Commission -- The Cat's Out of the Bag 011

There was a buzz in the air as the time for the dance fast approached, the excitement rippling through the student body like a tidal wave. It was all anyone could talk about at breakfast, and Jaune had even spotted Cardin Winchester and his team getting into the spirit of things, though he wondered if perhaps they were planning something disruptive, seeing as that was more in their nature.

Someone should really keep an eye on the punchbowl. They were liable to spike it.

Blake was absent from breakfast, and when he messaged her, asking about what time they should meet up to continue conducting her research of the White Fang, he received no response. That wasn’t so unusual. She’d been a little distant lately but Jaune thought he’d made pretty good progress on that front, so it left him feeling a little unsure.

Maybe he’d misread things.

He checked the library but she wasn’t there, so he decided to ask Yang. She was her partner, after all. If anyone knew where Blake was, it would be her.

Yang was easy enough to find. The school dance was being held in the ballroom that all the new first year students had slept in, their very first night at the school. When Jaune entered, he saw that tables and chairs had been brought in for the occasion, and many of the decorations were in the process of being put up by staff employed by Beacon Academy. Long, colorful banners and multi-hued balloons. In the middle of it all was Yang Xiao Long, issuing directions as if she were the Admiral of the Fleet.

“It isn’t finished yet, my little sister is still working on it, but I want a large welcoming sign hung above the entrance from there to there,” she pointed either side of the double doors, and the groundskeeper that had been assigned to help set everything up nodded in understanding. “Also – do you know where I could get a fog machine?”

“We aren’t having a fog machine!” a voice hollered from somewhere in the back, and it took Jaune a few seconds to realize that the one who had shouted was Weiss.

“Oh come on, just because I said no doilies – they’re lame!” Yang exclaimed.

“No doilies, no fog machine!”

Yang clicked her tongue. “Don’t listen to her. As I was saying, do you know where I could get one?”

The groundskeeper shrugged. “You could probably hire one in Vale but do you have the funds for something like that?”

“Urgh, you’re right… maybe if I sweet talk Ms. G, she could grease the wheels a bit, allocate us more funds. We have to put our best foot forward to impress the other schools, right? Oh, Jaune,” she said happily, just noticing him. “Uh, that’s all for now. Continue the good work!”

As the man left, Jaune stepped forward.

“You guys are doing a good job,” he said, looking around. “You did all of this this morning?”

“Nah, we started last night,” Yang said, grinning. “We got most of the stuff put up ourselves but we needed more balloons, tables and chairs. Ruby’s working on a big banner for the doorway, it’s gonna be sweet.”

“So all you need is the fog machine and you’re set?”

“You and that blasted fog machine,” Weiss appeared with a handful of materials, dumping them on a nearby table. “This is meant to be a sophisticated occasion – not a rave!”

“I’m surprised you even know what a rave is,” Yang needled. “Come on, fine – you can have your stupid doilies, as long as I can have the fog machine.”

“They aren’t stupid,” Weiss snapped before offering her hand. “Deal.”

Jaune watched them shake on it.

“Now I just have to figure out where to get one,” Yang sighed. “Actually, I might know a guy… he might let me borrow it if I ask nicely.”

“Do I even want to know?” Weiss asked, rolling her eyes. “For some reason, I feel like this is a bad idea.”

Jaune chuckled.

“So what are you doing here, Vomit Boy. Want to help?”

He really wished she wouldn’t call him that.

“I was actually wondering if you’ve seen Blake? I messaged her earlier but she didn’t respond.”

“Oh, her?” Yang snorted. “She’s sleeping in. Finally. We talked last night and… well, things might’ve gotten a little heavy, if you know what I mean? But I managed to convince her to slow down.”

Jaune perked up. “Really?”

“Yeah. Though I don’t think I did it alone,” she leaned in and nudged him. “She said you were on her case about it, as well. Thanks for that, by the way. I know my partner can be difficult.”

“Oh, uh – no problem. We could all see that she was running herself into the ground.”

Weiss laughed sharply. “You could say that again!”

“At least she’s getting some rest now,” he said.

“You said it,” Yang grinned. “Anyway, now that you’re here, you’ll help, right? We could do with a big, strong man like yourself.”

Jaune snorted. “I somehow doubt that.”

“We would appreciate the help,” Weiss said, much to his surprise. “An extra set of hands is most welcome. That is, if you aren’t busy?”

“Ah – sure, I can pitch in. I have nothing better to do.”

“Great!” Yang clapped her hands together. “The audio equipment will be arriving soon, so could you go meet them and make sure everything is in order?”

She didn’t wait for him to answer, shoving a bunch of papers into his hands.

“This is the checklist. Make sure everything is accounted for and help them bring it in.”

Jaune shuffled through the pages before nodding. “Okay. I can do that.”

“Sweet~! You’re the best, I mean it,” she held out her fist and they fist bumped, her smile infectious.

Weiss just pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head.

So that’s what Jaune did with the rest of his morning, helping Yang and Weiss set up a dance that he had no intention of enjoying himself. A part of him felt a little regretful that he would be missing such a unique occasion. How often did Beacon hold events like this? But Jaune wasn’t exactly thrilled at the thought of going alone, and since Blake wasn’t attending either, they could at least keep each other company.

With how stressed out she had been lately, she certainly needed it.

After wheeling all of the audio equipment inside, he helped set it all up. None of the more technical stuff, Jaune didn’t have a clue about all of that, but he could position the speakers where they needed to go and help unpack decks and controllers. When that was done, he helped hang up the strobe lights and then after that, he was sent on a mission by Weiss to track down the doilies she wanted. Surprisingly, Beacon had them on hand, they were just packed away in a far off storage room, so it wasn’t too much trouble to haul them across the school once he tracked down the right person with the correct key.

It kept him busy, something he appreciated.

By the time lunch came and went, Blake replied to his message.

Blake Belladonna: Meet me in the library at six.

Simple, straight to the point.

He sent back confirmation and then tracked down Ruby, who was putting the finishing touches on her welcome banner.

“Isn’t it totally awesome?” Ruby asked, beaming brightly.

Ruby definitely had an artistic flair that leant itself to things like this. In large, rounded lettering, the banner read, “Welcome to the Beacon Dance” in bright red paint, set upon a black background filled with glittering stars. They were literally glittering, since they were made from actual glitter! On the left hand side, she’d painted a rough visage of Beacon Academy, and on the right side, she’d drawn the coat of arms for all four schools, set within the largest part of their shattered moon. The entire thing had to be about twelve feet long.

“Wow, Ruby,” Jaune said, impressed. “This is amazing.”

“Ehehe~!” she giggled bashfully. “Do you think Yang will like it?”

“She’ll love it.”

Jaune helped carry it to the ballroom. Yang took one look at it and gave her little sister the thumbs up. Weiss was a little more reserved but Jaune could see that she also liked it since she didn’t object to it going up, and even snapped a picture of it when it was hung.

“Thanks for all the help, Jaune,” Yang said. “There’s only a little more to do and then we’re set.”

“No problem. See you guys later.”

He’d make sure to stop by their room after the dance.

With nothing else to do, Jaune went back to his room. Even though it was still early in the afternoon, when he arrived, Pyrrha and Nora were busy getting everything ready. A red, sleeveless full length gown was positioned on Pyrrha’s bed while a pink strapless tulle dress sat on Nora’s.

“Uh, hey,” he said, looking around. “Where’s Ren?”

“Shower,” Nora said, digging through the wardrobe for something. That something was a pair of pink heels, the short girl exclaiming in victory when she found them.

“Where have you been?” Pyrrha asked, fingers searching through a small jewelry box.

“I was helping Yang and Weiss,” he said, walking over to his bed and flopping down. “Yang’s trying to get a fog machine. Weiss finally caved.”

Nora laughed.

A few moments later, Ren stepped out of the bathroom, his hair still damp, a towel thrown around the back of his neck.

“Shower’s free,” he said. “Hey Jaune.”

“Ren,” Jaune waved his arm awkwardly.

“My turn,” Nora sang, grabbing some clothes and dashing into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

“Do you want to go next, Jaune?” Pyrrha asked.

“Nah, I’m fine – I think I’ll have a nap.”

“Have you got a suit ready?” she pressed, worried.

He did. He’d actually purchased one a few weeks ago, back when he still thought he might attend. It was a nice suit, nothing special but definitely good enough for a school dance.

“It’s in the wardrobe,” he said, rolling over and giving his partner a smile. “I’ll pull it out later.”

He should probably tell them he wasn’t planning on going but he didn’t want to create an awkward atmosphere. They’d want to know why and there wasn’t any particularly strong reason, other than choosing to spend the night with Blake instead.

Jaune didn’t want them to get the wrong idea.

Whatever the wrong idea was.

...Who was he kidding?

He’d been trying his best to ignore it but there really was no point in denying it, not to himself.

He had a bit of a crush on Blake.

Jaune wasn’t sure when it started exactly. He’d always thought she was incredibly pretty, and her cool, mysterious personality had been as intriguing as it was intimidating. After discovering her secret and the friendship that bloomed as a result, he hadn’t put much thought into a potential relationship. He’d been hung up on Weiss back then, and Blake was… well, she was Blake. Physical attraction aside, things on her end had been very chaotic, beginning with the incident at the docks and only continuing with the recent mess with the Paladin.

If he had to pinpoint a moment where he fell across the boundaries of simply considering her a friend and perhaps viewing her as something more, then it was probably that day they’d spent at the amusement park.

It had been a fun day. One of the best he’d ever had, and afterwards, he’d remembered thinking that there was no one else he’d have rather have spent it with than Blake. An idle thought, and he had dismissed it at the time, drifting off to sleep soon after, but it had been genuine and true.

He really enjoyed spending time with her.

Yeah, she was complicated. Blake hadn’t lived a typical life. She’d joined the White Fang at a young age, protesting for a better future for her people, and when that hadn’t worked, she’d fallen in with the more radical elements, engaging in what could only be called acts of terrorism. Breaking away from that toxic mindset had been difficult for her, and Beacon had been a new beginning, yet she hadn’t been able to be herself, hiding her faunus traits, worried that she would be treated differently.

Compared to that, Jaune’s life was laughably simple and uncomplicated.

Despite all of that, she was a warm, caring girl. She was an idealist, no matter how hard she tried to bury herself in cynicism. She could be obsessive to the point of madness, to the point of harming her own health, but it was all for a cause she believed in passionately. She feared for others, and wanted to ensure they remained safe.

If that wasn’t a true Huntress mindset, he didn’t know what was.

But it didn’t matter. Jaune… he had a really bad habit for falling for girls way outside of his league. Weiss Schnee hadn’t even been the first, only the latest… until Blake.

She was… incredible. Flaws and all.

And he… well, he just wasn’t.

It was better to let things continue as they were. Being her friend was more than enough. The last time he’d tried to take the initiative, things hadn’t gone very well. Not very well at all.

Jaune didn’t want to damage their friendship. It was in a good spot. The awkwardness of unrequited feelings wasn’t needed.

He sure knew how to pick em.

Jaune managed to doze for the next couple of hours, even with Hurricane Nora beginning to freak out as the minutes ticked by. As much as she liked to deny that things between her and Ren were more than friends, she wasn’t fooling anyone, especially when she got like this.

“Jaune?” a soft voice called, and he blinked blearily before noticing Pyrrha’s face hovering above his own. That quickly woke him up, his eyes flying open.

“Pyrrha?” he sat up as she moved back. “What’s going on?”

It was then that he noticed she was wearing her dress.

It looked magnificent on her, the material clinging to her body in all the right places, highlighting her womanly figure, the swells of her impressive bust and her hips, and the narrowness of her waist. She was still wearing her circlet, though she’d removed her hair from its usual ponytail and had fashioned it into soft curls, the gentle ringlets flowing across her bare shoulders and down her back in a wave of crimson. As she straightened up, Jaune saw the full picture and was rendered momentarily speechless.

“Wow,” he said. “You look amazing.”

Her cheeks darkened. “Thank you.”

“Your date is a lucky guy,” he continued. “Uh – it is a guy, right? I mean, if it’s a girl, that’s fine too. Argh, don’t listen to me. I’ll just shut up.”

Her smile became awkward, her emerald eyes flitting away.

“You should get ready,” she said instead, not meeting his eyes. “The dance will be starting soon.”

Jaune glanced at the window and was surprised to see that the sky was already darkening.

“Oh,” he said. “I slept longer than I thought.”

Pyrrha giggled.

“I’ll meet you there?” she asked.

Jaune hesitated.

“Pyrrha…”

“I’ll save you a dance,” she said, making for the door. Her gown swished around her legs as she walked. “Not that I need to, I somehow doubt I’ll be very busy. Don’t keep me waiting too long, partner.”

...Drats.

Jaune sighed as she left, leaving him alone.

Maybe he should make an appearance… even if only for a little while.

He rubbed his face, clearing his eyes of sleep. Reaching for his scroll, he checked the time and saw he had a message. Opening it up, it was from Blake.

Blake Belladonna: Wear something nice.

Jaune tilted his head.

What?

That’s what he sent back, confused. Her reply was instant and only confused him even more.

Blake Belladonna: Wear the suit you were going to wear to the dance. You have one, don’t you?

He did. But why would she want him to wear his suit?

For a brief moment, he wondered if she wanted to go to the dance after all but dismissed it. She’d been plenty clear about that. In the end, he shrugged. He didn’t mind wearing the suit, especially after all the money he spent on it. Might as well get some mileage out of it, even if he was only visiting the library.

Jaune showered quickly and then got changed, spending more time than he would have liked in front of the mirror. It wasn’t tailored, he couldn’t afford something like that, but it fit really well. The dark black material contrasted nicely with the crisp pure white shirt, his tie black with golden trim. He did his best to comb his hair into something a little more neat and managed a passable attempt. Dabbing cologne against his neck and wrists, he inspected himself from all angles.

He looked nice. His mother would be proud.

Slipping on a pair of black leather shoes, he collected his wallet and scroll, and left the room. As he exited the dormitory, he saw other students making their way to the ballroom. Girls in flowing, pretty gowns and guys in suits, singing up a storm in a fit of desperate courage. Jaune spotted the bottles they were carrying and laughed quietly.

Not desperate courage. Liquid courage.

Jaune walked in the opposite direction. When he arrived at the library, it was completely deserted. Not a single soul was present, not even the librarian that typically kept watch like a hawk. That was expected. Who in their right mind would be here?

He made his way over to the same computer terminal they’d used the previous day, tucked away in the back. Pulling out a chair, he sat down.

Six o’clock came and went, and there was no sign of Blake.

Bored, Jaune booted up the computer and began idly browsing through one of the forums he’d been searching for clues. Funnily enough, at the top, there was a thread for the Beacon dance, and it was already several pages long. A hot topic.

Jaune wondered who made it.

He didn’t hear her approach. He only noticed when her shadow passed over him, stretching across the table.

“About time you got here,” he quipped playfully. “I thought you’d stood me up for a minute.”

He turned to face her and his heart skipped a beat, his mouth falling open in surprise.

Blake Belladonna stood before him but in a way he’d never witnessed before, stealing the air straight from his lungs. A long, dark violet satin slip dress clung to her body loosely, her pale shoulders and upper chest displayed by the cowl neckline, a pair of slender, barely-there straps holding it all in place. Though the style was loose fitting, it highlighted her sleek, athletic figure to perfection, clinging to her swells where she stretched the material, bringing attention to her bust and hips, and the way her trim waist tapered inward. The contrast between her soft, pale skin and the dark material was mesmerizing, his eyes trailing down her long legs. The hem stopped halfway down her shins, and her feet were nestled neatly in a pair of black heels secured by a strap around the ankle and across her toes. Her long, raven tresses were usually a little wavy but she’d brushed and combed them into a waterfall of straight silk, glittering beneath the artificial lights.

She looked like perfection personified.

And then he spotted it. Atop her head, no longer obscured were her black cat ears, the fur looking impossibly soft and cute.

Her hands were clasped in front of her belly, fingers tangled, fidgeting. Her pale cheeks were flushed with color, her dark purple eyeshadow making her eyes pop and appear larger than usual, enhanced further by eyeliner and mascara, eyelashes long and thick. Her lips were a soft, glossy pink, and around her neck was a simple silver chain.

Jaune found himself standing, blue and amber locked.

She looked much healthier, her eyes no longer sagging in exhaustion. In fact, they were brighter than he’d seen them in a long time, taking on the hue of heated honey.

“Blake…” he said softly, truly at a loss for words.

She smiled shyly, her kitty ears flicking. “Jaune… uh, surprise?”

He gaped at her.

She shuffled from foot to foot. “Stop staring. It’s embarrassing.”

He couldn’t help it. She was the most dazzling creature he’d ever laid eyes on.

“S-Sorry, it’s just… woah,” he shook his head. “You look…” he didn’t have the words. Beautiful. Amazing. Gorgeous. “You look magnificent.”

Her already flushed cheeks darkened, her shoulder hunching as she deflected, “I’m just wearing a dress.”

“A beautiful dress,” he pointed out, still in awe. “A beautiful dress for a beautiful girl.”

“Stop,” she tucked a strand of hair behind her human ear.

“It’s the truth,” he said, stepping towards her. “I’m blown away.”

Her lips stretched into a wide smile, unable to hide her delight.

“Well, you look pretty handsome yourself,” she said, looking him up and down. He felt her gaze rake over him, his skin erupting in goosebumps. “I almost didn’t recognize you at first.”

“It was the hair, right?” he joked, willing his heart to settle down.

“A bit,” she said. “You clean up very well.”

“Heh – thanks,” he said, bashful. “So – what’s all this for? I thought you said the dance was a waste of time?”

“I did say that,” she admitted, frowning.

“But you’ve clearly changed your mind,” he pressed. “What happened?”

“Let’s just say that two annoying blonds wouldn’t leave me alone, and somehow convinced me otherwise.”

Jaune smirked. “Ah. Yang.”

“Yes, Yang,” Blake grumbled. “And you. Don’t forget your part in this.”

“I take full responsibility,” he held up a hand. “Guilty as charged.”

“Oh shut up,” she swatted at him, her pretty nails painted a glossy violet. “But you were right… you were both right. I’m not stopping… but I won’t get anywhere if I’m too tired to keep my eyes open. I need to be smarter about this, and you helped me see that.”

“I’m glad I could help,” he told her. “And I’m glad you’ve decided to look after yourself a little better. It wasn’t easy, seeing you so stressed out and exhausted all the time. Even if you were avoiding me.”

Blake grimaced. “Ah… you noticed that?”

“I’m not that dense,” he snickered. “Of course I noticed. We all just want you to rely on us more, that’s all. Like you said you would.”

“I know,” she said softly, eyes filled with gratitude. “I know.”

He’d calmed down from the initial shock but her appearance was still incredibly distracting, and he found himself admiring her beauty more and more, the longer they stood there. He tried not to let his gaze linger too much, though it was difficult.

“So… I suppose we should get going?” he asked, offering an arm.

“Actually…” she bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth. “I was thinking that maybe we could have our own little dance… here… before we go, just the two of us?”

Jaune felt his mouth go dry.

“Oh,” he said stupidly. “Uh – sure?”

Blake produced her scroll and she tapped away on it, looking for something. That something was a song, something slow and easy to dance to. The room was filled with the gentle melody and setting her scroll down on the desk, she offered her hand.

“Will you dance with me?” she asked.

“Always,” he replied. “Anytime.”

Jaune took her hand, marveling at how soft and warm it was. Pulling her closer, he tucked his other hand behind her back, almost as if embracing her, while her hand settled on his shoulder. Face to face, their eyes remained glued together as he took the lead.

He started slow, stepping back, drawing her body with him. As expected, Blake moved smoothly, gracefully, following the steps effortlessly and he moved them around in a basic box step.

“You do know what you’re doing,” she teased, smiling prettily. It almost disarmed him.

“I’ve had a lot of practice, believe me,” he replied, thinking of the countless afternoons he’d been forced to partner with his older sister’s.

“We can move faster, if you want,” she suggested.

With the soft music in his ears, Jaune did just that. The library became their ballroom, the carpeted floors their dance floor. Turning sharply, Blake let herself be taken as he twirled them around, guiding her through more complicated steps. Her body moved closer, and he could feel her hot breath against his neck, scorching.

This close together, there was no escaping the wonderful, powdery scent that wafted from her body; a mixture of something vanilla and acidic, a citrus tang that made him want to lean in and inhale. It was intoxicating, his lungs feeling heavy, and without prompting, he tightened his hold, drawing her in even further.

The song changed to something even slower. Practically chest to chest, he dipped her from side to side, rocking back and forth, the footwork less intense but the style more intimate. Her amber eyes glowed, her pupils growing large as they drank one another in.

She smiled, an impish little grin that made his heart skip over itself. His eyes dropped to her lips before darting back up.

“How’s this?” he asked, breathless.

“Good,” she whispered. “Good.”

Jaune wasn’t sure how long they danced like this. At some point, their hands untangled and his arms found their way around her slim waist, hugging her body to his. Her own arms looped around his neck loosely, her upturned face a vision of beauty. Her silky tresses tickled the backs of his hands, linked together around her lower back.

When the latest song came to a close, Jaune paused, bringing them to a stand still.

“Blake,” he said, voice tinged with something deeper.

“Jaune, I…” she choked on her words, throat bobbing. “I’m not… you’ve been so good to me, I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Mess what up?”

One of her hands cupped his cheek, feather soft.

“This. All of this,” she said, voice wavering. “Right from the beginning, you’ve been on my side… even when you didn’t have to be. You’ve come after me when I ran, you’ve stood beside me through danger, and have even been hurt because of me… yet you never ask for anything in return, you’re patient with me, you offer me help even when I don’t ask for it…”

“That’s what friends do, don’t they?”

“I’ve never had friends like this before,” she uttered, voice so soft he thought he imagined it at first. “Yang, Ruby, Weiss – Pyrrha, Ren, Nora… you. I sometimes think I’m dreaming, having such wonderful people that care for me, that worry about me… and all I do is continue to make them worry, too stubborn to take their advice, so they have to badger me until I see reason. Jaune…”

“We all need a little help,” he confessed. “Some of us even need a lot of it. I say that from experience.”

“I think…” she hesitated, her brow furrowed as she struggled with the words. “I think I might like you.”

Time froze.

At first, Jaune thought he was hearing only what he wanted to hear. It was an emotional moment, and they’d been dancing so sweetly, and she’d come to him, looking like this, like a divine being from up above – of course he was feeling a little romantic. He had a crush on her, after all – it would be ideal if she also had feelings for him too.

The ideal thing rarely happened when it came to Jaune Arc.

His mouth opened, jaw slack with shock.

“I think about you, all the time,” she confessed. “When you asked me to the dance, my heart stopped. It was like I was doused in cold water, and the exhaustion just fell away. Even though I claimed it was all a waste of time, that it was silly. I… I’m not good with romance,” she laughed bitterly. “The last time I felt anywhere like this, things were… bad. Toxic. In so many different ways. When I get like this… I can’t help but throw myself in, completely, utterly, madly.”

She inched closer, her eyes devouring him hungrily.

“So I have to ask you… do you feel—,” but he didn’t let her finish.

Jaune claimed her lips in a passionate kiss, and he thought no more for a long time indeed.