/==/ Chapter Three /==/
The weekend progressed without any further messages from Jaune, leaving his team more than a little concerned, and a little annoyed. They had come to a consensus that when he returned to them, they were going to take him to task over the issue, though it became apparent that Nora and Pyrrha were leaning on Ren to take the lead on that discussion. By Monday morning, all three had sent him messages, asking what he was doing, where he was, and if his family was okay.
Little did they know that while they were feeling ignored by their team leader, Jaune was nearly having a panic attack in regard to how to properly and effectively respond to each of them, without letting anything slip. Of course, she could just use a basic impersonal canned response, but she couldn't bring herself to do that to them. Regardless of what she was going through, they were her teammates, and she did have some attachment to them. She considered them friends and was conflicted, because of her whole situation. She was already in a way lying to them, and she desperately didn't want to compound the issue further.
So while she stressed on what to do, her team stressed about their team leader's lack of response. At JNPR's shared meals with RWBY, conversation often turned towards Jaune and his absence. Notably, it was Ruby that often brought up the topic, with Weiss often presenting satisfaction that the blond annoyance was no longer around to embarrass her with his inane attempts to woo her. Pyrrha often found herself clenching her fists tightly when Weiss would speak out against her partner. More than once, she found herself visualising herself pushing Weiss' face into the floor of the training ring with her heeled boots.
It was Wednesday by the time JNPR received a new message from Jaune. It was a relief for them, as it gave more detail in what was happening, and indicated that Jaune would be back in a couple of days, depending on how Jaune's mother was feeling. Of course none of them knew that Jasmine Arc was the picture of perfect health, and aside from the possibility of a couple of days before Jaune would return to JNPR, everything else was a complete fabrication.
With her team pacified, Jaune proceeded to prepare herself to visit Beacon's gym facilities. Her Aunt had reluctantly agreed, after some pressure from Doctor Peach, to allow Jaune limited access to Beacon's facilities, as she was in her original form. Armed with a visitor's pass, and a borrowed Haven uniform, she was instructed to present herself as a student in the process of transferring schools. It was all plausible, and would allow Jaune free access to walk the grounds. Which was the specific result Jaune had aimed for. She needed out of the confines of the prison that was her Aunt's apartment.
So dressed in her borrowed uniform, armed with her pass and carrying a small gun bag, she made her way through the halls, towards her destination. It was empty of any other students, which caused her to sigh in relief. With as much faith as she had in her Aunt Glynda's preparations, Jaune still wanted to avoid undue notice. The less interaction, the better.
Deciding that she needed to work on some cardio, due to being gassed after her very early morning sessions with her Aunt, Jaune changed into a pair of light blue, with pink trimmed yoga pants, sports top me pinkish ballet slippers. Jaune was not out of shape, in fact she was very aware of the need to stay fit, considering her love of ballet, waltz, and contemporary dance. Jaune knew there was an acute difference between training to wage war against the grimm and conditioning for her preferred pastime. Of course, she needed great core strength, but she also needed to be lithe, flexible and have a large pool of stamina. Some of which her peers also required, though there was a major difference in being able to cleave a grimm in half, versus being able to stand on your toes in a perfect standing split for several minutes on end.
Falling into the routine she and Vi used at home, she started with some light cardio on the treadmills, and the elliptical stair climbers, before she would transition to some light weights, and then actual dance practice. She loved the freedom of those fluid movements, and was also well aware of what her and Vi's routine did for her hips and ass. Unlike when she was him, Jaune liked to show off her body, to a degree. It was always tastefully done, but it was done to get attention. Jaune was proud of her body, and took a fair bit of satisfaction in the complimentary gazes of others.
She had just finished her weight training, and was in the process of transitioning to the small section of the fairly large room that was obviously designed to allow practitioners of ballet to hone their craft. The main doors opened and slammed closed. Jaune didn't bother to look as she set her towel, scroll, and water bottle down, in preparation for the next portion of her exercise routine.
As she was stretching, she noticed a stripper pole off to the side of the main dance area. She smiled at the sight of it, because it meant, at some point, a student or students had been able to lobby the administration of Beacon for its installation. She could almost hear Aunt Glynda's response to such a request. Jaune knew as soon as she saw that particular piece of equipment, that she would be making use of it. Pole dancing was good exercise for working on her core strength, as well as super fun to do. She giggled as she recalled Aunt Glynda's response to the revelation that Jaune was taking Pole Dancing classes.
Ansel may be small in comparison to Vale, and some of the closer settlements, but it still boasted a very well recognized Dance Academy. A very progressive Dance Academy. Lifting her right leg up, she effortlessly placed her ankle across the horizontal bar, and began to lean forward stretching out her glutes, thighs and calves. It had been awhile since she had been able to do this, and she was going to test herself, once she was properly limbered up.
She heard the whir of one of the treadmills starting up, and smiled to herself, as she idly wondered if whoever was sharing the gym with her, was enjoying the view. Jaune chose not to look over her shoulder and see who her audience was, and instead took her time to complete her stretches, before turning and starting the process over on her left leg. It was then that she saw her. The girl with the beret. The cute girl that she wanted to get to know. She was on one of the closer treadmills, and her attention was focused on Jaune.
So Jaune did the first thing that came to her mind, and shot the young woman a wink.
/=/
Coco liked to consider herself a perceptive person, and most would agree that she was. She knew instantly that the girl before her, the shapely and distracting young woman was starting to get flirty with her. Which of course was confirmed by the wink thrown in her direction. Coco bit her lip as she tried to concentrate on her own warm up while the sinfully proportioned figure before her continued her own routine. A routine that Coco knew was being geared towards entertaining her. Coco was of course not about to complain, and slowing down from a jog to a brisk walk, she decided she was going to try and enjoy the show, with minimal distractions.
Coco's routine was forgotten, as she just continued her walk on the treadmills while drinking in the angel, who was using her body to flirt with her. Many thoughts were rolling through Coco's mind, chief among them was awe. Between her beauty and her flexibility, Coco was absolutely smitten. Of course, the fashionista knew there was more to someone than their outward appearance, but she would be a grimm's uncle if she wasn't at least going to try and get to know this young woman.
Coco's breath hitched. She was tempted. Sorely tempted to quit what she was doing and approach the image of pure desire before her. Particularly when the delectable dish situated before her eyes performed a perfect split while in a handstand. Coco was a tease in her own right, and knew the signs. Reaching forward, Coco turned off the treadmill. She was going to enjoy the show being offered, without any distractions. She leaned forward on to her arms as she crossed them over the console to the treadmill.
Jaune smiled and gave another flirty wink when she noticed she had captured Coco's full and undivided attention. Now was the time to give her something worth seeing. Effortlessly transitioning from the handstand to standing, Jaune rolled forward on her feet, resting all her weight on the balls of her feet before pushing further. The specialized caps on her slippers helped with support, but it still took some effort and concentration to succeed with the well practised motion.
Coco fought to keep her jaw from falling open as she watched the delectable beauty before her rise to stand on her tiptoes, before raising her right leg high into the air. Her balance was perfect, her form sublime as her right leg rose straight into the air. Coco wished she had her scroll within reach. She so wanted, no she needed, a picture of this angelic girl performing a perfect standing splits. Jaune gave Coco a warm and cheeky smile before dropping her leg and moving into a pirouette followed by a hands-free cartwheel, before allowing her legs to slide apart into another display of her flexibility. She gave Coco a sultry smile this time before turning slightly and rolling back to her feet. With a wave and a sway of her hips, she moved across the floor to the stripper pole. It was time for Jaune to give her final performance, before moving in and sealing the deal by getting a name and number.
Coco's heart was hammering in her chest. She knew she was being teased, and she didn't want it to stop. This girl was an angel, absolute perfect balance, insane flexibility, and curves Coco would be willing to go down fighting for. She swallowed as she returned the smile with one of her own, accompanied by a wink, followed by a blown kiss, before just enjoying the sway in her walk. Coco knew what pole dancing was. She knew a stripper pole when she saw one. She had more than once indulged in sampling eye candy during breaks between missions and classes. Coco licked her lips, wondering if she was about to get a private show from the teasing little minx.
Jaune's heart was beating a mile a minute. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time; nor had she ever had such a receptive audience to her little flirts. She made her way towards the pole. Grabbing it with both hands, Jaune hopped into the air and let her body spin about. Tilting back, she tightened her grip as she brought her legs up and coiled her left about the pole.
Coco needed an ice-cold shower, and she planned to take several, once she got the name and number of this bombshell beauty. Her dark brown eyes drank in every line and curve of the body before her. Her mind recorded every move and motion the object of her desire was making. Coco watched as she gave displays of pure physical strength, and flexibility; enacting moves Coco was confident she herself couldn't pull off. But the icing on the cake were the winks and added in blown kisses. Coco knew that the Blond was aware that she was being watched and ogled, and was enjoying the attention.
After performing a full routine, Jaune was completely winded. She hadn't had a chance to really let loose and do what she really enjoyed doing for so long. Sitting down she fanned herself, and contemplated moving over to where she left her towel and water as well as to get her scroll.
"Water?" Coco asked, with a beaming smile.
"Please. I have a bottle just over there" Jaune replied, returning the smile, as she grabbed the pole beside her to help her stand. Her legs were feeling a little rubbery, and she was a little more than winded, all things considered.
She watched as Coco gave her own little hip sway as she sauntered over to the indicated place. By the time Jaune was back on her feet, Coco had returned with her bottle of water, scroll and towel. Jaune accepted all three with a smile, and draped the towel about her neck before proceeding to take several large swallows of water, while also activating her scroll in preparation for her next task. Getting this woman's contact information.
"Coco Adel, and who might you be?" Coco introduced herself.
"Jaune. Jaune Arc, short sweet, rolls of the tongue, ladies love it." Jaune responded without thinking, only to give a little gasp as it suddenly occurred to her that she had made a mistake. A big one.
"I know, I certainly do." Coco responded, with a grin and a wink. "So, where have you been hiding? I'm positive I would have remembered seeing you around before now."
"I'm just visiting." Jaune replied, attempting to at least mitigate the damage she had done by using her real name.
"Visiting?" Coco gave Jaune a questioning look, which Jaune knew meant she wasn't sold on the excuse.
"Yes, I'm considering transferring schools. Beacon is closer to home, and my family." Jaune offered, using mostly true information. Vale was indeed close to Ansel if you considered a six-hour bullhead trip close, and she did have family nearby, in the form of her Aunt Glynda.
"Well, I won't lie. I would very much enjoy seeing you…" Coco stuttered for a second, realising what she had just hinted at, and attempted to do damage control. "I mean, it would be great if you did transfer here, to attend Beacon, that is."
Jaune actually had to press the back of her hand to her hand to her lips, in a poor attempt to hide her smile, which of course gave Coco a look at the small and intricate golden rose tattoo on the inside of her wrist. The stem was split forming a pair of legs, the two leaves below the blossom were stretched out like arms, and the rose bloom itself was styled so that the flower was like a mane of golden hair, with the way it was titled. The image it gave was that of a dancer. While not normally a girl that went for people with tats, Coco had to admit to herself that the very artistic looking piece suited Jaune, and made her even more cute.
"I have to say, that is a very interesting bit of ink you have there." Coco openly admitted inclining her head towards Jaune's wrist.
"You mean this?" Jaune asked as she lowered her hand and turned it over to show the tattoo. "My twin sister Violet and I got them when we turned sixteen. Sort of a way to permanently symbolise our passion for dancing."
"I have to ask."
"Ask away." Jaune commented as her heart fluttered in her chest, "For you… I'll be an open book"
"Why are you here? I mean, you are obviously talented enough to be a professional, why choose to train as a huntress?"
Jaune didn't have an answer to that question, and was too slow to hide the look of surprise and panic that crossed her features.
"I'm sorry." Coco quickly offered, "I didn't mean to upset you, by asking that, I was just curious, forget I asked. Please?"
"Forgotten." Jaune replied with a weak smile that quickly turned mischievous. "Though maybe you can make it up to me?"
"And how," Coco planted both her hands on her hips, "do you suppose I do that?"
"Give me your scroll number." Jaune replied with a wink and a coy smile.
"I think I can do a bit better than that." Coco countered with a similarly coy smile.
"Oh really?"
"Yes really."
"I'm not that type of girl, at least before the first date." Jaune gave Coco a sultry smirk.
"Someone thinks highly of their chances." Coco giggled, and then stuck her tongue out at Jaune playfully. "What makes you think I'm that interested in you?"
"The way you've been staring at my ass." Jaune blew Coco a kiss, before doing a little spin, and wiggling her rear at her. Looking over her left shoulder, she gave Coco a wink while leaning forward just enough to make her curves a little more noticeable. "Admit it. It's better than anything you've ever dreamed of."
"I will happily admit, it is a divine looking derrière, and I will be dreaming about it for a long time." As soon as she said that, Coco turned and walked towards the treadmill she had been using, swaying her hips hypnotically.
Jaune turned about and bit on the tip of her finger as she devoured Coco's motions and figure, with her eyes. She watched as the fashionista made a show of bending over to retrieve her own towel, bottle of water and scroll, before looking back over her shoulder with a knowing smirk.
"Who's staring now?"
"Maybe me." Jaune replied with a smirk of her own, and a wiggle of her eyebrows as Coco made the return trip, towel over her shoulder, water bottle in one hand and activated scroll in the other.
"Well, maybe you would like to join me for a coffee?"
"I don't know, I think there might be a catch."
"Oh there is."
"And what would that be?"
"Join me for coffee at this cute little shop I know out in Vale, and you get exclusive access to my scroll number, and…"
"And?"
"A free makeover by yours truly!"
"You think I need a makeover? Have you not seen me?"
"Sweetie, even an angel like you could use a makeover."
/=/
The trip down and through the streets of Vale was a little nerve wracking for Jaune. She knew she was disobeying her Aunt Glynda, but she couldn't pass up a chance to spend more time with Coco. Of course, Coco noticed her apprehension.
"Is everything okay? You seem a little less than happy about this little outing, considering how much you smiled when I suggested it…"
"It's nothing really." Jaune replied while trying to come up with a viable excuse other than her Aunt was going to have kittens if she found out she had gone into Vale against her instructions. "Just a little nervous. Vale is still kind of new to me. Don't want to end up lost."
"With me around, you'll never get lost. I was born and raised here." Coco offered with a smile.
"So you're planning on keeping me close?" Jaune asked with a smirk.
"I've considered it." Coco shot back with an equally suggestive smirk.
"So what's first?"
"Coffee then makeover." Coco replied, as she pointed down the street. "The place I want to show you is just a little further down."
Coco had been spot on when she said the little coffee shop she had in mind was cute and quaint. It was a Mom & Pop shop, a little more expensive than a chain store, but well worth it, and apparently fairly popular, at least locally. Coco urged Jaune to grab a seat while she got in line to make their order. Of course, she didn't ask Jaune what she wanted, just insisted she would get her something she would, undoubtedly like. Finding a small two-seat table near the large picture window, Jaune settled in to await Coco's return.
While Jaune waited, she pulled out her scroll, and chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to decide if she should bite the bullet and let her Aunt Glynda know she was in Vale, or just wait and deal with the fallout when or if her Aunt found out, about her little day trip to Vale. With a sigh, she decided to be upfront with her Aunt, and fired off a quick message, detailing where she was, and with whom.
"Hey there gorgeous." Proceeded, a shadow falling across the table across from her. The sleazy way his voice sounded caused a shiver to run up her spine. "Mind if I join you?"
