Ruby eagerly raced across the moonlit concrete paths towards the tall statue of a Huntsman and Huntress, the Huntsman striking a heroic pose with a shield whilst the Huntress held a sword aloft. Standing in front of them was Jaune, otherwise known as Vomit Boy, Lady Killer or tall, blonde and scraggly.

He cut a surprisingly solemn figure, despite his admittedly cruddy Halloween costume. With toilet paper rolled over most of his body and dangling off his wrists like frills, he looked stupid. But she took a moment all the same to get a good look at her best guy friend before he noticed her, eyes roving down his torso to his legs. He certainly wasn't scraggly anymore, his training over the past few months having built up a strong, lithe looking form. The muscles of his stomach and chest were clearly defined and carved like marble underneath the thin layer of toilet paper keeping him from being exposed, and her eyes trailed lower to see the outline of his boxers before glancing back up to his face.

She must've squeaked or made some other noise, because Jaune startled and turned towards her, the thoughtful look on his face replaced by a happy one as he grinned at her.

"Happy birthday Crater Face!" Jaune exclaimed, striding over to her and swooping her up in a strong, spine-crushing hug that made her yelp as her face was smothered against the toilet paper covering his chest.

'Take it off before I bite it off!' A dark thought purred, and she subconsciously licked her lips before glancing at the toilet paper, a slip opening and giving her a flash of pale flesh.

"Whoops." Jaune apologised, letting her go and stepping back sheepishly. "Sorry about that. It's just been hard containing it all day and making you think we'd forgotten. Sorry about that by the way. It was Yang's idea."

"That doesn't surprise me." Ruby replied, rolling her eyes and glad that the darkness shrouded her clearly flustered face. Jaune must've interpreted her lack of any enthusiasm in returning his hug as reluctance or not wanting said hug. "Your forgiven by the way."

"Great." Jaune beamed, eyes glinting conspiratorially. "Want your presents?"

"Duh." Ruby grinned back, following him to the base of the statues, where a small pile of presents were stacked. "Woah."

"Not all of them are from me." Jaune explained, pointing to a lump haphazardly wrapped in strawberry wrapping paper and another wrapped neatly. "Those are from Ren and Nora. Pyrrha helped me buy mine so they're from the both of us. I had the ideas, she had the money."

"Didn't know Pyrrha was your sugar mommy." Ruby teased, feeling her stomach twist. She must've been hungry, so she ignored it. "Do you mind if I start with Nora's? I'd rather not open everything else, get super excited then hers turns out to be a grenade that blows everything up."

"Makes sense." Jaune chuckled, sitting down on the stone rim of the statue's base, separated from her by the stack of presents. "The others would've been here too but they're busy prepping your party."

"My what now?" Ruby asked, pausing her slow process of trying to unpeel the tightly wrapped present.

"Your party." Jaune said, rubbing his head sheepishly. "The others wanted to surprise you with it but I know you won't really like being jumped at. Just act surprised?"

"Sure." Ruby conceded, looking down and fiddling with her present a little more. "Who's coming?"

"My team, your team, your dad, your uncle." Jaune replied, giving her a nervous look. "We figured you'd prefer a smaller party you know? Just people you know and chilling."

"Sounds great." Ruby smiled, knowing he was the one who'd likely pushed for such a thing. Small and low key were definitely not something Yang, Weiss or Nora would have advocated for. "But seriously can you help me with this thing? Did she use a whole roll of sellotape to wrap it or something?"

"Sounds like Nora." Jaune chuckled, taking the present and turning it over in his hands for a moment. "There we go."

Ruby watched silently as he tugged up a piece of sellotape, exposing the softer layer of wrapping paper underneath. She silently took the present back, unwrapping it slowly now that the defences were all gone.

"You need to teach me how to do that." She muttered silently. "Stupid older sibling skills."

Jaune just snorted and watched silently as she finally revealed her present, which she held gently in her hands. It was a magic eight ball, and she shook it slightly thinking of a question.

'Do I test my good luck and ask out my crush?' She wondered internally, giving Jaune a glance. He was watching with a curious look.

"Outlook: Not Good." Jaune mumbled, reading the answer before snorting. "I better hope you didn't ask about your life expectancy."

"Yeah." Ruby muttered, gently putting the ball to one side before noticing something in the debris of her wrapping paper. She picked it up and flicked it over, noticing writing on the card.

"Always helps to have advice! Take it from a not-so old person Ruby, this thing always guides you right!"

Ruby frowned before glancing at the magic ball. Why couldn't it give the answer she wanted then?

"Huh." Jaune mumbled, breaking her from her reverie. "I didn't realise Nora had such nice handwriting. I always thought it was a little more chaotic, like her, but maybe that's just when she's taking notes. Not that she does that often, mind you."

Ruby blinked before staring at the note again. It was written nicely, with a little smiley face to boot. She smiled a little and slid the card in her pocket.

"I'll have to say thank you to her later." Ruby said, before picking up the package Jaune had said was from Ren. "Feels heavy."

"I think you'll like this one." Jaune grinned. "Ren worked really hard on it."

"Huh." Ruby mumbled, slowly peeling off the wrapping paper, something which was thankfully much easier than Nora's present. "I wonder what it is."

"You won't have to wonder if you open it." Jaune teased, making Ruby roll her eyes. Her focus zoomed in on the little black box, soft to touch but sturdy looking. She tentatively pulled it open, not exactly sure what to expect, only for her eyes to widen as she caught the glimpse of silvery metal.

It was a shuriken, with her rose emblem at its centre with trailing vines leading to the sharp spikes surrounding it. Just underneath the rose were the letters L.R. and Ruby realised it was maker's mark, symbolising who had produced it.

"It's…It's…" Ruby breathed heavily. "It's awesome! I have a freaking ninja shuriken thingy!"

"I thought you would like it." Jaune grinned, watching happily as she held the weapon reverently in a careful grip. "Turns out Ren's quiet the weaponsmith, something he picked up before Beacon. I've never seen the guy so animated when he was planning and making it, so you don't have to worry about losing it in battle. I'm pretty sure Ren would be more than willing to make you more anyway."

"Ren is now my favourite member of Team Juniper!" Ruby crowed happily, cradling the weapon against her chest before opening her eyes and staring at an amused looking Jaune. "N-Not that you aren't awesome! You're still my guy best friend!"

"That's reassuring." Jaune replied dryly, rolling his eyes as he did so. "You know, I can still get your presents from me and Pyrrha refunded."

"Let's not be hasty." Ruby swallowed nervously, sitting back down and putting the shuriken back in its box to make sure she didn't lose it. "But seriously. Ren's awesome."

"Don't let Nora hear you say stuff like that or she might get jealous." Jaune warned, and Ruby shivered, taking the advice to heart. Nora was cool, but she could be downright terrifying at times.

With a look at Jaune to gain permission, she reached down and opened her first present, something that was rectangular and heavy. She gasped and flicked through the pages of mechanical goodness within.

"Weapon's Weekly!" Ruby gasped, shifting the massive pile. "And there's like fifty of them!"

"Pyrrha pulled some strings." Jaune explained. "You've been given access six months ahead of time to their 'Wintery Weapons Wonderland' specials."

"Holy shi-eeeez." Ruby coughed, enjoying the look of surprise on Jaune's face at her almost cuss. Heh. Snowflake. "This is awesome, Jaune! And Pyrrha!"

"Make sure to thank Pyrrha." Jaune shrugged, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "She did most of the work and she doesn't really like doing her celeb stuff, even if its for a good cause."

"I will!" Ruby promised, eyeing the glossy magazines and feeling drool pool at the corner of her lip at the glimpses of dozens of different barrels, firing mechanisms, mechashift weaponry and just plain weapons. "Woah."

"You okay there Rubes?" Jaune asked, a mild look of concern on his face at her almost catatonic state.

"Oh yeah…" Ruby mumbled, gently shifting the magazines to one side before clearing her throat and turning back to her presents. "Jaune, you're my favourite-est guy in the whole world. Ren's a close second. Uncle Qrow and Dad are tied first, but don't tell them that."

"Cross my heart." Jaune promised, and she nodded before leaning down and picking up another present. She opened it eagerly, the bar set incredibly high by her former presents, and she gaped as a dozen or so pairs of socks rolled out of the tear in the wrapping paper before spilling onto her lap and the floor.

"Got ya." Jaune grinned, smiling evilly. "Everyone knows it's a staple of teenage birthdays to get socks and underpants. I was…uh…it was too awkward to buy you, well, you know, so you just have a bunch of socks."

"I take it back." Ruby deadpanned, scooping the socks off of the floor and into her lap. "I hate you Jaune. Like seriously. Worst best guy friend ever."

"Aww." Jaune pouted. "And I still haven't given you my final present."

"Not more socks?" Ruby asked wearily. Fool me once…

"No." Jaune admitted, sighing a little and rubbing the back of his neck. "It's part physical and part…not. More like a promise."

"P-Physical?" Ruby stammered, face heating up and eyes widening.

"Yeah." Jaune nodded, reaching behind him and pulling out a final, hastily wrapped present. "Sorry the wrappings are bad. Nora used most of the wrapping paper on her so I had to ask Yang for some. Be gentle by the way."

"It's fine." Ruby replied, making sure to open it slowly. She saw a familiar title card at the top of the comic, but her eyes widened at the number underneath it. "No freaking way!"

"Way." Jaune said, making her shudder internally. She made a mental note to ensure her dad and Jaune never met. The dad jokes would be horrible. "X-Ray and Vav, first volume, limited edition and signed by Spruce Willis' agent."

"I feel the last part is more for you than me." Ruby retorted, trying not to gape as she held the comic like it was an ancient holy book, holding it with the care and reverence it deserved. "This is…Jaune I can't-"

"You will." He interjected, giving her a firm look. "It's yours Ruby."

"I…I…" She frowned, before gently laying the comic down next to her before throwing herself at Jaune, making him yelp as her arms wrapped around his neck and they tumbled onto the ground. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"C-Can't…breathe!" Jaune gasped, and she quickly let go before leaning back, watching him regain his breath, though his face was still flushed and he refused to make eye contact with her. "C-Can you…you know?"

Ruby frowned before looking down, eyes widenign with the realisation she was straddling Jaune's chest and her skirt had hitched up, exposing her legs to the world…and Jaune.

"Oh!" Ruby yelped, darting away with semblance-enhanced speed, leaving Jaune surrounded in a pile of rose petals. "S-Sorry."

"I-It's fine." Jaune coughed, pulling himself to his feet. "What was I…oh yeah! Your final present off me! When we graduate from Beacon, I'm giving you permission to modify Crocea Mors a little. I know it bugs you I don't have a ranged option, so I'll let you work your magic and figure somehting out. Sound good?"

"Abso-freaking-lutely!" Ruby cheered happily. "I knew you'd cave eventually, Vomit Boy! I'll get to work designing it as soon as possible! Now even!"

"Nuh-uh!" Jaune said, reaching forward and grabbing her shoulder firmly before she could zoom off. "Party first. Let me help you with your presents."

Ruby conceded the point reluctantly, resolving to sneak off when everyone else was busy to design the new and improved Crocea Mors. She picked up her magic-eight ball, boxed shuriken and limited edition X-Ray and Vav. She let Jaune pick up the socks and stack of weapons magazines, before walking alongside him towards the dorm rooms.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

A/N: Final update on Monday 20th February 2023!