Hey guys – there's two chapters. This is one of those cases where the chapter just did not work as one big chapter, and felt better as two. As it would have cut them both to pretty much unacceptable sizes however, I decided to post both chapters at once. That way, it's pretty much the same size as usual.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 35

"It's because I fell in love with you."

Yang's breath caught in her throat. She swallowed and tried to clear it, but the atmosphere felt heavy and stilted. Instead, it was all she could do to choke for more. She didn't – wouldn't – believe it. Her head shook back and forth. "You… love me?"

"Yes. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Y-Yes, it is! You didn't show any interest in romance. How am I supposed to believe you suddenly fell in love? That doesn't make any sense!"

"No, it doesn't."

His flat response shocked her silent.

"It doesn't make any sense," he went on. "I know that. Believe me, I grappled with the idea for ages. I refused to believe it at all." He looked up and into her eyes, and yet again she found herself falling into those sapphire pools. "Crimson fell for you first. I'm not sure if it was your innocence, or some twisted desire to taint it, but when I was him, I couldn't help but spend time around you. I wanted to be closer to you."

She refused to show any reaction to that, refused entirely. Which was why she cursed herself when the blood rushed to her cheeks. How was she supposed to react to something like that? To learn that the suave and sophisticated stripper she'd nursed such lust for had returned it in kind?

"It was selfish of me not to tell you the truth, I admit, but I didn't want it to end. I had so many chances to push you away, but I couldn't help the thrill whenever you came close. I knew it was dangerous, but a part of me craved it. The fire, the innocence, maybe the honesty – even when we were both lying, it still felt more honest than what I had with other customers. Things felt good. I didn't want to lose that."

Yang bit her lip. Things had been good, but did that really excuse him for what he'd done? She almost wished things could go back to how they had been, but didn't that mean she was wishing the lies could still persist? Did she really want to go back to being Crimson and Clover?

A part of her said yes.

"When did… you said Cri- you – developed feelings for me. When was that?"

"I don't know. Nina saw through it long before I did," he added before she could complain. "She kept pushing me over when I'd tell you the truth, pointing out how close we were, and how I relaxed around you. I always thought she was teasing or being stupid, but I started to realise that the very fact I could relax around you meant something." He took a step forward. She forgot to take a step back. "It meant I could let my guard down. It meant I trusted you, even when I didn't realise it. Around everyone else, even Ruby, I always had to keep my guard up and make sure I didn't do something stupid or fall back on old habits, but I didn't feel that way with you. I could be myself. The me that was both Jaune White and Crimson – and later Jaune Arc, too. I didn't realise it was love for the longest time. I refused to believe it, because that would mean I was wrong about how Crimson and I were different people." He sighed. "I was wrong."

Yang felt a headache coming on and massaged her forehead. Jaune, Crimson, the names he bandied around as though they meant something, and maybe they did to him. Maybe they did to her, as well. Crimson was the confident and sexy entertainer. He was a man capable of making her pulse skyrocket, and turning her legs to jelly with a scorching smile.

Jaune, on the other hand, was comfortable and close. He was fun to talk to, and reliable in his own way. He wasn't strong or overly skilled, but he worked hard and took on everything she taught him. In a way, he was confident as well, but it was hidden beneath the surface, and showed itself in strange ways. He wasn't confident making friends, and actually acted like Ruby sometimes, but he was confident when chatting with her. The signs of Crimson had been shining through, but she'd never quite put them together. More fool her for being the idiot.

The worst part was that her heart yearned for her to forgive him. Her body ached for him to hug her, and she could already feel her arms twitching to do the same. The body was willing, but the mind was not. It reminded her of the pain and hurt she'd felt, how vulnerable he'd left her, and also how heavy her heart had felt when she'd cried herself to sleep.

Did she really want to go through all that again?

"I want to believe you," she whispered.

He leaned forwards, eyes wide. Gods, she had no idea how to react to that, or what she was supposed to do in return. As much as she tried to push Ruby in the direction of socialising, it wasn't like she herself had all that much experience. Making friends, yes. Dealing with friends who developed feelings for her, was also a yes. Understanding her own feelings? Hell no.

"It's just that I'm not sure I can. It's all too convenient, too easy. I… I guess I'm scared." Her shoulders hitched, and she looked away. "I guess I'm a coward."

Afraid to be wrong, afraid to be abandoned, afraid to be left alone. She wasn't even sure what she wanted. Taiyang found love twice, but the first turned on him and the second died. She'd seen what effect that had on her Dad, even if he did his best to hide it for their sake. She didn't want to feel the same, but did that mean she could never find love in the first place? You've got to take risks if you want to find happiness, but once – just once – couldn't it be easy?

"You're not a coward, Yang."

"I am," she replied. "You might say there's nothing wrong with being afraid of someone hurting you, but I'm not even willing to take the risk without someone proving themselves to me first. A good person would give you the benefit of the doubt. I can't." She looked away. "I'm sorry."

And that was it, wasn't it?

He had come to her and laid his heart bare, but she was too frightened of what might come to accept his apology. Her fear had struck, and she couldn't bring herself to take the plunge. It was over. They both knew it.

"Maybe we can still be friends," she offered.

"No."

Her heart fell, "Well, I guess I understa-"

"No, you don't." He closed the distance between them, and caught her before she could escape. "You don't understand at all."

"What, but-mrfl!"

Yang's eyes widened, but quickly closed as she felt his lips against hers. Her body melted into him, his hands gripping her arms so tight they almost bruised. Her lips bruised instead, as he pushed against her with incredible force. It wasn't a chaste kiss… not like the first they'd shared, and it shocked her to realise this was their first real kiss. It felt good. It felt too good. Unbidden, her fingers came up to grip his hair. He moved his lips against hers, a deliberate and soft touch that sent waves of pleasure down her body and caused her toes to curl.

It was her breath that gave out first, and yet she tried to ignore it. She tried to breathe through her nose, but it wasn't giving her enough oxygen. Eventually, he pulled away – and her lips immediately ached for his.

"Let me prove it," he whispered harshly. "You said you're not willing to take the risk without someone proving themselves first, well I'm willing to. More than willing. Tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."

"Wha-?"

Her head wasn't quite on straight, and it hardly helped that she was still reeling from the kiss.

"How about if I reveal what I am to everyone? Would that help?"

"I, what? Maybe…?"

"I'll do it." He pulled away and turned back to the ball. "I'll get on stage and tell everyone."

And maybe he'd give them a show too, just to prove it. Yang's eyes shot open when he let go of her and stepped away. She lunged forwards and caught his arm. "Wait, no. I didn't mean that. I was just distracted! You don't have to tell everyone."

Not since it would no doubt follow up with questions of why he had to reveal himself, and then that would end up with her having to explain to Ruby why she frequented a strip club. And oh hell, what if Uncle Qrow or her dad found out?

"Then what should I do?" he asked. "I want to prove myself to you. I want to prove I'm sincere."

"Okay, that's fine." She ran a hand down her face. "You don't need to do anything stupid like that though. Geez, you can be such an idiot at times."

"I am an idiot," Jaune said, "at least when it comes to this. I had no idea what to do when I started feelings those things for you, and I've got no idea what to do now, either. Honestly, I'm just running on hope and throwing anything I have at you."

She laughed. "Yeah, I can tell. You're rambling. Talk about verbal diarrhoea."

"Is it working?"

The question killed the comfortable mood stone dead, and then raised the question of how it had existed in the first place. She'd let herself relax around him, which probably went to show that yes, it had worked. Or it had been working, could have worked, would work… if she let it.

"It's working," she admitted.

/-/

Jaune's eyes lit up. He couldn't believe it, and didn't dare to. Even so, something within him stirred to life and he had to physically fight the urge to leap forwards and take her in his arms. It was all he could do to stare at her. "Yang…?"

"I'm sick of the lies, Jaune." she said. "I'm sick of not knowing what is and isn't the truth. If you say you love me, and you want me to return it, then you need to start telling the truth!"

"I will," he rushed, practically blurted. "I can!"

He could do anything. He would do anything. If it required him to humiliate himself, then fine – he deserved it. Sadly, life wasn't that simple, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try. All of Nina's lessons slammed into his head, and for the first time, he thought he understood them. It wasn't about striding forwards confidently and grasping the opportunity, but a lesson about how nothing would ever change if you didn't take that first step, the risk it could work.

But it wasn't just him doing that. Yang was taking a risk, too – and he understood that. He really did.

Slowly, cautiously, as though to not frighten her, he stepped towards her. His mouth felt dry, but there was a rush of excitement when she didn't move away. In the cool night air, her arms felt warm, almost boiling. It felt like he scorched his fingers the moment he placed them on her arms, and yet he didn't dare let go. He trailed them higher, so that he could rest them atop her bare shoulders.

She looked beautiful in her black dress. He wasn't sure he'd told her that.

He wasn't sure she needed to hear it. It was obvious from the start, and she probably knew that. Empty words were empty words, and actions spoke louder. He could proclaim his feelings all he wanted, but if she was to believe him, he would need to show her how he felt.

And so… he did…

It was slower than the last time. He wanted to take his time with it, and enjoy it – and maybe not come across so forceful. As he leaned in, he kept his eyes on hers, wanting both to watch her reaction, and maybe convey some of his own feelings to her. His lips hovered a hairs breadth from hers. He could taste her breath, short and heavy. Blood rushed to his face, and also somewhere lower down. Swallowing, he tilted his face to the side and laid them on hers.

It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. Kissing a woman wasn't new. Not to him, and yet this was. His body felt weak, and his legs weaker, but he pushed on and tried to employ all the things he knew. Where before, the knowledge might have been at the forefront of his mind, now, it had abandoned him. He was adrift in the feel of her, the taste and the touch – and he didn't want to find his way home.

Without thinking, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms about her waist. Her hands came up to rest on his chest, and he wondered if she could feel his heartbeat. If so, it must have felt like a drum. His tongue brushed against her lips, requesting – begging – for entry.

Yang granted it, and then murmured something into his mouth as he explored her. He kept it slow, torturously so, enough that even he felt pained. There was nothing else he could do. He didn't want it to end. He didn't want to miss or forget any of this.

She panted for breath when they broke apart, and her cheeks were red. "That… that was a thing."

"It was something alright," he said, and kissed her chin. He felt kissed her neck too, and felt her swallow against his lips.

"H-Hey now," she warned, then moaned as he reached up and kissed her once more. The hands on his chest pushed him away, and she ducked her head as she thought for breath. Her eyes flickered to his. "You're too good at that. How many girls have you kissed like this?"

"None."

Her eyes narrowed. She tried to pull away. "Jaune…"

He kissed her again, a chaste one this time. "I'm being honest," he said. "None – not like this. I've never kissed someone before and enjoyed it. I've never kissed someone and lost myself to it. I've never kissed someone and felt like I couldn't control myself, like I wanted to do it again, like I never want to stop-"

Yang's hand caught him in the chest and drove the air from his lungs. He coughed and spluttered, even as she looked away with the brightest face he'd ever seen. Even her neck and shoulders were bright red. "D-Don't say things like that," she hissed. Her eyes slid to his, then shot away again. If anything, she seemed to flush even more. "Are you even listening to yourself? You sound… you sound crazy!"

"I am crazy," he admitted. "For you- ow!"

"That was for the bad pun."

"But I thought you liked bad puns."

"Excuse me? Are you trying to say something with that? My puns are awesome, thank you very much!" She crossed her arms, even if that left her within his grasp. It wasn't like he was going to let go anytime soon. "I'm not sure I can be with a man who doesn't love my pu-mff!"

"I love your puns," Jaune said as he pulled away. Yang looked betrayed that he'd cut her off with a kiss, but he couldn't help himself. "I love everything about you, from your smile to your sense of humour, from how protective you are, to how much you care about your team. I love you, Yang."

"Don't say it like that," she whispered. "We're seventeen. We've been dating for what, three weeks? We haven't even become official yet. Things might change. You don't know what the future will bring."

He didn't. He accepted that. Even so, he didn't think his feelings would change, even if a decade or more passed. Jaune smiled and leaned closer, so that his forehead rested against hers. Her face was hot, likely from all the heavy words and emotions. She pouted up at him, but that only made him smile more.

"Then I'll keep on proving it to you." he promised. "I'll never stop proving it. Not with words, but with actions."

"You're a moron." Yang rolled her eyes, and looked up at his hair. "Aren't you going to change that back? You look good in red, but people are going to comment."

"I can't."

"It's Nina's Semblance, right?" Yang asked. "Sheesh, now we need to track her down."

Jaune shook his head. "No, you don't understand. I didn't have time to find Nina. I had to come here and apologise, to make things right. I just stopped by the first store I could find and bought some boxes of hair dye." Jaune's grin turned sheepish. "I'm stuck like this for a few weeks."

Yang pushed back and stared at him. He scratched the back of his head. "What would you have done if I said no?"

"Be stuck like this for weeks? Honestly, I didn't think that far ahead. I was too busy thinking how I had to say sorry."

She couldn't help it. Whether it was his hair, the embarrassed expression on his face, or just the lengths he'd gone for her. Whatever the case, she burst into laughter. "Y-You're such an idiot," she giggled, pressing her head against his neck.

"Yep… I think that's been established."

He tightened his arms around her.

"Is this… are we together now? Have I managed it?"

Yang tossed her hair back. Her eyes shone, but her smile was teasing. It sent a burst of light through him, especially as her lips curved up. "I don't know… I don't think you've proven it enough to me yet. There are a few things you ought to do if you want to earn my forgiveness~" Despite her bravado, despite the teasing tone, there was a worried, almost nervous, look in her eye. She wasn't sure, but she was willing to try. "If you're up to it, that is."

Jaune smiled and leaned in so that his nose tickled hers.

"I can do that," he whispered. "I'll do anything… but give me another chance to try and prove it with a kiss first. I can do better."

"Hmm… okay."

Jaune leaned in.

From Yang's pleased sounds, he'd definitely proven it. But just in case – he made sure to kiss her again, and again – and again.

They never did make it back to the dance.

Next chapter should be up at the same time as this, or within five minutes. There is, I'm afraid, a mega note at the bottom of the next chapter. Sorry about that, but it explains some things, and also mentions info about the next fic to replace this one. Not required reading per se, but it might answer questions I'd otherwise have to respond to PM's on.

Next Chapter: 25th July

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur