Jaune bit into a piece of fresh, buttered bread, his gaze drifting over the towering skyline of Atlas beyond the glass windows of the penthouse. The city gleamed in the early morning light, its high-rise buildings standing proud against the clouds. The warmth of the bread lingered on his tongue, but it did little to distract him from the lingering soreness in his body.

And the marks. His neck, his collarbone, his chest, all littered with faint red marks like a silent testament to the night before. His messy blonde hair streaked with white still carried the faint scent of perfume and sweat, a mixture of two distinct fragrances intertwined, clinging to his skin.

He sat there, calmly, chewing his bread, processing.

Across the table, two of the most powerful women in Remnant sat in equal disarray.

Weiss Schnee, CEO of the SDC, dressed in nothing but a loosely tied nightgown, her white hair an absolute mess from sleep. Despite her usually impeccable posture, she was slumped slightly, a hand propped against her cheek as she sipped her coffee, her icy blue eyes hazy with exhaustion.

Pyrrha Nikos, Champion, Huntress, bodyguard, mirrored the same disheveled appearance. Her red hair cascaded wildly over her shoulders, and her green eyes carried a subdued glow, still waking up. The nightgown she wore, slightly looser than Weiss's, barely did anything to conceal the generous figure beneath.

And like him they bore marks.

The faintest hints of red and purple blemishes dusted their skin, marring flawless porcelain and sun-kissed gold. The scent of sweat, skin, and lingering passion still clung to them, undeniable and impossible to ignore.

Jaune exhaled slowly, watching as the realization, delayed by exhaustion and indulgence, finally caught up with them.

Neither spoke immediately.

For once, Weiss Schnee, the woman who always had something to say, was silent.

Pyrrha, the pride of Mistral, was clearly sorting through her emotions, her lips slightly pursed, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea that she hadn't even sipped from yet.

Jaune tapped his fingers against the table, then finally broke the silence.

"Do you both understand what I was trying to say now?"

Weiss snorted, swirling her coffee before taking another sip, her expression somewhere between embarrassment and defiance.

"Yes, yes, we get it, Jaune," she sighed dramatically, though the faintest pink dusted her cheeks. "And actually—"

She set her cup down, leaned back, and crossed her arms, the shift in posture only emphasizing the curves her nightgown failed to properly cover.

"Ruby texted me about your mission last night, after we… well, after we got you back here."

Jaune froze mid-bite.

"She did?"

Pyrrha hummed, finally taking a small sip of her tea, her expression more composed now.

"She did," she confirmed, tucking a stray strand of red behind her ear. "And while we might have been… emotional, reckless even, we're not stupid not to listen concerning the Gods. We were still going to help you even if you had jumped out of the building and flee."

Jaune set down his bread, glancing at them both carefully.

"Then you understand why I did what I did? Why I left? Or how important my mission was?"

Weiss rolled her eyes, but there was no real bite behind it.

"Oh, we understand. It doesn't mean we approve of it," she said, a hint of irritation in her voice, but not the raw anger from before.

Pyrrha nodded in agreement, watching Jaune with that ever-present warmth she always carried.

"Despite how we acted, we're not fools, Jaune," she said softly.

Jaune's face had a 'you could have fooled me' look.

Still, for a moment, he had feared this would turn into another drawn-out conflict, but instead… they understood.

Then he noticed something odd.

They were too calm now. Somewhat expecting too.

The teasing glint had returned to Weiss's eyes.

And Pyrrha's expression was just a little too composed.

Jaune narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"What?"

Weiss smirked, lifting her coffee cup deliberately slowly.

"What?" she echoed.

Jaune didn't buy it for a second.

"That look on your face. I don't like it."

Pyrrha raised a brow, amusement flickering behind her green eyes.

"Oh? You don't like the way we're looking at you?"

Jaune immediately regretted speaking.

Weiss tilted her head, setting her cup down and tapping a finger against her lips.

"You know, Jaune… if you wanted more, all you had to do was say so," she said innocently.

Jaune choked on his own breath.

Pyrrha chuckled, hiding her knowing smile behind the rim of her tea.

"We could use your Semblance, but I think that'd be a bit too much, even for you," she teased.

Jaune groaned, rubbing his face.

"This is cruel and unusual punishment."

Weiss grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Cruel? Or did you misspoke 'pleasurable' as a word? Oh, Jaune, dear, you should know by now that we don't do anything halfway."

Jaune muttered curses under his breath, staring down at his plate like it held the answers to all his problems.

Then, he exhaled and turned serious again.

"Look, I just need to know—"

He looked between them, his blue eyes searching for theirs.

"Was this… a one-time thing? Or is there more to it?"

The teasing atmosphere shifted slightly.

Not gone, but quieter now.

Weiss leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.

"Why? Are you worried this was just a transactional deal?"

Jaune didn't answer immediately.

Pyrrha's gaze softened, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup.

"Jaune, we're not so careless that we'd do something like this without meaning," she said gently.

Jaune glanced away, exhaling deeply.

"I just… I don't want to intrude on your marriage," he admitted.

Weiss snorted, shaking her head.

"Jaune, please. I'm a Schnee. Everything is possible."

Jaune stiffened.

That sentence did not ease his concerns.

Weiss and Pyrrha exchanged glances, something unspoken passing between them.

Jaune sighed.

He felt their gazes on him, unwavering and expectant, as if they were waiting for him to catch up to something obvious.

He wasn't.

And that was the problem.

Weiss, her nightgown barely held together by a loosely tied strap, crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she examined him. The playfulness had left her eyes, replaced by something far more serious.

"Jaune, do you want to be in a relationship with us?"

The question hung between them like an unshakable weight.

Jaune froze, suddenly very aware of how exposed he was, not just physically, but emotionally. His mind whirled, grasping at every possible response, but no answer seemed sufficient.

His first instinct was to deflect.

Make a joke, avoid the weight of the question, but he couldn't.

Not with the way Weiss was looking at him.

Not with the way Pyrrha, sitting beside her, waited patiently, her green eyes soft yet resolute.

Not after this.

Jaune exhaled slowly, running a hand through his disheveled blonde hair before resting it on the table.

"…I don't know," he admitted, his voice quieter than before.

Weiss narrowed her eyes slightly, but didn't say anything.

Pyrrha, however, smiled.

A small, knowing smile.

Jaune continued, his gaze lowering to his hands, gripping the edge of the table as if grounding himself.

"I mean, let's just… think about this, yeah?" he said, glancing up cautiously.

"You're—" he gestured vaguely at them, "—Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos. Two of the most beautiful, powerful women in Remnant. You could have anyone. Anyone. And yet you're asking… me? I'm not that good."

Weiss's expression didn't change.

Pyrrha simply tilted her head, looking at him like he was the single most oblivious person in the world.

Jaune pressed on.

"I faked my death, I left for ten years, I didn't even date either of you before all this—" He let out a frustrated breath, looking between them. "So why me?"

There was a pause.

Then Weiss and Pyrrha looked at each other.

Then back at him.

Like he was an idiot.

Pyrrha giggled softly, shaking her head.

"Jaune… sometimes you're so dense it's actually endearing," she mused.

Jaune blinked.

Pyrrha leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and fixed him with a gaze so full of warmth that it sent an unfamiliar heat creeping up his neck.

"It's kind of a girl's dream, you know? To be swept away by the Rusted Knight, to fall for the hero with his Jackalope…" She trailed off, smiling playfully, then sighed wistfully, as if reliving a childhood fantasy. "And knowing that the Rusted Knight is you…?"

She rested her chin on her palm, giving him a look so devastatingly fond that Jaune's heart lurched in his chest.

"Who could resist?"

Jaune opened his mouth, but no words came out.

His mind scrambled for a response, but everything just short-circuited.

Weiss, beside Pyrrha, huffed, rolling her eyes.

"You make it sound like we're just interested in some fairytale hero, Pyrrha," she said pointedly, before turning her attention back to Jaune, her icy blue eyes locked onto his.

"It's not just because you're the Rusted Knight, Jaune."

Jaune swallowed.

There was something so heavy in her voice, not in a way that felt burdensome, but absolute.

Final.

"It's because you're Jaune Arc."

The room felt a little too quiet.

The words settled deep inside him, and Jaune wasn't sure what to do with them.

He wasn't sure he deserved them.

Pyrrha, sensing his hesitation, let out a soft hum.

Then she smirked.

"Though… Weiss does like your new looks, too."

Weiss immediately whipped her head around, shooting Pyrrha a glare.

"Excuse me?"

Pyrrha just smiled mischievously, swirling her tea.

"I mean, you're the one who kept calling him 'ruggedly handsome' last night, aren't you?"

Jaune choked on air.

Weiss's cheeks flared red, and for a moment, she looked caught between offense and guilt.

Then she sighed heavily, averting her gaze, muttering something under her breath.

Jaune blinked.

"…Wait."

He stared at Weiss, then at Pyrrha.

Then back at Weiss.

"Was that true?"

Weiss cleared her throat, taking a slow sip of coffee, suddenly very interested in the window view.

Jaune gawked.

Pyrrha, looking way too entertained, rested her chin on her hand, her green eyes glinting.

"Oh, she said more than that, Jaune," she teased.

Jaune didn't know whether to die from embarrassment or just leave the room entirely.

He let out a long, long sigh, rubbing his face with both hands before peeking through his fingers at Weiss, who still refused to look at him.

"…So you're saying this isn't just some weird, post-emotional breakdown reaction?" he clarified, voice still laced with disbelief.

Pyrrha nodded.

Weiss, begrudgingly, nodded too.

Jaune leaned back in his chair, letting the reality settle.

…This was real.

Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos, two of the most incredible, strong, beautiful women in the world, had, and still love him.

And he?

Jaune exhaled, running a hand through his messy blonde hair.

…He was still trying to process it.

Pyrrha, watching him, chuckled.

"I think we broke him."

Weiss sighed, but there was an undeniable softness in her expression as she finally turned back to Jaune.

"He'll catch up eventually," she muttered, taking another sip of coffee.

Jaune, still staring blankly at the table, just mumbled—

"This is too much for one morning."

Jaune gave up trying to understand women.

Pyrrha laughed.

Weiss smirked.

The familiar weight of armor settled on Jaune's shoulders like an old friend.

He fastened the straps, securing each piece with practiced ease. His usual disguise was no longer necessary, and so he stood as himself as the Rusted Knight once more.

Crocea Mors hanging faithfully at his hip.

He exhaled.

Behind him, the sound of movement filled the lavish penthouse. Weiss and Pyrrha were getting ready, adjusting their attire with their usual graceful efficiency. He wasn't sure why they bothered, they always looked flawless, but it was probably just another part of their routine as high-profile figures.

Jaune, on the other hand, needed air.

Stepping out onto the road, the cold Atlas wind bit at his skin, but he welcomed it. Crisp. Sharp. Sobering.

Then he spotted Ruby.

The woman sat straddling her hoverbike, animatedly talking to Penny, who stood attentively, her mechanical fingers laced together as she listened.

Jaune leaned on the railing, watching the interaction with something between amusement and exasperation.

Ruby was always Ruby.

"…So there I was," she gestured wildly, "knee-deep in Merlot-type Grimm guts, my scythe all jammed up with Nuckelavee goop, and I'm thinking, 'welp, this is it, Ruby Rose, you've finally bit off more than you can chew.'"

Penny gasped, clasping her hands together. "Oh no! Friend Ruby, what did you do?"

Ruby grinned. "I improvised."

Jaune sighed dramatically, crossing his arms.

"Ruby 'Traitor' Rose," he called out. "Good morning. How is your traitorous morning?"

Ruby whipped around, her grin widening wickedly.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our dear Rusted Knight!" she drawled, placing a hand over her heart. "You're looking… alive and satisfied."

Jaune groaned. "I was counting on you to save me from Weiss and Pyrrha."

Ruby snorted, shaking her head.

"Nah, no way, buddy. I'm not getting between that mess." She stretched out her legs, leaning back on her hoverbike casually. "Besides, how long until I become godmother to a new batch of children, huh? Might as well start thinking of shopping for baby gifts."

Jaune visibly choked.

His entire soul left his body for a brief second.

Ruby grinned.

Penny, meanwhile, seemed deep in thought, brows furrowed, processing something intently.

Jaune cleared his throat, regaining what little dignity he had left.

"What are you even doing here, anyway?" he asked.

Ruby swung a leg over the bike, standing lightly on her feet.

"Oh, you know. Still gotta help save the world or something."

Jaune stared.

"…You're awfully casual about that."

Ruby shrugged. "What else is new? Just another Tuesday for us, right?"

Jaune shook his head. "You could've at least helped me escape."

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Escape from what? Your fate?" She waved a hand theatrically. "It's not unusual for two women to love a man, you know. My father was kinda like that, so I have no qualms."

Jaune blinked.

"…Aren't you open-minded?"

Ruby just shrugged again. "Eh, not my problem. It's yours."

Jaune dragged a tired hand down his face.

"Thanks, Ruby. That's so helpful."

"You're welcome! Aren't you glad?"

Penny, however, still seemed troubled, as if she were working through some great moral dilemma.

She opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Jaune and Ruby exchanged looks.

"…Penny?" Ruby prompted.

Penny slowly turned to face Jaune, her expression a mix of shock and genuine contemplation.

"Friend Jaune," she started, voice carefully measured, "does this mean… you are their concubine?"

Jaune froze.

Ruby wheezed.

"WHAT?!" Jaune spluttered, his hands flying up in sheer disbelief.

Penny tilted her head. "Oh. Did I use the term incorrectly? I was researching history logs and found similar cases—"

Jaune held up a hand. "No. Nope. We are not going down this road. Absolutely not."

Ruby was bent over her bike, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"Holy crap, Penny!" she wheezed, slapping the seat.

Jaune groaned loudly, rubbing his temples.

Penny, still oblivious, looked between the two of them.

"…Did I say something inappropriate?"

Jaune sighed deeply, while Ruby wiped at her eyes, still grinning.

"Penny, you're an absolute treasure," Ruby said fondly.

Jaune, muttering curses under his breath, straightened his armor.

"…And people wonder why I avoid civilization."

Ruby grinned wider, slapping his shoulder.

"Come on, you like us."

Jaune grumbled, but didn't deny it.

Penny, still somewhat troubled, seemed to file the information away for later processing.

Jaune stood, arms firmly crossed, his expression caught somewhere between exhaustion and resignation. The events of the morning had already been too much, and now, things were spiraling even further out of control.

He knew that reuniting with his friends would be chaotic, but this?

This was something else entirely.

Ruby, still smirking from Penny's earlier comment, leaned against her hoverbike, watching the disaster unfold with thinly veiled amusement.

Penny, meanwhile, was looking at Jaune with deep concern.

Her mechanical fingers tapped against each other, eyes flickering between him, Weiss, and Pyrrha as if she were working through an impossible equation.

"Friend Jaune," Penny whispered, leaning in just a little. "Are you… alright?"

Jaune sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, Penny. I'm fine."

Penny's metallic brows furrowed.

"Are you certain? Because if you are being mistreated, if you were taken against your will, then as your friend, I must defend you."

Jaune froze.

Ruby immediately burst into laughter.

Weiss and Pyrrha arrived just in time to witness Jaune looking utterly defeated, Penny looking serious, and Ruby looking way too entertained.

Weiss raised an eyebrow, perfectly composed as ever.

"What's going on?"

Pyrrha crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

Ruby, still grinning, waved a hand.

"Oh, nothing. Penny just said something hilarious."

Penny, however, remained dead serious.

She turned to Weiss and Pyrrha, then leaned in again, lowering her voice, though it was still very much audible to everyone present.

"I must ask, did you two blackmail Friend Jaune?"

Weiss blinked.

Pyrrha tilted her head.

Jaune let out a quiet groan, knowing exactly where this was going.

Penny continued.

"If Friend Jaune was taken against his will, then that would be an unacceptable act."

Pyrrha giggled softly, placing a hand on her hip.

"Oh, Penny. Don't worry. It's alright—" she smiled at Jaune before turning back to Penny, "—since he's going to be our husband."

Jaune felt his soul leave his body.

Ruby choked on her own laughter.

Penny, however, looked even more confused.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, gears turning in her mechanical mind.

"But did Friend Jaune give explicit consent?"

Weiss sighed dramatically, adjusting her gloves.

"Of course he did."

Penny still wasn't convinced.

"Are you absolutely certain?" she asked, squinting at them. "Because if I recall correctly, Friend Jaune was dragged away rather forcefully."

Weiss and Pyrrha exchanged glances, then looked at Jaune, who had gone completely still.

Ruby, at this point, had given up trying to hide her amusement.

She was enjoying this way too much.

"Penny," Pyrrha said gently, "Weiss and I are entering a triad relationship with Jaune."

Penny's brows furrowed.

"A… triad relationship?"

Weiss nodded.

"It means that all three of us will be together."

Penny blinked. Then blinked again.

Her fingers tapped together rapidly as she tried to process what Weiss had just said. "So, to clarify… Friend Pyrrha and Friend Weiss are married. And Friend Jaune is now… also in this relationship?"

"That's correct," Weiss said smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Penny's confusion deepened.

"But, Friend Jaune was absent for ten years. How did he enter this relationship if he had not been present?"

Jaune slowly looked up, pleading silently for this conversation to end.

Ruby snorted, thoroughly enjoying his suffering.

"That's what we're all wondering, Penny," she said, grinning.

Pyrrha sighed fondly, placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder. "Because it's Jaune, Penny. He's always been a part of our lives, even when he wasn't there."

Weiss nodded. "Exactly."

Jaune stared at them.

"That doesn't explain anything."

Penny tilted her head, still processing.

"So, Friend Jaune has always been considered part of your relationship… even though he was presumed dead?"

Pyrrha and Weiss nodded.

Jaune sighed. "I feel like I should've been consulted about this."

Weiss raised a brow. "You didn't object last night."

Jaune choked on air.

Ruby wheezed.

Penny's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh."

Jaune wanted to disappear.

Penny tilted her head again. "Then this means Friend Jaune is now an official partner in this relationship?"

"That's right, Penny." Pyrrha beamed.

"And he's completely fine with this arrangement?"

"Of course," Weiss said smoothly.

Jaune opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Penny watched him closely, as if trying to detect any signs of distress.

"Well, as long as Friend Jaune is content and not under duress, then I support this development."

Jaune groaned, rubbing his temples.

Ruby leaned over, grinning.

"So, how long until I become a godmother?"

Jaune shot her a look.

Weiss and Pyrrha exchanged glances. "Who knows?"

Jaune looked away.

Penny clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! I will update the group chat."

Jaune paled. "Penny, don't you dare."

Penny blinked innocently.

"Why not? This is an important life update!"

Ruby continued laughing on the ground.

Jaune, despite the confusion and unsorted thought, smiled at the sight of it.