Chapter 6. This was supposed to be the last chapter, but then I dragged it out too long. Same mistake. So think of this chapter as setup for the Ruby/Pyrrha/Jaune throuple while the next one goes into detail.
On the bright side, that means the next chapter will have smut. My first ever written threesome, I think. So yeah...hope you guys enjoy.
For clarification, this chapter takes place after the 'Invincible L' omake, so Pyrrha is just a normal, nice girl who's been cursed by her petty ancestor.
For anyone interested in making a commission, email me at: storylover543 gmail . com
Ruby had never considered herself the kind of person to rub her victories in anyone's face. She was a leader, after all. A Huntress in training. The picture of maturity and selflessness. While many Huntresses were driven by their ego (or, more likely, thinking they could get men's attention), she'd been in it for the heroics. Saving innocent people from the Grimm, singlehandedly turning the tide when a horde had come bearing down on a village...it was her dream ever since mom read her the fairy tales. So she promised herself that she'd be the best she could be.
...
But when it came to her team? Oh, she was going to milk this for all it was worth.
It wasn't her fault, really. They started it! Weeks of teasing, needling, and outright accusations that she was just some White Knight who pretended to care about heroism to catch a guy. Weeks of watching them stomp around Vale, scaring off any poor soul who made the mistake of making eye contact, only to drag their frustrated, thirsty selves back to the dorm, whining about how men just didn't appreciate them.
And then there were the days of demands once she started dating Jaune. 'Come on, Ruby, you're our leader! You should set an example and share!', Yang said, going for the 'leader' argument once the 'sister' one failed. As if Jaune was some kind of community boyfriend they could pass around like a snack platter.
And now? Now it was Ruby's turn to bask in the glow of karmic justice.
It wasn't bragging, she told herself, smiling brightly as she spotted Jaune in the hallway. It wasn't like she was going around announcing, 'Hey, I have a boyfriend and you don't!' No, all she did was show her happiness. If her team just happened to see her and Jaune holding hands or exchanging sweet smiles and started seething? Well, that was their problem, not hers. Like mom always said, the best revenge is a life well-lived. It was a motto she and 'Auntie' Raven had to live by. Being the only two Huntresses in their generation to ever get laid led to a lot of bitterness and envy.
"Ruby!" Jaune's face lit up as she approached, and Ruby felt a flutter in her chest. No matter how many times they met up, his enthusiasm never failed to make her giddy.
"Jaune!" she chirped, practically skipping toward him. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. She felt him stiffen slightly - he was still getting used to public displays of affection, so cute! - but he quickly relaxed, his hands settling awkwardly on her waist.
"Someone's in a good mood," he said, his cheeks dusted pink.
"Of course I am! I get to see my boyfriend," She said sweetly, giving his arm a little squeeze. Ooh, firm. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Weiss standing at the end of the hall, her face twisted in a mask of envy and barely concealed irritation. Ruby's grin widened just a bit, "Oh, hey, Weiss!" she called, her voice bright and cheerful, "Did you need something?"
Weiss stiffened, her lips pursing into a tight line, "No," she said curtly, before spinning on her heel and storming off, her ponytail swishing dramatically behind her.
Ruby let out a soft giggle, leaning into Jaune's side, "She's so busy all the time. Poor Weiss."
Jaune raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He'd quickly learned that Ruby's cheerful demeanor often hid a devious streak, especially when it came to her team. He didn't mind it, as he was quick to assure her. He liked that she had 'bite', to use his words.
The two of them continued down the hallway, chatting about their plans for the weekend. Ruby was aware of the stares they were getting. Blake lurking behind a corner, her amber eyes peering out just enough to shoot daggers at Ruby's back. Or Yang, lounging against the wall with crossed arms, looking like she was ready to snap her scroll in half. Their eyes burned with envy with Blake barely trying to hide it and Yang just openly glaring.
Ruby ignored them all, her focus entirely on Jaune.
"You think we should try that new coffee shop in Vale?" Jaune asked, his expression thoughtful.
"Sounds perfect!" Ruby said, her voice dripping with sweetness. She reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from his face, her fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary, "You always have the best ideas, Jaune."
Behind them, Yang made a noise somewhere between a growl and a strangled cry. Ruby bit back a laugh.
By the time they parted ways an hour later, Ruby was practically floating back to the dorm. She opened the door with a cheerful hum, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sight of her team. Yang was sprawled on her bed, her face buried in a pillow. Blake was furiously scribbling in her notebook, probably writing some tragic poetry about unrequited love (or self0insert fanfction). Weiss was sitting stiffly at her desk, her fingers gripping a pen so tightly Ruby was surprised it hadn't snapped.
"Hi, guys!" Ruby chirped, plopping onto her bed with a bounce.
The three of them glared at her in unison.
"You're insufferable," Weiss said, her voice cold.
"What did I do?" Ruby asked with an expression of pure innocence.
"You know what you did," Blake muttered, not looking up from her notebook.
Yang sat up, her hair a tangled mess, and pointed an accusatory finger, "You're flaunting it, Rubes! Flaunting your relationship with Jaune!" Her eyes were red. Ooh, she was mad. Normally that might've made her nervous, but right now she just felt calm. Light. It was just more proof that she was the mature one and her team were just desperate little girls who couldn't hold a candle to her. Ruby Rose, the girl who got the guy and was on the way to accomplishing her dream.
Ruby blinked, tilting her head in mock confusion, "Flaunting? I'm just happy. Isn't that what we all want to be? Happy?"
Yang groaned, flopping back onto her bed, "I hate you."
Ruby smiled sweetly, her voice syrupy, "Love you too, Yang!"
She laid back on her bed, folding her arms behind her head as she basked in the simmering frustration radiating from her teammates. Maybe it was petty. Maybe it was even mean. But after weeks of dealing with their crap, seeing them seethe and mald was oh so satisfying.
After all, it wasn't like she was rubbing it in their faces. She was just...enjoying life. Publicly. With her amazing boyfriend. And if that made them jealous? Well, maybe they should've thought about that before trying to convince her to share him! They could whine all they want. Jaune was her's, and she'd made dang sure the whole world knew it. Every Huntress in Beacon knew that Jaune Arc was Ruby Rose's man and they weren't anything they could do about it!
The atmosphere in the dorm room was tense, the kind of tension that made Ruby want to laugh if it weren't so ridiculous. She sat cross-legged on her bed, idly munching on a cookie, while her teammates circled her like predators eyeing prey. Yang was the first to break the silence, her arms crossed and her expression one of barely restrained annoyance, "Alright, Rubes, we need to talk."
Ruby raised an eyebrow, swallowing her bite of cookie before answering, "We're always talking, Yang. What's the big deal now?"
"The big deal," Weiss cut in, her tone icy and sharp, "is that you're being incredibly selfish."
Ruby tilted her head innocently, "Selfish? How?"
"You know how!" Blake's voice was unusually forceful, her amber eyes narrowing, "You're keeping Jaune all to yourself."
"Uh-huh..." Ruby nodded slowly, pretending like she understood, "And?"
"And it's not fair!" Yang threw her hands up, "We're your team! Your sisters in arms! I'm your literal sister from the same mister! How can you not share him with us?"
Ruby smiled, sweet and serene, her tone dripping with sugary malice, "Oh, I remember this conversation. Didn't I already make you an offer?" The three of them exchanged awkward glances, clearly dreading what was coming next. Ruby leaned back against her pillows, taking her time to finish the cookie before speaking again, "I told you." She picked up another cookie, "If you really want Jaune that badly, you need to apologize for all the crap you gave me and beg."
Weiss stiffened, "Beg?" The word sounded foreign to her, as if she was tasting the single syllable. Weiss probably never had to beg for anything in her life. She always demanded, even when it didn't work.
"Yup." Ruby's grin widened, her voice still as sweet as honey, "Get on your knees, say you're sorry, and MAYBE I'll let you watch from the corner next time Jaune and I fuck. But no touching."
The room went silent. Yang's jaw dropped, Blake looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole, and Weiss's cheeks turned crimson with a mixture of fury and jealousy, "That's..." Yang sputtered, searching for words, "That's not...that's messed up, Ruby!"
"Oh, I'm the messed-up one?" Ruby said, her smile still there, "I'm not the one who's been trying to guilt-trip me into handing over my boyfriend like he's a free sample at a Dust expo!"
"That's not- " Weiss started, but Ruby cut her off with a pointed look.
"Oh, it absolutely is," Ruby said, her tone still calm but with a sharp edge, "You're all acting like Jaune's some kind of prize you deserve just because you're all thirsty and desperate. Newsflash, he's not. He's my boyfriend. He's with me because he wants to be with me. Not you. Me."
Blake crossed her arms, trying to regain some composure, "You don't have to rub it in, Ruby." Her words were calm, but Ruby could see the jealousy and resentment simmering underneath clear as day.
"Rubbing it in?" Ruby threw her hands up, "You're the ones who keep bringing it up! I was perfectly happy just enjoying my relationship and minding my own business, but nooo, you had to make it a thing!" Okay, maybe she'd bragged the day after, but that was after weeks of dealing with their bullcrap. They were the ones who escalated to asking - or in Weiss' case, demanding - she share Jaune like he was the communal stew, "So yeah, if you really want to be involved so badly, you know my terms. Otherwise? Leave me alone."
The three of them stared at her, each one visibly grappling with their own pride and desperation. Ruby leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she watched them squirm. She could tell they were at least slightly tempted, which both grossed her out (especially for Yang) and only added to her smugness.
"Well?" she prompted, her voice light and teasing, "I'm waiting."
Yang groaned, throwing herself back onto her bed, "Forget it. You're impossible." Blake muttered something under her breath and went back to her notebook, clearly defeated. Weiss sniffed indignantly, turning back to her desk as if the conversation had never happened. Huh, so they did still have some pride left.
Ruby smiled to herself, leaning back against her pillows. She didn't gloat, at least not outwardly, but the warm satisfaction in her chest was undeniable. After everything they'd put her through, it felt good to have the upper hand for once.
As for her offer? She doubted they'd ever take her up on it. But the thought of them actually begging - on their knees, apologizing for weeks of cattiness - was enough to keep her smiling for the rest of the night. And if they did take the bait? Well, they could watch like the pathetic little girls they were.
Ruby didn't go out of her way to antagonize the other Huntresses at Beacon. Really, she didn't. She wasn't like Weiss with her haughty sneers or Yang with her not-so-subtle digs. But if the rest of the Huntresses couldn't handle a little PDA between her and Jaune? Well, that sounded like a them problem. She'd seen the way they glared whenever she and Jaune walked through the courtyard, hand in hand. The barely concealed envy in their eyes. The whispered comments that were just loud enough for her to hear.
"Can you believe her?"
"She's not even that pretty."
"He's only with her because she got to him first."
It was almost funny. She knew exactly how they felt because she'd spent weeks dealing with the same attitude from her team. But unlike her team, who she had no problem throwing shade at, Ruby had decided to take the high road.
Mostly.
It wasn't her fault she and Jaune were happy together. And it wasn't her fault that the rest of Beacon's Huntresses couldn't figure out how to stop creeping guys out long enough to get a date. She wasn't going to hide her relationship just because they couldn't handle it.
So when Jaune met her after class and gave her a warm smile, Ruby didn't hesitate to hug him tightly, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. She felt the weight of the stares on her back, the palpable jealousy radiating from every direction, and smiled to herself as she took his hand and started walking toward the cafeteria.
"Did you finish all your paperwork?" she asked sweetly, swinging their joined hands as they walked. Being with him made her feel so light and carefree.
"Yeah, finally," Jaune said with a chuckle, "Doctor Wood keeps finding new ways to make it boring, though. I swear he's doing it on purpose."
Ruby laughed, soft and sweet, and leaned her head against his shoulder, "Well, you've earned a break. Let me spoil you a little, okay?"
Jaune blushed faintly, but he didn't protest. Behind them, a group of Huntresses standing by the lockers exchanged dark looks, muttering under their breaths. Ruby caught snippets like 'What does he even see in her?' and 'She's just rubbing it in our faces.'
She ignored them. Let them stew.
But the real drama came when one of the professors, Professor Peach, decided to pull her aside after class. Ruby hadn't had much interaction with Professor Peach before - botany class wasn't exactly her favorite - but she knew the woman had a reputation for being strict, maybe even more than Headmistress Goodwitch.
"Miss Rose," Professor Peach said, her voice sharp and clipped, "May I have a word?"
Ruby nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder, "Sure, Professor. What's up?"
Professor Peach's lips thinned into a line, "I've noticed your...interactions with Mr. Arc. While I understand that relationships among students are not prohibited-" Ruby almost laughed. The only Huntress who ever tried to date another student was Coco, and she was so bad at it Ruby doubted she'd have any luck even if the students weren't all straight, "-I must remind you that he is a staff member. Public displays of affection between a student and a staff member are, at best, highly inappropriate. At worst, they're illegal."
Ruby raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. Really? She had to deal with this now? "With all due respect, Professor, Jaune's not a teacher. He's a nurse's assistant. He doesn't grade us, teach us, or have any say in our training. And, uh, last I checked, there's no rule against students dating support staff." Not that it would stop any of the other Huntresses. They'd still have thrown themselves at any guy who looked halfway decent.
Professor Peach's expression darkened, "It's not about rules, Miss Rose. It's about professionalism. Your behavior is causing unnecessary distractions and - "
"Wait a second," Ruby cut in, her voice calm but firm, "Are you seriously telling me that my relationship with Jaune is the problem? Not the fact that half the Huntresses on campus've been throwing themselves at him every chance they get ever since he showed up and none of the professors said anything about it? Where was this lecture when I had to beat Cinder off with a stick?"
Professor Peach hesitated, her posture stiffening, "That's not-"
"Because if you're going to talk about 'inappropriate behavior,' maybe you should start with the Huntresses who keep faking injuries to get his attention or the ones who sneak into the clinic to try and corner him when Doctor Wood isn't around." Ruby's smile was sweet, but her eyes were sharp, "Unless, of course, you're more interested in singling me out because I'm the only one who actually managed to get him to like me."
The room was silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
"You're treading on thin ice, Miss Rose," Professor Peach said finally, her tone icy, but Ruby could tell it was more than professionalism beneath her words.
"And you're treading on alienating the only guy under fifty who works at this school," Ruby shot back, her voice cool and even, "Do you really think Jaune's going to stick around if he finds out people are trying to guilt-trip me into breaking up with him? I'm guessing not." Even if they couldn't date him, she knew just being able to see Jaune was something for the other Huntresses.
Which was why she was gonna help him look for another job as soon as she graduated. Or now, if he wanted to avoid any more pathetic come-ons now that they were dating. She'd support him either way. That was what a good girlfriend did.
Professor Peach's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. After a moment, she gave a curt nod, "You may go."
Ruby turned and left the room without another word, her heart pounding in her chest. As soon as she was out of sight, she let out a shaky breath and smiled. She wasn't one for confrontation, but she'd be damned if she let anyone - not her team, not the Huntresses, and certainly not some uptight professor - mess with her relationship.
Jaune was hers, fair and square. And no one was going to take him away from her.
Weeks passed, and Ruby life had become an annoying combo of bliss and exasperation. On one hand, her relationship with Jaune was everything she'd hoped for. Sweet dates in Vale, quiet moments in the clinic, and an ever-growing bond that made her feel like the luckiest girl - no, woman - in the world.
On the other hand, the rest of Beacon's Huntresses were making her life a living hell.
It started subtly. Little things here and there. A snide comment in the hallway, a pointed glance during class. Ruby could handle those. But as time went on, the jealousy of the other Huntresses seemed to grow into a full-blown vendetta, and they weren't shy about showing it.
Combat class was the worst.
Ruby found herself paired against Huntresses who suddenly seemed hellbent on turning every sparring session into a grudge match.
"Come on, Rose, is that all you've got?" sneered a tall, muscular girl named Vera, her axe slamming into Crescent Rose with enough force to make Ruby's arms tremble.
"Just warming up!" Ruby shot back, gritting her teeth as she pushed against the axe.
"Better step it up, then," Vera said, her smirk almost feral, "Wouldn't want your boyfriend to see you losing."
Ruby's eyes narrowed. She dodged the next swing, twirling Crescent Rose into its rifle form and firing a round that sent Vera stumbling back, "Maybe you should focus on the fight instead of Jaune," she said, her voice dripping with faux innocence.
But even when Ruby won, it didn't feel like a victory. Every match left her exhausted, bruised (okay not bruised cause of her Aura, but still sore!), and increasingly frustrated. The other Huntresses weren't just fighting her - they were trying to humiliate her.
Outside of combat class, the sabotage continued.
She'd show up for a date with Jaune somewhere in Vale only to find a group of Huntresses conveniently loitering nearby, giggling loudly and whispering just loud enough for her to hear.
"Oh, Jaune, you're so strong!" one of them cooed mockingly, "Do you work out, or is it all natural?"
Ruby clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she forced herself to ignore them. Jaune, bless his heart, didn't pay them any mind and focused only on her.
Then there were the more blatant distractions. Like the time she and Jaune had finally managed to snag a quiet corner table at a cafe in Vale. They'd barely gotten their drinks when a group of Huntresses 'accidentally' bumped into their table, spilling their coffee everywhere.
"Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry!" one of them gasped, her doe eyes wide with fake innocence.
Ruby's eye twitched as she grabbed napkins to clean up the mess, "It's fine," she said through gritted teeth.
"Here, let me help!" the girl insisted, grabbing Jaune's hand in a gesture that was entirely unnecessary, "You're so sweet to put up with this, Jaune."
Ruby took a slow, deep breath, reminding herself that murder was still illegal. Even if the victims victims were freaking asking for it.
She tried to brush it off, to focus on the good things in her life instead of the pettiness swirling around her. But it was wearing on her, bit by bit. Even the simplest moments with Jaune felt tainted by the shadow of the Huntresses' jealousy.
One evening, as they walked back to the dorms, Ruby caught sight of a group of Huntresses lurking near the corner, their eyes glued to Jaune and blatantly leering. She tightened her grip on his hand, almost growling as she realized just how far they were willing to go to make her miserable.
"Hey," Jaune said softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, "You okay?"
Ruby forced a smile, nodding quickly, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."
He didn't press, but the concern in his eyes made her feel bad. The only bright side was that her team didn't join in on the shenanigans. Oh, they still whined and begged to be involved with her and Jaune, but they didn't try to outright sabotage them. Either because they still had some sense of care for her or because they knew that if they did that they'd have to spend the next four years with a team leader who hated their guts.
She liked to think it was the first one.
That night she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her team was gone, of course. The were down in Vale trying to get guys to fuck them again. They were even more desperate now than they were before. Finding out she had a boyfriend lit a fire under their butts, much to the ire of Vale's many bachelors.
Ruby sighed. She loved Jaune. She loved being with him. But the constant harassment from the other Huntresses was starting to take its toll.
For a brief moment, she wondered if it was worth it. If she could keep fighting this battle every single day. But as her mind swirled with doubts, one thought rose above the rest, 'They're not going to win. I've come this far, and I'm not giving up now.' They could be as pathetic and jealous as she wanted. They were just jealous that she managed to get a guy to not only sleep with her, but that she did it it by being a normal freaking person instead of a horny gooner. She'd get through this too.
Hours later, she decided to call her mom up to vent. Ruby paced back and forth in the the room, her scroll pressed to her ear as she vented her frustrations. The call had started with a simple "Hi, Mom," but within seconds, Ruby had spilled her entire predicament, complete with reenactments of the Huntresses' antics.
"...And then they bumped into our table again! Like, what freaking Huntresss just accidentally dumps coffee on someone? Twice?! It's so obvious what they're doing, Mom!" Ruby groaned, flopping onto the bed in a dramatic heap.
On the other end of the call, Mom chuckled softly, "Oh, sweetie, I know this is frustrating, but it's nothing new. Huntresses are...well, let's just say they're a jealous bunch."
"Jealous thots," Ruby corrected, her voice muffled by the cushion she was face-down on.
Mom laughed, "Exactly. It's just part of the job. When you're one of the few women with a decent boyfriend, it puts a target on your back."
Ruby groaned again, rolling onto her side, "But it's so exhausting! I just want to enjoy being with Jaune without feeling like I'm in a war zone every time we step outside."
"Well, there's one solution that worked for me," Mom said, her tone light and teasing.
Ruby perked up slightly, "Really? What is it?"
"Get another Huntress into the relationship. Turn it into a throuple."
There was a long pause as Ruby stared at the scroll She must have misheard, right? "I'm sorry, what now?"
"You heard me," Mom said, completely unbothered, "Your mom knows what she's talking about, trust me. Back when your dad and I first got together, the same thing happened. Huntresses everywhere were sniffing around, trying to muscle in, thinking they could steal Tai from me. So, I had a chat with Raven, and we came to an agreement."
"...An agreement?" Ruby asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Mom, Dad, and 'Auntie' Raven were together as long as she knew them, but she always figured that they all fell in love at the same time or something. But an agreement? Like, a deal?
"Yep. I said she could join me and Tai if she helped fight off the horny bitches." Mom said cheerfully, "She joined in, and suddenly we had a united front. It's a lot harder for Huntresses to mess with a couple when there's another Huntress guarding the gates, you know?"
Ruby sat up, her jaw slack, "You're telling me our entire family dynamic is based on a tactical decision to fend off thirsty Huntresses?"
Mom laughed again, a mischievous edge to her voice, "You make it sound so cynical, sweetie! It worked, didn't it? Tai's happy, I'm happy, and Rae- well, she's happy-ish."
"That explains so much," Ruby muttered, running a hand down her face, "But Mom, that's...that's not me! I'm not just gonna grab some random girl and say, 'Hey, wanna join my relationship to fight off jealous thots?'"
"Well, no," Mom said, her tone turning practical, "You'd have to pick someone you trust. Someone who's compatible with you and Jaune. Someone who won't try to take over the relationship from under you or cause more problems. Someone who's equal. It's a big decision."
Ruby opened her mouth to protest but stopped short. As ridiculous as it sounded, there was a certain logic to it. Another Huntress in the mix could be an ally, someone to share the burden of dealing with the constant harassment. And...well, Jaune was pretty great. Maybe sharing him wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the woman she was sharing him with wasn't an absolute cringelord that demanded sex like a hungry seagull.
"You're actually considering it, aren't you?" Mom teased.
"No! I mean...maybe? Ugh, I don't know!" Ruby flopped back onto the bed, covering her face with a pillow, "This is so weird. Why is my life like this?"
"Because you're dating a good guy in a school full of jealous women," Mom said matter-of-factly, "It's not easy, I know that from experience, but if anyone can make it work, it's my little Rosebud."
Ruby groaned but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Leave it to her mom to turn her love life into some kind of military strategy, "Thanks, Mom," she said, her voice soft but sincere.
"Anytime, sweetie. Just let me know if you need help picking someone. But as a mom, I should suggest your sister-"
"Nope! Nope, nope, nope! Yang's a no-go!" Ruby shouted.
"Are you sure? You know, you don't have to share the bed at the same time. You could have alternate days-"
"Goodbye, Mom!" Ruby ended the call before Mom could say anything else, dropping the scroll without a care. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. The idea was insane. Absolutely, positively insane. But what choice did she have? In the kind of world they lived in, throuples weren't considered anything weird. Polygamy was legal everywhere, mostly to keep the Huntresses from complaining too much.
Ruby sat at her bed the next morning, her scroll resting on her lap as she stared blankly at the wall. Her mom's advice (if it could even be called that) had been rolling around in her head all night so she barely even slept. As much as she hated to admit it, there was a certain logic to it. A Huntress throuple wasn't exactly an unconventional idea in their world - it was practically a societal norm at this point. Well, as much of a norm as a minority could be. You could count the amount of Huntresses who got any dick in a generation with one hand.
Still, it wasn't like she could just grab someone and toss them into her relationship with Jaune. No, this required thought. Careful, strategic thought.
"Alright, Ruby," she muttered to herself, sitting up straight and clapping her hands, "Time to make a list."
She grabbed her notebook and began scribbling down potential candidates. The first names that came to mind, of course, were her teammates. They were close, they were family in the case of Yang, and they all had the same problem with thirst as the rest of the Huntresses at Beacon.
"Nope," Ruby muttered, shaking her head and crossing out Team RWBY in bold letters, "Not happening. If I bring one of them in, the other two will lose their minds and start whining about wanting to join. Not dealing with that. No way."
Next, she considered a few Huntresses she'd seen around Beacon. Ones who weren't outright disasters but still didn't pass the 'not-a-total-cringelord' test.
Vera from Combat Class? Nope. Too aggressive. And she was a bitch. Melanie or Miltia from Junior's club? Nope. Too sleazy. Besides, they had no problems getting guys. Velvet, that nice girl in the photography club? Definitely not. She might've been sweet, but the way she pounced on a poor Valean delivery guy last week was burned into Ruby's memory. Nora? She already had Ren and she wasn't interested in anyone else. Which, hey, good for her
Every name she considered was either too thirsty or didn't need to play the third in her relationship. Even the ones who seemed normal at first glance couldn't hide the desperate gleam in their eyes whenever a guy walked by. She wouldn't do that to Jaune.
Ruby let out an exasperated sigh, tapping the end of her pen against her notebook, "There's gotta be someone..."
And then it hit her. Someone sweet. Someone kind. Someone who'd already proven they liked Jaune but wasn't constantly throwing themselves at him. Someone who wasn't a cringy, feral lunatic.
Pyrrha.
Ruby's eyes widened as the thought crystallized in her mind. Pyrrha Nikos, the Invincible Girl. She was practically perfect. She was polite, considerate, and - even though she had her awkward moments - she wasn't a total disaster like the rest of the Huntresses. Sure, she had a crush on Jaune, but it wasn't the creepy, stalker kind of crush. If anything, she was the kind of person Ruby could actually see herself trusting with something like this.
Plus, Ruby couldn't help but feel a little bad for Pyrrha. The poor girl was so socially inept that every attempt she made at flirting with Jaune fell flat. It wasn't like she was ever going to get anywhere on her own. Maybe this could work out for everyone.
Ruby leaned back against her pillows, a small smile creeping across her face, "Pyrrha, huh?" she murmured, "This might actually be a good idea..."
With that thought in mind, she grabbed her scroll and started drafting a message, 'Hey, Pyrrha! You free to chat later? Got something I wanna run by you.' As she hit send, Ruby couldn't help but chuckle nervously to herself. This was either going to be the best decision she'd ever made...or an absolute trainwreck.
Of course, the idea of explaining this to Jaune was another matter entirely.
Ruby paced nervously outside the door to the infirmary, her scroll clutched tightly in her hand. She'd sent Jaune a quick message asking to meet, and now that she was here, she was starting to feel the weight of what she was about to propose.
"Okay, Ruby," she muttered to herself, taking a deep breath, "It's not weird. Totally normal. Lots of people do this. This isn't you being insecure or anything. It's just...strategy. Smart, tactical relationship strategy." She groaned and buried her face in her hands. Who was she kidding? This was the weirdest thing she'd ever done, and that was saying something.
"Ruby?" Jaune's voice snapped her out of her spiral, and she turned to see him open the door, his usual warm, slightly goofy smile on his face meeting, "Hey, what's up? Everything okay?"
Ruby's heart did a little flip at the sight of him. Jaune always had that effect on her, no matter how many times they'd been together, "Yeah! Totally fine!" she said, her voice an octave higher than usual.
Back on Patch, Zwei sat up after he heard what sounded like a Ruby-style dog whistle.
She cleared her throat and forced a more natural tone as she stepped inside the clinic, "I just...wanted to talk to you about something."
Jaune raised an eyebrow, "Is everything okay with us? Did I do something wrong?" He looked worried.
"No, no, no!" Ruby waved her hands frantically, stepping closer to him, "You're perfect! It's just..." She hesitated, biting her lip, "Things have been...kind of rough lately. With the other Huntresses."
Jaune frowned, "They're still giving you trouble, huh? I wish I could do something about it."
Ruby nodded, crossing her arms, "Yeah. They're out to get me just because I'm with you. And I get it, kind of. You're amazing, and they're jealous, but it's exhausting. I just want to be happy with you without feeling like I'm constantly under attack."
Jaune's expression softened, and he reached out to gently take her hand, "Ruby, I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. If there's anything I can do to help—"
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Ruby cut in, her cheeks flushing as she looked down at their joined hands, "I...uh...had an idea. About how to deal with it."
"Okay..." Jaune said slowly, clearly curious, "What's the idea?"
Ruby took a deep breath, steeling herself, "What if...what if we made it a throuple?"
Jaune blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion, "A throuple?"
"Yeah." Ruby's voice sped up, her words tumbling out in a rush, "You know, adding another person to the relationship. Like, another Huntress. Someone we both like and trust. Someone who could help take some of the heat off and, I don't know, make things a little easier?"
She braced herself for Jaune's reaction, but to her surprise, he didn't look shocked or upset. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully, "Huh. That's not a bad idea."
Ruby blinked, "Wait, really?"
"Yeah," Jaune said, shrugging, "Throuples aren't that uncommon where I'm from. One of my older sisters is in one, actually. It worked out pretty well for them."
Ruby stared at him, her heart doing another little flip, "Wow. Okay. That's...good to know. But are you okay with it? I mean, I don't want to pressure you into something you're not comfortable with. If you don't like the idea, just say the word. Topic dropped!"
Jaune smiled, squeezing her hand, "Ruby, I'm okay with it if you are. I care about you, and if this is something that'll make things better for you, then I'm all for it. But only if you're comfortable with it, too."
Ruby felt her knees go weak at the sheer sincerity in his voice. How was he always this sweet? This thoughtful? Sisters, she was the luckiest fucking girl in the world! "I'm...yeah, I think I'm okay with it," she said softly, her cheeks burning. She felt lightheaded, "I just wanted to make sure you were, too."
Jaune chuckled, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of her face, "Ruby, you don't have to worry about that. As long as we're on the same page, I'm happy."
Her heart melted on the spot, and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, "You're the best, you know that?"
Jaune laughed, hugging her back, "I try."
Ruby pulled back just enough to look up at him, a small, shy smile on her lips, "Okay, so...there's someone I was thinking of. For the throuple."
Jaune tilted his head, "Oh? Who?"
"Pyrrha," Ruby said, watching his reaction carefully, "I mean, she already likes you, and she's sweet, and she's not...you know, like the others."
Jaune's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, but he nodded slowly, "Pyrrha, huh? Wait, what do you mean she already likes me? She's just...well, nice!"
"You thinking that is one reason I love you." Ruby laughed, "But no, she's super in love with you."
"Oh. Wow, that's...that's a bombshell." He laughed back awkwardly, "But I guess that makes things easier, right?"
Ruby's smile widened, relief flooding through her, "Okay. Then I'll talk to her and see what she thinks."
Jaune leaned down to kiss her forehead, his voice warm and gentle, "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together, okay?"
Ruby nodded, her heart swelling with affection, "Yeah. Together."
And then, without any warning, she used her Semblance to lock the door before she tackled him to the closest bed. Jaune yelped, though it was quickly replaced by a laugh as their lips met in a deep kiss. She needed some stress relief right now.
Ruby fiddled with the hem of her blouse, glancing nervously at Jaune as they walked toward the training room where Pyrrha had agreed to meet them, "Okay, so, just to recap," she whispered, "We're going to lay out the offer, explain everything clearly, and give her time to think about it. No pressure." This was like...a business meeting. Yeah.
Jaune nodded, his hands in his pockets, "Right. We don't want to rush her into anything. It's a big decision."
"Exactly. We're professionals," Ruby said, squaring her shoulders. Professionals at what, exactly, she didn't bother to think about, "This is going to be a calm, mature conversation."
They turned the corner and stepped into the training room, where Pyrrha was already waiting. She looked up from where she'd been adjusting the straps on her training gear, her face lighting up at the sight of Jaune, "Oh, hi, Jaune! Ruby!" she said, her tone warm and cheerful despite her perpetual state of rizzless frustration.
Ruby took a deep breath. Calm. Mature. Professional.
"Hey, Pyrrha!" she said, forcing a smile as she and Jaune approached, "Thanks for meeting us. We, uh, have something we wanted to talk to you about."
"Of course!" Pyrrha said, setting her things aside and giving them her full attention, "What's on your mind?"
Ruby exchanged a quick glance with Jaune, who gave her a reassuring nod, "Okay, so, um...you know how Jaune and I are dating, right?"
Pyrrha nodded, her smile faltering just a bit, "Yes, of course."
"Well," Ruby continued, her voice speeding up slightly, "things have been kind of...rough lately. The other Huntresses have been really aggressive, and we've been thinking about ways to make things easier."
Pyrrha tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion, "Easier? How so?"
Ruby cleared her throat, trying to ignore the way Pyrrha's gaze kept flicking to Jaune like he was the sun and she was a sunflower. At any other day, she would've been jealous, but now she was going to use it to her advantage, "We were thinking...maybe...we could make this a throuple."
Pyrrha blinked, "A...throuple?"
"Yeah," Jaune chimed in, his voice calm and reassuring, "We think you'd be a good fit. With us, I mean. You're kind, you're not, uh, as intense as some of the other Huntresses, and we already trust you. We think it could work."
Ruby was about to launch into the rest of her carefully prepared explanation - it included a chart! - when Pyrrha's response derailed her completely, "Yes," Pyrrha blurted out, her voice trembling with excitement.
Ruby blinked, "Wait, what?"
"Yes!" Pyrrha repeated, stepping closer, her green eyes sparkling, "Absolutely, yes. I'd love to I agree. I do."
"Uh..." Ruby exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Jaune, who looked just as taken aback, "I mean, that's great, but you don't have to decide right away. We wanted to give you time to think about it-"
"I don't need time to think about it," Pyrrha said quickly, her voice firm, "This is everything I've ever wanted. Yes."
Ruby stared at her, completely thrown off her game, "Okay, um, I guess that's...settled?"
"Yes," Pyrrha said again, her voice a little breathless now as she glanced at Jaune, "Thank you. Both of you. This means so much to me."
Ruby scratched the back of her head, feeling a twinge of guilt, "Uh, Pyrrha, I also wanted to say I'm sorry. You know, for being kind of...catty-" Bitchy, a voice at the back of her head whispered - "with you when you came to visit Jaune before. I was new to the relationship, and my team was driving me crazy, so I took it out on you and-"
"It's fine!" Pyrrha interrupted, waving a hand dismissively, "Water under the bridge! Ancient history! No hard feelings!" Her eyes darted back to Jaune, "Yes."
"You're...saying that a lot," Ruby said.
"Because that's the answer. Yes. A thousand times yes to all things." She looked them both in the eyes, "All things."
Ruby opened her mouth to continue, but Jaune gently nudged her arm, his expression equal parts amused and bewildered, "I think we're good," he murmured.
"Yeah," Ruby muttered, watching as Pyrrha clasped her hands together, practically vibrating with excitement, "I think we're good."
"Wonderful!" Pyrrha said, beaming at them both, "So, what's next? Do we sign something? Is there a ceremony? Oh, should I move my things closer to yours?"
Ruby took a step back, holding up her hands, "Whoa, whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves. One step at a time, okay? And, you know, we're still students, so no moving in with each other. Let's wait until we all graduate, okay?"
"Of course, of course," Pyrrha said, nodding quickly, "I'm just...really excited. Thank you again. This is going to be amazing."
Ruby and Jaune exchanged another look, and Ruby couldn't help the small, bemused smile that tugged at her lips. This might not have gone exactly as she'd planned, but...well, at least Pyrrha was onboard.
"Yes," Pyrrha whispered under her breath, grinning from ear to ear.
Pyrrha gets a (partial) win and Ruby/Jaune get a third for their relationship. Like i said, the next chapter will be showing Pyrrha as part of the throuple and then a threesome with the trio consummating their new bond.
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