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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[At last call, he began to crumble.]
"You want to know- wanna know what I'm thinking about?" Jaune asked more bars and many more drinks later.
"I'm surprised you're thinking at all," Yang admitted, trying to pull him up and away from leaning on the wall of the booth. All it really changed was him leaning on her- a partial improvement, at least.
Jaune scowled. "That's not it," he said with a slur. "You're supposed to guess 'you.'"
"Me?" Yang asked absently, trying to loop his arm around her neck.
"Exactly," Jaune said, nodding drunkenly. "I'm thinking about you. That's the joke," he explained, "cause 'you' is the first word in the-"
Yang ignored the explanation as she gave a pull, starting to get him out of the booth. Jaune didn't resist, or help, as he was dragged, and instead let himself fall on her lap. His arm came up off her shoulder, but she made sure to catch him and not let him hit the table. Instead he just lay in her lap, looking straight up at her.
"Yang, you must be a broom," Jaune said without rising, "because you just swept me off my feet."
"You've got such a nice ass I thought it'd be a shame for you to keep sitting on it," Yang said, giving up moving him for a bit.
Jaune didn't say anything for a bit- just looked up at her, even as she looked down at him. He had the faintest hint of a glow in his eyes- of aura and semblance trying to fight off the effects of alcohol, an enemy they were never meant to counter- but really he was just staring.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, brushing a bit of his hair out of his eyes.
"You, before I wake up from this dream," Jaune answered.
"Dream?"
"Must be," Jaune reasoned. "Ruby did this back… back then. I never remember to forget," he rambled, even as he reached up and began to idly play with her hair. She didn't stop him. "Sometimes it's not her- sometimes it's whoever I'm with- but she keeps coming back. Every time I know it's too good to be true, and every time I just wonder… wonder how long she'll stay this time." He closed his eyes and frowned, almost a grimace of pain. "But she's always gone in the morning. Always."
Yang said nothing, just stroked his head as he fixated on her hair.
"First time I've ever seen you, though," Jaune shared, relaxing, eyes still closed. "Does that make you my dream girl now?"
"Maybe," Yang said, and pinched him hard.
"Ow!" he exclaimed, eyes widening. "What was that for?"
"Checking which one of us was dreaming," Yang claimed, though she made no movement to move to pinch herself. "Don't want you nodding off."
"Oh. Okay," Jaune accepted. "It's your turn," he eventually pointed out.
"Hm," Yang hummed, continuing her motions of running her fingers through his hair. "I think I used up all my good ones for now. Feel free to keep going yourself."
He didn't answer right away. He was looking up at her looking down at him.
"What are you looking at?" Jaune asked.
"A drunk," Yang said, affectionately. She began to move him upright, manhandling him back up. "Come on, time to go."
Jaune blinked, and blinked a few more times until his eyes focused. "Why?" he asked. "We're not done yet. There's still drinks left to drink."
"One, because I don't want you passing out on me," Yang ruled, putting his arm back over her. "Two, I'm running low on lien. And three, bar's closing," she pointed out.
It was true- the last patrons were gone, and even the bartender was finishing up. They hadn't interrupted yet, but were shooting thankful glances all the same.
"Wait a minute," Jaune remembered. "I got a last one."
"Hit me," Yang said. Jaune cleared his throat, and did. Then he hit on her.
"Ready to go home now?" he asked, shooting a cocky smile.
"Thought you'd never ask," Yang said, and without giving him a chance to react she pulled him against her.
With only a slight grunt, Yang stood, and dragged Jaune up with her. He didn't stand as much as lean against her, holding on to her for the support his own legs weren't giving him. His head nestled against her front, though he might not have actually realized it as she took a better hold and led him towards the door.
"Yang, you know what I like about you right now?" Jaune asked as they managed to make it out to the cool night air.
"A lot of things, I hope."
"Just two- my arms," Jaune claimed, before squeezing a bit harder than was strictly necessary for stability. As drunk as he was, he might not even realize where he was squeezing.
Yang laughed, clear as the night air. "Jaune, if you weren't so romantic, I'd punch you." She paused. "Still might," she grinned.
"Oh, burn!" Jaune claimed in mock fear, backing away for a moment- but just a moment, when he needed stability again. "You're hot enough I bet you could light a candle at ten paces," Jaune claimed. "Oh wait- you can!" he cackled.
"I also picked up some B&E from Blake," she claimed. "Give me a chance, and I'll steal your heart."
"Hmmm," Jaune considered. "Let's make it a mutual crime. You steal mine and I'll steal yours?" he offered off the cuff.
"Can't. Already given," Yang claimed, proving once more that honesty isn't always the best policy.
Jaune quieted at that. "Sorry. I forgot," he apologized, and Yang cursed beneath her breath.
"Never mind. Don't worry," she tried, but once more the mood was broken for the moment.
"What time do you have to leave for Haven?" Jaune eventually asked.
Yang was grateful enough that she didn't mind that he'd already used that one. "Oh, I'm sure the other angels won't mind if I stay with you a bit longer," she panned.
It didn't play out. "Not that," Jaune denied, shaking his head. "Haven. The reunion. When do you have to-" he audibly struggled, "have to leave?"
It was her turn to let the silence continue on. She wondered if he'd forget if she let him. By the way he was looking at her, watching, she doubted it. Still…
"I don't have to go," she began, not looking him in the eye. "I could stay-"
"Yang." It was simple, a single word. From him, it stopped her in her tracks. "You promised," he said simply. Not a condemnation, not a plea, simply a reminder.
She grimaced. She had. She'd told him what she'd do tomorrow. Dust, was it morning yet? Was it tomorrow? A quick check said it was- that it was already early morning.
"Jaune, I-" she tried, and she stalled. She always stalled when it came to things like this.
She didn't always get flicked in the forehead. It was more startling than painful, but it made her look- really look- at the man she was supporting.
"Don't chicken out," Jaune said, staring at her with a drunken honesty. "The Yang I know might mess things up here and there, but she never ran away from a challenge. Or anyone else."
Yang gave him a mixed smile. "You sure know what to say to make it hurt, don't you?" she said, smiling despite the twisting of her stomach.
He didn't respond to that. His mind was still stumbling to his next point.
"Your flight," he began, clearly trying to remember distant things. "If you're going to Haven, you'll have to catch a morning flight."
"Yeah," Yang acknowledged. If she were going to get to Haven in time for the Reunion, she'd have to catch an early one.
Jaune looked at the same public clock she had. "When are you leaving?"
Her lips pressed together. "I thought I'd stay with you a bit longer."
"You want to crash at my place?" Jaune asked. "Catch a nap? In my bed?" He didn't have a couch, but he could always sleep on the floor.
"I wasn't planning on sleeping," Yang admitted. She looked away and back forward. "I can always do that on a plane."
"Lucky," Jaune accepted easily, leaning against her harder as if to make her step forward. "Just don't forget. You promised."
Despite his weight- despite his pressure- Yang didn't step away.
"Jaune, I-" she began, but carried through. "Jaune, come with me," she invited. "Come to Haven. Come back to the Reunion with me," she appealed.
"Yang…"
"Everyone would be happy to see you there. Everyone wants to see you there. Especially- especially Ruby," she promised. "You could make up. It could help you get over things. We could…" she curled her hands.
"Yang."
That's what he said into her ear, but that isn't what made her still. It was the sliding of his hands down her arms, and one arm in particular. A soft glow and long-lost warmth brushed against metal, until soft and glowing fingers intertwined with metal ones.
[ResolveRemembranceRegret. You promised. And so did I.]
"Maybe next year," Jaune whispered, leaving his hand in hers so she knew he meant it.
"You could help me get that guy there this year," she tried, squeezing his hand a bit harder.
"You don't need me for that," Jaune claimed, ignoring- or not understanding- Yang's silence. Soon he spoke again.
"I'm going home," Jaune said. "I did what I intended tonight. Talked to a pretty woman. Got hammered enough that I could sleep till noon. And there's- there's no way I'm getting on a bullhead like this," he stated, stumbling to prove a point. "Mission- accomplished. I'm not going back."
Yang didn't hide her sad expression.
"But that's no excuse for you!" Jaune said with sudden and exaggerated cheer, using the hand that wasn't wrapped around her back to poke her in the side. "Show him what you're all about, Yang. Show him until he has no other choice but to believe you. When he does, he's yours. I know it."
"You sure?" Yang asked, sounding less like the twenty-something woman she was and once more like a younger, occasionally secretly insecure school girl she once was.
"I swear," Jaune affirmed. He gave her a goofy smile, though it softened soon enough. "You got this, Yang," he encouraged, leaning his forehead into her. "Just do something that won't leave any ambi- ambi- ambiguity. That you can't pass off as anything else. But no matter what he says… I'll be here for you. I promise."
"Jaune?" she said as his words hung in the air.
"Yeah?"
"Wish me luck."
"I-"
Whatever he would have said- however he would have tried to- was cut off when Yang released his hand, grabbed the back of his head with her prosthetic, and pulled.
And kissed him.
Jaune startled at first, but couldn't resist. Not the heat, not the force, and not the soft lips with the sweet hint of strawberries. He couldn't resist, couldn't even respond before she ended the kiss, leaving him panting and wide eyed before he could even think to reach back and pull her closer.
"Wha- what was that for?" he managed, stumbling back and leaning against the first wall he could.
"For luck," Yang explained, letting out a nervous giggle even as cheeks flushed from something other than alcohol.
"Aren't- aren't I supposed to offer that?" Jaune said, with a nervous laugh of his own.
"Were you going to?"
"Well, no-"
"Then I had to take it myself," Yang reasoned. "You know. For luck," she whispered, looking away.
"Luck. Right. Ha," Jaune managed, calming himself down at the offered rationalization, flimsy as it was, as he slid against the wall to the ground. She was neither surprised or disappointed. He gave a nervous laugh. "See? That's what you need to do. It's like my Dad used to say- all you need is confidence."
"Didn't he say that about picking up women?" Yang asked, looking back.
"Everyone likes confidence," Jaune said. "At least, I do," he whispered as an addendum.
Maybe he would have said more- maybe he would have reminded her what else he said- but he forgot to. Looking at her, looking at him with a fond look that hinted at something he wouldn't assume, Jaune lost himself until he needed to breath. And something else.
"I can't get up," Jaune realized, breaking the spell. He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't respond like he wanted. A curious thought crossed his mind, curious because it seemed to work even though his body wasn't.
"I'm drunk." He laughed at the thought. He reached out to her with both arms. "Pick me up?"
"I intended to," Yang said, bending over to pull him up. That turned out not to be enough- his legs having given up, he couldn't even stand. Yang manhandled him as she tried to find a grip that worked.
"Hold on," she directed.
"Where?" he asked, trying to find something- anything- he could pull.
"Anywhere but the hair," Yang said. "That's third date at best."
Eventually what seemed to work best was the venerable piggy back ride- only slightly less embarrassing than the bridal style she started with. He did what she said as best he could- and if his hands brushed against things that might have gotten him decked six, eight years ago, he was too drunk to mind now.
Maybe she was too.
Leaning against her back, still amazed at how her shoulders could be so broad and so feminine, Jaune leaned against her once more, not even minding the blond hair caressing his face.
"Yang?"
"Yeah Jaune?" she returned, as they made their way to a better street.
"I meant what I said. Whether he's an idiot, you can come with me. My treat."
"I plan to. Sounds fun," Yang said, looking at the clock. It was officially tomorrow, after all. "Now stay awake. I got one last thing to do tonight," she urged.
"What's that?" Jaune asked, fighting off an urge to nod off since she wanted it.
"I'm taking you," Yang said, grunting as she hitched him up and his weight slid into her.
"Hm? Where?"
"Home."
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End Fifteenth Round
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Author Note:
And this round's winner for best line is...
Not much else to say, besides... people have finally stopped wondering if Yang was after Jaune or not, so I don't think it can be considered a spoiler anymore. Only took about a dozen chapters, lol.