A/N: Just to preface this. I apologize dearly for being gone this past month. Part of it was due to revising this chapter a bit because I didn't want it to be too... awkward. Part of it was also getting applications done for things next year, and part of it was just assignment after assignment. Again, I hope you all have been well. Another birthday past, more writing and growth as a person, and I come back to you with another chapter. I hope you all enjoy.
-C. Exodia
En route to Vale, just a few more hours and we'll be there safely…
Thought the mind of one General James Ironwood, who commanded this fleet as it was to arrive at Beacon. Taking a shot of a strong whiskey, the man behind the machine shuddered as a small burst of turbulence coming from a fierce thunderstorm outside momentarily rocked the ship, nearly spilling a few drops of alcohol as he shook in his chair.
A massive fleet of airships coasted high above the clouds in the shroud of the dark, cold night. Carrying precious cargo, each had the same goal in mind: to reach Beacon in preparation for the Vytal festival. Many ships held students, all eager and ready to test their skills in the valorous annual tournament that, this year, was held in the heart of Vale. Others carried Atlesian soldiers, men coated in armor that led to the nickname of 'knights'. The flagship of the fleet was absolutely gigantic, larger than every other ship in the arsenal. A two-tiered, arrow-shaped hull jutted far into the sky with two large, rectangular nacelles keeping it aloft.
It was a flying weapon. The hull could open and unfold an obscenely gigantic cannon that fired custom dust blasts, capable of taking out most any ship in the skies with a direct hit. Various turrets could open up from the top and bottom and fire at enemies nearby. It carried cargo more precious than any other, one that only it and a few other ships had the luxury of hauling to Vale: prototypes for the Atlesian paladin, top of the line machinations that would, hopefully, begin to replace the human soldiers that currently served in the Atlesian line.
"I apologize about the turbulence, sir," came the voice of a pilot who sat in front. "Can't be helped. Riding this high tends to bring these sorts of bumps."
"Not a problem, Sargeant Rosewood," Ironwood called out, letting out a sigh of relief as the impression of falling finally subsided. "I have just always hated flight. It has always -" The imposing man stood up, setting his drink down. Taking off his left glove, he revealed a cybernetic hand. " -made this damned thing act up."
He felt tense. Security would be vital at the Vytal festival this year, considering the activities of the White Fang flaring up around Beacon Academy in recent times as well as the attempted hijack of many tons of dust from the SDC freighters. The nerve of Jacques…
The fleet was meant to protect the Amity Colosseum as it was transferred from Atlas to Vale. Usually, a small number of ships were sent to guide the gigantic arena to its next destination, but in times of war, one could not be too careful.
As he fiddled with the internal controls of his hands, he heard the ship doors open. Ah. Midori. "Sir," the young woman spoke up as she came to attention. "The head scientist wishes to speak with you. He's on the other line."
"Alright. Thank you, Ms. Aoi," Ironwood responded, glad to get a distraction from the monotony of flight. Midori quickly left the room as the picture of the scientist popped up on the screen.
"Hello, General Ironwood." His fiery, curly red hair was the only thing to appear from the shadows. "I take it that you are well?"
"Yes, Mr. Polendina," the general responded, a quick sigh allowing him to compose himself. "The paladins are en-route to Beacon. Your creations are all safe, and I assure you the full protection of Atlas will be with your daughter."
The scientist tensed up. The shadows broke to show his mouth and the bottom of his nose, with wrinkles scrunched up, as he moved closer to the screen. "Please, General Ironwood. You know that she's all I have. Protect her the best that you can."
"She is not to leave the sight of the Knights. She can have fun at the Festival," Ironwood paused. "But she will be heavily monitored. Your… daughter will have Ciel with her at any time that she is not in sight of the Knights."
"Alright," The scientist conceded. "It's just… very difficult letting her go, after everything. But, she is a girl and she needs to learn how to be on her own."
"Focus on your work, Mr. Polendina," Ironwood responded tersely, before returning to a more formal tone. "Keeping yourself busy is always the best thing to do in these sorts of situations. It helped me at my worst." He felt another phantom pain burst from his left hand, and he clutched it in full view of the scientist.
"Is your prosthetic acting up again, General Ironwood?" The scientist calmly spoke, revealing the whole of his body as he moved into focus. Mr. Polendina was a very wiry man with pale skin and full green eyes to match his fiery red mane of hair.
"No, it isn't," The general quickly responded, assuaging any fears. "I still just… get phantom pains sometimes. It's often exacerbated on flights."
"Alright," Mr. Polendina nodded, a remorseful look in his eye. "As good as our technology may be… it's never a replacement for the real thing."
"Don't I know it," Ironwood sighed. He won't ever let that go. It's been five years. "It's going to be fine, Geppetto. Just don't get yourself too worked up, and you'll be fine. Penny will be fine. I assure you."
Geppetto nodded, looking as if he was fighting back a tear or two. "Good night, General. It's always been an honor to serve under your leadership, and I thank you for the…" He paused to wipe back a single tear. "...opportunities you have provided me." A couple of moments later, the man's face faded from the screen as it shut itself off.
Ironwood sighed, feeling all of Geppetto's tense emotions fade away with the closing of the call. Geppetto Polendina was but an older scientist, exemplar in his field, recruited to oversee the whole creation of the Paladins. Ironwood allowed some of his… quirks to shine through because they were relatively harmless. Even in rigidity… individuality can thrive.
Many of those he had found himself closer to than ever were rather eccentric figures. Winter was a rebel seeking solace in order; she served her position well, but often longed for home. Ozpin and his cohort… if he started talking about them, he didn't think he could stop. At least they were effective. He wouldn't put any of his trust in any of them if they weren't effective.
But one can never be too sure about safety. With enemies always on the horizon, nowhere was safe… not even with the most effective allies on the planet.
...That's why the Paladins were created.
Classes did not start until the next day, so everyone was allowed to sleep in…
If they wanted to.
Pyrrha and Jaune quietly opened the door to their room, both coated in sweat as they stumbled inside. They were wearing their running outfits, having gone out in the cold for a brisk jog to warm up. Both glowed a bright pink as steam rose from their skin, but whereas Jaune stood proud and tall, Pyrrha looked and acted as if the elements had impacted her greatly.
"J-J-J-Jaune!" Pyrrha stuttered, shivering due to the cold that lingered from the near-freezing temperatures outside. A storm that had whipped up before they awoke had made for a much more uncomfortable morning, the absolute humidity wrought by last night's rain, leaving both of them practically soaked. "That was… n-not a g-good idea. We really shouldn't have gone out there for that long. The gym was already open!" She tried to sound commanding, but was practically bumbling as she struggled to get her voice out of her chattering lips. It was embarrassing to the team leader.
"It builds character," Jaune retorted. "You never know when you'll be out in the cold, fighting Grimm. We could end up in Atlas some day. Weiss IS the scion of the Schnee Dust Company, you know."
Pyrrha was glad that she and Jaune had picked back up their routine of working out together in the mornings. It was one that she had gravely missed in the second half of the year; after doing it for so long, it was almost like coffee: It perked up her day. She certainly felt much better than when she woke up with hair tousled by tossing and turning as well as a tired, nearly cranky disposition.
"F-f-fair enough." Pyrrha shook her head, smiling as she wrung out her hair of excess liquid. "Do you think we should wake them up yet?"
Ren raised his hand up, indicating that he was already awake. Knowing how heavy of a sleeper Nora was, Pyrrha felt she was permitted to laugh at his near-instant reaction to her question.
"I'm awake," Ren spoke calmly before letting out a quiet yawn. It almost amazed her that he was able to compose himself so quickly . Getting back in the groove after a few weeks away was still difficult; thankfully, the school allocated a couple of days without classes so the students could get settled in. It made a world of difference for Pyrrha; she felt quite homesick and had not gotten enough sleep the first night. It was only the run that made her feel fully awake.
Another reason for the lapse days was the coming influx of students from all the other countries in preparation for the Vytal Festival itself. Pyrrha had noticed the beginning of the setup of the festival, which was a multi-week event biannually, as far back as the end of their first semester. Many, like Sun and his team, had already arrived from Vacuo, but that was only a precaution due to how difficult it was to travel to and from even the most peaceful parts of the country. Today was the day that the critical mass would arrive, and Pyrrha was eager to meet all of them.
Pyrrha had learned, from the murmurs of third and fourth years, that Atlas's display was one of the most sought-after each festival, with their newest piece of technology as well as their air-shows some of the main events. To them, the Festival in Atlas had been like none other; the sheer magnificence of the technological advances the country made combined with their sheer desire to impress created marvelous displays of might and glory. It was a spectacle that was a hard act to follow.
Vale's display was meant to be more welcoming, creating a home-like atmosphere where anyone could feel completely at ease. The food was another sought-after attraction, with grub from all around Remnant paraded in carts in the city as well as in vendors inside the grandiose Amity Colosseum. It made Pyrrha's mouth water, to taste the foods that some might call 'home cooking'.
After an eventful breakfast, where PRJN reunited with RWBY, the eight students all took the train back to the city to the city, where the festivities had already begun. The shops were open, with many bakeries and restaurants boasting lines out the door. Souvenir kiosks already lined the streets, selling commemorative knick-knacks for the Festival itself, while newspaper boys walked up and down the streets, selling copies in the last weeks of their winter breaks.
In the distance, the group could hear loud horns from boats. Overhead, the whirs of airships seemed quiet as they neared the harbors. They all filed into the crowd, an incoherent mass all screaming and cheering, waiting for the foreign fighters to join the fray at Beacon for an eventful few weeks.
Since Atlas was the place where the last Vytal Festival was held, they had the responsibility in escorting the Amity to Vale, so a small fleet of ships was to be expected. This was the reason that so many had come to watch: The arrival of the colosseum was the symbol to begin the Festival itself. However, the sheer number of craft prompted many to gasp. The number of them was overwhelming, almost excessive in comparison to past festivals, where it was just a few large ships meant to protect all sides of the mammoth structure. This… looked like a war fleet, one that was ready to attack at a moment's notice.
As the Colosseum floated overhead, a dark shadow loomed over so many of the people who had come to see it be stationed. The ships escorting it seemed to disperse, with some continuing to follow it but many other still landing in the city's various bases.
"That doesn't seem right," Pyrrha could hear Blake say, her voice tinged with disbelief. "That number of ships… it looks like it's ready for an attack, not ready for festivities."
Weiss simply sighed. "Atlas has… become rather protective of its allies since the rise of the White Fang as well as the various terrorists that have plagued its inner walls. The deaths of many Schnee family members, the assassination of the Atlesian professors… all have put the nation on a hair-trigger, ready to strike at any moment."
Blake is right. Pyrrha's mind raced for a few moments, her mouth still slightly agape at the numerous Atlesian bullheads and warships that loomed overhead. Some of the crowd had already dispersed, either shaken by the ships or disappointed about the lack of trust in Vale.
"Guys, let's get back and have lunch. Maybe we'll get to meet some of the new students back at the Academy." Pyrrha felt much of the anticipation and fear that had welled up within her had disappeared, being quickly replaced by a sort of glee, one reciprocated by Ruby as well as Nora, to meet the new people coming to the Academy.
At the lunch table, Pyrrha found that the group tended to gravitate towards old friends. Blake had brought Sun to join them, bringing along his partner and the rest of them, who introduced themselves as Neptune, and Sage and Scarlet respectively. They all took up much of a long table, which replaced the smaller, more intimate tables in preparation for the fair. RWBY and PRJN all sat together, with Sun's team, which, to the amusement of everyone, was SSSN, rounding out each end.
Nora, who sat directly next to Sun, could not help pointing out the obvious. Turning to the team leader, she asked him, "Your team is seriously named SSSN? What, did they realize who was leading it or something?" Ruby, who was placed precariously next to the silent Sage, could not help snickering at the fact that the group was all named after the leader.
Scarlet looked up from his food and quickly took a glance at Ruby. "Well," he quipped. "They're also named after their leader and you're not saying anything about it."
"We're used to them," Nora replied, a goofy grin stretched across her face. "You're the new talk of the town, so of course we're going to focus on you guys."
"Well," Scarlet continued, taking a look over at Pyrrha. "What about your team? We should be talking about the odd ones out here. Persian? What sort of name is that?"
Pyrrha was completely confused. She had had little idea why her team was named that, but also why she was named team leader in the first place. "Um, I don't-" But before she was able to continue, Ren began to speak.
"After some research, I found that there was a disturbing amount of sense in the name. Not only does it make Pyrrha leader in a way that makes a coherent name, Pyrrha's hair... as well as my clothes are both of a shade that is prefixed by 'Persian'. Persian Green and Persian Red, respectively."
Ren's explanation made the group silent for a moment. Pyrrha and Nora were both shocked that the normally reserved teammate actually interrupted someone. Weiss even looked up from her sandwich and turned her head in confusion. Jaune was silently snickering, whilst Blake raised an eyebrow. Scarlet was flabbergasted, but just put his head down and started shaking it. "...Alright then. Your headmaster must have a keen eye for color if he knew something that specific to tie you together."
"Scarlet, enough about decoration. We had to put up with it back home," Sun responded with a tinge of annoyance that Pyrrha could easily pick out. "We're not putting up with it on vacation."
Sage just put his hand on his partner's right shoulder. "Just let him be, guys," The giant slowly responded, before realizing that Scarlet did not have his jacket all the way on. "Also, Scarlet, please put your jacket on correctly. It's cold out. You too, Sun. Button your shirt up."
Neptune shook his head in annoyance. "Please, guys, we're just trying to have a nice lunch with friends. They're good people; let's not mess this up."
In reality, Pyrrha was fine letting them be. It was rather funny watching the team bicker, and Sage and Scarlet especially looked amusing while they had begun to converse on the matter of jackets. The redhead looked defensive, spouting about his fashion choices while his gigantic partner just smiled and let him speak. Pyrrha, however, was focused on her partner and the group that had formed on the other end of the table. Jaune did not look jovial in any sense of the word; a visage of remorse is what he wore. Weiss seemed, almost uncharacteristically, understanding. Her icy walls were dropped a bit, and her nods were coupled with closed eyes.
Scarlet just sighed and turned over to those at the end of the table, who were having their own conversation. "So, what are you guys talking about? You seem a bit chummy; why not get in with us?"
Jaune shrugged, the three who had not spoken turning back to the group. "We were just simply talking about our breaks while you all were conversing about other things."
"Yeah," Weiss continued. "Jaune and I were trying to catch up after our match."
"You two fought?" Pyrrha was utterly flabbergasted. Why were they both facing each other during the holidays? Isn't that a time for rest? "Why weren't you guys home? It was the holidays!"
"Well, our families just had other plans. Nothing personal; we just both had prior obligations to fulfill." Jaune responded, obviously holding back an answer. Pyrrha wanted to ask, but the look on Weiss's face seemed to suggest that she should hold her tongue for now.
"So," The white-haired girl continued, obviously wanting to change the subject. "What did you guys do over break? I saw that you came off the ship with Ren and Nora. Weren't they supposed to stay here over break?"
"Oh!" Pyrrha accepted the diversion, but the suspicions remained in the back of her mind. "Yeah, I took Ren and Nora with me back to my family's farm. We had a lot of fun, and we learned a lot about each other through those few weeks. Fall is relatively uneventful in Honeysuckle; just some apple picking at the local orchards and running amok with my brothers like old times." She felt that she needed to keep intentionally vague, considering all that she had learned. Judging by Weiss and Jaune's reactions, they both seemed to be fine with the terse judgement.
"Why are we just sitting here now?" Neptune seemed keen to ask, gesturing to everyone's empty plates. "We should get out and just enjoy Beacon as it is. We could go to the library, or-"
"You're such a nerd, Neptune," Sun replied with a slight smirk, much to the chagrin of both his partner as well as Blake and Ren. "Immediately pushing to the library."
"Intellectual, Sun," His blue-haired accomplice rapidly retorted, pointing one finger up as if to imitate a studious old professor. "There is a difference. Like I was saying, though, it's quite cold outside, even during the day. Places like the library, or the gyms if we want to work out, are quite warm by comparison."
"But the cold is part of the fun," Yang finally retorted. "You need to feel the wind on your wings when you're working out. It warms you up quite quickly; you gotta keep moving in the winter if you're gonna survive. I don't know how it is when you're in Vacuo, but Vale citizens are much more used to a chill in the winter."
Sun laughed. "Cold never bothered me, anyway. My body can withstand near any temperature; it's not a problem with me in the bitter freeze."
"Says someone whose tail was shivering the entire way to Beacon," Blake retorted, fiddling with earmuffs she wanted to wear, trying to extend the top portions so that her ears wouldn't be squashed by the plastic exterior. Everyone else laughed, and Sage reached over and punched his team leader's arm.
"She's right. Button up your shirt." Sage's comment, although lighthearted and well-intentioned, only made Sun flare up a bit.
"Well guys," Pyrrha interrupted everyone, trying to get attention. "I think it's time that our teams go separate ways. We have much to catch up on as a group, I would think. We all haven't seen each other since the end of the holidays, and I do believe we would benefit by just being with our team." I would like to ask Jaune about that in private.
With Pyrrha's comment, a general sense of agreement was held. One thing that still bothered her was another glare that Weiss Schnee had sent in her direction. The team leader knew the message she meant to convey- Don't talk to Jaune about the fight - but she needed to know. As his team leader, she could help him if he needed it. It was in her nature to assist her friends and teammates.
She just needed the right time.
Jaune sighed deeply as the conversation between the mass of the groups came to a close. He felt quite relieved that Weiss was currently protecting him on the matters of the fight- he wasn't comfortable talking about it, but, from the sight of Pyrrha, she seemed deadset on making sure that her partner was alright.
As much as he cared about her… she could be rather overbearing at times. It was as if she was protecting everyone from everything mentally. As a tactician, perhaps she wanted to paste over the cracks in the defense. Jaune could understand that- any sort of weakness, he had been taught, was something to try and fortify. In all parts of life, Jaune believed, there was always room to improve.
But imperfection in times of calm was perfectly fine. Especially if the imperfection was being ironed out.
This is how Jaune felt about Pyrrha- she was greatly improving. Even over the break, little by little, she was building herself up to be an okay fighter. By the standards of Beacon, she was still physically sub-par, consistently losing to even some lower-level fighters, but she wasn't backing down from a challenge. By the end of the semester, she had begun to win a fight here and there. That, coupled with her grades and the success of PRJN in team exercises, singled her out as a powerful tactician, someone who could lead the battlefield.
He, himself, had to deal with his own issues. He had lost; he underestimated his opponent for but a moment, and it cost him dearly. He couldn't deal with mistakes in the arena; he would likely have the backing of his team in the future, but he couldn't let himself become a liability to the rest of them. The exercises that Ruby had forwarded in the beginning of the semester were helpful, but they didn't stress team cohesion as much. He wanted to right that. He had suggested a group activity to be as a team for a bit, and Nora blurted out about a board game.
Oh, if only he could go back and tell the little redhead that her idea was a terrible one.
"My airships take over your territory, Nora. Defeat is imminent!" Pyrrha triumphantly cheered, holding up the cards in her left hand in victory. "I win again!"
She was frustrating to compete against in mental games. In Chess, Wargames, and other classics that required a mental strategy planned far in advance, Pyrrha was a force to be reckoned with. Ren reclined back in his chair, sighing with his hand folded neatly on the table. Nora looked as if she were about to flip the table. And Jaune just sighed, shaking his head.
"Well, Pyrrha," Jaune conceded, cracking a smile. "That makes two victories to everyone else's zero. I think we'd pack it up for now; we still need to train today."
"Pshaw, Jaune!" Nora laughed a little, having quickly dropped the face of sheer rage she had on not moments ago. "It's the first day back! Live a little. We could go back out tonight and just be kids for a little longer. It's not like we have any upcoming assignments right now. It's Friday! We have the weekend to do as we please."
Jaune knew Nora was right. It was the first night back, but routine kept biting at him on the inside to get his workout done, to keep himself in top physical form. He needed to prevent another de- no. We're not letting that get to me again.
Maybe living a little will help me get that off my mind. "Alright, alright, you win," Jaune forced himself to say against every fiber of his being. I won't regret it in the long run. A good evening with just my team will get this match off of my head.
"Pyrrha, you in for a night on the town?" Nora raised her eyebrows repeatedly. With each repetition, another raise. "Are ya? Are ya? Are ya?"
"I guess it could be nice," Pyrrha conceded. Good; maybe this night will get her mind off of everything. Nora's right… we need to be kids for an evening. That's all we are.
We both need this.
Taking the trip back to Vale, the team had a new purpose in mind: they were just there to have fun. The Vytal Festival, now that the Amity was there, had much more vibrancy. The Festival had not yet begun, per se, but one could not tell that it hadn't. Dancers and street musicians took up the boulevard, stands from all around Remnant served piping hot food and fresh, warm drinks. The smells mingled and mixed together, creating an enticing aroma for each of the four to follow.
Pyrrha had checked that everyone had sufficient funds to enjoy the town on, including herself. Jaune was relieved that she had the money to do so; she had explained that their parents' farm was doing well and the letters, as well as presents from Pyrrha's eldest brother, confirmed it. Thank god he was alright. I can only imagine how Pyrrha would've been if the news had come that her brother had died.
Using a local coffee shop as a hub, the group began to separate. Each of them had had their own goals in the various kiosks that had come up. Jaune himself went to the faithful stand that had never done him wrong. Same place as always. I'm glad to see that business is doing him well.
After about fifteen minutes of waiting in a long line, Jaune finally got to the front of the queue overlooking the large, mobile store that his favorite vendor had. Mr. Rojo looked about the same as last time. His beard, the only hair on his face, was still a shining, fiery red. Combined with the rosy cheeks that he had, Jaune reckoned that much of the warmth surrounding his stand came not from the piping hot goods that rested on top of one end of his stand, nor from the coffee that brewed behind him, but from the man himself.
"Oh, Jaune! My favorite customer!" Mr. Rojo sputtered, his rosy cheeks becoming even rosier as his trader's facade became a full-fledged grin. "Champion of Vale! Wonderful boy. What brings you here?"
Jaune blushed a bit at Rojo's boastful declaration. "I'm not a champion, you know that. But, yeah… I'd like a ham and cheese panini and a caramel latte. Got that, Mr. Rojo?"
"Yes, sir!" Mr. Rojo had out his clipboard, quickly marking it down. "Just so you know, even if you don't always pull through, you have so many of us looking up to you and after you. Vale will always be behind its own through thick and thin." The man's blazing red eyebrows raised twice, signaling a sort of joy in all facets of his face.
After paying, Jaune reeled back. "Thank you, Mr. Rojo. I take it that it'll be a few minutes?"
"Yep." Mr. Rojo nodded. "My son, Monet, will get you your food. I wish you well, Jaune Arc!"
Jaune didn't know whether to be flattered by the fact that many were still behind him after the loss or hurt by the fact that he was reminded of the fact that he did, in fact, lose. It was rather annoying, thinking that he could never escape the fact that he'd lost to Weiss in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The food only provided a momentary solace from his mind. The crowd around him didn't help, with it being so overbearing on his thoughts that he felt ready to close in on himself.
Seeing an empty alleyway, Jaune decided to walk down it. It was secluded, just a few trash cans and scurrying rodents. Save a single door that led to a local business, there was no entrance or exit but the one he came through. At worst, he'd have a few seconds of company as a young boy took out the trash.
Almost wishing for a cigarette, Jaune tried to calm his nerves as he took uneasy bites of his dinner. He'd always hated the spotlight, but now it was becoming even more unbearable to him. The boy knew that part of it was done by himself, but he couldn't count the exact percentages… only that he could easily visualize the sources of his own current mental strife.
Taking another sip of coffee, Jaune felt a moment of calm as the warm drink hit his stomach, sending a blissful wave through his entire being. As he shivered, the feeling of euphoria was quickly replaced again with sorrow.
"You okay, Jaune?" Ren followed me.
Jaune turned, his concrete visage having been put on in the moment he took to spin and meet his teammate. "Yeah, Ren. Why do you ask?"
"You're not acting yourself." Ren never beat around the bush. "The moment you had come back, you seemed different. You avoided much of the conversation today, and the whispers with Weiss had everyone else concerned. This night was as much for you as it was the rest of us. We knew how much you loved the city; maybe it would do you good to have a night here, especially in the revelries of the festival."
Jaune nodded. Of course they wanted me to feel good. "It's… nice to be back in the city. I just wish it was under a better circumstance… coming here with all of you, I mean. I'd rather not talk about it right now."
"If you don't want to talk right now, that's fine," Ren nodded, flashing a light smile. He moved up close and placed his hand on Jaune's shoulder. "I came here to see if you were okay. Just let yourself have a little fun today. For once, Nora was right. We are kids, if only for a little bit longer."
Feeling Ren's shoulder unclamp brought a weird feeling of calm. "You won't always feel amazing. None of us will. Just… talk to us about it. We are your teammates."
"Alright, Ren." Jaune nodded, taking a final bite of his sandwich and tossing the trash into the nearby can. "What did you leave Nora doing? You know what she can get herself into when she's on her own."
Ren's eyes quickly widened. "We gotta go." Ren started bolting down the alleyway, noticeably nervous. Jaune followed, coffee splashing all around as he trailed his teammate, laughing all the way.
I'm gonna need to find peace with myself if I'm going to move forwards. But, for now, all he had to focus on was making sure that his one teammate wasn't causing trouble and that his other teammate was having fun this evening. Following Ren back into the crowd, Jaune was going to try and not let his negativity bother him.
Nora was right.