Heart to Heart
Chapter 48: comfort and advice
Jaune woke up with a start breathing heavy as his eyes tried to make out the darkness around him. He tried to get up but felt a weight on top of him, it shifted as he heard a female moaning. Jaune blinked at his eyes slightly got used to the dark, the small light from the clock on the wall told him it was still extremely early. The light from it showed him he was in their room as he felt his heart rate starting to slow a bit.
He sighed as he tried to take a calming breath.
It had been a nightmare although it hadn't been too bad as he could barely remember it. He felt Yang on top of him as he reached out his hand to gently stroke her long golden hair. He heard a slight sigh coming from her as he didn't want to wake her.
Plus, it was calming for him, just running his hands through her hair helped to calm him down a bit.
He had to admit her hair was amazing, living with so man women growing up he picked up a few things and hair care was one of them. It was no wonder she took so much pride in it.
Jaune had to close his eyes as he just let the moment wash over him, the feel of her hair, her smell the heat of her body, the weight of it against him. He used it to help calm himself down and relax. Looking around the dim room he had to admit that lately it had become 'their' room. At first it had just been a place for the both of them to have some private time with each other but over time they had slowly moved into the room full time.
He could see his armor and weapons on the side next to her bracelet and combat arm. He knew that the dressers and closets had all their clothing now, not that they had much but it was still something. The bathroom he knew by heart where his stuff was and all her care products were as well. Living together just eventually seemed to come naturally to them over time.
There had been another reason why they stayed together in the same bad like now and that was because being together at night helped them both. They still have nightmares now and then, given what they both went through trauma like that wasn't easy to just get over. But being here like right now, it helped. Sometimes he would wake up or sometimes it was her but both them took comfort in the presence of the other.
Ever since they started sharing a bed it had helped to slowly heal the emotional scars, they both wore.
Yang shifted again as he placed his hand on the small of her back as he wanted to get back to sleep. There were still several hours before they had to get up and he didn't want to wake her. Yang could be very crabby when she didn't get her sleep but also there was no reason for both of them to be up.
He just closed his eyes as he concentrated on her breathing. Eventually before he knew it he was back asleep.
The next thing he knew he was being sook awake.
"Hey there Lover Boy, time to get up and get ready for another fun filled day," Yang told him.
Jaune groaned as he blinked his eyes awake to see Yang over him. "Already?"
"Yep," Yang groaned. "Do we get vacation days? Because if so, I want to use a couple."
"That would be nice…what would we do on a day off?" Jaune asked her.
Yang thought it over. "Not sure, maybe spend an entire day in bed."
"Sounds nice but I think we would need to eat."
"We'd order in."
"We'd have to change because staying in our sleepwear all day doesn't sound nice."
"Who said we would be clothed?" Yang teased him wiggling her eyebrows.
Jaune was silence as he contemplated that. "That's really tempting."
"Oh yeah it is," Yang sighed and rolled off him as she got onto the floor. "I'm so glad the floors are heated this marble floor stuff looks cool but it would be so cold in the morning."
Jaune swung himself off the bed as he stretched out he was thankfully he got back to sleep he did feel a little tired but not too bad. He saw Yang and already starting to set out her clothing for the day and then started to strip down for her shower. He couldn't help but look, sure by this point he could picture her naked any time he wanted with pretty good accuracy.
At least he wasn't blushing up a storm as she got naked for the shower.
"You want to share today?" Yang asked over her shoulder.
"I'm good, because you know when we share we do tend to get late." Jaune told her getting his own cloths ready.
"Spoil sport," Yang teased as she got into the shower and started up the water. "So back to what we were talking about if we ever did take a vacation what would we do?"
"Making plans?" Jaune asked through from the other room.
The water was just right as she stepped into the shower. "Maybe, I just need to think that we won't spend the rest of our lives in Atlas doing the same old missions. You think they got a beach here?"
"A beach…in Atlas?" Jaune asked her raising an eyebrow.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Not a REAL one, but I can see them making a fake on up here. Or at least a decent pool, I haven't gone swimming since before…" She trailed off as she looked at her metal arm.
Jaune heard the pause and knew what she might have been trying to say. "Well we can ask Weiss she would know."
"Good then we can get some decent bathing suits," Yang started by this point on her hair using one of the many products for it. "So, you think I would look better in a one piece or a bikini?"
Jaune had to think about it, he knew it would be a yellow bathing suit as he pictured her in both. "Uh…bikini?"
Yang grinned as she was thinking that too. She never minded showing off her figure, she put in the work for it after all and being eye candy for her boyfriend was also a plus. Her grin grew wider as an idea hit her. "How about a sling?"
"A what?" He asked.
"Look it up."
Jaune shrugged as got his scroll from the charger and put in 'sling bathing suit', the results. Well they were extremely risqué and while seeing Yang in that would be a god sent he didn't like the idea of other men seeing in her in that. "Don't you think that's a bit much for a…public place?"
"I'm just teasing you, while I don't mind a bikini, those things I wouldn't wear in public." Yang would wear it in private just for him but maybe she would leave that as a surprise if they ever got to a private beach or something.
Jaune heard the shower end as he stripped down and went into the bathroom with it slightly steamy. He got a wolf whistle from Yang. "Are you still going to do that?"
"Hey I just want to appreciate my man is all," Yang wrapped a towel around her as she started to dry her hair.
Jaune got into the shower and started up, after a moment he had a thought. "So, what about visiting my family?"
"What?"
"You know as a vacation? I still have to introduce you to the rest of the family after all," Jaune asked as he started to clean himself off.
"That could be cool, maybe we can spend time there and we can swing by my place and you can meet my dad," Yang used her hair dryer to blow the long hair dry. While she loved her long hair it did take time to dry.
"I think that would be nice…he would like me, right? I know I met him a little after Beacon fell and all but that was before we were together." Jaune suddenly felt a bit nervous.
"Oh don't worry about dad he's a big teddy bear." At least she hoped, he was a bit over protective at times with herself and Ruby. She was pretty sure after the initial awkwardness things would get better her dad just needed to get to know Jaune.
At least she hoped.
-Later-
Nora Valkyrie liked how her life was going now, sure as a kid things hadn't been…well great. She had been living on the streets trying to steal old thrown out food just to stay alive and being tormented by kids with families. Then of course that Grimm attack that wiped out the village was another horrible night. The only good thing that came out of it was that she met with Ren. Ren had been the one that kept her safe, she always felt safe around him.
They stuck together at the orphanage and grew up together, they went into the Future Huntsmen Training Program when they could. It was a program for orphans that wanted to become Huntsmen or Huntresses that didn't have family to send them to schools. Given the number of orphans from Grimm attacks they were never hurting for young kids wanting to fight back at the monsters that took everything from them.
Going to Beacon had been some of the best times of her life and best of all she was partnered with Ren. Those were times she would treasure, even if it did end in such a horrible way. After that things got a bit dark again. But that was over now, she happy thought as she walked to breakfast with everyone.
She looked at Ren next to her and she couldn't help but link her arm with him. He easily let her as she did catch a small smile on his face. Ren always was very reserved but that's one of the things she liked about him so much. She knew that whatever emotions she did get out of him were honest if they slipped through. Lately he had been opening up more and it made her think.
Their relationship was new but as they sat down to eat she noticed Yang and Jaune seemed closer. They would joke, Yang had a game of trying to sneak some of Jaune's food sometimes, which he would do it back at her.
"Hey did you just take some of my bacon?" Jaune looked down to see a strip missing.
Yang shrugged with a muffled replay as she was eating something.
Jaune figured his bacon was in there and quickly used his fork to spear a strawberry off her plate.
"Hey!" Yang swallowed seeing that.
"Fair is fair," Jaune smiled eating the strawberry.
Nora smiled at the sight of it as she sighed. While she loved how things were with Ren she did wish he would be a bit more open with her seeing things like that. She even cast a look to Oscar and Ruby who were being just adorable in her eyes with their 'I like that person but too scared to admit it' thing they had going.
"Must be nice," Nora sighed.
"You okay Nora?" Ren asked seeing her pause in eating and looking at a few of their friends.
Nora jumped a bit as she quickly tried to cover up her feelings. "Oh yeah, perfect, never better. Boy these pancakes are great."
Ren wasn't so sure, he was pretty sure he heard her right as he looked to Jaune and Yang still being playful during breakfast. It left him wondering if Nora wanted more of a relationship like theirs. He wasn't sure how to be in a relationship as this was his first one. He was actually unsure how to take things, he had just been doing things like he normally did with Nora since she hadn't said anything he had assumed she was fine with it.
Maybe she wasn't and hadn't told him?
It left him with a lot of questions as they eat their breakfast.
-Nora and Yang-
"Ugh I can't believe we got stuck with convoy duty," Yang groaned sitting in the back of the transport the constant sound of the engine and the bump of the road. "This is the most boring job we can do."
"It was our turn," Nora shrugged.
"I guess," Yang sighed.
Nora fidgeted in her seat as she wanted to start up a conversation with Yang about something but she wasn't sure how to go about it. Normally talking is something she had no issues with, unless she was nervous about something then she would just go all random and trip over her words.
Yang pulled out her scroll seeing what the others were up to. Since it was the weekend there was no school so Ren and Jaune were out on patrol together. "The boys are fine, nothing going on with them it seems."
"Oh, that's good, yep, good as good can be." Nora said swinging her legs.
Yang looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow. After getting to know Nora she had learned a bit of her 'Nora-isms' as she liked to think of them. Right now, Nora seemed not her usual hyper and happy self. Well, she was but there was this underlaying nervousness about it.
"You, okay?" Yang asked.
"Well…" Nora scratched the back of her head. "Okay you and Jaune are in a pretty close relationship, right?"
"I'd say so," Yang nodded. "I mean we work together, eat together, sleep together…"
"Yeah," Nora blushed a bit knowing that last one. "So…how do you do it?"
Yang blinked. "Do what?"
"Get that close to him." Nora shifted a bit in her seat. "I mean sure Ren and me have a good relationship and all but when I see you and Jaune…well…I kind of would like some of that."
"Ohhhh," Yang's eye lit up as maybe this trip might not be so boring this time around. "So how far we talking?"
"Uhmmmm." Nora hadn't considered that. She wasn't sure just how far she wanted to go.
Yang leaned back grinning. "Cause you know me and Jaune have gotten pretty far. I mean we bang regularly now and have done some stuff together."
"I just want Ren to take things a bit further. We hold hands and kiss but I kind of would want a bit more. Come on Yang, teach me your ways." Nora asked.
"Nora, sometimes you got to take the lead," Yang told her flatly. "You think Jaune always took the initiative? I had to put in some work into that boy to make him comfortable with it, but now he does surprise me now and then."
"Okay so how exactly do I take the lead?" Nora asked taking some mental notes on this eagerly leaning forward.
"Well Ren is a gentleman like Jaune, which is kind of rare these days." Yang mused remembering all failed men that tried everything from bad pickup lines to trying to 'show off' for her. "Well first off you can talk to him about it."
Nora blushed, "It's kind of embarrassing. I'm still new to ort relationship being like this. Ren's always been there for me and I wanted to be there for him. Plus Ren's always been kind of hard to read emotionally."
"Yes, he is that," Yang nodded thinking of how reserved Ren usually was. "But you can't let that stop you. Sometimes you have to talk to work things out. You guys have been connected at the hip for as long as I've known you so I figured this part would be easy."
"That's because we've had only each other since we were kids," Nora explained. "Ever since that day we've been there for the other. It was years later I knew I liked Ren but I was too afraid to say anything because if he didn't feel the same, well I could deal but if it ruined our friendship too…"
"That first step can be scary but hey, you two managed." Yang grinned.
Nora smiled. "Yes and it's been great, I wouldn't change a thing…it's just that, well…"
"You want more," Yang nodded in understanding. "Hey I totally get it."
"So I just to talk to him?" Nora asked her. "How do I even bring it up?"
Yang shrugged, "During making out works. Again, how far do you want to take things?"
"I'm…not sure?" Nora shrugged. "I know I want to take things further but I don't know if I'm ready for, well you know, the whole package."
"You can say sex Nora, we're all basically adults by this point," Yang told her leaning back and folding her arms under her chest.
Nora fidgeted a bit, "Yeah…sex. I know that eventually I want it, that I'll want Ren to be the one you know."
"Well that's good," Yang nodded her head. "I didn't know who until Jaune and me got together and as we got closer, I wanted more and more. Hell, the only regret I have is not doing this sooner."
"I've noticed how you two are," Nora smirked. "It's kind of why I wanted to be more like you and Jaune."
"That's good and all but don't be afraid to figure out what Nora and Ren are like. People are unique and I'm seeing that couples are unique too." Yang thought about it for a moment as something else hit her. "There's also other ways to get him to take the initiative."
"There is?" Nora perked up at that.
"Use your goods," Yang pointed to her.
"My what now?"
"Oh come on," Yang rolled her eyes. "Do little things like leaning down so he can see your cleavage, maybe bending over so your skirt rides up a little too high to give him a peek. Sitting on his lap, pressing up against him. You got to entice your man sometimes, don't be afraid to touch him too. I'm pretty sure Ren has the same hormones as any other man so if you get him excited and then give him permission that it's okay, he'll give you want you want."
Nora was in a full-blown blush now as she thought about all those with herself and Ren. The thing was, she liked where this was going. "So, talking to him and doing stuff like that will help?"
"Oh yeah hands down," Yang told her.
"What if I do want to have…you know…sex?" Nora asked shyly on the last part.
"First off make sure you both want it," Yang started to list off. "Also make sure you got protection."
"How do you get that?" Nora asked. "I mean I know about it, we did have that sex ed class before Beacon and all."
Yang winced. "Oh god the one we had at Signal was the worst. I swear if I ever teach my kids about sex, I'm going to do a better job."
"Can't do any worse, did they use the cucumber thing to show how to put on a condom with you?"
"Oh yeah," Yang rolled her eyes. "Like that's accurate." She saw the look Nora was giving her. "Hey I get curious and watched porn like a normal growing young adult was. I mean I wanted to know a few things and when I looked it up it took me to some sites is all. Jaune the only guy I've ever been with."
"Okay that's fair," Nora shrugged.
Yang shifted a bit. "Anyways going back to the original question, I got them first as I wanted to be ready. Also, now Jaune is the one that gets them since I had to go through that embarrassment at the store that one time. But you can get them at the medical ward in the tower."
"Wait you can?" Nora hadn't heard about that.
"Yep, also started on birth control too which you might want to look into," Yang stated. "I can give you a reference to a nice doctor I met who talked me through it all. She was nice and can help you out."
"Thanks…maybe when I'm ready?" Nora said.
"Hey no problem what are friends for?" Yang smiled at her.
-Ren and Jaune-
Jaune had to admit taking on missions on the weekends sure gave him something different to do. It wasn't he disliked the kids and stuff but it gave him more time to do missions he felt were more in line with what Huntsmen were known for. On the plus side he was paired up with Ren this time around, they didn't get to hang out much lately.
They were all busy and both of them had girlfriends at the moment too so there was also that, then the training they took. It had been nearly non-stop since coming to Atlas, actually maybe a little longer now that he thought about it.
They were both on a patrol mission at the moment, the Grimm weren't stopping their attacks and they kept making holes in the defensive walls.
The current area they were in was a residential area, at least that's what his scroll would say. Sadly, Mantel to Jaune was very crowded and kind of depressing. Everything was dark, there was dirt from all the mining and because of how far North seeing a park or even a tree was not something you could see much of, if at all.
Still, he could see how closely knit the people were at least.
"So how long do you think we have before the project is finished?" Jaune asked avoiding naming what Ironwood was doing to the stadium further north of the city.
Ren just gave a nod.
Jaune blinked, "Well…I'm sure when it's done, we'll have to think of where next to go right?"
"Hmm," Ren nodded again.
Jaune was really wondering what was going on now, Ren generally was a bit of a quiet type but he was being more quiet than normal. He was wondering what was going on with Ren, maybe he was just deep in thought? Jaune had to admit that Ren was more introspective than himself.
They had gone through half their patrol so far and it was heading off to noon when they decided to break for lunch. They found a decent noodle place, it was in a Mistral style on the inside of the building which gave Jaune memories of their time there. They got in line and ordered as a Faunus behind the counter took their orders and they were seated to a table where the meal would be brought to them.
Jaune placed his sword and shield to the seat not used to allow him a bit more comfortable seat.
"Food smells nice," Jaune stated.
"It does," Ren simply replied.
Jaune wasn't sure what to say here, this awkward silence just reminded him too much of how things were originally with Ren. Back when they first met it had been hard to find something to talk about with the only other boy on the team. Sure, they had conversations now and then but it was hard to get a handle of Ren's personality back then.
"Jaune," Ren spoke suddenly getting his attention.
"Something on your mind?"
"Actually, yes." Ren told him composing his thoughts. "As you know my semblance is hiding the emotions of others as well as myself."
"Yeah, it's useful to hide from Grimm like that," Jaune nodded.
"It is," Ren linked his hands. "In order to master my semblance, I feel like I've had to master my emotions. I've had to learn how to suppress them in order to learn how to use it effectively."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Now that Jaune thought about it, that would explain a few things about Ren's personality.
"I thought that I had to keep my emotions tightly controlled to be effective but the past year or so I've come to learn that I don't have to do that." Mainly he learned that while with JNPR and of course with his feelings towards Nora.
"I just thought you were a coming out of your shell mainly," Jaune shrugged.
"The problem is that, I'm worried that years of doing this might have left me…lacking, in some areas."
"Lacking?" Jaune tilted his head.
"I'm worried that I might not be as close to Nora as she would like," Ren told him. "I know we've always been close but I'm not very good at expressing myself. Seeing how you are with Yang, I was wondering if there is anything you can tell me that might help."
"Oh…uh okay let me think," Jaune had never been the one to be asked for relationship advice but Ren was the closest thing he had to a brother if he needed help, he wanted to help him. Thinking about his relationship with Yang made him wonder what advice he could give.
"Well let's see here, I guess as long as you're honest with your feelings to her helps. Have you told her how much she means to you lately?"
"Not…as such," Ren paused as he was trying to figure out when was the last time, he said such things.
"It also helps to do little things, like surprise her with something nice. Tell her she looks nice or smells nice," Jaune continued to think about what else he had done with Yang. "Also don't be afraid to show little things like holding her hand, caressing her arm or something like that works too like the lower back."
"When you're sitting together put your arm around her, and well don't be afraid to ask her if you can go further." He blushed a bit on that point.
"Further?" Ren asked.
"Yeah something I learned with Yang is that sometimes a girl wants you to take the lead and maybe wants to take things further. Like kissing turning into making out or feeling…other parts of her you normally wouldn't in public." Jaune's face grew a bit redder by this point.
"I-I see," Ren coughed into his hand.
"Just remember to ask at first since you got to learn a girl's tells." He explained.
"Tells?"
Jaune fidgeted. "Yeah, like when Yang wants me to kiss her neck, she moves her head a certain way. Or when things are getting heated, she makes this little moaning sound I know to mean she likes it and wants more."
"Oh," Ren didn't know what to say to that. It was a little embarrassing to talk about but he could see where Jaune was going with this. "What if Nora asks me to do something?"
"Well, you can but only if you're comfortable," Jaune shrugged. "I think this is where the talking thing comes into play as both me and Yang learned what each other likes and what we don't like.
He knew one of things she hated was him to never pull on her hair, she preferred to have it caressed as she loved her hair. He also learned more intimate things she liked him to do with her as well over time as he found what he liked with her. It was all very fun learning about each other this way, he felt it helped to make them closer by exploring the more physical side of things but he also learned some of the more emotional side as well.
"I have been thinking of taking Nora on a date, like a picnic in a private place," Ren told him.
"Oh that's a good idea," Jaune nodded. "Do you know where?"
"I'm not sure, privacy is kind of hard." Ren so far had kept an eye out but there weren't any parks down here on Mantel and even if there were they would be too cold. Up on Atlas where it was heated it was easier but they didn't have much in the way of large parks. So far all he found were small areas of transplanted trees for more aesthetics than anything else.
He would have to find a decent isolated place that at least had a good view.
"Well do it as a surprise, I'm sure she'll enjoy it, especially if you make her favorite foods."
Ren nodded having planned to do that but it was nice to hear that Jaune agreed with the idea.
"Your orders Huntsmen," a waitress said handing them their food.
"Thanks," Jaune said eager to eat.
"My thanks," Ren replied as the nodded and went off.
"Well first we eat then we got to finish our patrol," Jaune said.
"Yes and Jaune, thanks for the talk." Ren told him honestly.
"Hey no problem what are friends for right?" He smiled hoping that his advice was somewhat helpful. To be honest he wasn't sure how exactly he got a girl like Yang and maybe he never would know but in the end he was thankful for it and he hoped things worked out just like how he hoped things between Ren and Nora would work out as well.
TBC…