Ruby was going to build the best sand castle on the beach.

Which was hard, considering that she was competing against Nora 'I'm Queen of the Castle!' Valkyrie.

Clearly, one must make a sandcastle when one is at the beach, and today was no exception. Nora had the same idea, and in some quirk of arguing over the technical details on a combined sand castle, had decided to see who could make the better sand castle in an hour.

I'm gonna beat her, and totally prove that every castle needs a big moat! To that end, Ruby had inducted her girlfriend into the delicate art of sand castle building. Two against one, we're totally going to win! Wiping the sweat off her brow, Ruby took a step back to admire their combined effort.

It was a fairly standard castle, as far as castles went, with typical eight big towers giving shape to its huge square-like outline. There was even a keep in the middle, the big building having been tough to make… especially since they made the walls first. Then again, it DID mean that Pyrrha had to hold Ruby over the wall as she made the sand-based structure, her strong grip preventing the younger redhead from knocking over the walls.

Not that the walls couldn't have handled it! …okay, the walls suck. Ruby had to admit that much; her stomach had accidentally scrapped against the top of the ramparts one too many times. But at least they are still standing! Still, there was at least one redeeming factor of the structure: the moat.

The waterway stretched out and around the castle, protecting the fort from any invader. Well, not if they could fly… Ruby shook the thought from her head as Pyrrha put the finishing touches on it, right as the time limit ran out. It was a sand castle they both could be proud of. It wasn't perfect, but Ruby preferred to think of it having seen some action in its short time. I bet Nora's isn't even half as good!

It was with smug silver eyes that Ruby glanced towards her competitor's spot. That smugness vanished almost instantly. There was no mere sand castle next to Nora. No, rather, there was a whole sand village around a mighty fortress that was perched on a huge sand mountain taller than Pyrrha.

How did she even make that?! Despair started to set in, - even through Pyrrha's encouragement - as Ruby knew she couldn't hold a candle to something so… grandeur. Yet there was still hope, albeit a very biased one.

Weiss was the judge for the competition.

There is no way she is going to pick Nora over her own partner! Ruby felt complete and utter faith in her partner's judgment, well, as long as Weiss picked her.

So it was with hopeful eyes, that Ruby watched Weiss examine the two sand-based fortifications along with the rest of the group, before the icy blue eyes honed in the small redhead. Ruby's hopes and dreams dropped as Weiss flashed her an apologetic smile. "Nora's is better, sorry Ruby." Nora's cries of jubilant victory were instant.

The teen's shoulders slumped in defeat for a handful of seconds before Pyrrha whispered something in her ear, causing Ruby's cheeks to turn a bright pinkish-red from embarrassment as she let herself be led away by her smiling girlfriend.

After all, it wasn't every day you got to be privately tutored by your girlfriend.

Why do I have to get them?

It was a redundant statement as Blake knew the answer to the rhetorical question:

After the sand castle building competition, it was hard to miss the huge smile that was plastered across Pyrrha's face as she led an embarrassed Ruby away to a secluded cove. Blake hardly had to imagine the consolation prize that Ruby was getting.

Yet, as the hours passed by, they hadn't come back. Which wasn't a problem in the least… until the barbecue started. Now it was a problem. Or more specifically, it was a problem because someone had to let them know the food was ready.

Surprisingly, there were no volunteers for the task.

Lots had been drawn, and the one who came up short was Blake. Hence she was slowly making her way to the cove, meandering to avoid whatever sight that greeted her.

It's bad enough that I walked in on them doing… whatever it was they were doing in the dorm room. Blake's face flushed red, I can't imagine what they are doing completely by themselves. For hours. Or rather, Blake could imagine. After all, the downfall of reading such quality works of literature such as Ninjas of Love was that very little was left to the imagination.

Walking around a solid wall of rock that made up the cove, the first thing that Blake was greeted with was the clear voices of the two absent redheads, courtesy of her Faunus ears. Except…

"You just need to hold it like this and…"

"Oh, oh, oh, oh!" Ruby's excited voice repeated in higher and higher tones.

"Very good, that lasted far longer than last time! This isn't so bad, nothing you have to be embarrassed about." Pyrrha's voice was full of encouragement. "It's all about finding the right tempo and angle, that's how you hit the sweet spot."

"Ooo, let's try again, I bet I can hit the sweet spot!"

"That sounds grand, though, I'm getting quite sore, perhaps we could slow it down a little?"

"Just one more time? Then I'll let you rest!" Blake could almost see the pleading look on Ruby's face from the tone alone. "Pleaseee?"

"I… suppose another time wouldn't hurt."

Blake's ears flattened against her hair, as heat rose to her cheeks.

Images of what the two could be doing flooded through her brain; the things that two hormonal girls would do alone to each other. Specifically two girls who were dating each other…

You can do this Blake, you used to be a member of the White Fang. Hell, you've been partnered with Yang for literally years, you've seen worse. With that mantra repeating in her head, Blake finally rounded the corner, and a figure came into view, silhouetted against the sun. Or rather two figures intertwined- nope I'm not doing this, amber eyes averted to any direction but straight ahead.

"Oh, hey Blake!" Ruby's voice called out, – no embarrassment in her voice what-so-ever - making the Faunus nearly jump before settling into standing completely still. "Wanna join us?"

"I-uh… c-come again?" The normally well-articulated Faunus was at a loss of words as very very dirty thoughts ran rampant through her head, I'm hearing things, it has to be it.

"…oh, have you never done it before?" Pyrrha's curious voice called out. "I'm no master, but I could at least teach you the basics."

"Psch, you, like, always hit the sweet spot, Pyrrha." Ruby's voice was suddenly directed at Blake. "Seriously, just watch!"

If this was one of the animated cartoons that Blake watched, she was sure blood would be gushing out of her nose, as she felt helpless in this bizarre situation that she'd been thrown into. I… I just need to tell them the food is ready. Yet… there was also a deep seated curiosity, almost a morbid one, to see what exactly was being… offered.

It was through a supreme force of will that Blake's eyes finally resettled onto Pyrrha… just in time to watch her throw a stone at the ocean and watch it skip for nearly half a minute.

"See, wasn't that amazing?!" Ruby practically gushed praise at Pyrrha, as the girl in question timidly blushed and rubbed her arm. "Is your arm okay?"

"It's just a little sore from throwing stones all day." An encouraging smile graced her lips. "You weren't too bad yourself… I'm just glad that you're a bit more confident with your throwing skills now." That encouraging smile faded into a concerned frown as emerald eyes met amber ones. "Blake, are you okay? You look a bit flushed…"

"I… you…" Words were not working for Blake at the moment as her team leader and her team leader's girlfriend's worried stare was focused on her.

"D-Dinner is ready."

AU: This was a fun one to write.

I don't know if this was communicated very well, but the reason that Ruby was blushing and being led away was because she was embarrassed at not being able to skip stones.

I hope everyone likes it!

In other news, Acceptance chapter 24 has just been sent in for editing… expect that in two weeks.

Thank you for reading, I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :D