Cowboys of Remnant
A RWBY Fic by AndrewJTalon
DISCLAIMER: This is a fan based work of prose. RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and WB Animation. Please support the official release.
Cowboys of Remnant: Catting Around
It wasn't like Jaune was antisocial. Not in the slightest. He was perfectly gregarious and got along pretty well with most people. There were a few guys on the cattle drive he never quite saw eye to eye with, and back in Radian, of course. Couldn't please everyone. But Jaune was not some anti-social loner.
That said, he had grown to love the moments where it was just him, Orleans, and the open world on cattle drives. When he went scouting or foraging, there was just something almost soothing about being out in the wild, only birdsong and the wind in the trees to be heard.
So as much as he loved his friends, he did need some time in more familiar surroundings.
So this Saturday, after he'd gotten some chores and his workout done, he'd mounted up Orleans and rode out into the Emerald Forest. Orleans had been happy for the break in routine herself. She'd crushed the skulls of a few Ursas, and the rest seemed to get the message to leave them alone (for now).
Jaune had gotten off Orleans in the middle of a meadow filled with wildflowers. He took her by the reins and led her to a sunny spot, where he slipped the bridle out of her mouth and let her go graze. He sat down on a big, sun warmed rock in the middle of the field, and sat down. He looked around at the bounty of nature, and closed his eyes to take in the sounds.
Squirrels chittering in the trees. Birds chirping and singing. A few insects buzzing around in the tall grass, which sent soft rubbing sounds into the air thanks to the wind.
Jaune smiled and just let himself be.
"Oh!"
Jaune opened his eyes, had his revolvers out and cocked, and spun around in a split second. He blinked stupidly at a familiar pale girl with a black bow on her head. As well as an equally familiar pistol/short sword pointed at him.
Jaune lowered his weapons first and coughed. He tipped his hat.
"Sorry about that, Miss Belladonna," he said, "You uh, startled me."
Blake nodded slowly and lowered her own weapon.
"Sorry," she said quietly.
"Jest uh... Make more noise next time, please?" Jaune asked, "I'd hate to have to explain to Ruby how either of us got shot."
The ghost of a smile emerged on her face as she nodded.
"Agreed," she said.
Jaune fidgeted. Of all of his friends, he knew Blake the least. Wasn't for lack of trying, mind you. But she didn't seem inclined to talk a lot. So Jaune felt it impolite to force the issue.
"Need something?" He asked.
Blake shook her head.
"Just peace and quiet," she said.
Jaune nodded.
"Yes miss, I can do that."
She walked over and sat down on the rock. She pulled out a book, and began to read. Jaune stared at her for a moment, before mentally shrugging and just sitting down a few feet away from her.
Only the sounds of nature filled the air for a while. Jaune just added the sounds of Blake turning pages and humming every now and again to the orchestra he was registering.
It was a mite strange, but he could certainly understand the appeal. He was doing it himself, after all.
That said...
"If ya want to let yer ears loose, that's fine by me," he coughed. Blake turned and stared at him intently. He shrugged.
"My neighbors the Siths are all cat Faunus. You learn to tell certain things about 'em," he said. "If you're comfortable, or not. It's fine by me."
Blake continued to stare, her expression unreadable. Jaune coughed.
"Uh... Sally Ann wears a bonnet sometimes, so her ears don't get too hot in the sun, ya know?"
Blake continued to stare in silence. She then slowly reached up and undid her bow. She let it drop and revealed her ears, which twitched.
Huh. Cute, Jaune thought. He smiled at her and nodded.
"You won't tell?" Blake asked quietly. Jaune shook his head, leaning back.
"Nah. Ya got yer reasons. I respect that."
Blake hummed softly and then nodded.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it, Miss Belladonna."
They returned to silent reading and meditation. No other words passed for over an hour.
After that time, Blake closed her book. She stretched her arms up over her head and looked over at him. She pulled her bow back on over her ears.
"Can I get a ride back?" She asked.
Jaune nodded.
"Course, Miss Belladonna," he said. He whistled, and Orleans galloped up. He reattached her bridle, and hopped on. He held out a hand to her with a smile.
"You can ride behind and-"
Blake took his hand, and then flipped herself up in front of him. She scooted back in the saddle, and placed the shocked Jaune's arms around her waist so he could take hold of the reins.
"This will work," she stated.
Jaune, bright red, managed a nod.
"Uh, er, um, y-yes Miss Belladonna."
Orleans neighed in annoyance. Jaune shook his head, and patted his horse's side.
"Come on girl. Let's get home."
Orleans shot Blake a glare from one eye, but whinnied and complied, galloping off. Blake held on tightly as she nearly lost her balance, but Jaune quickly wrapped an arm around her stomach and pulled her back against him.
"You all right?" He asked.
Blake shot him a coquettish look.
"Just fine," she nearly purred.
Oh Lord, give me strength, Jaune thought to himself as his face burned bright red.
The ride back to Beacon was pretty picturesque and calming... Even with Jaune pressed tightly against her back. Oh, she absolutely took advantage of it, enjoying his squirms and blushes. It felt good to be able to tease and have fun again. To not have her past weigh so heavily on her.
Blake knew it couldn't last, but she was determined to at least find some joy before things came crashing down again.
They always did.
"So Jaune," she commented, as Orleans navigated a bit of rocky terrain, towards the cliffs, "Have you noticed it yet?"
"Er, uh, um..." She could picture the mental calculations running through the rustic boy's mind as he held her, seeking out the least dangerous answer, "I'm afraid I do not know what you're talking about, Miss Belladonna."
Blake smiled inside.
"The affection you've attracted from a few girls," Blake observed.
Jaune tightened his grip on the reins and her, as Orleans seemed to grumble around her bridle. She didn't miss a step though, and neither did Jaune.
"I uh... Er... I'm very happy to have made so many friends, Miss Belladonna. Lady or man, friends are friends," he replied carefully.
My father would want him as a diplomatic attaché, that was very good, Blake laughed mentally. It helped assuage the guilt she felt over leaving her family, just a little.
"I think you know what I mean," she said softly, pushing back against him meaningfully. She felt his blush as he coughed.
"Er, um... I reckon I do," he said slowly.
"So...?"
"So what, miss?"
"Well," Blake shrugged, "Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
Jaune was silent for a moment, chewing over her words. Orleans snorted in irritation and kicked a boulder out of the way. It went crashing down the ridge into a gulley some distance away.
"I mean... Er... I'm more in favor of courting a lady properly, miss," Jaune admitted, "Sure, lots of my friends dated, but a small community like mine? You mess around too much without matrimony as the goal, you break a lot of hearts and burn a lot of bridges. If I pursue a woman for that, it's for keeps, miss."
Blake's heart fluttered a bit. Not for herself personally, but she was struck by his sincerity. He genuinely meant it.
Just like Kenchi in Ninjas of Love: Volume 5, the selfless, old fashioned samurai would would only be with his true love.
That said...
"You shouldn't think of it that way," Blake insisted, "You should think of it as... Playing the field. I mean, you don't have to go all the way if you don't want to. But dating helps you learn romance. And romance in the wider world is much more complicated than it is in Radian." She glanced back at him. "You owe it to yourself and your future bride to be well rounded, don't you think?"
Jaune flushed but did give it some serious thought. Orleans grumbled a bit more, kicking some more stones as she navigated down slope, Finally, they got down off the ridge and onto the grassy plains they'd fought the Initiation on.
"Miss Belladonna?" Jaune said.
"Yes Jaune?"
"I will consider it," Jaune said with a nod, "Though uh... I wouldn't mind your advice. You're... Much more worldly than me, Miss." He flushed. "N-Not that I mean that as a bad thing! Not at all! So please don't take it that way!"
Blake smirked a bit as Orleans broke into a gallop, the wind rushing through their hair.
"Not at all. I'm very happy to help my friends."
Inwardly, she couldn't help a cackle. Part of her felt she should be doing more for her cause, doing more for Faunus... Yet seeing this young man stand up for a Faunus he didn't even know had made her pause a bit on that. Made her reflect on Headmaster Ozpin's advice to take time to enjoy herself and learn how to live life normally again.
Granted, stirring up the soap opera that was the lives of her friends may have not been the best choice, but... It was certainly better than brooding or being filled with fear and self loathing.
She still had those feelings, but... At least she could distract herself a little from them. Until reality intruded once more.
Orleans got them up the mountain and back to Beacon in no time. Blake though insisted they take Orleans around the main courtyard first, to let her see it and enjoy herself like them. Jaune had agreed, and soon they trotted up into the beautiful courtyard filled with fountains, trees, and sculpted marble.
Coincidentally, their friends had just gotten back from a trip out to Vale and were lounging in the courtyard. All perked up when Jaune and Blake on Orleans trotted by.
"Hey Jaune! Hey Blake! Hey Orleans!" Ruby said cheerfully. Blake could feel the intensity of the looks Yang, Pyrrha, and Weiss were giving her as she practically sat in Jaune's lap. Jaune dismounted, and Blake did so with him. Jaune held onto Orleans' reins, and patted his horse on the side. She whinnied quietly, as Jaune smiled at their friends.
"So, what have you two been up to?" Pyrrha asked, her smile a bit strained.
"Oh, uh, Miss Belladonna, Orleans and I just went out for a ride in Emerald Forest," Jaune said, smiling cheerfully.
Blake nodded, let the anticipation build, and then said:
"That was a lovely ride. You ought to take me for a spin next."
Many jaws dropped. Weiss's cheeks went bright red. Yang's eyes narrowed. Pyrrha's smile became downright terrifying.
Jaune, for his part, choked.
"Wha-I-?!"
Blake smiled guilelessly and reached up to caress Jaune's cheek.
"Really living up to that nickname, Stud. When can I expect round 2?"
The looks on everyone's faces brought true joy to Blake's heart. A joy she had thought long forgotten.
Also, Jaune really was very handsome when he blushed that shade of red.