Civilization. Home.
Jaune peered out the window to see the city fast approaching. The Bullhead that he and his friends rode in was descending onto one of the many landing pads in Vale's air ship terminal. He was so close, yet so far. With his luck word would have spread that he was leading a team of Grimm hybrids on an infiltration mission, and he would be shot out of the sky just inches before touching down.
He shook the errant thought from his mind. No. For better or for worse, he was back among his own kind. Humanity. Though whether he was actually safe or not, he couldn't say. After all, he was collaborating with a twisted monster woman who could control the forces of Grimm. If that wasn't cause for being arrested, and potentially worse, he didn't know what was.
The feeling of the ship landing sent a jolt of electricity through his heart. He had made it. He had actually made it. Landing was believing. A part of him was tempted to leap out of the Bullhead right now and kiss the very ground he stood on. Yet another part of him, a smarter part, knew there was no cause for this.
Despite being back in Vale, Jaune was still a prisoner. He couldn't abandon these girls. Everything Tyrian said to him before leaving had stuck with him. Even if it would be easy to run off and tell someone in charge at Beacon about the hybrids in hopes of saving them, he didn't trust they actually would. After all, who could cure what Salem had done to them? It's not like anyone here in Vale possessed the kind of magic she did. And even if somebody did, he didn't trust that the girls would let him save them either. Maybe Ruby. But not the others.
Like it or not he was stuck with them. For better or for worse. In sickness and in health. Just like a marriage. Marriage. Apparently Ruby was going to be married to him. Somehow that fact hadn't sunk in yet. Like he had to actually make it back to that awful place first before it could happen.
He'd never go back there if he could help it. That was his plan. Find some way, any way, to convince them to remain here. To convince them that being human was better. That they could start a new life here and leave the past behind. It was the only play he had.
"Get moving," the gruff voice of Hazel sounded to his passengers. "Make your way to Beacon and check in with Cinder. She's in charge from here on out."
Only Weiss bothered to verbally respond to the command, and she was first down the ship's retractable staircase. Yang went after her. Ruby lingered around at the top of the steps, looking back to Jaune to make sure he was coming.
The boy smiled at her. "Right behind you, Ruby."
She beamed and nodded before turning to descend down the stairs herself. Before he followed, Jaune turned back to Hazel in the pilot's chair. "So why didn't you drop us off at Beacon with the others?"
The man grunted. "Reasons."
"Personal reasons?"
Hazel sent a chilling glare his direction. The man normally didn't get angry. But right now Jaune could see that there was something boiling under the surface. "Reasons," he said deliberately.
Deciding not to press the issue, Jaune nodded. "Right. Well, see ya later."
Hopefully never again.
Jaune received no reply as he hefted his bag and carried it with him down the steps. Boots hit concrete. Home. He really was finally home.
The gathered quartet stood in place for a moment. Weiss and Ruby were busy looking around, taking in every sight possible. Yang, the girl who had supposedly been on missions to the kingdoms before, looked unimpressed.
Well, no time like the present. Jaune looked around at his charges before taking a deep breath. "Let's get moving."
The three girls agreed, and fell in line with Jaune as they made their way toward the massive building that was the air ship terminal. As they neared Jaune could see how it was packed with travelers, a common issue when it came to air travel. He also realized just how taxing this could be for someone unfamiliar with the environment.
The first hint was when someone grabbed hold of his hand. Looking over, he saw that it was Ruby. She pressed herself close to his body, squeezing down hard on his fingers as her head moved back and forth. Looking to all the passersby going about their business. Blissfully unaware that they were being watched by a Grimm-human hybrid who wanted to tear their throats out.
"There's so much negativity," Ruby whispered. "So much panic. Anger. Frustration."
Yeah. That sounded like an air terminal all right. Everyone was so stressed out about catching their flight. It was a breeding ground for negativity.
A glance over at Yang showed that she didn't seem to be having any adverse side effects. That just left Weiss. He didn't trust Weiss any more than he did Ruby. So Jaune did the only thing that came to mind.
Reaching out, he grabbed hold of Weiss' dainty hand much like Ruby had his and pulled her close to him. Weiss' mouth moved to protest, but was silenced when an arm came to wrap around her exposed stomach and a hand came to rest on her bare midriff. Jaune still wondered why in the world Cinder had chosen those odd bandaged outfits for the girls, but right now there were bigger concerns on his mind.
"I need you both to stay calm," he told the girls at his side. "Remember your training and studies. Don't let the negativity overwhelm you."
He felt Ruby nod as she leaned her head on his shoulder. A glance over to Weiss showed no such movements, but her hand came up to rest on his even as it rested on her stomach. Their fingers intertwined with each other. Perhaps that was her affirmative sign.
"Humans are truly miserable creatures," Weiss commented. "How have they survived this long if they're such beacons of negativity?"
"This is kind of a special place. Air ship terminals are where misery and negativity are born."
Jaune wanted to laugh. It sounded almost poetic. Deep in a way. But it was the truth.
"Eh, you're a bunch of wimps," Yang stated nonchalantly. "Boo hoo, a little human negativity. Nothing you can't ignore once you get used to it."
"Yeah, but we aren't," her sister protested. "This is our first time, Yang."
The blonde girl hummed. "I suppose."
"You're doing great," Jaune told both girls at his side. Still, that didn't mean he wanted to be in this place any longer than he had to be. His legs were moving as quickly as they could to get through the terminal, and it was a wonder the shorter girls could keep up. "We're almost out of here."
Moving through the crowd with two identically-dressed girls clinging to his side must have surely made Jaune stand out. But right now he didn't care. All he was concerned with was making it out to the street. From there they could relax. Get acclimated to Vale. And only when they were ready would they return to make the final leg of the journey to Beacon.
Pushing through the last of the doors, the sweet taste of fresh air greeted Jaune's lungs. Already the crowds had started to thin, and he could feel himself becoming more at ease. He imagined the girls were as well. Getting away from the negativity of crowds of stressed humans would do wonders for their mental states.
However, now the real test began. Downtown Vale was a whole different animal from the controlled environment of an air ship terminal. They were alone in the big city. Cars zipped past. All manner of people strode the sidewalks. Buildings of all shapes and sizes surrounded them. For at least two of the girls, this was a whole new world.
And it showed.
Ruby and Weiss' heads were on swivels as they looked all around in complete awe. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to see this level of civilization for the first time, but he would be with them for it every step of the way. Him holding them close was more than just a sign of affection, after all. It was to help keep them firmly grounded. To ensure that their baser instincts didn't take control. To try and overpower their negative urges with positivity. With affection. With love.
Perhaps distracting them would help as well. "So, girls. What do you want to do first?"
He only really expected Yang to answer, her being the most knowledgeable and experienced of the group other than himself. So he was surprised when it was Ruby who spoke first.
"I'm hungry," she complained.
The flight had been a long one. His prepared snacks had apparently not been enough. Not when it came to a hybrid's diet.
"Yes, I'm quite famished," Weiss agreed. "A meal sounds like a wonderful idea."
Jaune turned to Yang next. His fellow blonde merely shrugged her shoulders. "Sure. Food sounds great."
He smiled and nodded. And appreciated the fact that she wore a different outfit from the other two. Her Haven Academy uniform came complete with a black jacket and black plaid skirt. They apparently all had the outfits in their luggage, but only Yang had chosen to wear it. Maybe she realized how awkward it would have been to try and contain her generous bust in that bandage-like top Cinder purchased for them all.
"What about that place?" Yang pointed to. The sign as well as the fluorescent lighting in the window indicated it was a burger place.
"That one has pleasant aromas coming from it," Weiss said as she tugged on his arm, pulling him the opposite direction from where Yang had pointed. Seafood was apparently Weiss' preference based on smells alone.
"Okay, okay, everyone stay together," he said, putting his heels to the pavement and grinding Weiss to a halt. "Don't go wandering off on your own. There's time to see everything." And eat it, his mind finished.
It felt to Jaune like he was a chaperone on a school field trip trying to herd the children together. But he wouldn't let their innocent naivety fool him. They were all vicious killers. Ones that needed to be kept in check at all times around humans.
"Let's let Jaune choose the place," Ruby suggested. She peered up at him with a bright smile on her face. "I think he'll know what's best."
That sneaky little...
Of course Ruby would suggest such a thing. She was the only one who knew the truth, after all. He would indeed know the best places to get human food, being a human and all. Jaune couldn't help but grin down at the adorable little cinnamon bun at his side. He could just get lost in those gleaming pools of light that were her silver eyes. Those beautiful, mirrored eyes.
For a brief moment he did. Until he felt something hit him in the arm.
Turning his head, he saw Weiss with her head lowered in mid-stride, and her forehead butted against him once again. Was she...
"Weiss, you don't have your horn in your human form, remember?"
"And?"
He blinked. "So... stop headbutting me."
"Don't tell me what to do!" She attacked him again as a point of emphasis.
Jaune sighed. It didn't hurt. But it was just really annoying. Not to mention attention-drawing...
"Weiss, people are staring at us," he muttered.
"I am asserting dominance!" she exclaimed.
Yeah. He knew all about that already. But without the horn it really lost its impact.
His hands came out to rest on Weiss' shoulders, preventing her from hitting him again. "If you're going to insist on... asserting dominance over me, at least use your finger to poke me."
Weiss drew a single finger out of her left hand, presenting it up to him like a fencer might do with her blade before a duel. "Very well, Jaune. If you desire me to finger you I shall do just that."
"Please don't phrase it like that."
"Too late," Weiss said, poking him in the shoulder with a finger. "I shall finger you whenever I please in order to show that I am the dominate one in our relationship."
"Hey, you do not own him!" Ruby squawked. She leveled a finger threateningly in Weiss' direction. "Don't make me have to finger you in order to protect my claim!"
Jaune suddenly regretted replacing horns with fingers when it came to hybrid duels of dominance. But it still beat them sprouting horns in the middle of Vale in order to settle their differences.
"If it's a finger war you desire, then I shall be more than happy to provide! I will finger you into submission, Ruby!"
"No one's fingering anyone!" Jaune shouted.
Much to the confusion of those around them.
The boy shrank in on himself, only brought out of his embarrassment by Yang's cackling. At least one person here wasn't making a complete ass of herself.
"No, no, by all means," she struggled to say through giggling breaths. "Please go on about how you're all going to finger each other."
Jaune shook his head, a frustrated breath slipping through his lips. "Let's just get some food."
Silver and blue eyes remained locked with one another for a few moments. Thankfully in the end cooler heads prevailed, as did hungrier stomachs. The two girls both relaxed, lowering their fingers as if to indicate that there would be no duel today. A part of Jaune actually wanted to see how they would go about fighting one another with just their fingers.
Maybe later. Maybe in the safety of their room at Beacon Academy.
"Agreed," Weiss stated. "The only question is, which establishment shall we visit?"
Looking around, there was a plethora of options available here. Some better than others. Some cheaper than others as well. In the end, price didn't matter. The girls having a good time did. Who would have thought that picking the right restaurant would amount to this much pressure?
As it turned out, money could indeed buy happiness. At least if you were these girls. It was a good thing Hazel had set them up with a generous allowance of lien for their time in Vale.
Jaune had ultimately decided on a nice little restaurant known as the Silver Steer. He had never been there himself. He had never even heard of it before. However, it best greasy human fast food. It also wasn't so classy of a place that he and his cohorts would be turned away due to their... unique attire. Nope, this place was as middle of the road as it came. No shirt and no shoes may have been a problem, but bandage tops and combat boots were perfectly acceptable.
It had a lovely outdoor patio section for diners that Jaune jumped on. At the very least it would be a bit less stifling than being inside a crowded restaurant of people. The weather was pleasant enough as well, and after being cooped up in Salem's school for months he wanted to take advantage of this.
Being seated at a table for four, the quartet were handed menus. For a moment Jaune wondered if the hybrids were even literate, but such doubts were soon dispelled as they opened the things and began reading. At least that was one awkward conversation they didn't need to have.
"So, Jaune," Ruby spoke, breaking the brief silence that had settled over them. "What would you recommend?"
What indeed. What human food might a group of Grimm hybrids enjoy? Yang had been partial toward hamburgers. Weiss' nose directed her to seafood. What about Ruby herself? She'd probably just go with whatever he recommended, to be honest.
Scanning up and down the menu he sought something they would all likely enjoy. What might that be? He racked his brain trying to use his months of experience cooking for the girls to find something appropriate.
Then it hit him. A memory of food that wasn't cooked at all. His first exposure to the dining habits of hybrids. They loved meat. And they loved it bloody and raw. At least until he introduced them to cooking. This would be a fine compromise.
"Steak," he said with confidence. "Rare, bloody steak."
A satisfied smirk curled on Yang's lips. "Now you're speaking my language."
"Steak is cow, correct?" Weiss asked.
He nodded. "Yup. In the human kingdoms meats have different names depending on what animal it comes from or what part of the body it is. So steak is cow meat."
"What part of the body does it come from?"
The question gave Jaune pause. The truth was he didn't know. But if there was one thing he knew about Weiss, it was that he had to keep up appearances around her. Otherwise she would attempt to take the lead, which with her would lead to all sorts of incorrect knowledge being spewed.
"Uh, the... flank." He thought that was a word at least. Something to do with the side of an animal. Either way, she wouldn't know any better.
Weiss gave a nod of her own. "Very well. Cow flank it shall be."
All four were in agreement, and soon enough a waiter came to take their orders. Jaune ordered for the four of them, after all, they were all getting the same dish. They were all getting it prepared the same. Rare. Having each girl struggle to make their own decisions alone could have been awkward. He played it off as a learning experience so that they would know how to properly behave themselves in a restaurant setting.
Jaune wondered what would have happened had he not been here. Who would have taken the lead? Yang? Weiss? The former could probably pull it off with her experience. The latter would have been a disaster of misunderstandings.
The buzzing of light conversation sounded all around them, but for the most part the girls seemed unaffected. Ruby and Weiss still took it upon themselves to take in all the sights they could, but for the most part they seemed comfortable with their situation. Maybe because both girls had a place at his side.
Appetizers arrived first. The soup of the day came with their steak meals. Luckily the girls seemed to all know to use spoons to enjoy the dish. Of course. He recalled Weiss eating some sort of... eyeball soup one of the first times he had seen her in the cafeteria.
"So what do you think Beacon will be like?" Ruby asked after sipping some of the broth from her spoon. "It's a school, right? For huntsmen?"
"Indeed," Weiss confirmed. "Which means we must keep our guard up at all times. These soldiers of humanity would eradicate us all if they ever had the opportunity."
"Not if we kill them first," Yang grinned knowingly.
Jaune remembered her shotgun. A trophy taken from a huntsman, apparently. The hybrid was speaking from experience.
"Let's make that a, um, last resort," Jaune said. He had to steer the conversation away from violence. "Hey! I heard that since we're all on a team that we share the same room. That's pretty cool."
"Not much of a difference considering you three already share a room," the blonde girl pointed out.
"Right. But you'll be with us now, Yang."
"What, are you inviting me to share your bed too?" she smirked.
"Huh? No I was just-"
"I know I'm irresistible and all, but you gotta remember I'm Ruby's sister. That sort of thing may fly in the human world, but I'm not interested in doing anything like that alongside my own blood."
"Yang I really wasn't-"
"Fine by me," Ruby interrupted. "Sharing with Weiss is already hard enough. There wouldn't be room for you in our bed anyway."
"Girls can we not discuss this in pu-"
"Who says I'd share? It'd be nothing to kick you and Weiss out and take your place next to Jaune."
"Violence really isn't the ans-"
"Excuse me?" Weiss snapped, raising a finger in challenge. "If it's a fingering you're after I will be more than willing to duel you for a spot in Jaune's bed."
"Trust me, Weiss," Yang smiled. "I'd never be interested in fingering you."
"Oh look, food!" Jaune suddenly cried out.
Thankfully their waiter was carrying a large platter of plates in one hand alongside a light, foldable table in the other. The device was set up and the platter placed on it so that he could begin serving the foursome.
With all their meals being the same it didn't take long. Soon enough four hot plates filled with meat and fried potatoes were sitting in front of each of them. All bickering had ceased as they stared down at the tantalizing food.
"Now, mind your manners," Weiss ordered. "Remember we are expected to eat with our silverware rather than our hands."
Ruby nodded in affirmation. Yang probably already know. Jaune of course knew. He was just happy Weiss hadn't said anything weird.
"Now then, where is the cow fork?"
Or not.
"Cow fork?"
"Yes," she nodded. "There are salad forks. Soup spoons. Steak knives. Where is the cow fork?"
"I don't think that's a thing." He knew it wasn't. But it was best to let her down easily.
"There are specialized utensils for eating our appetizers and cutting our meat, but not for eating the meat itself?"
When she put it like that it was a little unusual. But it was the truth.
"Yup."
She hummed. "Humans really are such odd creatures."
As she said that she dipped her fingers into the potted plant that stood near to her. Grabbing a pinch of dirt from it, she lightly sprinkled it atop her steak and potatoes, much to Jaune's wide-eyed horror.
"Weiss..." he said slowly. "What are you doing?"
"Seasoning my steak," she answered matter-of-factly.
Jaune pointed out the small shakers containing salt and pepper in the middle of the table. "There's seasoning here. That's just dirt."
"Yes," she agreed. "A mineral from the ground. Like salt."
"Yeah, but-"
"Salt is a mineral from the ground used to enhance the taste of food, is it not?"
"Well yeah, but-"
"So this is like salt."
There would be no convincing her otherwise. In true Weiss fashion, she had taken knowledge he had given her and twisted it using her own arrogant logic. He sighed. If she wanted to eat steak sprinkled with dirt then so be it.
"All right," he conceded. "But for everyone else salt and pepper is right here."
Truth be told the steaks were seasoned enough to be delicious without the aid of further spices. But he didn't want either Ruby or Yang to mimic Weiss' actions.
Cutting a piece of meat, the white-haired girl slid it off the fork and began chewing. Her face soured, ironic because the dirt must have tasted rather bitter. Still though, she chewed.
"How is it, Weiss?" Yang asked amusedly.
Weiss choked it down before replying. "Delicious," she obviously lied.
As she continued eating he realized that she must have been doing so more out of spite than actual enjoyment. Weiss was someone who hated being wrong. Especially in front of him.
"So is mine," Ruby gushed. Talking with food still being chewed. "I mean not as good as your cooking, Jaune. But still really yummy!"
"Thanks. But there's no way mine is as good as this."
The redhead swallowed. "No, really! Your stuff is way better."
"Yeah I'll bet his meat is better," Yang smirked.
Ruby sent a glare her way before continuing. "Because when you make it there's an ingredient that these guys can't put in."
"And what's that?" he wondered.
"Your love."
The words carried so much weight behind them. Two small words. So simple. Yet they packed the punch of a gun when they hit him.
"Jaune puts his love in his cooking?" Yang questioned. "Gross."
"Not like that, Yang," the boy sighed.
"I don't get it," Weiss complained.
"There's nothing to get. Just forget it."
Weiss held his gaze for a couple seconds before returning to her food.
"But thanks, Ruby," he continued. "Hopefully I'll be able to make some stuff while at Beacon. But if not they have actual human cooks who make stuff for the students and teachers."
"And if not we can always sneak into the kitchen!" She paused, her eyes moving off to the side. "I wonder what Blake's up to right now."
The mention of sneaking into a place did indeed remind him of the elusive stalker. What was she up to right now? How was she handling being in Salem's academy without her favorite toy to play with?
Probably busy Blakeing around. Sad that he wasn't there for her to feast off his anxiety anymore. The thought was disturbingly sad to the boy.
"I don't know," he admitted. But I won't abandon you either, Blake, his mind finished.
"Probably tormenting Wesson," Yang mused.
Poor Wesson. Was there even any saving him? Or was he beyond help? The boy's body was barely human anymore.
"Happy thoughts!" Ruby insisted. "Let's all keep thinking happy thoughts, okay?"
"Easy for you to say."
Jaune was just happy Yang hadn't finished her sentence by calling Ruby a freak. Happy thoughts did come easy for the redheaded hybrid. The one who was so different from the rest.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Let's just enjoy our meal. After that we'll check out some stores. Maybe get a few things before heading to Beacon."
The group readily agreed with the plan. Soon enough their rare steaks were scarfed down. Fries were devoured. If he had to guess, the girls loved human food. It was just one more weapon in his arsenal to convince them to embrace humanity rather than destroy it.
So this was Jaune's world. This was where he came from. It was so big. So vast. So... much better than her home...
Lunch had been amazing. Humans ate food like that every day? That in itself was incredible. Ruby couldn't imagine ever going back to her old eating habits from before Jaune had arrived. Sure, sucking the marrow out of a nice cow bone was still a guilty pleasure of hers, but things like raw cow or pig fresh off the carcass would no longer do it for her. No, Ruby had developed an insatiable appetite for all things human. Cooked eggs and bacon. Steak. And perhaps the most delectable treat of all, cookies.
Ruby smiled warmly as she walked alongside her sister and friends. Cookies. She was Jaune's little Cookie Monster, after all. She still had to think of a nickname to give to him. Something sensible and sweet. Something which spoke to who he was and what he meant to her. Something personal. But such things couldn't be rushed. Ruby herself had waited a while after he had dubbed Weiss as Snow Angel. Had he rushed his own nickname for her, it might not have been as wonderful as Cookie Monster.
Silver eyes watched as people passed by. There were so many emotions here in the human world. Negativity and positivity alike. For every person she encountered who was filled with envy, greed, and hate, there were those filled with love and hope. Here in the human world there was a delicate balance of all emotions. Not just negativity. Negativity wasn't fostered and nurtured. If anything, people here wanted to be positive. Just like her. They weren't seen as broken or defective.
Eyes trailed off to one of the many little shops that lined the sidewalks in downtown vale. It was a simple little street stand, not at all like the massive windowed establishments where many businesses were housed. It wasn't the shop itself which drew her attention, however. But the people who stood before it.
A man and a woman. Probably somewhere in their mid to late twenties. Smiling. Radiating positivity. They stood side by side, arms linked around one another like she and Jaune might do.
The shop keep behind the counter handed the man something. A metal trinket of some sort, encrusted with what looked to be precious stones. For some reason the woman looked immensely happy about the thing, and her body radiated positivity as her Mate began to fasten it around her wrist. Positivity... along with lust? Interesting. Is this how human Mates expressed affection toward one another? Did they give gifts to each other as signs of love?
She wanted to make Jaune as happy as that woman was...
The redhead instantly found her legs being drawn toward the small shop. Away from the rest of the group, who so far didn't notice her divergence. Coming up to the place just as the pair of happy humans began to leave, Ruby peered over the counter to see a back wall filled with more metal trinkets. There were others too. Some appeared to be made of plastic. Others wood. Some were painted, others bare. Which one would be right for Jaune?
"What can I do for you?" the man behind the counter asked.
Ruby's eyes continued to wander over the vast array of choices that were available to her. Human courtship was nothing like that of her own hybrid culture. It wasn't as simple as establishing dominance over your mate. There were so many options. Feelings had to be considered. What would make your Mate happy?
"Miss?" the man asked.
Ruby shook her head clear of the thoughts. "I... I want to get something for someone I love."
A great smile erupted on his face. "Well then you've come to the right place!" he exclaimed. "I've got something for everyone here. We've got necklaces. Rings. Earrings, bracelets, pendants. Gem options are available with a birthstone for every month. Who's the lucky lady's lover?"
"Oh, um. Jaune."
The man blinked. "Jaune, eh? He sounds like a fine young man. Tell you what, I think I have something in mind for Jaune."
She watched as he gave a few sweeps over the wares on the back wall of his stand. Finally he stopped, and reached up to pluck something down. It looked like a rock to her. A purple one at that.
"Agate," the man said, holding the rock up. It was surrounded by a band of metal and attached to a thin black cord. "Represents strength and courage. Perfect for the big, strong man in your life."
"Well, he is big and strong..." Ruby admitted.
"Perfect! That'll be-"
"But it's a rock," she interrupted. "I can break rocks with my bare hands."
The shop owner stopped in his tracks. It took him a moment, but eventually he continued. "Well yes, it's a stone. But it's what the stone represents-"
"Do you have something strong? And metal?"
Sudden negativity began to emanate from the man before her. Was it fear? Was she being too aggressive? Maybe she should tone it back a little. She didn't want to frighten the human...
Said human turned back around to once more examine his stock. Ruby did the same. She noticed a familiar pattern among the trinkets in his collection.
"That shape," she said, pointing to the strange arch-topped and pointy-bottomed design. "Why do so many of your things have it?"
"A heart?" he asked incredulously. "You don't know what a heart means?"
Ruby shook her head.
"Oh wow that poor guy..." he muttered before shaking his head. "Anyway! A heart is pretty much a universal symbol of love."
She felt a fluttering feeling in her stomach. "Really?"
"Absolutely. Whenever people want to show that they love each other, they use hearts to convey that. It's great symbolism. Kind of feminine too if you ask me, so probably not the best choice for your-"
"I want that," she said pointing to an item behind him.
He turned around to see the item in question. It was beautiful. Big. Perfect. Just like Jaune. Just like their love for one another.
The man picked the item from the wall, holding it up before him as if to examine it himself. The giant heart-shaped piece of metal was attached to a small metal chain. Yes, that would be perfect indeed! It represented both her love for Jaune, while the metal was as strong as the bond they had for one another. It was the best possible symbolism for her feelings for Jaune.
"And... you're sure he'll like this?"
She nodded. "Yes. It's... everything that I could have hoped for in expressing my love for him."
The shop keep's face twisted, and another negative emotion surged out of him. "Well, you know him better than I do," he wound up saying. "If this is your choice, that'll be forty lien."
Ruby blinked before reaching into her pocket. She tossed a number of lien notes onto the counter between herself and the man. She stared down hard at them, trying to remember which ones were which.
Thankfully the nice man helped her, using his hands to separate the ones he needed from the ones she could keep. "There, forty lien," he smiled, handing the pendant over to her. "And for you."
She clasped it in both hands, not just because it was precious to her, but because it would have been hard to fit it in just one palm. A wide grin erupted on her face as she looked down at it.
"Thanks!"
Collecting the rest of her unused lien, Ruby turned to head back to the group.
Where was the group?
Her head went left and right. Where were they? Where had her friends gone?
"Jaune?" she called out. "Jaune! Where are-"
The feeling of something on her shoulder made her spin around in an instant, and she was fully ready to defend herself against the one who wished her harm.
Her face lit up in relief when she realized it was Jaune.
"Jaune, where were-"
She was cut off when he pulled her into a tight embrace. Silver eyes widened briefly before she forced herself to relax. She leaned her head against his chest, wrapping her own arms around his back.
"I told you we had to stay together," he spoke softly into her ear. Pulling back, a pair of concerned blue eyes gazed down at her. Despite the softness in them, she couldn't help but see a small hint of an edge in them as well.
"Well yeah, but I thought you all stopped with me when I saw that place," she motioned over to the shop.
Jaune followed her hand briefly before turning back to her. "What was so important about a jewelry stand?"
Ruby fidgeted briefly, standing in place while her boots scrapped the sidewalk. "Well... I wanted to get you something."
The boy frowned. "Get me something?"
"Yeah. I saw a human purchase a gift for his Mate. And it made her really happy. So... I thought I should get you something."
The fear and anxiety which had been present in Jaune only moments ago seemed to evaporate. Now it was replaced by a familiar positivity. "Ruby, you shouldn't have..."
"But I wanted to." She looked behind Jaune, seeing that Yang and Weiss were a few feet away chatting about something she couldn't make out. Taking a deep breath, she held out her hands and presented her gift to Jaune. "For you."
The blond boy stared down at her hands. His mouth opened slightly. "That's... for me?"
She nodded eagerly. "Yup! The guy told me that hearts represent love. And it's metal, which represents how strong our bond is. Isn't it perfect?"
Jaune took the pendant from her hands and held it up before him. "Oh, yeah," he agreed. "It makes total sense when you put it like that."
A wide grin erupted on her lips. "I knew it! My first day in the human world and I'm already getting good at it!" She took a step toward him, eagerly peering up at his face. "Put it on!"
He nodded this time before unclasping the hook of the chain. Staring down at the heart-shaped metal briefly, he brought the chain behind his neck. For a few seconds his hands lingered there, struggling to reconnect the two ends of the chain behind his neck.
Inspiration struck Ruby. "Oh! Let me help!"
Much like she had seen the two humans do, she assisted Jaune in putting the gift into place on his body. She reached up to the back of his neck and secured the chain around him.
She came back around in front of him, still smiling from ear to ear. "How does it feel?"
A hand came up to heft the thing that hung above his chest. "Nice. And heavy."
"I hope so! I spent forty lien on it."
Jaune's eyes widened. "Forty?"
"Yep! But I mean, we have plenty of lien. Hazel made sure of that. And we could probably always get more, right?"
"Probably..." he agreed.
"But the most important thing is that you like it. And you do like it, right?"
Jaune stared down at the metal heart once more. His gaze there lingered for a few seconds before coming back up to meet hers. "Ruby. You got this for me because you love me."
It appeared to be a statement rather than a question. Regardless, Ruby nodded in agreement. "Yep."
"Then I love it," he said earnestly. "I love it with all my heart."
"Really?"
He smiled at her. "Really, Ruby."
Placing her hands on his shoulders, Ruby leaned up, tilting her head ever so slightly so that she could capture his lips in her own. Silver eyes shut as she neared her target.
And was brought to a screeching halt from a screeching voice.
"What in the world are you doing?" Weiss asked accusingly.
Ruby's feet, only a moment ago standing on her toes, fell back down to the ground completely. Her gift for Jaune was staring right at her face, and in a panic she grabbed hold of it and shoved it underneath his hoodie.
No one could see what she had bought him. Her gift for Jaune was special. No one else needed to know. Or get any ideas to get him something themselves...
"I, um," she panicked.
"You were going to kiss him," the white-haired girl continued, leveling a finger at her. "After we went through so much time and effort to find you after you decided to wander off on your own. The nerve of you, Ruby."
"It wasn't that much time or effort..." Jaune muttered.
"Not the point! She's trying to sneak a kiss with you under my nose. I won't stand for it!"
Jaune sighed. "Yes, dear."
"That's Snow Angel to you, Jaune."
"Yes, Snow Angel." His hand reached up to briefly touch his hoodie. Where underneath a large steel heart rested. "Come on. We should probably head over to Beacon. C- Professor Fall's waiting for us."
Mission accomplished. Ruby beamed with pride knowing that she had done something that made Jaune happy. Who cares if the world couldn't see it? The important thing was that he could feel it. Underneath his hoodie, her gift for him rested even closer to his heart. She smiled at the thought. A heart over his heart.
She wondered what other sorts of human activities they'd be able to do together during their time in Vale.
Author's Note: With posting this chapter, I've officially surpassed one million words published. It's been quite a ride over these past three years, ever since I first posted Letters to Winter back in August of 2016. And I couldn't have done all this without the readers. All of you and your kind words inspire me to keep writing. Making you happy makes me happy. So I just want to thank you for all that.
I even have tens of thousands of words of unpublished RWBY writing, some of which I do want to post one day. Whether it's the White Knight AU where Weiss became an international pop idol rather than a huntress, or Taiyang and Winter somehow falling in love, I do hope to get those out someday. I just know I can't commit to updating them right now.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun getting back to the fluff of this chapter. Weiss and her steak was a small idea I'd been sitting on for months. It's so brief, but I enjoy it so much because Jaune's the one who taught her about salt in the first place. And then there's adorable Ruby being adorable. I always enjoy writing her.
As always my thanks go out to Burkion and Lightningstrxu for their continued involvement here. Even when they don't write anything, I love having their input and ideas.
And of course my thanks go out to all you for reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoyed it.