*Author's Note*
Holy crap, Dravyn here. Yeah, it's been way too long since my last chapter. I really wanted this one to be out earlier, but I've barely found much time to myself. And even after having a chapter of this finished, and a chapter of RaV and DtRH ready, some issues made me lose the chapters and I had to restart. So yeah, I'm really sorry for the late release.
Anyhow, this is a continuation of the birthday arc for Jaune, just in case you forgot. Anyways, without further ado, I bring you chapter 34.
Jaune was panting, sweating, and tired as all Dust. But he felt accomplished. He had spent the past few hours practicing a new technique with the throwing knives, trying to change their direction with ricochet. He'd been successful. Despite not having quite as much accuracy as he normally does, his skill was still rather impressive. He could, more often then not, hit the target. That isn't to say it was done accurately. He'd done several simulations against the Grim Drones, and the only ones he'd been able t hit close to where he was aiming for where the larger and slower types, like Ursa and Dathstalkers. Otherwise, the quicker, more agile ones like Beowolves and Boarbatusks proved to be rather hard to take down. This, though, Jaune could contribute more to how unreliable his technique is for the tools he's using aren't designed to be used this way.
Having finished up his training for the day, Jaune turned to leave the combat hall when he felt someone approaching him. Not a heavy aura. Lighter. Calmer. Turning to see who this new person was, Jaune's eyes were met with the sight of Velvet Scarlatina. In her hands, she had a towel and a bottle of water.
"Hello there Jaune. I was passing by earlier, and just happened to see you ding some training. I figured you'd be sweaty and a little thirsty, so I brought you these." To accentuate her point, she held out the towel and the water bottle.
Not realizing her actual motives, Jaune simply assumed this was Velvet being friendly, he took the water and towel. Drying himself off and emptying the bottle in one sitting, Jaune felt refreshed. He figured that he could maybe get some more training in later. Anything so that the next time he and Ruby sparred, he'd be able to impress her.
"Thanks for that Velvet. It helped out quite a bit." As he complimented her, Velvet grew a slight shade of pink. Jaune, being as dense as he is sometimes, thought that it might be getting a little warm in the building. Having just worked out, his body temperature made telling if it was hot or not difficult, but Jaune simply assumed it was so. After showing some concern, Jaune decided to head back to the RAYR dorm and get some rest. Unbeknownst to him, a little red riding hood just sped her way back to clean up her mess and hide her surprise from prying eyes.
On the other side of campus, YR an NNWB were gathered around a table at the school's gazebo, enjoying their lunch and discussing important upcoming events. Like a certain blonde warriors birthday.
"So guys, what should we do for Vomit Boy's birthday?"
"Yang," began Ren. "Jaune is a member of our team, and your sister's boyfriend."
"Fine. So, guys, what do you propose we do about Jauney-boy's birthday? Gifts? Party? Celebration? Fiesta?"
"Those last three mean the exact same thing, you dolt." Then again, anyone who knew Yang, even Weiss, knew that Yang loved a good celebration. And when she threw a party, she really did throw a party.
"Well, discounting the party," began Blake, much to the dismay of Yang. "Deciding what presents to get Jaune would be a good idea. Then again, what would Jaune want?"
"Ohh ohh!" Nora chirped up. Now what crazy suggestion does she have this time? "Why don't we ask Ruby what Jaune likes? They're like, super close! Like really really close! Like really-"
"Nora," intervened Pyrrha. "We know that. The two are dating after all. But yes, what Nora says does make some as they're dating, Ruby is likely to know what Jaune would like best."
"Then should we go and ask her?"
"Great suggestion Blakey!"
"Yang..."
The group, deciding that they literally had no better options than to check with Ruby, went to the team RAYR dorm, expecting Ruby to probably be drawing or something. When she usually had free time, she liked to either peruse the internet and watch her favorite anime, draw, or practice fighting. And they knew she wasn't doing the last one because she'd already gotten in plenty of practice earlier in the morning. But what met them when they entered the dorm wasn't a silent, artistic Ruby. No, it looked like a cross between a blacksmith, and a mad scientist.
The room was littered with blueprints of different kinds, some scribbled over, others erased altogether. Only a few showed workable designs. Aside from those, there were tarp mats placed all over, especially on Ruby's desk and the floor beside the bunk beds that she and Jaune were in. Grease and oil stained the tarp, while mechnical parts of varying natures and sizes were strewn around the room. And in the middle of the mess, struggling to clean it all up, was Ruby.
Her usual combat skirt replaced by deep black cargo pants, with tools and such sticking out from all of the pockets. Her blouse and corset replaced by a baggy black t-shirt that had a picture of two armored guys fighting, one wearing red, and the other blue. Her cape was, of course, still on. And resting atop her head was a mask generally used to protect one's eyes while welding. Wait, what?
"Uhhh..." The group could not believe what they were looking at. Well, none of them save Yang, who was used to this kind of mess from Ruby. Apparently, Ruby had been doing this since she'd first learned to craft weapons and such.
"Hey Ruby, whatcha makin'? Finally decided to do that death ray for me?"
"Oh, hey Yang. Sorry, no time to speak. Jaune is on his way back and I don't want him seeing what I'm working on."
Oh ho ho, thought Yang. So my baby sister is making Jauney-boy something for his birthday? Lucky fellow.
Yang was well aware of how expertly crafted gifts from Ruby were. Her own weapons, the shotgun/gauntlets known as Ember Celica, were presents from Ruby on her 15th birthday. Yang had been begging her parents for a set of gloves, but they wouldn't budge. Eventually, Ruby managed to convince her Weapons Shop teacher back in Signal (and to this day, Yang does not know how) to use some of the spare parts in the class to allow Ruby to build some stuff. Staying behind in class for an entire week, she made and adjusted the Ember Celica until she felt they were perfect. On her birthday, Yang received from Ruby a small black box, about 6 inches by 6 inches, wrapped up neatly with a red bow. The accompanying card saying 'I couldn't make gloves, not enough parts. Please settle for these. -Love Ruby.' In the box were 2 bracelets that, when activated, unfurled into gauntlets that packed quite a punch, literally. Ruby was almost literally hugged to death that day.
"Here sis, lemme help you with that." Feeling that if her sister was serious enough about him to make him a weapon, Yang felt obliged to help out. Yang set to work helping her sister clean things up, with the rest of the group following suit. After a minute, with everything nice and neat back in Ruby's desk, the group relaxed. Meanwhile, Yang ushered Ruby into a bathroom to help her clean up.
Back with Jaune, he'd just reached the dorm building when something completely random and unforgettable happened. Looking up, Jaune saw his dorm's window and noticed it was open. Through it, he could see his teammates, and his friends from NNWB, all gathered together. Probably planning a surprise party for me, thought Jaune. When he looked back up though, Jaune noticed Ren being ushered out of the room, and saw that Ruby was starting to take her shirt off. Wait, what!?
It seems Ruby was changing out of some dirty clothes, but nobody had bothered to close the window. I mean, why would they? Normally, there was literally no traffic through this section of Beacon due to it leading only to the older section of the school. The facilities on that side had equals, if not better versions, closer to the dorms. So nobody went this way. Well, almost nobody. Still!
Back to Jaune. While Ruby was busy changing from her t-shirt and cargo shorts into her combat skirt and black mini dress, Jaune simply got an eyeful of Ruby in her underwear. Black, with red frills. And on her buttocks, a cute Beowolf head. Seriously? Thought Jaune. But still, he could not help but stare at the sight of his girlfriend as she changed, her being completely unaware of him watching (perv.)
It seemed that Yang was helping her tighten the corset in the back, when she just happened to look out the window and down, and see Jaune standing there, staring. Seeing that he was caught, Jaune prepared for Yang to jump out of the window and pummel him to death, bare handed. And she likely would have a week or two ago. But Yang, being the Yang she is, had another idea in mind. She simply grinned and winked at Jaune, who apparently decided that enough was enough and started back into the building.
Back with Ruby and the gang, in the midst of helping her dress, Yang has started laughing. No, more like giggling. Anyhow, Yang was laughing with no real reason why. Ruby, being as self conscious as she is, thought it was about her, and the two sisters began a playful argument about Ruby's figure. Then, Jaune walked in.
"Ruby, your figure is fine."
"But Yang, you were laughing at me. You totally think I'm chunky, don't you?"
"I wasn't laughing at you Ruby. I just remembered a joke. A joke!"
"I'm not buying it Yang. You were laughing at me!"
"Oh, for the love of Dust! Hey, Jaune, just in time. Help me settle this argument. How's my sister's figure?"
Ehh, what? Jaune looked just like a deer caught in the headlights. Ren, who had come in with Jaune, just suddenly vanished from his side. Turning around, Jaune saw him hiding in the hallway. He seemed to mouth 'You're on your own.' Damn turncoat.
Jaune knew that Yang had just thrown Jaune into a frying pan surrounded by hellfire and brimstone, on a stove made of pure freaking magma in the middle of a volcano. One wrong step, and he was dead. No, he was deader than dead.
"Well Jaune? What do you think of my sister's body?"
Looking from Yang to Ruby, Jaune saw Ruby looking at him, a slight pout to her rosy red lips. Her head turn slightly down, staring at him through her eyelashes. Jaune figured that he had to answer this right, or not only would he die, he would disappoint Ruby and maybe make her hate him a little. Well, screw it. Might as well say something.
"Yang, can't you see this question is making Ruby uncomfortable? Ruby is beautiful, and nothing will change that."
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Jaune turned his head to find Nora smiling at him (rather, just looking, as Nora never seemed to stop smiling, ever), and with a silly grin and a wink, she gave him a thumbs up. Does that mean I said the right thing? Looking to a now rose red Ruby, Jaune assumed so.
"Hey, Jaune. Mind if I borrow m baby sister for a minute?"
"Huh? Sure, but I wasn't even-"
"Good!"
Steering Ruby out of the room and into the hall, Yang walked a ways down with Ruby to the communal dorm lounge. It had literally everything. Vending machines for all kinds of drinks and snacks, as well as several game stations and set-ups that would put most home theaters to shame. Taking Ruby to one of the couches, Yang sat her down and began to grill her.
"Ruby, what was that you were making earlier? And don't try to placate me with any bull. I know you were making some sort of weapon, and I know it's for Jaune. You don't have to tell me what exactly it is. But I know that you making a weapon for someone, anyone, is a rather special thing for you and them. And I know you love Jaune with all of your heart. Well, whatever part of it isn't dedicated to Crescent Rose or strawberries that it."
Looking at Ruby, Yang asked earnestly. She was curious as to what her little sister would ply her trade to craft for her boyfriend.
"Well, you see Yang. Jaune has been practicing a lot more with combat lately, and he goes over to the old combat hall to practice away from others. He thinks I don't know though, so please keep that quiet." Getting her agreement of confidentiality, Ruby continued. "So, lately Jaune has been practicing with the shot darts."
"You mean those rocket propelled javelins?"
"No, Yang. Those are magno spears. The shot darts are the knives that can fold out into pistols. You see, Jaune told me he wanted to learn some ranged combat skills to become more diverse in a fight. I refused, because I thought his fighting style was cool."
Yang kinda figured something like this would happen. In the old fairytales she read to Ruby, the Knight in his shining armor always had a sword and a shield. That Jaune kind of matched this description could be thought of as one reason to why this little romance of theirs worked out so well.
"Anyhow, Jaune began to practice with them and I thought that his practicing seemed pretty cool. But since I refused to help him learn how to shoot, I thought he would be angry with me if I tried to help him now. So I thought I would make him a set of those for his own use so that he wouldn't have to use the school ones and he would have something to use to think of me."
"Calm down there baby sister. I see what you mean now. If you feel this strongly about it, let me help out in any way I can."
"Well, I almost have the Lunare Impetus finished. I just need a little more time to complete them. But Jaune's birthday is tomorrow."
"In that case Ruby, here's what you do..."
*Afterword*
Hey guys, again, sorry this chapter came out so late. I lost the original, so I had to do this from memory as best as possible. Anyhow, I guess I can go over a few things here.
First, the whole thing with Jaune peeping on Ruby. This will still be a tasteful and classy story. I just thought Jaune deserved to get a little good luck for all of his hard work. And so I rewarded him by letting him see Ruby in a slight state of undress. Nothing sexual, or even really erotic. Just mildly stimulating.
Next, Yang is now totally chill with Jaune and Ruby dating. Much so that I plan to put a joke or two in the next chapter. And by joke, I mean Yang teasing Jaune and Ruby. Seriously, who doesn't enjoy that?
Oh, and before the comments come, yes, I know I gave Velvet barely any screen time. She isn;t the main character of this fic, so she is not a primary concern. If you like Velvet, go check out my other new fic, Down the Rabbit Hole. RenxVelvet goodness. For now, the focus here is Ruby and Jaune.
And lastly, the set of throwing knives Ruby is crating for Jaune will be named Lunare Impetus. For those of you who don;t know latin, it means "Lunar Fury/Wrath." Fitting, in my opinion, as Jaune's Crocea Mors literally means "Yellow Death", and I might as well keep the tradition of badass names going.
Anyhow, I'll try to be a little quicker with the next updates. If my schedule and health permit, I'll have it out by Sunday. Wish me luck.
Dravyn out.