I just wanted to preface this by saying thank you all for the support you have given me on this and my other stories. I feel really happy writing new chapters knowing so many people enjoy them. Enjoy.
"Ren… do you think we can outrun them?" Jaune asked as he peaked out from behind the bush the duo was hiding behind.
It was late afternoon on a nice spring day in Vale and the sister teams of RWBY and JNPR were enjoying it while they could on one of their days off from studies. The activities included a picnic prepared by the resident males, several little activities to keep the more energetic - *cough* Nora and Ruby *cough* - entertained, and lots of casual talking amongst friends.
Or at least that is what it started out as.
"I don't know Jaune. They can't be far from us and we both know how fast Ruby would be able to gather them all back up if she spots us." The green-clad student said to his leader as he scanned the area behind them.
Everything had gone to plan from the start. Nora and Ruby quickly ate their food and began playing catch or tag with each other – the other members of their group jumping in and out of games as the day went on.
But a single spark is all that is needed to start a fire. And as usual when it came to the more fiery of the blondes in their circle, she tended to like fire more often than not.
An offhanded comment on Jaune's part about spending several afternoons back home like this with his sisters prompted an onslaught of questions from Yang about his home life. Several of which were rather provocative in nature.
Being the open guy he was, Jaune answered most of the questions without discretion and even gave answers – though guarded they were – to her more devious inquiries. Though that didn't satiate the hungry dragon who found easy prey.
Another round of questions, this time much more carefully worded to hide the bite curtesy of years spent coaxing the truth out of Ruby, and she had her dirt. A slip of the tongue about being a rather effeminate child until he hit his mid-teens sealed his fate.
"We have to try something. Blake is bound to start checking the garden any minute and if she doesn't Nora might just start threatening to blow up the school grounds until she finds us."
The fire was further kindled when Nora mentioned that Ren was in the same boat, as several times throughout their journey people would mistake Ren for a flat chested woman. Giggles all around – even though Weiss tried to hide hers – threw up warning signs in the quiet boy's head.
The questions stopped, but Ren could tell Yang was scheming something with both her partner and his own when she shared hushed whispers when she thought he and Jaune weren't paying attention. It was subtle, but for someone who dealt with a schemer every day for the last decade of his life, it didn't escape his sight.
Using his own subtle hints, he alerted his leader to the danger and the two began to plot an escape should things get messy. They didn't want a repeat of the New Year's Party on their hands… especially in the public eye.
"Good point. We can start making our way through the back and towards the main building. If we can stay out of their site and make it to Oobleck's classroom we can hide out there until dinner."
Of course the situation worsened as they planned. Yang tried to grab Jaune while Nora did the same with him.
He easily evaded his friend while Jaune clumsily avoided Yang's bear hug. The two males sprung to their feet, Ren barely avoiding the secondary strike from Blake that came from his side while his leader shed the metal armor on his torso before Pyrrha could take advantage of it – bringing a pout to the redhead's face.
They heard something about needing to experiment and girl's night in, and that was enough to push the needle from on guard to flee. One glance at each other and they were gone.
Ignoring the cries for them to 'Stop' 'Halt' 'Freeze' and 'Get their asses back here' led to the duo escaping for the moment. The jumped a hedge and hit in the shrubbery of Beacon's garden for cover as they plotted their next move.
"Got it. Let's get a move on." At Jaune's call they both slowly moved through the greenery, keeping a close eye on their surroundings for potential enemies.
It took them several minutes at their pace to reach the opposite side of the garden. The observed the area that led to the school's main building – there wasn't a huntress in sight.
"On three we make a break for it." Jaune offered up as he looked to his companion. Seeing the determination in his own eyes reflected back by Ren, he nodded. "One, two, thr-" and the countdown was cutoff as a ribbon wrapped itself around Jaune's mouth and pulled him backwards.
Ren let out a tired sigh as he turned around to find Blake with Jaune held firmly in her arms and Ruby smiling sheepishly at him.
"Sorry Ren… Yang caught me up to speed and- Oh don't give me that look Jaune! How could I possibly say no to this?!" the young reaper claimed, seeing the betrayed look his leader was giving her from his restrained position.
"I on the other hand am not apologizing." Blake clarified her stance as she tightened her grip on the blonde. "Now either come with us peacefully or Ruby takes Jaune to the others and I distract you long enough for us to have the numbers advantage in the overwhelming sense."
A flash of blue caught the pink-eyed boy's attention and he gave a small smile to the faunus.
"Apologies Blake. But my leader and I have something else in mind."
As he said that he faked a forward charge, running directly at the two until the last second when he took a sharp right.
The fake movement distracted the two long enough for Jaune to break the startled Blake's hold and join his comrade in running for their freedom.
He heard the telltale noise of Ruby using her semblance, and their chances of escape dropped dramatically. They knew the general area they were going to hideout in and who knows if Blake had heard anything of their plans before she revealed herself.
He and Jaune would need to converse once they lost the brunette inside, but for now he focused on running. They cleared the majority of the courtyard and were mere steps away from possible asylum.
That is until a golden javelin impacted the feet in front of his leader's path.
Shocked, the two readjusted course. Or at least he managed to as a mass of orange and yellow tackled Jaune from the side and pinned him beneath its mass.
He heard Yang's shout of victory at the capture of her initial prey but pressed on. He knew Jaune would want him to live beyond this moment.
He cleared the steps to the entrance in one leap, shoving the doors open with vigor. Freedom in his grasp.
Before his heart dropped upon seeing the smiling ginger waiting on the other side of the gates of heaven.
"Hey Renny. It was really mean of you and our fearless leader to run off on us like that. Almost made us think you didn't want to hang out with us for girl's night in." His oldest friend said as if nothing was wrong with the world.
"… Nora. You do understand Jaune and I are both not girls, right?" he knew Nora could be dense, but he was really fearing for her answer.
She gave him a that told him he was being stupid. "Of course I know that silly. But you both hang out with only girls, and Jauney has seven sisters so that means you both are honorary girls!" she stated and left no room for argument.
"I wouldn't put it in those terms, but she is partially right. You may not be female, but I believe the term would 'one of the girls' does apply to you Ren." Weiss said as she came up from behind him, sharing a sympathetic look with him.
"Yup! It wouldn't be the same without you two! Now c'mon, I have cookies and ice cream and we can start with painting each other's nails!" Ruby ran ahead, all to enthusiastic about the situation.
He felt Nora's hand grab his arm and pull him along despite his weak show of defiance. His leader was being carried under Yang's arm while Pyrrha happily chatted with his captor, and seemed resigned to their fate.
Ren sighed once more. "Make sure the color at least matches this time…"
A/N:
This was written in two hours after I had some inspiration to do something like this. I know it is short, but I have had no time to write for fun over the past few weeks so I am happy that I can at least give you something.
I originally had a chapter about Jaune being a faunus planned, but when I started writing it I ran into some creative problems that I want to work out before I actually knock that one out. In that regard, here is my question to all of you.
Do you care if I make that story about Jaune actually being a faunus or him interacting with faunus on a closer level? I have an idea in mind for both, but I just want to check your interests.
Let me know what you think about the chapter, any ideas you might have, and I will write another one in less time than two months this
- CP