A/N: "For just one day lets forget about our problems. Lets fall in love with life and just be free." Is the verse that inspires this chapter.
A month passes and Team Ranger find themselves in another charming little settlement. The air in the town is thick with excitement, a traveling carnival has arrived. The gang decide to explore the little festival. Paper lanterns and banners ziz-zag overhead. Balloons bounce against each other in the wind making squeaking bobbling noises. The laughter of adults and children fill the air, and the smells, the wonderful smells that the fair brings are absolutely intoxicating.
Ruby's eyes are aglow with excitement and happiness. Ren and Nora had similar looks, the duo split off a while ago. Nora's excuse for dragging the dark haired boy off already forgotten. Ruby had given Jaune a knowing smirk and giggles as soon as the almost couple was out of sight. The atmosphere of the carnival is contagious, the young knight sighs in contentment, allowing himself just tonight to be carefree. Food was obviously the first order of business. Jaune and Ruby share a funnel cake, a fried cheese on a stick, and a strawberry crepe.
The line for Whack-a-Grimm is long but its something they both want to play. Ruby goes first and Jaune isn't surprised that she wins a prize. Her reflexes are seriously some of the best in Remnant. When its his turn he misses the first few grimm popups. Just when he's on the verge of disappointment, Ruby begins cheering him on. He allows himself to get caught up in the moment and commits with reckless abandon to the game. He ends up wining the same level prize as Ruby. "I knew you could do it!" She cheers again, eyes alight with pride. Jaune smiles one of the biggest smiles he has in months.
The two make their way through the games playing this and that. They are enjoying every minute of the night. The duo's wandering through the fairgrounds eventually leads them to the craft and goods booths. A small weapons booth catches the tiny reapers attention. She looks up at Jaune with pleading puppy dog eyes. He laughs "Go on, I'll be right here when you're done." She darts over to the stand and begins to examine the wares. Admiration washes over the blonde boy watching her. He doesn't bother trying to read anything into the emotion, rather he just allows himself to revel in it. A soft smile falls over his face.
Jaune watches as other customers come and go at the stall. Ruby is in her element picking up everything she can. Turning every piece in her hands and inspecting them carefully. She's inspecting a sight right now. Jaune suspects that one grabbed her attention due to it being red. He chuckles to himself thinking of how she literally cuddles Crescent Rose. A new customer joins, a tall dark haired young man. Jaune prickles already seeing the signs. The boy is obviously desperate to grab Ruby's attention. She is doing a good job of ignoring him keeping focused on her hobby instead. That's when it happens, The boy yanks a sight out of her hands. Smirking he holds it over his head, he now has her attention.
Jaune sighs, they have already worked out a system for this kind of thing. He strides over to the stall and stands next to Ruby. The irritation on her face eases the second she feels his presence. She looks up to him and they smile at each other. A warmth fills his chest he doesn't get to revel in the feeling as the boy is still on a mission.
"So, as I was saying pretty lady, you, me, the tunnel of love?" He wiggles his eyebrows at her.
"No." Ruby states simply, not hiding the annoyance in her voice. She attempts to go back to browsing but the boy unperturbed snatches the sight she was after right out from under her.
"Tell you what." The boy grins as if he's had the best idea ever. "You go on the ride with me, and I buy you whichever scope you want when we're done?"
Ruby growls in frustration, the last boy that tried this a few towns over got punched in the stomach. He had grabbed Crescent Rose out of Ruby's hands though, so it was his fault really. Not wanting a repeat of the incident Jaune steps up a little and places his hand on her shoulder. "She said no buddy, give it a rest." His tone is firm a hint of warning mixed in.
The boy visibly prickles with irritation. "I'm trying to get a date here." He growls at Jaune.
"And she said no." The knight points out matter of factly. Jaune can sense Ruby's growing irritation.
"What would you know anyway." The boy shoots back defensively.
Thinking fast Jaune does the only thing he can think of. He reaches out and places his arm over her shoulders and draws her close to his side. Her eyes widen in shock for a second before she relaxes at his side, smiling up at him in thanks. The boy utters a string of swears and storms off. Ruby and Jaune laugh and head off towards the rides. Neither one of them are inclined to break the contact. Neither one thinks deeper on the subject adopting a go with the flow attitude. They laugh for a long time about the dense boy from the weapons stand.
They ride several rides through the evening always returning to walking together with Jaune's arm over her shoulders. It feels safe and warm and comforting. The two eventually run into Ren and Nora, they don't separate. Nora looks to Ren and grins, he elbows her in return. Jaune raises an eyebrow at his redheaded friend. She clearly has something on her mind judging from the smirk on her face. The group begin heading back to the lodge having gotten all they can out of the carnival. Ruby laughs and motions wildly recounting the events from the fair not leaving the warmth of Jaune's embrace. They laugh at Nora's tales from she and Ren's adventures. Ruby nearly loses it at the embarrassed, flustered, sputtering from Ren when Nora brings up the tunnel of love.
The group chat and laugh all the way to the lodge. Their reflection in the glass door of the lodge suddenly drains all the happy feelings from Jaune. He stops walking so suddenly Nora bumps into him. She shouts "Hey" at him but he doesn't hear. He's focused on the reflection, with his arm around Ruby they look like a happy couple. He drops his arm off of her shoulder causing Ruby to look up at him. The look on his face unreadable with so many emotions. "Jaune?" She calls softly, it catches Ren and Nora's attention too. "You guys go ahead inside, I'm going on a walk." His tone sad and weary. He walks off leaving his three friends confused.
Ruby takes a step towards following him. Ren's hand on her shoulder and a sad shake of his head and she stays. The trio head into the lodge after casting one long concerned look in Jaune's direction. A black bird flutters behind the boy silently. Jaune flops on a bench cradling his head in his hands. The reflection of himself and Ruby had caught him off guard. They would have looked like a couple to anyone passing by and he was oblivious to it. It's just like he was oblivious to Pyrrha's affections until it was too late. The guilt was overwhelming him again. He keeps thinking back to how much fun he had tonight. He was out there living it up and the reality that Pyrrha is gone thanks to his weakness hits him anew. Gnawing guilt turns into piercing anger directed at himself.
He doesn't know how long he sat there wallowing in guilt and self loathing. A hand on his shoulder causes him to look up. "Ren?" He asks confused. "what are you doing out here?"
"Jaune, you've been out here for hours. We're worried about you, what happened?" Ren settles next to Jaune on the bench,
"I'd rather not talk about it if its all the same." Jaune sighs. "I'm okay now though."
Ren searches his friends face in the low light. The boy is clearly not okay, but forcing the subject could be disastrous as well, Ren sighs. "Alright, if you ever want to talk I'm all ears. Lets get back to the lodge, you worried everyone tonight."
"I'm sorry." Jaune sighs running a hand over his face.
"Idiot" Ren chides gently. "Worry just means we care about you, no need to apologize to me. You miiight wanna apologize to Ruby though, Nora is pretty ticked off at you for running off."
Jaune laughs a little "That makes sense, I guess."
The black bird, unseen shakes its head and flies off.
The boys head back to the lodge. As soon as Jaune opens the door Nora tackles him. "Don't run off like that again! We were really worried!" Nora scolds.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He squawks out causing Ruby to laugh. He isn't sure if it's at or with him, but at least she's laughing.
A/N Our boy Jaune has complicated emotions.