Paw Prints of the Heart

Jaune Arc threw his arms above his head and he released the biggest yawn he could. "Man, that English final was torture. I thought my brain was turning to mush." He was dressed in his usual attire of black sneakers, jeans and a black hoodie underneath a brown jacket, which was open. He also had a black, one shoulder bookbag over his right shoulder. He lowered his arms as he said that to his two companions, who have been his best friends since high school, and stuck his hands into his jean pockets.

The only woman of the group chuckled at his tired expression, "See, Jauney? This is why you should've studied more." Nora said cheerfully as she patted him on the back with her usual degree of strength, which was more than normal. Jaune would usually cringe in pain but he was too tired to care at the moment. She was wearing a white t-shirt with a pink heart on the chest with a pink skirt and white boots that went up to her knees. She also had her signature navy blue and pink bomber jacket.

Jaune just gave her a heatless glare, "I did study. All week. That's how I know I passed. That does not mean it helped with my brain turning to mush."

"Jaune, it is impossible for a brain to turn to mush from strain. You know this. Although, we are proud of you for all the work you put into preparing." Lie Ren stated from the other side of Nora. He was wearing black boots, white pants and a green turtleneck under a black jacket. He just looked at his best friend with a small smile.

Jaune smiled at him, "Thank you, Ren. I appreciate you being such a great friend." Jaune emphasized as he just glared back at Nora. Who just stuck her tongue out at him. That got all three friends to laugh as they walked down the street and away from Beacon University, one of the best colleges in Vale. They were currently finishing up their Sophomore year and had just done their last final. At least Ren and Nora did, Jaune had one last one in a couple of days for his History course.

The three luckily only lived a few blocks away from campus, which meant they could save on gas money and get some exercise. It was getting a bit cooler since it was Autumn but it wasn't enough to make them uncomfortable. "Well since we're all done for the day, why don't we go out and have some fun. It's been forever since we've all hung out!" Nora said happily as she skipped in front of them to lead the way.

Jaune just gave her a deadpanned expression, "Nora, you two were literally at my place a couple of days ago. You two even stayed over."

"I meant out on the town!" she crossed her arms with a pout as she continued to walk backwards. That made the two of them chuckle at her. She stomped her foot, "I'm serious! Come out with us, Jaune! Please!" She leant forward on the balls of her feet towards him and Jaune stopped just to look at her. She was looking up at him with big, watery eyes with her hands clenched together under her chin. It would've worked, if Jaune didn't grow up with seven sisters. He was more concerned that if she leant forward anymore, she may fall onto the sidewalk.

Jaune just gave her a tiny smile, "I would love to Nora but I wasn't joking when I said I was exhausted. I kinda just wanna go home to rest up and study up for my final. After I'm done with that, I will gladly go out and celebrate. Deal?"

Nora dropped her arms and pouted more. She then slowly stood back up and crossed her arms again, "Fine." She said in annoyance. She then pointed her finger into his face, any closer and she would be poking his nose. "But you'll be paying. Got it?"

Jaune rolled his eyes with a smile before he gently took her hand and pushed it away from his face, "Alright, alright." With that, she threw her arms into the air and cheered. With the ginger going back to her usually cheery self, the three continued to walk down the next two blocks, talking and just enjoying their time together. At the end of the second block, the three said their goodbyes: Nora hugged Jaune tightly while Ren just gently squeezed his shoulder. Jaune waved goodbye to the couple as they walked into their apartment.

With that, he sighed to himself and continued down the street for a few more blocks to go to his own apartment. A bit sullener than he was before. He wasn't lying to Nora when he gave his excuse to not go out, but it was seventy-five percent of the reason why. The other reason was that he didn't want to feel like a third wheel. And as much as they told him they didn't see him that way, and he believed them completely, sometimes it just felt like he was in the way. 'It isn't like we can double date anymore.' He thought to himself sadly and making him feel just a bit worse.

Back in high school, the three of them were very close friends along with the last member of their merry band, Pyrrha Nikos. She was a star athlete and a brilliant student to the school. But to them, she was just a quirky young woman that just wanted some great friends. As time went on, Jaune and Pyrrha were able to convince their other two friends to finally go for it and get happily together. And not long after that, Pyrrha told Jaune about her own feelings, shocking him before he gladly revealed he had the same for her.

That should've been their happily ever after but life rarely works out that way. After graduation, they all planned on going to Beacon but Pyrrha got a full scholarship to her dream school. She was beside herself with that information. She wanted to go but at the same time, wanted to stay with her best friends and boyfriend. A selfish part of Jaune wanted her to stay but he didn't want to be the reason why she regretted the chance of a lifetime. So sadly but resolutely, he told her she should go for it. That night, the two just held each other and cried themselves to sleep.

The couple and their best friends spent the next few weeks just enjoying as much time as they could with each other. And when the day came for her to leave on her plane, they all had an emotionally goodbye. Tearful hugs were exchanged between herself, Ren and Nora. The two then gave Pyrrha and Jaune space for their own goodbye: they held each other tightly, not wanting to let go. "You need to go." Jaune said weakly and she reluctantly nodded her head. They then shared one last loving, but no less forlorn kiss, before he let her go. He stayed until he saw her plane take off, that's when he gave one last shuddering sigh before he went to reunite with Nora and Ren.

They were all still able to keep in contact with one another through calls, texting and even video chatting. It got harder to do towards the end of their semesters due to finals but that was expected. Jaune and Pyrrha tried their best to make this work. And during their breaks from school, Pyrrha would fly back to spend the weeks with her boyfriend and best friends. So, even if things were different, they tried their best to make things work.

That was until a few months back. Jaune was having a hard time contacting Pyrrha through their usual methods and he was starting to get worried. That's when he go the text. It was a text telling him that she was breaking up with him. She felt it was unfair to both of them to be with someone that they really couldn't be together with. She went on to say that she still loved him, more than anything, but he deserved better than having such a stressful relationship to deal with along with school and work. She ended it with saying that maybe they could try again when both their lives were more stable and that no matter what, she'd always cherish their time together.

It hurt him, to be brutally honest. And he wasn't even mad that she did it over a text. He knew that she felt this was best for both of them and if she saw his face or heard his voice, she wouldn't be able to do it. If there was one thing about Pyrrha he cherished, it was the way she tried to do what she felt was right. No matter what. So, out of respect, he stopped contacting her. That was over almost four months ago.

Nora and Ren had found out almost instantly and had tried everything to help him out. After a few days, he was back to his usual self, at least on the surface. It still hurt him, even to this day. But who could blame him? Pyrrha was one of his best friends and the first woman he could honestly say he loved. So, for now, distance was the best thing to do. Until the pain dulled enough to where he could talk to her again.

He pulled himself from his thoughts just in time to arrive in front of his apartment building. It was a three story building that held many apartments but it was his home. He walked inside and went to the staircase to go up to the second floor. He went down the hallway to his apartment towards the end of said hall. He pulled his key out to unlock the door before he opened it and walked inside.

He was immediately in his living room. His couch was across from the door against the wall and just to the left of the door to the hallway. In the center of it was a smallish, white ball-shaped object. There was a coffee table set in front of the couch and an end table was set on either side of it with a lamp on both. Only one was on though, to save on power with him not home. On the right wall was his tv set up on top of his entertainment stand with some movies and his gaming console in the center of it. To the left of that, in the corner, was a writing desk and a rolling chair. On the top of it was his laptop, both closed and off. There were several textbooks and papers in stacks on it as well. On the left side of the door was his last piece of furniture, his old armchair he brought from his family's house.

He closed the door behind him and relocked it. "I'm home!" he said just loud enough to be heard throughout the apartment. He pulled his bag over his shoulder before he placed it on the armchair. He took off his jacket and hung it up on the coatrack that was drilled into the wall on the right side of the door. He was about to take off his shoes, to not track dirt onto the carpeted floor, when he felt something rub against his leg.

He looked down and wasn't surprised to see a smaller than normal black, tabby cat rubbing up against him. What was unusual though was that the cat's stripes and markings were red. Although, it was something that he grew to love about the adorable cat. All that made the white collar around her neck stick out more prominently. The small cat stopped rubbing and looked up at Jaune with her silver eyes and meowed an adorable little meow at him.

Jaune just smiled down at her, "Hello, Ruby. Did you miss me?"

She meowed again in response before she stood up on her hindlegs and started to pull on his pantleg with her claws. He just reached down and gently picked her off the ground and cradled her in his right arm. She didn't struggle and just settled into his arm and started to rub her head against his neck and underside of his chin. Already, she was starting to purr and Jaune just smiled. "Did my little kitty feel neglected?" he asked her as he started to rub under her chin with his index finger. The answer he received was just louder purring.

As he tried to pull his finger away, she managed to grab it with both her paws to try to stop him from pulling away. He just smiled at her, "I need that, you know." She meowed again, this one sounding more like a whine.

Before he could do or say anything, the two heard something barreling down the hallway. He turned just in time to see a yellow blur rush into the room before he hissed in pain. The blur, which was now revealed to be another unusually colored cat, was now wrapped around his right leg. This cat was much bigger than Ruby and was much furrier. It currently had the claws on its front paws in his leg and was gnawing on his knee playfully. Although, it still hurt a bit. It's very fluffy, blonde tail was swishing back and forth as it growled lightly.

"Damn it, Yang." Jaune said in annoyance. He then gently placed Ruby on top of the armchair. She sat there patiently as just looked upon her master and 'sister' in their usually greeting. Jaune referred to them as sisters since he had found them together and were close but he wasn't sure on that. He knew Yang was older than Ruby but she was not old enough to be her mother.

Jaune bent down and wrapped his hand around the scruff of the Maine coon cat on his shin, causing Yang to freeze up. He then started to massage the back of her neck, underneath her black collar, and soon she was purring loudly. He felt her claws release his leg and her teeth leaving his jeans so she could start to rub her cheek against his leg. With that, he placed each of his hands under her arms and pulled her up so he was looking at her face. She just stared back at him with her lilac colored eyes with the usual light of mischief in them.

"Why? Why do you do this to me?" he asked her. Her only response was to lean forward and start to lick the tip of his nose. He tried to keep his serious expression but it soon melted with a smile. He just sighed, "Troublemaker." Was all he said as he pulled her to his chest and resumed rubbing the back of her neck. Her loud purring filled the room once again and he could feel her licking his neck as a show of affection.

He would be more furious if she was actually trying to hurt him but he knew she wasn't. He still clearly remembered the time when he came back after classes and saw police cars outside his apartment building. Apparently, someone tried to break into his apartment and Yang attacked him. The man had several deep cuts and bites across his body. The commotion was enough of a signal to have his neighbor, Scarlet David, to call the police. It was still hilarious to see the two officers looking in fear upon the large, fluffy cat. That was until she saw him and she quickly ran up him and into his arms, where she devolved into a purring and cuddling mess. The confused looks on their faces were amazing.

"Did you protect the place while I was away?" he asked her as he kept up his petting. She pulled away from his neck and looked up at him with a confident meow. He just chuckled and kissed the top of her head, "That's my Big Girl."

As soon as he did that, he heard a faint growling. Her turned back to the armchair to see that Ruby was staring at the two or to be precise, Yang. He looked from her to Yang, still in his arms and the older cat was just staring back. Jaune just sighed, "Fine." He loosened his arms and Yang jumped from him to the chair. Ruby being one step ahead had already jumped from the top of the chair to the seat before jumping down to the floor. Yang quickly followed but as soon as she was on the ground, the tabby jumped on her and the two devolved into wrestling on the ground. Jaune just watched the two play with a smile as he thought about how different his life would be if he hadn't gotten them four months ago, not long after Pyrrha broke his heart.

Jaune then heard an annoyed growl come from the couch to his right and across the room. He looked and wasn't surprised to see the white ball slowly uncurl to reveal it was a purely white Siamese cat wearing a light blue collar. The leant forward to stick her rear end into the air to stretch her back and her forelegs. She then sat down on the couch with her tail wrapped around herself, the epitome of poise, as she just stared at the two other cats wrestling around on the floor and causing a ruckus.

Jaune kept the smile on his face as he took off his sneakers and placed them on the shoe rug right under the coat rack. Once he did, he started to walk across the room to the couch. That was when she turned to look at him with her icy blue eyes, a vertical scar running down her left eye stuck out a bit but he had never been bothered by it. He slowly reached out and gently started to pet her head, which she reluctantly allowed. "Hey, Weiss. How was your day?" he asked rhetorically.

The cat just looked up at him as she allowed him to pet her. She gave him a stand offish huff but Jaune was unfazed by it. He chuckled slightly, "I shouldn't be surprised. You made sure Ruby and Yang didn't trash the place?" This time she gave a brief but prideful meow. "Thought as much. Thank you, Angel." He notice her eyes move from him to the other two cats and once she knew they weren't watching, she leant into his touch and purred quietly.

Jaune just kept gently rubbing her head. Weiss was always like this. It took him a while for her to even let him pet her. Now, she would allow it but she wouldn't allow herself to show how much she actually enjoyed it if anyone else was watching, the other cats included. It took him the better part of the first month for her to get to this point but he was glad he got her to open up. Even if he only had her for about half the time he had the other two, he cared deeply about her.

He stopped with his petting when he saw Ruby run out of the living room and down the hallway. Yang was right behind her and the two vanished into the kitchen before he heard, what he assumed to be a broom or mop crash to the ground. He took away his hand from the snow colored cat as he sighed. He then turned to her with a tired look and she looked up to him with the same exact look. "I'll be right back." He told her and she meowed back.

He started to walk down the hallway as Ruby and Yang ran back down the hallway, almost taking him out in the process. He looked into the kitchen as he walked by and confirmed that it was a broom they knocked over. He elected to ignore that for the time and went all the way to the end of the hall to the left. He opened the door into his bedroom. It was simple: a bed with a nightstand to the right of it and a small lamp on it, a dresser on the right wall and on the left was his closet that was cracked open. He had a few posters on the walls from bands to anime to video games. Only other things were two cats beds, side by side, against the wall right next to his dresser.

He walked in and sat down at the end of his bed before he collapsed backwards with a sigh. He just stared up at the ceiling for a bit before he just closed his eyes for a few seconds. He was still tired and the dour mood he started to get into on his way home wasn't doing him any favors. Honestly, he just wanted to lay there for a while and hopefully his mood would be better.

That was the plan but that is when he heard his closet door squeak open. He opened his eyes and turned his head in that direction. He saw a black cat with a violet collar yawn as she walked out of the closet. She walked out of the closet completely and sat down on the ground so she could clearly look up at Jaune with her amber eyes as she meowed at him.

He gave her a small smile, "Did I interrupt your nap, Blake? Sorry about that." He knew she would go in there to nap since it was dark and quiet. Plus, the other cats usually didn't bother her when she was in there. He looked back up to the ceiling, "Just give me a few minutes and I'll get out of your hair. Or fur…" he told her as he closed his eyes.

He laid there for about a minute, undisturbed. Then he felt a weight settle onto the bed to his right and a furry head rub against his right cheek. He just raised his arm and started to pet her. She stopped rubbing against his face and he stopped petting her. He laid there for about another minute until her felt the same weight settle onto his chest. He opened his eyes to see Blake sitting on his chest and just staring at him.

He just held her gaze for a bit before he sighed and smiled up at her. "Affectionate today, are you?" She meowed at him. He chuckled and reached up and started to pet her but more enthusiastically than before. For her part, she settled for laying down on his chest and purr in content as he did so. He just smiled up at the ceiling as that was going on. Blake was the cat he had for the longest amount of time, over six months by now and she just had ways of making him feel better by doing very little. And that made him cherish her all the more.

He came back to reality when he felt her gently start to pat his nose with her paw. He looked down and she pulled away before she meowed at him with a needy look in her eyes. He just grinned, "You hungry?" She meowed instantly. "Alright. You gonna get off or do I need to carry you?"

She just looked him in the eyes but didn't even begin to move. He raised an eyebrow, "What is with you today?" he asked as he sat up. He held her close as she shifted to lay on the entirety on his forearm as he walked out of the room. The entire time she just purred as her tail swished back and forth by his elbow. While his hand gently rubbed her chest as he made his way to the kitchen.

As he walked in, he went to the broom on the ground and picked it up. He then went to the corner and leant it against the wall alongside his mop. He walked to the wall that was opposite of the door where there was a large metal bowl that held the water for his cats. He noticed it was about half full, so he picked it up and went to the sink to fill it up.

As it was filling with water, he could hear two of his cats running through the halls. The two most likely heard what he was doing and were rushing to get fed. He turned off the water and turned around with the water bowl in hand, just in time to see the sisters run into the kitchen and instantly start to slide on the tiles. Luckily, the two managed to get traction before they slammed into the wall. Luckier for Ruby since Yang would've driven her into the wall further. Weiss walked into the room a few seconds later, as calm as ever, as he placed the water bowl back on the floor.

That was when he finally put Blake back down on the ground, much to her annoyance. She sat down and looked up at him along with the other three, all waiting patiently for their food. Although, Ruby did meow up at him and he knew what she was asking for. He went over to the fridge and took out a half gallon of milk and about half of a remaining rotisserie chicken. He walked back over to the counter by the sink and grabbed a small bowl right next it. He opened up the milk and poured a bit into the bowl before he placed it down beside the water. As soon as his hand was clear, Ruby ran over and started to lap up the milk like no tomorrow.

He had found out very early on in his ownership of her, that she loved milk. So, he would give her a small amount before he fed her. He never had to worry about the others trying to take it from her since they never showed any interest in the dairy product. Not that Ruby seemed to mind.

With that, he started to pull chunks off the chicken and started to place them in a yellow bowl and about half of that amount into a red one. He then reached up into the cabinet above him and pulled out a can of tuna and a can of beef flavored cat food. He opened both before putting the tuna in a black bowl and the cat food into a white one. With that, he placed each bowl in front of the respective colored cats and they all started to eat. Ruby immediately after her milk was done.

He picked up the milk bowl and placed it in his sink before rinsing out the two cans so he could recycle them later. He put the milk and chicken back into the fridge before grabbing the leftover pasta he had so he could have his own dinner. He put it in the microwave just as his cats finished their own food. He picked the bowls and put them in the sink as well, he'd do them once he had finished eating.

He grabbed his pasta when it was done and made his way to the living room with his cats either following or leading the way. He sat down on the couch and turned on the television as he ate. Blake and Weiss jumped up onto the couch with him to relax; Blake on the back of the couch and Weiss on the cushion next to his. While Yang and Ruby were wrestling on the floor again. His attention split between watching whatever was on the television and watching the sisters playing with each other with a content smile.

When he was done, he washed all the dishes before making himself some coffee to help with the rest of his night. Going back to the living room, he went to his writing desk and turned on his laptop. He started to go over some of his notes to prepare himself for his upcoming final. That proved to be more difficult than he had thought. His mind was already tired and the coffee was doing very little to revitalize him. His eyes went across his notes but he wasn't retaining any of the information. He ended up rereading the same notes over and over.

He eventually stopped and gently massaged his eyelids as he sighed in a mix of exhaustion and annoyance. He felt one of his cats jump into his lap before the top of their head started to run against the underside of his chin. He pulled his hand away and opened his eyes to see that it was none other than Yang, who had decided she wanted attention and his studying could wait. He just looked at her for a bit before she meowed at him. That just made him smile before he started to pet her. She had a point; studying was a bust right now.

He sat there and pet the large cat as she purred loudly in his lap. That lasted for a few minutes until Ruby got jealous and jumped into his lap as well. Before the two could start wrestling in his lap, that happened before and he wasn't a fan, he started to pet the smaller cat as well. That volume of the purring in the room doubled as the two started to settle down in his lap.

Not long after that, the two cats had fallen asleep, so her carefully moved them onto the chair as he got to his feet. The two didn't stir much besides just scooting closer to cuddle up to one another. He gave them a small smile before he went down the hall to grab his nightwear and go into the bathroom across the hall from his bedroom, to grab a shower.

When he came out, he was wearing black pajama pants and a blue t-shirt. He walked back into the living room and saw that all four cats were still where they were when he had left. He sat back down on the couch and started streaming a new anime he was told about. As he was doing that, Weiss got up and looked around to make sure the other cats were asleep. When she was sure they were, she made her way over to him to curl up on his lap. He just grinned and gently started to stroke her back, making her purr quietly.

He got through several episodes before he checked the time and noticed it was just past midnight. He shut off his TV and turned off one of his lamps. "Come on, Kitties. Time for bed." With that, all four cats started to reluctantly get up and started walking out of the living room. Jaune followed right after once Weiss got off his lap. As he walked into the room, he saw Yang and Ruby curled up together on one of the cat beds. While Weiss and Blake shared the other but not lying next to each other. He yawned before he closed the door behind himself and got under the covers of his bed.

Jaune just laid there for a few minutes just staring up at the ceiling. As he was doing that, his mind started to go back to Pyrrha. He closed his eyes and sighed in frustration, "Why am I still thinking about her? Why can't I put this behind me?" He asked out loud but got no answer in return.

What he did get though, was a familiar meow before Ruby jumped up onto his bed. She padded over to him and curled up onto his stomach, looking up at him as she did so. He saw Yang jump up as well before following her sisters lead and curling up to sleep on his lap. Before he could question that, Blake jumped up on the other side of his bed. She squeezed herself between his right arm and his body, curling up so her head could rest against him. Finally, after a few extra seconds, Weiss did the same. She curled up on his left and had her back against him.

Jaune just looked at his four cats now resting with him and he just couldn't help the large smile stretching across his face. "Thanks, girls. I really needed this…I love you." He added simply and was about to close his eyes to finally drift off to sleep. But that was when four different colored bright lights erupted from around him: red, yellow, light blue and violet.

He instantly tried to sit up in a panic but only made it halfway before stopping in shock. Sitting on his stomach was not his tabby but a beautiful, naked young woman. He could just make out the expansion of fair-skin below his eye level but was forcing himself not to lower his eyes. She had neck length black hair with red tips and a set of familiar silver eyes that just stared at him. On top of her head were a pair of red-tipped black cat ears. He just stared at her for a few seconds as she stared back before tilting her head to the side cutely, "Master?" she asked.

"M-master?" Jaune asked, just so confused on what exactly was going on.

That's when he heard a mischievous giggle and from behind the woman sitting on him, raised up another beautiful woman, which he now realized was the weight settled on his thighs. She was also fair-skinned but definitely more developed. She turned to him fully and her decency was only hidden by the head of the first woman but he could still tell how big her 'assets' were. She had bright golden hair that went down her back with a cowlick sticking up between her same colored cat ears. Her lilac eyes just stared at him with a very familiar and playful light, "I think you broke Master, Sis." she said in a teasing tone.

"Huh?" he asked.

He noticed something stir to his right and he turned towards it, coming face to face with another fair-skinned woman. He was just staring into her amber eyes before he pulled back enough to see her wavy black hair going down her form with the same colored ears on her own head. She just looked at him, not even caring that if he looked down he could see everything she had. She leant closer to him, "Are you alright, Master?" she asked in a calm tone.

"H-hold on! W-what's with this Master talk?" he asked as he backed up and tried to used his left arm to support himself. He froze when it landed on something soft and warm. And when whatever it was gave a gasp.

He slowly turned to see that a fourth woman was on the left of him. She was lithe and was actually covering her chest with her arms, unlike the other three. Her skin was paler compared to the others with long white hair running down her own back and the exact colored cat ears on her head. She had light blue eyes and had a very familiar vertical scar running down her left eye. The two stared at each other before she turned to the side, "M-master, please be careful w-where your t-touching." She said quietly as her eyes slowly darted from him then back to the side.

He looked down and saw that his hand was laying on her bare thigh. He quickly pulled his hand away and jumped back so now his back was pushed up against the wall. His eyes started to dart across every one of the women again as his cheeks felt like they were on fire. Each of them still just looking back at him like they wondering why he was acting the way he was. He finally took a deep breath, before shouting, "What the hell is going on!?"

A/N- So, yeah, I'm entirely sure on where this idea came from but here it is. It was just one of those stories that just popped into my head and I just couldn't get it to leave. I know a lot of people were expecting another update to A Knight's Heart but I feel like I've taken that story as far as I can. That is why a wrote this strange story out of nowhere. I can easily leave it like this and I probably will but if enough people like it, I can easily right a few more chapters of it. So, I hope you all enjoyed and I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.