A/N: I wanted to write a Christmas-y thing, but my holiday wasn't great, for many reasons. Not every holiday will be the best one ever, and that's okay, it's just life, 2020 will be great and it's just next week! So, M will be for Maybe.

The New Years party was far too loud and far too people-y for Ruby's liking, as such she was doing her upmost to at least try and deal with it. There were far more important things to be worrying about, the party felt so absurd with the events of the last few weeks. Yang and Blake were in the middle of a will they, wont they flirting but not quite flirting session. Nora and Ren were having a blast figuring out the new couple thing. Weiss and Oscar were practically attached to Winter and Ironwood at the hips, Penny seemed to be mid story talking with them all, and Jaune was nowhere to be seen. He was as good at hiding from crowds as she was, plus there were quite a few of the moms that had inundated him with casserole over the last weeks about. He was definitely hiding somewhere, she laughed to herself finding it quite hilarious. "Alright everyone, grab that special someone, the countdown is only fifteen minutes away!" The DJ boomed over the audience. Ruby rolled her eyes, she wasn't interested in watching a mass make out session.

Ironwood may have ordered another mandatory night off, but that didn't mean she had to stay in the party hall. She made her way up some stairs wandering down the hallways of Atlas Academy, if she remembered right there was a balcony with a view of Mantle below nearby. The city below still recovering from the hackers heat system shutdown and the resulting grimm attacks. Still, they were recovering and Robin was for the most part cooperative with Ironwood, for now at least. Her destination was in sight now, though it was occupied, the dark silhouette outside giving her pause as she ducked behind the corner. She had to be careful, with Tyrion on the loose and having no idea if Salem still had him under orders to "whisk her away" she was honestly a little on edge, she was careful to not show how unnerved she was to her teams. Though to be honest, the story Maria told about losing her eyes terrified her beyond words it was a fate she was all to aware she could suffer. If that was the reason Salem wanted her.. She watched carefully as the figure moved in the dim light, she relaxed as the lamps shimmered off of the familiar curve of silver and gold armor.

Suddenly a smile split her face, she had a wonderful awful idea. She channeled all the stealth she could muster and crept along the walls, managing to silently open the door and creep out. His back was to her, her hands raised into claws ready to goose the unsuspecting blonde, her fingers were inches from him when "Hey Ruby." He greeted, not even turning, though she could feel his self satisfied smirk as she deflated, pouting about her ruined prank.

"No fair." She whined, settling beside him, leaning on the rails looking over the city below.

He laughed softly. "Sorry, I was practicing extending my aura like Ren and Vine can. I sensed you and your "attack" coming."

She smiled despite herself. "I always knew once you unlocked your semblance you'd progress faster than any of us." Her praise rung of genuine pride and conviction. "You've come a long way since throwing up on Yang's shoe." She left the obligatory "vomit boy" implied, choosing to tease him with it's absence.

His eyebrow twitched even though he smiled as well. "You're a far cry from the girl that exploded her soon to be partner on day one too." He chuckled, using her tactic of implying her nickname against her.

She sighed, eyes gazing over the beauty of the lights below. "I dunno about that. I'm still struggling to make the best decisions and do the right thing. I can't tell if we're closer to our goal or even farther away.

He thought for a minute, hmming to himself. "I think that even if the goal post gets moved as long as we are moving towards it we're doing the right thing."

"I guess so." She decided, before changing the subject. "Why're you out here all alone?" .

"It was too loud to think in there." He explained, adjusting his position against the balcony rails. "What about you?"

"Same as you, plus.. all the romance… Yang, Blake, Ren, Nora..." She grouched.

He pursed his lips a jolt of ice hitting the bottom of his stomach. She had no way of knowing, but half the reason he was out here to begin with was his own ponderings with romance. "Is romance really all that bad?" He managed to keep his voice light and neutral, he watched her fidget with her fingers from the corner of his eye, her gaze ever on the city below, her mind thousands of miles away.

She let out a breath and rested her head on her hands. "I dunno, I guess not, it's just with all we know, all that the world is about to know, is it really the best time for all that? I mean I'm happy for them of course.. but…." She trailed off, knowing Jaune well enough to know he knew what she meant.

He turned to look her over fully, her expression was soft, just filtered over with naked worry. She let her guard down fully with him, it was an honor he didn't take for granted in the least. With her team, on missions and where any bystander eyes would be on her she did her upmost to show confidence, optimism, strength and determination. It was her job as a huntress and a leader, even when she wasn't really feeling it. He had been modelling his actions after her for a while now, he too bore the burden and honor of team leader. Still, as was often the case she had gotten so pulled into worrying about the future that she wasn't thinking about the here and now. "I think it's the perfect time." He chirped and a little too aggressively, a little too loud. His cheeks coloring but hidden in the dark. She turned her head, an eyebrow raised. "Think about it, with the world about to turn on its ear, Salem's forces are about to kick into overdrive, we may not have many tomorrows to finally get around to romance, there might not ever be a "right time" acting on feelings now might be the only time we can."

Ruby stood straight, looking Jaune in the eyes as best as she could in the low light, she could tell he was just as surprised about his passionate outburst as he was. "You've given that a lot of thought huh?" She was suddenly a little excited as she wondered who the target of the knights affection was.

His hand found it's way to the back of his neck. "Yea, in the last few weeks."

She smirked, recalling something. "So, I guess the movie brought back your feelings for Weiss, eh?" She teased.

He sputtered, flustered, not really sure how to explain, his brain suddenly short circuiting over her wildly incorrect guess. "Right night, wrong person." He managed a half sentence, ears suddenly burning, and heart racing.

Ruby blinked at him in confusion for several seconds, the wheels turning but nothing falling into place for her. "I was so sure…" she pouted…"Did you meet someone at the theater?"

He wanted to drag his hand over his face in frustration, she could be so adorably oblivious at times. "Tyrian." He muttered, his nerves causing the mouth/brain link to malfunction, no further words willing to form.

She laughed in surprise a jolt of fear shooting through her she wouldn't focus on that man. She knew Jaune well enough to know his brain had locked up, but, honestly she HAD to tease as much for her sake as his. "Why my dear vomit boy, I didn't know you were into older men!" She cooed before chuckling lightly.

Jaune was no fool, he knew she was using humor to hide her fear, he saw the ever so brief look of cold terror light up her eyes at the mention of the scorpions name. He took a breath to steady his nerves, she hadn't put it together yet. "Hearing Tyrian was in town, it terrified me, I started thinking about how I could lose you at any second. I woke up from nightmares for days after, I eventually figured out why, it's because I… I.. I think I love you." Jaune screwed his eyes shut and clenched his fists at his sides, the fear of her reaction being adverse scaring him more than anything.

She was fairly certain her jaw was on the ground, her head was spinning and her heart was threatening to burst through her chest. She hadn't really thought of Jaune romantically, but she hadn't thought of anyone romantically.. She reached out, gently taking one of his hands in both of hers, his eyes slowly opening feeling hers on him. She was obviously deep in thought, her thumbs absently rubbing his wrist. He was kind, selfless, brave always there for her, and she thought back to Nora and Ren's little spat before the rally. She and Jaune had been through so much together, she even almost subconsciously sought him out all the time, did she love him that would take time to figure out? "I… never really thought much about…. Romance stuff, I kinda always thought that'd be an after… thing.. You're right though, we aren't guaranteed an after, so maybe, if it's you.. I could give it a try." She smiled awkwardly, shuffling her feet a bit.

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "We can figure it out together." He sighed pulling her into a hug just as the fireworks lit the skies celebrating the brand new year.

A/N: Short and fluffy, Happy New Year!