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Weiss felt a little raw after their discussion but she knew that this was probably a long time coming. She had a lot of repressed, bottled up feelings inside – about Atlas, about her past behavior, about her family – and Blake was the same. When the faunus girl had spoken about the troubles of her people and how it made her feel, it had inspired Weiss to vent her own frustrations about her homeland. It was a testament to their friendship now that they were able to vent like this and not fear judgment from one another, something they couldn't claim in the past. The last time they'd had a serious talk about such heavy topics, Weiss had let her anger get the better of her and Blake had run off after her secret was discovered, and then tried to fight the White Fang and Roman Torchwick on her own.
Well, maybe not entirely on her own. Sun had been there – but she had it on good authority that Blake had charged in without a plan, leaving the monkey faunus to hurriedly rush in after her.
Blake could be very emotional when pushed.
But while Weiss definitely felt better after unloading a little, it was far from everything. She still had plenty of baggage in the trunk, so to speak – but for now, things were good. She felt good.
It was the perfect time for a bath.
The water was cold but that was expected. Fresh water typically was. But after how hot the day had been, a cold bath was a bit of a blessing.
Since the ponds were tiered like a series of stone stairs, they decided to use one of the lower ones so as to not contaminate their drinking water. Each pool could hold upwards of twenty people easily, so there was plenty of room for them.
Bathing nude with Blake was beginning to become a bit of a thing, wasn't it?
But that just reminded her of something else.
Jaune had seen her in her underwear.
Weiss felt her cheeks burn as she undressed. Her skin was sore and reddened from the harshness of the sun, and it was only another reminder of what she'd done. Hadn't she just thought that Jaune seeing her in a state of undress would be mortifying and then what had she done?
But seeing him in just his underwear had been... exhilarating. When Blake had undressed, it only felt natural that she join them. And if she were to be completely honest, she'd had the time of her life. For a short time, all of their worries had been pushed aside as they simply acted as children would, splashing and playing in the ocean.
Children didn't feel the things she felt, though, did they?
Weiss shivered as she slipped into the pool, the chill clashing with the latent heat the sun had left in her scorched flesh. Sinking down until only her head remained above water, she rested against the slick rocks and sighed, eyes slipping shut. She heard Blake gently lower herself down beside her, the cat faunus hissing as the cold waters enveloped her – and then there was silence.
Weiss tried to settle her mind but it was hopeless. With her eyes closed, all she could see were Jaune's muscles, tight and strong. All she could remember was how his skin felt against her own as they touched, the warmth he gave off, how steady he was even when carrying the pair of them. She'd had trouble taking her eyes off him and was surprised he hadn't noticed her blatant staring.
She also remembered the envy that burned in her heart as Jaune carried Blake as you would a wife.
Weiss wanted Jaune to carry her like that but she'd had to make do with leaping on his back. His wide, muscular back that she may have pressed into a little too eagerly.
She'd never been so close to a man before in just her underwear. She'd never touched a man without his shirt on, without pants. She'd never had her bare skin contact another man's body, sliding against it in such a manner before.
So many firsts but not the ones that mattered.
Weiss began rubbing at her arms, caressing her skin. Her nipples were tight to the point of pain, a combination of the cold water and her heated thoughts. How would it feel to have his hands touch her like this? To run up and down her slim body, worshiping her with reverence. Weiss bit her lip as her hands wandered from her arms and down to her belly, slipping around her waist as if to hug herself.
She could have it, couldn't she? If she just... took the plunge, stepped off the edge... confessed.
It was a risk worth taking, wasn't it? He'd wanted her, once. He'd desired her. Maybe... just maybe, he still did?
"Do you want me to help with your hair?" Blake asked and Weiss snapped back to herself.
Feeling a little off kilter, it took her a few seconds to process Blake's words.
"Oh – uh, sure," Weiss stumbled. Clearing her throat, she added, "I'll do yours after."
She turned away and exposed her back, allowing Blake to undo her ponytail. Weiss hummed as Blake ran her fingers through it, untangling any of the loose knots that had developed. Without it held up, Weiss saw it pool upon the surface of the water.
"Okay – lean back, I've got you."
Without a hint of hesitation, Weiss did as she was told. Blake cradled her against her front, sinking down until Weiss was almost completely submerged. Tilting her head back, she felt Blake's shapely breasts against her back, her pointed nipples just as hard as her own. Closing her eyes, she focused on the feeling of Blake's fingers working through her hair and massaging her scalp, removing all the sand and grit that had gathered from the sea. It was calming in a way that few things were, her heart rate slowing to a crawl as she simply existed.
"I've always thought you have beautiful hair," Blake admitted, continuing with her work.
"It isn't so beautiful right now," Weiss lamented.
Couldn't their shampoo and conditioner have washed up with them? It was a silly thing to think about but she thought it regardless.
When Blake was done, they swapped positions. Blake squirmed as she massaged her scalp around the base of her cat ears, her face becoming slack as Weiss focused on brushing out all the knots. When Weiss could find no more, she began to rub her back, rubbing away any dirt and grime.
"Sorry about..." Blake trailed off, unable to find the words. But Weiss understood anyway.
"It's fine. We both got a little caught up in it."
There was a rustle in the bushes nearby and they both tensed, Blake quickly sitting up and turning to face the direction of the sound. Foolishly, they'd come here without their weapons – Blake's spear and her rifle left back at camp, inside their hut.
The lack of Grimm they'd encountered had made them lax.
But then a familiar voice called, "Can I come through?"
Weiss felt her heart jolt and she sunk down until her chin touched the water. Blake did the same and Weiss noticed an attractive blush spread across the cat faunus' face.
"Y-Yes," she answered when Blake remained silent.
The bush rustled some more and then Jaune appeared carrying a towel. He saw them and immediately turned so he wasn't facing them. Because of their position, the most he could have seen were their heads. Even so, Weiss felt a tingle race up her spine at the possibility.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "Er – since it's getting dark soon, I thought..."
Weiss could only make out a sliver of the sky through the canopy but she didn't need to see to realize that things had gotten a lot darker. Normally, she would have told him to go away but these weren't normal circumstances. It wasn't like he was trying to sneak a peek, he was just being practical.
Weiss wouldn't begrudge him wanting to be clean and with the temperature rapidly plummeting when night fell, it wouldn't do to bathe then.
"It's fine," she said. "Just... don't look."
The last part was said shyly, her voice dropping. Blake glanced her way, her cat ears rigid atop her head.
"I won't," he replied. "I promise – I'll go over here," she watched him as he moved further down to the next pool over and began stripping off his clothes, starting with Crocea Mors. He hadn't forgotten his weapon. Weiss knew she should avert her gaze, afford him his privacy but she found herself staring intently, watching those wonderful muscles reveal themselves to her.
She wasn't the only one.
A quick glance showed that despite her red face, Blake was staring as well. There was a strange look on her face, one she had never seen before. It made Weiss' belly tremble.
They kept watching as his back was revealed to them, broad and strong, and then those powerful thighs of his – until suddenly he was completely undressed, naked as the day he was born. Weiss inhaled sharply, eyes settling on his butt – and what a cute butt it was! When he climbed into the water, she saw the way it flexed, a pair of dimples on either side giving it a sculpted look. Heart no longer calm but racing a million miles a second, she dunked her head beneath the water and screamed.
What was she doing!?
She just saw his butt! Jaune's bare, manly butt!
She was a pervert! Why didn't she look away?
Well, that was easy. It was because she wanted to see.
She stayed under the water until she couldn't hold her breath any longer. Surfacing with a gasp, she turned away, feeling hot all over.
It took her a moment to realize that Blake was still looking.
"Blake," she hissed, nudging her. "You're staring!"
Blake jumped as her elbow dug into her ribs. Amber eyes turned her way, looking a little stunned.
"He has a nice ass," the words tumbled from Blake's lips numbly and Weiss couldn't help it; she laughed. A high pitched giggle that once it started, she had trouble stopping. Hunching over, she covered her mouth as her body shook.
"S-Shut up," Blake whined.
Weiss only giggled harder.
"You guys okay over there?" Jaune called out but he didn't look their way, holding to his word.
"We're fine!" Blake returned before grabbing Weiss and giving her a shake. "Weiss, cut it out!"
She couldn't help it. Blake's urgent tone only made it worse, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. She did her best to muffle the sounds she was making but Weiss was sure she didn't do a very good job.
"He has a nice ass," Weiss parroted, and then lost it completely.
It was infectious. Blake tried to remain unaffected but Weiss saw the moment she cracked, her jaw trembling as her face crinkled in an effort to stop the coming tide. She really did try her best but when a strangled snort escaped, Weiss let go, her peal of laughter cutting through the forest loudly. They doubled over together, laughing up a storm.
"Are you two laughing at me for some reason?"
Jaune's sulking voice only made them laugh even harder.
It was some time until they got themselves under control. Weiss cradled her stomach, the muscles there aching. There was a pain in the back of her head, that strained feeling you only got after laughing way too hard. It hurt to smile but she couldn't stop.
"W-We weren't laughing at you," Blake tried to reassure him but it was difficult when all of her words were infused with the remnants of her amusement. "Weiss just said something dumb."
"You're the one that said something dumb!" Weiss accused in return. "You filthy liar."
"I still feel like you two are teasing me," Jaune grumbled loud enough for them to hear.
"Blake just said that—" but the cat girl didn't give her a chance to finish, throwing hands across Weiss' mouth to stifle her words.
"Weiss!" Blake hissed, mortified. "Don't you dare!"
Weiss snickered, tickling Blake's sides until she flinched away.
"I'm only teasing," Weiss said when her mouth was free. It had been a fake out. "I think Jaune would appreciate the compliment, though." This part was said much quieter.
"You were staring as well," Blake said petulantly.
Weiss felt her cheeks warm. "Well... it was a very cute butt."
Blake splashed water at her.
The heiress was making light of it but seeing Jaune that way certainly lit a fire inside. The familiar embers of arousal curled in her belly, only a hint of what could be. Biting her lip, she rubbed her thighs together.
Why wouldn't she feel this way? He was the man she had fallen in love with.
When they finished up, Weiss and Blake toweled off before redressing and returning to camp. The fresh water had done just the trick and they felt much cleaner, their hair smoother. Weiss let her hair hang free, the ends tickling the backs of her thighs.
Jaune had prepared fish for dinner, scaled and gutted, and had even set up the firewood, ready to be lit. There was also a pot of those strange clams he had dug out of the sand, covered in water. Weiss quickly had it roaring to life with a pinch of fire dust and using the skewers they'd carved out, speared the fish through before angling them over the fire.
The food was ready when Jaune made his way back and they sat around the fire as the air chilled, the sun sinking down beyond the island and the sky filling with stars. It was another beautiful night and when they were done with the fish, Jaune placed the pot of clams over the flame. When it boiled, he removed it and carefully drained the water using half a coconut shell to keep the clams from tumbling out onto the sand.
"You're really going to try those?" Blake asked.
Jaune touched them gently and pulled his hand back, the shells still too hot.
"Why not?" he shrugged. "If I die – tell everyone I fell fighting the Grimm."
Weiss kicked him in the shin. "Not funny."
"Right, right, sorry," he said, holding up his hands.
When they were cool enough, he pried one open. The insides had shrunk to half the size of the shell. When he chewed on it, he pulled a face.
"Bad?" Blake asked with a smirk.
"I think I overcooked them," he said, trying another one. "Yeah, they are kinda rubbery. They don't really have a flavor, either – though maybe that's because I boiled them."
He only ate a few more before setting them aside.
As the night deepened, they found themselves sitting closer together, shoulder to shoulder as Jaune attended to the fire, stoking it and adding more wood. Weiss felt physically tired and leaned against his shoulder, cuddling into his side.
"Weiss?"
"You're warm," was her simple answer.
He hesitated before throwing an arm around her back, hugging her to his side. Nuzzling her face against him, she stared at the crackling fire. Jaune shifted and a quick glance showed that Blake had moved in on his other side, taking advantage.
Weiss... didn't mind.
"Do you..." Blake hesitated.
"Do we?" Jaune prompted curiously.
"Do you want to know more about Menagerie?"
Weiss found herself smiling.
"Yes," she said. "I do."
"Me too," Jaune added. "If you want to share."
Blake took a moment to think. "Every year, we hold a festival to celebrate all the good fortune we've experienced since the last one. Things like good harvests or plentiful catches, good weather, births, anything and everything. We decorate the whole town with lanterns and totems, old symbols we use to pay homage to the God of Animals. Even though most faunus don't believe in him any more, we still do it. Every street is lined by stalls with food and trinkets from all over the world. A lot of faunus travel back to Menagerie for it and so they bring different cultures with them. Um – actually, I was hoping to show you since it will be held soon."
"Sounds like fun," Jaune said and Weiss agreed. She still remembered the experience of the Vytal Festival and how new everything had been to her as the sheltered rich kid of an Atlesian businessman. She'd never attended anything like it as a child. While things had lasted, she'd had a blast. "Are we going to miss it?"
"Maybe," Blake said sadly. "We were due to leave before it started but I was going to try to convince everyone to stay a little longer. I know Professor Goodwitch wouldn't have been pleased that we missed our deadline, but..."
Their main mission was to escort the farming equipment but Beacon had agreed to lend the aid of her Huntsman team to help thin the Grimm presence even further in the area they were wishing to farm. It meant that originally, they were scheduled to remain on the island for about two weeks.
"So we might still make it," Jaune said optimistically. "I'd love to attend this festival, Blake. What about you, Weiss?"
"Yes," she said, peering around Jaune's body to lock eyes with Blake. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Blake smiled shyly, her ears flicking. "You mean it?"
"Of course," Jaune gave her a squeeze. "Though we might be turning up without the farming equipment that was promised. Still think they'd let us attend?"
Blake smirked. "Well – since you're our leader on this mission, we'll just blame you."
"Betrayal from within," Jaune said with faux hurt. "You'll have my back, won't you, Weiss?"
"Sorry but Team RWBY has to stick together," she teased.
"Traitors," Jaune moaned theatrically.
Weiss thought of something to share, something that wasn't mired in bitter feelings from her homeland.
"In winter, you can witness the northern lights from Atlas and Mantle," she said, drawing their attention. "They actually lessen the amount of light pollution the city produces at this time to maximize viewability of the phenomenon. I – as a child, I'd sneak out of a bed and sleep by the balcony doors to watch. They are... beautiful."
"I've always wanted to see them," Blake said wistfully. "Even photos make them look stunning. They must be special to see in person."
"Why don't we go see them?" Jaune asked and they both looked up at him in surprise.
"We've already missed them this year. They only appear in winter," Weiss explained.
Jaune nodded. "I know. I mean next year. I've been speaking to some of the third years. Apparently we'll be going on a lot more missions and spending less time in the classroom. We can take a mission to Atlas – or if there isn't any, we can just swing by on the way back from somewhere."
Weiss grinned. "Should a team leader really be planning to just 'swing by' places when traveling at Beacon's expense."
"What happened to the upstanding Jaune Arc we've come to know?" Blake ribbed.
He shrugged. "Hey, you forget – I tricked my way into Beacon using forged transcripts. I'm a bit of a bad boy."
Weiss couldn't contain her amusement, giggling. "Oh yes, a total renegade."
Blake chortled. "I never knew we were in the company of such a rule breaker."
"Okay, okay," Jaune said, sounding wounded. "Laugh it up."
"We will," they chorused.
After a bit of time, Blake asked, "What about where you're from, Jaune?"
Weiss perked up, curious. She knew very little of his life before Beacon. Only that he had a ridiculously large family and that his sword was an heirloom, passed down from his great-great grandfather who fought in the Great War. She also vaguely recalled him mentioning a farm one time but that was it. While he spoke of his parents and sisters often, he never really spoke much about where he was from.
"There isn't much to say about it," he shrugged, jostling them both. "We don't have festivals or anything spectacular like the northern lights. We're just a small farming village to the north of Vale. The type of place where everyone knows everyone."
"So your family runs a farm?" Blake asked, interested.
"Yeah. We raise dairy cows for milk and bulls for meat," he revealed. "I guess you could say we've got a bit of land. My grandfather earned quite a bit of money as a sword for hire and my dad kinda followed in his footsteps a bit. They weren't Huntsmen but they were warriors. They'd get hired to protect cargo or root out bandits, or even just help out with hunts. My dad retired after he met my mom and they started farming the land my grandfather and his father had accumulated over their lives."
"We should visit," Blake said and Weiss agreed immediately.
"Really?" Jaune sounded surprised. "There isn't really that much to see. It's just... cows. Lots of cows."
"And your parents," Weiss reminded him.
"And your sisters," Blake added.
Jaune looked between them. "You're sure? I mean, taking you to see my mom and dad feels a little odd. Isn't that girlfriend stuff?"
Weiss felt her cheeks heat up. "You were going to meet Blake's parents," she pointed out, keeping her voice under control. Did he really have to phrase it like that? Now that he had, she couldn't help but think of it that way. Meeting the parents was a big step, right? If they saw her, would they think that she and Jaune were an item?
She hoped so. If they approved of her...
"Yeah but they're, like – the leaders of Menagerie. They just happen to be Blake's folks, that's all."
Blake then groaned. "Urgh, I didn't even think."
"What?"
"My dad is... really overprotective," she said, sounding embarrassed. "He would have taken your presence in totally the wrong way. I was so concerned about seeing them again and apologizing, I completely forgot."
"Are you saying that your father would have grilled Jaune as if he were a potential suitor?"
Blake nodded, giving Jaune a pitying glance.
"Now that would be a priceless thing to see," Weiss felt nothing but amusement.
"We're just friends, though," Jaune reasoned. "Surely he would see that?"
Blake couldn't meet his eyes.
"Blake?"
"Sorry," she muttered and Weiss cracked, giggling up a storm.
"But Ren would have been there with us," Jaune continued. "Wouldn't he be more Blake's type? Maybe her dad would have gone after him instead."
"Somehow I doubt that," Weiss sang.
"Shut up," Blake hissed.
"Go on," Weiss pressed on with evil intentions. "Tell him what your type is."
"Why don't you tell him what your type is," Blake returned fire.
"Her type is Neptune," Jaune said, utterly clueless. "Handsome, cool – suave."
"That's not...!" she fired up before quickly cooling. Of course he would think that. Why wouldn't he? Hadn't he watched her act like a lovesick fool for the blue haired boy from Haven? But surely he knew how that chapter of her love life had ended.
...he knew, right?
"Yes, her type is totally Neptune," Blake needled with a shit eating grin.
"Not only was he a womanizer but he was also a complete flake," Weiss spat. "That is not my type."
"Why'd you ask him to the dance, then?" Blake continued to rib. That was a really bad habit she had picked up from her partner, Yang.
"A moment of weakness," Weiss growled. "One that will never happen again. He was everything that I hate and I fell for it like a fool."
"Oh, er – now I feel a little bad," Jaune sagged. "I talked him up and everything. Uh – sorry about that."
"It isn't your fault," Weiss hastily assured him. Was this the moment? Even after all this time, she'd never actually had this conversation with him. "I know I never said anything but – Jaune, thank you for what you did for me that night."
"What?"
"At the dance," she clarified. "I – you didn't have to do what you did. No one would have expected you to say anything. But you did. So – thank you. It was very kind of you to do that. It certainly saved my night."
Even if it was nothing but a disaster afterwards.
It had happened so long ago now but Jaune going into bat for her was something she would never forget. It was the foundation of their friendship, the moment when Weiss realized that she had been unfair in her dealings with him. Her change of heart had occurred because of it, even putting aside her romantic feelings that had developed later.
It meant so much to her.
"Oh, er – no problem," he sounded surprised. "I just thought he was being stupid and he was making you sad. I saw you ask him to the dance and I didn't even question what his answer would be so when I saw you alone, and he was acting like nothing was wrong, I... may have gotten a bit mad."
Wait, he'd seen her ask Neptune out?
Oh my god.
"You saw that?" she squeaked, mortified.
Jaune chuckled awkwardly. "Aha – you know me, I still thought I had a chance. I was going to ask you to the dance again, I had a flower and everything," he cringed. "Yeeaah. Not my finest moment."
God, she had missed so many opportunities, hadn't she?
"So – things didn't work out afterwards?"
Weiss shook her head.
"No. They didn't."
"Sorry."
"I'm not."
She could feel his confusion but she didn't care.
"Wait, did you think she was dating Neptune all this time?" Blake asked.
Weiss froze.
Surely not...
"Not really. I mean, it could have been a long distance thing but – I guess I didn't really think about it much," he paused. "Rather... I tried not to think about it."
That... made sense. Jaune had liked her; he had liked her a lot. And now that she knew he was genuine, it must have hurt him a lot to see her chase after Neptune. Seeing her so sad must have also hurt him, knowing it was because of another boy. Yet even with all that, he had tried to save the situation, putting her first over his own feelings. If Jaune started dating a girl now, how would she feel?
Terrible. She would feel absolutely terrible. To the point where she wouldn't want to think about it if she could help it. And if the girl mucked up and made a mistake, she would step back and watch the fallout unfold without lifting a finger.
She wasn't as selfless as Jaune.
"Since we are on the subject," Jaune turned Blake's way. "Whatever happened with Sun? He was totally into you but you didn't seem very interested. He was a cool guy."
Blake blinked at him, taken aback. "Oh – um, I guess I just wasn't looking for a relationship at the time."
"Not your type?"
"I don't know what my type is," Blake bit her lip, working it between her teeth. "At least – what my type is doesn't seem to work out for me very well."
They gave her curious looks but she didn't elaborate.
When the fire got low, they decided it was time for bed. Blake walked down the beach to light their night signal while Weiss followed Jaune into the hut. The floor was covered in a couple blankets for padding, helping to reduce how uncomfortable sleeping on sticks was. The structure was very sturdy, though. When Blake joined them, it supported their weight without issue, not moving an inch.
Jaune had done a very good job. It was amazing what you could do with a little bit of wood and some cloth to tie everything together.
Weiss claimed the position on his left while Blake took the spot on his right, placing Jaune right in the middle. Uncaring of how it looked, she snuggled into his side as he pulled the blanket up over them. She paused when she threw her arm across his stomach and met Blake's hand, but then they laced fingers.
"Goodnight," she breathed, her cheek resting against Jaune's chest.
"Night," Blake said.
"Sweet dreams," Jaune shifted to get comfortable and Weiss sighed, echoed by Blake.
She was asleep in seconds.
Erised: I have a little announcement to make.
Due to family commitments, Stranded will be going on break for the holiday season and well into the new year, and will not be returning until the beginning to February. So that means that this is the last chapter of 2023. This is because I just won't have any time to write during this time BUT that doesn't mean I won't be posting.
Starting next week on p a t r(e)on, and then later on FFN and other sites, I will be posting commissioned works that I've completed throughout the year. Like usual, these will be weekly updates and will carry through until I begin posting Stranded once again. So, if you are interested in that, then you have that to look forward to.
Thank you all again for the comments, reviews, support and everything else over the course of this year.