Jaune and the Real Girl.

Chapter 17

"Well I caught one," Jaune admitted, "but I didn't notice... until it was too late."

Neon's bright features dulled at his words and she gave his arm a comforting squeeze. "I understand," she told him, softening a bit, "you don't need to explain more if you don't want to."

Jaune nodded, "thanks... let's not talk about that right now."

Neon nodded in agreement respecting his desires to avoid that particular topic. They walked together in relative silence as they reached the landing zone for the bullheads to take them back to Atlas. They sat together and exchanged idle chatter throughout the flight. It felt surreal just how easily he was able to comfortably talk to her. It felt a little strange to have her clutching his arm but it still felt nice all the same. The attention was certainly pleasant if a little strange, he hadn't really ever had anyone show such open interest to him.

The bullhead touched down on the academy landing pad and they stepped off and migrated towards the dorm rooms. "We part here," Jaune said as they reached his dorm room. Team RWBY didn't bother to wait up and say their goodbyes and instead left. Flynt bid them farewell with a quiet tip of his hat, only Ren and Nora waited up as he spoke with Neon.

"That's too bad," Neon pouted playfully, "I suppose I'll have to wait for Saturday night to have some more of you."

Jaune grinned nervously at her. "You can always text me if you want, Flynt has my number."

Neon grinned at that, "I'll do that," she promised.

Jaune scratched the back of his head, "I'll see you Saturday."

Neon beamed but extended her arm poking his chest with her index finger. "You better suit up blondie, cuz I'll be dressed to kill."

Neon gave him a suggestive wink before turning with a flick of her cat tail and leaving with a sway of her hips. Jaune gulped as he watched her leave.

"Take a picture Jaune," Nora said, "it'll last longer."

Jaune blinked and realized he was staring at an empty hallway. "Sorry," he apologized, "I just... I didn't expect this to happen tonight."

"It certainly was unforeseen," Ren commented as they began walking for their own dorm.

"Do you like her?" Nora asked him carefully.

"I guess I'm going to find out," Jaune answered her, "I mean that is what people do on dates right? Get to know each other?"

Nora nodded, "Yup," she said, "that's what people usually do on dates."

Nora's reaction to him scoring a date for Saturday night seemed rather muted to him. It had in fact been rather strange that even team RWBY hadn't offered much comment to him having a suddenly busy Saturday night or Neon hanging off his arm.

"Are you excited?" Ren asked him as they reached their dorm room and stepped in.

Jaune nodded, "yeah," he answered him honestly, it's just... I have really but a lot of thought towards relationships lately, I'm just feeling a little blindsided."

"I'll say," Nora commented as she opened the drawer for some pajamas. "I wasn't expecting you to go out with her of all people, those moms would have been less of a surprise."

"I told you Nora, it's not like that, they're just friendly," Jaune s as he grabbed his own pajamas to get ready for bed and to wake up early again.

"Uh huh," Nora said, clearly unconvinced.

In moments they had all changed into their sleepwear and settled into their bunks. Laying in the dark Jaune stared at the ceiling of his bunk contemplating his coming date. It felt surreal to him, he tried imagining himself in the coming Saturday dancing it up with Neon. Dancing was at least something he knew he was capable of, hell he was actually pretty good at it. Everything else seemed worrying. He needed to get a suit, everything he had to wear was for huntsman missions or sleepwear like he had on. What would they talk about? What if she didn't like him? What if she did? What if she wanted to become an official couple?