Domesticity

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.

Jaune wants to make Nora something special for her birthday. Yang helps out. Both find out some interesting things about the other.

Dragonslayer, One-Shot.

In the cozy common room between teams RWBY and JNPR of Beacon Academy, Jaune Arc was perched on a worn-out couch. His brow furrowed in concentration over a cookbook titled The Art of Exotic Cooking. His blond locks fell over his eyes as he studied the intricate details of a recipe for goat curry, oblivious to the world around him.

"Hmmm..." Jaune murmured, his finger tracing the lines of text.

From behind him, Yang Xiao Long crept up with the stealth of a panther, her golden hair tied back in a ponytail that swished with each careful step. "Whatcha up to, VB?" she asked, her voice laced with playful mischief.

Jaune jumped, nearly dropping the book. "ACK! Oh! Hey Yang! I'm looking up a recipe for goat curry. It's Nora's favorite, and since her birthday's coming up, I thought I'd make it for her!"

Yang snatched the book from his hands, her violet eyes scanning the pages. "Hmmm... You know, I've cooked a lot of curries back home. How about I handle it?"

"You sure?" Jaune's voice was tinged with relief.

"Hey, I wanna brighten up Nora's big day too!" Yang grinned, her enthusiasm catching.

"That's great! I was going to get the goat!" Jaune said, his enthusiasm returning.

"Right now? The shops are closing soon!" Yang warned, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll be getting a wild goat. It's what Nora wants, and I wanted to test out the recipe to see if it would be good," Jaune explained.

"Well... How about I get the rest of it ready and you get the goat?" Yang proposed. She headed over to the kitchen and pulled out an apron.

"Really? Thanks, Yang!" Jaune beamed, his face lighting up.

While Yang gathered spices and ingredients, Jaune headed into the evening light. An hour later, he returned, a dead goat draped over his shoulders like a barbarian returning from a hunt.

"Ack! Jaune! You can't just bring it in here-!" Yang exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I just need to skin and dress it, Yang! It won't take too long, I promise. Besides, we can get the goat skin tanned and make it another gift for Nora!" Jaune countered.

"I thought she loved sloths?" Yang questioned, puzzled.

"Yeah, she loves live sloths and dead goats," Jaune shrugged as if this were an obvious fact.

Yang, having lived with Ruby, just rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Well do it over there on the balcony! You don't want to make a mess!" Yang directed, pointing towards the open air.

Jaune, true to his word, skillfully prepared the goat on the balcony, the setting sun casting long shadows as he worked. He brought in the meat while Yang used some Ice Dust to freeze the rest, wrapping it neatly.

"We'll be eating goat for a while..." Jaune observed, looking at the substantial amount of meat.

"Lots of ways to prepare it!" Yang chimed in, her culinary creativity sparked.

"Do you need some help?" Jaune offered, wiping his hands on a cloth.

"What, you saying I can't do it?" Yang scowled, hands on her hips.

"No, no, just offering. I know you're a good cook. Ruby praises you all the time," Jaune quickly backtracked.

Yang blushed, her scowl softening. "O-Oh? Well, uh... Heh. Yeah. I had to make sure she grew up big and strong, didn't I?"

"You did a great job," Jaune smiled warmly.

"Oh... Well... Thank you... Vomit Boy," Yang replied, her voice softer now.

As Yang cooked, the common room was filled with the aroma of spices. Jaune returned from storing the excess meat to find Yang dancing lightly to a tune from the radio, her apron dusted with flour.

"... Wow..." Jaune couldn't help but murmur.

"Hm? What?" Yang turned, her eyes questioning.

"Ah... N-Nothing! Nothing!" Jaune stuttered, caught off guard.

"It's about done. Sit down, I'll prepare a sample," Yang said, her voice now all business.

Jaune sat, his smile lingering as Yang brought out a bowl of steaming goat curry and proudly set it before him.

"Dig in!" she encouraged.

Jaune took a bite, his eyes closing in bliss. "This... This is amazing!"

"Really?" Yang's voice held a note of hope.

"Yeah! It's as good as my mom's! Or my big sister Lilac's!" Jaune grinned. "You're just... Amazing, Yang."

"Heh! Come on, cut it out," Yang dismissed, though clearly pleased.

"N-No, I mean it. You really are amazing." Jaune's smile was genuine. "You're going to be an amazing wife and mother someday."

Yang stared at him, her breath catching, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Jaune, realizing he might have overstepped, coughed awkwardly.

"I-I uh, I'm not being sexist or anything! Promise! I-I just think you're amazing! Like, my mom is a doctor and a super strong fighter but she's also an amazing housewife! She-She did it all and she was amazing and I just... I just think you're also amazing," he rambled, panic setting in.

Yang gaped.

"O-Oh! Um, I-I better go make sure Nora isn't setting something on fire!" Jaune got up and dashed out.

Yang, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, watched him go.

"... That dense idiot... He... He...!" Yang muttered, then giggled, shaking her head. "No! Nonono, you do not have a crush on him! C-Come on! So he went out and hunted an animal, brought it back for you to cook and complimented you... Th-That... Doesn't mean... Anything..."

She groaned and covered her face.

"I'm just like Mom..."

After a moment, her expression softened, a smile creeping back.

"I'm just like Mom~!"