Chapter-2

A few day's observation were a few days too many. By the time Jaune was released from the hospital, he was fit to bursting with restless energy. When he wasn't sleeping, he was liable to bounce off the walls, and he wasn't sleeping much since the incident. Not surprising, he'd already filled his sleeping quota for the month. Not only that, his appetite was ravenous. It seemed that no matter how big of a meal he ate, he always had room for more. He had always been a pretty big eater but now he was starting to rival Nora when she went on one of her sugar binges.

He needed to keep active. Not just to burn the calories he was ingesting but all that energy he felt creeping under his skin, screaming to get out.

He had never been one you would call a gym junkie. While he was no doubt a hard worker – a very hard worker considering he had to put in just that much extra effort to close the gap between he and his friends, he didn't gain any sort of buzz from working out. Not like his partner had done. With Pyrrha, she had genuinely enjoyed training, the act itself pleasurable to her. Every time she spared or run laps or lifted weights, it was a rush. Jaune did it because he had to, to become stronger, but felt nothing beyond that. The rush for him came later, seeing what his efforts had wrought. Knowing that he was taking the required steps to stand beside his friends as equals.

Now it was the ultimate release valve. Jaune was starting to understand why people like Pyrrha felt the way they did. Every time his arms and chest flexed, he felt that kick, that flood of dopamine buzzing through his system. Keeping his breath steady and controlled, he pressed the bar up fluidly then brought it back down again, repeating the action until his muscles burned. Usually, he would have been long done by now. He'd been going full throttle for nearly an hour yet he was showing no signs of slowing down. Biceps bulging from the effort, he completed his set and let the bar fall back into the saddle brace with a loud clang. Sitting up, he grabbed his towel and dried his face and shoulders, rolling the well worked muscles.

It hadn't taken long for his body to bounce back, yet even though he was cleared from the hospital he hadn't been cleared for active duty. His meeting with Ironwood had gone as expected; he shared what he could but ultimately, he couldn't remember many of the details of what happened. While disappointing, the General was happy that they hadn't lost themselves a capable huntsman and had ordered him to rest up. He wanted to make sure Jaune was in tip top shape before he started taking missions again, even something simple like child escort. Without missions, training was the only way for him to bleed off the excess energy he had after spending days abed.

He just had to make sure that he didn't over do it. Because if he was being honest, he felt like a million lien. His muscles may have burned, ached that ache of satisfaction, yet he didn't feel tired. Not truly. He felt better than he had in a long time – maybe even ever. It was such a sharp contrast to how he felt immediately after waking that it was hard to believe he ever felt that way.

Taking heavy pulls from his bottle of water, he glanced around the gym. Atlas Academy, much like Beacon, had a fully stocked, state of the art gym facility. Any and every exercise machine possible could be found right here, free to use for anyone enrolled or already fully qualified as a huntsman. At this time of day, it was relatively empty. His friends were all out on missions, while the vast majority of students were in class. There were a few lingering about, those that had a free spot in their schedule, or other fully qualified huntsmen stationed at the school stopping in to sneak in an hour workout, but he may as well have had the place to himself with how big it was.

Moving over to some free weights, he lifted a couple and gave them a test. Satisfied with their weight, he moved over in front of a mirror to keep an eye on his form and got to work. One, two, three, four – he watched his reflection closely as his arms curled up and down, his forearms tense and biceps flexing fluidly with each lift. After finishing his hammer curls, he started working his triceps, first using his left arm, then his right, extending the weights above his head in a controlled movement. The old shirt he wore clung to his chest, showing off the definition that years of training had sculpted.

He wasn't the only one that noticed.

Neon Katt set down her own dumbbells and watched with appreciation as he continued to pump iron. She'd been watching for awhile now, more than happy with the free show he was giving her. Jaune Arc was certainly easy on the eyes. She traced the way his muscles bunched and rolled, the wide expanse of his back, and his focused expression in the mirror. She'd heard all about what had happened. That he had been hospitalized after his latest mission yet he certainly seemed fine now. More than fine. He had been going full steam ahead since before she had arrived and he hadn't stopped other than to change equipment or drink and towel down. She vaguely remembered him from the Vytal Festival and found it difficult to match that boy with the young man standing before her, the one that often trained with her and Flynt alongside his teammates. They seemed like two different people. It was like she was looking at a before and after shot.

A couple of years could really change someone.

But it was more than that. Jaune wasn't typically the type of guy she was interested in. He was certainly cute enough and he had a body any girl could fall in love with. There was a reason she was checking him out right now. And he was definitely a nice guy – almost too nice, sometimes. Determined, a good leader, these were only a few of his good qualities. He also had no issues with faunus. That was always a plus. It was just that Neon liked a partier, someone outgoing. If Yang Xiao Long had been a guy, she'd have been all over him. That was her ideal. Someone she could go out clubbing with and have a good time beside. Jaune was much more reserved, not dull but just normal. She wasn't sure if he was into the clubbing scene, she didn't even know what kind of music he was into.

He was as normal as a huntsman could be.

Yet she found herself intrigued. What had been a passing interest moments ago turned into a pull, a pull of desire as she watched him work; a desire to know more about Jaune Arc.

Before she knew what she was doing, she wandered over.

"Hey Jaune," she greeted. Her eyes met his in the mirror.

He had noticed her approach, unable to miss the bright orange hair with blue highlights. It matched her name flawlessly. Neon was dressed much more appropriately for the occasion than her usual fare, a pair of spats and a simple tank top. Though the colors were all her; her spats were bright pink while her top was baby blue. She could make even the most gaudy colors look well coordinated and normal, that was just the type of girl she was.

"Hey Neon," he answered between extensions. Bringing the weights down, he set them on the floor. "What's up?"

Now that she was closer to him, that pull felt even stronger. The musk of hard work wafted off him and drifted across her senses, that familiar scent that labeled him a man. She leaned in closer, masking the action by cocking her hip. Her tail swished behind her, side to side.

"Oh, you know," she grinned, eying him up. "Just keeping this bod in mint condition. Gotta keep combat ready."

Jaune let his eyes trace over her slender body as she gestured at herself, feeling something ignite under his skin. She certainly was mint, he would give her that. Toned and sleek, her body was built to utilize speed more than strength, though there was definite strength in those powerful thighs of hers. Thighs she used to propel herself around on those rollerblades she used in combat. She was pale like most of the people from Solitas. It wasn't exactly the tanning capital of Remnant.

"Want to work out together?" she proposed. "I could use a spotter."

He had no reason to decline. "Sure. Lead the way."

He followed her over to the squat rack, eyes hypnotized by her tail. It swung in wide arcs, curling and straightening as she walked. Her shorts hugged her little bubble butt tightly, plump beneath her tail. He wondered how soft the fur on her appendage would feel under his fingers then thought he would rather much grab her ass.

Jaune frowned then shook his head.

He watched as she loaded up the bar, nothing too crazy. Neon wasn't a powerhouse like Yang or Nora, so the weight reflected that. It was still way more than the average girl her size could lift, a sign for any civilian than she was a huntress. She shook out her legs and arms, loosening up as she peered at him from the corner of her eyes.

When she got into position under the bar, Jaune moved around behind her, extending his arms beneath her arms. He was close enough to smell her now, sweat from exercising mixed with her deodorant. For a moment he felt a flash go off in his mind, memories of sports class in high school but it lasted only a second. When she stepped forward with the bar laid across her shoulders, he followed, lightly bending his knees in anticipation. She could feel how near he was, his chest radiating heat like the sun. She paused for a moment, her tail becoming still before she adjusted her stance. The weight of the bar was heavy, a little heavier than she usually went for, yet she felt at ease as she lowered her body, executing a textbook squat. Core firm, she felt Jaune follow along, ready to catch the weight if anything went wrong.

She knew if she shifted just right his chest would be flush against her back.

"That's it," Jaune encouraged after several dips. Her legs were beginning to burn, her glutes, quads and hamstrings straining. At her lowest point, his eyes were drawn to her shapely little butt, popping out proudly. Pushing through the pain, she finished her reps and allowed Jaune to guide her back to the rack. When she was relieved of the weight, she sighed, feeling so light. She all but fell back into him, his hands instinctively grasping her hips to steady her.

His hands felt like lightning upon her.

"Thanks," she laughed, feeling hot. Her tail brushed his legs, curling around one of his powerful calves.

"No problem," she was tiny, reminding him of Ruby, of Weiss. One of his fingers had slipped under her tank, brushing bare skin. It was soft and smooth, and so warm. She shivered at the feeling before stepping away, feeling a tightness form in her tummy that had nothing to do with her squats.

"Your turn?" she questions.

"Sure."

He loaded the bar and Neon whistled, impressed.

"Have you seen Nora lift?" he asked, securing the plates. Neon shook her head. "You should. She blows me away."

They followed the same routine but in reverse, Neon taking up position behind him. She focused her eyes on his back, stepping forward in tandem and lowering into position once he had the bar stable upon his shoulders. He didn't seem to break a sweat, powering through his set without a sound. Seeing him shift such weight with ease was very attractive.

"Look at you," she teased when he settled the bar back onto the rack. She had to fight the impulse to stroke his sides. "I'm all done with lifting today. Wanna hit some cardio?"

She hadn't meant to make it sound so suggestive yet rolled with it, giving him a little wink. Jaune smiled back.

"I'm game."

They hit the treadmills, starting off at a light jog before upping the ante. Soon they were striding with purpose, picking up speed until they were running comfortably at a decent clip. Jaune admired the way her slender body moved in full flight, her hips, her legs, her small breasts bouncing with each step, her sports bra doing its best. Much like his own shirt, her sweaty tank was plastered to her skin, highlighting her gentle dips and swells. The little love heart on her cheek glistened.

"Race ya?" she challenged.

"You're on."

They set an even more grueling pace, their feet pounding against the machine, absorbing the impact. The timers they'd set counted down, pushing them onward. When the alarm sounded, they lowered the speed, the pair gasping for breath. Hopping off the treadmills when they came to a stop, they compared their distances.

"I win," Neon cheered, toweling her neck. She gave a cheesy smile and the peace sign, tilting her head cutely.

"You got me," Jaune conceded, downing the rest of his water. While she was still panting, he had already regained his breath. "Not by much, though."

"A win is a win," Neon wagged her finger tauntingly. "Wanna go again?"

Jaune jerked his thumb at the rowing machine. "How about that?"

They hit several more machines, challenging each other every time. Jaune won on the rowing machine, as well as the stair stepper, while Neon edged him on the cycle. By the time they were finished making the rounds, Neon was absolutely exhausted, her cheeks flushed with exertion. Jaune was also showing signs of fatigue but not as much as he thought he should be, his body still ready to go. His energy had dimmed but was far from depleted.

"You're a monster," Neon complained when he started doing sit ups on the mats. She rested against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her. Thin fingers massaged her sore muscles.

Jaune just grunted, hitting fifty before flipping over to go through a set of pushups. Neon admired his perfect form, back straight as a board as he lowered his chest until it nearly touched the floor. When he was finished, he lay sprawled on the mat, feet planted with his knees up.

"Finally done?" she queried tiredly.

"I think so," Jaune huffed. He could still go if he really wanted but he was sure he had already overdid it a little, like he feared. His body felt hot beneath his skin, almost feverish.

The gym had a few more people now, new students milling around. Checking the time, Jaune realized that classes were out for the day. He'd been at the gym longer than he thought. A couple of girls gave them curious looks, their eyes lingering on him as they passed by. Their giggles were suppressed but he heard them clearly, his senses unusually sharp. Once upon a time, that sort of attention would have made him feel self conscious. Now he just felt a swell of amusement.

"Looks like you have some admirers," Neon teased lightly, shuffling over until they lay side by side. His stomach clenched when her hip pressed against him, his fingers twitching, wanting to reach out and touch. "You better watch out. The girls here can be a little wild. They don't get a lot of time to socialize so when they do, well, it might be a little more than you can handle." 

He thought about Team RWBY and Nora, and felt he was pretty well equipped.

"We better hit the showers," she said after a moment. Lifting her arm, she gave a sniff and recoiled. "Yeah, definitely shower time."

She helped him to his feet, her hand lingering in his.

Much like Beacon, Atlas did little to separate the genders. Teams lived together, slept together and worked together, men and women as one. Locker rooms, showers, toilets, they were all shared facilities. There was no room for squeamishness in their line of work, be it the sight of blood or the bare flesh of the opposite gender. Even so, there was a modicum of decorum observed. The areas were usually zoned for male and female, though there was nothing stopping them from crossing over. No rules against it.

Jaune pulled open his locker and began to undress, peeling his sweat laden shirt over his head and kicking his trainers away. Removing his socks and shorts, he quickly stepped out of his underwear. He stood for a moment completely naked, enjoying the cool air conditioned air against his overheated body before wrapping a clean towel around his waist. Retrieving his toiletries, he made his way into the shower area, the tiled floor pleasantly chill beneath his feet. Each shower was separated by a moderately low blue tiled wall, enough to cover the body but leave the head exposed. Stepping into one in the far corner, he hung his towel and turned on the spray, waiting for the water to warm before stepping under. Lathering some soap on his sponge, he rubbed his body down, his muscles uncoiling as the warmth of the water soothed his well worked limbs.

"Wash my back?"

Jaune turned in surprise.

Neon stepped into his stall, her towel falling away to reveal her tight body. Her breasts were small, capped with tiny pink nipples already standing at attention, her unbound hair framing them as it fell in waves. As his eyes shifted lower, he admired the sleek musculature of her torso, her subtle abs and ribs, the smooth dip to her mons. His cock twitched at the sight of her clean shaven labia, closed tight so all he could see was a cute slit.

Neon was giving him similar treatment, her eyes devouring his muscled physique. She feasted upon his well shaped pectorals to his shredded abdominals and obliques, her gaze shifting lower still. His cock was flaccid though rapidly hardening, her breath catching at it pointed straight out at her eagerly. He was thick and long, his balls heavy as they hung below. His hair was trimmed, the blond curls short around the base.

"Neon?" he questioned, eyes alight with desire.

She slunk forward, slipping by him until she was under the spray. The warm water felt wonderful against her skin, a little groan of appreciation leaving her lips. Jaune's cock throbbed at the sound, hardening further. He turned until he was facing her, his glans brushing the impossibly smooth skin of her hip. She jumped at the contact, giving a little giggle.

"Wash my back?" she repeated slyly.

After a moment of hesitation, he ran the sponge down the sloping expanse of her back. When she leaned back against his touch, he grew bolder, making great big sweeps, suds clinging to her skin. He attacked all the little dips and curves he could find, running down her spine and across her hip, teasing the swell of her ass. She raised her hips as he slipped between her cheeks, giving a little shake as he moved tantalizingly close to her core. She could feel herself leaking, her wetness mixing with the water of the shower.

Lathering more soap, he rubbed her arms, her pits and shoulders before kneeling, kneading her legs. He could see the underside of her pussy through her thigh gap, plump and inviting. Without warning she turned, revealing her front. Up close he could see the cutest slice of pink in her slit, as well as the hidden hood of her clitoris. Instead of going for the prize, he foamed her trim stomach and waist, working up to her little breasts.

"Hm, that feels good," she sighed, the sponge catching on her hardened nipples. Desire unfurled within, her core throbbing in want. When he stood, he towered over her, his cock pressing insistently against her belly. Jaune watched with fascination as the suds washed off her creamy skin under the stream of water, following the way they would dip and turn unexpectedly, following the contours of her body.

"My turn?" she grinned like a fox, gesturing for the sponge. Jaune handed it over wordlessly.

She took her time, wiping his shoulders and chest, reaching around so she could access his back. Her body pressed completely against him, her nipples poking him and his cock sandwiched between them. No one had ever touched him like this before, everything was happening so fast. He had never been with a woman yet as soon as he thought that, it felt wrong; like it wasn't the truth, not the whole truth.

When she slid down to wash his legs, her skin glided against the underside of his length. Working his legs and ass, she moved to his balls, gently rubbing them. It wasn't long before she took his cock in hand, holding it steady as she soaped it up. She took special care with the head, the material of the sponge curling his toes as she scrubbed lightly.

"I'll have to wash this real good," Neon told him as seriously as she could, rising to stand before him. Dropping the sponge, she used her hand to stroke up and down his length. Her thumb swiped the underside at the apex of each pull, ice cold pleasure racing up his spine.

"You do that," Jaune grunted, placing a hand on her hip and squeezing.

Neon panted as she compared the size of her hand to the cock she held, her hand feeling shockingly small. Bringing her other hand into play, one worked the base while the other twisted and turned on his glans, drawing forth a moan of pleasure. The head was thick and heavy with a fat ridge. Just the thought of this inside her had her insides clenching in want.

Not willing to stay idle, Jaune started to toy with her tits, palming the small orbs of flesh. Neon hummed in encouragement as he thumbed her nipples, teasing the peaks until they were throbbing under his touch. Tickling her belly with feather touches, he slipped one hand between her legs, cupping her mound, the bone of her pelvis fitting into his hand.

Her legs trembled as his questing fingers probed at her opening, wetting themselves in her drooling essence. He parted her flesh, lightly stroking her labia. She was so soft and wet, and exquisitely tight, her hole clenched as he wiggled a finger inside. Her hands tightened around his cock, her movements firming as he pleasured her.

"Right there," she hissed when he found her g-spot, the pad of his finger pressing on the rough flesh. "Oh, yes, you found that quickly, didn't you?" she gave him a needy look, desperately jerking him off. She loved how hot his cock was, a furnace within her palms

He rubbed at the spot firmly, her hips quaking at the sensation. Pulling back, he added a second finger, stretching her narrow canal, focused entirely on that place she liked best. It wasn't long until her head fell forward, resting against his slick chest. The hand around the base of his dick paused, though the one further up continued to slide up and down, thumb pressing harder against his glans. Pre-cum leaked from the tip, adding to the water and soap.

He could feel her hard little clit against his palm now, peeking out from its hood. Removing his fingers, he rubbed his drenched digits against it, in tight little circles that had Neon keening. Her body shuddered, her tunnel pulsing.

She was going to cum.

"Oh baby," she moaned into his chest, licking at his skin. She found one of his nipples and gave it a suck, rolling her tongue over it. "You're so good, you're gonna make me cum so fast." Her hips rocked against his fingers, mashing them harder against her clit. "Oh, oh!"

Jaune panted as her fist around his base strangled his cock, the veins standing out as his glans purpled. Hooking his fingers back into her wet little cunt, he moved his hand faster than before, his palm clapping against her clit. She let out a little sob as her body tensed, rising up on her tippy toes as he finger fucked her with powerful strokes.

"Oh, I'm cumming," she squealed. She unraveled in his arms, falling against him completely as her climax surged through her. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her frame, his fingers unrelenting against her pulsing g-spot. Her walls clutched at him, begging for his cum but there was nothing to give. Liquid pooled in his palm, sticky and warm.

"Oh, Jaune, ah!" she squirmed, hunching over his hand. He was practically lifting her by her vagina she curled so completely around his arm. "Oh babe, too much!"

He finally relented, pulling his fingers free. She quivered on unsteady feet, her pussy gaping at the loss of his digits. She embraced him, rubbing her smooth, hot skin against his own. The spray continued to rain down on them, a curtain of water separating them from the rest of the world. Neon nuzzled against his collarbone, laying open mouthed kisses against it, nipping and sucking until the skin turned red raw.

She just had to mark him.

"Fuck, Jaune," she finally said after leaving a beautiful hicky upon him. "You really know how to treat a girl, huh?"

His cock gave an angry pulse between them, tapping against her thigh. She blinked before giving him a sheepish look.

"Sorry," she palmed his balls, rolling the heavy orbs. Jaune shifted his hips, pressing his dick against her. "I'll finish you off. Promise."

She sunk down to her knees, the sight hardening his member further. She rubbed it against her face, tongue flicking out to tease the head. She stroked it with long, curling strokes before giving the tip a chaste kiss. Her lips parted around his glans, soft and plump. Her mouth was hot and wet, her tongue swirling in quick, fleeting swipes. His cock throbbed eagerly as she took him deeper, sucking and slurping harshly. Her mouth was so tiny, it looked obscene wrapped around his girth. Like it was fit to burst at any moment, and sucking with all her might was the only thing keeping him seated within her.

Somewhere to their right, a door slammed open. Jaune jumped, jerking his cock free of her mouth as Neon scrambled around on the floor, staying low. Turning to face the sound, Jaune stared as Flynt Coal, Neon's teammate and partner, came into view. He scanned the room, eyes falling on Jaune.

"Oh, hey man," the jazz man greeted. "Have you seen Neon?"

"Uh," he tried, searching for something to say. The cat girl pinched his thigh. "I saw her earlier, she was working out. I'm not sure where she went after that, though."

"She isn't picking up her scroll," Flynt rolled his eyes. "Typical. Hey man, if you see her, can you let her know General Ironwood wants to see our team pronto. It sounded urgent. I think he may have a mission for us."

"Right," Jaune agreed, nodding quickly. "I'll let her know."

"Thanks man," he turned to leave before looking back. "Oh, hey, I heard what happened. You all good?"

Jaune nodded again. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm all good."

When they were alone again, there was a beat of silence, the only sound coming from the spray of the shower. Then Neon snorted, covering her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter. Jaune took one look at her face and cracked, shaking as he laughed. He wasn't sure how long they laughed for but it was long enough for his erection to start flagging, his cock drooping.

"I better go," Neon finally said, rubbing his thigh in apology. "If I'm missing any longer, Flynt will have half the school looking for me. Sorry I couldn't finish you. I'll make it up to you, okay?"

It was frustrating but it wasn't her fault. Jaune helped her stand. "Yeah, you better not keep them waiting."

Without warning, she pecked him on the cheek. Jaune blinked as she looked up at him through her lashes, adorable as she bit her lip.

"How about I call you when I'm free? Maybe we could go out to eat or something, and then find a place to… continue."

"Sounds like a plan."

Jaune watched as Neon collected her towel, hiding her lovely figure from his eyes. She gave him a little wink and a wave before trotting off, poking her head out into the locker room to make sure the coast was clear before making a break for it. When she was gone, Jaune let his head fall back with a sigh. His cock was completely soft now, though his balls churned with pent up desire. He wanted to do nothing more than take himself in hand and jerk off to relieve the pressure but their near miss really highlighted the problems of doing such a thing in a shared space.

They'd been lucky enough that someone hadn't walked in much earlier. As the adrenaline wore off and the sexual energy dissipated, Jaune couldn't help but wonder just what the hell they'd been thinking. That was the problem; they hadn't been thinking. Not with their brains, at least.

"Damn it," he groaned, grabbing his bottle of shampoo.