Hey guys! Don't worry, I still plan to write a new chapter for What Remains, but I finally got around to binge watching the 5th Volume of RWBY, and I couldn't help but want to see more development for Jaune. Or at least more purpose in the volume than cementing the fact that he definitely is still depressed about his skills. Anyways, after the last episode this started running through my head. Shouldn't be any spoilers, but just to be safe I do recommend you go ahead and watch Volume 5 first. Enjoy y'all!

A bond of blonde

Yang sat on the edge of her bed in the hotel room. When she had first arrived in Mistral she was just so happy to finally see Ruby and Qrow again, but as always there were bitter parts to the otherwise sweet moment. She didn't mean to get angry at Weiss and Ruby, but Blake leaving hurt so much. It wasn't just that Yang would've been there for her Partner, but Yang needed Blake to be there for her. Instead Blake ran back to Menagerie not giving her team the chance to talk to her.

Yang pulled their team photo out of her pocket, stroking their smiling faces and cheerful eyes. Wish I could warn you guys. Tell you to be ready. A knock at her door broke Yang from her lamentation.

"Look, Ruby I really don't want to talk about it." She turned, expecting to see the watery silver eyes of her sister. Instead she saw white and gold platemail where her sisters head would've been.

"Wow, and here I thought I had gained at least a little masculinity." Jaune walked forward and sat on the bed on the opposing wall, watching as Yang recovered from her shock.

"Jaune? Why… did you want something?"

Jaune's face contorted into a concerned frown. Yang typically would've fired back with some kind of jab at his fragile ego, but she didn't even register it.

"I saw you walking away from Weiss and Ruby. You looked pretty upset, wanted to see if I could do anything to help."

A sigh escaped the brawler as she turned her head away from him. Of course, he would come to try and help. He never could stand to see one of us upset.

"Jaune, I appreciate the thought, but you don't really get what's going on-"

"Really?"

Yang stopped in her tracks. Jaune never interrupted people. He was always too polite or shy to just interject like that. She turned her head back to him, just in time to see the iron disappear from his eyes. Now they just looked cold, like someone had just put out a candle on a dark winter night. They had always been so warm at Beacon, even when he was feeling down.

"Of all people, you're going to tell me I don't know what it's like to lose a partner? Yang… in less than a month, we could all be dead. Salem may have killed us, or maybe it was Cinder or one of the other lackeys, but either way we're walking into an uphill war. Not even uphill, up mountain."

Jaune paused to recollect himself, as his eyes went from the cold anger he had shown to an almost broken look. Yang remembered those eyes. In the past, they were red and they were crying over a grave with a white cloak clutched in the owner's arms. The eyes that said it would only take one more loss, one more time of watching a loved one vanish, and they wouldn't be able to hold on anymore.

I guess we kinda glossed over what happened to JNPR. I've been so concerned with RWBY, I didn't think what it had done to him.

"Yang… Blake is still alive. She's still fighting, we have to believe she is. That means you still have a chance to talk about this. Make sure she understands that you are all there for her. That none of it was her fault."

He stood and moved toward her, dropping onto one knee and putting his hand on her shoulder. Yang couldn't look away from his eyes.

"Please, Yang. Don't let this get in the way. I know it hurt, but look at what happened. She ran because she blamed herself. She saw you injured, people dead, and the White Fang at the head of it all. Her worst fears were realized. Don't let that get in the way of you two being together. You still have time and you still have a chance. Don't waste it. For your own sake."

Yang could feel how close he was. She had forgotten. Jaune came from a good family. A large family, seven sisters, loving parents, and a peaceful home in the country. He could have stayed. Mourned properly. He had come to Beacon with no training because he wanted to help. He pushed on because he felt that it was the right thing to do. He had about as much training as Oscar did, and Jaune didn't have the advantage of a multitude of lives to give him experience.

And yet Jaune followed Ruby. He gathered what remained of JNPR and went to fight against those who had destroyed his world. He went for vengeance against Cinder, for the sake of his family and all innocents, for people who wouldn't fight.

But how long could he?

Ruby had that strange spark in her, that allowed her to inspire others even if she was afraid. The others were hurting, but they knew what needed to be done. They always had each other to rely on.

But Jaune never did. He let everyone rely on him if they needed to, and would never let one of them get hurt if he could help it.

But looking at him now… How have you kept going Jaune? How are you okay?

The answer was clear as Jaune staggered to his feet and moved for the door. He wasn't. He probably never would be.

After a short time, the door opened again. This time, while still not Ruby, it was slightly more expected. Weiss moved forward, opening her mouth to speak, but Yang beat her to it.

"I know Weiss. Blake is still out there, still fighting. I know she'll come back. I was just… hurt."

Yang started slightly as she felt the Heiress' slender arms come around her.

"I know Yang. We'll just have to trust in Blake. She'll come back to us, and RWBY will be back on its feet."

Weiss pulled back slightly so she could look at Yang. The blonde's eyes were focused on a space somewhere between Weiss' shoulder and the door. Something had happened, and it was weighing on Yang. Weiss had a suspicion she knew what the "something" was. A certain blond "something."

"I think… it may be time one of us help him. What do you think?"

Yang's eyes refocused on the icy blue ones in front of her. Weiss had small, sad smile on her face. I guess she did miss the goof.

"Yeah, I think it is time. Thanks Weiss-cream."

Yang was out the door before the swift reprisal could be rendered. Weiss shook her head as the golden hair flew out of view.

It's good to be home.

Jaune inhaled slowly as he calmed his mind. Despite the frustrating lack of results, Ren assured him that meditation would at least help him keep a clear mind, even if it didn't unlock his semblance. Jaune measured his breathing, focusing on his aura, trying to feel it's strength and how it moved. If he could just…

I'm sorry, Jaune.

The white glow that had started to rise of his skin lashed out, bathing the garden in white, before it receded into his body.

Blast! Should've known it wouldn't work. I don't deserve to be free of this. I failed her. Just like I failed Ruby against Tyrian, just like I failed Ren against the Nucklavee. Why did I make it out…

"Jaune."

The soft feeling of her real hand on his arm compelled him to face Yang.

She didn't look happy.

"Yang, what's wrong?" He struggled to keep his voice level. Come on, at least be strong enough for this. They have enough to worry about without feeling sorry for you.

Her right hand came up to cup his cheek, her prosthetic thumb unconsciously stroking his cheek.

"Jaune, look at me. Please?"

He forced his eyes to meet her lilac ones. She looked conflicted. Like she couldn't tell whether to be angry with him or to be sad for him. He didn't particularly like either option.

"Listen to me, okay?" She kept a gentle hold of him as he nodded into her hand.

"You don't have to keep this up with me. Alright? You've been so strong Jaune. You've kept JNPR together, you saved Qrow, and you made it to Haven. We still have a long way to go, but for now, you don't have to be strong."

He could feel it. The stinging behind his eyes, the burning in his chest, the trembling of his legs.

No. No Jaune, she needs to stay focused. Don't distract her, you aren't worth it.

Yang slowly pulled him closer, till she was gently embracing him, holding his head to her shoulder and stroking his hair with her right hand. She could feel him trying to hold it in. Trying to resist letting it out.

"Jaune," She whispered in his ear, "It's just us, okay? It's alright. I've got you. You don't have to bear it all. Let me help, please."

No, I'm not… I don't deserve this. I… I can't…

Jaune felt his walls finally break. His legs gave out, his arms wrapped around her back, and his face was stained with tears.

"I can't Yang. I… I'll fail. I'll get one of you hurt. Just… Just like Pyrrha. I'm a liability. I'm so… so sorry."

Yang could only just hear him mutter through his tears. He didn't sob, he didn't wail, he just shook silently. She held him tightly as her own eyes started to water.

He's blamed himself. All this time he thought it was his fault? No wonder he tried to help me with Blake. He knew where she was coming from.

"Jaune. She knew what she was doing. She knew she couldn't win, but she wanted to give us a chance. It was just who she was. None of us could have stopped her."

"But it was my duty. I was supposed to protect them. I was supposed to keep them safe."

Yang pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. They were the eyes of a man who had seen the gates of hell and felt he deserved them. She closed her eyes and put her forehead against his.

"Hey. You were a team. You were supposed to protect each other. She did that, and gave us all a chance. Now it's time to use that chance. You can't break now Jaune. We need you. RWBY needs you, Ozpin needs you, Remnant needs you."

She put her hand on his cheek again and opened her eyes, staring directly into his broken ones.

"I need you Jaune."

"I-I can't, I'll-" She brushed her thumb over his mouth to silence his fearful protest.

"You can Jaune. I know you can. You don't have to protect everyone. We'll protect each other, okay? I'll be there for you and you'll watch my back. I trust you Jaune. I know you'll make it, and I know I can count on you."

She watched as he tried to muster himself. She could feel the strength returning to his aura, ever so slowly, but surely. He raised his eyes back to her and nodded, not trusting his voice quite yet. She pulled him tighter once again, letting him gather himself a little more. She smiled quietly as his arms returned to her back. They weren't there out of desperate fear anymore.

Out of Yang's sight, Jaune's eyes regained the cold steel they had earlier, though for a drastically different reason.

Never again. No more, Cinder. No more, Salem. I will not fail them again. I will not fail Pyrrha's memory. I will not fail her.

They stood together and turned to look out over the edge of the garden. They watched as Mistral lazily stirred to life. Yang shifted to be closer to Jaune, brushing her left arm against him. Jaune wrapped his arm around her shoulders and very gently pulled her in tighter. She grinned as she moved into his embrace.

Ya know something, I think Snow Angel may have missed out on something pretty great here.

Okay, yeah sorry. Wasn't my best work, and I didn't really mean to turn this into a shipping thing but it kinda did anyway. I'm good with Jaune being with Weiss, Yang, or Ruby but the more I think about it, the more I like the blonde's together. Anywho, like I said this was just a little thing that popped into my head. Let me know what you think, please comment and review, and thanks for reading!

P.S. Was I the only one who absolutely lost it when Yang literally threw Nora by detaching her arm?