The Deep End

By Lightningstrxu

Weiss slinked down the hall, it was rather late in the evening, but she couldn't risk any of her friends finding out about this.

There were still a few weeks left before their group's departure to Atlas, giving plenty of time for rest and relaxation. Her group had already enjoyed the festivities of a local amusement park. Although her day had gone much different than she expected. Forced to spend her day with one Jaune Arc due the strange combination of his motion sickness and her less than grand stature had been unable to enjoy most of the rides at the park.

But they had managed to find their own fun together, they had gone for a train ride, explored a haunted house, he had won her perhaps the most adorable stuffed dog in the world, and most importantly he had introduced her to the magnificence that was funnel cake. Weiss licked her lips remembering the sweet and decidedly unhealthy confection. Shaking her head she brushed away the pleasant memory; she was here for a reason.

Her team in all their wisdom had decided that they would continue their relaxation by going to swim in a nearby lake. It sounded like a fun idea, swimming in cool waters and camping out with a bonfire on the lakeshore that night. A perfectly happy and relaxing day to be had, but there was one small problem.

Weiss did not know how to swim.

Of course, she didn't. An Atlesian born and raised there were no bodies of water that were not frozen solid. She had never been in a body of water deeper than her bath back home. But when none of her other friends raised no objections to a trip such as this, she realized that she was the only one in her group that did not know how.

That was how she had ended up at her current location, standing nervously outside of Jaune's room, hand outstretched and ready to knock. He was the most logical choice out of her traveling party to teach her.

Ruby was far too childish to teach her.

Yang would tease her mercilessly the entire time.

Blake obviously wouldn't know how to swim, but that was to be expected.

So with her team out of the question, which left Jaune as her closest friend who was available to teach her. Taking a deep breath, she rapped her knuckles lightly against the door.

A few moments passed. "Just a minute!" she heard him call. Another moment or two of shuffling from his room and the door opened. "Oh hey, Weiss."

"Good evening." She replied, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her skirt nervously. "Do you have a few moments to talk?"

"Uh yeah sure." He shrugged. "Whatcha need?"

She glanced up and down the hallway, assuring that none of her friends were listening in.

"Do you think I could come in for a minute?" Another quick glance to make sure no one else was there. "I'd prefer to discuss this in private."

"Alright." He nodded before stepping aside and opening the door for her. Weiss stepped inside her heels clacking as she went. She sat down on the lone chair that decorated his room. He went in and sat on his bed. "So…what did you want to talk about?"

"Jaune I would like to ask you a favor if I may."

"Yeah what did you need?" He asked a small amount of concern tinging his voice. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything's fine." She held up her hands waving them dismissively. "Sorry if I'm worrying you." Weiss took a deep breath. She might as well get this over with. "I need you to teach me to swim."

"What?" he cocked his head to the side curiously?

"I don't know how to swim." She repeated her request. "I would like you to teach me before out trip."

"Alright then." He nodded. "When would you want to start?"

Weiss blinked a bit, she had expected him to say yes, but she had not expected it without a single question asked.

"Tomorrow night." She spoke succinctly. "There is a pool meant for exercise inside of Haven Academy, given everything that has happened; I doubt anyone would mind us using it."

"Okay, sounds like a plan." He shifted a little on his bed. "Anything else?"

"Yes." Weiss sat up a little straighter in her chair. "Do not talk to anybody else about this; I would like this to be private."

"Alright, sounds like a plan."

"Good." She nodded before standing up. "See you tomorrow night then." She opened the door. "Good night, and thank you." She slipped out

"You're welcome." He called to the closing door.

#####

The next evening Weiss waited patiently by Haven Academy's training pool, sitting in a nearby chair, her legs kicked back and forth in boredom. She lamented briefly at how her feet only just didn't reach the ground. She fiddled with the tie on her bathrobe, still no Jaune. Sighing heavily she put her head back and stared at the ceiling, getting lost in the swirling pattern of light reflected onto it from the pool.

"Hey Weiss." Jaune called snapping her out of her trance.

She looked over to see him walking up to her a towel slung over his shoulders.

"Sorry I took so long." He dragged a chair over next to her's and hung his towel from it. "Ducking Nora proved to be a little difficult; she wanted to come swimming too. But I managed to convince her I needed some alone time." He kicked off the flip-flops he had been wearing.

"Good." Weiss stood and stretched. "I'd rather nobody else know about this."

"Why?" he cocked his head to the side. "Wouldn't it be easier if Ruby taught you. Or all of us could."

"It would…" she fidgeted nervously. "But I'd rather they not know I can't swim."

"Weiss…" He began.

"Enough." She cut him off with a stamp of her foot. "Let's just get started." She undid her bathrobe and shrugged it off, falling to a pile at her feet. Underneath she wore a tight black bodysuit with short sleeves and leggings, the emblem of Haven academy stitched into the back. Looking over she saw Jaune staring at her. "Is there something wrong with my attire?" she asked annoyed.

"What no…" He shook his head. "It just wasn't what I was expecting."

Raising her eyebrow and placing her hands on her hips. "And just what were you expecting? I'm sorry if my attire isn't up to your expectations. I had to borrow some athletic swimwear from the school."

"You look fine Weiss!" Jaune held his hands up defensively. She really did. While her swimsuit was perhaps the most conservative thing he had ever seen, it was still skin tight, hugging her lithe frame perfectly.

"Of course I do." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"So humble." He mumbled under his breath as he pulled his t-shirt over his head.

"I heard that!" she snapped glancing over at him. "So you just…" her voice trailed off as she saw Jaune now clad in only a pair of blue swim trunks. How long had it been again? Wasn't he supposed to be tall, blonde and scraggly? The scraggly part had apparently been struck from the list.

"So I just what?" Jaune countered. Weiss still stood there staring blankly. "You okay."

"I'm fine!" she spat out shaking her head a slight twinge of red coming to her cheeks. "Just get in the pool!"

"Alright." He shrugged before walking over to the ladder and climbing into the pool.

Weiss stood still for a moment. It was fine; everything was fine. She had just gotten distracted; she hadn't just ogled Jaune like a piece of meat. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the pool and started to descend the ladder. Reaching the final rung, she stepped down once more, only to find herself entirely underwater. She pulled herself back up.

"What?" she gasped out in surprise. "Isn't this the shallow end." She looked to Jaune who was standing comfortably, his head well above the water's surface.

"This is a training pool." He spread his arms out motioning to said body of water. "It's even across its whole area. Relax, its only five feet deep."

"I'm only five feet deep!" she snapped. Gripping tightly onto the ladder, her head only just above the water.

"Well, if you learn how to swim that won't matter." He made a show floating on his.

"Show off." She muttered angrily. "Well then start teaching me."

"Well, it's going to be hard to with you glued to the pool's ladder." He chuckled lightly at seeing the usually calm and collected heiress in her current panicky state.

"If I let go I'll just sink." She pouted.

"I can get you some floaties if you'd like." He smirked while crossing his arms over his chest.

"Absolutely not!" she glared daggers at the blonde. "I am not a child."

"Says the girl who can't stand up in a pool."

"Now you listen here Arc! One more word and so help me."

"You'll what?" He countered swimming further away from her. "Come and stop me?"

Without thinking Weiss launched herself off the ladder towards him, he would pay for his comments, he would suffer her wrath, he would…why was the world blue? She found herself under the water's surface. Flailing wildly she felt him grab her hands and pull her to the surface she gasped for breath as she broke free from the water's deadly grasp. Finding herself in the middle of the pool and far away from the sanctuary of the ladder or the sides, she latched onto the only thing that could hold her up. Her arms locked themselves in a death grip around him, her face buried in his chest.

"Don't ever do that again!" she mumbled still shaking slightly.

"I'm sorry." He wrapped his arms around her. "I shouldn't be provoking you." He held onto her until she calmed down. "Do you think you're ready to learn?"

"Hmm." She looked up at him she a slight haze in her eye, how long had she been nuzzling into his…chest? Her face turned red. "Yes!" she nodded her voice frantic.

"You alright?" he asked concerned.

"I'm fine!" she looked away from him, dismissing his words. "So where do where we start?" she looked back at him, a nervous smile on her face. Hoping to move past her previous embarrassment.

"Well the first thing that you should learn is how to tread water." he relaxed his grip on her causing her to grip him even tighter. "Weiss…can't breathe." He gasped out.

"Sorry…" she loosened her hold.

"It's fine." He whispered. "But I'm not going to let anything bad happen okay?"

"Right." She nodded.

"Good." He smiled at her reassuringly. "I'm going to move my hands down to your waist to hold you up, it this okay?"

"That's fine." She nodded once more.

Jaune moved his hands down to either side of her waist. A little surprised at how safe she felt. She knew that he would not let anything happen to her. Of course, he wouldn't, only a few weeks he had unlocked his semblance to save her.

"Now what?" she inquired with a tilt of her head.

"Now start to paddle your arms and legs in an alternating pattern." He instructed. Almost immediately Weiss became a flailing mass of limbs, Splashing water in every direction. "Okay stop!"

"Was that wrong?" she asked as her flailing stopped.

"Yeah do it slowly."

"Okay." She nodded. This time she paddled much slower.

"Good, if you have a good enough rhythm it will allow you to keep yourself above water."

"How do I know if it's working though?" She looked up at him.

"I don't know." He shrugged his hands plainly visible. "You tell me."

"What?!" she panicked her rhythm being thrown off upon realizing he was no longer holding her up. Immediately he grabbed onto her again to keep her above the water. "Why did you let go?"

"Well, I don't know if you're doing well if I keep holding you up." Jaune sighed. "You actually had it for a little bit before you panicked."

"Oh…" she looked away from him, turning slightly red with embarrassment. "Well good, can we try again?"

"Of course."

Slowly Weiss started moving her arms and legs again until she found her previous rhythm.

"I'm going to let go again." He looked at her. "Is this alright?"

"Yes." She nodded, taking a deep breath to prepare herself. Jaune slowly let go of her waist. This time she focused on keeping her arms and legs and sync. She wavered slightly, bobbing up and down a little bit. But ultimately she prevailed, keeping her head above the water. "Jaune, I'm doing it!"

He couldn't help but smile seeing the happy look on her face; he couldn't recall the last time he had seen Weiss looking so happy and carefree. At least until she slipped back under the water's surface.

"Weiss!" Jaune reached out and grabbed onto her and pulled her close. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She looked up at him positively beaming. "I must admit Jaune, your methods are a little unorthodox, but I managed to do it."

"For about thirty seconds." He chuckled.

"Listen here you." She poked her finger into his chest. "I'm still new at this." Another poke. "And I won't…" she trailed off as she continued to poke his chest. When had it become so, so defined?

"Weiss?" He looked at her confused. "What are you doing?"

"What!?" she snapped out of her trance. "Nothing…just thinking." This was bad; she had been caught ogling him again. Luckily he didn't seem to call her out on it. It was his fault why did he have to be so hot…hot? Had she just thought that? "Can we maybe take a break for now. We can continue this tomorrow night."

"Yeah sure." He started to walk with her still in his arms taking her to the pool's ladder. She reached out and grabbed it climbing out of the water. He followed after her.

The two of them returned to their belongings and began to dry themselves off.

"So same time tomorrow night?" He asked as he put his shirt on.

"Yeah that sounds like a plan." She replied trying to tell herself that she wasn't disappointed by him getting redressed.

"Well good night Weiss." He waved before grabbing his stuff and walking away.

"Good night." She waved back. Before returning to her things and leaving the gym.

#####

Jaune stared out over the lake; it was hard to believe that he was already here. Only a week ago Weiss had asked him to teach her how to swim. They had had a rocky start, but she picked it up surprisingly fast. She would be more than capable of handling the lake today; at least here there were places where even her feet would be able to reach the bottom.

He craned his neck looking for her. While the rest of his group had already arrived, Weiss was nowhere to be seen. She had retreated into the bathroom to change as they had been leaving.

"Don't worry Lady Killer!" Yang called getting his attention, his eyes now glued to hers, anywhere below the neck was dangerous territory. Was that bikini even legal to wear? "Weiss is just taking her time to look good for you."

"Why would she want to do that?" He asked a little confused, not that he didn't like the idea of Weiss trying to impress him. Although she could come out in the same athletic swimsuit, she trained in, and he'd still find it attractive. She didn't seem to realize just how little it left to the imagination.

"Probably to repay you for teaching her how to swim." Yang replied with an amused grin, crossing her arms over her chest. She was greatly enjoying the shocked look on Jaune's face. "Yeah, we all know about that."

"How?" He looked at her confused. He was sure he hadn't accidentally spilled the beans.

"Please Jaune." She pointed at him. "We're not stupid; we noticed the two of you disappearing at night. That and Weiss came back absolutely reeking of chlorine, so it wasn't that difficult to put together."

"I see." Jaune looked out over the lake. "Well don't let her know that you know. She was pretty embarrassed about it."

"Yeah, yeah I know." She started walking down to the lake. "Good luck Jaune." She waved to him before diving into the water.

Jaune just shook his head and sighed. The sound of soft footsteps from behind him grabbed his attention.

"You didn't have to wait for me you know." Weiss said as she arrived.

"Well, I wouldn't be a good teacher if I…" Jaune stopped as he turned to face her. She stood there in a dark blue bikini her pale skin seeming to glow in the sunlight. A wide-brimmed hat adorned her head, to protect her from the sun. "Wow!" He exclaimed suddenly before slamming his hand over his mouth.

"Thank you." She smiled, while her face turned beet red. "I take it that this swimsuit is more acceptable to you."

"Yeah…" he thoughtlessly whispered. "I mean… you always look great… I mean." He began to ramble in his panic, worried that he had accidentally offended her.

"It's fine." She removed her hat and placed it along with her other belongings. "Well, shall we?"

"Yeah." He nodded, and they started walking in tandem towards the lake.

"Sorry I took so long." She said suddenly feeling a little nervous. "It Took a while to put on sunscreen, I'm not usually…" she looked down at herself. "…So exposed."

"No…" he chuckled nervously as well. "Not really."

They waded their way into the water; until she was only about waist deep.

"Jaune." She stopped walking her hands clenching nervously at her side.

"Yeah." He glanced at her, concern evident in his eyes and voice. "You don't have to swim all at once, just take your time."

"It's not that." She shook her head. "You seemed… rather impressed by my attire earlier, but that might have just been surprise. I know this sounds rather egotistical. But tell me honestly. How do I look?"

How did she look? He looked at her curiously, was she serious? She had nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to… that was when he noticed the way she fidgeted under his gaze, the way her right arm hugged herself ever so slightly, covering up a part of herself.

"Weiss…can you move your arm out of the way."

She looked into his eyes a moment before moving her arm out of the way. There plain as day on her otherwise flawless skin was the angry red scar left behind from where Cinder's spear had impaled her, and while he couldn't see it, he knew she had a similar scar on her back as well.

"Breathtaking." He answered plainly and clearly.

The shine in her eyes was unmistakable as she smiled perhaps the most genuine smile he had ever seen her give.

"Thank you, Jaune." She seemed to glow with pride as she waded past him. "Well are we going to swim or not?"

"Sure." He replied following after. It didn't take long for Weiss to have to start swimming, while he still could stand easily, bet she kept moving forward. "Where are you going?"

"You'll see." She looked back at him a playful smirk on her face.

They swam out further until they were well away from the others in their group, the water was now up to his neck.

"Here seems good enough." She said swimming around him; he couldn't help but smile, she swam effortlessly. She had taken to water like a fish.

"What's good enough?" he eyed her curiously.

She swam up to him, her face perfectly level with his.

"Out here we're the same height, it makes it a lot easier."

"Makes what a lot…" but his sentence never finished as it was cut off.

Her lips met his.