Chapter Text
Deep in a neighboring forest of a friendly village, a lone man walks amongst the pathways. He had his shield in hand and his sword in its sheathe, observing the forest of any potential dangers while he took cautious steps. He was tasked by a pharmacist to gather plants they'd use for the common sickness, drying and crushing them to a powder that is easily digestible with water. Normally this would be the villages' source of medicinal herbs and extra vegetation, pushing them through the winter times. But ever since devils of the sort began to roam around, they have entrusted the work to adventurers who'd offer up their services to fetch it for them. Of course, with knowledge of the dangers, many came out unscathed. However there are many who boast about their skills that never return back, and once another takes their place...they see what being too comfortable in your own talents would lead towards. With Jaune, he's been through this hellish rodeo a couple of times now, albeit with other party members who also stuck around. Still, he's tangoed with his fair share and managed to come out on top...most of the time. On some rare encounters, he has had some help in the past.
From his team you may ask? Oh no, far from it actually. This help was of his not only did it for the goodness of their heart, but because of their absolute desire to the blond hair lad. At times, many times he wished it would've been a trick, and not the real deal as they proclaim. And even more does he wish they'd just get it done already, and show their fangs so he could take care of it easily. But they know him too well, even though they are both on conflicting sides of the world. While he relays those vivid memories in his head, he heard the crunch of leaves and shrubbery behind him, with many making sound in a line, as if someone was tracking him. He was already alert as it was, sensing the presence of somebody or something near. Listening to where the sounds have stopped, he found a sense of dread wash over him as this potential threat was right ahead of his usual path. He steadied himself, just enough to begin walking slowly as he gripped the handle of his shield tightly, with the other hand focus on the hilt of his sword.
As the suspense was still kicking into gear, Jaune's mind nullified any noise being heard around him, only to be focused on what he'd encounter. Step, after step, after step was all he could do as sweat built up. He was running on autopilot at this point, prepared to bash the head or gut whatever was on the other side of the shrubs. And with one quick motion, he pushed a bush to the side and saw...corpses. Corpses not of fallen adventurers, nor missing people from the village. But corpses of the same creatures he was preparing to meet. Demons, a small group and yet still just as much trouble considering how they were ready to ambush him. Still, it looked like something else got the better of them, seeing how they were not only gored but some of their heads were split open. Not a pretty sight but, well it's a pleasant to know that's one problem not needing to worry about. Taking a deep breath in and regretting it because of the stench, Jaune eased his nerves over the dead demonic hunters, thinking they met their end to someone or something else.
'Wait...then what the hell did kill them?'
Jaune's mind realized the threat of what could be capable of slaying not only one, but a group of them. Thus if this 'thing' could end the lives of multiple demons at a time, then where did IT go now? For all Jaune knew, this beast was right here with him, slaughtering the demons while he was oblivious to the onslaught. And now a plethora of questions rang out at him, wondering which fit his circumstances. It could've fled by being injured, startled by a larger presence maybe? Or it succumbed to its wounds, with its carcass not to far away. Or maybe, just maybe and Jaune prayed to the Gods he was wrong...maybe it was waiting for him to be just as distracted as its last prey. Waiting for the perfect time to strike him while he overthought every possible-
"Hey handsome~. Fancy seeing you here."
Jaune shrieked at the sudden voice in his ear, tickling it with unholy intentions in its words. Fitting for who he turned towards and saw. Jaune's demeanor switched from fearful to annoyed, straight to enraged. He not only knew this 'person' fondly, he knew exactly what they were entirely. She, was a succubus. Not only that, but one that has grown quite close to the paladin, with him of course not reciprocating anything back. How they both met is similar to how his 'help' from before crossed paths. With him nearly at his end being stopped by her, whom would take care of the threat with him or by herself. As for much needed detail on how that came to be; they started out at each others throats, and thus a rivalry was formed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Y-YOU?! Oh you son of a- I swear to the brothers, I will cut you down!" Jaune threatened the demoness who looked at him seductively, not even flinching while his sword poked at her throat. Seeing how uninterested she was at his attempt of intimidation, Jaune sighed and just looked back at her, putting his sword back into its sheathe and lowering his shield. Already feeling extremely exhausted of this situation, he decided playing her way would possibly lead her to actually answer him. "....What do you want Ruby."
"Oh, what do I want?" Ruby repeated Jaune's question, with it being finished with a playful giggle. She walked closer towards Jaune, with him hesitantly backing away. But she suddenly fell onto his chest, rubbing her hands still brandishing her claws while staring at him with...intentions he could guess but wished to not know of. "Well I'm just a bit famished, my dear holy man. And I see a nice big hunk of meat right here, that'd definitely fill me up~." Ruby answered Jaune, who immediately pushed her away as he felt his face become red. "Hahaha, you're so easy to tease! Makes me almost wanna devour you whole!"
"Noted. But since that'll never happen, I'd like for you to leave me be now." Jaune replied back to her, regaining and hopefully maintaining his composure, he walked past her over to where he needed to go.
"And where's mister high and mighty going exactly?" Ruby questioned him once more, floating near him in the air with Jaune internally groaning at the situation he was in.
"Village needs medical supplies, I am here to get them." Jaune answered her. "Nothing more, nothing less. And absolutely nothing you really need to worry about."
"Uh huh, uh huh. I see." Ruby replied, still continuing on following him even when he made it clear not to. "Just by the off-chance, what do they look like?"
"...Why." Jaune replied back towards her.
"All beings are curious, my kind especially~." Ruby answered him.
"Truly, you are all curious on many things. Like how to actually seduce a man besides making him 'deliver' his essence inside you lot." Jaune spoke the insult, looking back at Ruby with a smirk as she made a annoyed look back at him. He may not be able to rid her through simple hints, but maybe annoying her will do the-
"So you got bite now huh? I like when my meals have a bit of that~." Ruby said, completely destroying any of Jaune's of peace right now. "But if you must know the real reason to why I asked...I want to help collect it."
Jaune stopped walking immediately upon hearing Ruby, looking at her with a look of confusion. "What?" Ruby asked him, growing slowly confused herself. "What did I do wrong now?"
"D-Did I hear that correctly?" Jaune asked her. "You want to help me? ME? Collect herbs for the village I partake in protecting?"
"...Yeah? What's so wrong about it?" Ruby answered him.
"Many of things! Mostly because they are sworn of your entire species extinction for once!" Jaune stated how completely backwards her helping was out of the blue. "If this one of your tricks, I swear, even I know you can come up with better plans."
"You'd think that but oh boy..." Ruby said under her breath. "It's not a trick, and as much as my word isn't to be taken to heart; I am serious. Let me help you."
"No Ruby, I am not letting you gather herbs!" Jaune denying her request at assisting him. "For all I know, you'd probably put something inside them to drug the people there."
"I'd never!"
"Oh! So I presume you don't have that ability?"
"...Uhhh-"
"THEN I GUESS THIS DEBATE HAS ENDED!" Jaune shouted, proceeding to leave Ruby behind him as he began to walk away in search of the herbs again. Unfortunately for Jaune, Ruby wasn't the kind to give up that easily. with her flying towards him at another attempt of persuading him to let her help. She flew right around him and stopped in front of Jaune, who looked at her with a irritated look right as she was for him.
"Would you stop being such a whiny baby and just...trust me?" Ruby asked him again, her voice sounding a bit more sincere that sultry this time. Jaune stayed silent for a moment, not wanting their arguing to last the whole day. He thought over his choices and decided on what to do, before another idea kicked into gear. Ruby might be one of the habitants of this forest, as he would like to guess. But still she probably never takes in the different types of fauna growing here herself. So, a basic description of what he's looking for would keep her busy on trying to find it, and before long she'd give up. Thinking on this, Jaune decided it'd be worth a shot.
"Fine, you want to help me so badly? I'll let you." Jaune answered her, with Ruby smiling at him.
"Perfect~!" Ruby cheered, flying with delight. "Sooo, what are we looking for?"
"The usual I collect," Jaune began to describe. "Lanky, green plants with brighter spotting on the leaves. Usually found in a medium sized batch growing. It's common knowledge to make sure not to pick-"
"-all of them or else they won't grow?" Ruby finished off his sentence, with her looking at him with a sly smile. Jaune immediately got chills over this, with thoughts of his plan not working the way he wanted it to.
". . .How." Jaune said towards her.
And without warning, Ruby pointed towards her hip, with a sizable bag tied to her belt. Taking it off, she tossed it over to Jaune who caught it but didn't open it. Ruby, not wanting to waste anymore time decided to do the honors for him, opening the bag and letting Jaune see the contents of what was held in it. Once Jaune grew a pair and looked inside, he saw that the same herbs he was describing to Ruby, were already in it. Not only that, but it seems she also took the time to get the exact amount he needed, which was a bit creepy now that he took into account.
"H-How?" Jaune asked her, looking in bewilderment at the accuracy of her work.
"Well, I sort of spy on you from time to time, seeing you gather some of the same or different herbs." Ruby explained to him. "So I just thought, maybe giving you an easier way of gathering them would help with our little tension problem?"
Jaune really didn't know what to say towards this, because how would you even describe this situation? A enemy that you have sworn to kill, now someone who has taken a unhealthy liking to you, is now trying to win you over by doing the bare minimum...this wasn't testing his faith but it was a mundane start towards it. Jaune just closed the bag tightly and proceeded to latch it towards a buckle on his side. "While I appreciate the help, us being closer is just a delusion to you." Jaune said towards Ruby. "Our paths will cross again, and blood shall spill from either of us."
"Like you have said a million times now and might I add, none of us have bled from the other YET?" Ruby replied back, shooting Jaune a smirk which he just ignored.
"Just-You...Oh whatever!" Jaune exclaimed. "You're still my enemy!" Jaune said walking away from the succubus.
"And you're still my desired one~!" Ruby said back to him, hearing his frustrated groans as he walked away faster. After toying with her favorite paladin, she too flew away from the scene, thus marking a nice start towards their little...friendship?