A/N: Hello, all of you who love this story. I will not lie, this might be my favorite chapter of Clout so far. Blake's chapter will be next and then Weiss. And, then, Jaune's revenge! Haha!

RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and the late Monty Oum

Clout

Chapter 4

As she looked at herself in the mirror, prepping herself for what she was about to do, Yang Xaio Long came to the conclusion that she had a problem. A very serious one.

And its name was Jaune Arc.

Now, Yang wouldn't say that she was all that used to having problems in her life. Especially, when it came to boys.

At least, not ones that she couldn't solve with a bit of her own Yangness.

Usually, if she liked a boy, she'd give them a bit of a nudge, whether that was the classic "wink and a smile" as coined by her dad, or something a bit more obvious if they were denser than usual.

Boys. So much trouble, sometimes.

If she didn't like them, she knew how to turn on the brakes. Usually without having to shatter their pride while doing so.

And, if they didn't get the hint? Well, that's where Ember Celica came into play.

But, Jaune was different. He wasn't just a boy that she liked. She didn't just want to hang with him anymore.

It was an altogether more serious issue.

Cause Yang was pretty sure that she was in love with him, and that was a scary thing. For her, specifically.

Now, Yang would tell you that she had no issues in her life. Sure, she had lost her right arm in a fight with someone who clearly outclassed her. But that was okay.

She was used to fighting outside her weight class.

And, the guy had eventually been arrested. By yours truly, of course. And Blake, of course.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled at that before walking out of the bathroom in RWBY's Fourth Year dorm room and paused, taking it in briefly. It had taken some getting used to, but they finally had the space for four beds side by side. Although, one wasn't used much these days.

She smiled at that, too.

Then she motioned to her sister with a nod before walking to the door. Her sis nodded back, and the rest of the all girls team got up to follow her. She didn't notice the quick text Ruby sent on her scroll as they left the dorm.

No, Yang continue to think as they walked down the halls. She had no real issues. Truly.

Yes. She had lost an arm, but the upgrade was awesome, as her sister would say. Especially after Dr. Polendina took a look at it again.

And, yes, her mom was… Raven was… many things. But they were getting better. Little by little. Especially with her dad's help.

But, she was good. Better than good.

She had fabulous hair that she took pride in-No, Nora. Ren did not have the most beautiful hair out of all of them. But, she would agree that it was a close second.

Straight hair like his had nothing on the curling, tangled mess that hers could be.

She had a kick-butt, killer body that made boys and girls all hot and bothered whenever they saw it. And she knew it, too, as she strutted down the halls of Beacon.

Even creepy old Professor Port had taken a liking to it. Glad he had been retired by Goodwitch before they returned for their third year.

Her girlfriend was a smoking hot kitty cat with ideas for revolutionizing Human and Faunus relations, when they weren't having relations. Hey-ho! And she had just the cutest kitty ears.

She was also, just a really good person that made Yang feel special, and, more importantly, strong, just by being who she was.

She loved her.

She looked over at Blake and smiled softly as she looked back at her and grinned, her ears twitching good-naturedly. Then she glanced at the rest of her team, Weiss, her sister-by-another-mister, and Ruby, her super, awesome, special little sis.

Yeah, Yang would say that she didn't have any issues.

And she'd be lying.

Yang, had Abandonment Issues. She blamed her mom for it. Raven, that is.

Summer was different. Even if she had left her in her own way, too.

It made it hard for her to get close to people sometimes. Like, really close. Afraid, that they'd leave her like Raven did, like Blake had done briefly.

Like they would think she was unworthy of their time and attention.

But, Jaune didn't leave people.

He never had. He never would.

He was loyal, and kind. And caring. He had stuck by Ruby's side when she couldn't, wouldn't, at her lowest. All across two continents, too. For over a year and a half.

And, as she opened the door to the Fourth Years' Gym, she had to admit, that he gotten kind of hot, too.

Yang didn't like to think that she was a shallow person, but, as she stared at Jaune's sweat layered form, she couldn't quite stop her self from ogling him.

She used to think he was kind of scrawny, looking more like a lost puppy than anything. But that puppy was gone now.

And it had been replaced not by a dog, but a stallion.

Jaune always had a dancer's build. Long legs and arms, lean build with just a subtle hint of strength to it. He also had a nice butt.

Now, though? In a word, woof.

Actually, no. Not woof. Damn. Damn was the correct word for that man had going on.

His long legs had gained thick bands muscles around the thighs and calves, and his glutes had been tightened even further. Yang had once bounced a coin off of them while Jaune had been asleep just to see if she could. Boy did it bounce. His biceps were larger and more pronounced, especially right now while he was lifting weights.

And, his abs! Oh, Gods, the abs.

She stood there, watching, as he lifted the barbell and his abs shifted beneath his sweat-soaked shirt. As did his biceps, and thighs. And her thoughts drifted to what that body might do to her later on, when they were both all hot and sweaty and-

Yang swallowed as she clutched at the jar in her hands tightly. Yep, she d-definitely wasn't shallow by nature.

But that boy was making her be that way, right now.

/ /

Lancaster's_Arms: Head's up, Jaune. Yang incoming.

ClassicSwordandBoard: Roger that, Rubes. Thanks for looking out.

Lancaster's_Arms: Any time, Bestest Buddy!

/ /

Jaune put his Scroll back up after sending his reply. Then he laid back down on the bench and began to do his reps again.

Only two hundred more to go.

"Finally," Cardin sneered jokingly as he stood over him, spotting. "Thought you'd never get off the Scroll."

Jaune smirked at the sarcasm and said as he continued to do reps, "Sorry. Got a message from Ruby. Had to respond."

"Oh, yeah?" Cardin returned as he glanced around, making certain nobody was doing anything stupid in the gym, like Sky. "And what did your girlfriend say?"

"Dude," Jaune returned, shaking his head, annoyed. "For the last time. It's not like that with her, or any of them. Got it?"

"Alright. Alright," Cardin returned, holding up his arms placatingly. Then, after a moment he asked while scratching at his chin in thought, "And, what if it was like that?"

Jaune stopped mid-rep and glared up at him. Daring the larger man to push it.

Cardin held up his hands again as he said, "Hey. I'm just asking here."

Jaune sighed heavily before putting up the barbell and wiped at his face with a cooling cloth that Cardin gave him and said, "If,if it was like that, with any of them, I go for it one hundred percent. I love them. All of them." He looked down and sighed again before rubbing at his sweat-soaked locks as he said, "I'm just not sure if I love them that way. Not yet, anyway."

Cardin took a swig from a Sport's bottle and tilted it towards Jaune as he asked, "But, you could?"

Jaune took another bottle from his fellow team leader and friend, after handing over the cloth with a muted thanks, and took a swig from it himself. He paused for a moment in thought then said, "Absolutely."

He smiled as he went on to say, "Ruby's not just my best friend. She's first among the most amazing people I know. Yang is just an awesome person and probably the most motherly person you don't know. Blake's all cool and mysterious at the best of times, and an almost scary-cool sneak at the worse. Weiss, is simply beautiful; her voice is amazing, and she's probably the smartest person I know."

"Hey," Dove then said in indignation. Jaune shrugged at that but didn't change his answer.

He smiled as he thought about the four most important people in his life, other than his family and teammates, as he said, "And that barely even scratches the surface. For any of them. They are all astounding. To me. In every way."

He shook his head in amazement before stating, "I am simply in awe at having them in my life."

Then he laid back down on the bench took up the barbell again as he said, "But, there's no way they'd ever be into me like that."

"Alright, dude. Harsh," Cardin said before standing back behind him again. He checked Jaune's technique for a moment in silence before he said, "But, I bet anyone who does get with one of those girls will count himself as a lucky man."

"They had better." Jaune stated with a grunt then growled, "Cause any guy that doesn't will have me to talk to."

Cardin smiled at that as he glanced over at Dove who nodded and gave a thumb's up as he held up his own Scroll, then he replied with, "You're an awesome friend to have, Jaune. You know that?"

"Heh, thanks man." Jaune returned with a grin as he continued to do reps. "Also, be aware, Yang's coming in with another of her patented pranks for me."

"Oh, yeah?" Cardin returned as he rubbed at his chin in thought and noticed movement at the gym's entrance, and a certain foursome coming in. "You want me to get some back up ready?"

"Definitely. Time for a bit of payback." Jaune said as he continued, oblivious to a certain blond as she began to strut over towards him with a cheek grin. "Speaking of which, any word on that?"

Cardin shook his head as he took the barbell from Jaune as he finished his reps and sat up again, "No really. Going to be a few days yet. And that's if Goodwitch doesn't find out. She locking down on contraband like that right now. Probaly from watching the video herself."

Jaune nodded as he sat up and wiped at his face.

"Oh, Lover-boy~," Yang sang to catch his attention. Jaune looked over and almost gaped as the twenty year old Huntress strutted up to him, her hips popping and breasts bouncing lightly. He swallowed, instantly recalling what he and Cardin had just been talking about.

Oh, how he wished those girls had a thing for him.

He swallowed as he said, "H-Hey, Yang. W-What's up?"

She leaned over him, exposing her cleavage and causing both Cardin and Dove to almost have a nosebleed as they tried not to stare, as she smiled at him, staring into his eyes with those beautiful lavender peepers.

"So, Jaune," She asked with a grin. "Do you know what time it is again?"

"Nope," he sighed while popping the P and smiled at her as he asked,"What time is it, Yang?"

She grinned with her eyes closed as she wiggled about for a second then she produced a jar of sticky Red Sap from behind her back and announced, "It's Punishment Time!"

Jaune's eyes widened at that as he stood and held his hands out at her, noticing Ruby was holding a Scroll up, recording what was going down, and that Blake and Weiss was to either side of him with what looked like pillow covers in their hands.

"Yang, let's be reasonable here," He started as he began to back away from her. "I don't even know what I'm being punished for."

"That's easy, Dragonslayer." She returned with a wicked grin and stalked towards him while unscrewing the cap on the jar. "It's for worrying us so much with that last stunt."

She almost leered at him as she said, "You know you shouldn't worry a girl like that, Jaune."

"Ah, ah," he started as he tried to come up with something to say to distract her. Damn you, Strategic Mind, he thought as he continued to back away. Why do you fail me now? Okay. Improvise Jaune

Then he pointed behind her and said, "Look, Yang, it's Nora!"

"Oh, come on, Jaune." Yang almost huffed indignantly. "That's the oldest trick in the book. You should-Guh!"

She grunted explosively as the ginger-haired girl had snuck up behind her and grasped her around the middle from behind, causing her to drop the jar of sap. She struggled and fought, but the crazy Viking was simply too strong for her.

She giggled evilly at Yang as she said, "Hey, Yang. Didn't you realize it was that time again."

"Wha-What?" Yang replied as she continued to squirm futilely. "What are you talking about, Nora? Let me go!"

Jaune smirked as he realized his plan had once again gone off without a hitch. He'd have to thank Ruby somehow for giving him to to call for help.

Now then, what to do? He smirked evilly to himself as he picked up the jar of sap and said, "Don't you know, Yang? It's like you said." Her eyes widened in terror. "It's Punishment Time."

She struggled even harder, muttering pleas of mercy to Nora, as he motioned her to go on ahead

Weiss and Blake looked at each other then at Ruby who nodded, still recording. They shrugged and followed after the captive.

Jaune fist-bumped Ruby before turning to Cardin and said, "Sorry, man. Got things to do. Pick this up, uh…"

"Same time next week," Cardin stated with his crossed arms then he gave him his signature smirk and raised a hand to clasp as he said, "Go to it, dude."

"Right on, man," Jaune returned and clasped his hand briefly as he said, "Losers forever."

/ /

"Bros for life." Cardin returned before shaking his head and turning to Dove as Jaune walked off.

"Got it?" He asked.

The smaller, brown-hair Huntsman nodded and said, "The whole thing, man."

"Awesome." Cardin returned as he put a hand to his chin and thought.

The girls of RWBY had made it quite clear that they wanted to do things their way, and that they would brook no deviations from that. They wanted Jaune to fall for them naturally, their way.

And he respected that, truly, especially after they had made certain he got the point.

He winced at the memory.

Nora had always wanted to break his legs for giving Jaune grief that first year. At least, he had gotten off easy.

Some of the other female students? Not so much.

He respected the girls' tenacity. On both sides of the conflict. But, there was the Bro Code, too. And, a couple of broken legs weren't going to stop him from helping his boy out. After all, there was no rule saying that there couldn't two Best Men.

He smirked at that then said to Dove, "Send it. To all of them."

He crossed his arms and tipped his feet front and back as Dove nodded and sent the recording as he said, "They should be given something as a kickback after all of their efforts so far."

/ /

"Jaune. Jaune, l-let's t-talk about this." Yang said as they found themselves in an empty classroom. Professor Mulberry was currently teaching a "Hands On" class with the Second Years. He wouldn't be using his room for the rest of the day.

She was still being held by Nora, who was channeling Lightning Dust just to maintain a proper grip on her, and she was also wrapped up in Gambol Shroud's ribbon-kinky!-as well as being held under a Gravity Glyph by Weiss as they got into the act.

Ruby ordered it as they frog-marched her to the room.

She swallowed as he took the jar of Rep Sap and began unscrewing the lid slowly, much to Ruby's delight as she recorded the whole thing, and narrowed her eyes as she said in warning, "If you get that in my hair-it doesn't matter how much I love you-I'll end you."

Jaune paused in what he was doing for a fraction of a second then smiled at her warmly as he turned around and started walking towards her, holding the open jar and lid each in one hand each.

"Don't worry, Yang." He whispered in her ear as he got up next to her. "I'll be gentle."

She shivered at that tone. Well, she blinked with mild alarm. She never knew that she had a thing for bondage. Or, maybe…

She swallowed as Jaune then turned and placed the two items on the desk before pulling out a feather from one of the bags they had been carrying for his "Tar and Feather Punishment". Maybe it was simply who was doing it.

"Tar and feathering?" Jaune then asked bewilderment as he looked at the items before him. "Really, Yang?"

He turned and walked up to her holding the feather in one hand. "Somehow, that feels beneath you."

"I-Ah! Ahahahaha!" Yang started, only to burst into almost hysterical laughter as Jaune expertly tickled her, knowing all the secret spots from his years with his own sisters, and from traveling with Ruby for over a year.

Oh, the secrets she had told him over the duration of that year.

She squirmed and kicked uselessly against her bonds as she continued to cackle and shrieked with laughter

"Jaune! Jaune, please!" She gasped out, tears streaming down her face. "Ahah! Please! Stop! Aahahaha! I'm, I'm going to pee-heeheehee!"

"Alright," he said and stopped before walking off again.

She collapsed, leaning forwards, her legs and sides quivering with the aftershocks of the intense tickling session. Damn, but he was good with a feather.

She couldn't help but think of what else that clever mind of his might do to her, and almost found herself wanting to find out.

"Hey, Yang?" He asked as he came back holding the jar of sap. "Want to know my favorite pun?"

"Wha-what?" She gasped as a bit of sweat trickled down her face. Jaune? Favorite pun? Impossible.

She said as much.

"Oh, no, no, no. No. I do have one." He said as he shook his head at her denial then he smirked at her as he explained, "It, actually kind of reminds me of you."

"What?" She asked, feeling her face flush with embarrassment then. The rest of the girls in the room tensed at that.

Was it finally going to happen? Now?

Jaune smiled warmly at her and asked, "When does a pun become an adult?"

"Huh?' she asked, confused.

He leaned towards her, a bit of Red Sap on his fingertip, and booped her on the nose as he said, "When it becomes… (boop) apparent."

Then was a momentary pause then Yang groaned out, "Jauuune. That's so corny!"

"Maybe," he said with a shrug before lavering up some sap with both hands and replying with, "But you've done some awesome things with Ruby. And you've helped us all through various serious things over the years. You're like a mom, to me, in that regard."

He smiled at her again as he said, "One day, you're going to make a great mom, Yang."

She relaxed and smiled at him as she started to say, "Jaune, that's so-That's so cold! Ah! JAune!" as he quickly slavered both of her exposed armpits with the cold, cold sap.

She squealed and giggled equally with embarrassment and humor as he did the same thing to her neck and legs, but never the hair. Finally, she gasped out as she futilely kicked away from his grasp, "Jaunnne! Aren't, aren't you allergic to this stuff?"

"Yep," He said as he crossed his eyes while he held in a sneeze before walking back up to her with the feather again, this time glowing from his aura. "But I do this for you. And, for the Clout!"

"For the Clout!" Everyone else cheered as he went back to tickling her again.

It took a further thirty minutes before she finally bowed out and gasped, "Okay! Okay! I give! I give! No more Punishments! For, for a week! I promise!"

"For a month," Jaune returned, mock menacingly as he held up the feather, now sticky with sap as well.

"Oaky. Okay." Yang returned with a whimper, nodding her head emphatically. "I promose. One month! No more tickling, plea-ease!"

Jaune glared at her for a moment then nodded back and motioned to the WB of RWBY to release their grips on her. "Alright," he said as he began to back away from Yang and Nora. "Just so long as you keep your promise, Yang."

Then he turned and fled the room as Nora finally let got of Yang. She fell to her hands and knees, gasping for breath before looking up at the closing door.

With her eyes turning red she stormed to her feet and charged after his disappearing form, shouting, "Get back here, Lover-boy!"

/ /

Ruby turned the Scroll's camera around, and said, "Alright, Chat. That end's today's surprising twist on the 'Punishment Game'. Pollination Knight, over and out."

Before she ended the the video one could hear a high-pitched, girly scream as Yang shouted in the distance, "I'm going to get you, Jaune! Just you wait!"

A/N: If anyone says that the tickle torture was a bit too long I will agree because it probably was. Think I nailed down Yang's reason for falling for Jaune in this pretty well, if I do say so myself (In case, you haven't noticed it yet, I'm a bit of a romantic at heart. What can I say, I'm a softie)

Alright, essiter out.

And, remember, you are awesome, stay awesome!