A Toast to Buried Hatchets

'Try not to give any of the guy's a lap dance, okay, Ren? You too, Jaune!'

Jaune chuckled at Nora's text, but his laugh faded as he glanced at Ren. His friend was smiling, but it was even faker than Jaune's. The blond frowned, wondering if there was something he could say or do to help his friend, but what was he supposed to say?

He was almost sure whatever was on Ren's mind had to do with Nora. Was Jaune in any position to give advice about a girl in his current situation?

The two walked quietly down the hall, thoughts plaguing Jaune's mind as his lips were pulled into a frown. Was it what he had said? He broke Nora's heart, but he honestly thought he had been helping her.

So why did it feel like he just took a bat to Ren and Nora's relationship?

Chalk up another point for Jaune Arc, the worst best friend in the world…

Nora, Ren, Ruby. Was he just a burden to them? Would dating Ruby just drive her off the deep end? Make her feel like more of a freak? What about the weight he had been in Ren and Nora's life? They fished him out of rock bottom, and how did he repay Nora?

He tried to ignore the thoughts. He wanted to focus on something else, anything else so he didn't have to keep thinking about his own inadequacy. It was hard to, though, when it seemed like he was surrounded by markers of his own failures.

"You okay?" Ren asked, turning his head, and Jaune blinked as he glanced at his friend.

"Y-yeah. Just looking forward to something else. This vacation's been… rough," he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders as Ren nodded his head.

"Don't I know it."

"You okay?" Ren nodded in return, before the two reached the elevator and stepped inside, riding it down to the front entrance where the other guys waited for them. It was just them in the small room, and it was Ren who broke the silence first.

"I tried getting in contact with Ruby. She's not answering her phone, and she was hiding in her room for most of the day."

Jaune fought the urge to groan or sigh, so he just gave his friend a pleading stare. "Just leave her alone, alright?" Ruby's life, her alternate personalities, everything he knew about her hung on the tip of Jaune's tongue, before he muttered, "She's going through a lot."

"I know, Jaune. That's why I want to talk to her."

Jaune had learned to catch the little signs of emotion Ren made. The kind of stuff that most people didn't even notice. Jaune could see the guilt in Ren's eyes, and worse, he could hear the frustration in Ren's voice as he spoke.

"Whatever happened yesterday was my fault. She deserves an apology, at the very least." Ren glanced back at his phone, and Jaune could see how tightly his friend was holding the device. His hand was shaking.

"What happened wasn't your fault."

"What I said triggered her. It hurt her. By definition, it's my fault." He glanced back at his phone, before looking at Jaune again. "I don't know what her story is, Jaune. I don't know what you two talked about when you found her. I just want you to be careful. Trust me when I say that seeing you two together and happy would make me just as happy, but sometimes things just… aren't meant to be. Sometimes circumstances are out of our control, and things don't work out."

"Yeah." Jaune nodded his head as he stared at the metal doors of the elevator. "I know."

Things don't work out. You could put your heart and soul into something, and things could just take a wrong turn out of sheer chance. Bad luck.

Or good luck, in his and Pyrrha's case. Pyrrha had the chance of a lifetime, and that meant leaving Jaune and the others behind.

Would Ruby just be another lost love for Jaune? He rolled his eyes, unable to stop himself from sighing quietly. He silently wondered just when his life turned into such a melodrama.

"Despite everything, I still see her as my friend, Jaune. I hope she gets the help she needs," Ren confessed, and Jaune almost choked on his breath.

"H-help?"

"Everyone needs help. Sometimes that help comes from professional help, a new friend, an old one, or just a change of pace. Everyone's different," he explained with a shrug.

Jaune nodded in agreement, thanking every deity he knew that Ren didn't know about Ruby and her little secrets. Then again, maybe it'd be nice to have someone to talk to about them? Jaune shook his head free of the thought as the doors opened and they stepped out.

The lobby was right in front of them. A night of fun, Fox's last night as an unmarried man, a night spent with Jaune's old enemy, and yet all he could think about was Ruby Rose.

"Do you think… Do you think she and I would work out?" Jaune asked, playing with his tie between his fingers.

Ren shrugged once more, looking at Jaune with a sympathetic smile. "I honestly can't answer that question. That's between you, her, and destiny." Ren chuckled, staring right through Jaune for a moment. "You remember what Pyrrha used to say about destiny, right?"

"Yeah. A final goal…"

Ren nodded his head, before he walked forward and Jaune followed behind him.

The men met outside the hotel, and Jaune saw the others waiting for him and Ren. Yatsuhashi was talking to Fox, before he pointed at Jaune and Ren. Cardin was nearby, face buried in his phone as he ignored the others.

"Fashionably late, as always," Fox observed, causing Jaune to blink, before he reached for his phone. "Jaune reaches for his phone, but Ren doesn't. He knows they're not late. We're just early."

"I-" Jaune froze as his hand hovered over his pocket. Fox and Yatsu chuckled as Ren quietly applauded the prediction.

"Read us like a book, Fox."

"I mean, not like my books. Else my hands would be all over you, and I doubt Coco would appreciate that." He chuckled at his own joke, before he turned towards Cardin. "You still on your phone, Cardin?"

The brunette rolled his eyes in response, before Fox turned to the others. "I'm taking that as a yes. You guys ready to go?" The others nodded, and Fox reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a folded, white cane and he opened it up before walking forward. Yatsu led the group with Fox by his side, gently tapping at the ground.

"So, where are we going exactly?" Jaune asked.

"This nice restaurant that Yatsu found. Seems pretty good. Even has rooms we can rent out to drink on our own and a karaoke machine you can rent."

"That's it? Seriously?" Cardin asked from the back. "What about girls? Strippers?"

"You'd know what was happening if you saw the group chat," Fox commented.

Cardin simply rolled his eyes, not even bothering with a response.

"I don't see why Velvet insisted we bring him along," Yatsu muttered, and Jaune was almost sure Cardin could hear him. He was also sure that Yatsu didn't care.

"What… exactly is going on between them?" Jaune asked, trying to keep his low.

"No clue. Only person she told was Coco," the tall man replied. "I'm willing to trust them, but Winchester's a piece of shit. I can't understand it…"

"Oh, I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later," Fox commented with a grin on his face.

The five soon reached said bar, and the group walked inside. It didn't take long for them to be led to their room. The room was made out of two parts. There was a large dining area, and the other half was designed after a living room, with a large couch for an audience to sit at as one of them made a fool of himself with the karaoke machine.

"Sit down," Fox requested. "We can talk, enjoy the food, and music."

The group did just that, with Yatsu pulling out a chair for the man of the hour. Jaune caught Cardin from the corner of his eyes, watching as the burly man sat down right between Jaune and Fox.

There were glasses of water already poured for them, as well as a small tablet in the middle of the table. Yatsu picked it up, pressing several buttons on the screen, one after another. "We can order our food on here. Fox and I looked at the menu earlier today, so we know what we want. Here, decide for yourself," he requested, handing it to Jaune.

The blond nodded his head, and as he picked his meal, he could hear Yatsu say something to Fox. "Two o'clock." Jaune finished making his order, before he passed the device to the man sitting next to him.

Cardin registered Jaune as he took the tablet. Jaune gave him a similar reaction, focusing on Fox who was smiling at his taller friend.

"Thank you." Fox reached his hand out, and when his fingers felt the cold glass, he picked it up and jingled the ice cubes inside. "I just want to thank all of you for coming. I'll admit, this won't be the most exciting party, but I'm happy you're all here. Even Cardin."

Jaune glanced at his former bully and the burly man turned his head away. He didn't even reach for his glass as he glared at the nearby wall. Jaune was ready to just ignore him when Cardin suddenly took his glass in hand and raised it up.

"Thank you. For letting me come along."

"Velvet tell you to say that? Gave you a little note to read so you didn't forget your lines?" Yatsu asked, and Jaune could see Cardin scowling at the biggest man in the room.

"What'd you say?"

"You know exactly what I said. The question is, will you do anything about it?" Yatsu questioned, raising his brow as Cardin ground his teeth.

Jaune glanced towards Ren, who sat on the opposite side of him beside Yatsu. Ren said nothing as he watched the two, and the blond turned his gaze back to Fox.

"Uh, Fox…?" The blind man was smiling, clearly amused by the two giants glaring at each other.

"You know, I was going to make this big, sappy speech about togetherness, brotherhood, and how much I love and appreciate all of you, but I got to admit, this is a lot more interesting." He leaned back in his seat, impossibly laid back as Jaune wondered if a fight was about to break out.

No one did anything for a long moment. Jaune was ready to stand and say something if either made a move. His eyes bounced between them as Cardin took a deep breath, and sighed.

"Velvet told me to play nice. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm not throwing the first punch," he stated plainly.

And just like that, tension left the room like air from a balloon. Jaune sighed with relief as Cardin ignored Yatsu's eyes on him.

Fox chuckled, a wide smile on his face. "Oh, man, that was exciting."

"It's your day, man. I'm not ruining it," Cardin muttered.

"Good to know. Well, since it is my day, let me make a request. Want to know what one of my favorite things in the world is, Cardin?" Without missing a beat, Fox actually pointed at Cardin, surprising the brunette.

Jaune's face was equally as surprised. It was easy to forget how perceptive Fox was, for lack of a better word. He had lived his whole life with his disability, yet he spoke confidently and smoothly. It was like watching a king address his round table.

"Uhhh-" Cardin glanced towards Jaune, who shrugged in response.

"I love hearing a good story. Whether it's a movie or book, I just love a good tale.

Cardin lifted his brow, and Fox seemed to read his mind. "I know, I know. How can a blind man enjoy a movie, right? Movies are made up of a lot more than just pictures. They're music, dialogue, and heart. Always loved Pirates of the Carribean," he confessed with a grin.

"Yeah, that makes sense," Cardin muttered.

"I know you've always been a heavy critic on my condition, Winchester. In fact, I believe you made several jokes at my expense about me being blind back in highschool. Writing on my locker, tossing notes at me, trying to trip me, etcetera, etcetera."

Cardin chewed on the inside of his cheek, pressing his thumb against his drink. Jaune watched him, catching the small shaking of Cardin's hand.

"Now, I'm happy to let bygones be bygones between you and me, Winchester, so don't worry about that. We're friends now! Look, you're at my bachelor party, about to eat food for free, but in return for my kindness, I just want to hear a story or two from you."

"What kind of story?"

"Well, why don't you tell me about yourself? What you're doing right now, where you're going in life, why Velvet insisted you come to Hawaii with us." Fox brought his drink to his lips, sipping the cool water with a smile. "If you'd be so kind, of course."

"I…" Jaune could see the change in Cardin's face. Fox probably would have loved to see the former bully squirm in his seat, to watch him twitch and fidget in his seat. Cardin's mouth opened, but nothing came out as the doors opened.

Their orders had arrived, and as impressed as Jaune was by the speed, he kept glancing at Cardin. The guy looked like he was sweating as he drank his water and watched his food being placed down.

The waiter exited the room as easily as he came in, and Fox took a long sniff of his food. "Mmm, that smells delicious." His fingers fell onto the table, sliding along it until he found his utensils. His other hand did the same thing, stopping once he could find the plate. He dug his fork into his pasta as he looked at Cardin again.

"Well, Cardin? We haven't seen you in years. You must have done something interesting, Mr. Football Star."

Everyone knew what this was really about. Fox wanted to know the truth, and Velvet wasn't here to protect his former enemy. No one said anything as Cardin seemed to ponder just what he could do.

Part of Jaune wondered if Cardin would just stand up and leave, but that seemed less and less likely with every second. He just sat there, not even touching his food anymore as he accept his fate.

"Well, I have a funny little story about Cardin," Yatsu volunteered suddenly, digging into his own food. "It's a little story about how I found Velvet crying all alone after you and your friends made fun of her. Threw her things in a garbage can, if I remember correctly."

"Scandalous," Fox commented, but even Jaune could see the sharp glimmer in his eyes. His voice hid a sharp, almost venomous tone.

"What do you want from me? An apology?" Cardin sighed.

"No, that's pretty worthless, honestly. I just want the truth."

"You want the truth? Here's the truth. I was in a homeless shelter."

That… silenced the room for a moment.

"Well, shit. This I got to hear," Fox chuckled, sipping his water. "Go on."

"H-hey, hold on." Jaune gulped, before looking at Cardin. "If you're not-"

"Shut the hell up, Arc. I don't need you defending me." Cardin stared at the others around the table, before he continued. "It's been, what? Four years since we all saw each other?"

Fox nodded his head. "Last we saw you, you were still on the football team. From what we heard from Jaune and the others, 'you were going professional after highschool."

"Yeah. That was the plan, but plans change," Cardin explained with a sigh.

"What? You break your knee? Could have been a contender?" Yatsu asked, the venom clear in his voice.

"No. I hurt my knee after I quit," Cardin answered.

Yatsu raised his brow, before he continued.

"'Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a professional football player?' Those were the words my college coach said to me after I told him what I wanted. You know those movies, where the underdog rises up and shocks everyone with how good he is?" Cardin asked, taking some of his food and eating it. He chewed it up, swallowed, and spat out the words, "Bunch of feel good crap."

Cardin's hand tightened into a fist as the other held his fork. He gently smacked the utensil against his food as he glared a hole into it. "You can do your absolute best, you can push yourself, give it your all… And still fail."

"You watch everyone else run faster. You watch them hit harder. You get angry, cause obviously they're cheating. Not like you. You earned your place here."

Cardin put his fork down, letting his hands squeeze and crush the empty air. Jaune could see his jaw clenching, his muscles tensing, before he released it all out with a sigh.

"I called the other guys out on it, and when they denied it, I got pissed. I decked someone. I don't think I even hurt him that bad, but suddenly his friends are all over me. And when they started kicking my shit in, no one came to help me."

"Eventually the coach found us. He broke us up, but everyone saw what happened. Everyone knew I was the one who threw the first punch, so I got kicked out. Thrown off the team. Playing the game was all I had, so I didn't really see a point in going to college after that."

Didn't really see a point. Jaune felt a twisting in his gut from those words. His break up with Pyrrha ran through his mind until Yatsuhashi asked a question.

"And then what?"

"What did every other college drop out do? Run back home to mommy and daddy," the man replied, eyes locked on the table in front of him. "No rent, free food, and just keep the excuse 'I just need some time' on repeat."

"Sounds nice," Fox commented.

"It was. Until they got sick of me."

"They kicked you out?" Jaune spoke the words slowly. Part of him couldn't believe anyone would do that to their own child, but he always did wonder what kind of people would have raised Cardin. It almost seemed poetic, honestly.

"I spent over a year with them for free. I had no job, and no friends. All I did was hang out alone in my room, getting pissed off and angry. I didn't do anything. I didn't talk to anyone. Eventually, my parents gave me the 'sink or swim' talk. They gave me a few thousand dollars, and sent me out into the world."

"I had enough money for a small apartment on my own. Even got a job as a cashier," Cardin confessed, every word laced with bitterness and shame. "Did you know minimum wage isn't enough to make a living in Vale?"

Cardin chewed on her lips. He sank his teeth into them, before he opened his hands. His nails dragged against the table as he continued. "I couldn't afford the apartment for long. I was homeless, with a job. Sleeping out on the streets until I had work. Eventually, I didn't have to come into work anymore."

"I mean, couldn't you have stayed with a friend?" Jaune asked, and Cardin scoffed.

"What friends? Everyone I knew back in highschool didn't give a shit about me. They just gave me the same, 'that sucks, man,' empty platitude bullshit," he growled.

"Platitude. Big word for you," Fox mumbled quietly. Cardin either didn't hear or didn't care.

"I found a homeless shelter. I sent a long time there, coming and going, moving from one dead end job to another," Cardin explained. "And it was a shithole. Found someone crapped in a shower stall once. Another time, I got robbed while I was there."

"And that's where you met Velvet, wasn't it?" Yatsu asked.

"Yeah. She'd volunteer there a lot. First time I saw her, I actually stayed out of sight. Didn't want her to see me. Thought she'd be a bitch and make my life hell," he grumbled, before he flinched at Yatsu's glare and shaking fist. "I'm not saying she's a bitch. I'm saying I thought she'd be a bitch."

"Winchester-" Fox placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, calming him down. Cardin watched the two, before continuing.

"Eventually she saw me, and I was ready for her to start bitc-ah… I was ready for her to piss me off, but she didn't. She never asked what I was doing there. She just… helped me out. Made sure I was okay. She was the nicest person there. Sometimes it felt like she was the only one who gave a shit. I even saw her help some crazy lady with her panic attack," Cardin explained, glancing at Jaune for a moment.

Their eyes locked, and Jaune knew what his former bully was saying. Cardin learned how to help Ruby with her own panic attack thanks to watching Velvet. It still seemed surreal to think of Cardin as being nice to anyone, but here they were.

He kept quiet as Cardin continued. "She made things easier. Everyone loved having her there. Hell, I loved having her around. Then she made me an offer. I don't know why, I thought she was crazy the first time she said it, but she actually invited me to live with her."

"So you're living with Velvet now?" Jaune inquired.

"A woman you used to bully and push around," Fox added, and Cardin nodded his head.

"I ain't proud of it, but yeah. She's letting me crash at her apartment until I 'get back on my feet,'" he explained. "Been staying there for a few months now. I pay a portion of rent, take out the trash, and stuff. I try not to be too much of a burden. She even helped me get a bank account and a card under my name. She's…"

Cardin paused. He scratched at his face, before sighing quietly. "I don't get it. I don't get her."

"I do," Yatsu replied. "Velvet's a good person, and against reason, she chose to help you. She chose to house you, and even invited you on this trip. Let me ask you a question, Cardin. Do you think you deserve to be here?"

Cardin didn't say anything at first. He opened his mouth, but Yatsu interrupted him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

Jaune turned his gaze to the largest man in the room, and he glared at him. It was a gut reaction, quick and almost instinctual. He just couldn't sit still and let Yatsuhashi harass someone, even if that someone was Cardin. "Hey, hold on-"

"I don't deserve to be here." Cardin glared at Yatsu, and the two stared each other down as Ren quietly ate his food. "Is that what you want to hear? It's true. I'll fucking admit. I don't belong here, but I'm here. So I can either leave, or stay. Whatever you want. I don't care."

Cardin stood up and jabbed his thumb into his chest, leaning forward as Yatsu, Fox, and Jaune watched him.

"I get it. You have every right to hate me, but I'm not just gonna sit here and be spat on. I know I'm an asshole, but I'm trying to be better. You want me to leave, just say the word and I'll go."

Yatsu took a deep breath, before Fox's hand gently touched his arm. Yatsu glanced at his friend, before looking at Cardin again.

"I'll be honest with you, Winchester. Yatsu and I both have a hard time sympathizing with you. You're right. You've had to deal with a lot of shit. Velvet would often tell us about how bad it was working at the shelter. The conditions were rough. It was soul crushing work, and I can only imagine how bad it was to actually live there."

Fox took a bite of his food, before speaking again. "But you hurt our friend. Yatsuhashi and I take that very seriously."

"There were days I'd find Velvet crying because of you. Sobbing because of what you put her through," Yatsu added. "And she wasn't your only victim," he glanced at Jaune, who silently stared back, unsure if anger or guilt was the appropriate response.

Cardin buried his face in his hands, sighing into them. "If you want me to go, I'll go."

"No one wants you gone, Cardin," Jaune interjected, and that seemed to catch both Yatsu and Fox's attention. "Guys, look, I hate Cardin too, but can't we just bury the hatchet and… start over?" he asked.

He looked at Fox and Yatsu pleadingly, silently begging them to just stop. No one said anything, until Fox broke the silence.

"I can't tell what's happening, but I assume Jaune's looking at us?"

"Yep."

Fox nodded his head, before he turned his head towards Cardin.

"I won't lie, Winchester. I don't like you. Back during high school, I even hated you. You were scum, and you hurt my friends, but Jaune has a point. We aren't in high school anymore."

"We aren't teenagers. We're supposed to be adults, and if Velvet is willing to give you a chance, so am I," Fox stated. "I just wanted to know your story."

Cardin glanced at Jaune, who shrugged in response. The brunette turned his gaze back towards Fox and Yatsu, crossing his arms as he sat back down. "So… We're cool?"

"We're willing to play nice if you are. We're definitely not friends, but we're willing to let you hang out with us to look cool," Fox answered. "Of course, I believe you still owe Jaune Arc and Lie Ren an apology."

Cardin looked at the two young men, and neither said anything back. Jaune had thought about this moment plenty of times before. As far back as high school, to just a few hours ago. He'd look Cardin dead in the eyes and finally hear those words.

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "If I let you hit me once, can we just bury this shit in the past?"

"What?" Jaune blinked.

"Deal," Ren declared, before he cleaned his lip with a napkin and stood up.

"Wait, what?!" Jaune's eyes widened as he watched Ren walk around the table. The dark-haired man raised his hand as Cardin opened his mouth.

"W-wait, let me-"

Ren backhanded Cardin, and the smack echoed throughout the room. Silence replaced it as no one said anything. Jaune slowly picked his jaw up from the ground, Cardin blinked, still processing the act, while Ren relaxed his arm and hung it limply by his side.

Then Fox snorted, chuckling as he spoke. "Holy shit, this night has been awesome."

"Ahh!" Cardin groaned loudly, clutching his face as he glared at Ren. "What the hell was that for?!"

"You called me a chink back in highschool, plus a dozen other slurs. Half of which didn't even apply to me," Ren calmly explained, before he held his hand out to Cardin. "That was years worth of pent up anger for what you put me and my friends through. Honestly, you got off easy, but now that it's out of my system, I'm willing to bury the hatchet."

"...Seriously?" Cardin blinked, rubbing his face.

"Seriously."

Cardin blinked again, eyes glancing down to Ren's hand, before going back up to his stoic face. He slowly reached his hand out, taking Ren's and shaking it slowly. Ren gently squeezed Cardin's hand, before releasing it and returning to his seat, and his food.

Ren ate quietly, swallowing some of it, before he actually smiled at Jaune and the others. "I actually feel better. Thank you, Cardin."

"You're welcome," Cardin grumbled, before glancing at Jaune. "Alright, a-hole. Your turn." This time the burly man stood up, glaring down at Jaune, who blinked in confusion.

"I… I'm really okay with just an apology. Honestly," the blond replied, trying to keep his head down.

"Booo," Fox joked from the sidelines.

"No use in chickening out now. Come on, Arc. Be a man and hit me."

"I think that statement opens a very disturbing look at how you were raised, Cardin," Jaune commented. "More importantly, I'm not going to punch you!"

"Come on, you wuss," Cardin growled. "How many times did I push you in a locker? Take your stuff? Insult you, right to your face."

"Cardin, I'm not-"

"Don't be a wimp," he growled. "Be a man, and hit me," he repeated, grabbing Jaune by the collar and forcing him out of his seat.

"Hey, let me go!"

"Make me."

"I'm not going to hit you," Jaune scowled. "That's not what being a man is about."

"Do it."

"No."

"Hit me!"

"No!"

"I said, hit me!"

Jaune wanted to put his foot down, and to put his foot down, he raised his hand up. He told himself he was going to throw a punch, but he'd miss Cardin's face by a few inches. Just a quick jab to show that his old bully had no sway over him, but also to show he wouldn't just hit Cardin.

Unfortunately, Jaune had also never really thrown a punch before in his life. He worked out with Pyrrha plenty of times, but hitting the empty air was a lot different than actually hitting someone.

Jaune's fist clumsily cut through the air in a wide arc. His wrist smacked against the side of Cardin's head, and both parties ended up crying out in pain.

"Ahh!"

"Son of a-ahh! My ear!"

"My wrist!"

"Who punches someone in the ear?!"

"Ahhh," JAune groaned, wrapping his fingers around his wrist as pain shot down his arm. "Ow, ow, ow, ow…"

"Shit," Cardin growled, picking up his drink and pressing the cold glass against his ear. "What is wrong with you?!"

"I was trying to not hit you!"

"Well, ya missed!"

"You two okay?" Fox asked, watching as the two tried to nurse their wounds.

"Well, there goes Jaune's only chance to hit Cardin," Yatsu commented with a small smile.

"Should have gone for his nuts," Ren commented quietly before he sipped his drink.

Cardin rubbed his ear with the glass, before he placed his drink down and looked at Jaune. "You feel better?" he asked.

"No, not really," Jaune grumbled, sitting back down as he rolled his wrist around. "I told you, I didn't want to hit you. I just…" He sighed, shaking his head. "I just wanted an apology and to move on. I've got enough on my plate as is,"

Cardin looked at Jaune, and the blond could actually see the confusion in his eyes. "You can't tell me you didn't want to hit me for the crap I put you through."

"My father taught me to turn the other cheek."

"Why? So it can get hit too? You're either man enough to hit back, or you take the beating."

"Clearly we had different fathers," Jaune sighed, and Fox placed his hands on both men's shoulders. Cardin and Jaune's eyes widened, having not noticed that Fox was near them. They hadn't even noticed him leaving his seat.

"I think you both could learn a thing or two from the other."

Jaune said nothing, glancing down at his hand as Cardin's eyes fell onto his food. "I know that an apology doesn't really change anything," the brunette muttered. "It doesn't take anything back, but it's a start, right?"

"Yeah..." Jaune muttered, nodding his head. He glanced at the man who picked on him for years, and he saw Cardin's eyes staring right back at him. And he felt Ruby's eyes on the both of them as Jaune smiled. "It is."

A sense of peace seemed to wash over the room, at least for the moment. Jaune and Cardin smiled at one another as Fox clapped his hands.

"To buried hatchets," Fox's hand slid along the table, before his fingers touched his water. He wrapped his fingers around it, before he held it up, and Yatsu did the same. Ren followed, before Jaune and Cardin glanced at one another. After a moment, they both did the same, holding their drinks up with the groom.

"To buried hatchets."

The five fell into a simple motion after that. A bit of liquor was the perfect social lubricant, greasing the wheels for each of them to cut loose and relax.

They moved into the other room where they sang and made fools of themselves like Fox said. Jaune, Ren, and Cardin sat on a small couch together, while Fox sat on a small cushioned chair.

Yatsu held a microphone in hand, standing up by the karaoke machine acting almost like a jester for everyone as he sang and put on a little dance for the other men. The others laughed, goading him on as Jaune just enjoyed the moment.

He even watched as his childhood friend went crazy by Ren's Standards. He smiled and even cracked a few jokes as the five forgot about the past and just enjoyed the present.

Fox's love for stories meant there was rarely a quiet moment. After the song came to an end, the group took a break and listened to Fox regaling them all with a story from his past.

"And I just stare at her, dead in the eyes, no clue what to say or do. She opens her arms up, and I think to myself, 'My family is huge. I must know this woman from somewhere. A cousin or an aunt or something! Just go with it!' And so I move in and I give her a big hug, saying 'It's so good to see you again!'"

Cardin snorted, shaking his head as finished his glass. Jaune covered his mouth, holding back a laugh as Ren grinned.

"And she pats me on the back and says, 'N-not you, dear.' And I drop her, and someone else comes up to hug her, trying to hide her behind his body. I'm pretty sure I terrified them both."

"How drunk were you?" Ren inquired, raising his brow as Jaune and Cardin laughed.

"More drunk than this." Fox finished his glass, laughing as he shook his head. "I stumbled out of there as quickly as I could and tried hiding behind Coco. She makes fun of me for it to this day."

He poured himself some water, before asking, "Anyone else have a funny story?"

"Nothing that can beat that," Ren replied. "Besides, Nora tells them better."

"Well, speaking of Nora, how are you two?" Fox asked. "You've been dating for a while."

"If you ask me when we're going to get married, you're going to start sounding like my parents," Ren sighed.

"Well, I just want to mark my calendar. Don't want to miss it."

"You'll be the first to know, Fox."

"Jaune, that girl you brought. Ruby, right?" Yatsu asked, and Jaune's eyes widened for a moment as he heard her name. "Mind telling us a little bit about her?"

The blond hesitated, and Ruby and her secrets hit him like a ton of bricks as his eyes darted away. It all came back to him, and with it, the question of just how much he knew about her returned too. What were they? What was he going to do? His lips parted, but when nothing came out, Cardin interjected.

"Who cares? Probably just some chick Jaune brought along. I mean, got to admit, she's a nice piece, but there ain't much else to her, I bet," the brunette stated, before he picked his glass up. "Hey, Yatsu, mind pouring me another?"

Jaune turned to Cardin, surprise clear on his face as the other man just ignored him. He didn't even glance at Jaune as he requested a refill.

"Velvet was very clear you only get one glass. We're cutting you off," Yatsu stated plainly, earning a scowl on Cardin's face. Yet Jaune knew his former bully was faking it.

"Why the hell are you treating me like it's the freakin' Prohibition? Come on, what Velvet doesn't know won't hurt her!"

"Reach for the bottle, Winchester. Let's see how your arm looks afterwards," Yatsu chuckled, smirking as Cardin threw his hands up and muttered something angrily.

The others returned to joking around and laughing at stories as Jaune sat quietly. His mind replayed Ruby's words in his head. He saw her smile, her bright silver eyes, and… and the eyes of the other women living inside her.

What was he supposed to say about her? That he liked her? That he really liked her? Or that he was utterly terrified of what would happen if he dated her?

Jaune's sapphire eyes drifted towards Ren. His life-long friend didn't say anything, but their eyes met for a moment. Then Ren turned his attention to the others, leaving Jaune with a simple fact.

No one could make him say anything. What he said tonight was his choice.

Cardin and Yatsu were in the middle of talking to one another, halfway between mocking and ribbing the other, before Jaune spoke up.

"Ruby is… a really amazing girl that I met."

Fox's lips curved into a small grin as the others looked at Jaune. He felt their eyes on him again as he tapped his fingers against his knee.

"She's funny, smart, quirky, nice-"

"Hot," Cardin added, earning a glare from Ren and Yatsuhashi. The burly man held up his hand, shrugging. "What? It's a compliment. She's hot. I'm complimenting Jaune's choice!"

Jaune rolled his eyes, before he quietly sighed. "She's great. I… really like her," he confessed with flushed cheeks.

"But...?" Fox asked.

And here it was. Jaune found himself in the middle of a minefield, where one wrong move wouldn't just hurt him, it'd hurt Ruby too. What was he supposed to do? What was the right thing to say?

He scratched his head, avoiding the other's eyes as he answered. "I really want to date her, but I'm scared. Terrified," he admitted.

"Why? She seems harmless," Yatsu commented. "Go on a date. If it doesn't work out, end it. Be mature adults about it, and everything should be fine."

"To be fair, dating comes with a lot of change. Sometimes people, even at our age, just aren't ready for a commitment like that," Fox stated, before he turned his head so his white eyes could stare just past Jaune. "Do you want to tell us more?"

"You don't… have to." No one expected Cardin to speak up, and everyone seemed to stare at him, even Fox. "What?" he growled, before rolling his eyes. "You assholes interrogating me was e-fucking-nough. If Jauney boy doesn't want to talk, who cares?"

It was funny. In some way, Jaune actually felt like Cardin was trying to help. He chuckled quietly, before he gave the understatement of the year.

"It's complicated."

"Everything is before you explain it," Fox commented.

Jaune nodded his head, before he closed his eyes. He just wanted a sign. He wanted someone to tell him what to do. He wanted an answer, but he knew he wasn't going to get one by dancing around the subject. Still, he had no right to reveal Ruby's secret.

"This doesn't leave the room," he declared. "This doesn't leave any of us. Alright?"

"Promise," Fox replied, and Jaune watched as the others nodded in agreement.

His stare did linger on Cardin, and the former bully raised his brow. "What? Alright, yes, I promise. Happy?"

Jaune scoffed quietly, a small smile on his lips, before he continued. "I guess I'm just scared of… Well, everyone has baggage, right? I guess I'm just scared of adding someone else's to my life. A-and to add mine to hers."

He felt their eyes on him, but the only one to speak was Fox.

"And you're scared of mixing your baggage with Ruby's?" He nodded his head, before speaking out.

"Er, yeah. I am."

"Well, you're right, Jaune. Everyone has baggage," Fox agreed. "I'm blind, in case you didn't notice until right now." The blond blinked, glancing at the others, before Fox continued. "Coco was scared to date me. She told me that a long time ago."

"And I was terrified of dating anyone. I mean, who would want me?" he sighed, leaning back in his seat. "When I was young, I saw myself as a burden. Any girl dumb enough to fall for me would just have to get over it, because no one deserved to have to take care of a blind man for the rest of their life."

"I used to think about how unfair it was," he explained, lifting a hand and moving his fingers in the air. "Why was I born like this when everyone else could see? Why me? The thought of someone having to take care of me for the rest of their life sickened me."

"I've known Coco for a long time. The only other person who's known her longer is Velvet, and when I spent time with her, I almost felt normal, but I know I'm not, Jaune. I'll never be like everyone else."

"Would you want to? If you could…?" Jaune asked, regretting the words as they came out of his mouth, but Fox only smiled in return.

"I don't know. All I know is that someone was willing to share the burden. That's what Coco told me."

"I fought her. I told her to get over me, to forget about me. I hated myself, and I hated what I was, but she didn't. She still wanted me," he muttered. "It's true, Jaune. When you start dating someone, the closer you get to them, the more their issues tend to become yours too. That's how relationships work."

"Dating someone doesn't mean you become their caretaker, though. I help out around our place, I make money, I take care of her like how she takes care of me. We try to make it even. That's the best any couple can do."

Make it equal. Could Jaune do that? Could Ruby? Of course he wanted to help her, and he trusted Ruby would help him back, but could they make it work? Her DID would become a part of his life. Was he ready for that?

"Now, does that mean me being blind is nothing? No. I. Am. Blind," he declared, moving his hand to emphasize the words. "Whatever baggage Ruby has, she has. Just like you have yours. You need to be honest about that. Don't deny it, and don't think just being in love will fix all your problems."

The honest fact was that Ruby had voices in her head. Not just voices. Entire personalities. People in her mind who she shared a body with.

What was it even like dating someone like that? Jaune wondered if Coco wondered the same question regarding Fox.

"But love helps. Having a friend, helps. A lot," Fox confessed, and Jaune nodded his head in return.

There was a moment of silence. Then someone else spoke.

"If you ask me, who gives a fuck?" Jaune blinked, before each of the men looked at Cardin. "You like her, she likes you. Go get some before someone else does." He shrugged, staring at the empty glass in his hand. "Life's short, right? We're all gonna die sooner or later. Might as well try and get laid before that happens."

"Eloquently put," Yatsu sighed. "Though he does bring up a good point," he added, looking at Jaune as he sat on the floor. "Dating her might be a mistake. Not dating her could be a mistake.

There might not be a right answer. Just the answer you choose."

Jaune's eyes moved between the three, before he finally settled on Ren. The dark-haired man kept his eyes down on the table, before he finally lifted them to meet his old friend. "Jaune, I can't tell you what to do with your life. It's yours to live, but… I want you to know that I have faith in you and Ruby."

"Faith that we're meant to be?"

"No. Faith that you're good people. Flawed, but good. If you trust her, I do too. If you date her, I'll support you both. If you break up, I like to think you'll both be mature about it. I just want you to think about your choice before you make it."

"Yeah, well… I've certainly been doing that."

"Then maybe it's time to stop thinking. At the end of the day, Jaune, it's between you and her," Fox stated. "Make your move. Do you want to date her or not?"

Between me and Ruby...

"I-I'm not sure," Jaune confessed.

"There's going to be a lot of moments in your life where you aren't a hundred percent sure of something," Yatsu shrugged. "That's just part of life."

Jaune let those words bounce around in his skull, repeating them to himself for a moment, before he turned towards Fox. He bit down on his lower lip, sinking his teeth into it, before speaking quickly. "Fox, I'm sorry, but I think I might need to-"

"Go ahead. I've got more than enough to entertain me here."

"This is your bachelor party, I didn't mean to-"

"Jaune. Seriously. Go."

"Right." Jaune nodded his head, before he stood up. "I need to talk to her."

"Do you want to date her?" Ren asked, and Jaune said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Yeah. I do." Then the second thought. "Baggage and all." Then the third. "I-I think." He muttered those last few words. He still wasn't a hundred percent sure about this, but he knew the group couldn't really give him anything else. They gave him a reprieve, they gave him their advice, and now it was up to him and her.

He had to find Ruby.

END

Hey, everyone. I'm sorry this update took so long. General insanity of real life and frustrations with making this chapter took. I'm proud of aspects of it, but less so with others. I enjoyed researching and coming up with Cardin's past. I know it's cliche, but I do love redemption arcs, and I do hope people can accept him as somewhat redeemed. Far from friends with most of the cast, but at least he's welcomed there. He's just one of many little stories tied together with Ruby and Jaune's.

I also enjoyed researching stuff and writing for Fox. I like characters like him and Toph from Avatar. A character who is at relative peace with their blindness and able to make jokes about it. Plus I like having Fox be a wise, if dickish, mentor to the slightly younger characters.

Next chapter will be about Ruby, Coco, Velvet, Nora, and Nora's emotional connection to Pyrrha. Then after that, Ruby and Jaune time.

I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter, please leave a review if you did, and enjoy your day. Stay safe, and remember, you are loved.