Hello everyone. Another one-shot for you to enjoy and have a good laugh at. Granted, this story touches more on the emotional side as I haven't really delved into a relationship between Weiss and Jaune before. Well, here's hoping to a good start!
Cheers, Searoar.
Spring. The season of fresh ambitions with a certain scent of lavender and pollen in the air, Velvet Scarlatina was on a mission today to inquire a certain someone about a young man who caught her interest. It wasn't a romantic interest per se, but one that Velvet deemed necessary to pursue as a good deed should never go unrewarded. Velvet's ears drooped. She didn't consider herself a pushover by any means, but she did allow Cardin and his teammates to bully her without so much as a verbal rebuttal.
"Gosh girl..." Velvet sulked. "You really need to pull your act together."
Sure, being able to do a high-leaping somersault into a double dropkick against a fully grown beowolf's jaw sounded impressive on a huntress' resume, but when it came to the social aspects of Velvet's desired career, she knew she was sorely lacking in that department. However, let it be known that Velvet Scarlatina was not a quitter, and she was determined to improve her shortcomings by any means necessary.
"There you are. It would have helped if you gave me your contact information beforehand. That way you could have told me you were going to be late." Said a primly dressed heiress in her favorite white coat with black buttons.
"S-Sorry." Velvet frowned at her stutter. "I-I'm not the best when it comes to planning, but that's why I asked you to help me... Weiss."
Weiss nodded with an air of smugness. The heiress took pride in her ability to deduce the most efficient means of carrying out even the simplest of tasks, and her skills were only improving thanks to the disorganization of her respected, yet mind grating, teammates of RWBY. Why, just the other day Weiss earned Blake's praise for sorting her books in an alphabetic fashion that also took into account of their size, covers, and colors to boot.
"I suppose your lack of punctuation did allow me to purchase my favorite drink." Weiss took a sip from her vanilla latte. "However, you were rather vague in your desire for wanting to meet me here, so I'd appreciate it if we got down to business sooner rather than later. Come, let's walk, shall we?"
Velvet wrinkled her nose and followed Weiss' curt footsteps. She'd heard from her friends and peers that Weiss could be difficult to be around, and something about her tone rubbed Velvet the wrong way. Nonetheless, sacrifices had to be made, and while Velvet's patience was not inexhaustible, she had more than enough for her current endeavor. Which she had yet to announce, silly Velvet!
"Right." Velvet said after a deep breath. "What do you know about Jaune Arc?"
Weiss nearly spat out her drink. "And why would I be a proper source for that bumbling student's information?"
Velvet's ears quivered. "Well... he has mentioned you on occasion, in a positive light of course, so I figured that you would know him best."
Weiss' delicate fingers crinkled her paper cup, but not enough to spill any of the fluid inside. "Yes. I have interacted with the leader of JNPR on more than one occasion, but the majority of those interactions were instigated by... Jaune."
Velvet curled a brow at the way Weiss' forehead wrinkled. Jaune wasn't a bad person, so what could he have possibly done to earn the heiress' ire? Granted, Weiss did have a short temper by nature, and Velvet had been absent on several missions at the start of her second year; so it was very possible that she missed some drama during those periods away from Beacon.
"Oh, did Jaune cause you any grief?" Velvet watched the way Weiss' lips pursed and her icy eyes narrowed in anger.
"Well, the Jaune you're inquiring about happens to have... as he puts it, taken an interest in me the moment we met. It's absurd, really, as while his words would work in a fictional fairytale meant for children; it fails to apply in the real world of Grimm and Dust enhancements." Weiss blew a hot breath and deposited her cup in a trash bin after finishing its contents in quick sips.
Velvet rubbed her arm and chuckled awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you two had that kind of history. Does Jaune still pursue you? I wouldn't want to get in the way..."
Weiss blinked. "Wait. Hold on. Are you hoping to form a romantic bond with Jaune?"
Velvet's cheeks burned. "N-No! I just wanted to repay him for helping me with Cardin's bullying! What gave you the idea that I wanted to date him?"
Now it was Weiss' turn to blush. "Well, forgive me for my assumptions, but when another girl asks you about a boy she's acquainted with, it's quite easy to line up the dots!"
Velvet patted her cheeks and took a deep breath. "Okay. let's move on to a more serious atmosphere. Sound good?"
"Indeed." Weiss nodded.
Velvet pulled out a small notepad and pen, then handed both items to Weiss and explained that she wanted her to write down all she knew about Jaune. In exchange, Velvet would give Weiss a handbook of classroom activities that would help the heiress adjust to the sudden increase of difficulty between years one and two. At first, Weiss dismissed this friendly gesture, as she prided herself in already knowing what the next year's curriculum expected of her, but Velvet's warned her that half of her year's peers dropped out midway through because they couldn't meet Beacon's ramping standards. Upon hearing this, Weiss accepted Velvet's proposal.
"Alright, I'll see you at the end of the day. Maybe during dinner would be best in the cafeteria? So it looks like our exchange is more natural and won't draw any unwanted attention." Velvet said.
"I was thinking the exact same thing." Weiss grinned. "However, I must persist in my previous question... Are you sure you're not attracted to Jaune?"
Velvet's cheeks puffed in the likeness of a chipmunk who'd eaten too many acorns. "W-Well... M-Maybe I do find him alluring to some degree and wouldn't mind if we got together..."
"I see." Weiss did her best to fight the smirk that threatened to split her face. If she could divert Jaune's attention from her, then her days at Beacon would be all the more peaceful and productive. That, and Velvet was a nice, hardworking girl who'd put Jaune's clumsy antics in their place in no time.
"I wish you a wonderful day, Ms. Scarlatina. Until we meet again." Weiss said.
"Thank you. The same to you." Velvet replied with a nervous giggle.
Their polite goodbyes spoken, Velvet returned to Beacon while Weiss went to fetch herself another drink; one with more punch to it as the migraines Jaune would give her would no doubt dry her patience.
A steaming expresso and empty notepad in front of her, Weiss took a gentle nibble of her croissant and frowned as a series of scenarios went through her meticulous mind. It was awkward enough that she had to approach Jaune in order to gather information about him, and asking him to fill Velvet's notepad instead could lead to all sorts of misunderstandings given his simplistic nature.
"Alright. You can do this, Weiss. There's a solution to every problem, and the first step to finding that solution is to design a formula." Weiss grinned as she pulled out her own personal notebook and pen. Not that the ones Velvet gave her were inadequate, but Weiss' pen was crafted to suit her writing style and hand shape perfectly to reduce stress.
The first task would be to get Jaune alone. Granted, his schedule proved more filled than Weiss anticipated due to their shared classes and the training sessions he shared with Pyrrha in the afternoon. There was the opportunity to see him during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but there were too many eyes and gossiping mouths for Weiss' liking. Most notably, a boisterous Yang Xiao Long who thrived on the misfortune of her friends.
The second task would be on how to question Jaune. This hurdle proved more difficult than the first, since Jaune tended to overthink things and make assumptions without much context, like the time he thought it was a good idea to buy two tickets to that new movie he thought Weiss liked because he'd overheard her say a compliment about the movie's producer...
The third and final task, would be to fill out Velvet's notepad. Weiss had to be careful, as no matter how intelligent she was, she could be a victim to her own biases like any other person. This would not do, as squandering Jaune's name could lead to Velvet's loss of interest in him, which may lead to Jaune trying to pursue the heiress once again. Weiss shivered. That was an ending she refused to allow.
"Hmm? Oh, Weiss, is that you?" Spoke the very man Weiss was to interrogate.
Jaune Arc, coffee in hand and backpack slung over his shoulder, stood close to Weiss' table with a nervous grin and his trademark Pumpkin Pete hoodie as he asked to sit with her. Weiss complied, not because she wanted to, but figured Oum was trying to send her the message that a direct approach was the best way to honor Velvet's request.
"So, visit this café often?" Jaune asked and gestured to the large space around them. "Oddly enough, not a lot of Beacon students come here despite it being well known. I think I've seen Ms. Goodwitch drop by here sometimes now that I think about it..."
"Yes." Weiss rolled her eyes. "But to answer your question, I only happened to visit this café on a whim, it is not a frequent destination of mine."
Jaune shrugged and chuckled. "Really? Because I heard the cashier say their most beloved customer had arrived not too long ago."
Weiss bit her lower lip. Of course, Weiss only accepted the best quality food and products, but only for a reasonable price. Which the café happened to be the one she found herself in at the given moment. With a small cough, Weiss asked as to why Jaune of all people decided to visit one of her favorite cafés, and his answer left her surprised.
"Actually, Neptune and Sun asked me to join them at the comic book celebration at Mr. Tukson's bookstore, but they bailed when they realized how much homework they buried during their first few weeks at Beacon. So, here I am, getting a coffee before I check out the bookstore." Jaune laughed.
Weiss's nose wrinkled. Neptune. That name alone was a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out; as up until the Vytal festival Neptune had made a good impression on her, but his tendency to offer compliments to any pretty girl rubbed her the wrong way.
"Um... Weiss? Are you okay? You're wearing a grumpy face." Jaune pointed out.
Weiss' eyes narrowed into a glare. "I do not have a grumpy face. Now, if you'd be so kind to leave me be, there's a matter which I must tend to right away."
"Oh... Sorry for bothering you..." Jaune chuckled weakly and made a quick escape. He tripped over his foot on the way out, and nearly collided with a waiter which earned him a few mocking laughs and giggles from the other customers.
"He'll never change." Weiss huffed and went back to her initial business. She blinked. Her current business was centered around Jaune; the same young man she'd sent away all because she couldn't keep her temper in check. Not only that, Jaune hadn't tried to court her, nor did he make any attempt to joke around.
Weiss finished her croissant and expresso and exited the café in a hurry. She needed to find Jaune, but when she got outside the knight was nowhere to be found. However, he did mention Mr. Tukson's bookstore, which was only a few minutes away from where Weiss stood.
"Alright, everyone fall in line. I don't want any shoving now, you hear me?" Mr. Tukson eyed his eager customers warily as they all tried to shove toward the front counter where piles of the latest Maximum Man comic were wrapped up and ready to be distributed.
Jaune among the many fans, peered over the crowd where all his days of pinching lien were about to pay off. Not only had he put off eating Pumpkin Pete's cereal for the past two weeks, he even asked Pyrrha to help him budget his monthly allowance when it came to dust and weapon maintenance. Sigh... if only Pyrrha enjoyed Maximum Man as much as Jaune did, then she'd be even more perfect than she already was!
Nonetheless, Jaune had enough enthusiasm to rival Neptune and Sun who'd been fans of the Maximum Man series since it debuted four years ago, and there's no way he'd let them down as they had given Jaune a hefty amount of lien to buy two extra comics so they could all sit down and discuss the new chapters together.
"Watch where you're walking, you careless brute!" Came a prim voice that sounded all too familiar with Jaune.
There, struggling against the chaos, was Weiss Schnee who looked like a bright sunflower in the middle of a rusted scrapyard. Despite his desire to keep his place in the line, Jaune relented and moved past the crowd to assist Weiss in securing some much needed space. Luckily, Jaune was a tall lad for his age which proved invaluable when he nestled himself between a stout man and a group of kids who threatened to flatten Weiss if given the chance.
"I didn't know you were a fan of the Maximum Man series, Weiss." Jaune smiled but felt his shoulders sag when all he got was an icy frown.
"I'm not!" Weiss huffed. "It's just that you decided to come here so I had to as well!"
Jaune scratched his head. In what way did he make Weiss come to Tukson's bookstore? She already told him that she didn't want to be around him, at least, that's the message he got when she dismissed him earlier; so why on Remnant did she follow him?
"Weiss, you're not making any sense. Here, just wait for me outside and we'll talk after I've bought my comic books. Sound good?" Jaune suggested.
"Fine." Weiss said through clenched teeth. "Just make it quick."
Jaune watched Weiss vacate the premises with as much grace as a leaf in a blizzard, then focused his attention on the many persons in front of him.
"Oh boy..." Jaune sighed. If there was one thing he learned about Weiss during their past interactions, it was that she hated to be kept waiting when she had business to do.
It took Jaune near half an hour to get out of the bookstore, and when he met up with Weiss who sat primly on a bench opposite of him, Jaune knew he was in trouble. Quick with an apology, it wasn't enough as Weiss chewed him out about the importance of punctuation and the philosophy of keeping a timetable.
"Wait, we never agreed on a certain time to meet, did we?" Jaune said. "So I think you're being a tad unfair here, Weiss."
Weiss raised a finger and opened her mouth, then realized the sense behind Jaune's comment and set her lips in a neutral line. Jaune sighed deeply for he'd avoided a minefield and could now get to the reason as to why Weiss wanted to see him.
"Well..." Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose in a manner like Ms. Goodwitch did when she had something to say but her position as a teacher prevented her from doing so. "Would you like to join me for a walk through the commercial district, Jaune?"
Jaune tilted his head with disbelieving eyes. "What now?"
Weiss glowered. "I asked if you'd like to accompany me for the rest of the evening. Are your ears filled with wax?"
"Nope." Jaune shook his head. "Clean my ears every time I take a shower which happens to be everyday and preferably in the mornings if I can help it."
"Noted." Weiss hummed and jotted rapidly in a small notebook with a chestnut-tinted cover.
"Huh, didn't think brown was your preferred color." Jaune said and tried to peek over Weiss' shoulder who retracted and barked at the young man to stop smothering her.
"Sorry." Jaune stepped back. He really needed to work on how he approached people. For example, when he saw Velvet in the training rooms a few days ago and greeted her without warning, almost led him to have a few extra holes in his head. Yup, never interrupt Velvet when she's copying Coco's weapon with a bunch of training drones about; lesson learned.
"So um... where do you want to go? I'm free for the rest of the day if that helps." Jaune said.
Weiss tucked away her notebook and put a dainty finger on her sharp chin. "Perhaps the art gallery would interest you? There is a new exhibit being showcased in the next hour."
"Sure!" Jaune nodded. "The last time I was in an art museum was back in Mistral, but that was three years ago."
Weiss rolled her eyes. "It's settled then. However, I demand that you keep your distance from me, understood?"
"Err... right." Jaune fought back a frown and followed Weiss down the road toward a large building made of red brick centered in the main sections of the commercial district where most art-related stores were found.
"Whoa, this place is huge!" Jaune said in amazement as the wonders of art filled his eyes.
As far as he could see, there were exhibits ranging from modern to ancient art with plenty of onlookers and attendants who discussed the importance of preserving history and the impact it has on how the future of art is perceived and accepted. Jaune moved to join a group who were gathering around a few attendants, but was stopped by Weiss who shifted in front of him.
"Um... what's wrong, Weiss? Aren't we going to look at the exhibit?" Jaune asked.
"Yes." Weiss replied with her hands on her hips. "So why are you going over to that tourist group?"
Jaune scratched his cheek. "To have a tour around the exhibit, right? I saw on the sign outside that it would only cost us ten lien each. So how about it? This treat is on me."
Jaune pulled out his wallet with a smile, but Weiss shook her head and declared that they didn't need an attendant to show them around.
"Considering my background, I'm more than adequate in describing the art to someone like you." Weiss hummed contently.
"Someone like me?" Jaune furrowed his brows. Sure, he wasn't an artsy person per se, but he could appreciate an artist's hard work all the same and give more than a generic compliment if need be.
"Come along now," Weiss wagged a finger and turned around. "There's much to see, and I don't like to dawdle."
Brought to an exhibit that mixed the more traditional paint styles, Jaune was lured by a miraculous piece by a famous artist who hailed from Vale. The piece was that of a forest, though the greens and browns of the trees and the blues and whites of the river and sky were reversed making for a very interesting picture.
"Whoa." Jaune grinned and leaned down to inspect the description on the paper below the painting. "A forest without green? Huh, guess the picture does more of the talking then the words below it."
"It's a piece dedicated to the artist's father who suffered from a rare case of color blindness." Weiss explained. "Apparently, the artist's father saw colors differently than most, in the sense that greens were blue, and whites were red or yellow."
"That's amazing." Jaune blinked. "Not that I'm happy the artist's father suffered color blindness, rather that his son was able to capture such an amazing new view of the world because of it. Gosh, if I ever get a house, I'm definitely going to put a painting like this in it."
Jaune glanced down at the price tag and gulped. "Or... Maybe a wallpaper of the artist's work on my scroll should suffice."
Weiss took out her notepad and pen to jot down a few sentences before snapping it shut and returning it to her coat pocket. Jaune figured the heiress must've been taking notes about the art pieces, as this made the most sense given their surroundings. The next exhibit constituted a wider variety of pencil based drawings, which did more than earn Jaune's appreciation. From sketches to charcoal, Jaune leaned over a recent work that described the life of a student.
"I don't think this is right." Jaune said with a sarcastic grin. The drawing before him was that of howling beowolf with a mouse held closely to its heart as the little critter nibbled on a cheese crumb.
"Apparently," Weiss crossed her arms at the written description next to the drawing, "this work is supposed to replicate the life of a Beacon student who's in over their head. While the piece leaves things to be desired, I do commend the artist for their blunt truth."
"And what truth is that?" Jaune asked.
"That people who aren't willing to work hard or have any talent are doomed to die on the field. It's brutal, but it's the reality that we as hunters and huntresses must accept should our wits and skills falter." Weiss sighed. "Shall we... move on to another exhibit?"
Jaune curled a brow as Weiss subconsciously put her hand at the bottom of the scar that marred her beautiful visage. He never did ask her how she got it, but Ruby did mention something about Weiss facing an opponent far above her level in order to earn her way into Beacon's ranks. The thought of the heiress going so far to achieve her ambitions made Jaune's stomach churn. He may no longer be a stranger to the ringer of schoolwork, but his experience of cheating his way into Beacon could never hold a candle to what Weiss went through.
"It's amazing, you know." Jaune said softly. "That you managed to defy all the odds no matter how tall a mountain you had to climb. In a way, you're experience is kind of like this drawing."
Weiss' face scrunched and she opened her mouth to protest, but Jaune beat her to the punch.
"Standing tall, bearing your fangs for the world to see, while still holding your gentle side close to your heart so you don't lose what makes you human. Granted, I don't think you look like a monster, as horrible beasts like that wouldn't be able to show such a genuine smile." Jaune finished then blinked at Weiss' curious expression.
"And when exactly did I smile?" Weiss pouted.
Jaune tilted his head with a coy grin. "When I almost tripped out of the café earlier. Heh, who would've thought that all I needed to do to see you smile is embarrass myself... No wonder you think so lowly of me."
Jaune rubbed his neck at the awkward atmosphere he'd created. Great, not only had he allowed his insecurities to surface, he also managed to put off Weiss considering the unreadable expression she now showed. With an awkward chuckle, Jaune jabbed a thumb at an exhibit of clay, and Weiss followed him; unable to look the young man in the eye after what he'd said.
"That's not how I see you..." Is what Weiss wanted to say when their touring of the art exhibits came to an end. However, no matter how hard she wanted her voice to be heard, her lips refused to open while her tongue sat contently behind her teeth.
While Jaune may have been... difficult to understand, that didn't mean their current experience had been unpleasant. In fact, it was quite refreshing to hear Jaune's opinions while Weiss offered her own critiques and backgrounds on the art they observed. Why, the time she'd spent with Jaune in those exhibits had trumped all her previous encounters with the higher class noblemen back in Atlas. A certain Marigold came to mind, and the memory of him being a showoff when it came to artworks sent detestable shivers down Weiss' spine.
"You feeling hungry? All that art knowledge left me with an empty stomach." Jaune said though the mood in his voice betrayed the smile he tried to present.
Weiss was in turmoil. On one hand, she'd gathered a reasonable amount of information that could be given to Velvet, but there was a sting in her heart that she needed to remedy and she needed Jaune in order to do so. Thus, Weiss offered to pay for lunch and would not be denied by Jaune's politeness. Before she knew it, Weiss was in a four star restaurant where she could feel the curious eyes of both the staff and the other customers upon her. Not that Weiss wasn't used to such attention, but Jaune squirmed and kept his gaze toward the delectable plate of chicken and mashed potatoes which he had yet to poke with his fork or spoon.
"I'm sorry." Weiss said which made Jaune jump and lift his head. "I know... our history isn't the most pleasant, but I want you to know that I enjoyed myself this evening despite all the hassle it took for us to get to that point."
"Oh!" Jaune fumbled for words and tugged at the collar of his hoodie. "Don't feel bad, Weiss, I was the one who tripped more than once during our first meeting and all the others that followed after. Heck, if you weren't born with white hair, I'd have probably given you a few cloudy streaks."
Weiss fought the urge to grin. "Ahem. Be that as it may, I haven't been fair to you as of late either. So I must repeat myself, and thank you for joining me for today's outing. By the way, are you going to eat anytime soon? Fine cuisine can only be delicious when served hot."
"Oh yeah?" Jaune chuckled and pointed with his fork. "What about that vanilla ice cream in front of you? I'm pretty sure the cherry started on the top and wasn't dangling off the rim of the glass a few minutes ago."
Weiss glanced at her sundae and was shocked to see that her spoon had yet to move. With a mild cough, Weiss took a few bites and relished at the sweet taste that invaded her mouth and melted into a delectable cream dabbed with chocolate sauce. Jaune took a bite from his meal as well, and though the mashed potatoes and chicken had cooled, he found the flavors and savory juices that he chewed to be top quality.
"Do you visit this place often?" Jaune asked nonchalantly and applied some more gravy to his mashed potatoes.
"No. Not really." Weiss sighed but there was no hint of tiredness or annoyance in her breath. "I've actually been here before with my parents. Granted, it's been many years since then, and I doubt that either of my parents or siblings would remember such a place."
"Hmm..." Jaune cut into another piece of roasted chicken. "Say, are you not on good terms with your parents? You've never mentioned them until now."
Weiss set down her spoon. She didn't like recalling her troubled past, especially with someone who she deemed as an acquaintance, but when she saw the innocence in Jaune's eyes; she felt compelled to respond.
"My father is one of the most important people in all of Atlas. If you think a man like that has time for family, then your imagination exceeds that of any artist." Weiss said bitterly. "As for my mother..."
Weiss gripped the napkin beside her spoon and closed her eyes. She hated showing weakness, especially in a public place; but was thankful she'd chosen to pay the extra lien to sit on a private balcony on the restaurant's fifth and tallest floor. Then, she felt a sudden warmth that forced her eyes open.
"I-I didn't mean to make you cry..." Jaune winced and held up another napkin for Weiss to take. "Gosh, I really don't know how to read the mood, do I?"
"No..." Weiss dabbed the corners of her icy eyes. "But... I think it's also important to brood on difficult topics so that they don't stress you in the long run. While my relationship with my parents is subpar at best, I cannot say the same for my older sister Winter and my younger brother Whitley who I often write to and chat with when I get the chance."
"That's awesome!" Jaune laughed. "I can't say the relationship with my family is the best right now, what with my sneaking into Beacon and all that, but I know that no matter what they'll be there when I need them."
"I suppose..." Weiss' whisper grew louder as she spoke. "That the same could be applied to your close friends?"
The loud hum of a violin signaling to those on the balcony that the dance floor on the ground floor was now open, Jaune felt a gentle tug on his sleeve and widened his eyes as Weiss looked at him with an expression so soft he could feel his heart melt.
"Care to dance with me, Jaune?" Weiss giggled. "If I recall, you know your way around a dance floor."
"Even more so when I'm not wearing a dress." Jaune stood up full of confidence and held out his arm for Weiss to take.
"Oh, before we depart..." Weiss retrieved her notebook and jotted down several lines before taking Jaune's arm. "There, I believe those should suffice. For now."
Jaune tilted his head. "I don't mean to pry, but what have you been writing all day?"
Weiss turned to her new friend with a coy smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
The thrill of music filling their ears, Weiss and Jaune rushed to the ground floor and immediately stole the spotlight with precise footwork and elegant twirls. Weiss was beyond stunned as Jaune's grip was both firm yet gentle, and his hands never strayed below her waist which was a definite plus.
"Color me impressed." Weiss giggled as Jaune dipped her. "I never would've imagined that a noodle would be so capable."
"Eh?" Jaune smirked then moved his fingers from Weiss' waist to her exposed armpit and wiggled them to deliver a playful tickle that caused the heiress to squirm as her reddened face fought back a girly squeal.
"Jaune Arc!" Weiss pouted with a smile that showed the young man wasn't in any real trouble and moved the lad's hand back to her waist.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist. Your laugh is music to my ears." Jaune showed a wolfish grin.
"Just don't let it become a habit. I don't think it would be in your best interest in our next dance." Weiss said as the dance slowed to a more soothing pace.
"Next dance? There's going to be another?" Jaune blinked.
"If you play your cards right." Weiss winked which earned her a stupid grin that made her heart skip several beats. "Would you like to be friends, Jaune?"
"Absolutely!" Jaune beamed.
The dance ending on the best note possible, Weiss and Jaune were forced to vacate the high-class restaurant as the day had grown old and the time for supper at Beacon was near. Both in agreement that keeping their friends in suspense would lead to unneeded rumors, Weiss booked the earliest bullhead between Vale and Beacon and made sure to purchase some medicine for Jaune to keep his air-sickness at bay.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Weiss?" Jaune asked hopefully as the two stood in the hallway that separated their dorms.
"Of course. I would be most disappointed if you didn't." Weiss replied with a hand on her chest. "Oh, and one more thing..."
Jaune froze as Weiss closed the distance and rested a hand on his cheek. "It's improper for someone of my position to not repay a gentleman for such a wonderful outing. Thus, here is your reward."
"But you paid for dinner Weiss-umph?!" Jaune lost his voice as Weiss' puckered lips delivered a hot kiss that left a faded mark of glossy, flesh-colored lip balm on his cheek.
"Till we meet again, Jaune Arc.~" Weiss giggled and retreated to her dorm before her common sense got the better of her. That, and she was too embarrassed to show her fervent blushing face any longer.
The next day, Velvet skipped into the cafeteria with a new bounce of confidence. Not only had Weiss messaged her this morning, but she also texted that she'd finished Velvet's notepad with all sorts of useful information! The moment Velvet entered the cafeteria for breakfast, her teammates close behind her, she spotted Weiss with the rest of RWBY and JNPR; bar Jaune who was currently with Neptune and Sun to discuss the latest edition of Maximum Man, gathered at one of the center tables.
"Weiss!" Velvet called a bit too loudly. However, the bunny faunus' mood wavered when she noticed an odd look on the heiress' face.
"Um..." Velvet's ears twitched and her lips pursed uncertainly. "Could we talk for a quick moment?"
"Of course." Weiss stood from her seat and straightened her sleeves and skirt.
Velvet and Weiss excused, the remaining members of CFVY decided to set down their trays and join the first years for breakfast as the chance to find another table had been lost with the arrivals of the third and fourth year students.
"So, how much were you able to write?" Velvet clapped her hands next to her giddy face. "You know, I was talking with Coco about Jaune yesterday, and she told me that I should stop indulging in my shyness and simply accept that I'm attracted to him in a romantic sense. I mean, from what I've heard from the first year girls in the locker rooms, Jaune's quite a nice young man despite his naivety when it comes to the dangers of grimm."
"Indeed he is." Weiss said nonchalantly and crossed her arms.
"I-I mean," Velvet blushed as her more innocent side emerged. "I'm not trying to get too far ahead of myself, seeing that Jaune hasn't noticed me all that much, though we have been talking a lot more since last week after I apologized for almost blasting his ears off..."
"I see." Weiss tapped her foot impatiently. "Anything else?"
Velvet hesitated at the chilly aura that Weiss gave off. Had the bunny faunus insulted her peer? No, that wasn't likely as Weiss seemed rather happy when she accepted Velvet's request. So what on Remnant could be chewing at the heiress?
"W-Well, if you're in a hurry, I'll just take my notebook back and give you the handbook with the beneficial classes during our next class together." Velvet grinned and held out her hands. "Um... Weiss?"
"Hmm?" Weiss arched a skeptical brow. "What is it?"
"My notebook?" Velvet pushed on. "Where is it?"
"Oh, silly me!" Weiss giggled with a not so nice smile etched on her delicate visage. "I seem to have misplaced it. I'm so sorry, Velvet. Perhaps we can work something else out?"
"Hold on a minute." Velvet puffed her cheeks. "I can see my notebook peeking out of your skirt pocket."
Weiss blinked. "Oh, this? I just happened to buy it on my way home yesterday. Since I liked the design of the notebook you lent me so much."
Velvet's ears twitched and her eyes narrowed. "This isn't funny, Weiss."
"No, it isn't." Weiss sighed. She pulled out the notebook for Velvet to take, but the moment Velvet took hold of it, she found Weiss' fingers gripping it with a force that could press iron.
"Just give me my notebook already!" Velvet huffed.
"I-I can't!" Weiss sputtered and reached with both arms to secure the notepad.
"Why not!" Velvet huffed as she was also using both arms now.
Stuck in an awkward tug of war, Weiss blurted the first thing that came to mind that she thought would make Velvet let go.
"This notebook has all of my strategies to capture Jaune's heart along with everything interesting about him! So there's nothing in here for you, Velvet!"
Velvet's eyes widened and her grip on the notebook's edges tightened like a vice. "W-What are you talking about?! The whole reason I gave you this notebook was so that I could learn more about Jaune!"
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have asked the girl Jaune was already infatuated with to gather your precious information, hmm?!" Weiss countered.
"Everyone in Beacon knows that you don't like Jaune!" Velvet growled. "Besides, you two wouldn't even work as a couple! A nice, humble girl like me is much better for him!"
"Says who?!" Weiss said through gnashed teeth.
"Coco!" Velvet whined. "And my team leader is always right when it comes to these things!"
"Oh yeah?" Weiss smirked with a sweaty face. "Well, Jaune and I have already kissed so that practically makes us girlfriend and boyfriend now!"
"WHAT?!" Velvet screamed as the world around her and Weiss transformed into a battlefield filled with holographic lightning and turbulent blizzards.
"Man, this edition of Maximum Man really was something, wasn't it?" Jaune smiled as he, Neptune, and Sun made their way to the cafeteria from the courtyard.
"I still can't believe you made it through that crazy line outside Mr. Tuckson's store." Sun grinned. "We really owe you one, Jaune, so whenever you need a favor just name it."
"As long as its within reason, of course." Neptune added as he gave Jaune a pat on the back while Sun did the same with his tail. "Though given how much work Sun and I have left thanks to Beacon's curriculum being ten times more strict than Haven's, I can't say we'll be able to pay out this favor in a while."
"You got that right." Sun sighed. "My hands are cramping up just thinking about how much I still have to write on my history essay..."
Suddenly, the sound of crashing metal, snapping wood, and woeful screams beckoned from the cafeteria as students rushed out of the room while covered in all sorts of breakfast related foods. Jaune and his company jumped, shared a look of worry, and ran to see what the commotion was about, and felt their jaws slack when they witnessed yet another food fight. Only the teams that were squaring off belonged to the members of RWBY and CFVY.
"No! I wanna participate, lemme go! Pyrrha! Renny!" Nora bawled as she was dragged past the cafeteria doors before the chaos took hold of reality.
"Down with the treacherous ice-queen of deceit!" Velvet screamed as she stood atop a pile of tables and vending machines with Coco, Fox, and Yatsuhashi standing firm on the floor beneath her.
"This is no deceit!" Weiss shouted while atop her own piles of tables and wooden food crates. "I fight for the knight who has pierced my heart and ignited an emotional flame that will never be snuffed out as long as I live!"
"Um... Why are we doing this, Velvet? I don't want my good record of being an exemplary student to disappear." Coco fussed. For while the fashionista was a dedicated tease, she took pride in her good grades and track record for keeping the peace when she could.
"Coco!" Velvet somersaulted off her high position, landed right in front of Coco, and snagged her by the collar. "If you don't help me secure my crush, I'm going to take all your clothes and dump them in a paper shredder! And don't think that I won't find a shredder big enough to do so! Because Oum help me, I will!"
"O-Okay!" Coco straightened herself out and glanced at a reluctant Yatsuhashi and Fox. "You heard the girl you two! I'm not losing my wardrobe over a broken heart, understand?!"
"Yes ma'am!" Fox and Yatsuhashi agreed as they each picked up a couple hefty watermelons.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the cafeteria...
"I don't know why we're flinging breakfast burritos, but count me in!" Yang yelled and secured some bean-filled ammunition.
"I won't disappoint you, Weiss!" Ruby said with childish gusto. "I would never let my partner down in her time of need!"
"Ugh... why are we doing this?" Blake sulked. "We've just gotten on the teacher's good side again, so why are we throwing all of our hard work away?"
"Betrayal!" Weiss screamed and leapt from her position in a series of elegant twirls. She landed in front of Blake, with a sinister smile that made the cat-faunus' hairs stand on end. "Oh... Blake Belladonna. You're a well-read girl, aren't you? So I'm sure you know what happens to a dear maiden when she's denied the future she deserves. Why, I couldn't imagine what your book collection would look like in a frigid environment! Would the book covers shatter like glass? Or would the pages become so smudged that the words on them would appear as nothing more than disgusting blurs?!"
Blake didn't say a word but nodded with wide amber eyes filled with fear and went to pick up a few flapjacks and waffles while Ruby hurried behind her with arms stuffed with sacks filled with syrup and jam.
"What the heck is going on?!" Jaune yelled to his friends. At the sound of his voice, both Weiss and Velvet turned to him with demure expressions and loud offers.
"Jaune, darling!~" Weiss pointed at Jaune and curled her finger towards herself in a luring manner. "Why don't you join me for this wonderful battle? I'll be sure to reward you! Perhaps with a gift that's closer to the lips?"
"Jaune!" Velvet squeaked in panic. "I never got the chance to thank you for helping me with Cardin! Why don't we go on a date after I've settled things here? Just the two of us to see a romantic movie, doesn't that sound great?!"
Jaune, his brain unable to cope, fizzed as it released stressing steam out his ears. He turned to Neptune and Sun for help, but they simply gave Jaune a pat on the back and wished him luck.
"Wow... guess you dodged a bullet there eh, Neptune?" Sun chuckled nervously as he and his best friend turned around and began their not so subtle retreat.
"Best of luck to you, Jaune. As while your options are limited here, you got to admit that both those girls would treat you well. Much better than me, anyhow, and boy am I glad for it!" Neptune laughed with his eyes glued to the cafeteria's exit.
"I'm screwed, aren't I?" Jaune sagged as he accepted his fate. Whatever that was he had no idea to be quite frank.
No one knew who threw the first apple pie, but that small action sparked the beginning of the second food fight to be registered in Beacon's history, with Jaune; for reasons he could not comprehend, had started somehow in someway.