A/N: Hello all welcome to a new chapter. Just a heads up my beta and I are both full time workers. Sometimes our schedules don't quite match up. We often go through multiple revisions as quality is more important the quantity to us. In the future I may choose to release things in drafts and revise as we are able to beta for each other. I hope to get chapter 12 out sooner rather than later.
Lesson 11: To share your burdens is to share a future.
Qrow stood alone, on a new rooftop on a new night. Much like he has done most of his life. It was Qrow's penance for his sins. Ever since Summer's death. It was the day after she died that Qrow kneeled before Ozpin, and promised his loyalty. His debt would not end, unless death take him. That is why he now served Oscar.
He disdained his new master, and the order he had given him. Oscar did not play the game the same way that Ozpin played it. In fact, to Oscar everyone was expendable in the name of stagnation. That was Qrow's current predicament. Oscar had grown tired of Jaune's influence as of late. The mere fact that Jaune represents chaos. He has caused the issues with the white fang and the free aura society to boil over. And there was no going back to the status quo. It was for this reason Oscar hoped to hammer this nail that sticks out.
Oscar even contacted Ironwood.
It made Qrow sick. He never really talked to Jaune except for that one time at the bar, and years ago traveling Mistral. In fact, he was surprised to know that the weak boy he met in Mistral even survived as long as he did. Although, perhaps that boy didn't survive. Little was left of the miniscule amount of what Qrow remembered. He had seen many a hunter change after some time in the field. Though not many nearly as drastically.
But there were a few things that Qrow knew they had in common. Mainly, they fought the same. They both fought for selfish reasons. You see many Huntsman and Huntresses fight for something bigger than themselves. Equality perhaps. But Qrow could tell Jaune, like him, fought for no great cause.
They fought to put and end to their own weakness. They fought to never lose anything again.
They both lost and gave so much. Even in Victory they have found themselves hollow, with little to show for their triumph but filled graves.
It was this emptiness that drives them to be so greedy. Qrow could see it in Jaune's eye's. He too was tired of fighting for things as useless as Kingdoms and generals. From the surveillance that Qrow has done he has noticed Jaune practically latch on to Ruby's faunus teammate. He had been the same with Summer.
Qrow sat in silence overlooking the safe house for what must have been hours. Only to be brought out of musing by a sudden buzzing in his pocket.
Qrow brought his scroll out of his pocket to see Ruby's dumb smile adorning his lock screen. Qrow swiped to allow the call through.
"UNCLE QROW!"
"What's up short stuff." Qrow replied nonchalantly.
"IAMNOTSHORT!"
"Sure your not, what do you need Ruby? I am a bit busy with work." Ruby's face pouted on the screen.
"I was wondering if you were with Jaune by chance, I made something for him to make him feel better. Oscar told me that he and Blake were at a safe house. He wouldn't tell me where though. Sooooo I was hoping you could deliver it to him." Ruby held up a red wrapped box, making Qrow quirk and eyebrow.
"I don't know…I'm kinda busy."
"Pleasseee Uncle Qrow I'll be your best friend foreverrrrr!" Ruby said giving Qrow her signature look.
Qrow couldn't resist. He was powerless to do so. Both her mom and her had this charm about them, that made you say yes to just about any crazy idea. "Sure Ruby, I'll come by tomorrow morning to pick it up."
"You're the best, kay thanks, see you later Uncle Qrow, I owe you big time." Ruby said spurting out words at a mile per minute.
/-/
Jaune was currently laying in a somewhat blood-soaked tub all stitched up breathing heavily with Blake resting her head on his shoulder. Blake was wide eyed and alert yet tired. "Blake, that was one of the worst ideas I have ever had. Why didn't you make me go to the hospital? You, almost made me bleed out with that last stitch job."
Blake just continued to stair off into the slightly dirty tiles on the bathroom wall. "Jaune this was your idea."
"Ya but you're no-nonsense Blake. You should have been like this is beyond either of our abilities we are going to a hospital even if I have to knock you out and carry you there." Blake glared at Jaune. "Alright, Alright. I'm gonna get out of these rags and see grab a spare set of clothes in the bag Ruby gave me." Jaune stood up tall. "For what it's worth though Blake, thanks for saving me from Adam's goons, aannndd stitching me up." Jaune smirked getting up out of the tub.
"Don't get used to it." Blake said smiling softly at Jaune and standing up herself. "Thank you Jaune for telling me about…" the horrible experiences you had. Blake cringed wondering how she could say it. For such a well-read person, she was at a loss for words.
"It feels good to talk about it to someone, I could tell you more if you'd like. It feels like everyone is walking on eggshells around me. It's nice to have someone that I can just talk to." They were standing quite close now. In fact, it was causing Blake's cheeks to flush quite heavily on her pale skin.
Blake was now looking around for any escape. Theses situations were not exactly her forte. "I'm gonna go now. I'll ugh let you change." Blake exclaimed as if she just discovered string theory. She turned a quick about haste and exited the room to let the man change.
"Ughhh Blake I got a small problem." Called out both Jaune through the door. "I found a pair of sweatpants…but not an extra shirt. Can you look through the drawers in the bedroom to see if there is an extra shirt." Blake rolled her eyes at how unprepared they were stepping away leaving a clone that she beckoned to follow her.
Both she and the clone walked into the bedroom and started searching the closet and desks calmly. This calm search became more and more frantic as Blake opened empty drawer after drawer. What was the big deal anyways. It was only a shirt, he can be shirtless, right? He was shirtless the whole time she stitched him up. Blake looked desperately at her clone who just shrugged as if to say this is your problem not mine. The clone would be no help Blake decided making the clone disappear. She walked back out into the common room and stood before the bathroom door looming before her.
"Jaune? Are you sure you didn't miss it?"
"Yup."
Blake took a deep breath. "Alright don't worry about it, just come one out. It's no big deal." Blake was going to be cool. She was cool. Then he walked out. But not to the reaction she or he expected. Blake grimaced at her own stitch work now that she was seeing it in good lighting. "I'm sorry?" Blake said unsure of what to say.
Jaune oddly enough rolled his eyes at her comment. "Don't sweat it. Let's just get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning." Jaune said making his way to the couch and plopping down. "OW OW OW OW!" Jaune said doubling over in pain.
"Stop jumping around you idiot. Are you trying to open the stitches again!? Blake walked over and grabbed his remaining hand and forced him to his feet. Blake was cringing at the face Jaune made. It was strained as if he was in a world champion chess match.
"Come on, you'll never get a good night's rest on the couch. We'll just split the bed. It's more than big enough for the both of us." Blake pulled him into the room and dragged him forward making sure he didn't pull out the stitches. "Before you lay down let me put some wraps around the stitching." Blake got up and quickly returned with the trauma bag.
Blake began by first wrapping around the end of where his prosthetic arm would have been. She continued on towards his chest. Blake began to curiously trace her work, he looked like a teddy bear that had been repaired one hundred times.
Blake was brought out of her thoughts by Jaune holding her hand. "You did good Blake. Thank you. For everything." Jaune smiled widely.
"Now that I think about it Blake. I am feeling a bit awake. Want to put on another movie while we sleep." Jaune said his face betraying him. It was clear that the boy was tired. His eyes were baggy and he was still straining against the pain. Adam must have been angry.
"Sure, since I picked that last one, why don't you pick." Blake said tossing him the controller, and getting in the bed next to Jaune unsure of how close she should sit. Jaune began to thumb through the different movies. He occasionally would pause on a movie and glance at Blake as if to gauge her reaction. It would seem that he wanted to find something they would both like. In the end, it seemed that he came to a decision.
The Man with Two Souls.
Blake wasn't aware there had been an adaption of this book. It had been years since she had once read the book. It had been one of her favorites at the time. Blake looked at Jaune curiously. "Have you read the book Jaune."
"No, just liked the title to be honest." Jaune said dryly. Blake was a bit awestruck. Jaune was very simple. If there was one common thread with all her interactions with Jaune, is that they have all been relatively simple. Annoying and inconvenient. But possible to see from a mile away. What you saw is what you got. "Are you good with this one Blake?" Blake nodded in reply as Jaune pressed the play button. Jaune settled down into the bed a bit more.
Blake split her focus between the opening credits and Jaune. In many ways, it was clear that Jaune was not gifted. It wasn't that he wasn't strong. Quite the opposite. But it was not any innate gift or divine right. The scars and stitches that adorned his chest made it quite clear.
Jaune was strong because he was a struggler.
He could have run from Adam. It wasn't his fight. He could have chosen many paths. Yet consistently he chose the path of strife. He chose to become involved. His struggle was his penance. Blake thought about her own struggles to make up for past mistakes. Every step of the way her team was behind her. Weather she liked it or not. Perhaps she could pay that forward.
Blake wasn't quite sure what was going through her head. In fact, it was likely to result in a bit of awkwardness. But she was going to help weather he liked it or not. Blake closed the distance between Jaune and her and laid her head down on his shoulder while wrapping her arms around them. Jaune stiffened, and Blake could not for the life of her make eye contact. That would be too much.
"Blake?"
"Thank you for telling me about your time in Atlas. It must have been difficult." Blake knew as well as anyone that having others pity your struggles was infuriating. She knew that last thing Jaune wanted to hear was I'm sorry you poor thing. Sometimes it is best that little is said.
It should be okay to have a secret or two.
Blake watched as the movie settled into it's plot. One thing was for sure though. She wouldn't stay away. Nor would Jaune. Their breathing became deep and long. The two fell asleep in an embrace, assuring the other that tonight the world didn't matter.
/-/
Ruby was very excited. If there was one true thing in this world Ruby was meant to do besides being a huntress, it was weapon engineering. Ever since she had designed Crescent Rose she had been enamored with weapons both simple and complex. She constantly had people asking for advice.
One of her favorite things was to make a work of art that someone didn't know that needed. That is how her current invention came about. When Jaune had gotten out of the hospital he was given a substandard prosthetic. A one size fits all if you will. That would not do for a huntsman of any caliber. In fact, it was likely to break if it hadn't already,
That is why she took it upon herself to build Jaune a new one. With some upgraded features, of course. One's Jaune didn't know he wanted. Sure, there might be a minor learning curve, but she could teach anyone to aim.
Even Jaune.
He just hadn't had the right teachers. Ruby didn't want to brag, but she was quite the shot. You don't get good with sniper-scythe without being able to hit the bullseye consistently. Not that Jaune would have to be that accurate with the upgrades she put in.
Ruby hoped Qrow would break the rules a bit and let her go with him to give Jaune the new arm. It wasn't like she was a white fang spy or something.
Pum pum pum
That must have been Qrow knocking on the door. Ruby zipped over to open it. "Uncle Qrow!" She said wrapping her arms around him tightly.
"Every time you see me, you say my name like it's been years."
Ruby rolled her eyes and giggled. "I just like seeing you, it's not often we see each other in a span of a few days." Ruby un latched herself from Qrow. "Annnndddd I have a favor to ask." She said kind of dancing in place, making Qrow raise an eyebrow.
"Let me guess you want to come with me to the safehouse?" Ruby nodded her head up and down frantically with a foolish smile on her face. Qrow couldn't help but smile. She had learned through years of practice to get what she wanted from her Uncle. "Alright squirt, let's go."
/-/
Jaune had slept great. In fact, better than great. He wouldn't say it out loud but Blake mad a great Teddy Bear. Jaune had woken up about an hour ago, but couldn't convince himself to get out of bed. Blake was still sleeping. Jaune snuggled himself closer to Blake's head, closing his eyes. Her hair smelled sweet like tropical fruit, but also a bit like sweat from the fights last night.
It was absolutely intoxicating.
He had become so accustomed to the smell of the battlefield. Nothing could compare to the smell of industrialized death. It left you feeling so cold and empty, spending every night in the trenches filled with the bodies of your comrades. Many night's he could still see the faces of those he failed. Some nights he would see his old team. And they would always tell him the same thing.
"How could it be us. Not you, Jaune, who was the weakest among us be the one that lives. You did not earn this."
"They're not real Jaune." The Man muttered to himself.
Jaune took another long breadth, drinking in the scent of Blake's hair banishing away the faces of his old team once more. There were many days he wished to end it all. But right now, was not one of those times. He could never earn their sacrifice. But perhaps he could live in a way that would honor them, and put their souls to rest.
As if she knew his troubles Blake buried her face into his chest to escape the morning light that threatened to wake her up. Jaune wished this would never end.
BAM BAM BAM
Of course, fate had other ideas. Blake's ears twitched and she got up in a hurry. Still half laying in bed. "Morning." Blake said as she smiled, quelling any concerns Jaune had on this becoming an awkward situation. They were adult's after all. This was a quite tame experience.
BAM BAM BAM
"I'll ugh grab the door." Jaune said embracing her once more. He got up begrudgingly grabbing his sword, which got him a funny look from Blake. You never can be to safe, just in case someone had found out where they are hiding.
Whoever was at the door better have a good reason for knocking. Jaune made it to the door quietly and peeked out the eyehole to see not just one, but two people he recognized. It was Ruby and Qrow. Jaune placed his sword to the side and opened the door.
Qrow immediately smirked and Ruby blushed deeply causing a bit of confusion for Jaune.
Ruby looked everywhere but at him. "Oh Jaune Hi, ughh , You're shirtless." She said nervously. "Come on Uncle Qrow we'll come back later." She tried to make an immediate about haste but was stopped in her tracks by Qrow.
"Ugh Ugh you forced me to take you with me squirt. You're not leaving. Not when it gets this fun." Jaune stepped to the side and beckoned them in. Jaune noticed that Ruby was carrying a good sized box wrapped in a bow.
"What's in the box Ruby?" Jaune asked before remembering something important. "Blake it's Ruby and Qrow!" Although there was no way she didn't hear them.
"IT'S NOTHING! Stop asking weird questions Jaune." In true comedic fashion Blake walked out of the bedroom wearing the same clothes she had been wearing last night. Both her clothes and hair were fairly ruffled. Ruby stared at Jaune wide eyed, then slowly turned her head to face black haired girl. "Blake?" She said raising her hands as if to say were having a talk later.
Blake having a way with words just coughed a few times. "Hi Ruby, what's in the box?" She said unable to make eye contact. Ruby slumped her shoulders and for a moment looked very accusingly at Blake. But like a switch had been flipped her excitement came back.
"Wellll, obviously as you can see Jaune's prosthetic didn't work out to well." Ruby said pointing to the now non-existent right arm. "I couldn't let our dear friend have such a piece of trash. So I made a little something." She said pushing the box into Jaune's arm. "Sit down and open it." Ruby said pushing the larger man from behind towards the couch. Jaune leveraged himself just right so he could undo the bow around the box. The boy lifted the lid. Unsure of what to expect.
"Oh wow. Ruby, I don't know what to say."
"Come on, lets put it on Jaune!" Ruby said with fire and vigor in her eyes.
/-/
With a little help from Ruby, they had gotten what was left of the old arm detached. And replaced it with Ruby's new baby as she called it. It had hints of white, gold, red, bronze, green, and pink. Normally not colors that go together, but Ruby had made it work. The arm had a red Bracer, and if he was right a pair of green barrels. Had she put a gun on this thing. She did know he couldn't shoot, right?
Ruby had really gone deep into the design of this one. Ruby looked at Jaune so happily. "Now Jaune, let me explain all the functions I put in. First off, it is linked to your nervous system so all you have to do is think about the functions. She said jumping up and down.
On cue the moment Jaune thought about the bracer was like the one Pyrrha once carried. Ruby then snapped her fingers. "To be careful, the two functions are two stages so you don't accidently hurt yourself. I added in this green submachine gun to the top of the forearm, and the best part of all! I added a cannon to your arm!" Ruby cackled a bit madly at this last part. She must be trying to kill him by giving him all this fire power.
The color Scheme alone was enough to make him tear up. It had been such a long time avoiding even thinking about his old team. It had been even longer since he could remember finding himself happy thinking about them. Once again, he could see them smiling. He couldn't hold it back any long, his tears were running freely down his face. Despite this he was smiling through the pain.
Ruby embraced him in a hug. He embraced her back. "Thank you, Thank you." He said in between ragged breadths and hot tears. He felt Blake's hand on his shoulder, and heard some sympathetic swigs of alcohol from Qrow.
It was so hard. He missed them so much. He missed their presence. It is the one thing he needed all these years. And Ruby found a way to be a hero once again.
"I'm back guys." Jaune said still crying into Ruby's hood.
A/N: Well hope yall enjoyed this. This felt like a really fun chapter to me. I wanted to touch on something though. A few have reviewed and mentioned a few things in Witcher Lore. I am playing a bit fast and loose as this is my first fic. Regardless I appreciate all reviews.
