Jaune closed the dust-car door.

He's walking to the final delivery for tonight. Lucky him, that he's nowhere near as tired as the week prior thanks to the training he's got so far.

It helps him function better. Costs a lot of comfort in the meantime, though.

Yet the benefits show. Getting beaten alive by a metallic umbrella rod twenty four seven does some super interesting stuff to your reflexes... and tolerance for stress.

But despite his personal development, there hasn't been anything out of the ordinary this week. Or tonight, honestly.

And why would there be? He's just delivering pizza—

Only there this feel about things. A pit inside his gut probably to do with the power bubbling under his skin.

Still faint... yet Neo's taught him when his gut's his gut or not. And now? He's thinking it's Aura up in a tizzy.

Weird. Even weirder, how nothing around him seemed off. There's light-posts, benches, alleyways, parked dust cars, and small businesses. it's basically just another random part of Inner Vale-City. Nothing more, and nothing less.

In the quiet around him, Jaune laid the hand not balancing pepperoni pizza boxes against his chest.

Practicing with his Aura gave him uh, new ways to manipulate it outside of combat. Not a small feat too, as Neo says Aura's easier to use when adrenaline's pumping through your veins.

So Jaune's training really showed here. Crackly-white Aura sparked across his chest where he touched.

I'm fine.

He breathed deep, Aura-encrusted fingers reaching the sword at his hip. Weird for a pizza-man to have but hey, it's a scary world out there.

I just gotta deliver this, then I can take a smoke break and head home like usual.

He smiled.

And hell, maybe I'll take a longer break tonight...

That sounded good to him. It was a good, solid goal that stopped stressing up his Aura. Now he feels more actual gut anxiety than soul shenanigans.

So he ascended the concrete steps—

But he heard something. A feminine something, moaning and giggling.

Jaune looked towards the source down; another concrete stairwell nearby. The kind for lower-leveled restaurants or general housing. At least according to Puku—

It was a couple: one pale woman, pressed into the wall by one larger and darker man wearing a white-black outfit. His face hidden underneath a hood, and… hey wait, that's a wolf tail. He's a faunus man.

They kept at it. The man's big hands on the woman's loose dress and knee between her short-skirt. His face also hidden inside her neck, biting or kissing.

The girl looked so happy. Smiling at her lover from under curly dark-auburn hair, cascading over light-green eyes.

Jaune blinked at the sight. Less from confusion or anything, just surprise. And he's not sure why to be honest: Vale-City was the most 'diverse' place in Vale proper, even considering the border towns near to Vacuo. He should've expected this.

It's still weird to see, though.

Jaune scratched his head. The man cupped his lover's flat chest.

Interracial couples aren't a thing back home—

While she had the wet-works done on her, the girl met his eyes.

Jaune opened up the apartment complex door and was quick to shut it afterwards.

He was also quick to forget about what he saw back there, 'cuz honestly? Jaune's never been one to judge - and never will, he'd think - but those sights are… odd. It's like an off brand cereal piece in a bowl of Pumpkin Pete's, you wouldn't expect it.

Nothing I should worry about anyways.

Jaune shrugged, climbing the carpet laid stairs leading his way.

'Least, I don't think so...

He pushed any remaining doubt away. The pizza wouldn't get cold anytime soon, yeah, but it'll fall out if he's too focused on random stuff. Thus the weird couple below the stairwell went ignored for now. Instead he focused on his pizza, as a good pizza-man should.

/-/

Sodi came out the back room holding a large tube-shaped object.

Or in less vague terms... a bong, that's also got an alien face glued on its front.

"You're sure Granpappy's sleeping again?"

Jaune watched him place that bong onto their kitchen table. Then placing several weed baggies down with it, including two plastic water bottles. Likely from the backroom refrigerator they've got.

"Yeah," Jaune told them. "He's out cold. Poor guy… I think he's got a sleeping disorder or something."

Sodi's too busy pouring those rocky weed bits on the counter-top to speak. So Puku did, sitting back in his usual seat.

"Wouldn't doubt it. From what I've heard, 'irregular' sleeping habits are signs for insomnia. Not so sure if old people get that stuff as much, though—"

Sodi slid those weed bits into his palms from the counter-top-edge, yet now he had half the mind to butt in.

"Well duh. Aging messes your body up, bro. Might get diseases 'n shit if you ain't lucky."

"Right... but I just never heard of 'old people' and 'insomnia' in a sentence related to each other. I'm just wondering if it's uncommon with 'em, if that makes sense." Puku toyed with his uniform cap. "I'm pretty sure our Jauney here thinks it does, right?"

Jaune shrugged before giving his own thoughts. Meanwhile, he saw the weed get stuffed into the empty bong's 'bowl'.

"Back where i'm from, old people have trouble sleeping when they're sick. Don't really know if that's got to do with insomnia... but I did know some, uh, unique kids who had that stuff. Depression 'n eating disorders too."

Sod looked away from the weed to smirk at him.

"'Unique' kids? What, like downies?—"

Jaune frowned, Puku hummed.

"I think that's offensive to his culture, Sodi. Also, did you hear the last parts?"

"What last parts?"

"Of what he said. Didn't you hear it?"

Sodi nodded.

"Yeah, 'something-something unique kids'. All I need to hear."

Puku gave him a look.

"...Says a lot that outta his entire spiel, you hear 'unique' kids and instantly think of the mentally disabled. If that isn't offensive I don't know what is."

Sodi shrugged. "Nah, it's not offensive 'cuz I didn't say anything bad. I just labeled them."

"That's probably what 'offensive' means, according to the last three women I've slept with."

"Yeah? Well they're fuckin' dumb, dude. Shit…" Sodi popped open a water bottle, muttering. "I ain't censoring myself for these goddamn hoes, man. Like straight up, they'd prolly let a dude snort lines off their thighs if he's rich enough..."

Jaune… didn't know what to think of that, or say. But luckily Puku turned to him, speaking quiet.

"Sodi rants sometimes. You never know when, but uh… let's just say I hope he does it here and basically nowhere else in society. He gets real out there, man."

...Huh.

Sodi emptied his water bottle into the bong, crushed it, and then - one handed - shot the water bottle at the trash can.

"Yeet."

He made it. The thing flew half-way across the room yet he still made it right and center. Jaune, spooked about this, stared at the trash-can. Until Puku situated himself over the counter-top with Sodi, who slid a lighter over.

"C'mon now. You did wanna try the bong tonight, yeah?"

That was true. Jaune's gotten very comfortable about 'weeding out' lately. He liked the blunts and pizza and relaxation… and now he's curious about the bong. And no, not the fact Sodi's bong got a stupid plastic alien head on it's front, it's 'cuz he hasn't tried it before.

But Jaune won't ever mess with stuff as Sodi and Puku do. He just wanted to try all the options available: be it blunt, shroom, alcohol, or Sodi's alien bong here tonight.

So Jaune nodded, and Puku gestured him on.

"Then get yourself comfy. We're gonna take a fat minute here."

Jaune scooted his seat over and Sodi figured to do the exact same. Yet Puku - nabbing their second water bottle off the counter-top - emptied it till the half-way mark. By then they sat in a semicircle around him.

Puku cleared his throat.

"You don't mind if I lead this time, Sodi?"

Sodi gave a double thumbs up.

"I handed you a lighter, my guy. It's your call."

"Right… so, Jaune."

Lighter in hand, Puku hovered it over the bowl Sodi stuffed the bits in.

"We've already told ya about how this works, right?"

"...Yeah."

"Good. So let's get this shit goin' here…"

Puku flicked the piss-yellow lighter on in a burst of sparks. The flame it produced hovering just far from the weed not to light it.

"Here, hold this. You'll put your on top so the weed burns into the bong water without leaking out." He burped, pizza on his breath. Likely from before Jaune finished his deliveries. "When you're ready for that, you'll suck in and slowly breath it out, like what Sodi showed you with the blunts a while back. Does that make sense?"

Yeah. Jaune's got no worries about smoking as of now. He understood everything he needed to know. That basically, he's gotta do as Sodi did by breathing in and out. The medium of their smoking just now bumped up a few notches.

So he hovered over the bong-top, the lighter in his hands. Two oval's of pitch black plastic greeted him, surrounded by green tinted plastic stuck onto the bong's glass exterior. It's the bong's alien face.

It looked kinda funny... if he ignored the anticipation knee-deep inside his gut. Additionally, it hardened his resolve when flicking Sodi's offered-up lighter back to life. He prepared for likely the fattest rip he's had yet, then. Solely because it's a bong. Not some fifty cent blunt they roll in their spare time.

Now the lighter touched weed bits. Shortly thereafter Jaune heard no complaints... so he sucked it in.

As gluey-smoke went down his throat, Jaune hoped any fried nerves un-fried themselves. Or else he'd repeat the first time he smoked a blunt.

Not a good idea, that one, since the concentration of pure substances now in his body would choke him alive. Or he'd fall into a weed coma if possible. It probably wasn't, but you could've fooled Jaune if he didn't expect a bong to be better than one measly blunt.

So Jaune ran smoky goodness through its course… then let it go.

If Jaune thought the usual clouds they'd churn up were high quality, this was holy. He felt his everything pour out a grey smog of thick smoke. He was weed and weed was him.

This feeling was strong. So strong, Jaune didn't ask why his coworkers started laughing. Only when he stopped seeing weird flashy lights under his eyelids did Jaune frown. His buzz… holy.

"Guys," he mumbled. "The hell's this strain? What am I doing right now?"

Jaune flexed his fingers. The sound of actual laughter - and Sodi's body hitting the floor, hands holding his stomach - left muffled out. The stimuli far more interesting, yes.

And not just the 'him' that was a person, but things of him.

Somehow, someway, his hands were scary. The rest of him was fine, no discoloration or anything too blurry, but his hands? Red. Like his Aura got dipped in blood that froze itself solid. If Jaune's gonna guess, it's something his brain will only show when he's high as hell. Like when he had his first blunt.

The question then is if it's something important? An insecurity? A truth he doesn't know of?

That doesn't sound too far off to him. At least… as he's high as hell.

I'm on another level, man.

He rose bloody red hands high. Higher than what he feels right now. He has no idea how that's measured but close enough.

Really like this. I'm feeling everything. Woah—

The abstract seemed to deconstruct then. Thanks largely in part to the shaking of his shoulders. He looked at who did it—

It was Puku. He's grinning big, looking ready to burst into laughter.

"Hey man… focus on me for a second."

This wasn't too hard, Jaune's high got interrupted by that scare. He's feeling pretty sober, or uh, normal. As if he didn't inhale an entire gas chamber not two minutes ago.

"...Okay. I am."

Puku shook his shoulder again. "You sure?—"

Sodi stopped rolling a bit, clinging onto his chair's leg with eyes squeezed shut.

"'You sure?'" He mocked. "Ohhhh lawd. Lawdy-lawd. I can't right now... this man said 'you sure?'—"

When Jaune felt his shoulder shaken again he turned back to Puku, blinking.

"What happened? Why am I so…"

Jaune flexed his fingers, the red sparks covering them not moving an inch. They were statues of stillness in a world of blurriness and pizza.

"Out there?"

Puku snorted. For Jaune, he really might be losing the buzz. Sodi's manic laughter from the floor was starting to annoy him, let alone Puku.

"Well…"

From besides the bong, Puku pulled over the empty weed baggy Sodi used.

"Turns out Sodi here grounded up some of the funner stuff I've shown him. Not too fun, though. It's not like acid."

He shook the tiny bag by it's ziplock top.

"I've called it 'Enlightenment' 'cuz you space out when experiencing certain stuff. And no, I don't know what stuff that is. Each experience is the smoker's own. The only thing each rip would have in common is the fact that it hits different, man. You just gotta take it for awhile. It puts you out there."

Jaune saw Sodi flop his upper body back onto his chair. Then he remembered Puku existed, and what he said.

"Wait… you made it?"

"Yeah. But It's the farthest I've gone when it comes to fun stuff," Puku frowned. "And honestly, I shouldn't have even done that. Sodi's been a certified weed addict ever since—"

Sodi got back up, though he didn't look anywhere near as collected as before. He was giggly, a wide grin stretching cheek to reddened cheek, and he held his chest.

"O-Oh." He said. "Oh… oh man. Phew. That was good, I needed that…"

It took Sodi a second to realize he interrupted their conversation, but when he did, he blinked.

"Oh. Oh! Uh, right…"

Sodi reached himself forward for the blunt and lighter that Jaune let him have. He then took a rip only dedicated potheads who roll across a pizzeria's floor could take.

When the smoke exploded out his pores, and he lost all the humor, Sodi continued his thoughts. Calm, if not dumb. No longer half-ready to laugh his lungs off as they're full of smoke plus whatever else he lets in.

"Okay so... I kinda realized the weed was Puku's special stuff when you first got your buzz going." Sodi pointed a thumb Puku's way. "So I told him and we started dying."

Jaune frowned. Puku - maybe to defend himself - offered him a grin.

"No hard feelings, man. I did the exact same to Sodi when he first tried it out. And if it'll make you feel any better…?"

Puku reached for the bong, the lighter in his hands too. He took a fat rip, and when done, he smiled toothily.

"He was the same as you. It took a solid few go arounds before he started lookin' like he does now. Spaced out, but not out there spaced out. He's flying his own mental bullhead, if that makes sense."

Sodi's roll of the eyes all but confirmed this to Jaune. In fact, both of their casualness confirmed many things for Jaune. That the buzz and fuzziness inside his skull would dull out sometime—

Jaune felt the buzz expand. His high blurring the background from sight. All he saw were Puku and Sodi's smiling faces. The latter also pushing his scroll across their kitchen table.

Why? Jaune wasn't paying attention so he—

"Hey buuuddy."

Sodi came into view, his pointer finger tapping the scroll's surface.

"'Fore you lose yourself in la-la land again, look at Julie and me here. You do remember me talkin' about her awhile back, yeah?

Puku busied himself with another hit, so Jaune followed his coworker's advice.

He saw the finger hover away; showcasing two people on the scroll, one male and one female. Sodi's the male, who's got a bright smile on his face. Right besides him, a not so older-looking woman smiled as too. Her hair was a dark-brown billowing on a modest summer dress, and her eyes were soft blues. Honestly if Jaune were to guess her age he'd wager her around low thirties at the very least.

Together they held some really nice looking glasses. Full of red liquid he's assuming isn't for kids.

"That's us about two days ago." Sodi mused. "Her husband wasn't home so she brought out the motherfuckin' Atleisan redwine, Jaune. The kind rich assholes chug between bread 'n circus."

He looked so happy there, his yellow eyes shiny with something inside them, though very faint.

Jaune felt his… sight? Yeah, that. He felt his sight focusing on Sodi, his buzz also lapsing a little.

"That's cool and all… but why're you telling me this?"

The scroll came away thanks to Sodi's fingers reeling it back in. "Why not? 'Enlightenment' makes me comfy pretty damn quick. Hell, it makes so goddamn comfy I could blow up right now 'n not care in the slightest, my guy." Sodi made an 'exploding' gesture with his hand over his head, sound effects included. "And when I'm that comfy? I do whatever…"

Sodi perked up after a moment's pause.

"Oh! Also, uh… Puku?"

Puku - done taking his second rip, yet looking like he took neither - gave a 'uh-huh?'.

"Julie's gonna be coming to the next party we go to, you cool with that?"

"...Yeah, sure…"

Puku turned to Jaune, frowning.

"That actually reminds me, would you be down to go to parties with us?"

Interested, Sodi also turned to Jaune, who blinked.

"What kind?"

"The 'have stupid fun' kind. It's exactly what it sounds like so i'm just wondering if you're down for that."

'...Uh…"

They had that curiosity again. A double edged sword that dulled his buzz yet sorta acted like peer pressure. After all, he's the only guy in this room who's not gone partying, or got laid for that matter. Which they talk about this stuff so much that Jaune felt left-out of most conversations.

So… the fact he's sat here? Higher than the clouds and hands covered in red lighting stuff he's sorta starting to think is his Aura? Jaune went along with this. He smiled at his curious friends.

"Sure thing."

Yet Jaune grabbed at his hand, face scrunched.

"But uh, I hope your weed-stuff isn't so buzzy at the parties. It feels like it's two in the morning and i'm trying to sleep, but i'm not awake somehow."

They shared a chuckle at his expanse. Puku had the consideration to look guilty afterwards, while Sodi shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe for now. But like Puku here's been sayin', you'll get used to it."

Jaune squinted at him. "Or maybe I should be mad. You gave me stuff stronger than usual...without me knowing, too!"

Sodi waved him off.

"Give it a few hits 'n you'll be fine. You might not like the high, but the high likes you."

He gave Jaune the bong, grinning ear to ear.

"So here. Get yourself comfy, we'll walk ya home if you need it."

That was new. Jaune never thought these guys would do that. He looked them over as such, vision blurry but clear enough to see his immediate surroundings.

"Don't you guys have to work late?—"

Puku laid the lighter by the bong, shrugging.

"If Granpappy's asleep then it's fine. Hell, if anything we'd better take him home too. He never likes that but oh well… gotta keep the poor guy safe."

The plan wasn't too risky, Jaune thought. He did usually walk home by himself, and sometimes, he was high when doing so. These two wouldn't be too unwelcome in that case, assuming they won't get him into any undue trouble.

That said… Jaune hovered over the bong, Sodi's lighter flickered back to life as well. His coworkers watched the weed burn, smokify the bong, get sucked in by him, and go out.

He smiled then. Their faces looked funny so he laughed. They did the exact same, the whole lot of them sounding relaxed and chilled out.

Jaune doesn't mind that. Even if his brain feels… funny, yeah.

/-/

Neo wasn't happy tonight.

It's two in the morning yet her darling hasn't gone home from work. Likely too busy smoking up a storm with his supposed 'coworkers', who she really ought to question.

Yet that could wait for a less stressful time. She already felt veiny indents pop across her forehead. The signs of unrest she shows whenever Jaune's away for too long, stronger than any stress prior. He's still such a soft boy in desperate need of TLC, after all.

She can't give him that if he'd rather weed-it-up with a bunch of low-lives. He's better than that. He can make a difference.

So to ease the hurt, annoyance and anxiety deep inside, Neo went searching for him. Nothing but her umberlla, Aura, and usual tee shirt and short-shorts combo. This time in a reverse of colors. She's simple like that.

But she barely made it out of the apartment complex before spotting two blonde heads of hair down the sidewalk. She hid behind an alley as the duo came past.

One of them was cleary Jaune… and as she saw already, another blonde. Only much shorter and with yellow eyes.

His arms were leading Jaune forward. Like they're re-enacting an award winning Great-War movie made five years ago. Except less army aesthetic, and more pizza boys farting about like dumbasses

"C'mon buuuddy," the short one said, smiling. "This should be the place, right?"

Jaune looked up towards his apartment complex. And - much to Neo's displeasure - laughed in the most dumb way possible, a 'he-he-he' of a sound.

"Yeah. It's right up here…."

The short one shrugged while patting Jaune's shoulder. " Then we gotta get you home my guy, so hurry up!"

Jaune smiled. "If ya say so..."

They passed by Neo's alleyway, oblivious. Jaune's face exemplified that infuriatingly well.

He looked beyond high, or whatever it's called. Absent in their world. Too focused on la-la land… and the short man's voice.

"But uh, Sodi…?"

Jaune blinked, then blinked again.

"What if—"

The dubbed 'Sodi' cut him off. "Nope! None of that! Keep it movin' here… and if it'll help, do a counting thing."

"A counting thing?"

"You know, saying numbers." Sodi offered. "Like 'one-three-one-three-one-three-four', but timed with your steps 'n stuff."

Jaune frowned his confusion. "How'd you say that now?"

"Easy. It goes like 'one-three-one-three' over and over again, until you get yourself a number four. And if you're wondering... two's not there 'cuz he died in a shootout." Sodi held a finger up towards the night sky. "Which by the way: don't ask."

Jaune 'ooo'd'. Sodi cleared his throat.

"But personally? I count to get home whenever I'm too drunk. It keeps me focused. Now repeat after me... one-three-one-three-one-three-four."

"...Okay."

Their steps enough grew methodical. Slower, as Jaune began counting.

"One-three-one-three-one-three-four. One-three-one-three-one-three-four…"

Jaune collected himself here. It was mind-boggling.

His eyes? Dull, but his movements appeared downright sober to Neo... If she didn't see him and his 'buddy' keep their pace one - and exactly one - square of sidewalk at a time. Sober people aren't this precise.

They reached the apartment doors this way, side by side. A band of intoxicated brothers… and it was here that Neo stepped out from the alley. Umbrella in hand, quick and quiet as she made to breach the distance.

This'll teach him.

She's simmering with the stress and hurt she's gone through tonight. Her umbrella readied for a heavy bonk on that dumb but beautiful head of his. Containing all her primal affections.

I could say it's a part of tonight's training… and punishment for not telling me where he was. Or better yet, not being where he should've been. Back home, in my arms.

She picked up her pace when thinking these thoughts. Determination fueling flesh into overdrive as her darling stood before the apartment door—

That Sodi fellow turned towards her, mere feet away now.

"Wha?"

Jaune turned around as well, but it was too late. She already came swinging umbrella first—

But when she bonked that dopey face of his, Neo met resistance. His Aura - in spite of latent intoxication - hardened across his features. White-lighting making it just in time. Stumbling him back only a few feet and not flat out rolling him onto the floor.

In the aftermath... Neo smiled.

She couldn't be happier about him reacting so quickly. And just looking at him now - his hand rubbing at the impact point, his Aura with him - Neo's stress melted into affection.

Stopping a knock-out worthy blow with only a month's worth of training while high off his ass? That's impressive. He really is a fast learner.

"Woah…"

Sodi stepped between them, fists tightened despite his casual expression. He's prepared to fight. For himself... or for Jaune, surprising that might be.

"Who're you? And the fuck you smack my friend for?"

Jaune opened his to answer that. Neo pulled out her scroll and out typed him, putting it in the blonde shortie's face.

I'm his roommate, Neo.

Sodi's eyes widened. His agression paused.

"Real shit?—"

Jaune reacted faster than she thought he would. Actually, he... he grabbed her by the shoulders and stumbled her towards the apartment door.

"I'll see ya tomorrow!" He yelled, hurriedly. "Also, thanks for the help! I-I feel great!"

His coworker went to answer that. Yet Jaune - those big hands leading her on - took his leave… with Neo coming along for the ride, forcefully.

That realization made her feel funny. Only intensifying when he didn't immediately press their floor button when they made it inside the elevator. No, he stared down at her instead.

His eyes were so odd, so focused while still being dull. Like he's living out a dream.

She couldn't say if that's the case, but she could fawn over it, as he leaned into her space without warning. Dominating the room, and her.

"Neo," he told her… no, demanded of her, his body towering over her tiny frame. "You like training me, yeah?"

He had the nerve to wait for her, his caretaker and soon to be lover. Yet she couldn't deny this power around him that's been dormant whenever she's taken the lead. She loved this expression for the mere half-minute she's known it.

'Yes.' She breathed, legs crossing each other to hide the heat those intense ocean eyes were giving her. 'Yes, my love.'

He remained unfazed.

"Good, so lemme say this…"

He leaned back. The shadow around his frowning face gave an entire new meaning to arousal, she realized.

"Don't involve my coworkers in our stuff, alright? I don't care if it's important."

He breath reeked of earthy things and cheese pizza but it was husky. She shook the more she smelt it.

"They don't need to see the things we do together, Neo... that's between us. Me and you. Okay?"

She swallowed.

'Yes, Jaune.'

"Good."

And then he - away from her - pressed a finger into the button for their floor, his eyes half-lidded in… focus, Neo thinks? Of what, she had not a single idea.

Not that it matters anyways... all she could think about was him, not the thoughts of him. Of her darling... of her big, handsome, brooding darling.

"That guy you saw was Sodi. He's one of my coworkers. The one who wanted to know about you, actually."

A pause, then a sigh.

"And uh... if you're wondering why I'm late tonight…?"

He grumbled under his breath. Tired or unsatisfied. Or both.

"I wanted to try the bong, so since it takes awhile I—"

He didn't get to finish as her lips meshed onto his own. Her body falling with her, and everything else fell too. Relying solely on the young man towering above her—

Neo's reward was his arms wrapping around her, if not hesitantly. Their tongues warring against each other, embraced for the sake of themselves.

His hands laid themselves flat on her butt. A delight she didn't expect and instantly moaned about into their kiss. The cheap mozzarella coating her taste buds.

I love this.

It's so greasy but fuck if she cared. Her darling was wrapping that tongue around hers again and she didn't even have to cry this time.

It felt good… no, it felt wonderful. She was absolutely in love.

If weed caused this… then maybe he should get high more often—

The elevator door opened. He broke their kiss. She remained limp in his arms.

"We're here." He droned out. "It's pretty late. And uh, i'm kinda tired. Wanna go to bed?—"

Back in action, she led him by the hand out of the elevator. Feeling like an idiotic school girl inside an obscure Mistrali cartoon. A horny little wreck that's lusting over her classmate. Her big, strong classmate.

He - in whatever dull focus he had - offered no resistance… so she led him home. Into the peace and happiness he deserved for doing such a good job in several ways. Her burning core said as much.

Yes, Neo's stress became something better. Something lovelier. It became lust. Mind-numbing lust for the boy that frowned while she opened their apartment door.

And she wouldn't want it any other way.

/-/

Welp, here he is. He's home.

The walls were dark in absence of light. The only exclusion being the holoscreen t.v blaring in the living room.

Also, Jaune felt his buzz again when Neo tugged them towards it. Bringing attention back to his sparky red hands and away from his surroundings.

He felt kinda unhappy about that - in a probably sorta metaphysical way - but he left it be. It wasn't harming anything…. at least, It wasn't harming Neo.

It just meshed around her skin as if she's toxic. This must've been the case when he touched her in front of the apartment, and inside the elevator.

That's weird.

He thought about all the mini contacts they had leading them here. Both the lewd 'n the less lewd. His hands entering his thoughts too, and matter in fact, he watched their dark silhouettes. Shaded only by bluish white light and bloody red crackly stuff.

While this went on, Neo sat him down onto the couch. He wanted sleep... why's she got him here?

Am I forgetting something? Was it my Aura? Did I act out of line back there, when I kissed her?

The further he considered the abstract the worse his buzz got. Eventually, it blurred the holoscreen into obscurity.

Jaune's now the red stuff, the blue-white light, and the darkness. Nothing else... if his eyes weren't lying, somehow.

Enlightenment is weird, man—

Then his high de-blurred the blue-white. Now he saw a lady on the holoscreen. Her hair purple, eyes yellowish, and pale-face taking up most of said screen.

"Hello," she stated, more so than said. "I'm your host, Lisa Lavender. Broadcasting you tonight's top story live from Vale-City's VNN headquarters..."

Her face cut away to a blackened building. It's windows and door caved-in and it's exterior covered in soot that cop cars surrounded. On the bottom of the screen read 'White Fang Loots Dust Store.'

"Not an hour has passed since reports of a fire and robbery came about in the eastern Vale-City district. Just two miles away from Capitol Hill. As you can see here, law enforcement arrived on the scene only to find the remains of a destroyed dust store… courtesy of what our sources say is the White Fang, or White Fang sympathizers."

The video footage glossed over a symbol painted on boarded-up walls next to the building. But Jaune - in his focus, the one-three-four count in his head - saw it plain as day. Of an animal in bloody red color, readying to strike out with its fangs.

Done showing the destruction, the screen cut to Lisa Lavender looking into the camera. Her face very serious. Jaune blinked at her. Wondering what this was, and whether the holoscreen was gonna blur again.

"These crimes have been repeated all over downtown Vale-City over the past few weeks; be it on dust shops, clothing stores, restaurants, or public property." She tilted her head at the screen, her tone hardening. "According to our media correspondents, they are likely aspects of the ongoing and growing racial tensions resulting from the deaths of three unarmed—"

Suddenly, Neo. She turned the holscreeen off. The last thing he saw before darkness took them was her smile.

…

…

…

Shuffle. Shuffle.

...

...

...

He waited for something to happen—

Neo came back fast, on her knees before him as the simple dust-lamp at the couch end table flickered on. She had that half-lidded look in her eyes. The tempting kind, like the one she gives when they're cuddling and kissing.

Though their light was a dull yellow Neo positively glowed. An oddity in a sea of darkness, keeping his blurry weed-brain and the crackled red of his hands off his mind. To replace them she hovered over the - which he just noticed - tight work pants he wore.

Probably the results of touching her not too long ago… right?

I wasn't even thinking, man. Why am I like this? Hell, why am I here? Why aren't we sleeping?

Jaune, numb with things, watched her fingers crawl up his knees to reach his zipper. But she paused herself.

'You ready?'

...Oh, I get it now.

The seriousness beneath her pout paused him. Actually, this whole situation did, because he wasn't thinking they'd be doing… uh, sexy stuff.

He expected to say what needed said then get himself some sleep. Yet now Neo's got her fingers at his zipper and - the buzz crawling back into frame - Jaune couldn't exactly say this was too bad. The tightness in his pants would kinda call him bluff.

This is what he asked for, right? What he wanted earlier before he took those bong rips? Getting sexy times?

If he had a boner does that mean he's consenting to this?

...Maybe, or maybe not. Either way, Neo leaned forward into his lap. Brown and pink sparkling with mischief.

Jaune ran his messed up hands through his locks… that tightness down below never going away.

"Have at it, Neo. I don't think I can stop you anyways…"

The widening of her smile told him the same, and the dedication mixed with lust made him wanna fall asleep. To escape from the buzzing or fuzzing that's making his world a blurry mess.

He wanted that a lot… but worse, if he's honest with himself, he wanted Neo - as she's tugging down his zipper - to be here even more. It's gotta be why he kissed her inside the elevator—

All his trains of thought came crashing to a halt, though. Something rubbed onto his cotton underwear. It was Neo, and her finger.

"Oh." He breathed. "Jeez, Neo. You're—"

His work pants slid off under her diligent fingers, freeing a tent of underwear cloth. Despite himself he sighed along with her when it did. It kinda hurts to hide a boner in work pants.

But then she stared at it, at him… in a weird mixture of lust, curiosity, and happiness. When he wanted to speak on that she rose.

Literally, she placed a chaste kiss on his mouth then pulled back. Her hand stroking his chin and eyes smiling at him. Along with her uh, actual smile.

'You'll feel good, okay?'

She snaked her other hand to the edge of his underwear. Still focused on taking his attention... not that it worked.

'Let me show how happy you make me feel…'

He couldn't argue here. Not with her fingers so close to him.

So he kept his mouth shut—

The underwear came down. His length stood at attention.

She pulled her hand away with her, gasping. Now she's back on her knees, wide eyed and grasping at his sides.

"So uh... how's the size?" He couldn't help but ask.

/-/

She looked him dead in the eyes. His beautifully dull ocean eyes.

'Jaune…' she mouthed. Staring at that silly look on his face and the throbbing thing before her face. 'It's wonderful…'

He smiled. She can't even describe in what way, he simply did.

So Neo chose to put her attention on his cock. On his fat, veiny, red-hard cock, that's not even at full mast by the looks of it.

It's got to be at least eight inches. Definitely more.

She let herself prod the thing. It was warm, so warm compared to her chilly digits that Jaune winced. This didn't stop her from holding him, though.

I always thought he was big, but shit. Where the hell did he even come from, the jungle...?

This cock itself was heating both her hands and her. Like a condensed wildfire that throbbed under her in a way she really couldn't get enough of. So much, she began stroking.

He liked that a lot, grumbling under his breath as she stroked base to foreskin.

Her speed increased into a steady pump, the pre-cum dripping out his bulbous tip becoming her lube. The all-natural kind she's spreading around his man meat to get it nice and sticky.

Pump, pump, pump. In the quiet of their apartment, Neo lulled every inch of her darling's hard cock into an oily mess. It had slightest squelch whenever her fingers went too fast and she's treasuring each time it did.

All the while Jaune laid his head back, low grumbles sounding out. He sounded so honest here. No hesitations or dullness, just his puerile desire for release.

And that really makes sense. Biology wasn't picky in situations like these. It finds what pleases it and forces the mind into overdrive with hopes the person they're running will breed another person, or vice versa.

It's what burned her to the core, and still is.

This is his reward, though. She scolded herself, but never stopped her pumps. Jaune's cock over all. And It's your duty to reward him…

Neo was right, she thinks. So she kicked this up a notch: her lips kissed that bulbous head real tender.

It jolted Jaune into looking wide eyed at her, to which she grinned back. Her chin nuzzling into the burning cock-head she's quickly falling in love with.

So big…

She cooed, pressing into the top of his lengthy member until it angled away, her nose getting a nice dose of pre-cum.

I want it all.

He'd let her have it, won't he? If he's still got that mojo from back in the elevator, he'd stop frowning and wrap those big hands around her locks and fuck her like she's been craving ever since they've started living together.

Neo wants that. Neo wants him. She wants his hard fucking cock down her throat now—

"Hey, Neo."

Her darling was scratching his cheek.

"So uh, I-I just realized something. I don't—"

Nope, she couldn't wait anymore. She lifted her pre-cum soaked face up for him, and she watched him watch her.

Without hesitation Neo took that cock to the hilt. His balls - so musky, and thus so intoxicating - hitting her chin.

Choking. Pain, pleasure, and the throbbing of a hard-cock inside the flesh-tub that she was. A mere cock sleeve to be used. Yes... she could die any moment now but shit if she wouldn't pray to experience this forever—

That sentiment grew when a hand grabbed into her locks. Likely out of surprise, sure, but she went with it.

She choked out all his inches from the balls up. To the point that she popped off his twitchy top, spittle and pre-cum connecting them.

Jaune bulked at her, amazed.

Neo simply winked and went back to work. Slower this time, yet choking down those inches much easier than before.

She hadn't a single regret for doing so, as that feeling of his head hitting the back of her throat…?

Oh, she's in heaven. The hot heaven, which doesn't burn slutty cocksleeves who love choking on their darling's hard—

"N-Neo?"

She looked up but didn't stop. Her nose made contact with the edge of his golden blonde pubic hairs every noisy rutt.

Jaune looked a fair deal less dull. His eyes frowning as his face was, as if he knew why he's doing things. Unlike outside the apartment… where he acted on instinct and impulse.

Oh, how she loved that. How she loved him.

"I uh—"

He winced as she came back and licked their juices off his entire length, then fucked herself on him again. Honestly, the fact he hasn't came yet was amazing—

"I think uh... I think I'm gonna..."

Ah, shit. She jinxed herself.

As she slapped her face against fleshy ballsack, Neo breathed heavily out her nose.

If she hadn't got a massive cock in her mouth she'd be pouting, too… but in the end, lust overtook her dissatisfaction.

She grew determined. Her rutts making squelchy noises far louder than the ones when giving him a handy. And when her lover groaned to himself - his cock pulsing with hot sticky cum, just for her - Neo sped up a little.

One more choking throat-fuck. One more mewling moan as he gripped into her messy hair. One more prayer for to engulf her nose with his stink—

He came in heavy, quiet spurts. Globs of salty delight threatening to choke her cock-sleeve of a throat-hole with each go.

It didn't stop either. Even when she gagged into swallowing it, and even when she drooled all over his smelly pubic hair.

For Jaune, he grabbed her head with two hands, face groaning at the ceiling. Neo enjoyed that almost as much as the life-giving seed.

But like all good things it had to end. After one last pulsing rutt, the final spurt hit the back of her throat.

In lieu of that quiet finish, Neo let herself rest against him. The fire-hot warmth of his de-hardening cock a reminder that tonight - as his cum settled into her tummy - Neo got some of the sexual gratification she so desired.

Now I just need him to actually fuck me next time. Yes…

She licked her sticky lips. Tasting their combined love, the danger and potential he had.

Oh, gods. If he came this much inside me I'd be pregnant in a heartbeat—

"...Heh…"

Neo heard laughter. It started soft; then it became akin to giggles, like her darling either de-aged or regained his high. She nonetheless watched him, frowning.

"Heh. Hehe…" Jaune's wane smile peeked underneath his palm. "Hehehe..."

She wondered if he enjoyed her blowjob too much. That with his cum, he shot out the remaining bits of rationality he's had tonight. If anything he's done tonight could be considered 'rational'.

Now Jaune leaned back into the couch sofa, and - breathing quietly towards the ceiling - he mumbled.

"This ain't real, man. Just can't be..."

Then he fell silent. Not a moment later, she heard the tell-tale signs of unconsciousness. The sounds of his snoring she hears whenever they sleep together.

Jaune was out cold. His eyelids shut and face still smiling. Peaceful, she thinks, so she smiled too.

Goodnight, darling.

She tucked his softened cock away. Atop his lap in the darkness of their home, Neo rubbed along his chin.

I'll always be with here you, and you'll be better off for it. You'll make a difference.

His grumbled snores warmed her almost as much as his said inside her tummy. And she reached over for the dust-lamp again, sighing.

Darkness claimed them entirely. In it's wake she got herself nice and comfy on her lovable pizza-delivery fool. His musky scent oddly comforting at this rate.

So Neo closed her eyes to the sound of her lover's heartbeat, smiling.

I promise you that, darling. I promise...

Notes:

*Jaune lives in a society, bottom text included

*If you're wondering... no, I do NOT have a hand fetish. The dirt slash hand stuff is gonna be important later on, you'll see.

*By this point, you should start to understand how questionable Neo is. She's... well, I'll let you decide on your own. I know what I've personally wrote here but everybody's got their own perspectives. Really for me, I'm more so focused on Jaune in this case scenario. The title of this whole story could tell you that.

''Cuz here's the thing: Jaune Arc is - as the name of the chapter suggests - living life on autopilot. He does whatever he needs to do and only deviates for his own enjoyment or comfort. Which therein he grows SOMEWHAT of a backbone... momentarily.

He can't expect to 'make a difference' with his life if he lets it continue the way it is. No matter what his psychopathic mommy gf tells him. He needs to confront the way Neo treats him: either by changing it, adapting to it, or basically destroying it.

Doing so, he can learn to truly appreciate the crude wisdom Roman's given him, and find real masculinity in the shitty society he's taken part of

*For discretion's sake, please don't think i'm a weed/alcohol/drug expert. I'm not. I just have friends who're kinda familiar with that, much more so than me. It's how I came up with Sodi and Puku, they're just distant stereotypes. A little bit of googling not withstanding.

Anyways yeah, chapter done. Longer than I wanted but eh, it got the job done I think.

Later.