Breaking Through the Bottom of the Bottle
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Five years after Beacon, Jaune's still going home alone as often as not. An unlikely encounter with Yang may have just the solution- drinks, company, and a hell of a lot of pickup lines.
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Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. Duh.
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They changed bars soon after, to shake off the mood that had settled over them. Yang paid that tab, Jaune insisted on paying the next, and together they walked down the street to the next bar. People made way for them, some looked curiously at the animated pair, and a few stared in appreciation- and not just as Yang.
They laughed about it as they found another booth in another bar.
"Did you see that kid on the skateboard?" Jaune chortled as he slid in. "His head was pivoting so far at you he almost fell off the curb."
"Not as funny as redhead in the red dress," Yang countered. "She actually did fall into a pothole."
"No shit!" Jaune gasped, unable to believe it. "I noticed her- she was pretty hot. Lookout, Yang, looks like your experimenting days aren't over yet," he teased.
"I doubt it," Yang countered. "The only thing I saw in her eyes was green. She was checking you out pretty hard before she noticed me. She might've been about to cross the street when she did. Might've thought we were together or something."
"No shit?" Jaune said, this time more contemplative as he looked at the door as if considering running out it and after her. "I might have to remember to come back her around this time again later, then," he decided.
Yang raised an eyebrow. "No lady-friend somewhere going to get upset if you do?" she asked carefully.
"I wish," Jaune admitted with a laugh, "but no."
"Really?" Yang asked despite herself. "I find that hard to believe. After your pickup lines back there, I was nearly swept off my feet," she claimed, complete with a clearly over-acted mock swooning. Then she froze, mid-swoon. "Oh, wait, never mind. That wasn't you. That was just me- I really am that hot."
Jaune rolled his eyes. "And how about you, Ms. Independent?" he picked back. "Found your pick of the litter yet, or are you still beating off guys with a stick?"
Yang closed her eyes and took a deep swig of her drink, delaying her answer for a bit. When she was finished, she looked perfectly fine.
"Not always with a stick," she shrugged. "Depends on if they take a hint or not. But really, nothing special on my end. You get bored with a harem of guys after awhile. Turns out that guys are only good thing for one thing, while women are good for six. Dear Monty, why couldn't I have been a lesbian?" she mock mourned.
"Oh, get off," Jaune protested, ribbing her a bit and missing the right arm to hit under her chest. "There must have been someone who caught your eye, right?"
Yang considered. "A few, but for some reason all the good ones tend to be taken. Or gay. Or both. Though there was this one guy back in Beacon…" she mused.
Jaune leaned forward, interested. "Oh? I never heard about that," he said. "What happened there?"
"Nothing," Yang said with a shrug. "The guy couldn't take a hint. Cute, but totally oblivious."
"What an idiot," Jaune scorned. "He didn't know what he was missing."
Yang laughed. "Maybe, but that was part of his charm," she admitted. "It was… frustrating, at times, but also a relief."
"Because he never knew?"
"Heck no. That was the frustrating part," Yang denied. "Well, okay, sometimes you're left wondering if you're still attractive if someone you want to notice you doesn't. But on the other hand, never noticing means you don't get hurt by rejection, you know?"
"I might," Jaune said, so dry that Yang almost flinched.
"You know what I mean. If he's not falling for your tits or reputation you know he's sincere. That he honestly likes you for you. But if he doesn't like you as much as you want him to…" she traced the ring of her glass. "It means he's sincerely uninterested, I guess?"
"Do I smell a love triangle?" Jaune asked.
Yang sniffed in derision. "Like I'd be caught in something like that. There was someone else he liked nosing around. I stood back, did nothing, and hoped it would work out." She fingered her glass once more, considering. "I've always wondered whether if I'd made a move sooner, if things might have turned out differently."
There was a heaviness there- not angry, not sad, but wistful all the same- that made Jaune swallow. "Do you," be began, before swallowing around the tightness in his throat. "Did you stay in touch?" he asked.
Yang was quiet for a bit before she answered. "I tried, but he's been… less than social since then. Things didn't work out."
Jaune struggled for something to say, to find a pun or joke to lighten the mood. There was none, so he reached over and put a hand over hers instead.
"I'm sorry," he said, and she stiffened as his left hand set atop her right, but he continued. "I wish I could say something other than I'm sorry. But it's not too late, Yang. You know what they say- plenty of other fish in the sea," he encouraged.
Yang gave a little laugh, but her heart clearly wasn't into it. "If I were in the mood for fish, I wouldn't want a guy," she joked. "Not sure if I want to look for anyone else right now either," she said, tracing the glass lip once more.
"Well, I am," Jaune declared, surprising her by throwing an arm over her shoulder in a half-hug of solidarity. "And when we're done eating, I'm going to prove it. Come on, my treat," he said, passing her a menu. "No reason either of us has to leave alone tonight. If I can pick up a girl, you can totally get any guy you want. No excuses."
Yang seemed more bemused than enthused, as well as something else. "Can you, though?" she asked, a hint playful. "Or are you going to come crawling back to little ol' ugly me?"
Jaune rolled his eyes, even as he signaled a waiter to bring a menu. "The day you're old and unattractive will be the day I die, but just you wait. I've had years to work on my technique. I'm not puny first-year you used to know."
"Sounds promising," Yang said, giving a real smile in return, one with teeth. "Tell you what- let's trade numbers. Then you can call me if you need me to break you out of some other woman's vile clutches."
Jaune paused for a moment- a long moment- before visibly deciding to go with it. "Not going to take this chance to try bagging someone yourself?" he asked as they traded scroll numbers.
"Nah, I got what I need. Besides, this oughta be good," Yang said, tucking her scroll away. "Don't mind me- I'll just watch. Maybe I could teach you a thing or two after. You know, when I finish laughing," she teased.
Jaune sniffed. "That totally won't be necessary. I got this."
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End Third Round
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Author Note:
Spoiler alert: next chapter begins Jaune's amazingly successful pickup routine as he builds a harem out of a vast allotment of RWBY cameo characters in a single chapter while Yang watches. Watch as faunus everywhere fall for him because 'he's not racist.' Observe the master as basic good nature and ignorance of public persona wins over everyone who's ever been in the public eye. Hold your nose and check for bleeding when Jaune shows off his six/twelve/gazillian pack abs that he got since he started working out and sends every woman (and some of the men) in the bar longing with desire despite a prevalence of people who have also been working out even longer.
Also, sarcasm alert: the above was sarcasm.
[/jokes]
Anther short piece for the buildup. Important, because, buildup and stuff. And because combining it with the next piece makes it awkwardly long while the pacing for the buildup. Hence buildup.