Another day, another community service Team RWBY+Y/N has to do for today. This time, it was helping the lunch ladies at the cafeteria. Despite this, Y/N usually talk with her teammates. Well, half of them anyway. Only making small talk with Blake and Weiss is... Weiss. During that time, Y/N ponder over his new gauntlet he's received from Ozpin.
Y/N: ("I really want to modify them. But I also need to tune Crimson and Violet from that Grimm extermination mission I did yesterday.")
He ponders for a moment before looking Ruby doing some work, remembering how much of weapon enthusiast Ruby is.
Y/N: ("Hmm... maybe I should ask her.")
After finishing their community service for the day, Weiss goes to the school library to study, Blake plans to go to a certain bookstore, and Yang plans to hang out with her friends. Ruby was about to head to her dorm room before Y/N stop her.
Y/N: "Wait, Ruby."
Ruby: "What is it, Y/N?"
Y/N: "Uhm, I need your help with my weapons."
As he said this, Ruby quickly stands in front of him with a big smile on her face and stars in her eyes, being somewhat close to his face.
Ruby: "Really?! You really mean it!?"
Y/N: "Y-Yeah. If you're not busy today, I would really appreciate your help."
Ruby, realizing how close she is, steps back, trying to hide her embarrassment. She then starts jumping up and down in excitement over the idea of tuning a teammate's weapons before responding with a grin.
Ruby: "I will gladly accept. Wait here. I'll go get my toolkit."
She quickly dashes into her room.
Y/N: ("Never knew she'd be this excited.")
In a split second, Ruby stand before him with her kit in hand, still grinning. Y/N just smiles and roll his eyes.
Y/N: "Let's head into my room."
Ruby: "Alright, let's go!"
The two head inside Y/N's room with Y/N taking out his small toolkit and placing on top of his table along with Ruby's kit. Y/N place down his Crimson and Violet in front of Ruby. She then examines the two pistols from every angle. As she places the guns down on the table, she looks back at Y/N.
Ruby: "I see you did your best on tuning it."
Y/N scratch the back of his head as he responds.
Y/N: "Oh, you know, I do try my best, but I never had the time to work on them."
Ruby then looks back at Crimson and Violet, stretching her arms.
Ruby: "Well, time to get to work."
She starts to take a tool from her kit and begins tuning them with Y/N standing beside her.
Y/N: "Well, you can use my kit if you want."
Ruby glance back at Y/N.
Ruby: "Sure, thanks."
With Ruby busy, Y/N head to his bed and then start tuning on his gauntlets while giving them some upgrades to make it deadlier to the Grimm. After several minutes, Ruby swipe away the single sweat from her forehead, giving a proud smile as she looks at the two pistols. She turns around in Y/N's direction.
Ruby: "Hey, Y/N. I'm finished."
Y/N, still working on his gauntlets, turn around to gaze upon the smiling Ruby.
Y/N: "Oh, that's good to hear. Thanks."
As he put down his tools, he approaches Ruby and his two pistols. As he grabs Crimson and Violet, he begins to thoroughly examine them before placing them down. Y/n then look at Ruby.
Y/N: "You sure did a good job, Ruby."
Ruby begins to giggle at being praise only for Y/N start to headpat her. Ruby look at Y/N as soon as Y/N realize what he's doing. Immediately, Y/N stop and Ruby look away.
Y/N: "S-Sorry about that. I didn't mean to do that so suddenly."
Ruby, still looking away and not wanting to show her blushing face, respond back.
Ruby: "I-It's fine. D-Don't worry about it."
Ruby's eyes wonder around Y/N's room, pondering over how spacious it is compared to her team's room. Well, Y/N is a part of her team. Her silver eyes stop wondering once she sees Grimm Slayer, leaning against a wall. She then looks back at Y/N as she points at the sword.
Ruby: "Hey, Y/N. Want me to tune on that sword?"
Y/N look to where Ruby is pointing only for Y/N's eyes widen a bit. He then looks away a bit.
Y/N: "N-No. You shouldn't waste your time on it."
A bit disappointed, Ruby retorts.
Ruby: "Oh come on, Y/N. All your weapons have some sort of modification, but not that."
Y/N: "Well, that sword doesn't deserve any."
Ruby gets up from her seat to firmly face Y/N.
Ruby: "That's not fair, Y/N. All weapons deserve their user's attention. They're apart of us as Huntsmen... well, huntsmen-in-training anyway. Look, why don't I just-"
Y/N: "I said no!"
Ruby was taken aback by Y/N's sudden outburst. Silence fall upon them for a moment once Y/N realize what he just said, turning to face Ruby.
Y/N: "Ruby, I-I'm sorry, I-"
Ruby: "Are those gauntlets?"
Y/N: "Huh?"
She points at the gauntlets on his bed.
Y/N: "Oh, yeah."
Ruby: "I'll... I'll go tune on them, okay?"
Y/N: "S-Sure."
The awkward silence emits in the room. Y/N just shifts his gaze between Ruby's back and the floor. Just as Ruby finish tuning Y/N's gauntlets, Ruby heads to the exit until, she speaks to Y/N.
Ruby: "I'm sorry I ask."
She then leaves the room, pondering herself that she never expects Y/N would act like that over his sword. After closing the door, Y/N groan in frustration, placing his hands on his head and mumble to himself.
Y/N: "Ugh, Y/N, you idiot! Why did you have to yell like that?!"
He looks over to Grimm Slayer, glaring at it.
Y/N: "Tch."
He then proceeds to kick the sword, making it fall before grabbing it and putting it under his bed. After putting away his other weapons, he ponders what should he do to apologize to his team leader. Until he remembers something that Yang said that Ruby loves eating cookies during their community service work.
Y/N: ("Okay. Time to make things a lot less awkward between us.")
(The Next Day)
As expected, things were awkward between Ruby and Y/N, especially during their community service work. Barely talking to one another and remaining oddly silent. The only people who took notice of this were Yang and Team JNPR. Weiss and Blake were too busy with their own things to notice. However, Y/N reassure them that he's got everything under control.
Yang: "Okay, I trust you."
Y/N: "Hm, thanks, Yang."
As he leaves, Yang kept help but feel this distant between her and Y/N, wondering if she actually fallen in love with him. She shakes it off as she goes to hang out with Team JNPR.
In Beacon's hallway, Ruby is walking back to her dorm before coming across Y/N, who's breathing heavily from running.
Y/N: "Ruby... just the person I want to see..."
Ruby: "Y-Y/N? What are you doing?"
Y/N: "I came to ask you, if you want to hang out at Vale?"
Ruby: "Oh, uhm..."
She ponders for a bit before speaking.
Ruby: "S-Sure, I would love to. I was going to get some new books that Blake recommended to me to get for her and myself."
Y/N: "Good, I know just the place. Let's go then."
They soon head to the Bullhead that will take them to Vale. Y/N and Ruby does make small talk but, to end with a moment of awkward silence. This repeat again and again, until Y/N took Ruby to Tuckson's bookstore. Once Ruby looks around the place, Y/N quickly head outside to the nearest bakery before heading back to Ruby with a bag in hand.
(A Little Timeskip)
Soon enough, Y/N and Ruby left the bookstore with Ruby being excited to find the two books she wants.
Ruby: "Yay! They had it!"
Y/N: "Bye, Tuckson."
Tuckson just waves back as the two walk off. Ruby turns her head to Y/N.
Ruby: "I can't believe you know the owner."
Y/N: "Oh, we're just acquaintances." ("Sorry, Ruby. Can't tell you about Tuckson's connection with the White Fang.")
Ruby: "Wooow."
Soon enough, the awkward silence occurs again. Y/N then decide to lighten the mood as a smile form in his face.
Y/N: "Say, Ruby. Can you tell me the title of those two books you got?"
Ruby: "Oh! One is called 'The King's War.' And the other one is called 'Ninjas of L-Ehm... uh..."
Y/N: "You mean Ninjas of Love Part 2."
Ruby's face begins to turn red at his remark.
Ruby: "H-H-How do you-!?"
Y/N: "The shelf you picked was in the 'adult romance' section of the store. I was surprised how you just walk in there so causally. The other customers were too."
As he said this, Ruby let out a high-pitched whimper before covering her entire face with her red hood with Y/N seeing her face being the same color as her hood. Y/N saw this as an adorable sight to see.
Y/N: "I guess you didn't realize, huh?"
Ruby just shook her as a no.
Y/N: "Do you want to go somewhere that has less people?"
Ruby just nods. Y/N chuckles, offering her his hand but, she just grabs onto the corner of his sleeves, which caught Y/N by surprise.
Y/N: ("Okay, this is next level of cuteness.")
After some walking around, they go to a seating area near the shopping district. There weren't many people here and none that could have seen her inside the bookstore. Y/N then sit down on one of the benches and Ruby follow suit.
Y/N: "Okay, Ruby. It's safe to 'reveal' yourself now."
Ruby retorts back.
Ruby: "Can't I just hide in my hood forever, please?"
Y/N: "It depends. Can you see Grimm through that hood of yours?"
Ruby pauses for a moment before she responds.
Ruby: "I can never go back inside that store now!"
Y/N: "Come on, it's not that bad."
Ruby: "But now they know I read smut! I don't want to imagine being recommended books to me!"
Y/N couldn't help but laugh at her remark. Under her hood, Ruby pout at Y/N.
Ruby: "Stop laughing!"
Y/N: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Besides, there's nothing wrong in being interested in smut and I don't think you do either, right?"
Ruby goes silent for a bit before responding back.
Ruby: "That's... true, I guess..."
As she said this, the embarrassed Ruby reveals only half of her face, which Y/N chuckles.
Y/N: "Well, since you've been a good girl and endure the pain..."
Ruby turns her head to Y/N, pouting at him.
Ruby: "Mmm, stop making sound like I went to dentist or something."
Y/N: "Please, if I was a dentist, then I would never give you this."
He then takes out his bag to reveal a box of cookies he bought, offering it to Ruby. She observes it, confused for a second before loudly gasping.
Ruby: "That's... no way! Those are premium Mistralian brand cookies!"
Y/N could see the excitement in her expression and that she completely forgot about what she was so embarrassed about. Internally, Y/N was relieved to get the right brand of cookies.
Y/N: "Yup. Just for you."
Ruby: "For me!?"
Y/N: "Of course."
Ruby: "These are... Y/N, you shouldn't have."
Y/N: "Why not?"
Ruby: "I mean, this brand is a bit pricey."
Y/N: "Yeah, and so does dust. Besides, your time is worth a lot... to me."
Ruby blushes a bit, her eyes fluttering from his face to the box of cookies. She pauses for a bit.
Ruby: "N-No! I can't accept these, Y/N."
Y/N: "W-Why not?"
Ruby: "I didn't tune your weapons because I wanted to be thanked. I did it because you're my teammate. You're my f-friend and-and friends help each other!"
Y/N was taken aback of how selfless Ruby can be to the point of being naivety. This ends up making Y/N even more guilty over his sudden outburst towards her.
Y/N: "That's good and all, Ruby, but..."
Ruby: "But what?"
Y/N: "Usually, when someone refuses something, you're not supposed grab onto it."
Ruby lowers her gaze to see that she's holding onto the box.
Ruby: "That's... because of hunger?"
Y/N breathes in and breathes out before looking back at Ruby.
Y/N: "There's another reason why I bought those cookies, Ruby."
Ruby was a bit confused at his remark before Y/N bow a little.
Y/N: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for my sudden 'outburst' yesterday. I didn't mean to yell at you like that... and making things awkward between us."
Ruby was surprised by this as she looks at the apologetic Y/N.
Ruby: "Can you look up?"
As Y/N look up, he sees Ruby giving him a warm smile.
Ruby: "You're so silly. You don't need to do this sort of thing to apologize to me. And I... shouldn't insist on tuning 'all' of your weapons."
Y/N was a bit surprise at her response only to smile back.
Y/N: "I guess so... thanks, Ruby. So, you going to eat the cookies?"
Ruby looks back at the box of cookies.
Ruby: "Well... I guess we shouldn't waste food."
Y/N: "Nope."
Ruby: "Then, I humbly accept your gift."
She proceeds to open the box.
Ruby: "Oh. My. Goodness. I have only ever eaten these once before but..."
She takes a bite into one of the cookies, devouring a big chunk of it, chewing on it before a visible shiver runs down her back.
Ruby: "So good! It's too bad I don't have any milk. They would be even better with it."
Y/N couldn't help but smile at her gleeful expression as he responds.
Y/N: "Then, try not to eat them all right now?"
Ruby: "Are you kidding me? That's harder than killing a Nevermore!"
Y/N: "I highly doubt it."
Ruby turns her head to Y/N with a determined expression.
Ruby: "Come on, give me some motivation!"
Y/N: "Uhm... you'll ruin your appetite?"
Ruby quickly looks back at the box.
Ruby: "Worth it!"
The red-hooded girl continues eating as Y/N come up with something to make her stop from eating all of it.
Y/N: "You won't be able to experience the milk-soaked cookies?"
Ruby just continues to eat her cookies.
Y/N: "If you eat too many all-in-one sitting, you're going to be sick. Which means you can't eat them all and even throw them away."
As he said this, Ruby pause her eating and loudly gasps.
Ruby: "That's a really good point, Y/N. Thanks!"
Y/N chuckles before saying.
Y/N: "Sure thing."
Ruby closes the box but is still holding half of a cookie in her right hand. She looks at it for a moment before holding it up to Y/N.
Ruby: "Here."
Y/N: "Uhm, you sure...?"
Ruby: "Of course, silly! I have so many left. Also, I'll just end up eating them all till we get back to Beacon."
Y/N: "Oh... I see." ("What I meant to say if she's okay with me eating something she already took a bite on? Does she not think this through or is she doing this on purpose? Is this her way of teasing me or something?")
Ruby's smile goes wider and still holding the half-bitten cookie in front of his mouth, wanting to feed him. Hesitating for a bit, Y/N responds.
Y/N: "O-Okay."
Suffocating the blush threatening to come to his cheeks, Y/N part his lips and gently move forward, keeping his eyes on the cookie. He took a bite out of it.
Ruby: "Good, huh?"
Y/N nod as he eats the rest of the cookie.
Y/N: "Yes... really good."
After that, the two went back to Beacon. Y/N was glad that awkwardness between them was gone now. Soon enough, they made it to their respective dorm rooms.
Ruby: "I had fun hanging out with you, Y/N. And thanks for the cookies."
Y/N: "No problem. We should do this again sometime."
Ruby: "Absolutely!"
Y/N: "Sounds good."
Meanwhile, Yang watches over them in the end of the hallway. She's glad that things are fine between them but, still feel that distant between her and Y/N as she ponders to herself.
Yang: ("Am I falling for him?")