Castaway Island
Chapter 8: Confront the Issue
-Day 20-
It had been two days, two long days since that night of the storm and the both of them were still having trouble being around each other. Both were starting to feel the stress of the issue, but both were unsure how to proceed. They spent their time together being awkward and the nights were lonely ones as they stayed on either side of the bed.
They weren't hostile or anything but there was this gap between them and neither of them were liking it. After spending so much time together, this wedge was being very unpleasant.
Yang was currently spearfishing with a new spear she had just finished up. It was a metal one with a serrated edge to it. She had fond some hold pipe in maintenance shed, most likely to replace some water lines. She picked out the slim ones and created the blade part with a piece of scrap. It had taken while without power, but the welder still had fuel. A little experimentation and she got it just right.
She was glad that weapon maintenance was a thing in Signal and Beacon, it gave her some skills in metal working. Still, even the tranquility of the beach wasn't helping. She knew that her and Jaune needed to talk. They needed to get everything out in the open because pretending it never happened wasn't working.
She hated this awkwardness between them, she wanted things to go back to normal.
'No, not all the way back,' She had to admit because that night had felt good. They had just pushed everything away, all the pain, all the stress, just pushed it all away and she missed that feeling. It also didn't help that she kept on being curious how it might feel again, but you know, fully sober this time.
She was so lost in thought she nearly missed the fish but managed at the last minute to get it.
"Okay so what are the options here?" She asked herself then pulled the spear with the fish on it out of the water and placing it in the bucket. She had enough fish now and she picked it up making her way to the river to gut and clean it off.
"We got to talk about it, that's for sure," she said voicing her thoughts. "But then what? Where do we go from there?" She had no idea. She did know that maybe that night didn't have to be a mistake. Did she love him? Not really, she did care that much she knew but it was hard to tell what they were now.
She could date him, or try to, they could see where this was going? But would that be real? Would it be only because they were trapped here or was trapping them here bringing something neither of them had seen before to the surface? It was hard to tell at this point and being a couple wasn't exactly a sure thing either. There was also what if they had a bad break up while still stuck here? It would be like how it is now but way worse.
Yang sighed to herself, they needed to do something.
Meanwhile, Jaune was doing a supply run, with the new trailer that Yang made it was so much easier to get all the supplies and carry them around now. He was mainly going for some more bottled water and any more cans he could find. Sure the 'Store House' as Yang liked to call it had plenty, but they needed to make sure they had as much as possible. It wouldn't do to run low and then waste energy finding more.
He also went looking for any more tools or such to help. With the flashlight on he went to the usual spots on the first floor to make sure they didn't miss anything. He looked around the dim hallways with the flashlight.
"We really should look into the upper floors soon," He sighed figuring that maybe they could find something, it could be risky as the higher you went the closer you got to the damaged roof, which he wasn't sure hadn't just been from a huge storm but could have been from the Grimm. That was another issue, they hadn't managed to explore too much of the island other than the hotel area and around it. The deep jungle was something they hadn't explored much. For all they knew there were Grimm hiding deed in the jungle since all the humans had left the island.
Yang had told him that sometimes Grimm go into a type of hibernation, kind of like that huge dragon inside of the mountain that was now 'frozen' onto Beacon had been. Or maybe that one Deathstalker he and Pyrrha ran into during initiation. Like always thinking of his former partner sent a pang of pain in his chest.
He tried to force it away as he thought back to the island. There were a few large hill areas that he was hoping by looking down from they could get a better view, but it would take all day if not more to get up there. Unless there were paths up there it was going to be one long trek to get up there.
Looking around he noticed that off to the side of the elevators hidden in the dark he saw doors that said 'Employees Only' on them. It was designed to be out of sight apparently and in the dim lighting conditions was nearly invisible. Well, he had the ring key so why not check it out? It took him some time, but he managed to find the right key that opened the door. It was a very dark hallway with no lights and no windows.
"Yeah…this looks safe," Jaune muttered ironically. "I really wish Yang was here to watch my back."
Saying her name only make him realize just how much he missed the energetic blonde. She might have tried to make a joke about this or something, it was also the reason he hadn't gone too far into the place just in case something happened. Jaune looked down the hallway, he saw a few doors leading into other areas but then something caught the light.
He aimed the light on the wall and saw a red cover with glass with a firehose inside of it. He also saw a fire axe behind a similar cover.
"Oh, that will be useful," he said his eyes widening. He wasn't liking using his sword for cutting things as he was worried that he was ruining the blade that way. He only had limited items on himself when they crashed to keep his equipment functional. Jaune opened the case and took out the axe, yes this would do just fine.
"Maybe I'll bring Yang back here," He looked down the hall he wasn't sure about exploring alone in the dark like this. "That is if we can get back to normal."
He felt a weight in his chest thinking about it. He really did miss Yang, he missed her smile, her presence, even her puns. Some part of him also was wondering why that night had happened, she was that one that came onto him, that much he remembered. Not like he fought her off, he had felt this need to feel something other than these ugly feelings he had inside of himself since Pyrrha's death. All the guilt, self-loathing for not being strong enough to stand by her, the anger, the pure hatred he felt for Cinder. It all just kept piling up but that night he hadn't felt anything like that. For the first time in a long time, he felt better, that he could just push it all away.
Sure, they were drunk but the more he thought about it, the more he felt there had been something there.
"Or maybe I'm just deluding myself," He sighed closing the doorway. He was going back to gathering more supplies and tried not to think too much on it.
Later that say it was lunch when the two met up at the house again. Yang had already put away the fish she cleaned as she heard Jaune arriving with the golf cart. She could hear his footsteps as she went and opened up the door to the Store House and was most likely putting things away. She felt her heart hammering in her chest, mainly because she had come to a decision.
She wouldn't run away she wouldn't hide from this. She hid away from the world when she had lost her arm and it had taken her months to leave the house. Just two days of this wedge between them and it was driving her crazy. So, she was going to confront the issue and hopefully find some kind of resolve.
The front door opened as Jaune came in with what surprised her was a fire axe over his shoulder.
"Oh, uh hey there. Look what I found," he said unsurely showing off the axe.
"Where the hell did you find that?" Yang blinked genuinely surprised.
"There's a hallway we missed by the elevators, it's kind of out of the way and I nearly missed it," He set it down by the door. "I was hoping that we, you know could explore it later."
"Yeah, good idea," she nodded as again there was this silence between them. She took a breath and then blew it out. "Okay this is insane we can't keep doing this."
"Huh?"
"This," she gestured between them. "This awkwardness, we can't keep this up forever Jaune. We need each other to survive, and this isn't helping…plus you know…I miss you," Yang played with her hair at the last bit.
Jaune's eye widened a bit before softening. "Yeah, I missed you too."
That brought a smile to Yang's face as she also noticed a little warmth inside of her. She figured that was a start now it was time to take another step. "Okay so let's just come out and say it, we fucked, we fucked each other on that bed right there. It happened, no way we can ignore that fact."
He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I was kind of thinking that too."
"I think we both should sit down for this," Yang led the way to the fireplace area as both of them sat on the couch. "So, I guess we should talk about it."
"Okay first off I want to say I think we're both a little at fault for getting carried away." He started up.
"I'm the one that got the drinks and started things off," Yang told him.
"Yeah, but I also could have stopped it," Jaune signed leaning back. He could have pushed her off that night and told her to stop but he hadn't.
"Still feel like it's more my fault but okay," Yang shrugged. "Why didn't you stop?"
Jaune blushed as he felt unsure of himself. "I don't know, it just felt…really nice."
"Yeah, it did," Yang nodded in return. She bit her lip thinking about it and maybe she should admit to a few things. Maybe he felt the same or similar? She was hoping at least so she took a mental breath before going all in.
"To tell the truth, I kind of needed it." She started to explain. "Everything since Beacon has been just weighting down on me it feels like." She brought up her hand. "I don't know if you noticed but my hand shakes at times, I feel this fear just piercing my chest and this horrible pressure on it sometimes. I try to fight it off and mostly I do but it's hard."
"That night all that just kind of went away, even for a moment. I know it's not the best reason to do it but for the first time in a long time I felt whole again."
Jaune hadn't noticed her hand doing that and he had no idea she had been dealing with such issues. He gently reached out and gripped her hand as she looked at him a little surprised but welcoming of the contact. "I kind of know what you mean, that night, well I think we both needed something. It's been so hard dealing with Pyrrha's death that I've been feeling this growing pit in my chest. I keep thinking if only I was stronger, if only I was better than maybe she would still be here. If only I had been a better partner."
"Hey, you were a great partner," Yang told him hating to hear him beat himself up like this. She would know, she also had been beating herself up over losing her arm because of her recklessness. Her dad always warned her about it, but she just laughed it off. Well, she wasn't laughing anymore about it.
"I know Jaune, because we've been stuck here, and you've been a great help," she told him.
"So have you," he said back to her as their eyes locked. He looked at her lilac eyes and suddenly he wondered why hadn't he noticed she had such pretty eyes?
Yang looked into his blue eyes, they were so filled with emotion, and she felt like she could lose herself in them. She felt a growing desire inside of her and maybe it was time to test something else out. Something that had been on her mind for awhile now and might help them both.
"Jaune, can I ask you a serious question?"
"Sure, what is it?" he tilted his head.
She took a breath before speaking. "Are you attracted to me?"
His face blushed at the upfront statement. "I uh, I mean…"
What was he supposed to say in this moment? Be honest? Try and tell her what she might want to hear?
"Be honest with me Jaune," Yang told him gently. "But I'll go first, I'll admit that lately I have been physically attracted to you."
"Wait really?" Jaune blinked, he never was one to have pretty girls just say, well anything like that to him. He was always the awkward kid, always having trouble making friends and later getting girls to notice him once he started to notice them as he grew up. Now here was Yang, a very beautiful girl saying she was attracted to him? It wouldn't be a lie to say hie ego felt a little pride at that.
"Well, if we're being honest," Jaune shyly said. "I mean how could I not be Yang? You're one of the prettiest girls I know." Which was the truth, in fact ever since he went to Beacon, he found all of team RWBY had attractive girls in it. Looking back, he knew even Pyrrha was too and so was Nora. But here he was with Yang, and he had to admit that lately he was captivated by her.
"Good to know roughing it on this island hasn't dismissed my good looks," Yang smiled with the joke.
Both looked at each other for a moment as Jaune rubbed the back of his head. "So…we're attracted to each other?"
"Looks like that," Yang nodded. "I don't know if it's just physical, but I do think there could be something? It's hard to tell given we're stuck here and all."
"And we don't know if this is just natural or because we're alone together," Jaune nodded.
"Exactly so I wanted to test something, if you're cool with it." Yang tensed up at this was the big moment that might tell what was between them.
"Uh, okay, sure? What is it?" He asked confused until she reached up to the back of his head and gently pulled him closer as she kissed him. It was a small one at first, but he felt his heart hammering in his chest.
Yang needed to see if that night was just them needing something to blow off steam or something more. She found she liked the sensation of kissing him and for a moment she was worried he wasn't doing anything back. Then she felt him kiss her in return, the small kiss soon deepened as she felt herself get warmer from the sensation.
Eventually pulling back both looked at each other feeling a little out of breath as they gazed into each other's eyes. There was more than just physical attraction, there was something there, slowly growing between the two of them but neither was sure just what it was just yet. This was something that would take time to grow and bloom in order to figure out what it was.
"Okay, you felt something right?" Yang asked him.
"Yeah," He nodded. "So…what does this mean?"
"Well, I guess I can say I like you but love?" Yang made a face trying to concentrate on the feeling. "Would it be wrong of me to say it's too soon to say that?"
"Not really," Juane agreed with her while there was something here it wasn't love. Maybe it could be but for the moment they had something. Being here together on this island, forced to lean on each other for both survival and comfort had forged a bond between them both. "So, what does that make us?"
"Now there's a question," Yang sighed. She had been thinking long and hard about this for the past two days and now that they got the mutual attraction out of the way maybe it was time to progress things. "I'm not sure 'dating' is the right word at least for now and honestly, I can't stop thinking about that night we had together."
Jaune blushed a bit as it had been on his mind too, after all it was the first time, he ever had sex, how could he not? "Do you want to start dating?"
Yang thought it over, "How about we start with a step in that direction?"
It was an odd thought but given their situation and they didn't know what tomorrow could bring maybe it was best to try this out. "Think of this as a trail period just in case it doesn't work out so we can still be friends after it?"
Truth was she was a little scared to jump straight into it just now. This was a huge step for them both and maybe it would be better to slip into a more comfortable role and see if they were compatible before taking the next step.
"What do you have in mind?" Jaune was curious about what she was thinking.
"I was thinking more friend with benefits, at least for now," she told him playing with her hair, she knew it was a nervous tic of hers but also one she had a hard time controlling.
"So, we remain friends but we still, you know, do other things?" He swallowed at the thought.
"Yeah, I mean I think we both need something to help us, and that night really did seem like it. That is if you don't want to, I totally get it. It's an odd thing to bring up and we could wait and see how things turn out in the long run." She didn't want to put any pressure on him but a part of her hoped he would go with it.
Jaune thought about it, his feelings for Yang were complicated that was for sure. He liked her but did he like her enough to want a full-on relationship? Maybe? It was so hard to tell given this whole thing between them caught him off guard. Then he thought about that night again when she brought it up and it did seem to make them both feel better. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? If they were in a full relationship and they found out later on they didn't match up what would happen then?
If it were friends with benefits then they could just go back to being friends if it didn't work out, right? At least he hoped so, he had no idea what kind of relationship was like to be in, but he couldn't get her out of his mind. That kiss had felt really good too and he found himself wanting more if he was honest with himself.
"I think I can see your reasoning, I'm willing to try if you are?" Jaune told her.
Yang was surprised by the relief she felt in her chest, she was prepared for him to say no and then they could work on being just friends, but this might help them both for various reasons. She grinned as she decided to break it in as she straddled him again on the couch.
"Well since we are in agreement," She smirked as she pressed her lips to his, he replied back this time as she felt his hands go to her hips. She ran her hands on his chest and one to the back of his head. She felt his tongue licking her lips as she opened her mouth allowing him inside. Both of them moaned out as they were starting to become lost in each other.
Eventually they had to come up for air both flushed from it.
"I feel like we've done this before," Jaune had a shy smile on. Yang looked at their position was they locked eyes, and both laughed as this was how that night started between them.
"I guess it's a good thing we're getting this out in the open," Yang told him resting her forehead on his. "All this sexual tension we apparently have would have been killing me eventually."
"Yeah," Jaune could feel the heat of her body, of her skin on his hands.
Yang's stomach rumbled as she blushed in embarrassment, they hadn't had lunch yet. Jaune's stomach returned the sound as both now felt the mood kind of killed.
"So, lunch?" Jaune asked.
"Lunch," Yang nodded getting off him.
At least when they prepared their lunch together there wasn't this wall between them, but there was an air of uncertainty of how to go forward with what they were planning.
"So," Jaune started as they sat down to eat. "How does this work exactly?"
Yang for her part hadn't thought that far ahead and now she wished she had. "Honestly? I'm not sure, this isn't exactly something I've done before or tried. I guess we just act normal, but we can be more physical."
"Okay so let's say one of us wants to be more physical and the other isn't in the mood we agree to back off at that point?" Jaune asking for clarification.
Yang nodded her head. "Yeah, sounds about right, but we can't get discouraged because of it."
"This," Jaune thought about it. "This is really going to get some getting used to, isn't it?"
"Oh yeah," Yang signed taking a bite out of her meal. "I guess we just play it by ear for now, I mean this is new territory for us both, but we have to agree that no hard feelings. I like the friendship we got now, and I don't want to lose that."
"Same," Jaune nodded his head. Now that the elephant in the room had been dealt with, he felt they were more at ease with the other. "So, you want to explore that area I found today?"
Yang thought about it but something else was on her mind. "Let's go early tomorrow just in case. It will give us plenty of time and then we can check at least the first flood of the hotel rooms to see if anything we can use was left behind. Plus, there's kind of something I want to do tonight."
"Oh? What's that?" Jaune asked taking a drink.
"I was planning to see if you were up to fucking without getting drunk this time." She smirked as he coughed. She had to admit that it was a little evil of her to wait until he was drinking but the reaction was priceless to her as she had a huge grin on her face.
"T-Tonight?"
"You got plans?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"No, no not really. I was just not expecting so soon," He felt himself getting excited at the idea.
"Yeah, well this time I want to do it right, no getting drunk and I want to prepare a few things," She stretched back thinking of those condoms she found. Perfect time to go back and grab them, maybe look for anything else that could be used. Plus, she wanted to get herself ready, meaning using the conditioner and shampoo she had gotten from the salon and really freshen up. Maybe even some makeup would be nice.
She hadn't had the chance, but she wanted this time to be more special.
"Last time was just us being drunk but for our first time trying this out, I kind of would like this be special this time around." Yang admitted a little shyly. She might come off as a bit of a tomboy she knew but deep down she had a bit of a romantic heart to her. She liked the idea of a romantic candle lit dinner, or a walk on the beach with the moonlight.
She never told anyone, but she did read some of Blake's books when no one was looking, even the spicier ones that Blake thought she had kept hidden. Granted some of the stuff in those books were a little out there for her, no way she was going to ask Jaune to tie her up with rope for instance. But she wanted tonight to be special to kind of make up for the previous one.
To have a night that the both of them could remember clearly and look back on fondly.
Jaune kind of knew where she was coming from, he always thought his first time would have been a bit more special not that he would voice that out. In way this could be considered a different 'first time' only now they were in control I their new relationship status.
He also felt the thrill of excitement at the thought of having sex with her again. Yang was a total knockout and here she was, telling him that tonight he was going to get lucky again. It all felt so surreal, almost like they were both on an island getaway trip. He also felt a little anxious, he hadn't really thought about his performance last time but now, he was a little worried since he was in full control of himself.
He remembered some of what she had seemed to like last time so maybe he could build on that. At least he hoped he could.
"That sounds nice," Jaune said nodding his head at how she phrased it. "It does make me wish we could have some music or something for it."
"Yeah, that would be nice even for something to have in the background while we're at home," Yang looked over at the side table where their scrolls were placed. Both had gotten pretty waterlogged and any music she had saved on it was corrupted from all the sea water getting into it. Scrolls were not meant for the water least of all salt water that really ruined the insides. "Huh, I wonder if this island had a DJ for late night parties somewhere?"
"It would need power," he said.
Yang shrugged. "Hey maybe it could have battery powered items, yeah, I know it's a stretch but at this point I'd take anything. I think I'm started to get media withdrawal."
Jaune frowned. "Is that a real thing?"
"Feels like it," Yang had missed just watching TV, movies, playing video games, listening to movies or just going online with her scroll. It hadn't even been a month, but she felt that 'itch' of missing out. At least the books they found were a nice distraction, but she could use some music now and then. They could also get only so much used out of a deck of cards and the boardgames Jaune got from the Recreation building next to the hotel.
"Anyways," Yang shook her head. "Maybe we'll get lucky one day and find something in one of the guest rooms. Which reminds me, I got to get back to the hotel pharmacy to grab something we're going to need if we're going to try out this benefits part out of our new friendship."
"Oh, what?"
"Found some condoms," She looked at him with a smirk. "I'm not letting you creampie me again Jaune, unless you think you can master pulling out by tonight."
"Oh, yeah, that." He scratched the back of his head. They had both been pretty drunk, so they hadn't even thought of safe sex that time. They had gotten lucky so far but maybe it's not time to test out just how much lucky they had. "Are they even still good?"
Yang made a 'kind of' motion with her hand. "They are either going to expire this year or next from what I saw. We'll start with the ones that won't go bad so soon, don't want to start with the oldest ones just yet in case they break on us."
Jaune nodded his head, that sounded like a good idea, best to be safer about it. Then he looked around, maybe he could grab a few more candles and try and make it look a bit more romantic? It was the least he could think about. He also thought about maybe making dinner a bit special this night. Break open the canned food to really give them a nice meal.
"If you don't mind, I got a meal I could make for us," he told her.
"Oh, this should be good," Yang couldn't wait, she had quickly learned that while she could cook decently, Jaune could cook better than her. It sounded like they had a plan and later tonight they would test out their new friends with benefits relationship would start out.
TBC…
So yeah, you all know what's coming next chapter.
