Yang's voice. "Wow, you're still hanging out with him? How long did you two spend at that restaurant?"
"Oh! N-not long. Just a couple of hours. Then we had some dessert. Jaune took me out to this nice frozen yogurt place, and we sort of hung out around there for a while…"
"For hours?" Ruby could hear Yang judge her. The young woman frowned, staring into her yogurt. "Haven't you and Jaune hung out every day since school started?"
"Yeah… So?"
Yang was silent, something that always worried Ruby. Moments passed until Yang finally spoke up. "Hey, Rubes? Can we have a group meeting? I think we need to talk."
"Oh. Sure, Yang." Ruby looked at Jaune, who was quietly finishing his frozen yogurt. "Hey, Jaune?"
"Hmm? Yeah?"
"Um…" Ruby wasn't sure what she was supposed to say. Was there a nice way to ask someone to leave? "I-"
"I really need to get some studying done, so do you mind if we pick this up later?" Ruby's eyes widened, but they relaxed just as quickly. She wasn't moving her lips, or her eyes. One of the alts were.
"Huh? Oh, sure. Same time tomorrow? After your classes?"
"Maybe." 'Ruby' put down her food and stood up. Her arms and legs weren't in her control anymore. "I'll call you about it later, alright?" She motioned Jaune up, and he obeyed, though Ruby couldn't ignore the confusion in his eyes.
"Um, alright. I'll see you later, Rubes."
"Bye, Jaune." She placed her hand on his back and gently pushed him towards the exit. Her body waved goodbye to him as she closed and locked the door.
"Alright, Ruby. We need to talk," Yang declared, releasing control back to Ruby. The crimsonette's scowled, clearly upset by what her sister had done.
"Yang! What the heck?! You didn't even let me say goodbye!"
"You would have taken forever to do it, trust me." Yang didn't sound like her usual happy, go-lucky self. Quite the opposite in fact. "We really need to talk, Rubes. You've been hanging out with with that guy everyday for more than a week straight."
"So?" Ruby tried to pretend she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but she knew her sister saw through her. Instead she tried a different tactic. "Jaune's the first real friend I've had since Patch. I just want to make up for lost time. I haven't had anyone to talk to in so long..."
"What about me? Why can't you talk to me? You used to tell me everything!"
"It's different with you!" Ruby sighed.
"Why?" The obvious answer hung in the air, making Yang even more exasperated. "Why is it different?"
"Because you're my sister." Both of them knew there was another reason, even if Ruby refused to acknowledge it. No matter how different Yang and Ruby were, no matter how many times they called each other sisters, Yang was an alternate personality. She was a voice in Ruby's head. Not a real person, or a real sister…
Ruby and Yang loved each other like they really were siblings, but that didn't change the simple truth.
"Besides, isn't this a good thing? You told me to make friends!" The only reason Ruby had been at that party, the only reason she met Jaune, was because of random chance and Yang pushing her to go. "Jaune's my friend, and so are Nora and Ren."
"But you don't hang out with Ren or Nora every day. You're hanging out with him every single day. Heck, when was the last time you actually let one of us out?! You've hung out with Neon more I have lately!"
There was jealousy in Yang's voice, and Ruby could understand why. Her sister had a point, much as Ruby hated to admit it. Weiss, Blake, and Yang hadn't really had a chance to do their own things lately. Ruby was too busy spending time with Jaune to let them out. They couldn't interact with the real world.
Ruby was the bridge to reality for them, and she hadn't given any of them the time of day lately.
"Yang." Blake's voice caught the two's attention. Neither said anything as she spoke. "Ruby, I think Yang is just worried about you. Not to mention she's feeling a little stir-crazy. She wants social interaction outside the four of us, something you can understand."
Ruby nodded her head, sighing again. "I get that," she confessed aloud. "I'm sorry, Yang. I guess I haven't really given you a lot time for you to be yourself. I've just been having so much fun with Jaune…"
"It's okay, Rubes… Alright, I have been getting a little annoyed with nothing to do. Blake can read whatever she wants, Weiss gets to go out to study, but… I haven't really been able to do anything in awhile." Ruby was about to suggest she take the rest of the night, only for Yang to interject. "But that isn't everything, Rubes. I'm worried you're moving too fast with this guy."
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"Ruby, what exactly are you looking for in Jaune?"
"What?" Her eyes widened and she took a step back from the door, as if that would distance her from Yang.
"Ruby, I remember Adam. It started just like this. He seemed like the greatest guy in the world, and then everything fell apart. I remember it. Don't you?"
"Jaune is nothing like Adam!" Ruby's right arm was tingling. It felt like it was going numb, like thousands of needles were being pushed into it. She squeezed it with her other as she closed her eyes. "Yang…"
This wasn't a new feeling. It happened whenever Yang was really upset, especially if it involved Adam. Just as quickly as it came, it stopped. Ruby's arm relaxed and Yang let out a groan.
"I'm sorry, Ruby. But I'm your big sister. I don't want to see you get hurt again," Yang confessed. "I want you to have friends, but things between you and Jaune are going so fast… I love you, sis, but you're… sensitive. When you fall for a guy, you fall hard, and if Jaune is like Adam, then you'll get hurt just as bad as last time. Maybe worst."
Ruby didn't say anything in return. She didn't know how to argue back. Yang was right, maybe Ruby was sensitive, but the way her sister was saying it made Ruby feel more like she was being accused of being a crybaby. She ground her teeth, glaring at the ground as she fumed.
"Ruby?" Yang whispered, calling out to her sister.
"Maybe we should take a break," Weiss muttered, speaking up for the first time in a long while.
Ruby took a long, deep breath, before exhaling. She could be mature. She could be an adult. She could be calm. She knew she could. Ruby thought long and hard about what they could do, before she smiled at the idea that popped in her head.
"What if we killed two birds with one stone?"
"Then… we're a psycho who throws rocks at birds?" Typical Yang. Hiding how scared or worried she was with a joke.
Ruby tried to smile at her sister's humor, shaking her head. "No. I mean, what if you, all of you hang out with Jaune. I mean, Blake got to meet him. Why not you and Weiss? That way you can see what a great guy he is, and you get to do your own thing. Kind of."
The alts were silent. Ruby felt her smile falter, but she tried not to let it fall completely. Before she spoke, though, Weiss did.
"That sounds like a bad idea."
"I have to agree with Weiss-cream, Rubes. Sounds like a recipe for disaster," Yang agreed. "Besides, we tried that with Adam. It didn't go well either..."
"I never met Adam, but even I can assume how badly things would go if Yang and I met with your boyfriend. No thanks," Weiss added.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Ruby argued, cheeks turning red.
"I think it's a good idea," Blake declared.
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah, seriously. What? Blake, weren't you arguing about how we shouldn't talk to this guy?!" Yang shouted. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Think of it like this, Yang. Who better to interrogate Jaune than you? I already spoke to him, but you've been Ruby's alt the longest. You should talk to him. See if you approve of him."
"Whoa, no one said interrogate!" Ruby interjected, only to be ignored.
"I understand why Yang should talk to him, but why me? Ruby doesn't need my approval," Weiss commented.
"Some social interaction would do you some good, Weiss," Blake calmly answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is the pot calling me, the kettle, black?" Weiss inquired, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Weiss, you don't have a single friend outside of us. You never have." Blake's honesty was as blunt and brutal as a hammer, and it silenced the others. "Ruby has Jaune, Yang has Neon. Even I have made friends outside of the four of us in the past. But not you. You've never had a friend outside of us."
"I...H-how dare you?!" Weiss growled.
"Just citing facts. You could use the experience."
"G-guys, come on. Let's calm down. We're all friends here!" Ruby tried to keep the peace among the alts. She even held up her hands, despite no one else being the room.
"Alright. Fine. I'll talk to the dolt."
"Wait, really?" Yang was just as surprised as Ruby was, and she voiced both of their thoughts.
"I will talk to him. If only so Blake will get off my back."
"Good enough"
"Well, alright then!" Yang's voice cheered. "Looks like I'm meeting him too."
"Whooo…" Despite putting the idea out there in the first place, a powerful, overbearing sense of dread crushed Ruby's spirit. She was quickly regretting her decision. "Can we please put down some ground rules?"
"Don't worry, Rubes." Yang grinned. "We'll be on our best behavior!"
That promise did little to dissuade the regret and dread building up in Ruby's stomach.
Blake volunteered to be the first of the alts to talk to Jaune that day. She waited for him at his and Ruby's usual meeting spot, standing in the corner of Beacon's parking lot. She wore Ruby's clothes, though there was significantly less red on her than Ruby typically wore. She waited, alone with her thoughts, enjoying the rare moment of peace for herself.
He should be here soon. She lifted her eyes from Ruby's cell and looked around the parking lot. She saw no sign of the car Ruby described to her..
Blake wasn't worried about meeting Jaune. She could hardly say she liked the man, but he was innocent until proven guilty. As long as he treated Ruby well, Blake didn't want to waste her time with him. She would meet him today, say what she needed to say, and that would hopefully be the end of it between them.
As she stood there, she found herself glancing at Ruby's bangs. She never did like the color red. Just looking at it brought a small frown to her lips. She brushed her hair out of her eyes, before moving to fix her bow.
The long black ribbon was one of the few things she could call hers. She pulled it tighter, brushing Ruby's hair under it as she finally noticed Jaune's car driving towards her. It stopped in front of Blake and she could hear the doors unlock as Jaune waved at her from the inside, a large smile on her face.
Blake tried to return the gesture, putting on a smile that hurt her cheeks. How Ruby could stomach smiling so much was beyond her. She stepped inside the car and sat beside Jaune, pulling a seatbelt over her.
"Hey, Rubes! Nice look. Think this is the first time I've ever seen you not wear something red."
"Thanks," Blake nodded her head, not really acknowledging the comment.
"So, you said you wanted to go to the library, right?"
"I did." She nodded her head again.
"No problem." Jaune drove the car forward with a smile on his face, though Blake noticed he kept glancing at her. She tried not to look too annoyed at that, but pretending to be Ruby was already a chore. "So, what are you hoping to find at the library?"
Blake tried, she really did try, not to look at Jaune like he was an idiot. "Books?"
"Oh. Right." He kept his eyes on the road, and the personality sighed in her mind. She was very bad at being Ruby. The ride was quiet for a few minutes, before Jaune spoke up again. "Hey, Rubes? Are you okay? You're pretty quiet today…"
He noticed, she thought. Of course he did, he was expecting Ruby's hyperactive personality, nt Blake's quiet stoicism. "Just thinking," Blake replied, with a small shrug.
"About?"
She contemplated the question. She thought about how alike Adam and Jaune were. She thought about what she wanted to read. She thought about the ramifications of Ruby's choices were making for her and the others. So many things Blake couldn't tell Jaune. She really had only one option to answer with.
"What I'm going to read."
"Looking for anything in particular?" Jaune showed interest in what Blake liked to read. She made a mental note of that, realizing it was another similarity he had with Adam. Time will tell how genuine the interest was.
"Fantasy."
"Cool. Like Lord of the Rings, or something?"
"Or something." She stared at the window, watching the world go by. "I prefer darker fantasy. Something more realistic."
"Really? That's surprising. Never took you for the type..." Blake didn't say anything. "Well, I'll help you look when we get there. Maybe we can find something good together?" She replied with a quiet nod, leaving silence to fill the car once again.
It was nice while it lasted, but it didn't last long. "Ruby? Are you sure you're okay?"
He never stops talking, she thought with a huff. She didn't respond for a while, considering what to say in response. It didn't take her long to find something she had actually been meaning to say to Jaune. She had forgotten all about it, but it quickly came back to her.
"Ruby?"
"I'm sorry."
"Huh? What for?" They stopped at a light, and Blake finally turned her head to look at him again. He was confused.
"For that night. During the movie. I'm sorry for the way I acted."
"Is that what's bothering you?" he laughed. "Ruby, it's fine! Really. Besides, I'm pretty sure you did apologize to me."
"Just felt like it needed saying again," she mumbled.
"Well, I accept your apology. Again." Blake nodded her head, and despite the distrust she had for Jaune, she did feel mildly better. It was a small gesture, but one she had wanted to get off her chest for a while.
She returned to staring out the window as Jaune drove them to the library. The rest of the car ride was a blissful silence as the sun's rays gently fell on Blake's face.
Blake didn't think much of Jaune Arc. He seemed harmless enough, and while she was ready to snap his finger if he touched Ruby the wrong way, she'd let the main personality interact with him. For now. Until they drifted apart or he made a fatal mistake.
He shouldn't be a problem, she thought.
They soon reached the library. Jaune parked the car, and Blake stepped out without a word. She walked towards the front door, Jaune following behind her. They entered the small building together and Blake quickly separated from him.
"I'm going to find some books. Could you find us a table?"
"Sure."
Blake walked away from Jaune and casually entered an empty aisle. She made sure she was alone, before she closed her eyes. She thought loudly, calling out to Weiss.
"I'm ready. Are you?"
The time Blake had spent with Jaune was short, but that was fine by her. She spoke to him, said what she wanted to say, and left it at that. She had no intention of making a friend out of Jaune. Weiss hadn't been completely wrong accusing Blake of hyprocosy, but the truth was she wasn't looking for a friend.
After losing Sun, Blake just didn't want to bother forming another doomed friendship.
"As I'll ever be," Weiss sighed.
Blake released control of the body, letting go of Ruby's form as Weiss took control. It was difficult to describe. It felt like letting go and falling into a pool of warm water. It took a couple of seconds, but it felt a lot longer sometimes.
The personality drifted to the deep recesses of Ruby's mind as Weiss opened her eye, and took her first breath in hours.
Weiss opened her eyes, staring at a bookshelf. She rolled her neck, taking another deep breath as she looked around. She looked at herself, and frowned at her clothes. Black pants, black shoes, black coat…
Typical Blake. Weiss might not have been a fashionista, but she personally couldn't stand the color black. It was… too gothic? Childish? She rolled her eyes, unbuttoning the coat to find a white blouse under it.
White wasn't Weiss' favorite color, she wasn't even sure she had one, but it was better than just black. Weiss smoothed the wrinkled fabric on her body, before hanging the black coat on her arm.
Alright, Weiss. Time to get this over with. Just read some books and then tell him you're ready to leave. It sounded simple, but then why did she feel so anxious? There was nothing to be worried about. She's talked to people before. This was nothing different.
Just get this over with, Weiss… She took a step forward, only to hesitate. Wait… She came to a painful realization at that moment. She had no idea what Jaune looked like.
Jaune wasn't sure what was bothering Ruby, but he really hoped he could help her. He knew something was wrong with her, even if she denied it. She looked okay, but she seemed depressed when they spoke in his car. Compared to how high energy and bright the woman usually seemed, it was like someone turn her personality upside down.
The way she walked, the way she talked, all of it seemed different than the happy-go-lucky girl he knew. She seemed slightly better after apologizing, but Jaune still worried for her.
He tapped his fingers against the table, frowning as he wondered what he could do for her, only to look up as he noticed Ruby walk by him. She had several books, and her coat, under her arms, but Jaune was staring at her face. He arched his brow as he noticed how confused she looked.
Ruby's eyes traveled along the other tables, staring at the people sitting there, before turning around. Jaune held up his hand and waved at Ruby, putting on a smile for her.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked when she got closer.
"Jaune…?" She lifted a brow up, and he did the same. Was she asking him a question?
"Um, yeah?"
"Oh. Good. I'm fine." She quickly sat across from him, and opened one of her books. Jaune felt a sense of deja vu as he looked at Ruby, noticing how… off she was acting again. She was practically ignoring him.
"Um, Rubes? You okay?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" she replied, eyes skimming over the book.
"You sure? Cause you've hardly spoken to me all day. You've just seemed kind of quiet?"
"We're at a library," she replied, her tone short and cold. He saw her eyes slimming into a glare. "Do you know what you're not supposed to do at a library?"
"Uh, talk?"
"Exactly. And what are you doing?" she asked. Jaune blinked, clearly dumbfounded by the sharp tongue and cold front that Ruby was giving him. She took his silence as an answer, nodding her head. "There you go." Ruby then returned to her book, without another word. .
This wasn't like the car ride. Ruby had gone from quiet to just… rude! The sudden change left Jaune utterly confused, and he leaned back in his seat as he stared at her.
"Alright. Guess I'll shut up then," he muttered.
"Sounds like a good idea. Thank you." She didn't glance up from her book.
Jaune sighed. He stood up from his seat and walked off, leaving to find something to read. If Ruby noticed him leaving, she didn't say anything.
Weiss wasn't sure what was Jaune's problem. How hard was it to be quiet? Couldn't he just stop bothering her and let her read in peace?
She fidgeted in her seat, trying to get comfortable as that oaf's face flashed in her mind. Weiss scowled, shaking her head as her eyes glanced around the library for Jaune.
Maybe I was a little too short with him, she thought to herself. He was probably expecting Ruby, and her overenergenic, million-words-in-a-minute mouth. But Weiss didn't know how to be Ruby. The only person she really knew how to be was herself.
Weiss quietly cursed the others for putting her in this position. She didn't even want to be out here in the first place…
Maybe I will apologize to him when he returns, she thought to herself, and speak of the Devil, she saw Jaune walking back to their table with several books in his hand. He sat across from her, and she opened her mouth to apologize only to stop as he laid the books onto the table.
Just one glance at them wiped away any thought of apologizing. "You must be joking," she groaned.
"What?"
"Comics? Really? We're at a library," she declared, placing a hand on one of those ridiculous books to inspect it. It had some tights-wearing idiot flying through the air, with some scantily clad, female counterpart by their side.
For Weiss, the books were little better than paperweights.
"Yeah. What's wrong with comics?" Jaune replied, a frown forming on his mouth.
"They're childish."
"You like comics!"
Weiss wanted to smack herself in the head. Of course. How could she forget? Ruby loved that drivel! Weiss wanted to kick herself upside the head for such a stupid move. You idiot! She scolded herself, glaring at Jaune with her silver eyes.
"Oh. Yes. Of course. Sorry," she grumbled, quickly averting her eyes.
"Ruby, seriously, are you feeling alright? You're acting really weird. You're not acting like yourself."
Weiss grumbled to herself, unsure how she should have been acting. It was like walking towards a building and realizing just how tall it was. Weiss never realized how hard it was to pretend to be Ruby.
"Just not feeling like myself," she mumbled. "Sorry." She hated this. She hated being put in this position. Blake was right. Weiss had never had a friend before, and while she could fake it enough to get through short conversation, actually sitting down with someone like Jaune was… difficult.
"How can I help?"
She wished she had an answer. Her eyes fell back onto her book, but it was suddenly taken away from her by the blond. Her eyes widened, and she glared at him. "What are you doing, you-?"
"Ruby, stop. Talk to me. What's wrong?"
She really didn't know how to answer the question. She was an alternate personality, roped into talking to someone she didn't care about by the real Ruby Rose. What was Weiss supposed to say? What was she supposed to do?
"Arc," she growled through closed teeth. "Drop it. There's nothing to talk about."
But apparently Jaune Arc had other plans. "Not until you talk to me. It doesn't even have to be about what's wrong. Maybe I can get your mind off of what's bothering you?"
That sounded like the closest thing to a way that Weiss had. So she tried to find something to talk about, pondering her options, until her eyes fell on Jaune's pile of books. Most of them were comics about men in tights, but there was one book that stood out.
It had a hardbook cover, with pictures of guitars on the front. The title hung on the very top of the book, and she found her conversation topic.
"You play guitar?" she asked, motioning to the book. 'The Guitar and You. A Guide to Acoustic Guitars.'
"Oh, yeah." He smiled at her, and she hoped this would finally do away with the heavy atmosphere between them, and the constant questions and poking. "Used to play it all the time when I was in highschool. I even took a few classes in Beacon."
"You attended Beacon's musical program?" Weiss' eyes widened at that. She knew Beacon was one of the best schools in the country, famed for being renowned in practically every field of education. Science, art, and everything in between. The fact that Jaune was even able to attend those classes was… "That's… surprising."
"Thanks. The teacher said I was pretty good."
"Then why quit?" she asked, genuinely curious. Her question knocked the smile off of his face, and that just made her more confused. Weiss worked hard to be the best at what she did. That meant studying hard to be the top of her class.
To think Jaune Arc, one of Ruby's friends, was the top of any class was shocking for her. Why quit? If you were the best at something, why give up on that?"
"It's stupid," he admitted.
"And?" For Weiss, hearing Jaune call something in his life stupid was like a fish calling something wet. It was so obvious, it didn't seem to matter.
"My girlfriend and I broke up." He rested his head on his hand, sighing. "When she left me, she… It's stupid, but she took away my ability to play. My ability to write music, to play it… I just couldn't do it."
He probably expected Weiss, or Ruby, to make fun of him. It was easy to see his problem as some cliche. His girlfriend broke up with him, and he was left a whiny mess, but that was the crazy thing.
Weiss understood it, strangely enough, or rather, she could understand how painful it would be to lose the ability to create music. As her mind pondered the feeling, she couldn't help but remember her own origins.
The young personality had never lost anything or anyone in her life, yet she was born from the sense of lost.
An alternate personality, in most cases, is made when someone goes through a traumatic experience. Weiss was made, like most personalities, to act as a stand-in for Ruby. Weiss was born after the worst year in Ruby's life. In the span of that one year, Ruby lost everyone close to her. Her mother was locked up in an asylum, her father kept his distance from her, and Adam took advantage of her, before abandoning her like a broken toy.
After all of that, Ruby found it impossible to focus on schoolwork. Life fell apart, and Ruby wasn't sure how she was supposed to move on
Thus Weiss was born to live someone else's life. Weiss still remembered her first days. She woke up in Ruby's body, without a name, and Yang, Blake, and Ruby didn't know what to think of the stranger at first. They didn't trust her, but Weiss quickly found her purpose. While Ruby recovered with Yang's love and support, Weiss got them through highschool with honors.
Weiss kept to herself throughout her time at Signal High, burying herself into her studies. She had no family, just like Blake, but unlike the other alt, Weiss never made a friend before. Even her bond with Yang, Blake, and Ruby couldn't really be called a friendship. They were stuck together, but they weren't friends, or even a family. They were just voices in Ruby's head… Buffers.
For Weiss, there were only three things important to her. Ruby's safety, because her pain would inevitably be Weiss' pain, Ruby's grades, because those were Weiss' responsibility, and singing. Because singing was the only thing that Weiss could call her own.
She discovered her talent while working on Ruby's homework. She started playing music to help her focus, and… she just started singing along to it. There was no deeper meaning to it. She just had fun singing, and if she ever lost that talent, she would have nothing to her name.
It wasn't the same, but it did give her a unique insight to Jaune.
"That's terrible," Weiss admitted. "I can't imagine how painful that must have been. If I lost the ability to sing, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
"You sing?" Jaune asked, raising his brow.
"Oh." Weiss kicked herself again. "O-only a little. It's nothing impressive. Don't bring it up again," she quickly demanded. "Forget what I said. I understand how painful that must have been to lose your girlfriend, and musical talent… Have you tried playing anything recently?" The silence was suddenly unbearable. It was too damn awkward and too damn frustrating.
"Hm? No, not really," he confessed.
"You should," she commented. "Talent doesn't just go away. You have ten fingers that aren't broken. You should try. What's the worst that can happen?"
"I look like an idiot?" Jaune replied, but Weiss just rolled her eyes.
"How is that different than now?" she wondered. It came out a lot meaner than she meant. She hoped she hadn't just ruined what little good faith she and Jaune just built together.
Jaune opened his mouth, only to close his lips. "Maybe you're right." He smiled at her, his eyes agleam with a strange spark. "How about a deal? I'll practice my guitar, if you sing me a song sometime."
"I… M-maybe. We'll see. I'm not promising anything," she sighed. Her cheeks felt hot. She'd never sung for someone else before. "Just shut up," she grumbled, closing her eyes.
"Never sang in front of anyone before?" he questioned, and she huffed. "I get that. I was terrified when I first played in front of my friends, but I bet you're great."
Weiss felt her cheeks heat up again, and she didn't reply. Jaune smiled at her, and she did her best to silence him with a glare. The attempt probably fell flat due to her pink-tinted face. At least the tension in the library seemed to dissipate. She returned to her book, and this time Jaune said nothing.
The alternate personality wasn't sure what to think of Jaune. She could certainly see why Ruby liked him. The two were annoyingly similar. Hm. 'Annoying,' and 'frustrating.' Two perfect words for the dolt.
Eventually the two put their books away and got ready to go. Ruby excused herself to the bathroom, and when she came back, Jaune noticed another sudden shift in her mood. First she was quiet, then she was mean, and now she looked… happy.
"Jaune!" Ruby beamed, firing finger guns at him. "There you are."
"Uh, hey, Rubes. You okay?"
"Never been better. In fact, I just wanted to say thanks for dealing with me today. I know how weird I've been," she explained.
It was a relief to hear Ruby acknowledge her own odd behavior. He smiled at her, and waved his hand in the air. "Don't worry about it. It's okay."
"Yeah, just some woman problems. You know how it is."
"Woman problems? Anything I can do to help?" Jaune asked.
"It's just… a bad time of the month. Know what I mean?" Ruby made a face like she was trying not to laugh, and realization hit Jaune like a train.
He lived with Nora. He knew what 'bad time of the month' was code for. "Oh! I am so sorry! Um, anything I can do to help? I'm sorry!"
"Actually, there is. My friend and I were going to hang out tonight, and I was wondering if you'd come along. I think you'll really like her," Ruby smirked.
"Huh?" Jaune was taken back by the offer, and he scratched the back of his head as his cheeks turned a faint red. "Are you sure? I don't want to get in your way, especially if you're having a bad month."
"That's why I want you there! Friends make everything better, right? Don't worry about it!" Ruby gave a toothy grin and gently smacked her fist against his arm. "I ain't taking no for an answer. Neon's been dying to meet you, Jauney."
"I… Well, okay."
"Awesome! Thanks, Jaune." Ruby winked at the taller man, before grabbing his arm and pulling him along, ripping him from where he stood. "Let's get back to my place! I need a change of clothes! The three of us are gonna paint this town red!"
Jaune felt very, very confused.
He waited downstairs in Ruby's living room, listening to Ruby change upstairs. When Jaune finally heard her coming down the ladder and he looked up. What he saw left his jaw hanging to the ground and his eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"Hey, you…?" Holy shit.
Ruby looked… Well, she always looked cute, he couldn't deny that, but this was the first time he ever looked at Ruby and realized how mature she looked. She was a woman, and the clothes she wore emphasized that.
She wore black pants that clung to her legs, outlining their shapely, sleek figure. Her midriff was exposed, letting Jaune see her flat stomach. He also saw how curvaceous her figure was, which was very. Ruby was very, very curvy. She wore a burnt orange top that was just low enough to expose her cleavage, and tight enough to reveal just how 'gifted' Ruby was under the baggy clothes she usually wore. Again, the answer was very.
The gleam in her eye was captivating. Different than anything he'd seen in those silver eyes before. Jaune gulped down spit, shaking as Ruby sauntered towards him. She smiled confidently, flicking her crimson locks behind her ear.
"What's wrong, Jauney? Ruby got your tongue?"
"I… I…" Jaune bit his own tongue, waking him from the trance he was falling into. "Y-you look good."
"Aw, thanks!" Ruby grinned. "Thought I'd try something new!" She placed a hand on the back of her head, and another on her hip, posing for Jaune. His eyes shot up, so he could only see her face out of the corner of his eyes. "Glad to see you approved. So, ready to meet Neon Katt?"
Jaune nodded his head, and Ruby smirked at him. He felt like a passenger on a rollercoaster, and Ruby was the one with the level. With a simple pull, his life was sent into a spiral. It was terrifying seeing Ruby so… take charge and confident, yet he found himself liking it.
Maybe it was just nice to be along for the ride.
Yang stood on the sidewalk with Jaune, and she made idle conversation. She wasn't like Blake or Weiss. She was outgoing, fiery, and had no problem holding a conversation with a stranger. Jaune made idle talk with her as she watched his eyes.
He was doing a good job not looking at Ruby's body. Yang was almost impressed. It was a fine line Yang had to draw. If she had her own body, she'd wear whatever she wanted. Show off that she looked good, embrace that she looked good, but she didn't have her own body. She had her sister's body.
Usually she wouldn't dress up Ruby's body in such risque clothes, but this was important. She needed to know this man's intentions with her little sister. If that meant playing the 'sexy,' card, so be it.
It wasn't like it was just Ruby's body that made Yang sexy. The alt learned a long time ago that sexy had to do with your mind, as much as it did your body. You had to carry yourself with confidence, and allure. Everytime Yang smiled at Jaune, her silver eyes gleamed with an almost predatory gaze.
He'd gulp and look away, trying so hard to stick to his 'nice guy' routine.
"Here she comes!" Yang beamed, waving her hands at the familiar car. Neon parked in front of the two, rolling down the window to greet them.
"What's up, Ruby-Tuby!? And you must be Jaune, right? Neon Katt, it's totally nice to meet you!"
"Uh, hey," Jaune greeted.
"Shotgun!" Yang declared, walking into the car. She bumped her fist against Neon's, as Jaune climbed into the back. "Long time no see, Neon!"
"Long time? Awww, did you miss me that bad?" Neon giggled, gently poking Yang's nose. "You're so cute, Rubes."
"Cute? Psh. Come on, Neon, you know I'm hot." Yang smirked at Neon, before turning her head to the red-faced Jaune. "Ready to party, Ruby-style, Jaune?"
"Uhh…"
"We're taking that as a yes. Punch it, Neon!"
"Punching it!" The car came to life and it shot like a rocket, leaving Jaune to sink into the leather seat as Yang enjoyed the speed and force. She loved Neon's driving. Judging by his whimpering, Jaune did not.
Jaune didn't know bad driving could be until he sat down in Neon's car. Maybe a better word would have been insane. After all, Neon didn't crash or anything, but the way she drove down the streets of Vale was… well, it defied all logic. Why no one stopped her both amazed, and terrified Jaune.
The car stopped and Jaune practically fell out of the car, holding his stomach as he panted , rubbing his hands against the cold, hard ground.
"Oh, thank god." Once the joy of solid ground set in, he realized just how twisted his stomach felt. "Oh, god…"
"Hey, he okay?" Neon wondered, pointing at Jaune's groaning corpse-like body.
"I'm sure he's fine. Come on, let's go!" Ruby reached down and hoisted Jaune onto his feet, electing another groan from his body. "On your feet, Jaunie! I'm gonna show you the best club in Vale!"
"Yaaay," he grumbled, trying to keep up with her pace.
It didn't take long for the trio to reach said club. It was fairly hard to miss, Jaune realized. The entrance was a staircase on the side of a small building downtown. The staircase went under the building, and there was a long line of people trying to get in. The faint sound of music could be heard through the walls as Neon and Ruby skipped the line and made straight for the entrance.
"Uh, hey, girls? We're cutting," Jaune commented.
"Oh, you sweet, sweet summer child. You have much to learn," Neon giggled.
Ruby walked right up the bouncer and pulled out a card from her tan coat. The burly man looked at it, before nodding his head. He stepped out of their way and motioned the group in. Neon and Ruby walked in without a second thought, and Jaune quickly followed after a moment of hesitation.
Jaune was almost knocked down from the force of the music inside. The deep bass, the sheer volume, and the bone-shaking beats made him shiver for a second as the music pounded against the walls.
Neon was beaming, pulling Jaune along as Ruby stretched out her arms to the ceiling. "Whooo!" She looked at Jaune and Neon, motioning them into the crowd as laser lights blinded the young man for a moment.
There were so many people, and it was so dark, and warm in the underground club. It's not like Jaune had never been to a club before, but this was like the difference between going to the beach and being in a tsunami. It was nuts.
People were shaking their bodies, undulating to the beat as Ruby led the group deeper into the beast's belly. Bright neon lights outlined the bar as light rained down from the ceiling. Jaune tried his best to take in the scene, but it was like trying to drink from a hose on full power. It was too much.
"I-is the DJ wearing a mouse head?"
"Junior!" Ruby screamed, holding up her arms to greet the bartender. "Drinks for me and my girl, Neon!"
Jaune turned his head to the bartender. He was a taller man with black hair on his head, and all over the lower half of his face. He certainly didn't look like a Junior, especially as he glared at Ruby. He finally nodded his head, reaching down to grab some bottles.
"Here. Just don't break anything," Junior demanded, pouring two shot glasses for Neon and Yang. He then turned his surly glare to Jaune. "And who the hell is he?"
"He's Jaune! You know, Jaune Carc?" Neon giggled, downing her glass.
"Arc."
"Right, right. Arc Carc." She snorted, smirking at Junior.
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. He actually has to pay for his drinks."
"Sorry, Jaune." Ruby turned her face to Jaune, smiling apologetically at him.
"Um, no problem… I'll just have a water, please." Junior nodded his head, pouring a glass of water for him, before pouring another glass of liquor for Neon.
"Heh. He said, 'please,'" Neon snickered.
Another pounding beat filled the air, and Ruby beamed. "Oh, I love this song! Jaune, you mind finding us a table while Neon and I dance?" Her silver eyes lit up as Jaune blinked.
"Oh, sure, I-" And they were already gone. Ruby pulled Neon into the crowd of people, leaving Jaune alone for the bustling dance floor. He blinked, clearly confused, before his face turned a bright red as he saw Ruby dancing on the dance floor. Once again, he was given a harsh reminder that she was a woman. A very attractive one, at that.
END
Phew. This chapter was hard to write, I won't lie. I'm really scared I messed up, so I hope you guys like this chapter.
Originally this chapter was going to be longer, but I decided to shorten it so that the important stuff next chapter has proper focus. Imagine this chapter and the next as two parts of the same whole. Blake and Weiss both had their time with Jaune with varying success. We also got a chance to learn more about both of them.
As I mentioned before, adapting these characters to the real world isn't easy, but I manage. Weiss has had a sheltered and closed off life, just like in RWBY, except this is because she knows she's not normal. She's an alternate personality, and so she closed herself off and focused on her studies. I had to deal with the fact that in this world, she has no father, or company, and she's no heiress.
Hopefully I did a good job adapting her, and the others.
Next chapter focuses on Yang, Ruby, Neon, and Jaune! Look forward to it, and as always, if you like my work and want to support me, I have a Pat-reon. (Winks)
Stay safe, folks, love you, and be good to each other. Leave a review if you can, as they're always nice. Bye!
Next Update: July 25th, 2018.
