I-It's not like i did this for you guys, or anything. Baka. - Tsundere Hotdog Man

Midnight Cruiser belongs to Steely Dan

Weiss shivered as she marched through the quiet campus; the air nipped at her skin as she cut through the cool night. The thin fabric of her dress did nothing to keep her warm, and her heels were starting to hurt from her brisk pace. She was too proud to hug herself for warmth. This was the part where he was supposed to give her his coat. But he wasn't here, was he? She mounted the steps to the dorm. Her pace slowed as she considered her next course of action.

What would she say?

What if he was asleep?

How would she face him in the morning?

Would he even want to see her again?

Why was she even making such a big deal about all this? It was just a little misunderstanding. She shivered as the cold air rushed around her small frame. She shook her head. All she knew right now was that she needed to get inside. Weiss grabbed the brass handle and pushed.

The blast of warm air drew out a pleasant flush on her cheeks. She finally hugged herself as the door closed behind her, rubbing her arms to encourage her body to warm up. An image of one of Jaune's hoodies flashed across her mind.

Weiss softly padded across the expansive common room. It was empty and dimly lit. The only sound was a metallic rattle from a small team of tired, but dedicated central heaters spaced throughout the room. Plushy chairs surrounded empty tables and blank televisions. A small part of her hoped he would be there, but thinking on it, she supposed he would want to retire somewhere more private.

When she crossed into the hall, she gently pulled off her heels and allowed her pale feet to dig into the thick mauve carpeting. She bit back a groan as her sore feet finally relaxed for the first time in hours.

The heiress made it to her dorm and paused. She looked to the closed door to team JNPR's room. The walls were thin enough that she would normally be able to hear the usual ruckus of the teens inside. But it was silent right now. Could he have turned in? She resolved to find out after she freshened up.

She entered her dark dorm and turned on the light. It was empty. She hadn't realized that as far as the festivities were concerned, it was still rather early. Ruby and the rest would be back late. She was sure Yang would do her utmost to show her little sister how to properly enjoy her first dance. Regardless, she preferred it this way, there would be fewer questions.

The white haired girl carefully stripped the thin alabaster fabric from her slight body. She hung it up in its place and covered it with its protective bag. Her heart tugged a bit as she gazed upon it, hanging limp and lifeless. She had spent quite a bit of time picking that particular dress. Its debut hadn't gone nearly as well as she'd hoped.

She prayed its next showing would be under more favorable conditions.

Weiss set about freshening up and changing into her nightgown. She took a little longer than usual, buying herself some time before she tried to go speak to Jaune. As she absently crossed the room to replace her comb, her eye caught on a small green stem lying on her bed. She plucked up the little flower. She gently brushed the soft bulb with her finger. The white petals bore the barest kiss of mint blue. She smiled faintly at the innocent little thing. She tucked it into the shoulder of her night gown and gave it an appreciative sniff. It smelled like freshly fallen rain.

The refreshing scent filled her heart with a swell of courage. She would get to the bottom of this, and, if she had her way, come out with a new, valuable friend. She cracked open her door and peeked out. She didn't want any surprises.

The hallway was empty, the coast was clear. She quietly eased out of her room and turned to softly close the door behind her. When she faced the hall again a scowling bunny girl stood between her and her destination.

"You!" Velvet pointed an accusatory finger at her.

"Kya!" She raised her hands in surrender.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with your toy, Neptune? You have some nerve coming here after what Jaune did for you." Hands on her hips, feet shoulder width apart. This girl was ready for a fight.

"I-I live here."

"Humph! Well, you'd better move it right along, missy, cause there's nothing for you down this way." The bunny Faunus's big brown eyes, normally sweet and inviting, were hard and flashed dangerously. "I knew this was a bad idea from the start. But Jaune was over the two moons about it, I couldn't bring myself to stop him. Then he comes back like someone took all the cheer out of his life. Alone!" She folded her arms across her puffed up chest. "I can put two and two together."

Weiss took a tentative step forward. "Velvet, listen, there's been a horrible misunderstanding." The bunny's frown deepened, she didn't have long to convince her. "I just want a chance to make things right. You can even stand outside the door and listen in to make sure I don't do anything strange."

The bunny Faunus bit her lip, thinking it over. She had excellent hearing, so the thin walls and cheap wooden doors would do nothing to hide what went on inside. She stared into the heiress' eyes. The ice blue lenses quivered with fatigue and some mixture of emotion that she couldn't quite place—but struck a chord in her heart, nevertheless.

Velvet sighed. Jaune looked destroyed when he came back. He dragged his feet. His eyes were hooded and hollow. He spoke in grunts, and all she could make out was that he wanted to sleep. A far cry from the spirited young man who practically sprinted out of the mess hall to prepare for the night of his life.

They were all the classic signs of a broken heart. And she placed the blame squarely on the girl in front of her. Every fiber of her body wanted her to turn her around and give her a swift kick in the rear. But another look into her pleading eyes gave her pause. She reminded herself that this was for Jaune, and pinched her nose in frustration.

Oh, how she just wanted to kick the little—

Velvet grudgingly stepped to the side like an ancient sphinx and huffed. "Well? Go on, then." Weiss breathed a sigh of relief and quietly approached the door. As she placed her hand on the knob, Velvet's hand shot out to bar her path once more. "Don't do anything stupid."

The heiress nodded and watched as Velvet folded her arms and leaned against the beige wall. Her long bunny ears twitched in readiness. She would be listening.

Weiss put it out of her mind. She was his friend, after all, it was only natural she would want to look out for him. Her heart fell a bit. She hoped someone would do that for her. She expected Jaune thought he had done something similar, when he decided to pawn her off to Neptune.

She reached up and touched the little flower with the pad of her index finger. Its feathery assurance renewed her strength. She knocked on the door three times and waited. There was a pregnant pause before she heard a faint shuffling. She wondered how he was now; if he was terribly broken up.

"Bunny Rabbit, you were just here two minutes ago. You don't have to knock."

Weiss shot a sidelong glance at the Faunus, who regarded her with an even gaze of her own. The brown haired girl nodded toward the door. Weiss turned the knob and stepped into team JNPR's room.

The door closed behind her with a click. She pressed her back to it, in an effort to be as small as possible. The room was dark. Long shadows stretched across the cozy carpeting and walls, casting the otherwise inviting space in an eerie bend. She saw a form slouched at the desk at the far end of the room. Only a single writing lamp lit his profile.

"Felonious my old friend, come on in and let me shake your hand." She could make out the barest glow of a Scroll screen as its ghostly glow illuminated the folds of Jaune's hoodie. Music rumbled softly from the built in speakers. "So glad that you're here again. For one more time, let your madness run with mine."

She took the opportunity to move closer. She padded across the room, taking care to dig her still aching feet into the warm carpet. She quietly moved over to what she assumed was his bed, nearest his dejected form. She perched lightly on the soft matters and folded her hands in her lap. She played with the flower, turning it in her hand this way and that, careful not to damage the fragile bulb.

"Tell me where are you driving, midnight cruiser? Where is your bounty, of fortune and fame? I am another, gentlemen loser. Drive me to Harlem, or somewhere the same."

A ragged sigh slid from Jaune's lips. He had his hood drawn, but from the angle it looked like he was staring into the inky black sky. "The Dan always knows just what to say to pick a guy up. Thanks for staying with me, Bunny." Weiss opened her mouth to respond, to reveal herself, but her instincts told her to stay quiet.

Jaune hunched forward and turned down the music. He slumped forward and rested his head in the palms of his hands. "I guess I should have known. It was all too sudden, too good to be true. I even saw them talking a few times; they really seemed to hit it off." He ran his hands through his hair; his hood stayed firmly in place. "Why couldn't he ask her? She's a Schnee, for cryin' out loud. She's pretty. I mean, how many people do you know that have hair the color of clouds? Or eyes the color of the sky? She's at the top of our grade. She has the voice of an angel—have you heard her sing? She's funny, or at least I think so. She's real cute when she tries one of Yang's puns. She's worlds and leagues ahead of any girl at this school—no offense, Bunny. But evidently that wasn't good enough for him." Weiss found the color on her cheeks rising. The previous cold was completely forgotten, and now she felt rather warm, even in her thin nightgown. Was this what he really thought of her?

"I was a patsy, Bunny. The whole time. A last resort. A fall man." He laughed mirthlessly. Weiss didn't like it. "Well, I fell. Hard. I couldn't even give her the flower." A quiver entered his voice that a secret part of her knew all too well. "I spent a long time looking for that one."

She could sense his shoulders slump even further and begin to shake. She couldn't take it anymore. She shot to her feet, clutching the little flower for courage.

"That isn't true at all!"

As expected, the young man yelped in surprise and toppled from his chair. He gaped up at Weiss and scrambled back against Ren's bed. The last thing he expected to see was Weiss Schnee in his room—in her night clothes, no less.

"Wh-What?" His blue eyes bulged in disbelief.

Weiss blinked down at him, not quite sure how to follow up her outburst.

Jaune shook his head. "Y-You're not supposed to be here. What are you doing here? What did you do with Bunny?"

A spike of annoyance shot through her as he told her where she should and shouldn't be. "I'll have you know, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be." She sighed and sat on his bed. Jaune's eyes followed her quietly. She gently brushed her thumb over the pale flower in her night dress. Her eyes dimmed as she thought of her next words. "Jaune... why did you leave me back there?"

Jaune stared blankly into the dark unknown under his bed. His mind couldn't fathom why Weiss was here now. She was supposed to be having the time of her life with Neptune, far away from here. He had made sure of that. His cobalt orbs drifted hesitantly to the left, where her slender, milky legs dangled from his bed.

He chanced a glance up at her face. Her bangs covered her eyes, and an expectant frown creased her pink lips.

He let go of a shuddering sigh. He knew there was no way out. If he made a run for it, she would just freeze his legs. If she got into his room, then she got past Bunny Rabbit, and that was no easy feat.

Steely Dan's warped lyrics slid through his mind, preventing him from losing himself in a daze. She wanted an explanation, and she wasn't leaving until she got one.

He bowed his head and stared at the toes of his feet, thankful for the minor shielding his hoodie provided.

"You seemed distracted while we were dancing." His voice was small, almost frightened. "I-I was coming back with drinks and I saw you staring at him. That's when everything fell into place. I just knew you'd rather have been with him than me. So, I did what I could to try and make you happy."

Her stomach did a flip flop. She could count on one hand the people that wanted to do something just to make her happy. But she could count on one finger the idiot who thought he knew better than her what she wanted.

Weiss gripped the sheets tightly in her little fists. "I waited for him. I waited till the very last second. I thought he'd come around. I thought he'd wise up and ask me to the dance. But he didn't." Jaune drew his legs up and hugged his knees. If she was telling him all this to make him feel like dirt, it was working. Weiss saw this plainly enough and hastened her say. "But Yang told me to forget about him. Just go have fun, she said. So, I tried."

Jaune curled in on himself a little more. She recognized the closed posture. She'd employed it many times herself. She wasn't sure what he was thinking right now; if he hated her and just wanted her to leave, or what, but at least he hadn't thrown her out yet.

Weiss soldiered on. "A-And I'm sorry if I was cold to you in the beginning. I was upset, but it wasn't your fault. I was having a wonderful time at the dance. You were doing just fine." His shoulders relaxed slightly. She felt a swell of hope. "I-It's just, I kept seeing that infuriating boy from the corner of my vision. I-I wasn't looking for him. And when you left to get refreshments, I was rather looking forward to your return. I only caught him again because I wanted to see what everyone else was up to all night."

She stood and crossed the room. She sat next to him with her legs folded beneath her. She made sure to keep a respectable, but still intimate, distance from his balled up form.

"But then you didn't come back and I began to worry. That's when he came by with a smile and a quick word." She took the flower out of her nightgown and held it tightly. "He didn't give me time to ask after you. He swept me up and the rest was a blur."

She chanced a sidelong glance at the young man. His head was no longer buried in his knees. He stared unblinking, into the cream wall that hugged the far side of his bed.

"He told me things only my closest friends would know. It all felt so... plastic and rehearsed. It finally came down to desert where he got me my favorite ice cream and I knew. I just knew there was no way he could know that unless someone told him." She scooted a few inches closer to the still boy. "I confronted him about it. He told me not to worry, and just relax. But I did worry. This was everything I wanted all along, and it all felt wrong. I wanted to go find you right away." Her cheeks reddened. "I-I realized that I... wanted someone genuine—someone like you, to be the one to say those things to me."

Her head spun a bit at her confession. She hadn't expected to say those words just then, but they just sort of came out.

They did the trick, though. His head snapped up in surprise. He fixed her with an incredulous look. "M-Me?"

She responded with a soft smile and a coy nod.

She remembered when he'd caught her in the Emerald forest. He set her down, ducked his head, and disappeared. Anyone else would have lorded it over her. She never did thank him.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. He flinched, but relaxed. "How did you learn those things?" Her voice was soft, inquisitive. She wasn't angry, just curious.

"I asked Pyrrha." His voice was steadier now.

Pyrrha, of course. "Why didn't you come talk to me? I wouldn't have turned you away." She knew she had a reputation for being a bit... unapproachable, but she still thought she was friendly enough.

Jaune shrugged and stared into the wall again. "I was too nervous. I couldn't work up the stones. Besides, it was all so dishonest. I hadn't earned any of it. I didn't earn your friendship, or your confidence. I felt like some kind of creeper." She frowned and searched her feelings. She didn't feel unclean like she had when Neptune revealed his knowledge of her likes and dislikes. On the contrary, she felt rather warm inside that someone like this would take the time to learn these things about her.

"And Neptune was an exception?"

"I thought so at the time. I guess I messed that up too, huh?" He looked to her with a bemused expression. "I'm sorry, Weiss. For everything. I really bungled all of this up."

"Yup." She knocked him lightly on the head. His expression softened into a smile that reached his eyes. Neither of them knew who started it, but the first rumblings of a giggle escaped one of their mouths, the other wasn't far behind. Soon enough, the dim room was filled with the twinkling laughter of two young teenagers.

As their mirth bubbled away, a companionable silence fell between the two. Weiss idly played with the bulb of the flower, the ends of her lips turned up in a content smile. She cast a sidelong glance at Jaune. His eyes weren't dim and sunken anymore. There was a healthy flush of color on his face, and he sat with his limbs outstretched and loose.

She absently traced shapes on the bulb of the flower as they sat in their comfortable silence. Wait, the flower! She suddenly sat up, her winter blue eyes sparkled. "I have an idea. Why don't we end the night on a good note?" Before Jaune could respond, she stood and pulled him to his feet. She thrust the quiet little flower into his hands. "You meant to give this to me all night. Here, give it to me properly."

Weiss stepped back a few feet and straightened her nightgown. She folded her hands neatly in front of her, and cuffed the carpet with her foot in mock shyness. She even worked up a charmingly bashful smile to help sell the scene.

Jaune blinked at the girl for a second before a smile tugged at his lips. Her cute antics lifted his spirits.

"Well, alright, sure." He gazed down at the little fencer, who stood patiently, waiting for her gift. He couldn't just hand it to her, that'd be lame. Her powder white hair, pristine and otherworldly dominated his vision. No. He wasn't brave enough to weave it into her hair. His eyes fell to the curve of her ear. Hm...

He gently reached up and tucked the stem of the flower behind her left ear.

"There."

Weiss touched the flower gingerly, the cool bulb pressed softly against the side of her head. A bubble of warmth burst in her core.

She crossed her ankles and dipped into a curtsey. "Thank you, Mr. Arc."

"Uh, you're welcome." He scratched the back of his head. He did his best to ignore the heat in his face.

Weiss looked down and bit her lip. Well, it looked like everything was settled. She should go. Only... She remembered his save in the Emerald forest. It would be unbecoming of a young lady if she didn't repay him in some way. Her lips tingled ever so slightly. Well, it was only right. Besides, she wanted to know what it felt like. She raised her head and looked Jaune in the eye. Blue to blue. "N-Now, this is the part where you kiss me goodnight."

A dash of scarlet cut across their cheeks. Jaune felt hot. The room was beginning to swim. Was this real? Did she really say what he thought she said? He looked down at her and met her large, expectant eyes.

"Uh. A-Are you sure? Wouldn't you rather have someone else?" Best to give her every opportunity to back out.

She pouted cutely and shook her head. "No. Only you." Idiot. This was his chance to step up, and he starts questioning her? The crimson in her cheeks defused into a steady pink blossom.

"I-If you're sure."

Jaune took a step closer to the small girl. He became acutely aware of her tiny frame; he towered a whole head and change over her. His hands shook as he placed them on her shoulders. He could feel the lithe muscle and delicate bone under her soft skin, through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

Weiss reached up and took down the hood of his sweatshirt. She trailed her fingertips down the sides of his face. She could feel him trembling. She wondered if she was in much the same state. Her fingers took hold of a wad of the thick fabric on his chest, and held firm.

There would be no turning back for either of them.

Jaune placed his thumb and forefinger on her chin and gently tilted her head up. He bowed his head over hers. His whole body shook as he marveled at the beauty beneath him. He'd only ever dreamed of a moment like this. He wanted nothing more than to run his hands through her snow white hair. He wanted to caress her smooth, creamy skin. He wanted to possess her lips and sear his name into her mind forever.

But he couldn't. Not yet. He hadn't earned those privileges yet.

He brought his face to hers. He could feel her hot breath mingling with his. In a way, they were already kissing.

"Weiss?" He memorized her clear blue eyes.

"J-Jaune?" Her breath was hot. It made his head spin and his spine tingle.

"Thank you."

He pressed his lips to hers. The world froze. Their bodies stilled. Their minds spun out of control. The only thing that registered for the two teens was their lips pressed gently against one another. Both worked furiously to catalog the memory. The soft, cool petals of her lips connected to his warmer—slightly rough, counterpart. His hand on her shoulder. Her hands buried in the front of his hoodie. His thumb and forefinger rubbing her chin. Her hands clutching at his sweatshirt, pulling him closer ever so slightly.

Their first kiss.

"Do you think you got it, Bunny?"

Velvet's big, fluffy ears curled slightly as she puzzled over Goodwitch's weekend homework. She puffed up her cheeks and sighed hard. "Boo, it just won't stick. One more time, please?"

Jaune smiled at her from across the breakfast table. "Sure thing, here."

Saturday morning saw a barren mess hall. Save for a few professors (Ozpin went up for his fifth coffee refill while reading the morning paper), and some upperclassmen, it was almost as quiet as the library. Most students were too busy recovering from their night of revelry. It was the perfect opportunity to get a nice quiet breakfast in.

Velvet peered owlishly at the worksheet as the young knight explained it to her for the third time. Her large brown eyes panned with his hand as he gestured toward the textbook, citing it for the problem she was having trouble with.

They were brought out of their session by the soft clearing of a throat. Velvet looked up first. A small frown graced her lips; her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Uh, good morning to you." Her soft soprano roused Jaune from the lesson and he looked back to see Weiss Schnee in a fresh school uniform, legs crossed at the ankles, with a modest tray of breakfast in her pale lands. "May I sit with you?"

Jaune, momentarily stunned, turned to Velvet for help. She regarded him with an even expression. It was his decision.

He turned back to the waiting heiress; her large blue eyes stared into her plate. "Weiss, er, hi. Yeah, take a seat." He squashed the urge to pat the seat next to him; best not to get too presumptuous.

Weiss nodded and sat lightly next to him, setting her tray down with a soft clack.

She and Velvet exchanged cool hellos. They didn't make eye contact.

Jaune looked between the two girls and wisely let the moment pass. A tense silence stretched on for longer than he was comfortable with. He decided to help break the ice before anything bad happened. "Right, so that problem, let's get back to it, Bunny."

Weiss glanced over the question they were working on as she nibbled on her fruit salad. She could see Jaune was on the right track, but she knew a better way to explain the concept. She thought about interrupting—including herself into their study session. Before she could debate it further, her hand was already tugging on his sleeve.

His intense blue eyes turned to her. "What's up, Weiss?"

"U-Uh, I know a better way. May I?" Jaune blinked, then nodded and passed the book over to her.

Velvet rested her head on her palm as the white haired girl bowed her head closer to her blonde friend. The heiress coached the young man on the concept from an angle he hadn't considered. His eyes lit up in understanding.

Her eyes swept over the girl critically. Something caught her eye. A slight blemish? No, an ornament. A small white flower with the barest hint of winter blue at the tips, was tucked snugly into the girl's hair.

Velvet smiled.

Ahh, much better. For those of you following Everyman, its full throttle on that again. I was in a slump because i came to a huge logistical problem with chapter 18. It was frustrating, because the chapter is a good 70 percent done, and i just needed to find this one lynchpin that would send it to the finish line, but it wasn't coming. So, i switched gears and polished this one off. I wanted to leave it as a oneshot, but my readers wanted a proper conclusion, and i guess, deep down, so did i.

A slight PSA. Those familiar with me, know that i (normally) leave infuriatingly short author's notes. If you want some more regular updates on where i am with my chapter(s), have a quick gander at my user page. I leave equally infuriating, equally short updates there for anyone who's interested. Thanks for reading, guys!