Heyo! We're back with another Lancaster story! Glad you all liked the last one, and I've decided to make what would pretty much be a sequel to Reflections, I guess. The rating has been bumped up, to allow me a bit more freedom - i.e., there might be a few more naughty words and bits in this story...

Let Go

In his younger years, Jaune Arc had fantasized about what it would be like to have a girlfriend. He dreamed about asking someone out to dinner or a movie and her saying yes. He would hold her hand as they walked down the street, pay for the meal, and with any luck, get a goodnight kiss for his efforts. Then, after a few more dates like that, the two of them would decide that they were going steady and would fall in love. Over the years, they would grow closer and closer, and eventually, get married and have a few kids.

He'd go off to Beacon, and train to be a huntsman. Then, when he'd amassed a name for himself as a hero, Jaune Arc would retire. Live out the remainder of his days with his wife, telling stories of his adventures to his many grandchildren.

However, it seemed the universe, in its infinite wisdom, had other plans for how his life would turn out. Back home in Ansel, the number of girls who gave him the time of day was next to none - not through a lack of effort on his part, either. Of those few, only one had deigned to provide him with her scroll number. Taking his dad's advice, Jaune had shown her his confidence by confessing feelings of true love to the young girl immediately.

For some reason, she never called him back.

That hadn't done much in the way of boosting his self-esteem. So, from ages fourteen to seventeen, Jaune Arc had been single and looking to mingle.

Then out of absolutely nowhere, his old partner, Pyrrha Nikos, had confessed her own love to him. If she had done that at any other time, he'd have been stuttering and tripping over his own feet. The notion that a girl like her could have those kinds of feelings for him, it was almost unbelievable. But she hadn't professed to him because she wanted to ask him out. No, Pyrrha wanted him to know her thoughts about him before she died.

When his partner and friend was murdered, just after telling him something like that, Jaune was devastated. He'd closed himself off for years because of it. For a while, he felt as though he'd never love again.

Instead, he found a task to busy himself with, saving the world. Yep, looked like at least one of those childhood dreams was coming true. Alongside his best friend and his remaining teammates, Jaune went on a quest to stop an ancient demon-witch-lady-person. After all that noise, though, he still had his heart locked away. He never even considered looking for companionship in that way.

Which was precisely why he was pulling out his date's chair for her to sit down, right?

Yeah, so apparently, all it took was a cryptic message, a heartfelt confession of the fear of mortality, and an evening of making out to turn Jaune Arc, the lonely hermit into Jaune Arc, the ecstatic new boyfriend. Such was the tactic that Ruby Rose had used. That was also what was needed for him to see her in his mind as not Ruby, the adorable best friend, but Ruby, the smoking hot, silver-eyed beauty.

What a turn things had taken, eh?

"Wow," Ruby whistled, looking around at the restaurant he'd brought them to. "Gotta say, I wasn't expecting this."

Jaune glanced about, following her gaze. It was a pretty ritzy joint - far more elegant than anywhere he'd ever been. There were fancy paintings of rivers and lakes hanging from the walls, a weird-looking water feature right by the entrance, and all the wait staff wore slacks and waistcoats. He had chosen the venue based on a recommendation from his mother of all people. Which, in hindsight, probably should've been his first tipoff that it wasn't the ideal place for a first date. So, he'd waited, and used it for the setting of his and Ruby's third date.

Then again, he had also heard Weiss mention it once, citing it as one of the cheaper options for fine dining in Vale. Mainly, it was for people who wanted a taste of upper class living without having to pay more than their mortgage for the food. Even still, it had set Jaune back more than a little just to get a table.

"Too much?" Jaune winced as he turned back to face Ruby. "I knew this was a bad idea."

Her eyes widened. "No, no, no," she held up a hand. "It's great, I just didn't think you meant this when you told me to dress up. Glad I didn't go too casual."

So am I, Jaune thought, albeit for different reasons.

He looked over her attire for what must have been the fiftieth time that night. Ruby was drop-dead gorgeous already, but tonight she really had pulled out all the stops - Jaune imagined he may have had Yang to thank for that, but then again, neither of them had revealed their relationship with anyone yet. She was dressed in a dress of deep red, the skirt flowing down and stopping towards her lower thigh. He wouldn't have expected a plunging neckline, but lo and behold, there was one, offering him a slight view of her modest cleavage.

Ruby's usual loose hairstyle had been abandoned in exchange for a bun, putting her stunning sliver eyes and a bright smile on full display. She'd even opted for heels instead of flats for shoes. Ruby Rose, in heels!

Just from looking at her, Jaune felt his cheeks heat up. "You look amazing," he whispered. Never had there been a more enormous understatement.

She smiled, a small chuckle slipping from her lips. "That's the tenth time you've said that tonight, Jaune."

"And it just keeps getting truer every time."

Ruby laughed at the terrible attempt at being smooth. "Well, you don't look half-bad, yourself, either."

Lies! In Jaune's mind, he looked like a half-dead Beowolf that had been rolling in a pigsty compared to her. He wore a relatively standard black suit and tie with a white dress shirt. More than he'd typically wear, but less than a date with Ruby merited, he thought.

"Kinda like a suave, secret agent-type." She nodded in approval. "It looks good on you."

"Yeah, sure. Arc, Jaune Arc," he winked, doing his best sexy spy man voice. "International man of mystery."

Ruby snorted. "Okay, I take it back," she giggled, "now, you look like a dork."

"Hey!"

Their jabs were cut short by middle-aged waiter clearing his throat beside them. Like all good stereotypical servers, he had a white cloth draped over his forearm. His face just oozed that general sense of high-and-mighty that the restaurant gave off. "Ahem. A pleasant evening to you both, sir and madam," he bowed his head as he spoke; however, he never stopped looking down his over-sized nose at them. "It is my pleasure to welcome you to la Violette Couronne."

"Evening," Jaune replied.

"Hi," Ruby waved with a nervous smile.

Without reciprocating, the waiter went on. "My name is Pierre, I am to be your caretaker for the remainder of your stay here. Now, shall we begin with drinks?"

Jaune gestured for Ruby to order first, just like his dad had always told him to. With a nod, she turned to Pierre. "I guess you wouldn't really serve soda in a place like this, huh?"

The waiter let out an audible sigh. It was clear they were not of the restaurant's usual clientele. "No. No, we do not carry soft drinks here. Although we do have a few bottles of sparkling cider for customers who... prefer to avoid alcohol."

"We'll have that," Jaune said.

"Very well," Pierre gave a curt bow. "I shall return with your refreshments, momentarily."

"Thanks!" Jaune called after him as the waiter turned on his heel and strode quickly away. "Well... that was awkward. You'd think we asked if they serve kitten meat by the way he reacted."

Ruby's palm clamped over her mouth as she gasped sharply. "You don't think they do?! Because Weiss told me about some of the stuff they sell at places like this," she paused to shudder, "Believe me, it's not too much of a stretch to think they'd cook a poor innocent kitty-cat."

"Uh... I don't think they serve cats at this particular establishment, no."

Her shoulders sagged with relief. "Good. I don't think Blake would ever forgive me if I ate one of her cousins."

Jaune blinked. "Isn't that kind of racist?"

"Is it?" Ruby froze. Her hands shot up to cover her mouth. "Oh my god, it is! Blake's gonna kill me! I said something racist against faunus!"

Jaune flinched. Okay, maybe don't point out the next time his girlfriend said or did something racially insensitive, because it might spur her into a full-blown panic attack. Then again, it seemed to be more than just that which set her off. He glanced around at the other patrons in the room. As he'd expected but hoped against, more than a few pairs of eyes stared toward their table. He offered his best serious huntsman face in return, which appeared to work on a few people, as they quickly noticed something exciting on their plates or the ceiling. The rest just smirked and turned back to their affairs on their own.

Turning back to his date, he found her slumped, elbows resting on the table, face resting in her hands, growing redder and redder by the second. "A-are you okay, Ruby? You don't freak out like that very often."

She let out a deep breath, shaking her head. "I'm fine. It's just... I guess this whole 'us' thing hadn't really sunk in until just now."

Jaune cocked his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I don't really know," she shrugged. "Up til now all the dates we went on were just things we could still do as friends, no romance at all. You know?"

"I don't remember us ever making out in the park," Jaune smirked.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Besides that. You get what I mean, though?"

He did. Over the past few weeks, since they'd started dating, the only real proof of that was the kissing. None of the dates had been that amorous. Tonight was supposed to be the night that broke that streak.

"I get it." He nodded. "It all just became real?" Her reply was a return nod. "Yeah, I pretty much had the same thing happen when we walked in."

"You did?" Ruby perked up at the knowledge she wasn't alone.

"Uh, yeah. I went from having no girlfriend and not looking for one to suddenly having one who just so happens to be my best friend." Jaune sighed. "It would take a stronger man than I to just roll with the punches on that one."

The mood lightening a bit, Ruby let out a brief chuckle. "So, you get that I didn't want to do something stupid to mess this up, and then I went and said something stupid and then started freaking out?"

It was good to see her loosen up. She was back to her old run-on-sentence-using self. "Yeah, I get you. But," Jaune reached over and took her hand. "When we first met, your face literally exploded. I emptied the of the contents of my stomach all over your sister's shoes. I don't think either of us needs to worry about looking stupid in front of the other."

He peered into her deep silver eyes. Behind them, he could see the memories coming back, a smile pulling at her lips as she began to giggle.

"So, let's not worry about 'making it work' and just have fun. Deal?"

Calmed, Ruby nodded. "Deal."

In all her years of knowing him, Yang Xiao Long had never expected to see Ruby - fucking Ruby - on a date with the dork knight of Beacon, Jaune "Lady Killer" Arc. More than that, she'd never even fathomed the possibility that the two of them would go on a date to a five-star restaurant. Ruby hated getting all dolled up in a dress and heels - fucking heels - and Jaune didn't strike Yang as the type to frequent such places either.

And yet, despite the utter insanity of it, there they were, strolling arm-in-arm out the door of la Violette Couronne - a more pretentious name for a restaurant she'd never heard. Sure enough, Ruby was dressed in a pretty red dress, and Jaune looked none too shabby either in his suit.

Eyebrows escaping into her hairline, Yang pulled the binoculars away from her eyes and lowered them back behind the completely inconspicuous-looking newspaper. A partly-amazed-partly-shocked scoff escaped her. As she watched her little sis and her newfound paramour walk down the other side of the street, Yang leaned back into the bench.

"I can't believe it," she said, reeling from the realization. "Didn't want to believe it."

Beside her, Blake - not even trying to act stealthy - lazily flipped a page in her book. "Ruby's old enough to make her own choices, and Jaune's a decent guy," she said, without even taking her eyes off the page. "They've been best friends for years. I doubt you have anything to worry about."

Yang glanced at her, confused for a second. She must have thought her disbelief was anger. Why did everyone always assume that she, Qrow, and her dad were all murderously obsessed with keeping Ruby out of the romantic world? She knew her sister. Knew she wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with. She understood that Ruby was an adult now, but that was the problem.

"No, I'm not worried," Yang waved her off. "If he does try something, I'll just feed his testicles to Zwei." She shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring the cocked eyebrow Blake shot her. "I'm just shocked by the fact that Ruby's all grown up now."

Noting that this was more than just an overprotective Yang stalking Ruby and Jaune on their date, Blake actually lowered her book, placing it onto her lap. "I suppose that would make sense. It is a little jarring; Ruby never looked like she had any intention of putting herself out there." She stood with a sigh as Yang got up to follow Jaune and Ruby as they rounded a corner out of sight. "But, I guess even she was going to feel the urge eventually. They have been spending a lot more time together lately."

Yang nodded along, hands in her pockets, paying only half a mind. The other half was running wild, and a hitherto undiscovered third half was melting down, trying to figure out how she'd missed all the signs.

It was true, Jaune had been around more over the past couple of weeks. It started with a weird visit out of nowhere that both he and Ruby were being pretty tight-lipped about. He had walked Ruby home at nearly three in the morning. Well, walked may have been the wrong word for it, as she was sleeping like a baby, riding him piggyback, the biggest smile Yang had ever seen plastered across her unconscious face.

That little detail would have sounded some alarms had it been anybody but Jaune. Since they'd known each other, he and Ruby had been closer than siblings. Thus it wasn't too far outside the realm of possibility to see them hanging off one another.

Then, Jaune took Ruby to lunch a couple of times. First on Patch, then they'd spent an entire day together in Vale. Again, not unusual for them, so she let it slide.

The suspicion of something more than just two old friends catching up started to claw its way into Yang's mind when Jaune came by the house and took Ruby to a movie and dinner. She hadn't actually been there to witness it, but dad said Vomit Boy arrived with a bouquet of flowers in hand; roses in fact. If that didn't just scream these two are dating, Yang had no clue what did.

Now, here she was, her own significant other and partner in crime in tow, tracking her sister and her significant other through the streets of Vale like some kind of discount private investigator. She wasn't even honest with herself about why. True, there was the curiosity, but if she really wanted to know about Ruby's love life, Yang could have just asked her. Of course, that would probably garner the same treatment as when they were younger - little red would just go even redder, stutter, and squeal about it being none of her business. No, that wasn't what she was after.

"Why wouldn't she tell me?" The question was spoken in a hushed, almost pained voice. And even if it was rhetorical, Blake's sharp hearing picked it up.

Placing a hand on Yang's shoulder sympathetically, Blake halted. "I'm sure it would have come up eventually. I mean, it's not like they hide it very well." When the joking comment didn't earn the desired reaction, she continued. "Maybe she's just trying to see if it'll work out before letting everybody know?"

Sure as hell looked like it was working. She and Blake rounded the corner to see Ruby and Jaune laughing with ice cream cones in hand. Giggling at something her beau said, Ruby accidentally smeared chocolate all over her face. The two of them fit the bill of the stereotypical cutesy couple perfectly.

Yang shrugged. "I guess, but it doesn't explain why she wouldn't even tell dad or me. Ruby never used to hide anything from us, even when she tried to. She's not too good at keeping secrets."

"Okay, well, maybe she got better, but that's not the point. She may also have another reason." Blake's hand slid down from Yang's shoulder and she took both her hands. "You remember when we first got together? We told no one, right?"

Yang nodded. It was true, although there had been bigger things going on at the time. Namely, the end of the fucking world as they knew it.

"Aside from all the drama that was happening, there were other reasons we kept quiet about it," Blake said, a tiny smirk tugging at her lips. "We wanted to make sure it would work, but also, it felt nice to have something that we didn't need to share with everyone on Remnant. Our little secret love affair, remember?"

Yang did. It seemed like so long ago; they were just two kids, scared out of their minds and looking for comfort in each other. They found it, comfort and a host of other fun things. As much as she could play the part of a calm and collected, no-nonsense kind of girl, Blake was kinky as hell. Handcuffs, tight outfits, toys that boggled the mind to look at. Seriously, what in the world was in those books of hers?

She felt her cheeks heating up at the thought. Shaking her head, a thought struck her, and Yang's eyebrows shot up. "You don't think they're..." Her voice trailed off into a pained whine as she saw Ruby stand up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss right on Jaune's lips. "They're not doing... that, are they?"

Blake crossed her arms, one eyebrow slowly rising. "Sex?" She said it so matter-of-factly, whereas Yang couldn't bring herself to utter the word, for fear of it conjuring up images of her sister having... that word with tall, blonde, and scraggly. "No. Or at least, I highly doubt it. Both of them are so awkward, they wouldn't be able to ask the other or know how to instigate with melting into a blubbering puddle. It's a wonder they're even kissing at all."

They started up tailing the lovebirds again in silence, Yang mulled over her partner's words. It made sense, Jaune and Ruby didn't even seem the type to date, let alone do the deed so early. Looking at them now, they were just your average young couple. The kind that everyone said they strived to be. The one that made everybody around them want to vomit at how cute they were with each other.

She and Blake had never been like that. Early on in their relationship, it was just sex and food. Then, once it came out that they were together, everyone just accepted it as the new norm. Nothing really changed, except for the fact that Yang started soundproofing her walls. Turned out, even as quiet as she was normally, Blake had a decent pair of lungs in her.

Ruby and the dork knight didn't appear to be like them, though. So far, nothing they'd done suggested they had any intention of going that far. Since she and Balke started stalki... er, observing them, Jaune and Ruby had met and had dinner at the restaurant with the pretentious name she couldn't recall, walked together a while, gotten ice cream, and now they were going into a hotel together.

Wait...

"THEY'RE GOING IN A HOTEL TOGETHER!"

Lilac eyes flashed red. A car horn blared as she dove into the street, only to be suddenly yanked backward by her collar. Yang's butt impacted with a concrete sidewalk, and she looked up at Blake, angry, confused, and a little betrayed. "What the hell?!" She scrambled to her feet and started to run, only to be stopped by Blake stepping in front of her. "He's taking Ruby into a hotel room to have... that word with her! She isn't ready for that!"

The dark-haired faunus held up a finger. "First off, did we not just discuss this very thing?" A second finger came up. "Second," Blake pointed to the building, "that is Jaune's apartment complex. We've been there before. Remember?"

Yang didn't see what difference that made. Hotel, apartment, if it had a bed and a door with a lock on it, it would do the job. Why else would Jaune take Ruby home if not to do things to her body that Yang really didn't want to think about?

As if reading her thoughts, Blake grabbed both her shoulder and looked sternly into her eyes. Yang hated that look. It was one you'd give to a child when they didn't understand something. "It's still relatively early. They probably went in to watch a movie, or play video games, or talk, or... any number of things. But a sincerely doubt that your sister and Jaune Arc are going to have sex tonight."

Yang shook her hands away. She grimaced. "Do you have to use that word for it?"

Blake gave an exasperated groan and rolled her eyes. "Fine. I sincerely doubt that Jaune is going to fuck your sister tonight."

Yang's hands rushed to cover her ears, but the damage was already done. "GAH! NOT BETTER!"

"My point still stands." Blake waited for her to finish squirming in disgust before asking, "Now, are you going to be a big girl and let Ruby be the same?"

"I guess so," Yang said with a glare. "You know, you can be a real bitch when you try."

"It's the company I keep. Now come on, like I said, the night's still young."

Yang shook her head one final time to exorcise the unholy images that assaulted her brain. She then followed after her girlfriend. "What are you thinking?"

Blake, without turning around, handed her the book she was reading earlier. The cover was a tasteless, lewd, depiction of a scantily clad young woman with her hands and feet bound to the posts of a bed. Above her, a shirtless man in a black metal mask leered over her half-naked form.

"I have a few ideas."

After an hour full of a stuffy waiter, a rather dull restaurant atmosphere, and portion sizes that wouldn't choke a mouse, it felt good to be home. Jaune closed the door as he and Ruby stepped into the little apartment. "It's not much, but make yourself at home," he said. She walked into the living area and plopped down onto the couch while he stepped into the little kitchenette near the door.

Jaune laughed silently as he overheard Ruby's slew of cute, muffled not-quite-curses as she, no doubt, struggled to remove her heels. "Stupid, ducking lady-foot-traps!"

By the time he walked in, she had discarded the dreaded shoes and flung them all the way to the other side of the room. Her hair was down too, no longer pulled back into a bun. Just as well, he liked Ruby's hair, and it felt strange to see it penned up like that.

"I'd offer you some food after that tiny meal," he said, placing the plate and two glasses he'd been carrying on the table and sitting next to her. "But I think this is a better option."

Ruby's eyes widened at the sight of a platter stacked high with chocolate chip cookies and two tall glasses of ice-cold milk. "I could and probably will kiss you right now."

Jaune didn't even have time to laugh before Ruby's lips fused with his own. Almost three weeks since they became a couple, and nearly every time they met ended this way. Despite that, it hadn't even begun to get old in the slightest. Each time he saw Ruby look at him, that same expression on her face as that night on the cliffside, pure love and adoration in her eyes. Jaune felt the exact same feeling swelling down in his chest. When she came at him, arms ready to latch around his neck, he felt his heart skip for joy.

What they had was love. No two ways about it.

Jaune fell back into the couch, Ruby's small frame belying her considerable strength as she pushed down on top of him. He delighted in the warmth of her body as his hands traveled across her back. Even hid beneath the crimson gown she wore, Ruby was soft to the touch, inviting to his wandering palms.

Ruby purred in pleasure as Jaune's tongue slipped in through her lips. Rather than fight it or push back with her own, she gladly accepted, allowing the writhing muscle to explore her mouth. The smaller woman squirmed and wriggled in his arms as a familiar sense of passion overcame them both. Her body's softness felt as if she was molding to him like they were two pieces of an incomplete puzzle.

Jaune had to fight back the sudden urge to groan at the immense and torturous pleasure the feeling of her pressing into certain places caused him. Instead, his entire body tensed, and he let a sharp breath pass through clenched teeth. Slender fingers wound themselves through his shaggy blonde mane. A warm palm came to rest on his cheek, petting and lightly scratching at his trimmed beard.

"Mmm... I love you," Ruby hummed, drowsily peeling open her mirrored eyes. A slight dusting of red shown on her cheeks. "Love you so much."

Jaune smiled, placing a hand atop the one cupping his face. He gazed into those enthralling silver orbs, and planting a kiss on her forehead, said, "I love you more." It was cheesy, sure, and they both knew it. But hey, they were new at this whole being a couple thing, they could be forgiven for having fun with the lousy rom-com-esque dialogue.

Ruby blushed and grinned wider. "Oh yeah?" Her voice took on a slightly more challenging lilt. "P-prove it."

A blonde eyebrow cocked. This was new. "I took you out for dinner at the fanciest restaurant I've eve been to, bought you ice cream, gave you cookies and milk, and now I'm holding you in my arms, kissing you." Jaune punctuated with yet another peck on the cheek. "I'm not sure how I could prove it if I haven't already."

Her already pink face went even darker. In fact, this was the reddest Jaune had seen her in all his years of knowing her. "Well... there is... one way," she whispered.

"What way is that?"

Silver eyes flicking downward and cherry-red lips pursing was all the answer he received. His brow shot up, nearly escaping his face altogether. Jaune gulped. "Wait..."

She nodded nervously. "Mhm."

"Are you saying you want to..."

"Yup."

It was quiet, lacking the customary enthusiasm and signature popping of the 'p,' but it was confirmation. Confirmation of a question that hadn't wholly been asked. Proof that Ruby wanting something from him that only he could provide. Jaune's heart started racing - no, racing implied it was beating fast; his heart was trying to vibrate out of his chest and break the fabric of reality.

"A-are you sure?"

Ruby's eyes came up slowly to meet his. Both their expressions mirrored each other's - crimson face and eyes like dinner plates. She paused, staring straight through to his soul. Utter silence engulfed the tiny apartment but for the sounds of labored breathing emanating from the two lovers. It felt like they would sit like that forever. Ruby searching frantically, Jaune waiting desperately to hear it.

However, finally, she spoke and delivered a single word that sent Jaune reeling. Ruby's gaze hardened, became more determined. "Yes. Yes, Jaune, I want to have... that word with you."

Holy fuck fucking fuckity-fuck! He screamed inside his own head. What the hell am I supposed to do here!?

What could he do? A more mature man would have politely turned Ruby down, explain how they weren't ready to take such a step, and offer to let her sleep in his bed while he took the couch. However, many were the things Jaune Arc had been labeled. Mature was not among them. Also, that part of his brain had completely given up on life sometime around when he stuck his tongue in Ruby's mouth.

Quick, think! What would dad do? His father was one of the most sensible and levelheaded people on Remnant. Surely, he'd imparted at least some knowledge of what to do when your girlfriend of just a few weeks wants to sleep with you.

Wait...

Dad has been in this exact situation before. Even in his mind, his voice was deadpan. It's the whole reason Saphron is alive.

"Just have a little confidence, son. It'll aid you in all walks of life. Why I remember, when I was your age..."

"Jaune?" Ruby's voice popped the bubble of the insane one-act play that was unfolding inside his skull.

He shook his head, both clearing his thoughts and making a mental note to never, ever, take his father's advice. With more - albeit, very little - focus than before, Jaune was able to wrap his head around the situation at least somewhat. He was lying on his couch, his girlfriend on top of him, recovering from a super hot and spicy make-out session, when suddenly he was posed with the most difficult choice of his memory - which was, admittedly, rather short at the moment.

Jaune, red in the face and flustered, looked Ruby in the eye. With all the composure and calm he could muster, he took a deep breath. "Ruby, I love you. You know that." Her smile served as confirmation. "And right now, there is nothing I'd love more than to take that step."

Ruby's smile drooped a bit. "But?"

Screw it, here goes. "But, we're new at all this. And there's a whole ton of risks involved." He sighed, wondering that he was quite possibly the first and last man to ever utter such words. "I don't want us to screw around and wind up in a situation we'll regret."

The room fell quiet once more. The fire that burned inside Jaune's chest was now gone. Replaced by the ever-deepening pit in his stomach as he looked upon Ruby's face. Her mood was unreadable; neither confusion nor anger or sadness came to the surface. She just stared at him, her eyes boring deep into his. It continued on like that for about a minute, though every second that passed felt like an hour.

After an agony of waiting, Ruby's eyelids slipped closed. "That..." Jaune's breath caught as a solitary tear broke through, sliding down her cheek. "That's why," she said, a near-silent laugh slipping past her lips.

He didn't dare speak, for fear he'd upset her even more.

"That's why I fell in love with you!" Ruby erupted into giggles of pure joy as tears began streaming down her face. She hugged his neck tightly, even as Jaune's eyes widened in confusion.

"Wha-What?"

Ruby's voice was muffled as she spoke into his shoulder. "You care so much. Even when I'm offering to sleep with you, all you can think about is how it'll affect me... us."

Wait... whut? Jaune had to do a double, no, a triple-take on what just happened. One second, he'd made his girlfriend cry; the next, she was laughing hysterically. Oh, gods, he'd broken her!

"Always looking out for others," Ruby went on, "Even if it's not the best for you."

He could only stare at the ceiling, wondering how in the hell he'd wound up here. "I-I," he stammered, placing a hand on her back and pulling her close. Her softness was the only constant right now, and it helped to settle his frantic nerves. "I mean, I just want us to think this sort of thing through. No matter how much either of us wants it, it isn't worth a lifetime of regret."

She raised her head up. Looking him in the eye once more. "So... you do want to?"

Did he want to? Ruby obviously didn't know who she was talking to. In his day, he had one sex drive to rule them all. Teenage boys were some of the horniest creatures on the planet, and Jaune "Masturbated Twelve Times in One Day" Arc held the title of their king. Also, did she not have nerve-endings? Could she not feel the immense tightness in his dress pants pressed up against her thighs?

Ahem... All that aside

"More than anything," he said diplomatically, betraying none of his thoughts.

Ruby glanced about, the nervousness from before apparently having returned. "Well," she whispered. "I mean, if you're really worried, I can wait. It doesn't have to be tonight... or at least, not right this minute."

It took Jaune a second to grasp what she was saying. She was suggesting that they wait until... "You want me to go buy... uh, protection?"

Ruby blushed. "Uh, yep...?"

Jaune closed his eyes. She really was just as nervous as he was; not a minute ago, she'd asked if he wanted this. And he'd said yes, but still couldn't entirely free himself of that damned uncertainty that had plagued him all his life. Ruby was ready and willing; prepared to take that monumental step. She even posed an alternative that eliminated the risks he envisioned. Now the only thing holding him back was his own confidence - or rather, a lack thereof.

"Jaune?" Ruby appeared in his wandering gaze. "What do you say?"

He took a deep breath. Time to take control. It took all the courage he had, but after a moment of silence, Jaune summoned up the answer. "Yes."

What'd you think? Did I capture the awkward nature of the Dork Knight and Little Red Badass? I think so. Part two will be coming soon. Soon as I can find the time to write it.

I tried something new that I've seen precious little of in the other fics I've read; making Yang and Taiyang's protectiveness of Ruby realistic and not obsessively murderous. Too many times have I read a story where Ruby starts dating or does the nasty with someone and that person - mostly Jaune or Oscar - automatically starts fearing for their life. Then, lo and behold, here comes a psychotic Yang charging forth from the horizon. Here, I tried to make it a bit more realistic by it just being a bit of shock and sadness that her baby sis isn't really a baby anymore.

Anyway, long AN is long. Let me know your thoughts. Catch you later.