Chapter 4:

Trying to Look Away

At some point suspicion had settled in for all of Team RNJR. They had finished their three circles of the village without any interruptions other than the little hiccup at the start. A hiccup Ruby felt like Jaune would never live down. Jaune felt the same way.

Shaking his head Jaune took another look around. He needed to focus, more important things were happening right now. Or rather, more important things weren't happening right now. It had only been a few moments since Ren last mentioned that the town had been attack only last night. That meant that its attackers couldn't have gone far. Especially considering that it was supposed to be a pack of Ursa, the numbers would make them obvious to spot. But there was no sign of them.

"Maybe they only come at night?" Nora suggested in another odd moment of common sense.

But her words went over Ruby's head as her eyes were glued to the trees beyond the forest. Her face was full of concern. Things didn't add up. This village's problems proved that Grimm were still existent. But they seemed to completely vanish when they arrived. At this point, Ruby would like to believe their presence scared them away. Then she felt a tight scrunch in her heart remembering what her uncle had told her when she woke from the fall of Beacon.

Were the silver eyes doing this?

Since the time she had accidentally used whatever power she had, something had felt… different. She couldn't directly trace this feeling back to her having strange eyes though. A lot had changed between then and now.

Nora turned to Ruby. "Think we should head back?"

"No." Came Jaune's response on the other side of town. Ren raised his eye brows for a moment. "We'll circle again. Just to be sure." Jaune elaborated, gesturing to the woods.

Ren nodded and set off after Jaune, Nora doing likewise following Ruby who had suggested the same thing.

Nora suddenly felt nervous, and her face changed fittingly. "You don't think we should go back and tell the guys?" She asked, unsure.

Ruby's face was determined and her voice even more so when she spoke. "They can wait back in town, it's fine."

Nora still felt unsure. Would Ren worry about her? She knew Jaune would worry about the two of them. Maybe Ruby more than herself though. Despite what people thought, Nora was quite adept at being perceptive. She could tell when people had feelings for others. God knows she has been in the same situation for the past several years. How long had she known Ren now?

Eventually, the team's leaders turned and began new circles around the village, unaware that the other team was doing the same. In another act of likewise thinking, both leaders also moved to make full circles this time. They wouldn't run into each other as they were going in the same direction still.

And again, both leaders opted to make one more round after the fourth one didn't turn up anything.

At this point, everyone was beginning to get suspicious. The Grimm had attacked the night before they arrived, that much was certain, but first they go for crops and no other humans and secondly, they seemingly vanished without a trace?

Jaune ran everything they knew through his head multiple times while making the fifth circle round the village. Something didn't sit right with him about the whole thing.

But if Jaune was getting worried Ruby was worse off. With the burdening thoughts her silver eyes gave her, Ruby was feeling more and more anxious about what was really happening.

Qrow sat lazily on a tree branch just outside of Machigatta Village. He noticed with a pained wince that his flask was getting empty. The next town wasn't for another two days. Unfortunately, this one didn't have a bar.

He put the flask away and stood up, balancing on the thin branch. Through the leaves, he could just make out the image of his black-haired niece walking squarely through the forest. He smirked at her. Though he wasn't Ruby's father he had spent plenty of time with her and most of that time was spent training her to be who she was now. An amazing huntress.

But his proudness also brought a sense of regret. She was still so young and better off being in school. And though she had shown herself to be very competent, some people, including himself, felt as though children should still leave bigger stuff up to the adults. Stuff like finding a gang lord's secret hideout or facing an onslaught of Grimm. Worst of all though had to be the battle to come.

With a shake of his head Qrow dropped down silently from the tree tops and moved to another one that was well away from Ruby and her friend. He chose one that was a bit thicker and sat comfortably on one of its branches. He reached for his flask but remembered its fullness and stopped. Instead, opting to lay there without a care in the world.

His thoughts were drifting to longing of late nights spent with cute and hot women when suddenly a voice woke him.

"…WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY!" Cried a very aggravated Jaune.

Qrow perked up a little, eager to see something other than Grimm happen for once. "Calm down Jaune." Jaune's friend, Ren, was trying to calm him by offering a hand to his shoulder.

Jaune shrugged it away. "No Ren I can't!" He yelled right into Ren's face.

Ren's face turned annoyed suddenly which even threw Qrow off. I haven't spent much time with the kid but I thought he was the emotionless husk? Qrow thought before instantly regretting it as he had missed the rest of the conversation. They had both calmed now and were quietly discussing what they were going to do next.

Qrow regarded Jaune for a moment. From he remembers, Jaune was the only one who knew, really knew, what happened on the night Beacon fell. Well, he knew more than the others of Team… what was it, JNRR? Nevertheless, he knew enough for Qrow to think a kid like that would be losing his mind. But other than his odd obsession with the Pyrrha Nikos on his scroll nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He was just grieving, that was fine. For a while.

Eventually, Ren and Jaune began walking away and Qrow was about to decided whether to follow or go back to Ruby and the other girl… before he heard the click of what, to him, sounded like a crossbow.

He stiffened, trying to find the location of the weapon undoubtedly aimed at him. After a few moments passed the attacked seemed to get bored.

A sigh came from right behind Qrow. "Why did it have to be you."

Qrow knew a lot of people but that was because of his many a time spent at bars and pubs around the world. And at this point he was convinced he could never forget a face even if he was half drunk when registering it. But he couldn't forget a voice even more so.

Qrow smirked as he sensed the crossbow lower. "Geoff frickin' Chester." He said with a humorless laugh.

Geoff let out a breathy laugh to. "Qrow Branwen." He replied, laughing a little harder now.

Noting the kids were a fair distance away Qrow dropped down from the branch soundlessly. Geoff followed albeit a little less gracefully but no one noticed.

"What are you doing way out here?" Qrow asked, gesturing to the village only slightly visible through the trees. If he remembered right Geoff was from Mistral itself.

"A mission." Geoff replyed, looking as though the answer was obvious.

Qrow was however surprised, which didn't show very well on the man's face. He just looked curious. "A mission?" He repeated. "They still give those out?"

"Things aren't as desperate here." Geoff replied hotly, pointing an accusing finger. Qrow forgot to act intimidated. "You Vale guys may have lost Beacon… and your relic I'm sure." Thoses last words were quiet and Geoff leaned in to speak them before pulling back and returning to normal volume. "But Mistral is as strong and proud as ever." Was what he proclaimed while holding his left arm over his chest.

Qrow was amused but let the mistake slip past, from his breath he could guess Geoff had been drinking a few moments ago. "Heard folks say you've been her for a while." Qrow pointed out the inconsistency.

Geoff nodded. "Figures you'd done some snooping." He said with a smirk. "This village has had quite the ton of problems. An odd case though, the Grimm seem to enjoy ravaging their crops more so than the people."

"So, this was before Beacon fell." Qrow pointed out as fact more than asked for yes or no. His finger came up to his chin. "Strange."

Geoff stayed silent more a moment but when Qrow looked up he looked like there was something he wanted to say. Qrow's hand went from his chin to the back of neck, scratching it, not nervously but rather as a casual gesture.

"You know I'm not the one snooping right?" He asked.

Geoff nodded again, a bit more sternly. "What are they doing?" He asked.

Qrow smirked. "Saving the world." The pair of them reached for their weapons, Geoff in angry persuasion for answers and Qrow in self-defense. "You saw her eyes."

Geoff backed off then. He didn't have any reason to fight Qrow and frankly it wasn't his business. But a group of kids come to this village, bringing with them negative thoughts all the way from Beacon. Plus, as Hunters they would be wearing their souls on their sleeves, quite literally, with their aura unlocked they were targeted just for existing by Grimm. It was his mission to protect this place and that was just what he was going to do. But he knew what Qrow was talking about.

As a rather well trained Huntsmen himself, Geoff knew many of the world's secrets and those belonging to the government. Qrow remembered he didn't know about the seasons though. But at least they both knew of Ruby Rose and what her power brought to the table. 'An edge', Geoff had called way back when. But then the two had been discussing Summer Rose, the girl's mother, who had the same trait.

Geoff had lowered his guard, contemplating Qrow. He listed off the things he knew about him but one of these points came to mind. Qrow's semblance. It explained why Qrow wasn't traveling with the group personally. Another thing he remember was that the man was stubborn, and in an ironic twist concerning his semblance, usually got what he wanted.

"Actually, you being here makes some sense now." Geoff suddenly remember something he stumbled on that morning. When they arrived he would have thought those kids had taken care of this villages little problem. There probably twenty of them, maybe more. No, defiantly more.

Qrow knew what Geoff was referring too already. Of course, when he sensed his usually bad feelings spike last night, he went to investigate while the kids slept. He found a village being wasted by Ursa and a few moments after he had the drop on them he needed. "So where were you?" he asked smirking.

Geoff was about to answer before the faint and distant cry of a girl came to both their ears.

Qrow's smirk remained but it turned grim. Geoff had one to now as he looked into Qrow's eyes and said, gravely, "I was dealing with another quarter of their pack."

The last thing Jaune could comprehend was a very loud growl. The thought in his mind now was of the slight sting of thick grass on his face. He was lying on the ground, likely unconscious since a few seconds ago. And he was still trying to figure out why and how and maybe even when.

Then a sniper rifle sounded from nearby, very nearby. He looked up, only managing to see black and red boots with way too many laces. His eyes wandered up a bit and finally he could see Ruby Rose, holding her gun-scythe in rifle mode, firing off shot after shot at things he could not see just yet.

For some reason, she didn't look particularly panicked. Rather, Ruby seemed to be quite peaceful and content to be firing at whatever it was that was threatening her. And she looked gorgeous too. The corset of her combat skirt hugged in just the right way. Small, fain scares along her legs were visible due to the cuts in her leggings. Scars were beautiful too, he had to admit.

Then, Jaune felt his breathing hitched. Ruby slowly turned her face towards him, as if life was in slow motion. Her face was even more stunning than her body. Soft, pale skin accenting her lips, her big silver eyes being on of the most haunting sights to ever be seen. Her red cape flowed with her, her black hair doing the same. Although, and this might have just been him but, had it always had that spectacular tint of red to it?

Jaune breath became even more unsteady as he saw Ruby draw closer. She was no longer firing though he heard the muffled sounds of another's gun. But thoughts of whoever else was nearby were swept away when Ruby knelt down by Jaune's head. Her arm stretched out to him and he quickly realized her hand was going to touch his face. It did, and it was one of the most pleasant things imaginable. He felt his face relax along with the rest of his body.

But the moment ended as soon as it started, and Jaune's eye reopened though he did not remember closing them and a new thought came to him.

This was going to hurt.

Before Ruby's withdrawn hand came into quick and painful contact with Jaune's he realized what had happened. Ren, the Ursa… the rest, he remembered with an imaginary voice-crack. There had been so many rather than springing into action, like Ren had did moments before Jaune realized what happening was, he had stood there like a complete idiot. There were so many.

Finally, the world started flowing normally again and Jaune registered the harsh sting on his left cheek.

"Wake up, Jaune!" Came Ruby's cry, her face at last looking as panicked and anxious as any normal person would in this situation.

Jaune rose quickly and barely registered Ruby doing the same as he took in the sight. All around them were Ursa Grimm. Jaune wasn't too good with math but there had to be over fifty or so, well, well over fifty.

Ruby had begun firing again and Jaune turned to her. His previous thoughts returned to him and he wondered in the world he had been thinking. But now more than ever his mind need to be focused on fighting.

Their eyes locked, set determination to live and beat these Grimm present in both pairs, and Jaune quickly drew Crocea Mors and sprang into action as he should have well before now.

Since Ruby had the luxury of a long ranged weapon, and even then the girl could handle herself in a fight, Jaune didn't feel too bad for leaving her to head his own attack head on. Since the Grimm had circled them completely Jaune picked a direction and went for it. His first challenger came forward but he dealt with it with one rushing slice. The next came and with the momentum he had quickly built up it was gone quickly too.

Jaune doubled back and picked his own target. A one horizontal slice, two vertical ones and a trio of diagonal cuts later six Grimm had begun decaying into nothing on the ground where he stood.

Back where he had woken up, the same place Ruby had spotted him, she was holding her own. Managing to keep the circle of Ursa at bay with her gun she still felt as though the circle was getting smaller, the Grimm getting closer. She panicked for a moment and froze, before her eyes locked on a tuft of blonde hair in the middle of the black chaos.

Jaune was already doing rather well having just woken up from what Ruby had assumed was not a gently unconsciousness. Already he was fighting at what he would admit would be his best and he had his own little circle of Grimm around him, being taken out one by one.

Ruby had to admit, she was jealous of him. Jaune was never the one to start fights, even with Grimm. But come the time where he would be forced into a situation like that, like this, he was a great fighter. Pyrrha had a lot to do with that and Ruby had to shoot a few Grimm down to keep herself from freezing up at the thoughts of her. It was really all thanks to Pyrrha Jaune was like this, strong, adept, capable, not a born fighter but one with enough training and maybe ancestral blood to be made into a great one.

Ruby would have felt inadequate next to him, had it not been for her own pile of Grimm residue strewn about in an almost perfect circle. Ruby felt proud of herself for it, she just felt even prouder of Jaune in an odd way. If he wasn't strong in body, wich right now he was, then he was strong in mind which would have made him a very powerful foe. But luickly for her, it made him an even more powerful… friend.

Suddenly, Ruby felted choked up. That word didn't sit right with her. But she didn't get much time to dwell on it as an Ursa had come up behind her, she spun around to attack but another stopped her and suddenly she was overwhelmed.

There was no more wiggle room and one had grabbed her, Crescent Rose clutched in her hand painfully. The Grimm began pulling on her, painfully trying to rip her limbs, fighting for whatever part of her they could sink their teeth into. Ruby cried, yelled yet the pain did not stop. Her face was that of pure terror and it felt like an eternity had passed already, an eternity of pain and suffering. An eternity of life regrets as her life began to flash right in front of her.

But then the agony subsided, albeit slightly. She still felt sore and her body stung all over. The Grimm had let her go and she fell to the ground, hard, not helping her pain. She groaned ceaselessly, focusing too much on the discomfort to really notice she was still alive.

Jaune turned in that moment, the group of Grimm he had been fighting bit away from him now. He finally spotted Ren and Nora, fighting just as hard as himself. Less so maybe considering their weapons. He was thoroughly out of breath.

He scanned for any Grimm that had not been dispatched already to fight, ones that weren't aiming for anyone else. When he found none his thoughts turned to Ruby. Ren and Nora had their pack dealt with well enough so that meant Ruby was fighting one on her own.

But when he laid eyes on her suddenly a rush of concern ran through him. She was knelt pathetically on the ground, clutching her left arm while that same arm held another part of her body. He face was scrunched with severe pain and her breathing was clearly heavy. Jaune lost sight of her for a moment as Grimm drew nearer to her. But the monsters fell again and now Jaune could see… Geoff.

Jaune's mind couldn't be stopped in connecting the dots. Ruby had just been bested right now and Geoff, of all people Geoff, had come to her rescue. And he hadn't, and she considered him a friend. Jaune was overcome with jealousy in that moment, and need to protect Ruby overwhelmed him. Along with the feeling to prove he was better than Geoff.

With that, Jaune did just what Geoff had expected him to and went into a hyper state. Teenagers were easy to guess, especially the males. Driven by hormonal desires to impress the opposite sex they tended to be a lot less reckless. But Geoff wasn't a fool, he wouldn't do something like this if he knew things could go south at all. Jaune looked like a soft kid, not a fighter in any way. But judging the cover and reading the book were two different things, and Geoff was happy to see that someone managed to surprise him.

Even more so when Jaune rushed to Ruby's side rather than taking on the hordes of Grimm surrounding them.

"Are you alright?" He asked in a panic.

Ruby looked up, giving a weak nod and trying to smile. But she could only manage a grimace.

Geoff meanwhile wasn't too happy with the development. It was bad enough that he was wrong about something but now the Grimm were closing in again.

"Hey kid!" He yelled, quickly grabbing the Jaune's attention.

It wasn't needed however as now Geoff was looking properly he could see the boy was already up and ready to fight, standing protectively in front of the girl.

"Geoff, you a betting man?" Jaune asked, surprising himself.

Geoff was intrigued. He didn't think this kid had the guts to bet anything. Hell, he didn't seem to be the image of a sociable person. But one thing was for sure, he did have guts.

The man was taken aback he didn't answer but Jaune proceed with his gamble anyway. "One hundred lien says I beat more monsters than you."

"Heh." Geoff couldn't hold back is smirk. "You're on kid." Geoff didn't even seem to think as he sprung instantly into action, pulling out his crossbow.

It's wasn't a crossbow for much longer though. After firing a few shots at some weaker looking Grimm, Geoff clicked it and the weapon changed into what looked like a simple police baton. But after swinging it around for a moment it's true properties came to light. Like the arrows, he had used to free Ruby, the baton had electric dust flowing through it, charging it with the power of lighting. With that, Grimm began falling one by one, second after second.

Jaune was having a bit more trouble. He was used to fighting by this point but finally fatigue was starting to wear him down. It didn't help that he was presumably unconscious not a few moments ago. But he tried not to let anything stop him. He swung his sword, thinking now more with his brain than his measly muscles, strategically slicing through air and Grimm alike to keep his head above water.

But things were getting overwhelming, the Grimm obviously outnumbered him. And suddenly, in a moment of panic, he felt alone.

But then came a battle cry unlike any he had heard before. And in a fall of rose petals, Ruby Rose fell front her sky, swinging her scythe down on each and every Grimm with in mere centimeters of Jaune. All he could do was look up and watch on in awe and Ruby continued to defy gravity, seemingly reigning judgement from above. Like an angel.

The world started moving in slow motion again and Jaune was quick to take the moment in. He watched careful how Roby's weapon moved. But also, how her arms moved, how her legs swayed with the momentum she was gaining, and how her hair continuously caressed her cheeks time after time. Her face was again one of the most beautiful sights Jaune thought ever existed but this time he wasn't hallucinating.

Ruby was tired, and sore, that much he could guess. But the way she covered it all up was admirable. And yet, a pain still shone through her face. Through the gritted teeth and soft yet determined eyes she held on to the entire time she fought. She was strong, leagues stronger than him, and not just in body (which was embarrassing to admit) but in mind as well. Granted, Jaune never really thought to much on what face he pulled while fighting, his mind always locked on staying alive. But Ruby seemed to notice, and always tried to keep calm and look kind. A childish notion of course, but that was who she was. And Jaune hoped that she would stay that way.

Ruby finally landed and instead of suddenly crashing back into reality, Jaune slowly walked into it, face set with determination. And an odd smirk.

The two locked eyes. Ruby was breathing a bit heavily but managed to smirk just as resolutely as Jaune. Jaune was feeling a lot lighter now as the two turned and stood back to back, facing their enemies who were now getting in closer.

Suddenly, Ruby felt self-conscious. Thoughts of Pyrrha plagued her in that moments. But not just her, thoughts of her mixed with Jaune and things became a lot more unclear. She couldn't help but see the two together. See a future that, at this point, could never be. Ruby saw Jaune and Pyrrha together, holding hands, laughing, sharing what wonderful times they could. Ruby saw all the things that should have been now, saw Pyrrha in her place, here next to Jaune.

A small nudge to her back brought her to her senses and she relished Jaune was still behind her. He hadn't moved, in fact, he had turned his head just enough to see her out of the corner of his eye. Their gazes locked, and Jaune felt like he knew what Ruby was feeling. He hadn't imagined the pain he saw in her eyes before. He just didn't know how to interpret it until just now.

"Don't worry." He said simply, still managing to smirk.

Ruby was caught of guard. Was he reading her mind suddenly? Did he know what she was thinking? No, maybe he just thought he incompetent. She had been beaten up quite a bit just now. The worry wart he was would be fussing over her. "I'll do my best." She said weakly, not even sure if Jaune had heard her.

But he had, and his smirk grew. Guess it was her turn to miss-interpret. "Right now, Ruby." He said, him too looking away from… "My partner." He blurted out. Blurted, but with conviction.

Ruby whirled. "Wha-!?"

"Let me finish." Jaune interrupted seriously, like he was about to say the coolest thing ever but feared someone screwing up his moment.

"Right now." He continued in the same manner as before. "I wouldn't want anyone else here. Besides you!"

Jaune had turned to face Ruby now too, and she took every fragment of his confident face. Ruby couldn't help the smile, the true and genuinely happy smile that graced her lips. This whole time, Ruby had felt, even feared, that Pyrrha's passing had changed Jaune, permanently. That everything that had happened at Beacon would forever be stuck at the forefront of his mind. But she saw now, that Jaune hadn't changed at all. That maybe she had become the serious one. That maybe she had been the one too focused on the end goal to see what was happening around her, to him. To her.

No, Jaune hadn't change. Ruby just needed to wake up and see that.

Ruby looked so happy Jaune felt like she was going to tackle him. He felt abashed at the thought and moved to defuse the situation. They did have an army to fight after all.

"Come one love birds!" The moment was ruined with Geoff's far off words. But despite that the two just laughed it off.

Still smiling their faces set once more with determination. "Ready?" Jaune asked, beginning to turn as he felt he already knew her answer.

So much so Ruby just nodded and turned like-wise so the two were back to back once more.

Their stance became solid, they drew closer into each other, pressing their weight into the person behind them until they knew that the other was not leaving. That the only time they would, would be when it was time to leave. And even then, Jaune felt the pressure coming from Ruby would never leave him. As if it would stay as a constant reminder that she was still, truly there.

"To the socially awkward!" Ruby proclaimed, mimicking Jaune's own proclamation from prom. Oh, how time had flown from back then.

"To the heroes of Vale!" Jaune replied, with an even stronger sense of belief in it.

"Oh, I like that." Ruby stated with a smile. "Hey, I bet I can get even more Grimm than you and Geoff combined."

Jaune was up for the challenge, although. "My plan was to surprise him and count the Grimm I had already dealt with before he showed up." He said with a smirk.

Ruby giggle. "Then I've already won." She said. "'Wemember' your 'wittle' nap?" She added, in a baby voice.

Jaune laughed but it didn't hide his blush. "T-to… to us!" He yelled.

Ruby shook her head.

And together, they pushed themselves away from one another, weapons raised to their enemy. And the battle continued.

Geoff made a forced gaging sound, feigning the act of vomiting up lunch. Qrow just laughed. His smile growing when his colleague turned to him with a heated look.

"Don't ever impersonate me again." Geoff said, threating.

He didn't scare Qrow however, not when something like this had just happened. But he supposed he could be good natured about it.

He shrugged. "Aw, come one. I gotta tease my niece one way or another."

(A/N) Your guys have been good, have a fight scene.

I was happy how this one turned out actually. I set out planning for a fight to start with and I knew I was going to focus more on Ruby and Jaune's emotions but I would like to explore the 'art' of making a RWBY fight scene in writing. It'd be hard but if it was able to be quick and efficient with words without taking away from the experience (for example you cant use the same word over and over and using too simple words wouldn't help) it would be a job well done I think. Heh, something to think on.

Anyway, hope you enjoy and GET HYPED for the next chapter will be the last. Not sure what it holds other than... fluff probably, knowing me.

Read you soon!

P.S. I am interested to see what you guys think about putting RWBY fights in writing. Maybe if you guys have any good example of this already being displayed let me know with PM. Always appreciated!

(UPDATE) My misspelling of Pyrrha seems to have bother a few so I've gone back to fix it... Let's not make that mistake again me.

Thank you HurricaneRenegade and some random Guest (who I did not understand was trying to get me to see the error of ways (sorry about that)) for pointing it out to me.