Just Act Casually
AN: And the moment you've all been waiting for…and that I've been nervous about. This is the culmination of everything the story has had thus far. A lot of little details and jokes are coming back as part of this 'final' bit. Also fair warning, it gets pretty explicit but nowhere near as bad as most scenes like this from other fics.
Chapter 9: Advance
Ruby woke up feeling groggy and with a tingling feeling in her stomach. She only had a light hangover. Most of her drinking was early enough in the day prior to work its way out of her system before she went to bed. It also helped her that she released a lot of pent up frustration while alone in her bed. So now, she just felt a little woozy.
She didn't know why she did it. She didn't feel any different now than she did just a day ago. She was a little heartbroken over Oscar but was glad he had the balls to say it before things got too serious. As the smell of breakfast filled her nose, she remembered everything.
She remembered when she first met Jaune, how relieved she was to meet someone nice at Beacon. She remembered when they were both named leaders. She remembered all the adventures they went on. She remembered how easy it was to talk to him. She remembered how Pyrrha was not pleased with their casual interactions. She remembered how he stood by her side when she was on top of the world, and when the world came crashing down. She remembered how he and Yang held her when she cried at Qrow's funeral. How all of Team JNPR were willing to break Whitley for breaking her heart.
"It was always going to come to this…wasn't it?" Ruby asked herself. She took another whiff of the aroma and got up. She didn't bother changing clothes. This was her day to just relax. All her bills could be taken care of over her scroll.
She walked into the kitchen and saw Jaune scrambling some eggs in one pan and frying bacon in another. Ruby stood in the back for a second taking in the sight. She then swallowed her pride and walked up to the coffee pot.
"Good morning." He said.
"Morning." She said back. She took a sip from the fresh brew. "So about last night…"
"It's alright. You were emotionally stressed, I comforted you, you got caught up in the heat of the moment." It was too early in the morning to argue with him. "I was thinking we could go out to the club tonight. Maybe we could unwind a bit."
"I'd rather just stay here and not do shit." She said. "Order a pizza, drink wine, watch cheesy monster movies, that sort of thing."
"Alright." Jaune said.
Ruby made herself a plate and chowed down on the meal. Jaune sat next to her on the couch and turned on the channel notorious for old schlocky films. She kicked her feet up and enjoyed the terrible over acting gratuitous violence. And she enjoyed Jaune's jokes at the characters' expense.
"Hey Jaune." Ruby said.
"Yes?" Jaune responded. Ruby hiked up a leg and farted a loud fart.
"That's what I think about this movie."
"Really?" He said flatly. "Fart jokes?"
"Where would comedy be without fart jokes?"
"Probably in the shitter." Jaune smiled.
"Lame. You're supposed to say it would be all congested."
"Oh, like that's any better."
"It at least makes sense. We're talking bowl movements and comedy. It's a one-to-one correlation."
"Comedy doesn't have to make sense."
"The best comedies do." Ruby said as a matter of fact. She grabbed her sunglasses from the table. "Hey look I'm Yang Xiao Long." She continued in a mocking voice. "I'm a shithead that'll sleep with anyone who can go from sweet to rough whenever I want them to."
"Is that so?"
"Oh yeah, totally ditched my sister to live with my boy-toy in Mistral. That's all good. Now she gets to live with her best friend instead."
"Silver lining." Jaune said. Ruby dropped the façade and put the glasses away.
She took out her scroll and went to her payment account. She transferred money from her personal account to the company that owned the complex. After going through a few bureaucratic loopholes on the phone it was done. Her livelihood was secure for another month. And so was Jaune's.
"There, now that that's taken care of." Ruby leaned back in the couch. "Let's marathon some shit."
"With pleasure." Jaune said.
They continued to watch bad movie after bad movie. A little after noon, Jaune made them both chicken sandwiches to hold them over. Then, it came time to order that pizza. Ruby stretched her body all the way and set an arm behind Jaune's neck. She giggled as she felt him shiver. He was so ticklish there.
"About time for that pizza." Ruby said.
"We just spent the last eight hours, binge watching some bullshit movies." Jaune exacerbated.
"I know, isn't it fucking awesome." Ruby said. "I mean, how many people do either of us know that can just make a day out of watching cheesy movies for shits and giggles?"
"No one I guess." Jaune said.
"What do you want on your pizza?" Ruby asked as she went to the website.
"Mushrooms, olives and peppers." Jaune said. Ruby gave him a fowl look.
"That's weird. You're weird."
"It's healthy."
"It's a fucking pizza! If I wanted healthy I'd order Mistralian."
"Well you can have whatever greasy meats you want on your pizza. I'll stick with my veggies."
"Only greasy meat I want is…" Ruby nearly topped herself. "Sausage."
"Is that an innuendo?"
"Bitch, it might be."
"Alright, I'm addressing the goliath in the room." Jaune said. "You are in a way better mood than I thought you would be today."
"Well, good company, bacon and a schlock fest are a remedy for the blues." Ruby argued.
"If you say so."
"Besides, just paid the bills and still have plenty to party at least twice before I have to take another mission."
"Is this how you've always lived?"
"More or less." Ruby shrugged. "Life of an active duty huntress who grew up in a house full of them."
"Pyrrha always tried staying consistent."
"Well I'm not Pyrrha." Ruby stated.
"I know, and I'm thankful for that." Jaune said. "I never feel closeted around you. I never feel like some fragile thing."
"Good because you're not." Ruby said. "I'll prove it." She got close to him, close enough to smell his breath. "Next time I'm on a mission, you're coming with me."
"I'd rather not." He raised an eyebrow. Ruby backed away.
"Don't be a pussy. You need to get out of Vale every once in a while. Stretch your legs. See the world."
"I'd rather just see it through your eyes, in your stories." Jaune blushed as he said that.
"Well, you can't live vicariously through someone forever." She finalized the order and paid over the site. "I'm going to make some cookies for desert." Ruby got up and pulled out the ingredients. "When the pizza gets here, give him a nice tip."
"Can do." Jaune said.
Ruby mixed the ingredients and poured them onto a tray. The oven was already heated by the time she was done. So, she just slipped them in with a smile. The pizza guy arrived with their dinner. Jaune answered and tipped the driver. Jaune tapped her on the shoulder as she watched the gooey mess become something she loved so much.
"What do you want to drink?" Ruby asked.
"What are you having?" Jaune asked.
"Wine." As if it would be anything else on a day like this. Ruby grabbed the bottle and two glasses and set everything out. She grabbed a plate and loaded it with pizza. She then grabbed some strawberries from the fridge to balance the meal out.
They sat back down on the couch and ate their pizza while they watched the news. After catching up with all that was going on in the world, it was time to take the cookies out. Ruby quickly got the snacks out just before they started to burn. She did a little dance as she bit into one. She slid them all onto another plate and brought them to the table. This was the perfect meal if ever there was one.
"I'm about full." Jaune said. "Thanks for the pizza." He took a bite out of a cookie. "And these."
Ruby just nodded as she sipped her wine. As she realized the combination of foods she had gotten herself, she crossed her legs. It was time for an important decision. The next moments could determine the rest of her night and every night after that. As Jaune changed the channel onto some outrageous sitcom, Ruby leaned her head onto his shoulder.
"Jaune…you're my best friend."
"You already said that." Jaune responded. "You're my best friend too." Ruby licked her fingers slowly, watching him watch her do it.
"I just want to keep telling you that." Ruby slid closer to him. "Every time I've been down you're there for me. I don't know if I can ever repay you."
"You gave me a roof over my head."
"Out of necessity for both of us." She sighed. "It's just so weird. I see all these romances and lovey-dovey bullshit on TV where someone makes someone else feel special. They try so hard. But us, we can just sit around watching garbage all day and have a good time. I don't know about you, but I feel you're the only one I can be me around. Uncensored, unapologetic, lewd, crude, Ruby Rose." She said.
"What are you getting at?" Jaune asked.
"That we're better than them." She looked him in the eyes. "And we deserve this." She put a finger to his cheek. "And that kiss last night was not a mistake." She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in.
Their tongues drifted across one another in competition, Jaune tried pulling back. Ruby abused that, and pushed forward until his back hit the couch. She continued to suck his face until she needed air. Even when she did, she put her forehead to his shoulder. Her right hand drifted down his arm and her left hand moved up his side.
"Ruby…" Jaune strained. Ruby could feel his arousal poking up at her waist. "Are you sure?"
"The fact you're not freaking out tells me you want this." Ruby stated.
"I…I don't know." Jaune's breath hitched as she straddled his waist.
"Jaune, let me be crystal fucking clear. I think you're handsome as all hell and the most genuinely good guy I've ever been with. You're smart when you need to be and funny when you want to be."
"Thanks." His hands went to her hips. She gave a predatory smile.
"But most of all I feel like you're the only person I can be this casual with." She leaned in closer and kissed at his neck. "So, give me one good reason we shouldn't have some casual sex."
"Well…" Jaune strained as Ruby sucked on his neck. "I wouldn't want to ruin what we have…or compromise our friendship."
"It's not like we've known each other since childhood. Even if we had look at Ren and Nora and how happy they are. You've seen me happy, you've seen sad. You've seen me on top of the world. You've seen me shitfaced and crying and everything in between and you've always cared."
Despite Jaune's words, his body was not protesting. He was caressing her thighs with one hand and sliding a warm hand up her back with the other. Ruby adjusted on Jaune's lap, causing him to moan. She removed his shirt in one swoop. Ruby took a finger into her mouth then glided it across Jaune's pecs and abs.
"This doing anything for you?" She said as his body quivered. "When I met, you I didn't care about finding a boyfriend. Then you were fawning over Weiss. Then you started dating Pyrrha. This time with you is the only time where I've even entertained the thought of sleeping with you."
"I think it's the same. But what about all that talk about waiting and dates and your rule…"
"We've gone out, just the two of us, a fuck ton more times than I've gone with anyone." Ruby reminded him. She removed her own shirt and unclipped her bra. "Honestly, at this moment, feeling how right this feels, I'm surprised we haven't fucked before."
Jaune sat up beneath her. This time he initiated the kiss. His hands annoyingly stayed on her bottom. It was getting to the point of making her self-conscious. She knew she had a decent rack but she also knew Jaune was probably used to better.
"I'm starting to regret not doing this before." Jaune said as he parted their lips. "You're really good at this."
"We haven't even gotten to the best part yet." Ruby giggled. He kissed her collar bone.
"My room or your room?" He asked.
"Right here on the couch. Neutral territory." His mouth moved to her unoccupied breasts. "And whoever has more energy after round one can carry the other into their room." She threaded her fingers through his hair as her back arched and she let out a moan. "Think of it as a competition."
She adjusted herself again to fiddle with his zipper. Jaune stopped his ministrations long enough for both of them to stand up and pull their pants down before going at it again. His left hand glided down to her core while his right played with one of her breasts. He gained the upper hand, enough to put her back down on the couch and climb on top of her.
"Fuck." He said.
"That's the idea." Ruby laughed.
"I need a condom. But they're in my room." He said.
"Well there goes the whole neutral ground thing I said." Ruby frowned. He kissed her again on the lips.
"You could wait." He said.
"Fuck that." Ruby said. "Let's take this into your room." She grabbed him by the hand and went into his room. She threw herself on his bed while he got himself ready.
"Well, no turning back." He said.
AN: Get your hands out of your pants. Told you it wasn't going to be like most lemons. That's about all I'm comfortable with writing. And I want to save some dialogue for next chapter. Yes, there will be a few more chapters but it'll just be a 'what now' scenario with various peoples' reactions.