The Bet 6

Yang Xiao Long blinked as two people knocked on their door.

“Who the hell are you supposed to be?”

That was the first thing she said when she saw the atrocity that greeted her when she opened the door because instead of the blonde hair she expected to see, she saw red.

“Haha, it’s still me, Jaune.” Jaune grumbled, ruffling his now red hair with a pout on his face, even as Pyrrha giggled behind him.

Honestly speaking, Yang felt relieved at being able to talk to Jaune like this. It had been a bit awkward ever since they kissed, and even back at the airship, she had forced herself to stay normal throughout their interaction.

So to be able to speak to him like this so easily, Yang felt like it was a godsend.

She grinned, looking him up and down before crossing her arms. 

“Nah, you’re not Jaune. Jaune has blonde hair.” She teased good-naturedly, relishing Jaune’s put-out face before a glint entered his eyes.

What happened next, however, was something she never expected. 

Jaune confidently stepped forward, pushing into her personal space with an easy smile on his face. Now normally, Yang wouldn’t have just let anyone approach her like that. But, well, this was not normal and this was not just anyone.

Yang Xiao Long froze as Jaune put a hand on her chin and boy oh boy, was he really that much taller than her that he needed to tilt her face up just for them to meet eyes?

Heat immediately rushed to force her face, even as Jaune smirked at her.

“Still think I’m not Jaune?”

Damn this stupid bastard for making her feel things.

And damn her stupid hormones for making her core throb!

Her own hands uncrossed themselves, whether to push him away or hug him closer, however, she would never know because before anything else could happen, Jaune’s eyes widened as Pyrrha suddenly pulled him back.

“Oof!” He huffed, even as Pyrrha growled behind him.

“Jaune.” She warned, and Yang blushed as emerald green eyes glared at her.

Worse yet, however, was the fact that she remembered they were not the only ones in the room.

“Damn. Just when it was getting good.” Blake whistled, and Yang almost choked on her spit as Weiss shrieked beside her partner.

“I can’t believe you tried to kiss her again!”

“And right in front of Pyrrha! For shame, Jaune. For shame!” Nora shook her head, and at that point, all Yang could do was embarrassedly bow down her rapidly reddening face.

She looked to her sister for help, partly worried at her own reaction, and partly hopeful she could at least salvage this situation by diverting the topic.

Whether unknowingly or not, however, Ruby does just that.

“Redhead buddies!” Ruby squealed, launching herself past Yang like a torpedo aimed at a target.

“Ruby!” Jaune shouted with wide eyes before groaning in pain and holding his stomach as Ruby crashed against him.

“You have red hair?!” Ruby beamed, leaning back as she looked up at him. 

“It’s from the sap.” He whined, even as Ruby giggled at him.

“I think it suits you!”

Yang’s eyebrow twitched upward at that, but she only kept silent, even as Pyrrha didn’t.

“Ahem!” Pyrrha coughed loudly, her emerald green eyes glaring daggers at both Jaune and Ruby. “Jaune would like to explain himself.”

Eyes turned towards Jaune at that, and more than one of them tilted their heads in confusion.

“About what?” Yang asked, and she watched as Jaune awkwardly cringed towards her.

“Well, you see….” He trailed off, and before she knew it, he was launching into a story that she could hardly believe.

It was about a bet he had with Cardin.

Yang felt faint, as if the world was suddenly muffled even while he continued talking, offering excuses and justifications and whatnot.

She could see Ruby tilt her head at him with a pout before nodding and satisfaction while smiling at him. She could even see Blake nod in support here and there.

Yang could not see how they could just be okay with this. Whether it was about a bet to end racism or to stop Cardin from messing with Jaune, she did not care.

Only Weiss continued to glare as he continued, while Yang felt her blood thundering through her ears.

A bet.

A damn bet.

She lost her first kiss because of a bet!

Before she knew it, her hand was already flying.

Slap!

It was crisp, it was sharp, and it echoed across the room as they all fell silent.

“Okay…..maybe I deserved that.”

Oh, he deserved more than that!

Her hand punched forward, but before it could land, Pyrrha was already there to intercept it.

She pulled Jaune back and stepped forward to palm Yang’s fist.

“Yang, calm down.”

Yang, however, only raged further. She growled as her eyes turned red, and her hair ignited into a blaze.

Calm down, her ass!

As if she could calm down with the bastard still looking at her!

Did it feel good to play with her?!

Was he secretly mocking her behind her back?!

Was all he said to her and promised a lie?!

She cocked her other hand, but before she could even launch it, she felt another pair of hands hold her arm from behind.

“Blake?!”

“Yang, please. You’re going too far.”

Too far? Too far?! Nothing was too far when it came to punishing a guy who played with her feelings!

She shoved her partner back, glaring at her before snapping back towards Jaune’s direction.

“Get out.” Yang growled, and Jaune winced even as he looked apologetically at her.

“Yang, I-”

“Leave!” She shouted, not even giving him the chance to explain, as she pushed Pyrrha back towards him.

She watched as the rest of Team JNPR looked at them awkwardly, but thankfully, Jaune nodded, even if a little bit reluctantly.

“Yeah, we’re just going to go then.” He announced, but Yang’s nose only flared at that as she crossed her arms.

She looked away, not letting them see as tears pricked her eyes.

“I won’t leave you, Yang. Arc’s word, I will never ever leave you.”

She remembered how her heart fluttered when she heard that. 

But now she’ll remember how her heart broke every time she remembered he only said that because of a bet.

As Yang heard Team JNPR file out of their room, she clenched her fist tightly.

This wasn’t over.

Not one bit.

Blake and Pyrrha might have stopped her now, but she knew a place where they would never be able to stop her.

—-----

“I challenge Jaune Arc.”

The words echoed around the chamber just as Professor Goodwitch entered to start Combat Class.

Jaune should have expected this, he really really should have.

But as he looked at Yang’s grinning face, all he could think about was that he deserved this.

Eyes snapped towards the blonde brawler before turning towards him with pity.

Truly, nobody expected him to escape unscathed.

And why shouldn’t they?

He was dead last in Combat Class, while Yang was just ranked below Pyrrha.

It was as unfair a fight as it could be, and already he could see Professor Goodwitch frowning at them.

Before she could even say anything, however, Pyrrha was already standing up for him.

“I volunteer!”

Jaune sighed.

Ever since yesterday, things between all of them had been tense.

He was forced to reveal his forged transcripts to Ren and Nora in the privacy of their own room, and while they thankfully accepted it, it did not solve the lingering animosity they had with half of Team RWBY.

While Blake and Ruby were understanding and somewhat supportive, Weiss and Yang were the opposite.

They had taken to being hostile with him, both glaring at him with outright hostility every chance they could since breakfast.

Jaune knew there was only one way to solve it if he wanted to salvage his friendship or even just acquaintanceship with them.

And that was to take responsibility like a man.

“I will fight her.” He volunteered, standing up, to the shock of many there.

It must have been an incredulous sight.

To see him, of all people, volunteering to fight Yang Xiao Long.

Already, he could see Yang grinning at him, even as Pyrrha grabbed a hold of his arm.

“Jaune, you don’t have to do this.” She said worriedly, but all he could do was smile down at her with a comforting pat on her hand.

“But I do, Pyrrha, I really really do.”

Because a man’s going to do what a man’s going to do.

He turned to look at Professor Goodwitch who only raised an eyebrow at him, but Jaune only nodded assuringly at her.

“If you both are willing, then I see no reason to stop this fight. Yang Xiao Long, Jaune Arc, please approach the stage.” She sighed, and next thing he knew, he was facing Yang in the ring.

It was obvious before they even started that she was eager to get a bite off of him.

Jaune gulped as Yang crashed her fists together.

“Finally! Ready to get your just deserts, you filthy liar?!”

He winced at the accusation, but he only stayed silent and brandished his sword towards her.

Crocea Mors shone under the light of the classroom, but even his family sword felt paltry in the face of Yang’s fury.

He stood his ground, however, and as Professor Glynda looked at both of them between them, he tensed his feet.

“Are you ready, Ms. Xiao Long?”

“Let’s get this started already!” 

“Are you ready, Mr. Arc?”

Jaune closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and nodded.

“Ready.” He said as he opened his eyes to see Yang Xiao Long activating her Semblance.

“Fight!”

Yang rushed forward.

Her fist cocked back as she intended to beat his face in.

Any other time, Jaune would have raised his shield to block it.

But this was not any other time, and instead of raising his shield, he threw it towards her.

Yang’s eyes widened minutely at the unexpected move. Something like this, however, was barely a nuisance to her. She batted it away as she continued her charge. 

This, however, was within Jaune’s plans, and before anyone knew it, he was throwing his sword towards her as well.

Crocea Mors spun through the air, its blades glinting under the light and signifying its sharpness. Seeing something so sharp fly towards her, Yang instinctively leaned to one side to avoid it.

Her eyes tracked the sword's path as it flew past her, and just like that, she committed her first mistake.

Because unbeknownst to her, Jaune did not stop moving after throwing Crocea Mors.

Oh, no.

Instead of staying still, he charged forward, staying low and to the surprise of everyone there, full on tackled Yang Xiao Long.

It wasn’t even the normal kind of tackle, either.

It was actually a move that wouldn’t be out of place in a wrestling match, as he speared her through her abdomen.

None expected him to do that.

Much less Yang Xiao Long, who suddenly felt breathless as the air rushed out of her lungs while her feet left the ground.

The world slowed from her point of view, and before she knew it, she was on her back.

See, a little known fact about Jaune Arc was that he had seven sisters. A little less known fact than that, however, was the fact that living with seven sisters meant that whatever shred of masculinity he could gather for himself, he had to fight for it.

And that meant wrestling.

Lots and lots of wrestling.

Staking his claim on the TV’s remote so they didn’t have to watch a repeat of a certain chick flick? They fought.

Getting to buy manly clothes for himself? They fought.

Escaping his sisters’ hands as they tried to dress him up like a girl? They fought.

And when his masculinity was under attack by the weight of seven sisters? 

It meant he had to get good at it.

And get good he did.

It actually got to the point that it had to take all of his sisters working together to even pin him down, and even then, it was an even fight. 

That particular feat actually earned him a name.

The Blonde Wrangler.

Whether it was because he was blonde or he wrangled blondes, it did not matter. It was one of the few things Jaune was proud of.

So when he got Yang on her back?

It was an uneven fight.

“Let me go, you bastard!” She shouted as she struggled underneath him, but all he did was growl back as he pushed her hands above her head.

“Stay still!”

“Never!”

Bang! Bang!

Ember Cilica fired a few rounds, but it was futile as he was already holding her hands up above her head.

The rounds ricocheted across the floor, but that only caused Yang to shout harder as she started to kick her legs up and down.

Jaune breathed harshly, shimmying his hips up so as to sit on her tummy, and before they knew it, he had her pinned.

She tried to buckle, but under his weight, he had nowhere to go as she glared up at him.

He froze, however, when he saw tears gather in her eyes.

“Damn it! You lying, cheating bastard!” She spat at him, but even Jaune could feel how weak it was as she struggled less and less under him.

They stayed there for a moment. Staring at each other as if the world only contained the two of them. 

Despite the tears, despite the sweat, and the glare, she was beautiful.

But this was no time to appreciate her beauty.

No, this was the time to take responsibility.

“I’m sorry.”

Yang froze beneath him before gritting her teeth while silently glaring at him.

Jaune, however, only continued as his heart beat rapidly.

“I’m sorry you felt that I lied to you.”

“But you did lie to me, you bastard! All those promises you made, you said them to kiss me!”

Jaune winced in shame. It was true, he did say them to kiss her. He had been so pressured by the bet he had with Cardin that he didn’t think how his actions affected others!

And here he was, reaping the consequences.

Yang was hurt.

And it was all because of him.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He said honestly, but Yang only growled at him.

“You can apologize by letting me beat your face in!”

Part of Jaune wanted to do just that, but he knew if he let her do that without getting a word in, she would never listen to him again.

No, if he wanted her forgiveness, he had to take the chance to speak with her now. And if she still wanted to beat him after this, then he was willing to let her do so.

For now, however, he had to own up to his mistake.

“What would it take for you to forgive me?” He asked, no, he pleaded, but again, Yang Xiao Long only reacted in anger.

“Give me back my first kiss, you idiot!”

Jaune froze as his mind processed her words.

First kiss.

First kiss.

“Would it help if I told you that you were my first kiss too?”

Yang paused, and as their eyes locked with each other, they both blushed at the same time.

“N-No.”

Hearing her stutter, Jaune couldn’t help but laugh, even as he felt his body heat up.

“It was! And I couldn’t have picked a better girl to lose it with! My only regret was that it had to take a bet for it to happen.”

“Oh no! I know your ways, you lying-” Yang shook her head, but Jaune only smiled as he leaned closer towards her.

“No lies, Yang. I’m happy that it was with you, but if I could take it back? Do it over again? I would still choose to kiss you without the stupid bet hanging over my head.” He whispered sincerely, and joy exploded inside his heart as Yang’s eyes widened, and her Semblance died down.

“R-Really?” She started before catching herself and weakly glaring at him with a blush spreading across her face. “I mean, what about your promise, you bastard? How do you explain that? You said you would be with me, but the next thing I know, you are kissing Pyrrha!”

Jaune sighed, he knew this was going to come up, and even now he didn’t have a perfect answer for it. What he did know, however, was that he had to reassure Yang and worry about what comes next later. He just had to make sure to keep his word now.

“The promise still stands, Yang. I can be with you in whatever way you want me to be, but as for Pyrrha, we have to talk about it first.” He answered, but Jaune sighed as he watched Yang only look away from him.

Yeah, figures it wouldn’t work. He had to try, though, not just for her but for himself as well. Confronting Yang also forced him to confront his own feelings. 

He couldn’t deny she was beautiful, especially looking like this with her blonde hair forming a halo around her as she embarrassedly looked away from him.

He also couldn’t deny that Pyrrha liked him. She made it clear enough when she kissed him in Forever Fall, and when she kissed him last night before going to sleep. Jaune would be a liar if he didn’t admit it made him feel just a little flattered, as she was beautiful as well. 

And then there were Blake and Ruby.

Ruby was getting more affectionate but in a sisterly-best friendship type of way, but who knew what could happen in the future? Jaune watched more than a fair share of chick flicks with his sisters to know that more than a few relationships started like that.

And Blake…..who knew what Blake was actually thinking? Jaune certainly didn’t, but her letting him touch her ass had to count for something, right? Right?!

And Weiss! Whew, Jaune knew that ship had sailed the moment she looked at him with disgust when he confessed the truth yesterday. Still didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, though.

Suffice to say, his life was already complicated.

All he could do now was own up to his actions, and if Yang didn’t forgive him even after all this, so be it.

He sighed reluctantly, just as he was about to let go of her hands, however, he heard her whisper.

“What was that?” He asked, blinking as he watched Yang turn towards him with a blush on her face.

“I said….my dad had two wives.”

“Okay?”

“So….I’m not opposed to sharing.”

What?

“You have to convince me, though, you idiot!” Yang continued, taking his silence as a sign to continue.

Jaune, however, could only gawk at her.

“I’m sorry, what?”

Before she could even say anything, however, they heard a loud cough beside them.

“AHEM!”

Jaune had never moved faster in his life than he did that day. He leapt away from Yang as if burned by hot coals before turning around to look at the source of the sound.

There she stood, Professor Glynda Goodwitch coughing into her hand with a light blush on her face.

“Winner, Jaune Arc!”

The announcement rang throughout the classroom, and there was a moment of silence when Jaune and Yang looked at each other.

“Ah.” They blushed at the same time, just as the room exploded into sound.

“No way!”

“Holy shit!”

“Did you see that?! Did you fucking see that?!”

“What the fu-”

“SILENCE!”

WHIP!

Professor Goodwitch’s riding crop slashed through the air, and immediately the classroom fell silent.

“Mr. Arc, impressive use of improvisation with your weapons. One normally wouldn’t throw them away in the heat of battle, but you had a plan to use them as a distraction before springing forward to take the initiative away from Ms. Xiao Long. Be careful, however, that such a strategy may not work against other opponents and may just leave you at a disadvantage by being unarmed.”

“Uhm. Yeah.” Jaune could only nod dumbly at Professor Goodwitch’s technical explanation.

“Ms. Xiao Long, take this as a lesson never to underestimate your opponent. Mr. Arc here all but rendered your Semblance useless as he barely damaged you but still pinned you to the ground.”

“Hm. Noted.” Yang nodded, still on her back as she looked at the ceiling with wide eyes.

Professor Goodwitch glanced at the both of them before sighing heavily as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Please get off the stage.”

Just as he was about to turn around to leave, however, he felt his body freeze as Professor Goodwitch used her Semblance on him. 

“Not you, Mr. Arc?”

“Professor?” He asked with wide eyes, his body turning towards her by its own before sagging as she released her Semblance.

“Mr. Arc, for your impressive improvement in your ranking, you deserve a reward.”

Jaune watched, and his eyes widened as his ranking climbed from dead last all the way to…..second place.

“What?!” Yang sat up as she got bumped down to third, but Professor Goodwitch only looked at her flatly.

“He beat you handily, Ms. Xiao Long, and right after you challenged him at that. Be thankful you have not traded places at all.”

“...Yes, Ms. Goodwitch.” She flushed, hanging her head down embarrassedly as she avoided his eyes.

“Now for your reward, Mr. Arc. Please step forward.”

Jaune jolted, looking back at Ms. Goodwitch who only curled a finger at him.

Unbiddenly, his feet stepped forward. His situation with Yang aside, this was the first time he was actually being acknowledged, celebrated among his peers as he got his first win to boot.

Jaune didn’t know what would happen. 

Was Professor Goodwitch going to give her a medal or something?

Jaune didn’t think that was it, as nobody else actually received a medal in Combat Class, but what else could it be?

He got his answer when he stopped right in front of Professor Goodwitch.

They looked at each other, green eyes boring into blues, and before he knew it, he was being pulled forward by a finger hooked onto his armor.

His eyes widened and the next thing he knew, he was kissing his Professor.

“Mmmh! Mmhp!~” He moaned as experienced lips pried his mouth open before a tongue darted in to entangle with his.

It was hot, it was wet, and it was too quick for his liking as his Professor suddenly pushed him away.

“Consider that your reward.” She announced with a light blush on her face before turning towards the rest of the class. “Alright, who’s next?!”

Hands immediately rose up, and Professor Goodwitch’s Combat Class was never the same again.