A/N: Over the last few days I took the time to re-review and edit the previous chapters. I've hopefully caught any tense, spelling, and grammar issues, removed some superfluous wording too.
It was nearly nine in the morning when Ruby finally opened her eyes for the day.
"`Bout time sleepyhead!" Nora calls from across the room. "You're the last one up!"
Ruby rubs the sleep out of her eyes and stretches. "Where are the others?"
"They all headed down to eat about an hour ago." Nora stretches getting up.
"Did you already eat?" Ruby makes her way to the bathroom to brush her hair and teeth. Nora follows leaning on the doorframe.
"Nah, wanted to wait on you." Nora smiles, tapping on her scroll.
The girls leave the room greeted by Ren and Jaune. Ruby is happy they waited, Jaune let's her know Ren just woke up a few minutes before she had.
Their breakfast is quick and quiet. The wait staff letting them know the rest of their travelling party are waiting at the welcome center for them. The two groups rejoin deciding to shop and explore the little port village again. They take their time walking along the shops on the main road. A book store here, a bakery there. Jaune stops to have a chat with a blacksmith who admires his shield. Ruby, predictably gets distracted by a small outdoor weapons display. The little group stray from each other a bit, each one browsing the outdoor market. It's close to noon when most of the group have congregated. Jaune, Ruby and Oscar being the outliers. Ruby is in view and it brings a smile to Yangs face to see her sister holding up various sights pieces, having a very animated conversation with the shop owner.
Another customer soon joins Ruby. He stands uncomfortably close to the tiny girl. She steps to the side a little, he steps closer. He has a cheesy smile on his face and it's very clear he's attempting to flirt. Nora snickers, the boy would have a better chance getting attention from the shop keep. The group nod in agreement. It's honestly a bit funny. The boy gestures, bowing dramatically. Ruby shakes her head and picks up a different sight inspecting it. The boy takes the sight from her, holding it over his head attempting to goad Ruby into jumping for it. Yang is visibly irritated. Ruby rolls her eyes and turns to leave. She's had enough of the boy interrupting her hobby. She stops short of leaving as the boy grabs her hand. Yangs eyes turn red she takes a step intending to cross the road and send the boy to the moon. Rens hand on her shoulder stops her.
"It's all under control." He explains pointing a bit down the street to Jaune. "Nora texted him." He offers to the confused blonde.
Jaune calls out to Ruby. The boy still doesn't let her wrist go. The boy postures at Jaune, clearly irritated his flirting is being interrupted. Ruby yanks her hand free and walks over to Jaunes side. Jaune drapes his arm over her shoulders and grins at the boy. Beaten the boy finally waves his hands in apology and sulks off. Jaune and Ruby cross the street. He doesn't remove his arm from her shoulders until they rejoin the group.
"Ugh, almost every time." Ruby whines. Pouting.
"That happens a lot?" Blake wonders out loud.
"You have no idea!" Nora rolls her eyes.
"You could have just punched him." Yang points out.
"Yea, well… I kinda did punch a boy at one of the first towns we went to. Was totally his fault too. He took my baby from me when I was cleaning her barrel." Ruby pats Crescent Rose affectionately.
"Yea, but after that none of the shop owners would sell to us." Nora points out.
"So, we try and figure out more civilized ways of dealing with the locals when we need to." Ren further explains.
"Unwanted flirting is easy to deal with. When one of the girls is being bothered Ren and I found that if we made it seem like we were their boyfriends the other guy gives up preeeety easily." Jaune rocks on his heals chuckling at their solution.
"Hey, has anyone seen Oscar?" Nora abruptly changes the subject.
Weiss volunteers to text the the missing farm boy. "He says he's at the beach."
"OHH! Can we cook out on the beach for lunch? I have the biggest craving for Rens chicken skewers!" Ruby smiles, making puppy dog eyes at the tall boy.
He sighs, rolling his eyes but smiling. "Fine."
Ruby and Nora cheer. The group makes it's way through the farmers market area gathering the supplies for their meal. Oscar is easy to find, it's a chilly day so the beach is deserted except for the little group. Oscar just kind of ended up here he explains. The beach is relaxing, the sound of the waves crashing and call of the gulls. They build a fire, Ren makes his chicken, Nora and Blake cook rice and vegetables to complete the meal. The rest of the group set out picnic blankets, set the "table" and busy themselves until it's time to eat. They enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. When they decide it's time to leave they find themselves a member short again.
"Has anybody seen Ruby?" Yang asks scanning the beach.
It doesn't take long to find her. She's sitting on the end of a pier, leaning back on her hands, eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the ocean. Weiss moves to go and retrieve her errant partner, Jaunes hand on her shoulder stopping her. He shakes his head gently.
"Let's give her a little longer." His voice is soft, his smile gentle. "She doesn't get many opportunities to just unwind like that." Ren and Nora's gentle smiles match Jaunes. The three move to sit on the beach wall following Ruby's lead they take the time to just relax and reflect.
Yang and the others decide to sit in the sand. Quiet conversation starting between the girls and Oscar. Yang focuses on Ruby as she kicks her legs back and forth dangling from the pier. It's a bit jarring when she thinks of the girls behavior of the last few weeks, compared the girl kicking her feet on the pier like she hadn't a care in the world. They seemed like two entirely different people. She looks over to Nora and the boys. They were the same as her sister. The teens sitting on the wall seeming light and care free. The days before there was always an air of seriousness around them. She wonders out loud what kinds of things the four of them must have gone through on their travels, she's worried about them.
The mood changes when Ruby gets up and stretches. The little group in the sand watch her walk down the pier. She doesn't look their way instead her eyes stay on Nora and the boys. Team Ranger begin talking and before long they are all laughing. The crash of an arriving cargo boat unloading its goods startles everyone. They don't miss the way RNJR takes stock of the situation. The four look to the boat and then to each other. Ruby sighs, Nora places a hand on her shoulder. The four share a look and in that moment they look battle weary. It's a look Yang has often seen on professional huntresses and hunters. Ruby turns her attention to Yang, Ranger walking to rejoin the others. The girls plus Oscar decide to drop the subject of RNJRs travels for now.
Ruby walks up and tugs her sisters shirt. "Yaaannngg, Jaune doesn't believe that dad grounded half the kids on Patch that one time." She whines, comically pouting.
Yang laughs. "Oh man, it took them a month to rebuild that wall! Rocket Zwei will live on in infamy!" The sisters dissolve into a laugh attack. Weiss points her finger mouth agape "but…but…"
A/N: They have a day and a half till boat day! Yang seems to want to take the POV right now. Oz is not interested in gifting us his thoughts yet.
