- - -
Jaune was sitting in the ballroom of Beacon at a table. It was quiet this time of day, and he appreciated it. His Nell Goldstone revolvers laid out on the table in front of him, disassembled. He carefully cleaned and checked each part, applying the right amount of gun oil to each.
He held up the cylinder, pushing a bush through each one and making sure there was nothing left.
It was oddly soothing in a way. Ren said that it was a method of ordering the things that mattered in your life, and thus, ordering your life. Allowing you to face the day without worries. Not unlike meditation, which Ren practiced regularly.
Jaune wasn't sure it was quite the same thing. Ren's medtitation was part of his religion of Pathism, after all. Still...
"Tablebreaker," he murmured softly over the revolver as he began to put it back together, "Come down and touch the mountains, make them smoke. Teach my hands to fight, and teach my mouth to speak better. Teach me to aim with my heart, my mind, and my soul, not with my anger, my envy, or my pride. Let me be a shield to those in need, and a protector for those in trouble. Let my bullets find their mark, straight and true. Teach me to be humble, but always remember my greater duty to all that is good."
It was an old prayer, one Mister Duke made at times. He claimed an old Valean general recited it before going into battle.
Jaune held up his revolver, all the parts back where they belonged. He spun the barrel, listening to the sound, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Amen," he concluded. He reloaded the revolver, a barrel at a time, and spun it again.
The lights lit up overhead. Old instincts compelled Jaune to stand and scan around, his gun at the ready. The stage lights went up next, and Jaune looked up at it in confusion.
A shadow appeared on the curtains, a silhouette of a woman in a feathery dress. Hot Vacuoan music began to play as the curtains slowly parted. Jaune's eyes bugged out and his jaw and gunhand both fell.
"R-Ruby?!"
Ruby Rose did indeed stand there... But transformed. She wore a black and red dress, cut short and low to show off her growing female curves and muscular legs. She wore high heels, red lipstick, and black gloves. She lifted up a rose and put it into her teeth as she began... To dance.
Jaune's mouth went dry as Ruby danced to the music, strutting, slinking, so elegant and slick. He was reminded of a graceful crane at a pond edge he had once watched: Especially with the feathering on the hem of her short dress. He was further reminded of the bawdy dancing girls he had caught sight of in many a seedy bar or casino he had peered through on many a stop in towns during drives.
She then approached the stage, her eyes hooded and seductive. She smiled and his heart began to pound hard in his chest.
He had always known that Ruby was cute, pretty. He'd seen her in a sundress after all. She was a girl.
This though? This was the first time seeing her as a woman.
Ruby then took a daring step towards the edge of the stage... And tripped.
Her sultry expression turned into a more familiar expression of shock. She flailed her hands wildly as she went over the edge.
"UWAH-!"
Jaune charged and caught her in his arms. Both their cheeks were red. Blue and silver eyes met.
"Um, h-hey," Ruby managed. "So um... Uh... D-Did you like my dance? I-I worked hard on it."
Jaune slowly nodded.
"Ah... Eeyup," he said softly.
Ruby smiled nervously. She held onto his arms. Her touch was like fire.
"I-I still hate these lady stilts," Ruby softly, pursing her red lips while she resisted licking them, "But uh... M-Maybe they're not so bad?"
She trembled in his arms. She was so warm. His eyes were locked on her face. She pushed her head up towards him. He bent his head...
He shut his eyes tightly and stopped. He then set Ruby down on her heels. He took a step back, and several deep breaths. He opened his eyes and looked at Ruby. Her silver eyes were wide with confusion and hurt.
"Jaune? What's wrong? I-I-"
Jaune shook his head.
"I'm sorry Ruby," he said softly. Tears began to bead at the corners of Ruby's eyes. It felt like a dagger was being driven into his heart.
"Is..." Her head bowed. "I get it. It's Yang, isn't it?"
Jaune blinked.
"Wha-?"
"I'm used to it!" Ruby cried, tears now pouring down her cheeks and ruining her cheeks, "I-I mean, she was the most popular girl in school! The best fighter! Wh-Why would you-You want me-I'm just Ruby and I-I'm-!"
Jaune, alarmed, saw that Ruby's edges were turning into rose petals-About to use her Semblance to jump out. He managed to swing his arms out and caught her by the shoulders.
"NO! Ruby, no, wait! WAIT!"
"It's fine!" Ruby bawled, "It was stupid-I'm sorry-!"
"RUBY!" Jaune shouted, slapping her cheek. Thanks to her Aura, it did no damage. It did shock her out of her Semblance. She gaped at him in disbelief. Jaune bowed his head in shame.
"I'm sorry Ruby," he sighed. "Look... Hit me back first, and then let me explain, huh?"
Ruby blinked twice.
"I-Why would I-?!"
"I hit my friend, and I hit a lady," Jaune stated firmly, "I deserve a hit back in return. Go ahead."
Ruby gaped.
'I-I don't want to hit you! I just... I want to... I just-?"
Jaune took Ruby's hands in his and stared into her eyes.
"Ruby. I love you."
Ruby turned bright red, redder than her namesake. Steam might have shot out of her ears given how high her temperature went.
"Whaaaaaaa-?!"
"I love you, Yang, Weiss, Pyrrha, Blake, Nora, Ren," Jaune went on. Ruby's jaw dropped as she trembled.
"Whaaaaaa-?!"
"Er, not that way," Jaune quickly assured, "For Ren I mean! And Nora, cause Ren would kill me-" He sighed. "Lemme explain?"
"I-I... Um..." Ruby managed a bewildered nod. Jaune took a deep breath and lifted up another prayer to center himself.
"Look: I care about all of you. And if we weren't Hunters on the same teams? Yeah. I'd date you. Marry you. Have a family..."
Ruby gaped. Her face again resembled her namesake.
"A-All of us?!"
Jaune nodded firmly.
"Yes. It's hard enough for you with Yang on yer team. If our teams were on a mission and you got in danger with Pyrrha, and I had to choose between you? I might hesitate. That can get someone killed."
"B-But we're friends and-" Ruby said, but Jaune shook his head.
"Not the same. A friend of mine had a girlfriend on the cattle drives. She and another hand got in trouble during a stampede-Both the same kind of trouble, equal distance between them. He chose his girlfriend... And the hand died."
Ruby rapidly shook her head.
"We would never! I-I mean, my parents were on the same team at Beacon!"
"Like my parents. And they got married after Beacon," Jaune stated firmly, He pulled his hands off her shoulders and shook his head. "I'm sorry Ruby. I love you all too much to risk your lives."
Ruby scowled.
"What about Velvet?" She demanded.
"We did decide we were better off as friends," Jaune pointed out. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "I'm not risking that. I love you all too much to risk that to happen."
He cupped her cheek.
"No matter how much I want to," he said gently, "And I promise? I really want to."
Ruby blushed deeply. She then scowled and punched him in the chin. His head was knocked back and his Aura flared, but he stayed on his feet. He looked back at Ruby, and nodded.
"Well... That's that."
"No! I didn't punch you for-for that!" Ruby growled. Jaune blinked several times.
"Eh? What did you punch me for then?"
Ruby rapidly shook her head and glared.
"I punched you for being stupid!" She growled. She pointed her finger in his face and waved it around angrily.
"You're just being stupid! Or-Or something! Because I'm gonna make you see that we CAN be in love as Hunters and things will be all right!"
Jaune raised his hands.
"But Ruby I-!"
"Nuh uh! I'm gonna prove! You! Wrong! We all will!" She nodded before she turned and vanished via her Semblance. Jaune stared after her in disbelief. He sighed and shook his head, reaching up to rub his chin.
"I will never understand women. Not if I live to be three hundred..."
- - -