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A Confession
Sweat and dirt clung to his body, the exertion of wrestling with the beast in his hold proving to be just as difficult as he thought. Jerking his head to the side to dodge the swiping claw, he smashed his metal fist against the bone plate to sedate it. A furious roar answered, the Grimm thrashed beneath him in rage. Dark muscle and tendons flexed and contracted, trying to throw him off it's back. Using the choke hold around its neck, he held on for dear life.
"Will!" He shouted from on top of the monster. "You!" His only solution was to repeatedly bash his alloyed fist against the cracking faceplate. "Stop!" Grappling its neck, he willed his flesh and blood arm to tighten. If he was lucky enough, he'd choke it out. If Grimm even needed to breath that is. "Being!" Throwing his weight to the side, the Beowulf toppled over, sprawling themselves on the ground.
"Difficult!" Grabbing the Grimm's skull, he bashed his head against the weakened mask. Red eyes blinked against the sickening crunch, black blood spraying onto his face. Aura flared, protecting him and shattering the bone plate. Stars danced in his eyes from the impact, letting go of the monster as he collapsed on the ground, the taste of foul blood in his mouth. He licked his lips unconsciously as he gulped for air, swallowing the tainted liquid.
"Well done, my boy!" Port clapped from his lawn chair. "You finally got one!"
"Hate." Jaune gasped from the ground. "I hate you so much."
"Love and hate run a thin line, but I appreciate the flattery!" The portly professor's barking laughter echoed through the forest. The professor stood from his chair and examined the motionless Grimm. "Why, I think you managed to keep one alive! Excellent!" A meaty hand grabbed the beast's waist, Port effortlessly throwing the monster over his shoulder. "This will make for a fine example back in the classroom. Come now, young Jaune. Time we headed back to Beacon."
Groaning from sore and battered muscles, Jaune stood up and collected Crocea Mors and the lawn chair. Port decided that he had to capture a Beowulf today, but that wasn't all. He wanted him to capture one Bare Handed. 'It's a rite of passage to becoming a true Huntsman! We didn't have fancy weapons back in my day!' Jaune knew that was a load of bullshit, Crocea Mors was older than him.
Even bringing up the fact that he just started training this year didn't deter him. 'That just means it'll show me how much of a man you really are!'
Port can take his wisdoms and shove it.
After wrestling ten Beowulfs to death, he barely managed to keep the sixth one alive. One was even an Alpha and Jaune just ended up beating it to death on principle. Wiping his hand on his pants, he took out his scroll just to see where his Aura was at.
A sliver of it remained, proudly stating 3.4%. Jaune sighed at the number, thinking about how it took only six Grimm to bring him down to almost zero. No wonder he was still at the bottom of the class. Hell, Yang could probably bring down at least a hundred by herself.
Yang.
Jaune… Didn't know what to make of her. They had sex, a fact that days later he was still trying to wrap his head around. She was beautiful and he was average at best, she was strong, and he was laughably weak. Yang knew what she wanted, and he was still trying to figure it out exactly what he could hope to have. Were they a thing? It was up in the air since they seemed to skip all the normal dating steps he thought there were. She didn't say no… Or yes.
There was never chance to actually figure it out after getting back to Beacon. She was busy planning the dance with Weiss and her own punishments while he had his hands full with Port and his outrageous demands. Sure, they interacted and Jaune could only describe what she did as 'teasing'. The knowing glances, sitting closer than normal, the quiet whispers she gave him when no one was looking, the subtle 'stretching' she did around him.
Absolutely torturous.
Why they didn't tell anyone else, he didn't know. It just felt like their own 'thing'. It was weird, and he couldn't really put a name to it. Because of the, he really couldn't get her out his head to think clearly.
Which is why beating Grimm felt more therapeutic than it should have.
"What's on your mind, my boy?" Port interrupted his thoughts. "Men like us don't stare off into space for no reason."
"It's nothing." He lied, ready to go back and take a shower. Grimm blood stank no matter what.
"Ahhh. A woman, I see." The teacher nodded sagely.
"You don't know that." He defended, trying to stifle down the heat creeping up his neck.
"No use in hiding it, my young boy! Ol' Port here sees it, clear as day." Clapping Jaune's back and nearly doubling him over, Port gave a hearty laugh. "You might not know this, but I used to be quite the hound dog in my prime."
"I can imagine." Jaune couldn't.
"Oh yes. Women would flock to me like bees to virile honey. All abashed and begging for more."
"Do… Do you hear yourself when you talk?"
"Alas, no lady could handle this silver fox in his prime." He pushed on, ignoring him. "Many hearts were broken and many tears were shed, but I still chase that elusive love I know is out there. From those lovely experiences, I learned a few things. One is to always defend their honor. Women may say they don't 'need a man'" He used air quotes with his non-Grimm occupied hand. "now adays to solve their problems, but they all secretly enjoy it. They just don't want to be seen as weak."
"Mhm." Jaune was tuning out his inane rambling, The professor was repulsed by the female population of Beacon for a reason.
"Finnicky things. That's why I learned to read between the lines of how woman communicate. Sending mixed signals is common, for inside their brain are not one, but two women vying for control." Port made sure to shove two fingers in his face. "Each just as vicious as the other. One a petty hormonal mockery of themselves, and the other with common sense. Like an angel and devil on their shoulders."
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"Patience, boy. I'm getting to that." His mustache huffed. "Kids these days, no sense of the dramatic. Simply put, focus on what a woman does rather than what she says. As I've always said, actions speak louder than words!"
"Noted." Jaune droned.
"Magnificent! Now there was another thing I learned while in the deep woods of Mistral, a lovely bandit queen with a heart of thorns captured me…" And it was time to tune out.
Unfortunately, Port's nugget of wisdom was now lodged in his skull. Focus on her actions, is that it?
I've heard worse advice.
From where?
You.
Fuck off.
I'm just saying, it has merit. Both in fighting and outside of it, I guess. Just think about it.
He did. It made sense in a practical sort of way. People lied. Little lies, white lies, big lies, fibs. Hell, you could say anything and if you were half decent at bluffing, could get away with it. Actions though, you couldn't disguise those. You couldn't take away punching someone or helping them off the ground. Those were now facts that couldn't be changed.
Thing is, what does that mean with Yang?
It was confusing when he thought about it. Her words and actions didn't match, but there was no reality on this world where Port's wisdom held any kind of weight. Yang says she hates him, but then kisses him in the same moment. Tells him it's a bad idea then immediately sleeps with him. Gods, it was so confusing.
He'd sort it out later. Jaune had therapy to go to.
Glynda inhaled the black tea deeply, basking in the herbal aroma. "Much better." After the admittedly hectic start to the week, it seems events have finally tapered off. As much as they could have any way. Paperwork still needed to be filed, but it just never ended like some unkillable eldritch beast. That, and the influx of students in Beacon's halls didn't help. You'd suppose they'd send more instructors to compensate.
You'd be wrong. Thankfully, there were volunteers.
"They were so wonderfully and attentive. How so many of them never properly communicated, I'll never know." Kali Belladonna, self-proclaimed professor of Relations and Living, rattled on. "Nor how to effectively problem solve, manage relationships, even barter! What are you teaching these children?"
"This is a combat school, teachings outside of not dying immediately fall by the wayside here." Glynda hummed. It was a shame, to be sure, but that was the way it was. They needed to learn how to live in a hostile environment above all else.
"I know that, it's just I expected more… variety from Beacon's curriculum." Kali sipped her own cup of tea.
"Our goal is to educate Hunters. I believe we do that quite well." Some of her pride leaked through in defense of her school. Even Oobleck's lectures on history and politics are mainly about informing the students of laws surrounding Huntsman and the governments that come with it. There actually isn't a class on how keep relation with people, even though that made a good portion of being a Hunter.
"Oh, you do! I didn't mean to offend, but this is a school, and I was just wonder what happens to them after being a Huntsman."
"Usually die or train the next generation." She shrugged. Huntsman had a high mortality rate for a very obvious reason. Grimm needed to be culled to keep civilization running, and in turn, the Grimm kill Huntsman. Career Huntsmen like herself and others over the age of thirty are a rarer than one might expect. Those who did grow old never really leave the profession either. They could never be labeled as a civilian, but a retired weapon and something to always be monitored.
"I meant in their off time…"
"Oh…" Glynda thought about it. "You raise a valid point." A series of knocks at her office door interrupted the conversation. Glynda glanced at the clock, noticing the time. Sighing, she set down her tea.
"Expecting someone?"
"Yes, a student. Mind if we pick this up at another time?"
"Of course, just grab me whenever you're free." Kali stood up and brushed herself off. "Hopefully it will be when Oobleck is trying to hound me about Menagerie's politics. He's just an insatiable ball of knowledge, isn't he?"
"Afraid so. He's been bouncing between you and James, as well as the students of Vacuo."
"Poor man, whatever will he do?" Kali opened the door, revealing Jaune Arc in casual wear. "Jaune! I didn't know it was you."
"Hey, Mrs. Belladonna." He said, stifling a yawn. "How are you doing?"
"Oh, just wonderful. And please, call me Kali." Her face turned predatory from a thought. "You wouldn't happen to be here for a private lesson with Professor Goodwitch now, would you?"
"I mean… Yeah?" He looked confused. "That's why I'm here." The insinuation clearly going over his head. There was a certain satisfaction to seeing the mother's teasing fall flat. She wouldn't let up about her relationship with Qrow the other night. Gods, she was a gossip.
"Thank you, Kali." She started ushering her out the door to let Jaune in. "Please come back again, have a nice day."
"I'll say hi to Blake for you!" The woman said, before having the door shut behind her. Taking a deep breath to center herself, she motioned for Jaune to take a seat.
"Was I interrupting something?" He asked.
"No, just enjoying idle conversation." Sitting down behind her desk, she brought out a fresh pad of paper and pen. "Recent events," Glynda shot him a glare, one which he withered from. "Left me with less leisure time than I would've liked, so I'm making the most of it."
"Ah…" Jaune started awkwardly. "Sorry."
"Apologies rarely fix anything." Fixing her glasses, Glynda observed Jaune from her seat. The boy looked haggard and tense, his metal fingers tapping his knee while he looked about her office. She could see the gears turning in his head, looking for exits, deciphering items in the room, anything to keep his brain occupied. If it weren't for recent events, Glynda would've written it off as an attention disorder, but now she could see the signs of coping with new trauma.
"I heard from Professor Port that you've been assisting him with… 'Grimm Wrangling' as he put it." She began, drawing his attention. "It's not something many students have tried, to my knowledge." Truth be told, no student should have to. The concept of handling Grimm by hand is something most Huntsman can't do.
"Yeah, I can definitely see that." Jaune agreed. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around why he wants so many caged Grimm. We can go out to the forest at any time as long as we tell someone, so we don't need them in class. Maybe he just finds it amusing to see someone else do it." He mused.
"Port may be many things, but he is an effective teacher. I'm sure he has a good reason." For himself maybe, but there needed to an image of unity among the instructors, despite her own thoughts. "The professor even informed me that you seem more… violent during your 'excursions'."
"How so?" He asked, genuinely confused.
"Port has noted that it takes multiple attempts to successfully subdue a Grimm for you."
"I mean, yeah. I don't really speak Grimm, so I can't ask them 'Hey, mind if I take you back to my classroom so we can publicly kill you?'"
"… That is a valid point." Glynda agreed with the sentiment of being ultimately pointless. "But for the sake of humoring me, how many tries does it take to capture a live one?" She doubted it was as bad as Peter made it out to be, the man had a penchant for exaggerating details.
"Well…" Jaune started counting on his fingers. "Usually ten to twelve tries."
"… I'm sorry, I must've misheard. Did you say ten to twelve?" Handling one Grimm bare handed is no easy task, but most are trained to fight in case they lose their weapon. Three to four? Significantly more difficult. Upwards of ten though? Only Huntsmen who specialized in unarmed combat are able to reach that number and beyond.
"Yeah, pathetic right?" Jaune looked up at the ceiling, avoiding the concerned look she was giving him. "I'm sure everyone else can easily take down thirty to fifty bare handed. Yang probably even more. They'd probably knock them out on the first try and go one their merry way back to the dorms. It really sucks, you know? Just lagging behind everyone."
"You're not behind, Jaune." She tried to stress the notion. "From my standpoint, you are making remarkable progress, despite your recent encounters with the crueler side of Huntsman work." Death was something most students didn't encounter until their second or even third year. To deal with criminals and more morally ambiguous situations requires specific training. Unfortunately, because of Aura, Huntsman are sometimes needed to step in to either arrest, or gods forbid, kill.
"But not fast enough." Jaune's eyes were firmly on his clenching fists. "A better Huntsman wouldn't have to murder anyone." There was the crux of the issue.
"That was self-defense, Jaune. You were put in a difficult situation."
"That situation would've never happened if I was a better leader." He countered. "I let Weiss and Blake fight, thinking that maybe if they worked out the differences in the open, they might get along. It didn't."
"Weiss and Blake have their own issues and are working past them. You thought it would be better if they effectively communicated, which is a valid solution in many cases. There was no way you could have predicted how they would react."
"No, but I should have handled it better. I should've stopped Blake when I had the chance, confronted Weiss sooner, sent Ruby back to Beacon." He was holding his head in his hands. "I should've been a better, damnit, my team deserves someone they can rely on. Not someone who can't even pull their own weight."
Glynda was starting to understand a little bit more about him. It was guilt, for sure, but he blamed himself for everything. Objectively, it wasn't the case, but he didn't see it that way, couldn't even. A worrying issue but one that could be worked on if he acknowledges it. "Do you feel frustrated?" She ventured.
"Yes." The answer was immediate. "I'm frustrated I so weak. Frustrated that I can't even protect my team. Frustrated that even with everyone trying to help me, I can't win a fight. So damn frustrated with how I bad of a leader I am. Frustrated with how I just can't. Stop. Remembering it."
Silence stretched in the space between them. "What can't you stop remembering?" Glynda had a fair idea what it was, but it was extremely important for him to say it.
"Their masks." He spoke quietly. "Their choking gasps, the smell of their blood, the way their mouth just twisted in terror and pain. And the feeling…" His right hand gripped his metal one as if to keep himself grounded. "Just how easy it was to cut through them. It didn't seem right, all of it was just wrong. I can fight with Yang, Pyrrha, Blake, Weiss, Ruby, Nora and Ren, and the whole time they never felt so… so…"
"Fragile." Glynda finished. It was a hard lesson to learn in this profession. Classes were usually taught at how much more durable the body becomes with Aura in elementary school, just to be sure kids don't accidentally kill someone else. Even an amateur student of Aura is still far more dangerous than a civilian will ever be. Ruby thought she was fighting people who had Aura, and why wouldn't she think that? That's how she always fought, and the necessary classes to handle violent civilians were glanced over when she came to Beacon. An oversight on their part, and one she paid for.
"Yeah… Fragile." Jaune didn't meet her eyes. "Have you…" He started. "Have you killed anyone?"
Leaning back into her chair, a sigh escaped her. "Yes." She took off her glasses and set them on her desk. "My first one was on an assignment in Vacuo." Glynda began recalling the memory. "Reports of people missing in caravans along the desert. My team and I thought it was a pack of Grimm following the roaming nomads. So being the green idiots we were, we tagged along a group heading out from the city proper."
"We were briefed at Shade and the local authorities gave us all the information they had. By then we had our minds made up that it was an intelligent Grimm stalking the travelers. Not that it wasn't uncommon, the desert is cruel place sometimes and accidents happen, but there was a noticeable uptick that garnered notice. Barely even a week out and that's when they struck."
"Bandits ambushed us at night, ten of them if my memory serves correctly, and all had Aura. Clumsily wielded, but effective against those with only spears and shields in the caravan. Tore through them, blood staining the sand as if the ground itself drank from the bloodshed. I woke up to screaming, yelling, fighting… I didn't think, I just ran out from my tent to help." Glynda chuckled at the thought. "I was half naked too, ready to take on Grimm in my underwear."
"Then I realized there were no Grimm, just people killing people. I remembered vividly using my semblance to sink the sand beneath one of the attacker's feet, immobilizing them. They responded by throwing a knife at me and yelling for help. It was a blur after that. Sand, blades, and blood were everywhere as I just tried to stay alive. It's strange how you tend to lose inhibitions in those life and death situations."
"Training takes over and nothing else matters. It wasn't long before everything was still, sand and dirt shoved down their throats, ears, eyes, anything that wasn't covered. I tried to undo it, taking the sand out. But I just ended up making it worse, making him vomit his own lungs in the process." She winced at the memory, the choking smell still as pungent as ever. "Thankfully, the attacks stopped after that."
"That sounds… Horrible."
"It was. We had bad information and weren't expecting to be ambushed so suddenly. Falling back on training, we acted accordingly and most of us came out uninjured. Maxil had a gimp arm from a knife wound but eventually recovered." Putting her glass back on, she leveled her gaze at Jaune. "What I'm saying is that things happen. Sometimes there is no good choice in a situation, and you have to make the best with what you have and go with your gut."
Jaune swallowed, keeping her gaze. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not." She rejected the notion. "And it never will be. Above all the classes we have here at Beacon, the one we focus on is how to make those choices. More hardships will come, Jaune, some might be easier than others. When they do make themselves known, no matter how bad or hopeless you might be, you have to make a choice. You making the choices you did kept your team alive, and not everyone in your shoes would be able to do the same."
"But do I stop seeing them? The ones I killed?" He pleaded looking for an answer.
"No." She sighed. "And I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm telling you not to punish yourself for what you did. Killing is something you shouldn't have had to do as first years, but it happened anyway. Their memories might fade, but I doubt you'll forget them. I'd be concerned if you did."
"So, I just have to deal with it then, is that it?" He sounded irritated with it. "Just live with it?"
"Yes, in a manner of speaking." She agreed, unfazed by his anger. "Suppressing those memories do far more damage than good. Think about them instead. Your actions, everything you can remember and confront them. How to do better next time, if you will. It's by no means easy, but it is effective."
"That's bullshit."
"Language." Glynda chastised. "And it does work." Leaning back in her chair, she grabbed her pen and paper. "So please, if you would, Jaune. Start from the beginning."
He didn't say anything at first, silently thinking about where to start. After a few moments, he leaned back in his seat and had his eyes up at the ceiling. "It started when I found Blake…"
"That doesn't match."
"What?"
"That doesn't match. It completely clashes with the theme of the décor."
"Theme? It's a homecoming dance! What theme is there?"
"The theme of welcoming dignitaries from foreign lands to our academy. A theme where the best of the best gather for an eloquent ball worthy of the Vytal festival. A theme where the cultures of Vacuo, Mistral, Atlas, and Vale mingle together into a stunning harmony of peace and understanding for ages to come. Thatis the theme we are aiming for, Yang. Not some trashy club party you can find in a local club."
"Well, I'm sorry, Weiss, but where else am I supposed to put this big-ass disco ball!?" Yang yelled down at the heiress, balancing the reflective globe in her arms while on a ladder. Ruby looked up at her sister as she continued the spat with her teammate, Pyrrha below trying to keep the ladder as still as possible. Earlier in the year, she would've been concerned at the scene. Now, she realized that's just how Weiss was with people she liked.
At least that's what Ruby hoped.
"Hey, Ruby, can you help me with these banners?" Blake asked from beside her, carrying a bundle of cloth.
"Sure." They were working on the dance happening tomorrow night, getting last minute decorations set up before the actual event. Putting up flags, streamers, tables, everything else you could think of, even the DJ set up which Ren was trying to keep intact from Nora's meddling. This thankfully counted as community service to replace their mandatory detention from their recent fights in Vale. She had no idea it'd be this much work.
"How many people do you think will actually show up?" Ruby asked from atop a swinging chandelier.
"No idea." Blake shrugged from her place on the second floor, leaning on the rails. "I plan on avoiding the whole thing."
"What? Why not?" She was going and she hated crowds!
"Not my game, not my scene. I'd much prefer staying and reading instead of… that." Blake gestured to where Weiss, Yang, and Nora were arguing over appropriate attire. Dressing Pyrrha up in a Pumpkin Pete costume was apparently off the table, said girl looking partially embarrassed. Ren at least endured it with his signature stoicism.
"No, you need to be there! I don't want to come alone! What about Sun? You can go with him, right?" It was no secret that he made an effort to hang around Blake more often. Not 'like in a creepy way where it was stalking' but more of an 'hey, I'd like to get to know you' way.
"Eh." Blake's face scrunched up at the thought. "Really not my type."
"You have a type?"
"Yes, and he's not it. He'll probably want to ask me to it too, even more reason to avoid the damn thing."
"Blake, please go." Ruby pleaded breaking out the puppy eyes. "Just this once. For me?"
"That doesn't work on everyone, Ruby." Blake was unimpressed.
"I will guilt trip you." She said without batting her big silver eyes.
"Fuck." The Faunas deflated at the threat. "Fine, I'll go."
"Yes!" The hanging she was standing on swung wildly from her excitement.
"Just a heads up, I don't have a dress."
"I…" Ruby stopped swinging. "I don't have one either. Oh, frick, we don't have dresses! What do we show up in? Are combat skirts okay?" It wasn't too odd, right? Showing up to a dance in your Hunting clothes? It is a formal for Huntsman around the world.
"No idea." Blake wasn't any help.
"Ruby, what are you doing up there?" Weiss's voice interjected her thoughts. Ruby looked down to see the heiress with her hands on her hips, giving her that usual annoyed look.
"Are combat skirts normal?" Ruby asked instead.
"Yes. They are both effective for maneuverability and very stylish while doing so."
"So I can wear them?"
"Ruby, you've always worn them." She sighed.
"I know, but I was wondering if I can wear them to the dance."
"This is a formal! You can't show up to the greatest dance this year in a 'combat skirt'. Even Yang has a dress picked out it!"
"Damn right I do." Said sister interjected.
"But I don't have a dress!" Ruby's anxiety was starting to show. Granted, she thought she was keeping a good lid on it. "Skirts are technically dresses, right?"
"You…" Weiss started slowly. "Don't have a dress?"
"Blake doesn't either!" Her pointer finger shot towards Weiss's partner. "Perfectly normal!" Instead of addressing her, the Heiress turned to her sister instead.
"Yang, explain."
"Ruby was never big on big events, so I just kinda' let it be, ya' know?" Yang said, scratching her cheek. "Didn't wanna' force her or anything."
"Unbelievable." Weiss said. "Does the rest of your team know to bring formal attire?"
"Good question. I should probably go get an answer."
"Oh, for the love of..." The heiress exhaled, and Ruby could hear her mental eye twitching. "Jaune probably doesn't have a suit either. I would be surprised if his family could afford one for him. Alright!" Weiss clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention. "We're going shopping to make sure none of you embarrass me or Beacon tomorrow night. Yang, grab your team, they're coming with. I do not trust Nora's sense in fashion."
"Fuck yeah!"
"I'll call Jaune to get his sorry ass over here. Everyone will be at the Bullheads in fifteen minutes." Weiss walked out of the hall, whipping out her scroll. Blake's heavy sigh was easily heard, draping herself over the railing.
"Great. She's going to lord this over us for the whole year."
"White Fang." Ruby commented, jumping onto the ground from the chandelier.
"I'm never going to live that down, am I?"
"Nope."
The selection of underwear the store had wasn't bad. Perusing through the many panties and bras in the women's section, she could appreciate the lack of tasteless lingerie. It was good to wear once in a while, to feel sexy on a bad day, or for a date that you would just know would end with some good Ol' fun. It wasn't practical to wear them all the time, wearing only thongs would give you a hemorrhoid and most push-up bras were just uncomfortable.
So seeing underwear what was meant to blend in under dresses and not hurt you in the process was a welcome sight. Now all she needed to do was find a better dress on the Heiress's Lien. Maybe something a bit flirty? Not low cut, but a dress that accentuated her figure. She could already see Jaune blubbering at seeing her in such a thing. It brought a giddy smile to her face just thinking about leaving him speechless.
Speaking of which, he could spy his blonde mop of hair over in the men's section with Ren and Nora. Before Yang knew it, her legs carried her over to them. Making her presence hidden, she walked up behind Jaune to see Nora and her counterpart eyeing the coatrack, deep in thought.
"Hmmm." The Valkyrie hummed in contemplation.
"Hmmm." Ren agreed beside her.
"Hmm?" Nora questioned her partner with a side-eyed glance.
"Hm." He offered.
"HMMMMM!?" She turned bodily to face him; shock clearly written on her features.
"Mhm." Ren nodded, confirming the surprising revelation.
"Hmmm…." Once more, Nora Valkyrie returned to her thoughts, a fathomless place where only she may know.
"Did you have to narrate all of that?" Jaune asked, glancing back at her.
"Of course." Yang pressed her body against his and rested her head on his shoulder, silently enjoying the contact. At least he had the good decency to try and hide his blush. "I do it every time they start speaking telepathically."
"They can do that?" He sounded skeptical.
"No idea." Yang shrugged, leaning on him. "But they do this every once in a while, lost in their own little world. Why not have some fun with it?"
"Hm. Now that I think about it, they sort of remind me of my family."
"That's right." Yang hummed. "Seven sisters. Your dad's got game dude. That or your mother must be insatiable."
"Please don't talk about my parent's sex life." He groaned.
"I'm just saying I can understand two, maybe even three kids, but seven? Hate to say it Jaune, but your folks must be all over each other. Like white on rice."
"Did you have to put it like that?"
"I could be more creative if you want."
"I-." He started before clicking his mouth shut. "You'd better stop."
"What is it, lover boy? Cat got your tongue?" She teased. Jaune, instead of rising to the bait, looked around the store and made sure Nora and Ren were facing away from them. "Looking for someone to- Mhmph!" Using the element of surprise, Jaune turned around and caught her lips with his own before she could react. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her in, deepening kiss. Yang nearly surrendered to it before he broke it.
The bastard had the nerve to leave her wanting more.
"T-That's better." He said wiping his lips with his metal thumb. It would've been suave if he didn't have a beet red blush and was slightly shaking. A snort barely escaped her at the absurdity of him trying to be smooth. "What?"
"You're cute." Grabbing his wrist, Yang dragged him away towards the changing rooms. "I think I saw a shirt over here that'd look great on you."
While Yang dragged Jaune over to the changing rooms, the duo still kept their eyes on the coat rack, perplexed by the answer.
"Hmm?" Nora smirked at Ren, wiggling her eyebrows. Exhaling a defeated breath, he pulled out twenty Lien and gave it to her. Swiping it from his hand, she started counting it and silently dancing in place, happy with her winnings. They made a bet after they got back from Vale, Nora grilling their leader the whole time but getting no details from her about what happened. Turns out, it wasn't a onetime thing.
And he could help but smile as Nora celebrated beside him.
"Yang, where's that shirt?" Jaune asked as he was shoved into the cramped changing room.
"Oh, probably around here somewhere." Yang unhelpfully supplied, closing the curtain behind her. Turning around to ask her why it would be in here, the words died a pitiful death in his throat. Before him, Yang was giving him the sultriest look he'd ever seen, slowly undoing the buttons on her shirt. "Somewhere…" With every undone button, exposing more ample flesh, she stalked towards Jaune, like a lioness cornering its prey. "Hidden."
With every step Yang took towards him, he took an unconscious one back. Ever since joining Beacon, he always felt he was in over his head. Fighting Grimm, Terrorists, being a leader, trying not to die and screw up too badly, the list went on and on. He got used to it even, a comfort knowing that no matter what the situation was, Jaune really should not have been in the middle of it. And when his back hit the wall, with Yang coming closer, his hormone addled mind really wanted to know why he was trying to run away in the first place.
"I-In here?" He choked out in a whisper.
"Why not?" Yang questioned, undoing the last button and setting her breasts free. The only thing containing them now was a surprisingly normal black bra.
"We're in public!" Jaune hissed, keeping his voice down. "What if someone sees!?"
"That just adds to the excitement." She purred, trapping his body against hers and the wall. "So, what do you say Lover Boy? Ready to try on something Yang sized?" Oh, how tempting that offer was.
Do it! Just DO it!
But what if someone sees!?
Fuck 'em! This is Yang and you we're talking about here. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
You make it sound so easy.
It is, dumbass!
That damned voice in his head always made things sound so simple. This or that, make a decision. What about the consequences? Scenarios in his head played out in a fraction of a second. Refusing Yang would probably be a blow to her self-esteem and make her hate him again, accepting and getting caught would get them definitely kicked out, along with embarrassing everyone. Weiss would never let him live it down and he could just feel the cringed expression Ruby would give him.
But if it all worked out…
Fuck it. Like Goodwitch said, 'trust your gut and make a choice'.
Throwing caution to the wind, Jaune dove down to capture those tasteful lips and fondle those fantastic tits. Even through the bra, he could feel the soft firmness of the flesh. Yang moaned in his mouth at the touch, the sensation spurring him on and making his underwear tight. Her calloused hands roamed downward, grazing against his body until they found his pants. Jaune's hands followed suit as heard and felt the telltale clinking of his buckle being undone.
Yang wore surprisingly short spandex underneath her already short combat skirt. It was easy to hook his thumbs around the waist and pull it down those toned legs. His pants joined hers on the floor not a moment later, leaving both their sexes bare. It was a welcome sensation having his member free from the confines of his underwear, the air cooling the hot skin. They broke their kiss for the first time, inhaling heavy breaths to gather their senses.
"Are you always like this?" He asked, letting his heart catch up.
"No." Yang said, grabbing his shoulders and lifting a single leg to wrap around his waist. "But what you did back there really revved my engine." Her exposed pussy ground against his exposed shaft, rubbing it along its hardening length.
"A kiss did that?" He breathed, holding onto her waist to steady her.
"Usually, no. But the way you did it." Yang leaned in closer to whisper into his ear. "Shutting me up like that right behind my teammates? That'll do the trick." Her words sent a shiver down his spine, giving him goosebumps. Juices from her lower lips started leaking along his dick, slickening it with each movement. If it weren't for Aura, his grip would've definitely left bruises on her hips. Moreso when she finally angled her pelvis, plunging him inside with one swift motion, letting her head fall back. "Fuck, that's the stuff."
"Hnnng…" Was all he could muster, her hot, smooth walls clamping around him. Yang stayed still after she hilted, either out of mercy for him to collect himself or just for her pleasure. It was hard to tell. Slowly, her hips started moving against his, pulling back and forth with every ministration. It was torturous pleasure, her insides coiling around him so tightly.
"You hanging in there, lover boy?" Yang teased, hilting herself on him without warning, forcing a muffled moan from him and making her shudder.
"Just fine." He gritted out, tightening the grip on her waist to try and keep some semblance of control. "Everything's fine."
"Oh? You sure?" She said huskily, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling herself closer. "So you wouldn't mind if I kicked it up a notch?"
"Wha-" The rest of the words were cut off in a garbled groan as she lifted her other leg, putting her full weight on him. He was completely inside her and could feel the velvety muscles clamping around him. Crushing thighs wrapped around him, forcing him to support both their bodies by himself. Jaune was suddenly glad that he didn't skip Nora's hellish weight training, there would've been no way he would been able to do this otherwise. That and that little fucking button at the end of her walls made itself known, her cervix kissing his tip with every movement.
"Mmmm. That's better." She gyrated against him, clinging to his form like some demented, sexy monkey. "Getting it nice and deep like." This was bad. There was no way he could last much longer with her doing her she-devil magic on him. It was like the muscles down there had a mind of their own for gods' sakes! Clamping, twisting, massaging every inch of him. And when he looked at her… Jaune could see the smugness in her eyes, those damned amethyst orbs daring him to do something.
Well, he was the one holding her, wasn't he?
Catching his breath and focusing on his legs, he prepared himself for the comeback of a lifetime. Gripping her thigh in his metal digits and wind his other hand in her golden locks, Jaune mentally steadied himself. He only had one shot at this and had to be pulled off as quickly as possible. Focus fighting through the pleasure, he gripped her hair at the base of her skull. Yang's eyes flared red, but he was prepared for that.
"Hey! Wh-" He silenced her with the most passionate kiss he could muster. Straining his legs, Jaune pivoted on his foot and shoved her against the wall in one swift motion, driving himself as deep as he could. From the feeling of her muffled moan in his mouth and the way her walls coiled and compressed around him, it looked like his plan was a success. Taking the initiative, he made sure to thrust slowly into her at his pace. Unfortunately, he was nearing his breaking point already.
Yang embraced him tighter, he could feel her hard nipples through the bra and his shirt, and the way her hand was gripping his hair like a lifeline. Lungs burned, sensations spiked, but he still held on with what threadbare resolve he had. She yanked his head back from the kiss, lilac eyes smoldering and needy. "Now that's more like it."
"Can't…" He breathed. "Can't hold it for much longer."
"G-good." She trembled, sending the sensation down to her core and making him groan. "Neither can I." Hugging him closer and nibbling his ear, Yang whispered the words that would push him over the edge.
"Come for me, baby."
Like apocalypses of old, Jaune erupted inside her with everything he had. Her body welcomed it, tremoring with every burst of seed and wanting more. Jaune had to bite down on her neck to keep himself from making a sound, and that only spurned on her contractions. Yang gasped brokenly at the climax running amok inside her. They held on to each other, their embrace keeping them grounded from the orgasms rocking through their bodies. He slumped to his knees, weak from the exertion, carrying her with him.
Breathing heavily, Jaune let his arms relax around her waist, his brain fuzzy from the aftermath. Yang wasn't any better either, a warm, quaking weight on top of him. Jaune could feel her insides still spasming around him, milking him for all he was worth.
"Ya' know" She gulped, her head resting on his shoulder. "We should probably do this more often."
"Mnm nah." He mumbled; brain still fried.
"What?" She asked, confused. He limply waived his hand in the room.
"People. Not…" Damn, it was hard to get words out now. "No people."
"Oh yeah…" She nodded, nuzzling her face into his neck. "Good idea. And you're so comfortable."
"Nghuh huh." He sounded like an idiot. The smell of sex permeated through the aroma of strawberries from her shampoo. Why was he focusing on that? His thoughts were jumbled, the only other thing registering was her comforting weight on top of him. He could seriously fall asleep right now with no trouble. But he couldn't. They were in the middle of a department store for gods' sake.
"We should…" He gulped, swallowing his dry mouth. "We should probably get dressed." Yang responded with a low whine into his shoulder.
"Do we have to?"
"Yang, I still need a suit."
"Ugh. Fine." She pulled back, still connected and sitting on his lap. "Though you are going to have to find something that matches…" Her eyes roamed his torso.
"Match what?"
"Me, of course." Jaune raised an eyebrow at that.
"You want us to match? Like we're dating?"
"Well, I thought it was obvious we were." He stared long and hard at her processing that little tidbit of information. Heavy silence followed while they gazed at one another, studying the expressions before them. "You…" Yang started, dragging the word out. "Didn't know, did you?"
"Nope."
"Ah… This is awkward." Yang, honest to gods, blushed. Her eyes darted to the far side wall, finding something interesting to look at. "That's right…" Scratching her cheek she continued. "You haven't dated before."
"Lot of firsts here." He agreed.
"Right, yep. So anyway, we need to need to find something that matches-"
"No." He interrupted her.
"No what?" Jaune could see her irritation.
"We're not dating." He clarified, making sure he pronounced each word.
"Why not?" Yang said hotly. "I don't know if you haven't noticed, but you are literally inside me right now." As if to emphasize, she squeezed around him. Even though he was growing soft, it still made him twitch with pleasure.
"Because" Using more willpower than he thought he had, Jaune ignored the sensation. "You haven't asked me."
"You want me to ask you?"
"Yep."
"Don't you know it's usually the guy that asks the girl out?"
"How would I know?" He shrugged. "It's my first time dating, and I distinctly remember you coming on to me."
"That was just a demonstration, and you know it!" Yang justified.
"Then I guess I'll just have to where something embarrassing then to the dance, wrap my arm around you while everyone looked." He said offhandedly. "Like a dress." Her eyes narrowed into slits.
"You wouldn't."
"Seven sisters, Yang." He reminded her. "Lots of time to play dress up, plenty of time to stomp my pride into tiny little pieces." Undaunted, he held her glare, the seconds ticking by as the gears in her brain turned.
"Okay, fine." She grumbled, looking away. He couldn't but think how adorable it was that after everything, she would be flustered about asking him out. Kind of weird in his opinion, but who was he to judge? Inhaling through her nostrils, with a determined gleam in her eye, she spoke. "Jaune, would you like to go out?"
"Nah, I'd rather not go outside naked." He couldn't help himself, earning a meaty thwack on his head.
"Puns are my schtick, smartass."
"Ow! I don't know… Not making a good case for yourself."
"Please?" The tone of her voice caught him off guard. It was almost… vulnerable. Her eyes shone a brilliant lilac, peering into his. Well, when he looked at him like that…
Jaune captured Yang's lips with his. "Sure." He felt her mouth curl upward into a clever grin.
"Gotchya'."
"Oh, that's no-" She silenced him with a deep kiss.
Feline ears perked up when Yang finally left the stall. Blake's heart hammered in her chest after hearing and now smelling the aftermath of her leader and Yang having sex. That's what she gets for minding her own damn business, trying to find an unremarkable dress in this damned store. They may have been quiet, but she heard everything. And like watching a train wreck happening right before her, she just couldn't walk away.
But she knew. Oh, Blake knew intimately and had what felt like forbidden knowledge lodged in her skull. They were obviously keeping it secret, but why? They must have reasons. Then again, she experienced firsthand what secrets got her: a dislocated shoulder and an earful from everyone she knew. Still, she couldn't help whispering what she thought.
"What the fuck?"
"Blake?" Pyrrha called from down the aisle. "Where'd you go?"
Sorry, Pyrrha, but you were on your own for now. She needed to digest this.
"Blake?"
Feeling satisfied with her romp in the dressing rooms, Yang continued her search for a new dress. It felt strangely exciting walking around the store, still full of Jaune's seed and pleasantly sore. She would need to clean up later, but now Yang was on a mission to find the perfect dress. One that would leave him slack jawed and stunned for the rest of the evening. Something that would match anything he picked out, so it had to be black.
Wandering over to the fancier women's section, Ruby and Weiss's voices could be heard from their side of change rooms. Well, if they were in the area then there must be something she could use here. Nearing the rack showing quite a selection of dark dresses, Yang couldn't help but overhear her sister's conversation.
"You keep those things away from me!"
"You need to wear heels for the dance. This is not an option!"
"They are pointy death traps! You will not break my ankles!"
"Get over here, damnit!"
Sighing, Yang walked over and pulled back the curtain and putting on her best 'mom' face. Weiss's back was against Ruby's front and practically sitting on her, shoving her sister against the wall. One of her sister's legs were pinned between the heiress's body and arm, the pale blonde trying to shove a black stiletto onto the foot. Both of them starred at her unannounced entrance.
"Oh, hey Yang." Ruby greeted despite her smushed face.
"Hey Rubes. Do me a favor and keep it down will you? The whole store can hear you squabbling."
"But she's making me wear heels." She whined.
"She's also paying for all of our outfits. You do want to go, do you?" Yang knew the answer was no, but Ruby was making such good progress on rebreaking out of that shell of hers after the White Fang business.
"Ye- Yeah." She stuttered, cheeks flushing.
Flags started popping up left and right in Yang's brain, her sister senses tingling. Ruby wanting to go? That was weird, but within the realm of possibility in her mind. Wanting to go and being embarrassed by it? Now there was something going on and she just had to sink her teeth into it.
"Ice Queen-"
"Weiss." The heiress interrupted her.
"What I said. Could you pick out a dress for me? Something black. Conservative and flirtatious would be very nice."
"Of course." Weiss rolled her eyes. "Why can't you do this yourself?"
"Why, I'm just a savage who doesn't know any better." Yang laid it on thick. "I need someone with refined and elegant tastes to have any chance of looking decent at such a prestigious ball."
Weiss crossed her arms and glared dangerously at her. "I know you're trying to play me, Xiao-Long."
"That was the plan." Yang shrugged, not even trying to hide it.
"But I'll allow it." The heiress started circling her, examining her form. "How much jewelry do you want?"
"Minimal."
"Heel?"
"Kitten."
"Open back or closed?"
"You decide."
"Hmph." The heiress stopped in front of her, eyeing her breasts, hips and waist. Yang would've normally felt creeped out by someone looking at her so intently, but she knew Weiss was analyzing her. "Give me fifteen minutes."
"You're a life saver."
"Thank me later if you manage to look decent." Was her reply before marching between the aisles. Say what you want about her, Weiss at least knew how to dress.
"What was that?" Ruby asked, obviously confused.
"Girl talk Rubes," She explained. "remember it for later."
"Why is she bringing you a cat?"
"It's a type of heel, like stilettos."
"Ooooh." Realization dawned on her face. "That makes sense."
"Yup. So…" Leaning in close, she wrapped an arm around her sister. "Lookin' forward to the dance, huh?"
"Y-yeah, kind of." Ruby squirmed in her grip.
"Never thought I'd see the day." Yang reminisced, thinking back on how adamant Ruby was to avoid them in the past.
"Well, you know…" She started fidgeting with her fingers. "I had to go to one eventually. Now seems a good time as any."
"It does." Yang agreed with her, it was a long time coming.
"Yep." The conversation would have ended there if it weren't for lilac eyes boring into Ruby's face, urging her. Her sister started to sweat before she continued. "Hey, Yang…"
"Yes, my adorable little sister?"
"What…" Come on Rubes, you can do it! "What do boys like?"
"Oh? Has my little sister finally gotten herself a crush?" Feigning innocence, Yang was mentally cheering for her little sister, finally showing an interest in dating. She was starting to wonder if Ruby was asexual, with how much time she spent with Crescent Rose and geeking out over weapons. Not that it was a problem, just that she didn't want her to hyperfocus being a Huntress and follow in Summer's footsteps. Gods know that losing Ruby would send her over the edge.
"No!" Ruby squeaked. "Yes! Maybe? Ugh, I don't know." She laid her head on Yang's shoulder. "It's just so weird. It's not at all like what Blake's books described."
"You've been reading smut? Shocker."
"I got bored. It's not even that good either. The portrayals of weapon smithing for their katanas are all wrong. Sure, using the bones of your enemies does carbonize the metal, creating primitive steal, but that doesn't mean it magically imbues it with supernatural strength and durability. It's science for gods' sake! They don't even oil them! Hell in one sc-"
"Gods, only you would read porn and get caught up in how inaccurate everything else is."
"But it's true!"
"Uh-huh. Now spill. Who's the lucky boy who caught your heart? Do I need to Yang them around so that they get the picture?" Whoever it was, there was no way she was going to pass this chance up to embarrass Ruby. All in good fun of course, he had to be up to snuff to deal with her.
Hell, she'd even break out the camera.
"No! He's been good to me and everyone else." The way Ruby blushed, and fidgeted was just the cutest.
"He has, has he?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Y-yeah. He was there whenever I needed help." Ruby then had the audacity to shove a finger in her face. "Not like you were when you abandoned me on my first day at Beacon!"
"The gang wanted to catch up, and everything worked out in the end." She argued.
"Barely! If it weren't for Ozpin's dumb rules, then we would've never been partners." A sinking pit formed in the bottom of Yang's stomach, a possibility she didn't even think was an option.
"Partners?" She asked with a dry mouth, keeping that motherly visage and hoping against all hope.
"Ah." Ruby looked away, bashful. "Y-yeah. It's kinda' silly, isn't it? Having a crush on your team leader? But he's just so cool! He's always training. Always making sure everyone's okay. And his arm! Oh, I co-" Ruby's voice faded into a high pitch whine, oblivious to her older sister's mental crisis. Thoughts flew thick and fast through her mind. When did this happen? Did Jaune come one to Ruby?
No. There was no way he could've done that. He viewed her like a little sister, like she did. Ruby wasn't an idiot, and she always knew more than she let on. Fuck, she needed to get her pulse under control. It was getting hard to hear her own thoughts with that damned thunderous pounding in her ears. It must have happened naturally, just being constantly around each other. Thinking back on it, the signs were there. They were in constant close contact, and Ruby was never like that with a boy before.
Yang clenched her teeth as Ruby went on and on about Jaune. She was so infatuated with him. It was so sweet, but the happiness she felt was gone, replaced with dread. Damnit, why did it have to be him? Why, out of everyone on the face of Remnant did it have to be him? She just properly asked him out not an hour ago! Jaune, who she would fight and fight for. Jaune, who she could trust to have her back. Jaune, who if push came to shove, wouldn't back down from anything in front of him.
Jaune, who's cum was currently still inside her.
Yup. She's definitely getting Worst-Sister-of-the-Year award, right next to the ten-time winning champion, her mother.
This bullshit had to be genetic.
"That's great, Rubes." Yang exhaled, forcing herself to get her breathing under control. "You uh... You going to ask him to the dance?"
"Ah. Yeah…" Ruby continued to fidget. "I was hoping to get a chance to bring it up. It's just hard, ya' know? There never really seems to be a right time."
"He won't know if you don't tell him." Yang soldiered on, pushing her feelings aside. This was more important. It was the first time she saw Ruby express and interest in someone, and she wasn't going to ruin it. "Guys can be pretty dumb sometimes."
"I know! Ugh, this is so hard…" Ruby looked at her with those damned bright silver eyes. "Can… Can you help?" She begged. "This… this is really new to me, and I don't know what I'm doing." Fuck, Ruby. Why do you have to do this to me? Swallowing the cotton in her mouth, Yang gave the best smile she could muster.
"I'd love to." She lied though her teeth. "It's not every day I get to embarrass you in front of Jaune."
"Yang!" Using her height and weight advantage, Yang attacked her sister, tickling her until she was in a fit of giggles. The familiarity of it helped calm her down. She needed to figure out how to go about this. Needed a plan of how to either let her down gently or let them be. And definitely not make the situation more volatile than it already was. What if Jaune rejected Ruby? It was a very real possibility, and she could see their whole team imploding.
Fuck, this was complicated. It was her duty, though, her responsibility. Dad was back at Patch teaching at Signal and all Ruby had was her right now. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Her and Jaune just started being a thing and could end as quickly as it began. It would be a small price to pay. There were plenty of other fish in the sea, so it shouldn't be a problem if they decided to get together. And as Ruby's musically infectious laughter drifted through her ears, Yang couldn't help but smile.
Anything for Ruby's sake.
If you hadn't noticed, I like fluff. I also felt that in the show that the teams never really 'meshed' in a sense, something that I think was wasted potential and never made sense in later seasons. Also, this will not be revolving around smut. These two are just horny teenager and we'll be back with the plot in no time.
See ya then