Silver eyes gazed lovingly across a creek. Jaune smiled, the fair skinned Ruby awaiting him with a warm smile. She was clad in a white dress, her red and black hair matted by fresh dew. Beside her, attempting to look haughty but unable to hide a smug expression, was the icey blue eyed, white haired Weiss. Arms crossed, she mouthed silently if he was coming to join them or not. Behind them both, arms slung around either of the two's shoulders, was Yang. Dark blue eyes like his own, darker dirty blonde hair, and a gentle, sisterly smile completed the image.
She was supportive of her sister and friend, as big sisters should be. As his own was. Saphron was who Yang, like this, reminded him most. Sweet, caring, kind. Jaune picked up the pace, the creek growing closer and closer. He was going to visit them, be with them. He stopped short at the banks of the creek, the water rushing faster, digging the channel deeper. Soon it was a river, foamy white water rushing impossibly fast before him. Water that turned black as oil, polluting the earth and stones.
Black veins tore across the ground, corrupting the earth and killing the greenery. Jerking his head up, Jaune hollered at the girls. Yet his voice would not sound, the trio smiling and waving obliviously towards him. From behind them, a gigantic arm tore the ground asunder. Stark white, scarred by pulsing black veins, it snatched the three girls and dragged their screaming bodies under. Jaune ran. Ran from the flowing black river, ran from the burying of the three. At least, he tried to.
No matter how far he ran, the river was always at his back. Threatening to consume him, to take him away. Then, he was unable to run at all, black roots tearing their way free of the earth all around him. Ensnaring him, dragging him down. The muddy hills shifted and moaned, cracked and shuddered. A grasping hand burst forth, caked in grime and mud. The flesh was necrotic, falling away from the bones in places.
A ruined face, eyes eaten away and left as mud dripping holes, pulled itself out next. Black and red hair now appeared only black, chunks of it falling away.
"You could have saved us."
Jaune, struggling against the black roots, wished he could scream in terror. Yet nothing would come. His throat constricted, his terror forcibly held within. The decaying, rapidly skeletal face of Ruby twisted in a pained grimace.
"You should have saved us."
Twisted skeletal claws reached for Jaune's face, coming within inches of his widened, terror stricken eyes.
"You will never save us!"
Jaune tried to force his way from under his covers. His eyes shot open, his body jerking but finding itself held back. Panic from the nightmare gripped him, tore at him. What was going on? He couldn't move. Had Ruby grabbed hold of him? No.
How he wished it had been her.
A glance to his side saw that it was not Ruby who held him in her grasp today. Nor was the nightmarish roots, endlessly reaching up from beneath the muddy soil. No, this might have been worse. It was the last hybrid he would have expected. The last one he would have wanted. On this morning, the blond found himself in the strong grip of Blake's tentacles.
Glowing crimson eyes stared into his own, wide with excitement. Anticipation. Lust. A wide, cheshire grin split her face in half, rows of sharp teeth on display for him. A smile which betrayed her true emotions in this moment. The hybrid was enjoying herself. It was no surprise that it was at his expense.
"Good morning," the monster purred. The words had probably meant to sound sensual, like a woman waking up in the arms of her lover following a night of passion.
Luckily Jaune had no memories of anything like that occurring, and he aimed to keep it that way. There was only one way out of this. "Rub-"
His scream was cut off before he could even finish his roommate's name. His mouth was suddenly filled, breathing nearly completely restricted...by her tongue. Her slimy, long, pink appendage twisted, pure muscle that filled his mouth like a third tendril all its own. Nostrils flaring, fear mounting, Jaune struggled as he felt it writhe.
"Shh," her mouth moved very slightly, avoiding her own tongue. "No, no." Her voice was distorted by their current predicament, Jaune could feel her tongue move as she spoke. "None of that. Don't ruin the moment."
Jaune's eyes darted up to the underside of the top bunk. He had no idea what time it was, seeing how the sun never seemed to shine in this strange, dark land. Ruby would have heard his brief outburst. She would have felt his fear spike. Yet, it seemed Ruby wasn't here. What, did that mean it was morning already? Was she out eating breakfast? He didn't think so, considering that she would have normally woke him up so that they could go together. Unless... maybe Ruby hadn't left of her own volition.
Zwei was somewhere on the floor barking, but it would seem that this cat, or cat-like hybrid, did not fear dogs. The brave little creature's efforts were in vain, but Jaune could only hope that the noise which Zwei was making would cause somebody, anybody, to come.
He continued to struggle in the tight grip of Blake's tentacles, but even only one of them constricting his body was more than enough to keep him immobile. She seemed to enjoy his struggling, as her horrifying smile never left her face. Her long tongue retracted back into her mouth, freeing Jaune if only slightly. As it came back, it slid across the torn and ruined mouth, along what could be described as her lips, like an animal anticipating its meal.
"Let me go," Jaune kept his voice low, not wanting to present another opening for her to exploit. "Please just let me go and we can forget this ever happened."
Blake's head shook. "I don't know what kind of pheromone you're producing, but it's utterly intoxicating," she whispered darkly. "I just want to devour you right here and now."
Jaune's eyes widened when he felt the tentacles worm their way beneath his clothing, Blake's breathing growing heavy. Maw open, drool building, she leaned down to his neck. Jaune continued to thrash in a vain attempt to escape. This was it. A continuation of the previous night. Only this time she actually was going to eat him. She was going to do whatever it was that she did to the poor man whose head was sitting in a jar on her bookshelf. Would he become the next head?
"I suppose today I can settle for just a taste..."
Blake's jaws opened wide, and her long tongue came out to meet Jaune's flesh. A warm and wet trail was left on his cheek the hybrid ran her tongue across him. It was agonizingly slow as she sought to enjoy every inch of him.
Warmth. Security. Two feelings which were able to penetrate the haze of her still half-conscious mind.
Ruby laid in bed, unwilling to fully wake up as she drifted somewhere in between sleeping and waking up. Right here, right now, in this moment, she did not want to wake up. Not when she was feeling this good. Not when this rare but familiar feeling was once more in her grasp.
Her hands snaked around the body which lay next to her, the flesh of their stomach surprisingly soft and smooth. Fingers gently grazed it, the sensation enough to send chills of satisfaction running down her spine. After having slept alone for so long, there was nothing quite like sharing a bed with another. Nothing like holding another in your arms, and being held by another. Sadly the latter experience was disappointingly lacking on this morning.
She inhaled deeply and contently, her nostrils picking up an all too familiar scent. Jaune's scent. It was a pleasant and welcome smell. Her roommate. Her friend. Her emotional rock in a cruel and lonely world. The only one outside of her sister who was able to tolerate her presence. The only one who thought that she was beautiful.
Hands drifted up from his stomach, working their way to a surprisingly squishy chest. It was shocking that they had fallen asleep together, especially after Jaune had told her that further incidents would not be necessary. She couldn't recall slipping into bed with him like she had after his journey in the Grimmlands.
It was even more unexpected that she was the big spoon. Jaune was so tall and large that the idea of him being the one to press his back against her chest was laughable. She was surprised that she was able to wrap her arms around his broad, strong torso. His strong, manly chest. And yet here they were making it work. Somehow.
Jaune shifted in her arms, and Ruby felt something hard poke her hand. His horn. Ruby's fingers touched the boney protrusion jutting out of his forehead, stroking it lightly. It brought a smile to her lips. "Jaune, your horn is so hard," she giggled in a sleepy daze.
Even now her brain was creating the imagery of what the two of them must have looked like in the moment. She could see a clear picture of the scene in her mind. She could see Jaune's Grimm form. A form he had never shown anyone else but her. It was because they had a special bond. Perhaps they would form a pack together someday. She couldn't imagine doing it with anyone but him.
Wait. She had never seen Jaune's Grimm form. She didn't even know if he had a horn.
Fear shot through her, striking hard and fast like a bolt of lightning. It was enough to bring her out of her half-conscious state, and force her to wake up fully. As red eyes opened, the sight she took in was not the messy blond hair of her roommate which she had expected to find. Rather, it was the snow-white hair of an all too familiar classmate.
Hands retracted immediately, and Ruby let out a surprised yelp as she pushed herself away from the sleeping form of Weiss. Or at least, what had been a sleeping Weiss. In her haste to escape Ruby had fallen off of the bed, crashing onto the floor and alerting the other hybrid to her presence.
As she sat up, she saw how Weiss had done the same in her bed, the girl's own crimson eyes narrowing accusingly at her. "Ruby!" she snarled with surprising fervor for someone who had just woken up. "What are you doing!"
Truth be told, she had no idea. She had been having the most pleasant dream about sharing a bed with Jaune. It had been a rude awakening, both figuratively and literally, to discover that it was Weiss who she was cuddling.
"I... I..." she struggled to say.
Luckily she would not have to come up with an explanation, as the strong sensation of fear once more got her attention. The way Weiss looked over to the door told her that she felt it too.
A girlish scream all but confirmed their suspicions.
"What was that?" Weiss asked.
"I don't know, but let's go!"
Ruby bolted to her feet and rushed through the door as fast as her legs would carry her. Looking around, she saw that she had just come out of Weiss' own dorm room. How or why she was inside of it was a mystery to the redhead, but those were questions that could be answered later. Right now she knew only one thing for certain.
She had to get back to her own room.
Luckily it was only a few doors down, and in seconds she stood in front of her own wide-open door. What she saw shocked her.
Yang stood inside, and to her surprise, was in fact the only one who was standing. In one normal human arm, she held a comically larger Jaune against her hip like a person might haul a heavy sack of cargo. In her other gigantic monstrous arm, she held the twisted body of Blake. The hybrid girl thrashed about like a cat being forced to take a bath, but she was no match for the raw strength of Yang's Grimm arm. Ruby would have sworn she heard hissing and spatting coming from the other girl.
"Yang?" Ruby asked as the incredulous scene played out before her. "What's going on!"
The blonde girl turned, her eyes locking on to her sister's. "Oh hey, Ruby. I was wondering where you were."
The sudden appearance of her sister must have caused a momentary distraction, and Blake was finally able to break free of the stronger hybrid's grip. The girl leapt up onto the ceiling, and tendrils moved at blindingly fast speeds as she scuttled across it and out of the room. Without her weapon Ruby was in no position to try and bar her path.
Still, that wasn't the most important issue at hand. Rather, it was the boy in her sister's literal hand. Ruby rushed inside her room, grabbing Yang's human arm and pulling on it. "Put him down!" she demanded.
Yang complied, admittedly a little too quickly. Jaune fell unceremoniously to the floor, landing with a soft thud and a soft gasp of pain slipping through his lips. He rolled over and sat up, one hand rubbing the arm he had fallen on to try and ease the pain.
Ruby knelt down beside him, taking one of his hands in her own. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern. "What happened?"
"I felt some major negativity coming from the room," Yang answered in his stead. "For a minute I thought the two of you were having a little fun," she added with a smirk. "But when I walked past I heard Zwei barking, so I decided to investigate. Then I heard the muffled screams coming from inside, and I knew there was no way you could be that kinky. So when I went to take a peek I saw that it was Blake, and not you, who decided to take Jaune on a fun little ride."
Ruby's eyes widened with horror. Blake had... with her bestie...
Her gaze shifted their focus to Jaune, who by now was back to his feet. Fists tightened with anger. This was Blake's doing. Somehow, someway, she had managed to abduct Ruby and place her in Weiss' room. All so that she could...
She lashed out, her Grimm hand smashing a hole in the nearest wall. A vicious and primal roar tore through her throat. How dare someone do that not only to her, but to her friend!
"Oooh I like it when you're angry," Yang cooed. "We might make a proper hybrid of you yet."
"Ruby?" Jaune asked. "Ruby calm down."
The red haze which consumed her vision subsided at the sound of Jaune's voice. The voice at the opposite end of the spectrum. Where Yang encouraged her wrath, he sought to bring her back from it.
"I'm okay," he continued. His words were a relief to the girl. "She didn't do anything. I mean... not that much. She licked me. That's all."
Crimson eyes widened as her head snapped up. She placed her hands on Jaune's shoulders in order to help balance her as she leaned up on the tips of her toes. Her nose moved close to his cheek, and sure enough, it reeked of Blake's stench. Blake had placed her mark on him, and it was as strong and pungent as Ruby would expect from the monstrous hybrid.
She panicked, and what came next happened without thought. Ruby ran her own tongue across Jaune's face where Blake had done the same. The moment she had finished the boy stumbled back a couple steps, and Ruby fell back down to the bottoms of her feet.
Jaune's hand came up to his face, touching where she had licked. His face seemed to darken from a sudden rush of blood to the area. "Ruby? What the- what was that!"
Her own face felt incredibly warm for some reason. "I had to remove her scent from you," she explained. "Someone might think that she's claimed you if you walk around with her scent all day!"
"But won't I have your scent on me now?"
Better her than Blake. "Yeah, well, we're roommates!" she said hurriedly. "It's perfectly normal for roommates to have each other's scents on them! Right, Yang?"
The older girl shrugged. "Yeah sure, why not," she said nonchalantly. She moved toward the door, stopping once she came next to Ruby. Leaning in, she placed her human hand over her sister's ear as she whispered. "Take what's yours."
For the second time in a short span her eyes widened as she looked up at Yang. The blonde merely winked as she strode out of the room, her job here done.
Ruby cleared her throat, unsure what to say now after Yang's suggestion. To claim what was hers. That hadn't been the point of licking him at all! The only thing she had sought to do was to remove Blake's own scent from her best friend and roommate! Not claim him! She had no idea if Jaune even thought about her in such a manner! Just because he had called her beautiful the previous night didn't mean he sought to take her as his mate! It didn't mean that he wanted to form a pack with her!
She shifted uneasily, the silence in the room deafening after Yang's comment. "So... um..."
The chance to continue their conversation never happened, as a new visitor stepped into the doorway. She really needed to close the door.
"What in the world happened in here?" Weiss asked as she stepped inside. She sniffed around before her gaze fell to Jaune. Eyes narrowed dangerously as she took a few steps toward him. "And why do you smell like Ruby!"
"I... um..." Jaune began.
He never had a chance to properly answer as Weiss' nose once more went to work. Sniffing the air, her focus was directed to Ruby next. Her arm lashed out, pointing a finger accusingly at the younger hybrid. "And you!" she shouted. "Why do you smell like Jaune?"
Ruby looked down to the large shirt she wore. The shirt given to her last night by Jaune to sleep in. Complete with his wonderful aroma.
Weiss' face was scrunched in anger as she went on. "What are you two doing alone at night in this room? Why is it that you're the only one here with a roommate anyway? A male roommate at that? Utterly unacceptable! This academy is a place of learning! Not... not... whatever it is you're doing!"
The bombardment of accusations made Ruby shrink underneath their weight. Who would have thought that a girl even smaller than herself could be so ferocious? So terrifying? However, Ruby knew she had to stay strong. She had to follow her sister's advice. She had to take what was hers.
Even if it meant angering the tiny terror who stood before her.
"Weiss, it's exactly what you think..." she began bashfully. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She couldn't believe she was about to say something so brazen. "You see... the two of us have shared a bed. Jaune has even seen me naked."
One of Weiss' eyes twitched. Her teeth bared in anger. She was a pint-sized volcano who was about to erupt.
Clearly Jaune saw this as well, and he promptly stepped in. "Weiss, it's not at all what you think it is," he insisted. "There's a perfectly good explanation for all of that."
Tiny hands moved up to her hips as Weiss stared at him. "Oh really? Do you care to explain them then?"
"Uh, well see... Blake licked me. And then Ruby licked me... Ow!"
Jaune cried out in pain as Weiss lowered her head and stabbed him in the chest with the tip of her horn. He rubbed the spot with his hand trying to sooth it.
"I cannot believe this!" Weiss snarled. "How dare they drag their slimy organs all over my tutor!"
Grabbing him by the hand, Weiss dragged and pulled Jaune out of the room with such force that Ruby thought his arm was about to get torn clean from its socket.
The young girl was left alone in her room, staring out the doorway after her two peers left. It had been such an eventful morning already, and they hadn't even eaten breakfast yet.
"Weiss! Where are we going!"
The white-haired girl ignored the protests of the boy as she led him down the hall. Back to her own room where they would be able to have a little privacy. Away from prying eyes and ears.
She couldn't believe the audacity of her classmates. Who did they think they were? What right did they have to try and claim Jaune as their own? Did they know nothing? Was there no respect for tradition anymore?
Weiss had defeated him in a horn duel the other day. He had surrendered to her in the kitchen. She had asserted dominance over him. As a result, by all rights and customs, she had the only rightful claim on him. To do with him as she saw fit.
And those... those... savages thought they could erase it all by licking him? At least have the proper decency to challenge her overtly!
Weiss all but threw Jaune into her room before stepping inside and slamming the door behind them. The boy looked terrified, and his wide blue eyes stared at her with concern. He should be concerned! After letting Blake and Ruby do what they did to him, he had a lot to answer for!
"Weiss, you're really making it sound a lot worse than it actually is!" he said hurriedly. "Can't we just talk about this?"
Oh they were going to talk all right. They were going to have a nice, long conversation about his behavior. "Am I, Jaune?" she asked. "Am I really?"
"Yes! I promise you that there's nothing weird going on! It's all just... um... circumstance?"
Red eyes narrowed on him. "Oh really? Then why is it that Ruby reeks of your scent?"
"What? She does?"
"Yes! Am I to believe that the two of you don't share a bed at night?"
"Only a few nights ago!" Jaune winced as soon as the words left his mouth.
Weiss pointed a finger in the direction of his and Ruby's room. "Then why does she smell like you right now!"
"Oh. Um. Oh!" His eyes lit up with sudden realization. "She's wearing the shirt I gave her."
The shirt he gave her. He gave Ruby a piece of his property, but not herself? Unacceptable! "You gave her a gift? I want one too!"
His head shook wildly. "It's not a gift. It's so I wouldn't keep seeing her naked."
Right. There was that little detail that she had momentarily forgotten about in the heat of the moment. How or why he kept seeing Ruby without clothes was a mystery to her, but it also raised more questions. Did Ruby see him naked? How often? What did he look like? And most importantly, why would he share this with Ruby and not her?
"And why exactly do you keep seeing her naked?"
"Because wearing clothes isn't a big deal," he answered. She couldn't believe that was his excuse. "Right?"
"Are you stupid?" she snapped.
"What are you talking about? I thought Ruby didn't understand that sort of thing."
Judging by his reaction, he was. It wasn't some lie he had come up with on the spot. It wasn't some clever ruse. No, you actually had to be clever to do that. Jaune honestly seemed to believe his own words.
"You blithering idiot..." she growled. "She's always had an understanding of modesty! We're not ignorant children raised in the woods! She and her bone-headed cretin of a sister only 'forget' to wear clothes sometimes to show off! Nothing more, nothing less."
Jaune blinked. His lips parted more than once to speak, but wound up saying nothing. Yes, he truly did not appear to be lying. He really was just that stupid. Or gullible. Or both. It was probably how he got roped into being Ruby's roommate in the first place. She had probably told him that everyone here in the academy had roommates. Yet here she was, the only hybrid to have one.
"But she's always stripping down when it's time for bed..."
When it was time for bed. When they would be lying down in bed. Together, if what was said earlier was true. Was the boy really so dense? Ruby showed off her body for him. She slept in the same bed as him. She would have been surprised if the words 'mate with me' hadn't been spoken at least once.
Weiss shook her head in disbelief. "Did you ever think it's because she wants you to look?"
"...really?"
His reaction once more told him that the thought had never crossed his mind. Weiss couldn't believe this. How could one of the strongest hybrids in the school be so stupid? How was he so intelligent when it came to matters of humanity, but so lacking when it came to common sense?
It was as if he was so consumed by his human facade that he no longer even understood proper Grimm hybrid culture at all. And while that may have been a positive for the infiltration of human kingdoms, it made him stand out as a fool while still here in Salem's realm.
Clearly she would just have to spend more time with him. Not only to remind him that she was the dominant one in their relationship, but to keep Ruby from sinking her claws into him. The fact that the two of them shared a room would make things a bit more difficult, but she had ways around that. Weiss was nothing if not intelligent and resourceful.
It would begin right now. It was still early in the morning, and they had plenty of time before classes begun. Therefore it was time for their newfound morning routine together. Breakfast.
She poked him in the arm once more, earning his attention, along with a small yelp. "Now make me food. I'm hungry."
Jaune rubbed his arm again. Weiss felt an enormous sense of satisfaction inside at the display. Clearly he knew just who was in control here. He knew that she was able to harm him. That she was dominant. Therefore he would do as she said.
"Yeah, sure," he said as he moved toward the door.
Weiss was filled with confidence and pride as she followed after him. He knew his place. Ruby would soon need to know hers as well. Preening and holding her singular horn high, Weiss smiled.
Ruby wasn't happy to see her bestie following the very short lead of Weiss, though why she couldn't quite place. The wrong kind of ache filled her chest at the sight is all she could say. That didn't matter now though, she had made Jaune a promise. It was time again for Professor Callows' class, and she promised Jaune front row seats! Rushing in, she grabbed hold of Jaune's arm. Weiss turned on her heel to face the younger girl.
"What do you think you're doing!"
Ruby laughed. "I made a promise to my friend. So, little Miss Unicorn," Ruby rested her skeletal, clawed hand on Weiss' arm, her eyes glowing. "Let's not get hysterical about it."
Weiss looked down at the appendage on her arm, then up at Jaune. Her gaze lazily drifted over the crowd. "Whatever." Easily knocking Ruby's hand away, Weiss grabbed Jaune's arm. "Let's go."
Ruby, a smile tightening ever so slightly on her face at the action, nodded. "Let's."
Jaune blinked. "Weiss, are you okay?"
Weiss shook her head. "Shut up. Your cooking just made me tired."
Jaune looked back at Ruby who only shrugged. His cooking? Ruby made a mental note to see what that meant. That didn't matter though, now it was time to find their seats! Unfortunately the only opening below were two spots, with the third taken up by the burly trenchcoat wearing Wesson. He was hunched forward as usual, and while Ruby couldn't blame him too much, he took up too much room. Weiss, it seemed, noticed the same.
Stomping down, Jaune still firmly in her armlock, she pointed at the trenchcoat wearing Hybrid with her free hand. "You! Move! We require three seats!"
"Uh, only if you're okay with that, she means," Jaune tried to add, until Weiss's elbow jammed directly into his ribs.
Wesson's head rose, looking the three up and down. Ruby wasn't sure which of his ten eyes lingered on her, but she found she was never sure what exactly Wesson was looking at. His smaller, cheek born eyes took her in as she hugged Jaune's arm closer to her chest. His higher, forehead eyes watched Weiss redouble her death grip on Jaune's other arm. His primary eyes lingered on Jaune himself, who looked uncomfortable. Weiss must have been holding him too hard!
Wesson rose, one of the tallest Hybrids in the school, definitely the widest. His coat shuffled as he tipped his hat at the trio. "Sorry bud. I'll remember you as a hero and a scholar."
Weiss fumed when Jaune let out a nervous chuckle. Ruby's head tilted. Weird loner, that Wesson. He moved a few seats up to sit with his usual cohorts, Cardin, Sky and Brawnz, much to their complaints. Whatever, they didn't matter! Ruby eagerly joined Weiss and Jaune in sitting, Yang awaiting her opponent in the arena as was normal. Ruby's grin grew. Today, Jaune would learn.
"What gives!"
Yang's impatience was rising, Ruby noticing her sister flexing more than usual. Tyrian was sitting to the side, an unknowable smirk on his features. Frowning, Ruby looked around. Tyrian wasn't asking for volunteers, which was strange. Yang herself was becoming disgruntled, her giant hand digging deep grooves into the ground as she flexed it into a fist and back.
"Come on teach, get me someone to mutilate!"
Jaune flinched, drawing Ruby's attention. He must have been so excited! He did look worried though, but she chalked it up to confusion. What was-
"What is that lunatic doing?"
Ruby looked passed Jaune to see Weiss leaning forward. "He never takes this long to start class. It's the whole reason the over inflated sow even goes first. Let's her have the showers to herself after and use up all the hot water."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "You're just jealous that she has a better body than you."
Weiss made a noise of dismissal. "There is nothing to be jealous of on that cretin. Saggy breasts, overly muscular body, disproportionate arm, and don't even get me started on her poor excuse for a posterior. Some people, when seeking a proper mate, prefer better used flesh, over the excess of such. Isn't that right, Jaune?"
Jaune went stock still. Ruby glared up at him.
"You think my sister is plenty attractive, right Jaune?" Ruby rested her smaller horn against his shoulder. "Right, Jaune?"
Jaune's eyes darted between the two girls, sweat building. Looking past him, Ruby spied Weiss digging the edge of her horn into his neck. Just enough to add pressure.
"Match, begin."
Tyrian's voice was soft. Very, very soft. Ruby could barely register it over the loud bang that tore through the air immediately after. Ruby's eyes widened as, following like thunder after the lightning bolt, Yang cried out in pain. Her attention snapped to the arena floor, Yang's neck nearly torn open by a powerful blow. A thin channel was tore across the side of her neck, just an inch from tearing her throat out.
Yet what had caused it remained out of sight. Black ichor flowed from the wound, Yang clutching at it, confusion and anger burning in her eyes.
"I got here first this time, blondie."
A voice that Ruby could not see. One she had heard a few times before. The cycloptic hybrid, May. The sniper. Ruby looked around, trying to find her.
Another explosion.
Another gunshot, another howl of pain as Yang fell to one knee. Her leg this time, skin and muscle was torn down to the bone.
"You're going to pay, you blonde bitch!"
Yang threw her head back. "What did I do to you!"
Ruby winced when that terrible noise fired off again, Yang nearly blown onto her back as her shoulder was pierced straight through. This time, Yang did not cry out. Ruby watched, fear rising. Yang couldn't lose like this, this wasn't fair! How could Professor Callows allow such an awful thing to happen!
The realization hit Ruby harder than any of the bullets had Yang. Of course Tyrian would allow this set up.
"You killed Roy! All he did was bump into you and insult your hair and you crushed him against the ground! You fucking whore, he was my mate! He was my mate and I am going to take every pound of flesh from you that I can!" May's voice echoed across the arena, louder and louder.
If Ruby had been watching her big sister, she would have seen the small smirk that crossed her features.
"Now die!"
In an instant, Yang's Grimm arm snapped up, blocking the finishing blow. Ruby's eyes flicked up to where the blast had come from, spotting, just a moment, a hint of smoke. Smoke that Yang threw herself towards, her great limb grabbing hold of the stone and lunging herself. Another gunshot, this one panicked, did nothing but tear another wound through Yang's leg. Said leg that then smashed into the invisible May's torso, black blood spraying out over May's face and upper body.
May cried out, equally from the shock, the pain of the blow, and from getting Yang's blood in her eye. Eye being singular. One eye had shrunken away, bone closing up and flesh fusing over it, to make room for her central eye. It was still slightly off center, but so large that most did not notice it. Her smoky pink hair revealed itself as the illusion dropped. The great gun that was built into her spine and swung over her shoulder tried desperately to get a point blank angle on Yang.
Tried and failed, Yang seizing the weapon with her Grimm arm. Crushing the weapon in her hand, she lifted May up with her human hand. Yang smiled at the younger Hybrid before bringing her head crashing into May's face, smashing her nose and crushing her upper jaw. Tossing May, the smaller girl landed with a hard thud.
Yet unlike Dove before her, she was still alive. Still conscious. May scrambled away as Yang landed fist-first where she had been. Yang dusted herself off, wounds spitting blackened blood as they filled with a healing puss and scabbed over. May, cursing, drew a small hand axe from her belt, lunging at Yang.
At Yang who then caught the handle of the weapon with her chain, freeing it from May's grip. Yang returned it to May, who brought her right arm up to defend from the strike. An arm she lost half of, Yang driving it straight through and into May's shoulder. May, eye stained with Yang's blood, dropped to her knees.
"Invisibility? What, did you steal some contraption from Watts? Such a little bitch." Yang took hold of the organic gun, which was trying desperately to fix itself. "I think I owe my sister something for managing to get the good seats. You mind helping me with that? I didn't think so."
Yang lifted May up with her human hand turning her back towards Ruby, Jaune and Weiss. Ruby watched, excited for what would come next. Gripping it tighter, Yang pulled the gun to the side, tearing it away from May's body- along with most of her spine. Blood and more sprayed across the battlefield, across the bleachers, soaking the trio. Even Weiss didn't grumble much, despite preferring to keep clean. Ruby whooped and hollered in excitement as the spray of blood finally came to an end, trying to get as much as she could in her mouth. Some marrow was mixed with it, giving it an extra kick you just normally couldn't find elsewhere.
Ruby was clapping so hard she only now realized she had lost her grip on Jaune's arm. Looking at him, Ruby discovered just why Weiss wasn't making as much of a fuss. She had dragged Jaune in front of herself to act as a human shield, largely protecting her from the spray. As a consequence, Jaune's front side was almost totally black, bits of bone and marrow stuck in the thickening liquid. He was so happy that his mouth was kept totally shut so he didn't lap up any of the blood, and he was exuding wonderful, mouth-watering feelings. Lucky!
Yang really was too good for her.
Dropping May's twitching body, Yang only stopped briefly to glare at Tyrian, who merely grinned maniacally at her. Then she continued on her way to the showers.
Tyrian stepped out into the arena as the Beowolves dragged away what remained. He seemed oddly quiet today, as if anticipating something. His gaze turned towards the main trio. "Master Jaune, if you would please come on down. Unless," he leaned forward a touch, his tail emerging. "You are feeling ill?"
Jaune silently stood, Weiss having shoved him to the side once the spray had finished. She was busy fussing over what had managed to get on her outfit now, Ruby watching Jaune descend into the Arena. But, he wasn't going to try to fight in his human form, right?
Not even she would fight other hybrids in her human form.
Jaune took his place, looking...unsteady. Dazed, maybe. It was strange. Sure, he wasn't normally the strongest looking person ever, but now he just looked, scared? Maybe? Ruby frowned. Still, he wasn't shifting into his true form. Tyrian's smile grew as he scanned the bleachers.
"Now for your opponent, I was thinking, how about young Mistress..."
"I'll fight him."
Ruby looked back, the familiar voice rumbling. Wesson was standing, completely blocking Cardin's view of things. His coat twitched visibly.
"I've been meaning to stretch."
Professor Callows seemed to comically deflate at this until perking up. "Very well. Death Gun the Death Gunner, come and face Jaune!"
A small ripple of laughter tore through the audience at Wesson's 'nickname' given to him by their most esteemed teacher. Wesson lowered his head, grumbling some as he passed by Ruby. Shedding his coat, his true form was revealed. Across his back was what would appear to be a human sized Death Stalker, fused to his spine. Its many legs latched onto his own sides, its tail nestled against the back of his head. Only, at the end of every Grimm limb, was an artificial attachment.
Ruby remembered vividly how Wesson had been mauled by Blake. He had approached her at the urging of Brawnz. Next Ruby had seen him, all of his appendages had been sheared in half, losing all of his claws. Even his stinger had been torn away from him. It was a miracle he had survived at all. Yet, hybrids were hardy, and Watts equipped him with a series of firearms, one for each of his eight extra limbs and a final hidden cannon built into his tail.
Jaune watched his enemy take his stance with an impressive amount of concentration. If Ruby didn't know better, she'd say he was terrified beyond all rational thought. That couldn't be it though, Jaune had to be way stronger than Wesson! Something Wesson seemed to agree with.
Crossing his normal arms, Wesson glared at Jaune with five of his ten eyes. "Do you really think you can take me with those shitty second-rate human weapons?" Each of his side arms extended, guns readying. "Let me show you just how wrong you are."
Jaune extended his shield just as Wesson opened fire on him. Eight shots simultaneously struck the metal of Jaune's expanding cover. Eight shots failed to so much as budge the shield. Wesson tilted his head. Not a scratch.
Wesson unleashed a barrage of fire power, each and every shot aimed directly for Jaune's shield. To Wesson's credit, Ruby realized that each shot hit exactly where he wanted. To his detriment, that was the center mass of the shield. Ruby wondered why Wesson was so worked up on attacking this one point. Jaune wasn't moving his shield at all to match the attack, nor did he have to.
Then Ruby realized the problem. Wesson was thinking like a Grimm. Attack one spot until it breaks or you do. Wesson had an issue of overly relying on instinct when fighting, due to his unique Grimm graft that Salem blessed him with. Maybe that would work on Grimm armor or stone, but against hardened huntsman metals?
Wesson wouldn't break that shield in a thousand years of trying.
Jaune bent at the knee, still blocking the shots. He seemed unsure of how to approach, unsure how to attack. Ruby reasoned that he must not have been used to fighting in his human form. Wesson's guns, one by one, clicked dry. Jaune moved, rushing forward screaming. For all the world, he sounded like a scared teenager, afraid for his very life. Never mind how good that made her feel, that was an extremely convincing battle cry!
Wesson met his blade with two of his augmented arms, pushing back against Jaune's shield with his two regular limbs. A consequence of Wesson's design was a simple matter of him being unable to reload in active combat. Yet Ruby knew, Wesson was one of the physically strongest of the school, meaning Jaune had given up all of his advantages to take the fight to where it would best suit Wesson. If it had been anyone else, Ruby would have thought they would be an idiot to attack so recklessly. Jaune was so brave!
Wesson's tail rose up, detaching from his back. The glint of metal was nearly hidden where he once had a stinger attached, Jaune too close to get away even if he had noticed. A burst of pure dust fueled energy fired off, blasting Jaune point black in the face. Ruby bit back a scream as Jaune disappeared in an explosive cloud. His body went flying out a few seconds later, skipping across the ground before slamming into the far wall. Ruby couldn't bear to look, sure that her best friend had just had his head blown off.
"By Salem, he truly is powerful."
Ruby looked to her left, seeing Weiss staring in shock at the arena. Ruby looked back, seeing Jaune already standing back up. An angry welt was all the damage he had taken, just along his cheek. The young man began to chuckle to himself, the entire room growing deathly silent. Wesson tore his way out of the smoke cloud, eyes burning red.
"What's so funny, Jaune!"
Jaune seemed almost hysterical.
"It's, it's not you. It's really not. It's just, after getting hit by Salem, I was...I don't know?" Jaune's laughter doubled, tears running down his face. "Expecting worse? Don't even get me started on Blake! She nearly had me dead to rights before I broke free last night and this morning, gods, that was so much worse!"
Wesson, if it was at all possible for a hybrid, seemed to pale. Backing away, he turned to Tyrian. "I concede."
Faster than Ruby had ever seen Wesson move, the Hybrid leapt back into the stands, grabbing up his garments and huddled into a dark corner to reload his weapons. Ruby could have sworn he heard something about 'cats will eat me' as he passed, but she couldn't be sure.
Tyrian blinked before his laughter out stripped Jaune's own.
"The victory goes to Master Jaune!" He turned to Jaune, a proud smile on his face. "You may go to the showers now, young man. You truly have earned it this day."
As Jaune stumbled away, Weiss remarked, "Taking an attack like that in his disguise, that's quite the feat. Remarkable in fact."
Ruby smiled. "He sure is."
Weiss glared at Ruby. "What's that supposed to mean!"
Jaune sighed as the hot water of the shower washed over him, the blood and ichor from the 'splash zone' rinsing away. Jaune had never been more thankful as he looked at the sterile white tile of the shower stall around him. It was just so normal. He half expected the showers to be some kind hideous snake monster that spewed blood and toilets to be Grimm with the worse job description in the history of Remnant. But it was a completely normal bathroom. And it gave Jaune the peace of mind he needed.
"Well if you're here I guess that means you did a good job out there," the familiar voice of Yang called from behind him. "Sorry I got you all dirty."
He froze he could practically feel her standing behind him. What was she even doing in here?
"Speaking of dirty," Yang's voice drifted closer. "What have you and Ruby been up to?"
"What? Nothing! We haven't done anything I swear!" Jaune panicked turning to face his accuser. "Ruby and me…"
Jaune words stopped as he registered the sight before him. Luscious blonde hair and soft lilac eyes had replaced the faded white and glowing red of Yang's usual appearance. Her pale skin was now slightly tan. This was Yang's human form. Voluptuous, curvaceous and hot were apt descriptions, and here she was dripping wet and completely naked.
Not more than a foot away from him.
And yet despite all of her undeniable beauty, Jaune couldn't help but let his mind wander to what could have been. This was what Yang would have looked like if she hadn't been abducted by Salem at some earlier point in her life. She would have been another normal young woman like Weiss. Like Ruby. Even like Blake. But her chance at life had been stolen from her by that evil witch.
He hated Salem for that. He hated her with all his being.
A light tap on the shoulder stirred him from his thoughts. "Hey, Jaune. Keep your head in the game. You might make a girl feel self conscious if you zone out while she's standing in front of you naked."
She was right. The pure sexuality radiating from Yang had taken a backseat to her own tragic circumstances. But now that she had mentioned it, it was all he could think about. He turned his head to avoid staring at her undeniably attractive body.
"What are you doing in here!" Jaune backed away from her and right into the wall. He held a small washcloth in front of him. The only defense his modesty had left.
"Just wanted to talk," she shrugged, inching closer. "About you and Ruby."
"Look if this is about us rooming together, I can assure you nothing's happened."
"Really?" Yang's eyes narrowed. "And why not? My sister not good enough for you?"
"What no Ruby's great it's just..."
"Oh I get it now," she smirked. "You're afraid she can't take it."
"Come again?"
"You're the strongest male in the school, and Ruby sunk her claws into you quickly. Well, I've never been prouder. Thought she'd never succumb to her baser instincts." Her hands slammed into the wall on either side of him, in a moment of pure fear the washcloth slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground with a wet plop. "But you, Mr. Perfect, you're always so controlled, strong enough to fight in even your human form." She leaned in closer her chest pressing against his own. "Imagine how strong your Grimm form is. You're afraid she'll break."
Jaune's mouth flopped open like a fish, unable to process words at the moment.
"That's what it is, isn't it?" Her eyes turned red, a predatory look coming over her face. "But don't worry big guy. I can handle it. It can't be healthy suppressing your Grimm form all the time." Yang's hands moved to his shoulders, gripping them tightly. "Come on, Jaune. Do it. Unleash the beast, I can take it. Take it all day if I have to," she practically snarled into his ear.
Dawning realization broke through Jaune's stupefied mind. She wanted to see his Grimm form, and possibly crack his pelvis at the same time.
"I... I can't," Jaune began, he looked around the room in panic hoping to come up with an answer. That was when he remembered a conversation he had had with his sister Saphron months ago, when a giant Grimm had threatened to destroy their town. It had been called… "Leviathan!" he said the word as soon as he thought it. "I'm part Leviathan, if I changed form I wouldn't even fit in the school."
"Oh a big boy, huh?" she chuckled pulling back from him her eyes traveled downwards. "Then again I shouldn't be surprised."
Curse his body for betraying him again, it's like it didn't care that these girls could tear him apart in an instant, or maybe it did and Jaune sure as hell wasn't ready to tackle what that could possibly mean about his psyche.
"Well looks like your lower horn is primed and ready to charge," Yang snickered, still blatantly staring at him. "Want to give it a target?" she winked.
"What? No I can't… it's just I hardly know you and..."
She backed away from him. "Oh I get it. You're one of those guys looking for a Mate instead of a mate."
Jaune wasn't sure what the difference was supposed to be, but he would take any out he could get. "Yeah you got me."
"That's a shame, and here I was hoping to gauge your strength for myself. But a Mate is more Ruby's scene."
"Yep. It sure is." Jaune was just saying words at this point, he had no idea what the conversation was about anymore, but if it got the monstrously strong girl away from him he would say anything.
"Oh well," she shrugged. "But maybe you should go see Ruby after this. Be a shame to waste such a lovely horn." She turned away from him. "But if you ever change your mind, you know where my room is." She then walked away from him, her hips swaying exaggeratedly.
Jaune stood there in stunned silence as he watched her go. When he was sure she was gone he reached over to the shower and turned the handle.
Ice cold water washed over him...
Author's Note: As always, my sincerest thanks go out to Burkion and Lightningstrxu for their continued help and support in this collaboration. Speaking of Lightning, go check out his story Chasing Gold, which he just updated today!
Oh Wesson, Wesson, Wesson... this character exists due to a little goof up in chapter 1. Grimm hybrids don't have surnames, but we accidentally had Yang refer to Cardin as "Winchester". This gave Burkion the idea of creating a fodder gunslinging OC named "Winchester" to be killed off at some point. But we figured the name might cause confusion since it's also Cardin's last name, so it was changed to Wesson. He was made into the edgiest edgelord of an OC ever, wearing a trenchcoat and taking that lame nickname "Death Gun" from Sword Art Online.
Anyway, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. Fluff, horror, and action. Growing feelings. New realizations. All that good stuff.
Thanks for reading.