Chapter Two

In which team RJBP is formed and the brave knight stops to smell the roses, while the storm clouds accumulate and grow on the horizon. Nobody knows when the downpour will fall, when the storm will make itself heard. Nor what will remain when they come to an end. Or what state it will be in.

I

White ceiling, white walls. The hard feeling of the bed against his back. Memories came back to him like a boomerang. This had to be Beacon's infirmary, but he didn't feel safe, but as if he had been buried alive. He was having trouble breathing.

He owed that partly to the nightmare. But only in part.

There was someone by his side, arms resting on the bed and head between her arms.

When he noticed certain details, his heart accelerated, his vision went out of focus. For long moments he dared to think the unthinkable. However, the person raised her head, the hood falling with the movement, and shattered those hopes.

It was Ruby. Just Ruby.

She smiled. She was happy to see him, and that only made his heart hurt even more.

"You're awake!" She rubbed her eyes with her hands. "I'm sorry. I wanted to stay awake so, you know, you could see a friendly face when you woke up. But I didn't sleep very well last night and I'm still tired from what we did... Jaune, are you all right? Does anything hurt? "

"My head. But I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Ruby nodded quickly. She put the hood back on.

"I'm happy," she whispered. "Very happy. You scared the hell out of me. I really thought you were going to... you know. "

Her eyes shone with unspilled tears.

"I just used my Semblance, Ruby," he lied again without a second thought. He was becoming, or perhaps always had been, the kind of person he detested. "I've never heard of anyone dying because of that."

"I know. But you looked really bad. Pale... and the blood. You threw up a lot of blood. Which is normal, because you had a very deep wound. But that's not all. The nurse even had to share a little of her Aura in order to jumpstart yours. Does that always happen to you when you activate your Semblance?"

"No," he replied slowly and after a while, grateful because this time he didn't have to lie to her, although he would omit a few details. "That has nothing to do with it. The truth is..."

"What? We're friends, aren't we? You can tell me anything."

"I'm sick. My Aura just doesn't work the way it should. Before you say anything, no, I'm pretty sure there's no cure for that."

"It doesn't work the way it should... it's an unclear way of saying it."

"It means that even the passive protection that everyone who has their Aura unlocked receives requires effort for me. It means that, regardless of the level, with every blow I receive I risk it collapsing. For something... or someone to kill me."

Ruby seemed horrified. But not because she was afraid of him and neither because she considered him less than a human.

"Don't make that face. I understand it's been hard, but now I'm fine."

Ruby didn't break her silence.

Jaune reviewed the conversation, fearing that he had said something wrong, something that would have made her worry more than necessary. He was not good at this sort of thing, but reassuring Ruby was a task she couldn't give to anyone. And even if he could, he didn't trust anyone enough to do that.

"Jaune, I... You spoke when you were unconscious. Maybe I heard wrong, but I thought you were apologizing to your mother. Don't say anything. You don't have to. I just want you to know that I know how it feels. When I was little, so small that sometimes it's hard for me to remember, I lost my mom. That's an unavoidable risk in the life of any Hunter or Slayer. But at that time I didn't know anything about it. And my mom, Summer Rose, didn't die on a mission."

Ruby looked up from her lap and looked into his eyes as if she was searching for something in them. Did she find it, whatever it was?

"She was on leave," she continued in a tired voice. "To spend more time with her family. Everything was normal. On a day like any other, she left home to... I don't know, I can't remember. Hours later," she swallowed ", she was found dead in the snow. In the middle of nowhere."

Jaune forgot how to breathe properly.

He already knew everything she had just told him, of course, but that didn't make hearing it from her lips any easier. On the contrary.

"This cape," she moved her hand to the cross-shaped brooches that held it to her shoulders ", is handmade to be as exact a copy of my mother's cape as possible. Except for the color. I couldn't stand the idea. It's one of the few things I have to remember her with, apart from a few old photos and my own face. I wanted it to be a good memory. A memory of her strength and courage, not of..."

She began to cry silently. Her small shoulders trembled.

"Ruby..." He couldn't say anything else.

(i'm so scared)

"You lost her, didn't you? Your mother, I mean. The pain I heard in your voice couldn't have been just because you argued with her before coming to Beacon. I'm not going to ask how, or why. But please," she took his hands in her, bringing them closer to her, to her chest, and squeezed them tightly, "talk to me, vent when you need it. I don't want you to suffer alone."

"I'm sorry," Jaune muttered.

"Why? You haven't done anything wrong."

"I'm sorry. I lied to you. I don't think I'll ever be able to tell anyone, not even you, the whole truth. Please forgive me. Forgive me for being so weak."

"That's normal. I thought so, too, a long time ago." She looked around a couple of times.

"Sorry to change the subject again, but I should call the nurse. Let her know you're awake."

"That won't be necessary," a strange voice said. He had to look that way in order to associate the voice with a face. Ozpin's.

Ruby jumped up.

"Professor... eh, director! That's what I meant. How are you doing?"

She waved at him.

"Good, Miss Rose. Good. You should take a deep breath. I'm not that scary, am I?"

"No, no. Of course."

"Of course," Jaune repeated. "But to what do I owe a personal visit from a man as busy as you? Because I'm sure you don't take the time to visit all the students who end up in the infirmary."

Ozpin looked at him. "You're wrong. Partially. That's exactly what I do, but it's not the only thing that brought me here."

"Let's hear it."

Ruby looked at him inquisitively. She took a step back, crossed her arms behind her back.

Ozpin dragged a chair to one side of his bed and sat down, resting the cane on the floor. His unfathomable eyes did not betray the emotions he hid deep inside.

"Weiss Schnee," he said. "According to her, you threatened to kill her with your sword not just once, but twice."

"That's not true, director," Ruby intervened. "She exaggerates. I was there the first time. Jaune did not draw the sword at any point, and he definitely didn't threaten her. It's true that he... was not very polite, but she didn't hold back either. Neither with him nor with me. Besides, students argue all the time. You can't expel him."

"Who said anything about expulsion? I just want to know all the details. Tell me, is what you're saying true?"

Ruby looked at Ozpin in the eye, and she didn't hesitate to lie again.

"Yes."

"That's good. I'm relieved. But..." He looked at him. "Even if you had done it the second time, I wouldn't have expelled you, Jaune Arc. Beacon is a home away from home for people of all kinds, species... or past. I understand why someone who has lived the life you must have lived would react that way in certain situations. Which brings me to the most important part, the real reason I'm here."

Jaune tensed as if preparing to take a hit. He knew what was coming.

"Are you really Jaune Arc?" Ozpin asked as if he was talking about something inconsequential.

Silence covered the room like a dusty old blanket.

He had dared to ask him that question, that question. And in front of Ruby. How dare he? I'll kill you. I swear I will kill you. Here and now.

"What are you talking about?" Ruby asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know. The Arc family was sort of famous. Especially because of the heroic acts of Amadeus Arc —Jaune's great-great-grandfather— in the Great War.

"Was," she softly repeated.

"Yes, unfortunately they all died a decade ago. Killed By the Grimm. Jaune Arc's body never appeared, but we all thought him dead, even me. Until the day I saw his name and face among a stack of papers."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here, director. I am Jaune Arc. The only Jaune Arc."

"If so, how did you survive the attack where Hunters as experienced as your parents and some of your sisters died? And perhaps most importantly, what have you been doing since then?"

Silence fell.

Ruby looked at him, bit his lower lip, and placed a hand on his. A demonstration of support that, although it was small, meant everything to him.

"You said that Beacon is a home for people of any kind of past. So, with all due respect, you have no right to dig into my wounds or demand anything of me. I'm sorry that you won't be relieved of desire to know the truth. But you can't get everything you want. The world doesn't work that way."

Ozpin let out a surprisingly honest and open laugh.

"No. You are right." He got up again. "I don't know where you come from or who you are, but I hope you find what you're looking for in this place. That's what this little beacon is for, after all. Or at least find someone to share your burden with. Good luck, Jaune Arc."

"Wait. Can I go now?"

"Oh, yes. That. The nurse said you could leave as soon as you woke up. You're all right, at least as far as she could see."

"I have... recurring nightmares. I need you to assign me another room."

"I'm afraid there aren't any extra rooms at the moment. This year, to my surprise, all the candidates have passed the initiation test."

"All right. I'll stay here as long as necessary, if it's not too much trouble.

"You'll have to ask the nurse that. Well, I'll leave you alone. This old man has got in your way enough."

Ruby blushes for some reason. She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"I think you should stay with me. With us."

It took him a few seconds to realize what he meant.

"I can't. You know I can't."

"It will be difficult sometimes. I know. But I don't want you to spend your nights alone, it's too sad. I know what that is like. The nightmares. The pain. That... emptiness that can't be filled. I can't stand the thought of letting you go through that alone. If I hadn't had Yang by my side, supporting me, I would have gone mad."

"I'm glad you think that way. But you're not the only member of the team, Ruby."

She bit her lower lip.

"Then... then I'll stay with you."

"I don't know if that's a good idea. Your sister wouldn't like it, that's for sure. And it would mean dividing the team at the most important moment. Because Ozpin named you the team leader, right?"

Ruby jumped.

"How do you know that?"

"You're the best choice, only a fool would be incapable of noticing that. And I don't like Ozpin, but he hasn't survived until now and become the headmaster of Beacon because he's stupid."

"In any case, that doesn't make sense. I'm telling you I'll do that at night, not all day. I would spend time with Blake and Pyrrha anyway... You're just making excuses hoping one works, aren't you? I knew it! Would it be so bad?"

"No. It would be great, really. But... I'm afraid to say something I shouldn't in my dreams."

"I know the truth."

"Not all of it," he said, grief-stricken. "There are still things I can't tell you."

Ruby crossed her arms. "For example?"

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret."

Ruby sighed deeply.

I'm sorry. But I'm so scared.

She began kicking her legs, rubbing the bottom of the bed lightly with her boots.

"Jaune, I like you. You are my first friend in Beacon... and the first one who is not a hand-me-down from my sister. I appreciate you very much. But sometimes I wish you were a little easier to handle."

"I wish I could tell you everything. I dream of that day."

The day he could finally rest.

Ruby stared at him. There was something in her eyes that seemed to belong to some other person.

"Have we met before?"

He didn't panic. Actually, he had seen it coming. He had been too careless.

He did the only thing he could at this point. Nod.

"Really? I'm sorry, but I don't remember you."

"It's normal, you've never seen me before. But I... I knew of you. Let's leave it there. But really, I can't say anything else, don't force me to."

Ruby pursed her lips.

"Okay." She grabbed one of his hands and tightly squeezed. "Okay. I'm sorry. Don't cry."

"I'm not..."

But he was. He struggled to control himself. He wasn't strong, but he wanted to keep at least a shred of dignity in front of Ruby. The time when he could cry in his mother's arms and wait for her to solve his problems was long gone.

Tears were for children. For idiots who ended up devoured. For

(broken dolls smeared with blood)

He covered his face with his hands. And he couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Ruby whispered as she cradled him in her arms. Her voice sounded distant, as if it came from another room. "Please calm down. I didn't think... I just wanted to help."

He was shaking.

Like a child. He was just a child. Deep down, he had always known it. Known that his sword was made of plastic and his shield of glass.

(i'm so scared)

"I'm sorry," Jaune muttered. He had managed to calm down, but he didn't dare to look at Ruby directly because of the shame burning inside of him.

"It's all right. Besides, you would have done the same for me, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, but I'm not supposed to..."

"What?"

"To be so weak."

"Crying is not a weakness. Everyone needs to let off steam from time to time. No one, not even you, can be strong all the time. Don't be so hard on yourself."

He bowed his head.

"Look at me. Promise me, Jaune. Please. Do it for me."

"I promise I'll try."

Ruby gave him a beautiful smile. Gods, she was so beautiful, so... so pure. How could she look with those kind eyes at someone like him and not feel disgust and hatred?

"What more could I ask for? Well, yes. One more thing. Stand up." She extended her open hands towards him.

"Why?"

"You missed the first day, so I thought... you know, about taking a walk around the academy and showing you where everything is. Don't you think it's a great idea?"

"Anything's great if I do it with you."

Ruby laughed sweetly.

"Yes. We're friends after all, aren't we?"

The sliding door suddenly opened. Pyrrha Nikos and that other girl appeared. Blake, if he remembered well. Jaune frowned, stared at her intently. There was something strange about her that he couldn't put his finger on.

He realized it shortly after.

To him, she was 'the girl with the bow', but she didn't have a bow now.

Maybe that was the only reason for it, but now she seemed like a completely different person. And more subdued.

Ruby looked at him, then at Pyrrha and so on once more, curious, but chose not to comment on that brief exchange.

As they approached his bed, he noticed the faint smell of blood coming from the girl in black and became tense. He didn't think she was going to attack anyone, least of all now, but he couldn't suppress his instincts. In his old life, the smell of blood floating in the air marked the end of the battle. Or the beginning of something horrendous. Nothing else.

"You're just in time," said Ruby. "I was going to get this sleepy head out of bed and give him a tour around Beacon. It's time for the team to finally do something together."

Pyrrha blinked.

"Well, we killed the Nevermore only yesterday, didn't we?"

"Officially. You know what I mean. Come on, let's go, let's go."

Jaune smiled. He got out of bed.

He thought of Crocea Mors, about where his weapon would be stored. He thought of the weight missing from his waist and back. He had felt it almost constantly for a decade, so it was as if he had lost two extra limbs. But it felt good. He didn't care.

Ruby went quiet, let the others get a little ahead of her.

She needed time to process, or at least try to process, and think about what Jaune and Ozpin had told her in the infirmary. More importantly, about what they had omitted.

In many ways, Jaune was no much of a mystery. He showed his feelings openly, as did she... Or so she had believed at first. But now she was beginning to think that even that first assumption was misguided. With her it was certainly like that, but now, speaking with Blake and Pyrrha, the boy's expression was as if carved from marble. It did not change a bit. There was not a trace of the warmth and kindness she could see when he looked at her.

It made her think.

For example, what if those normal feelings were nothing more than a reflection of her own? She didn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. But it was a possibility.

Yang had told her that Jaune had fallen in love with her. Ruby believed it as well, but she was not so innocent as to think that was all. He was hiding something big, something she could not discover because she simply did not have enough information. No matter how hard she tried, she would always hit that wall.

An arm slid around his shoulders.

Ruby flinched. If it wasn't for the fact that she saw from the corner of her eye that it was her older sister, she would have activated her Semblance and bolted out of there. Yang was noisy and always ready for a fight, but apparently she could go unnoticed when she wanted to.

Either that or she had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed.

"You scared the hell out of me."

"Is something wrong with Jaune? Normally I would not have been able to get so close without you noticing."

"He's fine; otherwise they wouldn't have let him leave. It's just... Can I ask you a favor?"

"Come on, don't talk like that." She patted her on the back. "I'm your older sister. Whatever you want, I'll be sure to give to you, if I can."

"Your partner, Weiss Schnee..."

"Ah, her. We've already had... a very enlightening conversation about the way she behaves. So don't worry, she won't bother you anymore."

"That's not it. Let me finish. I want you to ask her to use her resources to thoroughly investigate Jaune's past."

"Why?"

"I've heard a few new things about him."

"And you're not going to tell me what, are you? I know you too well to think I can change your mind. You've inherited dad's stubbornness."

"Look who's talking."

Yang smiled. "Yes, but I'll sit on the sidelines for as long as you want on this."

"Why can't I believe it?"

"Because you're a suspicious person." She stuck out her tongue. "Don't get me wrong. I won't take my eyes off you and Jaune. Especially him. But I will let you make your own decisions. I know I can be a little overprotective sometimes, but I don't want you to feel suffocated or disparaged."

Ruby doubted that she could stay in the sidelines, no matter what she said, but she appreciated the feelings behind her words. Especially at a time like this. She hadn't expected Ozpin to name her team leader. That duty was beyond her. Her older sister's support was something she could take for granted, but hearing it still helped her, made her feel stronger, more prepared.

The other three had stopped a few yards away; it seemed that none of them were planning to get close. Jaune had his eyes fixed on her. Everything good and human had returned to his gaze.

He was handsome, without a shadow of a doubt. Even she, whose sense of aesthetics was primarily geared toward weapons, had realized that. He wouldn't feel out of place between the pages of the fashion magazines that Yang sometimes browsed. But now he was even more so, the faint smile enhanced his features. As if that wasn't enough, he was affectionate, kind, and really cared about her. He was nothing like the first impression he gave her. But was that enough to call whatever existed between them love? Enough to make him her Taiyang, so to speak? The person that would be by her side for the rest of her life...

"Yang... What do you think of Jaune?"

"Sis, don't worry about my opinion."

"But would you approve of him? You know, like..." Ruby blushed and couldn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to. Anyone would have guessed the rest.

"Are you in love with him?"

"I don't know," she honestly said, without a hint of embarrassment. It didn't make sense to lie to her own sister, especially because she always knew. "I've never been in love, even saying it seems strange to me. But I think so."

Yang nodded.

"Even if he's a little weird, I'm fine with him as long as he makes you happy. That's all I really care about."

"Thank you."

Jaune finally approached the sisters, after being absorbed in watching Ruby and losing track of time. His heartbeat sounded like blows with a hammer. He had the feeling that he was approaching something in more than the physical sense.

"Yang." He nodded to her. "Good to see you. What brings you here?"

"Nice to see you too," she replied with a strange smile. "But I'm leaving already. Well, have fun!"

Jaune watched her walk away. What would they have been talking about?

Ruby dragged him out of his thoughts by hugging him and burying her head in his chest. Her body was warm, firm and very small. Yet she was strong. Much stronger than him. He could feel that, too.

He placed a hand on her back and caressed it.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just... let me stay like this for a little longer."

Hearing her speak reassured him. There was no trace of pain or sadness in her voice.