Tag(s): N/A
Girl(s): N/A
Words: 10,642
"You showered…"
Jaune paused at the entrance to his wife's office, looking the same as the last time he'd been there. A large desk pushed into the far right corner. Walls and shelves of files dominated the wall behind her large chair. And along the left wall, a small gray couch big enough for two had been crammed into the already cramped working space. That was where he found Pyrrha, frowning at his fresh clothes like they'd personally insulted her.
Closing the door behind him, Jaune stepped deeper into the room. Another glance toward his wife revealed she was still in her Beacon uniform from classes early that day. The pleated skirt and thigh-high tights left a small sliver of exposed pale skin, and her crossed legs helped nudge the already delightfully short material a few inches higher.
"Was I not supposed to?" Jaune laughed cautiously, looking down at himself with a frown. He'd thought she would appreciate a chance to avoid getting blasted by his BO after a long day at the gym. However, the slight frown on her face said otherwise.
Rather than answer, the redhead tilted her face expectantly, and her husband was all too happy to answer. Pressing his lips to hers, he had to bend over to reach. The awkwardness was worth the brush of softness and warmth that lingered against him like a promise. Before they parted, Pyrrha hummed pleasantly as her fingers tangled in the back of his head. And by the time Jaune rose back to his full height, all hints of surly disappointment had vanished.
Coquettish fingers found his belt loops, hooking and anchoring Jaune in front of his wife. Her emerald eyes fluttered up at him as she smiled. "Today was upper body, wasn't it?"
Jaune's answer was a groan. "Don't remind me. Cardin was merciless. I'm trying not to lift my arms if I can help it." But Pyrrha had none of the sympathy he'd been expecting. Instead, her eyes remained trained on the front of his shirt, twinkling with interest.
The blond already knew what was coming when he heard her request, "Would you mind lifting your shirt for me, please?" Jaune's expression turned flat as a sigh drew his shoulders an inch lower. However, he wasn't about to deny her, doing as she asked and stubbornly ignoring the gasp of delight that followed.
Pyrrha didn't bother smothering the tittering giggles that bubbled up as she admired the exposed skin of her husband's tummy. Over the past few months, the already flat plain had begun to tighten with a tantalizing definition. And on days he was forced to work those muscles, they became even more prominent, much to Pyrrha's pleasure.
The redhead didn't bother holding back, biting her lip as she allowed a single finger to trace the furrows of her husband's six-pack. Jaune's exasperation ultimately gave way to a prideful grin at the sight. Her exploration continued until she reached the few tawny hairs poking out from the waistband of his boxers, where it looked like she was tempted to take a bite.
"You're starting to get those…lines," she murmured, not sure what they were really called but feeling her blood start to race all the same. Jaune wasn't sure what she was talking about until he felt her finger move to touch the "V" leading toward his groin.
"Enjoying yourself?" Jaune teased.
"Very much," Pyrrha nodded, unabashed and unashamed as she continued her tactile observation. Her head tilted as her grin turned slightly silly. "You should remind me to pick up something nice for Cardin the next time we're in the city."
"And that's where I draw the line," Jaune drawled, dropping his shirt like a closing curtain. Pyrrha's show was over, and she made sure to voice her complaints until Jaune collapsed onto the cushion beside her. His next groan was one of pleasure at the chance to rest his body. Feeling Pyrrha's legs automatically lift into his lap, he pulled the long shapes against his front, allowing his arms to rest on top while his fingers drew calming circles against the smooth nylon of her leggings.
A quiet moment passed before Jaune's eyes snapped open and he remembered that they were here for a reason. "Where's Glynda? She messaged me about something important she wanted to talk about."
Pyrrha's eyes remained closed as she leaned back, enjoying his touch. "We were waiting for you when another teacher poked their head in and asked for her help. Something about ticket paper for the tournament?"
Jaune accepted the news without a second thought. The more time he'd spent around Glynda, the more he'd been able to see how many directions she was constantly being pulled in. The fact that she was juggling most of the school and festival on top of his own problems never ceased to amaze him. However, that still begged the question, "Any idea what she wanted to talk about?"
Pyrrha's pleasant expression flinched. Instead of answering, the young woman slowly removed her legs from her husband's hands to sit up, scootching close until they were hip to hip. Jaune's curiosity quickly became apprehension when he saw her attempt at a grin, barely feeling it when her fingers interlocked with his. "Let's just wait for Glynda."
So, that was a bad sign, right? Jaune swallowed against his throat. It was pretty clear that Pyrrha knew exactly what Glynda had in mind, which meant he was the only one who'd been left out of the loop. Suddenly, the comfortable office felt a little more stifling, like he was nothing more than a mouse who had been led into a trap.
Inevitably, his gaze drifted from Pyrrha's tense grin toward the door. Her fingers tightened in response, proving itself to be more of a snare than a loving gesture. The lock had already snapped shut. He had nowhere to run. And that was when Glynda appeared.
"Idiots," the older woman sighed to herself, too professional to slam the door behind her but sorely tempted. Her stoic demeanor shifted ever so slightly when she looked up to find two pairs of eyes staring back at her. Not noticeably, not if you didn't recognize the signs. But for Jaune, it had become nearly second nature as he watched the tension around her mouth smooth and her posture relaxed.
And then she frowned. "You showered? I thought I told you to arrive immediately after you finished your exercise."
"What is wrong with you two!?" Jaune lost his patience, forgetting his previous fear as he shot the two women exasperated glares. He'd reeked! "You guys seriously wanted to hang around me smelling like a locker room?"
Glynda didn't flinch, but Pyrrha had the decency to appear sheepish. "I know it's gross, but is it so hard to believe we like it?"
The blonde teacher hummed in agreement. "I've spent more than my fair share around perspiring teenagers to recognize that your scent is strangely pleasant. Especially after workouts."
As much as Jaune wanted to keep accusing the pair, he conceded with a roll of his eyes. He thought he smelled like hot garbage on those days. But he'd also smelled his wives either after exercise or more intimate, sweaty activities, and he'd never been offended. If anything, he loved laying on top of them afterward, burying his face in their necks or hair until their heart rates slowed back to normal. In the end, it wasn't that different than wearing your spouse's discarded t-shirts to bed. A habit that Glynda had unabashedly adopted since he'd started sleeping over more during the week.
"I'll skip the shower next time. Happy?"
Precise steps carried Glynda toward the younger pair until she stood above them. Her eyes were only for Jaune. "When I get to see you? Always."
That earned a smile, one that spread when Jaune watched her bend over for her own kiss. And rather than his hair, Glynda's fingers found a home on his jaw, lightly scratching the smooth skin of his face as their noses brushed. Firm against him, Glynda's lips parted once to close around his bottom lip before she pulled away. However, her hand remained, sliding from his face to his shoulder, where it eventually found his bicep.
Jaune's joy found itself cut short when she squeezed, openly groping the tired muscle with audible approval. "Upper body today?" Glynda asked, and not to Jaune. Instead, the question was directed to the other woman in the room, who nodded giddily in confirmation.
"Enough," he shook his wife's hand away. "You know, how would you two like it if I went around groping you two as much as I wanted?" Without so much as a glance between them, the two women answered in unison, with Pyrrha's tone pitched low and Glynda's perfectly dry.
"I would like that very much."
"You don't already?"
Jaune hadn't been expecting either response, leaving his two wives to burst into a sharp chuckle at his expense. But he wasn't about to take this abuse lying down. When Glynda turned to start toward her desk, he didn't hesitate to reach out and give his wife's generous rump a stinging pinch. But she didn't gasp like he'd expected. She didn't even jump. Instead of getting upset, she merely turned her head to send a wink over her shoulder, adding some sway to the short journey back to her chair.
How could one man be so lucky?
"So, is now a good time to ask what you two have been getting up to behind my back?" Glynda didn't answer right away, settling behind her desk. Rather than meet his raised eyebrow, she appeared unusually hesitant, fiddling with the already perfectly arranged papers. Pyrrha's hands found her husband's arm, running along the sleeves of his hoodie like someone might try and calm a frightened beast. Little did she know the effort had the opposite effect, setting the young man on edge.
"Please, Jaune. It's nothing so dramatic." Glynda eventually found her voice, her eyes focused on her desk. "You make it sound like a conspiracy. We've tried including you in these talks, but you've made it clear that it makes you uncomfortable. That means that Pyrrha and I have been forced to continue without your input. However, we've reached the point where any further progress is impossible unless you'd like us to personally pick your next wife for you. I have prepared for that outcome if it comes to it, but you've stated that you would prefer to have a say, and I want to respect that. We've done our best to find a way that approaches the topic as gently as possible."
Sore muscles became the least of Jaune's worries as he felt dread wash over him. "What does that mean?" He was scared to ask, eyeing the door once again. Pyrrha could still pin him down if she wanted, but he still had to try, didn't he?
Before he could muster the courage, Glynda pressed a series of buttons on her computer. The lights suddenly cut off, followed by the blinding flash of a projector humming to life over Jaune's shoulder. And on the bare wall opposite the couch, blue eyes blinked at the student profile blown large enough for the room to see. A female student's profile. Terror flooded through Jaune once he realized what was in store for him.
"Oh my gods. You made a PowerPoint."
Jaune didn't notice Glynda had stood up to join them on the couch until he felt her rear settle on the armrest nearest to him. She didn't hesitate to add to Pyrrha's efforts, running a soothing hand through his blond locks. "We've given you time. We've given you space. However, this can't be put off forever."
"You said I had until the Vytle Festival," Jaune whimpered, pouting like a five-year-old. That might have only been a month away, but it felt cruel to have that time snatched away without any warning. Then again, maybe he'd been too stubborn to read the signs.
"I said that you had until the Vytle Festival to start considering outside participants," Glynda softly corrected. "We still have an entire school full of eligible, powerful young women in the meantime. Pyrrha and I agreed on certain criteria that eliminated the majority, and we'd like to discuss and review those that are left to get your opinion."
Jaune thought he might get sick. This was the best they could come up with? This was their definition of gently?! It felt like they were asking him to pick women off a menu. It was a distinctly dehumanizing experience that left him slightly dizzy.
"Please don't worry too much," Pyrrha spoke up, watching the blood drain from his face. "It's not like we're asking you to pick anyone today. We just thought this was the best way to open the conversation. To get a sense of what you're looking for and what would be most beneficial for the family." She placed a kiss against his cheek, stroking the wet smudge with the back of her fingers. "We're just talking today. No one is expecting you to propose to anyone anytime soon."
It worked. Both Pyrrha's touch and her words helped calm Jaune down as he tried to focus on the startling quality of her beautiful green eyes. Despite himself, he wanted to make his wives happy. And given the amount of effort and thought they'd put into this whole production; it felt a little rude to dismiss them once again. He couldn't avoid this forever. He'd known this was coming. But that didn't make it any easier when the far off "eventually" became right fucking now.
Glancing back at the screen, he eyed the young woman's profile picture staring back at him. Awkward. Unaware that it would ever be used for a purpose such as this. The same as everyone forced to have their photo taken for school. Beneath that, a summary of her height, weight, academic performance, and highlighted abilities outlined her capability as a huntress.
Filling his chest with a long breath, he reluctantly asked, "What kind of criteria?"
The atmosphere immediately relaxed, as if the small office had been holding its breath. Glynda answered, taking his permission at face value. "Beacon houses roughly anywhere between two hundred and fifty-six to two hundred and fifty students spread across all four years. Initiation has a fixed number of open spots, but expulsion, dropouts, and the rare death does invite some flexibility in those numbers. We were able to exclude a little under half that number on gender alone, assuming you're only interested in courting more wives for our family?"
"Correct," Jaune huffed, his tone as dry as Glynda's humor.
Glynda continued without missing a beat. "Of those remaining, we were able to cull another forty-five due to lack of semblance."
That stopped Jaune short. "Wait, there are people who don't have semblances?"
"That's a complicated issue that's still up for debate, believe it or not. Some people claim that not everyone has a semblance or can unlock one. While others argue that the effects are simply too subtle to be noticed, even after a lifetime. Mechanically, it makes no difference. A weak or useless semblance is as helpful to us as no semblance.
"What is important to remember is that many of these girls are still young, and there is every chance that they could unlock their semblance between now and graduation. As Beacon's combat instructor, I've seen it happen more times than I can count. But Pyrrha and I decided that unknown factors were too dangerous to consider. The last thing we want is for you to marry a girl, only for their semblance to reveal itself as detrimental or in conflict with the rest of our abilities. Especially when we have much better information to work with pertaining to the rest of the students whose abilities have been recorded for the school. It would be much wiser to account for what can be measured rather than what we can't and discover the best synergies currently available to us."
Jaune wasn't in a position to argue. They'd clearly thought about this a lot more thoroughly than he had. But doing some quick math in his head, he felt himself blanch at the number he was left with. "But that still leaves over eighty students."
Glynda didn't look worried. "It may seem overwhelming, but we should focus on narrowing it down further for today. We'll go through the list and decide if they should be removed or be allowed to remain. It is as simple as that."
"Narrow it down based on what, looks?" Because, gods. That felt superficial. But Glynda appeared to disagree, nodding her head.
"Their appearance will certainly be one factor. Obviously, we want you to be happy with who you choose to spend your life with, and that means finding your partner at least somewhat physically appealing. However, I also want us to consider their semblance and their average aura levels. Let us take Ms. Tanner here as an example."
Jaune regarded the slide with a tired expression, sitting a little straighter once he got a good look at her picture. With pitch-black hair set over a coffee complexion, her startling purple eyes were set in a lovely heart-shaped face. He almost forgot to listen as Glynda started listening to the student's attributes.
"Reo Tanner is a second-year student who has done very well both academically and practically in her classes. Team cohesion has been recorded as fair, although the rest of her teammates have regarded her as too serious at times. Her weapon of choice is a shotgun-halberd mechashift combo. Her aura capacity is above average, and Ms. Tanner's semblance is of the active variety, given the name Photosynthesis: offering a large boost in strength and speed whenever she is exposed to direct sunlight."
Turning to Jaune, she offered her opinion, "I think this student would benefit our family quite a bit if she could be convinced to join. Her semblance alone would be quite helpful if dependent on the situation. But the aura alone would add a sizable chunk to our reserves."
Not to be left out, Pyrrha offered her two Lien, eyelashes fluttering as she leaned against Jaune's shoulder. "She's certainly pretty enough. Don't you think, Jaune? That skin is so beautiful, and her…eyes!"
Jaune wanted to raise an eyebrow at his wife. He knew that tone, which is how he knew that it likely wasn't Reo's eyes that left Pyrrha so captivated. The photo of the girl was limited to the top half of her body, which was more than enough to see how well she filled out her school uniform. Even beneath all those layers, the size of her breasts was prominent, and he would be lying if he said he also hadn't noticed.
"Well, Jaune?" Glynda prompted when he failed to answer either of them. "What do you think? Is this a woman you would consider pursuing romantically?"
"I mean," Jaune looked at her abilities and looked back at her chest, finally settling on Reo's piercing expression. "I guess?" It was hardly a ringing endorsement, but it was good enough for Glynda, who promptly pressed a button on her remote. Reo Tanner's profile was marked with a green checkmark before promptly making way for yet another student.
It was another girl, with a much rounder face than her predecessor, but smiling widely at the camera. "Emi Azuli," Glynda read off. "Her aura is above average, she's a club specialist, and her semblance is a passive that attracts all insects within a hundred-yard area." Jaune's skin started crawling even before his wife continued. "The reserves are certainly something to consider, but we still don't know how passive semblances work with yours. It might not be something you could turn off once acquired."
"Yeah. No way. Rejected." And you know what? Jaune didn't feel bad about it. Waking up next to a woman who attracted bugs into their bed like a magnet was bad enough, but no amount of aura in the world was worth the risk of getting stuck with the same power.
One look at Pyrrha showed she was of the same mind as him, guiltily but emphatically shaking her head. Without any complaint herself, Glynda clicked a different button, this one marking Emi's profile with a red X. Once again, the girl they'd been talking about slid out of view until another took her place.
The late afternoon continued like this for some time, with his two wives going over each woman like they might shop for clothing, humming and nodding with the occasional "Very cute!" erupting from Pyrrha.
Three more girls came and went before Jaune stopped feeling so queasy over the whole ordeal. Glynda's cold analysis of her students somehow made it feel a little less like picking out hogs at the market and more like picking characters in a videogame. Which they would be, in a sense. If things progressed to the point that he married any of these girls, they would be expected to fight together, adding their strength to his, and his to them. Unfortunately, old habits were hard to break, and the more comfortable he became, the more he found himself leaning toward candidates for entirely wrong reasons.
"I'm just saying that she looks…nice. Shouldn't that count for something?" The she in question smiled back at the room, beatific and sultry in a way that Yang would envy. Her name read simply as Cherrie Flaye. Fourth year. A combat knife specialist despite her laughably small aura pool. To make matters worse, her semblance offered the ability to emit a pleasant smell at will. One that had been described as…cherries.
Oh, but did he mention she had whiskers? Cute, adorable fox whiskers decorating each of her checks.
"Jaune," Glynda admonished. They'd been forced to linger on this profile so much longer than it warranted. But shuffling this woman into the rejection pile felt like it should have been a crime! It didn't help that Pyrrha was noticeably silent, her green eyes lingering on the girl's flawless pale skin and full lips even longer than Jaune had.
"But…," Jaune flailed, dissolving into a sullen whimper as he crossed his arms. 'But whiskers' he wanted to whine. Glynda pinned him with a glare, and he knew it was time to concede. Damn it. "Fine!" And it was with a heavy heart that the young man watched Cherrie disappear, her profile branded with an X.
Stubborn and grumpy, Jaune took two glances at the newest contestant before an uncomfortable expression quickly slid into place. "Um, is that Blake?" Sure enough, the black-haired girl stared back at him from the wall. Yellow eyes, pale skin, and her big bow included. The queasy feeling returned. "You guys didn't say anything about our friends being part of this."
"Why would they be excluded?" Glynda challenged, raising an eyebrow as if that should have been obvious. "If anything, I thought they would make for the easier decisions today. You already know them personally quite well, which means we can judge their personality and assimilation better than the rest of the candidates. That said, I do not believe Ms. Belladonna would be a good fit for you."
Jaune's emotions already felt jumbled, which meant he was as surprised as anyone when he felt the strange urge to defend one of his friends. However, it only took a second to see where Glynda was coming from. And it wasn't anything personal.
Blake's aura capacity was average, which wasn't bad but didn't help her stand out. Combat wise, her weapon proficiency had been highlighted as toward the top of her year, but the biggest problem was her semblance. Shadow was best utilized in a hit and run type of fighting style, which was the complete opposite of Jaune's function with his sword and shield.
She was still an amazing huntress in her own right. But personal skill and ability didn't always mean that they were a good fit into Jaune's semblance. And while they were reviewing potential wives, that was the priority. Without any further complaint, Jaune gave Glynda permission to mark Blake's profile with an X despite the strange sense of loss he felt watching her profile slide away.
Not because of any secret feelings on his part. None that were romantic, anyway. But there was no denying how beautiful Blake was. Unbidden, he found himself silently wondering how a relationship with the friend of a friend might go. How would she smile at him at the start of the day? How would she fit against his body, tall and curvy like his two other wives? And then his imagination carried him into the bedroom, summoning an image of her sharp features and naturally pink lips twisted into a mask of pleasure, golden eyes flashing in the moonlight.
'That's probably enough of that,' Jaune coughed, feeling his body start to react to the daydream. His ears were burning in his seat. A glance on either side showed neither of his wives had noticed his mental detour, too busy discussing the woman on the screen that Jaune hadn't so much as glanced at.
"What do you think, Jaune?" Pyrrha suddenly asked.
Jaune had no time to think. "I…agree?" But judging by the surprise on both women's faces, they hadn't expected that.
"Well, it is a surprise, but I'm glad to hear that you see things my way." Glynda nodded with approval, smiling slightly.
"It's very mature of you, Jaune." Pyrrha sounded so proud of him.
Feeling a pit open in his stomach, Jaune finally looked at the current profile to see what he'd agreed to. The reality did nothing to make him feel better.
Maggie Maze was a…sturdy young woman. Her aura reserves had been recorded as high above average, which likely suited her hammer fighting style quite a bit. Her semblance was even better, granting her the ability to double her strength and speed for ten minutes once a day, which was obviously extremely beneficial. The real problem was her jawline, which looked attractive enough on a man like his father. But on a seventeen-year-old girl? Not so much.
Jaune had no choice but to watch Glynda mark her profile with a green check mark, knowing there was nothing he could do to take it back.
He tried to be more present after that, suffering through another ten profiles before the next familiar face popped up. One that had him sitting noticeably straighter in his seat, eyes bright like a kid on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, his excitement was cut short as soon as the sound of two resounding "no," echoed on each of his sides, crushing his dreams in stereo.
Before he could say so much as one word, Glynda was already applying the X to Weiss' profile and trying to move on. Only Jaune stopped her, boldly snatching the device from her hand and rewinding back to the pale-haired girl's photo.
Weiss Schnee. Aura capacity was above average. Her Rapier proficiency was graded very high, as were the rest of her grades. And her semblance was Glyphs, both extremely powerful and versatile. It was all fairly positive, which was in addition to the fact that he'd been attracted to her since day one.
"Okay, her aura looks good, doesn't it?" Jaune tried to argue, giving each woman a hopeful grin.
"No," Glynda repeated herself, offering no further explanation. Jaune's eyes boggled at her.
"Well, what about her semblance?" Jaune shook his head. "I bet I could do a lot of cool things with that under my belt, don't you? Pyrrha?" He turned to his right, praying.
"No," Pyrrha also shook her head, albeit after a grimace.
"Let me get this straight," Jaune spoke very slowly. "She's got plenty of aura, her semblance is strictly beneficial, and I'm attracted to her. What's the problem?"
"You're forgetting the most important aspect," Glynda informed him, needlessly adjusting her glasses.
Pyrrha finished the sentence for her in the same sorry but not sorry tone as before. "That we can all get along." A comment that left Jaune dumbfounded.
Glynda did her best to explain, "The effect of your semblance helps curb any jealousy between us, but that doesn't make any woman you marry immediately likable. Which isn't to say we intend on being picky, but it does not feel unreasonable to ask that you don't bring home anyone likely to cause difficulties." Difficulties that girls like Weiss all but personified went unsaid.
Unwilling to back down completely, Jaune challenged her. "And what's so bad about Weiss, exactly?" He did his best to sound indignant, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't have an idea about what they were talking about.
Glynda was too happy to explain in no uncertain terms. "From what little I've been allowed to gleam from class, she's a brat. Entitled. And not to mention, she's related to that woman."
Okay, that came a little faster than Jaune had been expecting. Pyrrha was already continuing before he had the chance to argue. "She's also not very nice to you, and I don't appreciate that.'
"That said, she is a child. You all are, as much as I try to ignore that fact most of the time. I'm sure with time away from home and surrounded by the right kind of friends, she will mature and grow as we all do. But I can only judge her on how she is now, and at present, I do not think she would meld well into our family without considerable growing pains."
It hurt Jaune to hear, but they weren't wrong. He was able to put up with Weiss' worse traits most days, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware of them. And even he got annoyed with her attitude at times, regardless of her beauty. He couldn't fault his wives for not wanting to welcome that into their home.
"There's a chance the ring could help…mellow her out?" Jaune tried one last hail Mary. Glynda shot it down as quickly as the rest.
"Jaune," she said his name patiently but insistently. "The ring will make her love you, just like the ring makes me love you. But I am still every bit the woman I was before I met you, flaws and all. There's an argument to be said that you could use that love to pressure her into behaving, but that won't make either of you happy. Not even your ring can change a person's nature, I'm afraid."
She was right. He knew it. She knew it. And she knew he knew it, which was the most frustrating. Besides, even if he did get them to agree, Weiss had made her opinion of their relationship very clear. It would be almost impossible to convince her to agree without forcing the ring on her finger, and that wasn't an idea Jaune was willing to entertain.
Slumping in his seat, he put on a frown but handed her back the remote all the same. And Weiss' profile vanished for a second time, its red X intact.
The girl after Weiss was a pass and the one after that. After two dozen variations of beautiful women, his attention started drifting toward their semblances and how many of them were simply amazing, offering a kaleidoscope of abilities that he was somehow allowed to choose from.
"Immobility?" Jaune blinked at the screen. The girl herself was narrow-faced and not especially fetching. But that didn't stop the young man from marveling at her impressive ability.
"To an extent," Glynda corrected. "The greater the force she tries to resist, the more it drains her aura. But in her second year, it was confirmed that she was able to stop an ursa's full-speed charge dead in its tracks during her annual mission. So long as she has her aura, she cannot be moved in any direction, which I feel would be an incredible addition to our repertoire." Jaune agreed, which is why she was marked with a green check mark despite her looks.
Another girl came and went, came and went, and boredom began to truly take hold. They had yet to go through so much as half the full list, and Jaune was struggling to pay attention. 'If I'd known this was how I was spending my evening, I would have brought some snacks,' he sighed, scratching his stomach. Then again, munching on popcorn while reviewing potential brides did feel in bad taste.
Jaune should have known to be careful what he wished for. And any sense of boredom vanished as soon as Yang's picture sprang to life. He was beginning to really hate seeing his friends on this thing.
Her profile didn't say anything he didn't already know. Hand-to-hand specialist. A stupid amount of aura for one person. And then there was her semblance, Burn.
"It's quite a remarkable ability," Glynda complimented. "Ms. Xiao-Long's semblance relies solely on kinetic energy. Any damage and force implemented against her aura strengthens her, creating the illusion of flame you've likely seen appear once or twice in the classroom."
Jaune nodded at the information, remembering a few of her spars over the weeks when he'd seen the blonde girl ignite. He'd thought that was the extent of her semblance, increasing her damage via literal firepower. But this sounded a lot more powerful than he'd suspected.
"Granted, I do wish it wasn't attached to someone quite so reckless, but there's no denying the proficiency she's obtained in wielding its volatile power. Its sole limit is that it encourages spending aura for power, but your ring would nearly completely negate that drawback. By the time either of you ran out of aura, the power boost would make either of you truly monstrous in strength. You would become veritable juggernauts at the head of every battle."
Glynda turned to him, her eyes animated. "Of all the semblances available at Beacon, Ms. Xiao-Long's is likely the most powerful that we could hope for. Your current utility and defense in a fight are great, but you're in desperate need of offensive options. I strongly recommend considering her if you're comfortable pursuing a friend romantically?"
Huh, that was a good question. How would Jaune feel about marrying Yang? The blond paused at the thought. He'd never really considered her that way, to be honest. At first, that was mostly because she felt out of his league. And rightly so. She was obviously beautiful; with an outgoing personality and natural popularity he could only dream of. However, as the weeks went by, he'd like to think that they'd become something like friends. It was more of an extension of his and Ruby's friendship, but Yang enjoyed teasing him. And while she could get a little exhausting after having too much fun, Jaune had no trouble acknowledging that she was a blast to have around.
"I…wouldn't hate it," he nodded. Which wasn't much, but it was the truth. And it was all he had at the moment. He wouldn't hate it. But it wasn't like he was head over heels for the other blonde, either. "We get along okay. She can be a little much, but it's nothing I didn't get worse back home from my sisters." Turning to Pyrrha, he asked, "What do you think?"
"I like Yang!" Pyrrha smiled. "Certainly a big personality, but maybe that's what this family needs." It was a sentiment that Jaune wholeheartedly agreed with. Between him, Pyrrha, and Glynda, they might be able to scrap together a collective social skill that needed to be shared between them. They were just three introverted fucks faking a social battery until they were free to go home and screw each other in peace.
"Wonderful," Glynda commented before marking Yang's profile with a green checkmark. "In that case, I'd recommend testing the waters over the next few weeks. Perhaps you can invite her on a date?"
"Sure?" Jaune shrugged his shoulders. Talking to women wasn't nearly as scary as it had been when he first got to Beacon. Besides, she'd teased him enough about joining in on the harem that she was likely to say yes, if only as an excuse to keep making fun of him. Whether or not they got along or felt a spark was another matter, but you couldn't plan for everything. He just hoped that Ruby wasn't grossed out when he tried to date her sister.
'Or get jealous,' a voice that sounded suspiciously like Pyrrha's taunted him from his own mind. One that he ignored as fervently as the real thing. Or at least, that's what he tried to do. But when the next slide popped up, Jaune felt himself physically flinch at the silver eyed girl smiling at him from the wall.
Naturally, Pyrrha's reaction was the opposite. Her smile turned blinding, just in case Jaune might have hoped her stance had changed since their date. Pyrrha had been kind enough to keep those kinds of comments to herself since then, but Jaune knew better. Mainly when the redhead would shoot him looks whenever she caught him spending time with his friend.
Sliding deeper into his seat, Jaune knew he needed to prepare himself for what was coming. The last thing he needed was to hear both women start in on him about why he should try marrying his best friend.
Which made Glynda's words all the more startling. "I don't think Ms. Rose is a good fit for our family."
"What?"
"Why?"
The question leaped from Jaune's lips at the same time as Pyrrha's, who looked physically pained by the suggestion. Meanwhile, Jaune felt…he wasn't sure what he was feeling. Surely, he should be thankful that at least one of his wives wasn't trying to force more into his friendship with the younger girl. But hearing Glynda dismiss her so assuredly had left him oddly upset.
Looking at Ruby's profile, he couldn't find anything that would immediately disqualify her. Sure, the lower-than-average aura wasn't great, but he'd seen her semblance wreak havoc on the battlefield. Jaune had seen it often enough himself. And as for getting along with the rest of their family, Pyrrha clearly adored her. Unfortunately, his wife's decision had nothing to do with any of that.
"Ms. Rose…," Glynda began, unusually reticent. Her eyes narrowed as she appeared to choose her next words very carefully. "You're both aware that she was admitted to Beacon two years early, correct?" Both teens nodded, allowing her to continue. "That was for a reason. And it also has invited quite a bit of attention from certain individuals higher in power than myself. From Ozpin especially. Welcoming her into our family will likely attract more attention than we can comfortably weather, I'm afraid. Jaune's semblance is ostentatious enough that I'd rather avoid threatening his anonymity for as long as possible."
Her eyes flickered toward Pyrrha as she said this, lips pinched together as apprehension already played across her face.
"Teachers are watching Ruby?" Jaune hadn't been expecting that. "Because she's a prodigy?" It didn't sound so far-fetched. Ruby's power was easy to forget when you spent most of your time goofing off together. But she was strong. Much stronger than him. And even stronger than people two years her senior. There was no telling what she'd become by the time she graduated.
"That is one of the reasons, yes," Glynda confirmed. But she didn't expand on her answer, offering no further information. "Although, that is simply my advice. If you two feel strongly otherwise, I'm hardly in a position to make the decision for you."
And just like that, Jaune's two wives were looking at him. It was the first time he wished Glynda did have that kind of authority if only to save him from making this decision. Everyone knew where Pyrrha stood, so that meant he had the deciding vote.
Jaune's gaze lingered on his friend's picture, recalling the flash of her smile as he'd left her that afternoon. "She's just a friend," he eventually answered, doubling down. "Like I've been saying. If Glynda is that against it, I'm fine removing her from the list."
He could practically feel Pyrrha deflate beside him, but she didn't object. That left the two of them to watch the red X brand itself beside Ruby's picture before she was cast out with the rest of the rejects. And if Jaune's chest hurt a little watching her go, well, that clearly had something to do with Cardin's grueling workout.
And nothing else.
The last thirty minutes went by without any more excitement. Only one more familiar face made an appearance, Nora's. It was dealt with immediate rejection, without hesitation on any side. Jaune understood that she wasn't really his daughter, but you could only hear a girl call you dad so many times before sexual attraction became an impossibility.
It was as the evening reached the two-hour mark that the three of them decided on the last slide for the evening. Velvette Scarlatina.
"Ms. Scarlatina would be an…interesting option." Glynda winced. "She's a quiet girl, respectful in class, and known by the faculty to have an unshakable loyalty if you can endear yourself to her. However, her semblance is a tricky matter that I am unsure would benefit our family as much as other options might."
Jaune's eyes locked on the pair of soft, brown rabbit ears, and nothing else really mattered. "How bad could it be?" Jaune laughed, trying not to sound too interested. "There's no such thing as a useless semblance, right? It just means we'd need to get a little creative." His eyes strayed back to the photo.
"Perhaps," Glynda's tone became suspicious. "Tell me, Dearest. How skilled are you at photography?"
Photography? He scratched at his hair, failing to see the relevance. "I mean, I know how to turn on the flash on my scroll."
Glynda nodded as if that was what she'd been expecting. "Then it may be beneficial to focus our attention elsewhere. Ms. Scarlatina's semblance relies on keen observation and a fundamental understanding of her subjects. Through a camera's film, she is able to then capture the essence or aura of another Hunter to be used later as facsimiles for combat.
"Okay?!" Jaune stared at his wife, wide-eyed, trying to understand the problem. "But that sounds badass?"
"Yes, it is rather flashy. It's also something of a double-sided blade. The projections can only maintain their shape briefly. The more photos she has, the more ammunition, which is wonderful for short-term battles against higher-skilled opponents. Unfortunately, it can be quite limiting against many smaller battles or large groups. Nor does it combine well with either my own or Pyrrha's semblance, making it a poor strategic choice."
It was a well-thought-out and rational explanation. But Jaune still had one argument.
"But bunny girls, you guys! Bunny girls!" He gestured toward the large image as if the two simply hadn't registered the Faunus features.
Glynda and Pyrrha leaned to look at each other across from Jaune, communicating a few silent glances before pinning their husband with their combined suspicion.
"Honey?" Pyrrha asked.
"Dearest?" Glynda intoned.
Pyrrha's hands snaked toward his chest before she continued. "Is there something you'd like to tell us? Because we're starting to get the impression that you have…something of a type."
"More like fetish," Glynda raised an eyebrow, not nearly as gentle as the younger girl.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jaune denied, unwavering in the face of their combined storm. "I'm just trying to show you guys that everyone has something to offer. I mean, she still has aura, right? That's something. We shouldn't be so quick to dismiss her."
"Yes" Glynda nodded, "But no more than what most of the girls we already dismissed were offering. Ms. Scarlatina relies on speed and fast reflexes to draw her opponents' attention and evade their attacks while her teammates focus on damage. Certainly valuable in her own way, but it means that her aura is average at best."
"Dodge tank," Jaune winced, cursing under his breath. He appeared to physically shrink in on himself as he had no choice but to accept his fate.
"Don't worry," Pyrrha soothed. "I'm sure there's still plenty of cute Faunus girls to choose from in the future. Hopefully, ones with better semblances."
"No idea what you're talking about," Jaune repeated himself. Deny, deny, deny. Pyrrha and Glynda decided to let the issue go.
Just like that, the room returned to normal. The projector clicked off and the lights returned. Jaune took the opportunity to stretch his overworked but undermoved body. His wives did the same while Glynda moved over to consolidate the day's choices in their respective folders. They still had half the list to go through, but it was a great start. Better than she'd been expecting from her husband, frankly.
"I think you deserve a reward," Glynda straightened, smiling softly at Jaune's surprised expression. "I know today was difficult, but you didn't complain and handled yourself well. How about we head home, get something to eat, and retire to bed early." The words were even, but the look in his wife's eyes held the promise that sleep was the last thing on her mind. It was a look that sent Jaune's blood in exactly one direction and part of him was already shivering with anticipation.
It was Friday night, which meant the weekend had officially started. Spending it at home, cooking a nice meal for his wives, and spending the rest of the night without a stitch of clothing sounded like heaven on Remnant. Until he remembered a certain girl still waiting to read comic books back in his dorm.
"That sounds amazing," Jaune sighed, drawing close to pull Glynda into a kiss. The kiss was heavier than the first, obviously intending to stoke his interest in later. And she succeeded. Enough that he was the one who had to pull away. "But do you mind if I postpone for an hour? Hour and a half? I got this, um, thing."
Forcing a chuckle, Jaune winced at himself. He doubted he could have sounded more suspicious if he'd tried. It probably would have been a lot easier if he told them that he'd made plans with Ruby, but after what they'd just done, the idea made him uncomfortable. It wasn't like he had any reason to be guilty. He only wanted to spend some time with a friend after all this heavy relationship drama.
"A thing…," Glynda repeated. And even Pyrrha looked curious as she stood there in her uniform. But it wasn't as if Jaune had ever given them a reason to doubt him. "Okay, go enjoy your thing. We'll order you some takeout and leave it on the table?"
Jaune couldn't believe it was as easy as that. And then he remembered how great both of his wives were, smiling wide at each of them. "You're the best," he kissed Glynda one more time before turning to give Pyrrha the same treatment. "I won't be long, promise." And then he was gone, leaving them to watch him disappear into the hallway.
Pyrrha stared after him for a minute, suspicion playing behind her emerald gaze. Women's intuition was a very real thing, and something told her she knew exactly what had reserved her husband's attention. Not that she was upset. Far from it. She merely wondered why he thought he had to keep it a secret.
When she turned back around, she found that Glynda had gotten distracted by something on her scroll as the blonde flicked through page after page, pausing every now and then before moving on. Sitting down next to her, Pyrrha bit her lip before hesitantly suggesting, "So what would you think about possibly buying some…" But she didn't get a chance to finish. Not before Glynda flipped her scroll around to show a long catalog of customizable Faunus features, all for the exact purpose that Pyrrha had had in mind.
"Way ahead of you," The blonde drawled.
"Oh!" Pyrrha's eyes widened at what the blonde had already placed in her cart. She reached toward the scroll to get a better look. "Dibs on the cat ears!" Her cheeks turned pink at the very idea.
Glynda snatched the scroll away with narrowed eyes, raising a single sharp eyebrow. "I get the cat ears," she pronounced, shooting her sister-wife down in an instant. "You get the fox tail."
Pyrrha's eyes widened at the indignity, huffing a single breath. But she didn't argue, squeezing close to the other woman so that she could rest her cheek on her shoulder and watch what else the website had to offer. Glynda accepted the other girl's weight without a second thought, angling her screen so she could get a better look and opening another item's page when the redhead pointed with excitement.
Raising an eyebrow, Glynda shot the younger girl a surprised look. Surprised and impressed. Pyrrha didn't notice, moving on to the next item with the same gasp of wonder.
XxX
Jaune's short trip back to the dorms was just the break he needed after that ordeal. The whole thing had felt weird and stressful, but he decided to focus on the positives. Namely, Pyrrha and Glynda looked much happier with him, even if that came at the expense of asking Yang out.
Given more time to think about it, he still wasn't against the idea. Yang was pretty. Her semblance was great. And he was sure she would make a great wife…someday. This was just the first time he was allowed to pursue someone romantically without his semblance getting in the way.
Oh sure, it was involved. And depending on how things progressed with the other blonde, Jaune would need to think about how much to tell her beforehand if it ever came up. But it would still be her choice. He'd make sure of that. Pyrrha had been an accident, and Jaune had no choice but to believe that Glynda had decided to keep her ring. Whoever he married in the future would know what they were signing up for before they put on the ring.
He could only hope that by that point, Yang loved him enough to look past his semblance or trusted him enough to believe him. It was a big ask, but he was starting to put the cart before the horse. He still had plenty to worry about before his semblance became an issue. Namely, if Yang would even say yes and where he was going to take her assuming everything went well.
"Blake mentioned Yang liked Mistrallian, right?" Jaune muttered to himself as his door came into view. Well, he could always take her to Olympus. Pyrrha had enjoyed it the last two times they'd gone. But something about taking a girl to a restaurant at a hotel seemed…forward.
He'd have to be careful not to push things quite so quickly as he was used to progressing. Or how quickly he'd been forced to progress during his last two relationships. Not that he'd taken much convincing, but still. There was something nice about the idea of taking it slow and getting to know Yang before slapping a ring on her that made Jaune a little excited by the prospect.
"I guess I could always ask Ruby," But Jaune realized his mistake a second later. When they'd started hanging out, Ruby had mentioned the one year she'd spent at Signal. During that time, a lot of people thought it was a good idea to get close to the popular Yang through her baby sister. They were wrong, of course. But that hadn't stopped others from trying the same thing, and the last thing Jaune wanted was for Ruby to think he was anything like them.
Jaune stopped outside his door, hesitating before his hand could reach the handle. Telling Ruby about Yang was going to be weird, no matter how he explained it. But there was one other good thing that came from today. At least now he didn't have to worry about juggling the awkwardness of Ruby's potential feelings. Now that Pyrrha and Glynda had agreed, the two of them were free to be friends.
Yep…a good thing.
Jaune's eyebrows drew together despite himself. It was a good thing. So why did he feel so…let down? It wasn't a disappointment. There was nothing to regret. She was two years younger than him. They were best friends. There were a million reasons why they wouldn't work out together. Unfortunately, he couldn't deny the sense of loss that had lingered in his chest ever since he'd watched her profile disappear.
It was almost like he was mourning the possibility of something more rather than the imagined relationship itself. He'd spent the last month with a constant "what if?" lingering in the back of his head. To have that suddenly taken away felt unresolved.
Standing outside his dorm wasn't going to solve anything. Jaune shook himself before forcing his hand onto the doorknob and turning, swinging the door inward. He found Ruby where he'd left her, reclining in one of the ratty beanbags they'd stuffed into the corner with a few scattered soda cans lying about. Any negativity lingering in his heart immediately vanished as she glanced up at his entrance, her brilliant smile returning as she greeted him. "Hey, Jaune!"
'That's right,' Jaune breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't lost anything. He'd protected the thing he already had. One of the few relationships in his life without any guilt or romance lingering on his soul like a sour grape. Ruby was his friend. His best friend. And that wasn't anything less just because there could have been something more.
"Man, is it good to see you," Jaune sighed, collapsing next to the short-haired girl with a huff. First Cardin and then wife hunting, he felt drained both physically and mentally.
Laying on her stomach, she had to look over her shoulder at him, giggling at the theatrics. "Pyrrha and Glynda have you moving furniture all afternoon, or something?" the younger girl snipped cheekily, feet kicking behind her without a care.
"Furniture?" Rather than picking up a comic book immediately, he was content to lay there and bask in the easy company. "Why the heck would they do that?" Jaune laughed to himself.
"I dunno. But you sound even more stressed than when you left. I'm kind of just going off of what I've seen on sitcoms over here." Her shoulders shrugged, and her eyes returned to the comic, flipping a page. Jaune was struck with the reminder that Ruby's family wasn't exactly nuclear either.
"Naw, nothing that easy. I, ah-. I won't bore you with the details, but the emergency ended up being a very long conversation about the future." He tried to make light of the ordeal, but he could practically hear Ruby's nose wrinkle at the idea.
"Gross," Ruby drawled, probably looking as afraid as he had back in Glynda's office.
"You're not wrong." Turning his attention away, he spotted a tower of comics that Ruby had set up between them. Some were clearly already rifled through, but most had been untouched. Grabbing the top of Ruby's discard pile, he sighed at the familiar X-Ray and Vav characters, perking up when he realized this was their newest issue. 'What were they doing last month?'
"Find the comics okay?" He asked, ready to distract himself. Another page turned before Ruby answered.
"Yep," she chirped, popping the P. "Took a minute of digging, though. You guys really need to start organizing your stuff better. Especially if you keep dragging this much loot home every time. I really had to get in there and dig." Jaune started to turn the page before he realized that he'd failed to comprehend anything he'd just read, forcing him to start over. "I did find something else pretty cool, though."
"Oh, yeah?" Jaune mumbled. "Pyrrha likes to grab all kinds of knick-knacks." Although, part of him was surprised that Ruby was interested in things like that. Then again, maybe it wasn't fair to judge the girl. Ruby was more than superheroes and weapon upgrades. Nobody was that simple. Maybe he could pick something out for Ruby to decorate her dorm the next time they were out?
"Mhmm," Ruby nodded. "It actually got me thinking. About you. How nice you are. To me. To everyone. You were my first friend at Beacon, you know? I'm really lucky that you were there to pull me out of that crater."
"Um, yeah," Jaune agreed, confused. Ruby wasn't usually this sappy but he wasn't about to disagree. "You too. You're, ah. You're a really good friend." Which was the truth. So why was this conversation making him so uncomfortable?
"My best friend," Ruby agreed, grinning. "You understand how stressful it is being a team leader. What it feels like not to belong and being awkward. You get me. So wouldn't it be nice if we were even closer?"
Jaune forgot about his comic completely as a pit opened in his stomach. He was forgetting something. Something important. Turning his head, he looked at his friend, only to find her unchanged, happily flipping through her comic and bobbing her head to some silent jingle only she could hear.
"Like…super best friends?" Jaune swallowed against his throat, slowly adjusting his attention toward the bed. And if the crumbled sock resting on the top of the comforter didn't capture his attention, the faint light shining within the worn fibers certainly succeeded. Suddenly, he was reminded of where he'd left the keys to his semblance at the start of the year.
In an old sock. Underneath his bed. Which was exactly where he'd sent Ruby…
"Ruby?" Jaune licked his dry lips, "Could you show me your hands for a second?" Except she didn't answer. And by the time Jaune thought to look toward her, the dark-haired girl was gone, and in her place was a measly scattering of red rose petals.
It was like something from a horror movie. Jaune's heart leaped into his throat as he tried to find where she'd gone. In the end, he heard his friend before he saw her, catching the woosh of air above him. She landed in his lap with a thump, appearing as if from thin air.
Jaune couldn't help it; he yelped. More from the shock than the middling weight of her pubescent figure. His wide eyes immediately latched onto Ruby's expression, smiling and joyful just like that morning before he'd had to leave her. The only difference was the brilliant red blush that had all but consumed her pale features.
"I was thinking we could be even closer. Like…family?" Ruby answered instead, finally allowing a hint of shyness to infect her cheerful tone.
Shocked, embarrassed, afraid, excited? Jaune's rampant emotions screeched to a halt as soon as he felt her small palm settle against his chest. Suddenly, he was confronted with the fact that Ruby was sitting in his lap, her pale thighs settled on either side of his hips. The girl's firm backside rested against a part of him no friend should ever touch.
'Then again, she's already seen that part of me, hasn't she?' A detached part of him recalled. Was touching it truly that much worse?
She was still in her uniform, the pleated skirt resting high on her full thighs. Jaune had the benefit of tights to protect her modesty. But the dark, skin-tight material never felt so insubstantial than when he realized it, and a thin pair of panties were the only thing between his pants and her bare flesh.
Thankfully, his appreciation of his young friend's budding curves took a sharp left turn when his eyes dropped to the hand braced over his heart. The hand and the brilliant ring made of light trapping her finger. Any thoughts of arousal quickly vanished from his thoughts, leaving the young man with chilling clarity.
Jaune's hips bucked. He tried and failed to sit up, a combination of Ruby's strength and his exhausted muscles keeping him pinned beneath her. Damn, she was stronger than she looked! Or, Jaune was weaker. Either way, his now panicked eyes turned back to his friend's face, only to see her completely unbothered by his struggles.
"Ruby, you need to listen to me," Jaune tried, earning a dreamy nod from the younger girl. "This is because of the ring, okay? The ring is making you act this way. You need to take it off. Or let me do it." But his logic did nothing to affect the girl, who abruptly snatched her hand out of his reach.
Instead of getting defensive or angry, Ruby held the semblance out in front of her. "Isn't it pretty?" She giggled, actually giggled! It should have sounded wrong, but Jaune found himself almost mesmerized by the sound as Ruby gazed down at her ring, stroking the band lovingly. "It was tucked away, all hidden in the dark. But I saw it shining, and I knew it was meant for me."
Her eyes returned to Jaune's, showering him with another of her tomato-red smiles. "Thank you, Jaune." The words came in a bashful whisper. "No one's ever gotten me jewelry before. Does it…does it look good on me?"
The question did something inside Jaune's chest. It felt twisted. Ugly. Wrong. His throat felt like sand straight from Vacuo as he tried to swallow, searching for an answer.
He knew what he wanted to say. "No." To hurt her feelings, destroy her; anything so long as it snapped her out of it. But his lips couldn't form the word, an expression of pain flashing across his face.
"Please, Ruby," Jaune begged, silently infuriated that he'd allowed himself to fall into this position again. And that Ruby was the one paying the price. "This isn't you. Take the ring off. Just for a second." Before it was too late. "You don't love me."
For one glorious moment, Ruby appeared to think about it for a second. Her eyes regarded her ring and then him as if they were both some great puzzle. At last, he felt her weight lift off him in another burst of her semblance.
Jaune gasped in relief, immediately pushing himself up from the awkward seat. "I got through to her!" his heart sang, "Maybe I can still salvage this." But when he lifted his head, his expression froze when he realized that Ruby hadn't gone far. The shorter girl had reappeared right in front of him, bent forward, hands on her normal knees to angle her face until it was less than an inch from his.
"Oh, Jaune," she sighed, washing his mouth with her soda-stained breath. "Of course I do. I always have." And then she captured the last inch, leaning forward until her tiny lips pressed against his in the softest of caresses.
Not that Jaune felt it. He couldn't. Not as his ears rang with the words he had been fearing ever since Pyrrha first put the thought in his head. And as Ruby was consumed with a flash of brilliant white light, all the young man could think was how nice his friend smelled, the sensation of her short hair tickling his jaw, and finally, the sugary taste of her breath puffing through his parted lips as she leaned into the embrace.
A moment later, the light faded as Ruby's ring solidified into a golden band, sealing her fate.
A/N: Oh, Ruby. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to touch socks that you find underneath teenage boy's beds?
And we all say in unison, "THE RINGS ARE UNDER THE BED!" Yes, those that caught that were absolutely correct. Good for you. The original ending for chapter 26 actually had Ruby discovering the sock as Jaune was walking out the door, but I decided to give you guys some credit, and I was absolutely rewarded for my faith. You guys are the best.
Now, to address the elephant in the room. Some of you are probably going to be a little annoyed or pissed at this direction. Namely, Ruby falling into the sameish trap as Pyrrha and Jaune accidentally stumbling into a third wife. For those of you that are worried that this is just going to be more of the same for the sake of porn, don't you worry! Without spoiling anything, I have a plan, and I cannot wait for you all to see. All I'm asking is that you show me a little faith. Ruby's arc is just starting, and I have a lot planned for her character to make her just as interesting as Glynda and Pyrrha.
As for everyone else, thank you for your kind reviews. I love seeing you engage with the story and everyone has been so kind.