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(Ruby POV)

I watched Jaune wheel Qrow away. They said they were headed to the Malachites' bar first without any real direction afterwards. I suppose they'd start turning up stones there and see where that led.

I really needed to work up the guts to tell Qrow about Jaune. Qrow trusted him, he even liked Jaune. I really was just stalling on that front but family was hard. I'd never brought a boyfriend home before. Not that I was bringing Jaune to my house. He'd already been there though, before we were dating. The point was I wasn't sure Qrow would object to Jaune at this point. They were like two peas in a pessimistic pod. Qrow even shared his flask with Jaune after Jaune got roughed up that day.

I wanted to go to him so badly, then. He came back soaked in blood and we really hadn't had the chance to talk about it, even. We hadn't had the chance to really talk since the Gold Saucer when I told him how much he meant to me and how I truly felt.

The real trouble was Yang. I wasn't really sure how she would react to the news. I mean she knew Jaune was a good guy. He was trustworthy and wore his heart on his sleeve. Now she sort of knew the alarming competence that he had developed so she couldn't even complain about that. Jaune was a man now.

Pyrrha's and my work. I could be proud of that.

On the other hand, Yang certainly wouldn't handle the news we were sleeping together well. She was my big sister. That pretty much said it all but she'd done so much to raise me, too. She wanted to keep me safe and small. That's what she still saw me as but I was too big for that now. She'd learn, we just needed baby steps first, probably. Maybe a kiss on the cheek around her to start.

I sighed.

I missed being kissed by him. I pressed my fingers against my lips as I imagined him taking them again. All passion and want. Heat flushed my face as I thought of the last time we were together in the shower here. His body pressed against mine and quiet gasps leaving my lips. Steam and need between us and nothing else.

It sucked having to hide things. Jaune hadn't complained since I'd told him what I wanted but I'd like to believe he was suffering a little too. It wasn't cruel, it just showed what he was just willing to do for me. He was willing to do a lot for me.

He'd killed with me in his heart thrice now, I knew. He was willing to get his hands dirty and when things got ugly he was right there up front with it.

I needed to prove I was like that too. I needed to show that I could lead with that same force of will that he had.

"What's the plan Ruby?" Weiss asked me. Like I was supposed to know how to infiltrate a brothel. Just because I knew some things now didn't make me an expert on brothels!

"Ren goes in," I said. "And gets a lay of the place." He didn't look happy about it. "How many exits and entrances? That sort of thing." I was quick to try and reassure him.

"Outfits?" He asked.

"If you can get your hands on some, sure. Shoot for something Yang's size. Or any of our sizes, really." Anything was better than nothing.

He glanced around at each of us, as though taking a mental stock of each of our outfits one last time. He was looking at each of us like we were sending him off to die much more than he was checking us out and his gaze showed it.

"Not Ruby's," Yang interrupted.

"Yes. Even mine," I ordered over her. I shot her a glare. And she shot one right back, slightly incredulous. I never said out loud that I would do it but I would. This is important. Jaune would do the reverse, not that that thought was nice to have. I had to be willing to go the miles I had to be willing to go. "If you can get your hands on it, yes absolutely. We cover a wide range of heights and sizes so if you get one thing it might just about do it." Yeah, I'd prefer if Yang did it, but if I had to...

Ren gave a single slow nod. "Do we, uh, know where this place is?"

"Jaune said it was on the lower levels, right?" Nora brought up. "How big could the lower levels be?"

"Well it's the biggest of the levels," Weiss corrected lightly.

"Uh guys. Jaune left directions and an address." Oscar waved a hand behind our little pow-wow. He had a sticky-note in his hand. "So you don't have to guess about that."

"Oh uh," I stammered. Here was Jaune covering for me again. Thinking a few steps ahead. "Good. That's good. We don't have to guess about that, that is."

"I don't think they'll just have a box of outfits by the door," Nora chipped in again. "How do you suppose he gets some? Past sleeping with one of the girls I doubt he'll be in position to get his hands on their clothes."

"Plus wouldn't they keep the outfit on? Isn't that the whole appeal?" We all turned to look at Oscar. "I mean…" He trailed.

It was too late for him to save any measure of bright red face, but he may have had a point. Nora, for one, didn't look happy about Ren going so far. I wasn't super comfortable with the idea, either. Even those of us going to seduce the Don were only doing it to get into position.

None of us intended on going through with the deed.

"We'll just improvise. We'll wire you up," I said. I grabbed the wire and gear Qrow had put together. "Put this on." It was basically earbuds that hooked up to his scroll and we'd just be mid call with him while he was in. Bing, bang, boom. He was wired up. Ren threaded it under his outfit and plugged it into his scroll. They had modified a microphone next to his ear. Something subtle but it would ensure whoever was wearing it could be heard by those of us outside. It wasn't unusual for someone our age to walk around with one headphone in.

Not even suspicious.

"Improvisation is not my strong suite," Ren sighed.

"Do we just stay here while he goes in or…" Weiss asked.

"Maybe..." I thought for a moment. "No, better to be close. We'll find a restaurant or hang-out. We'll be nearby," I assured Ren.

He breathed in and out meditatively but said nothing. I thought maybe he was relieved but it was hard to tell with Ren.

Nora seemed to actually know and reached out and touched his sleeve. "You'll do fine." It was a small sign of affection but was made larger by Ren's silence. Yang even looked away from the two of them.

He gave her a single martial nod.

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"So this is what the lower levels are like?" Nora wondered. "Bit of a mess, isn't it?"

"Jaune's been hanging out down here?" Weiss asked. We watched a dust bomb get sold over a counter like a candy bar. "Alone?"

"Qrow's been with him. For the most part," I defended. It wasn't like Jaune had been waltzing around by himself. He'd been pushing my handicapped uncle around. Which, okay, I saw Weiss's point.

In a fight, Jaune would have been basically alone. I suppose he had been, too, that day he killed someone again. My uncle wouldn't have been able to do anything other than watch.

I really needed to talk to him.

He'd acted comfortable down here in the lower levels. I knew he had some criminal background but as I watched weapons freely exchange I couldn't help but wonder what I'd been consigning him to. Had he really been relaxed down here. I know Yang looked like she was feeling fine but I could tell her skin was crawling from how much she was looking around. Jaune would get an entirely different kind of attention than Yang would, I knew that, but still.

I'd just been relaxing above and never knew. Never even gave it much thought. I'd been baking cookies for Gods' sake and Jaune had been here with people baking bombs. I wasn't sure I wanted to think about what Malachites' bar was like and beyond.

I mean he had killed somebody in a bar fight.

I really, really wanted to talk to him.

We found the Honey Bee Inn. A multi floored white building with many bright signs and neon hearts near the entrance. We tried not to stand outside and gawk at the place we'd be infiltrating in all our own bright colors.

We found a bar across the street and Yang walked in with a confident look. She lowered her shades and looked around and no one asked us for our IDs. I mean Nora, Weiss, and I were short enough that I was sure the guy behind the counter had questions. On the whole though, he didn't seem to mind so long as we paid upfront. Which we did.

I meagerly sipped the alcoholic drink Yang had ordered for me with a grimace and tried to keep a clear head. Ren marched into the Honey Bee Inn with his wiretap turned on and connected to Nora's scroll set to the speaker which sat in the middle of the table.

"I'm in," Ren murmured. "There's a bar inside and… and a bunch of girls. They're not wearing much."

"Well you're in the right place," Yang reassured dryly.

"Eyes to yourself sonny." Nora warned. I was glad she was at least having a good time. Or having something.

"Get yourself a drink, look casual," I advised.

"Roger that." Okay well if he kept saying 'roger that' outloud his cover was blown. "What should I order? I've never been in a bar before."

"Just a whiskey or vodka. You're a big guy," Yang informed him.

"Is prostitution even legal here?" Weiss asked the table. That seemed like a fact worth knowing.

"Probably not," Yang enunciated each syllable slowly.

"The girls are just acting like waitresses," Ren muttered. "Vodka." He said a little louder.

"On the rocks," Yang continued.

"On the rocks," Ren echoed. He figured that she was giving him instruction awfully fast for somebody who professed to not think fast on their feet.

"No one would order one dry," Yang went on. "Just relax and trust me."

We heard Ren sigh through the microphone and I could imagine him nodding. Yang had street smarts that would help with this. There was a reason we wanted to get her alone in a room with Corneo.

"Do you have a plan to get their outfits?" Weiss asked.

"Maybe." Yang's gaze flickered over to Nora.

"Well don't leave us in the dark, spit it out already," Nora exclaimed.

"Ren, when a waitress comes up to you, tell her you like the outfits but that you have a girlfriend. Tell her you have a fetish for it or whatever."

"What?" Nora wondered.

"You can't be serious." Weiss wasn't in either.

"I don't know that I can do that," Ren told the microphone.

"So what? That he just wants to, like, buy one?" I asked. The concept seemed so foreign.

"Why not?" Yang wondered.

"Actually…" Weiss weighed in. "This could work."

"That's what I'm saying. He likes the outfit, just not any girl in there in one. It's the perfect excuse. It's shady, it's kinky, and he's willing to pay cash. That should be pretty normal."

I wondered for a second if Jaune ever wanted me to dress up like something. We were so fresh into things that it wasn't like we needed to spice anything up. I felt my face flush slightly at the pleasant memories. Thoughts for another time.

"Okay." Ren breathed. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

"Well we really only get one shot at it. Don't mess up." Yang gave him the business. "And try to get more than one. Tell them you have more than one girlfriend."

Weiss gave her a look.

"What? Being poly isn't as rare as people make it seem. Especially here in Mistral. People are pretty open minded in this part of the world."

"I-I suppose." Weiss stuttered out. She got this way about stuff like this. Weiss was somebody I could talk to about anything, we were besties like that, but that doesn't mean I'd actually talk to her about anything, we were besties like that, I suppose.

"It's not like that in Atlas, then," I asked.

Weiss shook her head.

"Sounds uptight, ice queen. You don't need any of that." Yang stretched her bionic arm over her head, getting at her back a little.

"Hey!"

"How are you doing handsome?" A woman's voice crackled through Nora's phone. "Can I get you anything?"

"Yeah, um you see the thing is I have some friends, who are girls, girlfriends, even." Ren stuttered out. "And we were wondering if we, well, I was wondering, anyways, if I could buy a pair off of you guys. See I'm sort of into the look, if you understand."

"I see…" the girl's voice came through. "How many girlfriends a guy like you have? The good looking huntsman type."

"Ah…" I could practically hear Ren thinking furiously. "Four? Four."

I mean we'd told him to go for as many as possible.

"How much money you got?" The woman whispered conspiratorially. "I think I can help you out."

"Tell her we'll pay a hundred fifty for each outfit." Yang pumped a fist.

Ren did some quick math. "Um I'll pay you six hundred Lien."

"No, no, sweetheart. How much money do you have?"

I heard Ren swallow through the mic.

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"She made me open my wallet and everything." Ren bemoaned. "I'm out two grand!"

"Easiest money she ever made." Yang laughed. Ren had delivered with a box full of these honey-bee costumes. They had fuzzy bras with bright blue wings on the back. They came with these black and yellow striped bottoms which did not leave much to the imagination. The outfits left the midriff exposed, Ren was right, the girls inside were not wearing much.

The two pieces weren't that much more exposing than a swimsuit, I supposed. I held one up to my own body.

We were back in our hideout rental, and digging through the box Ren had made out with. He was holding his face in his hands while Nora patted his shoulder.

"I gave her your heights and I think she just guessed, I'm not sure how well they'll fit unless there's something about girls I don't know about."

"Oh. There's a lot you don't know about girls." Nora kept patting his shoulder. "That isn't one of them, though."

"I think she did decent," Yang said holding up the largest set to herself. "These bras are a bit on the one-size fit all kind. No matter if you show some underboob, sideboob, or cleavage. Kinda the point, even. Just need the important bits to be covered up. Y'all might have to do some switching, though."

"What did I miss?" Oscar came around a corner. He saw Yang holding up the fuzzy cups and round bottoms and said aloud. "Oh my Gods."

"Oh please." Yang threw the bra and bottom over her shoulder, she flicked her waist-length yellow hair back at the same time. "I'm not even wearing it yet. I will rock this."

I thought Oscar was about to burst a blood vessel, his face went so red. I giggled a little at his awestruck look.

Yang's hair went with it better than mine and Nora's would but I thought Weiss's would do fine. She cheated though, her hair looked nice in everything. Especially something like this where the white would contrast with the black.

I imagined it now, looking more silver than white, petite breasts covered with the little fuzzy cups and felt heat climb up my neck.

I shook it off as Jaune walked in. He was wiping his face off with his shirt, forehead sweat, mostly. His shirt went up and the heat came back, riding all the way up my face as I got a good look at his stomach and a bunch of warm pleasant memories rushed me.

I sighed when I saw the beginnings of the massive scars and his shirt lowered.

I felt like slapping myself awake. Maybe that alcoholic drink had left me more dazed than I pleased but the warmth felt nice.

"Jaune!" I shouted, holding the outfit up still. I watched his eyes go wide and an adorable blush ride him up. I grinned which only faded slightly as Qrow rode up behind him.

"Where," Jaune enunciated, "did you guys get your hands on those."

"The Honey Bee Inn of course!" Nora exclaimed.

"Right. The bee stuff should have tipped me off."

"What do you think?" I asked, holding the outfit over me.

"Yeah Jaune?" Nora bullied. "What's on your mind?"

"Um…" he managed cutely. Yang was right, I wasn't even in the thing. I already felt… powerful in a way. I kinda liked it.

"Eyes to yourself kid." Qrow grunted. "That's my niece you're looking at."

"I'm getting a good look, too." He was still staring. He was staring hard enough to make me blush some more and when someone looked away it was me. He looked at me like he was hungry. It had been a little while. I suppose I sort of invited it on us with how I'd gotten his attention.

"Yeah?" Qrow asked. His gaze flickered between us, like he was figuring something out, he rolled his eyes and muttered about kids. "Well we learned some shit about the Don you're probably not going to like."

"He likes new girls. They hire on new staff every time he visits the Honey Bee Inn. He gets bored fast and he likes virgins," Jaune said.

"Wow, who'd you have to beat up to learn about that?" Nora asked.

"Some guys. They were obstinate," Jaune said. He looked his knuckles over and I noticed the skin was rolled like he'd been punching something hard. Probably skin over bones. "And over what was basically gossip, no less. Still it should help with the plan. Slipping some of you girls in next time he's around. You'll go unnoticed if you mix with the new staff."

I had to wonder what he had been up to while this time I was out with the gals drinking. It seemed he'd outdone me again in his commitment to the cause.

I fumed silently and lowered the clothes.

"It's as good a plan as any." Weiss folded her own brassiere and bottoms over one arm.

"You're going in too, Weiss?" Jaune asked.

Weiss said, "I suppose I am. The plan was to get as many of us in as possible, right?"

Jaune just nodded and shot me a sideways glance. His concern did him credit but I needed to be in there. Boots on the ground, so to speak. Good thing the getup didn't come with heels or I'd be screwed.

They came with these fuzzy shoes.

"Well this is better than just Yang and I going in, and you boys get to see us in these." Nora leaned back. "Win, win."

Jaune shot a look over to his comrade in testosterone on the couch. "What did you guys do to Ren?"

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-WG