A/N: Lets see if the idea in my head can make it onto the page. The muse is in a cantankerous mood today. The first bit will be Ruby's POV, might even have short POV changes in between. It will switch back to Jaune though.

She dreams of silver white lights fluttering in her field of vision. The lights float and sway as fireflies on the wind. The beauty is lost on her. These lights are lights of sorrow and regret. Words of destiny float through her ears, beautiful for their intent but heartbreaking, they were her last words. His name is being called. The sound of it out of place. She hadn't called out his name that night. The half lucid thought calls her to consciousness. Ruby opens her eyes and sighs in frustration. The blue black sky tells her she's woken in the middle of the night again. She takes a few calming breaths and closes her eyes, in an attempt to get back to sleep.

The far off sound of an impossible voice causes her eyes to fly open. She lays there for several minutes convincing herself she imagined it. His name in her voice rings out again. It's just as distant but far too clear to be a trick of her imagination. Sitting up she finds his sleeping bag empty. She follows the sound and finds him. Pyrrha's voice guiding him through a training routine. She hides behind a tree watching until she can no longer take the heartbreak. She leaves as quietly as she came. The young knight none the wiser. She settles next to the campfire desperately willing her mind to quiet. The watchful gaze of a blackbird goes unnoticed.

Jaune returns to the camp he's surprised to find Ruby awake. Her back is to him and she makes no indication that she hears him approach. Settling next to her he calls her name quietly as to not wake Ren and Nora. She looks over to him in acknowledgment, the flickering fire making it hard to read her face. Jaune senses something is wrong, he doesn't have the courage right now to ask. He is absolutely emotionally drained. He sits beside her in silence. The simple act seems to be enough as she leans into him in her own silent show of support. They sit like that until the sun rises waking Nora. The redhead just watches them, smiling to herself for several minutes before loudly yawning. Ruby stretches getting up to begin packing camp up.

Several days pass with the same routine playing out. Jaune never realizes that the tiny reaper watches him train nightly. She's desperately trying to figure out how to help him. He's torturing himself and she's helpless to do anything about it. Jaune on the other hand has begun looking forward to their quiet fireside time each night. He's also been actively working to keep his promise as well. He doesn't shy away from fun happy moments as much. There are a few times when the guilt and anger threaten to overtake him. When the feelings wash over him he tries to actively remember his conversation with Ren. They even pass through a settlement and have an afternoon of mindless fun in it's arcade. Jaune doesn't pull away and his eyes don't darken at all that day.

Things seem to be taking a small turn for the better. Jaune is pleased with his improvement when they face one of the rare packs of grimm they encounter. He had managed to bisect a beowolf that thought it could lunge at Ruby's unguarded back while she was distracted fighting a nevermore. With his reflexes and overall strength improving he had begun to finally feel like he measured up to his companions, at least somewhat. Nora had taken note of his happier demeanor, deciding again to have a chat with Ruby. She was fairly certain the tiny reaper wasn't aware of what Nora feels she can plainly see.

They are between towns again. Jaune and Ruby are pouring over the map, she still isn't the best at reading them. Jaune has been working with her teaching her the ins and outs of reading the thing. Even Ren can't help but smile at the scene. Looking over to Nora she flashes him a smile of her own. A squealing roar stops everyone in their tracks. Their weapons are all drawn and in no time they are surrounded by a herd of borbatusk. "Ugh, I hate fighting these things." Ruby whines before they all launch into the pig grimm. The boar grimm were particularly hard creatures to fight. It's nearly impossible to dispatch them unless they are able to get them to expose their vulnerable underbellies. They are doing a decent job at keeping them at bay for the most part.

A few spin attack at the same time one manages to knock Ruby into a nearby tree. Jaune is at her side in seconds and fends the creature off while she regains her bearings. He finds an opening and runs it through as Ruby stands rubbing her shoulder sore from the hit. He places his hand on her shoulder gently and she smiles a thanks to him. "Just be careful okay?" He smiles back. The two feel a subtle warming where his hand rests on her shoulder. The soreness is gone nearly instantly. Neither of them notice the brief soft gold glow of his hand. They nod at each other and spring back into the fight. The last of the creatures dispatched the group get back to the business of walking. They are laughing with each other sharing their favorite moments from the battle.

The group are really into their conversation and not paying attention to the darkening sky. A loud caw from a crow catches their attention. "I swear that bird's following us." Jaune points out earning a laugh from Ruby. "Pfft, all crows look alike." She waves him off. He swears the thing puffs up offended. They hadn't realized it had gotten so dark already. They hastily setup camp. They need to get the fire going to both for warmth but also to keep the grimm at bay. Jaune watches as Ruby sets out her sleeping bag. Her fluffing it out causes her cloak to ruffle in its breeze. Jaune's face falls the once perfect edges now tattered and frayed.

"Ruby, when did your cape get ripped?" He asks walking over to her expecting some sort of adverse reaction from the silver eyed girl. Ren and Nora take notice too expecting the same. They catch each others eye and share a look. they'll be there if she needs them.

"Huh? My cape?" Ruby questions. She unhooks the garment and holds it up to inspect it. She appraises the damage and hmms to herself. "Well look at that it is ripped. I guess it must have happened today." She shrugs and with a flourish secures it back around her shoulders.

"Aren't you upset?" The blonde boy is worried.

Ruby shrugs again. "Not really, it was bound to happen sooner or later, besides now it kinda matches Uncle Qrows cape. It looks cooler now!" She smiles up at him. Nora releases an anxious breath she had been holding in. Jaune drops the subject but can't get the image out of his mind. Something just feels inherently wrong about her cloak being torn. He puzzles on it for a long while. He is quiet the rest of the evening. Thankfully no one brings it up. Sleep does not come easily to him that night. He wakes at every noise and breeze. He watches Ruby nearly the entire time she has her watch shift. His mind plays over the events of the day trying desperately to figure out when her cloak got torn. He becomes utterly fixated on it.

He's actually thankful when its his watch shift. He has the last watch tonight. Once he's sure Ruby is sound asleep he slinks off to train again. He runs through the video several times. The space between the video ending and rewinding he takes his stance ready to start. In that moment he sees the incident. Her cape was torn when the borbatusk knocked her into that tree. The thing only got to her because he wasn't strong enough to get it before it got her. The remaining piece of the puzzle now falls in place too. He was upset about the tear in the cloak because he hasn't ever thought of it as a mere piece of fabric. In his minds eye the cape is an extension of Ruby herself. The tear in the fabric becoming tangible evidence in his failings. The images that fill his mind when the video starts are now Pyrrha's face as she pushes him into the locker and Ruby's torn cape. The progress he's made seems meaningless now. He throws himself into training emotions worn raw again.

Nora wakes to the morning sun, out of habit she looks to the campfire. To her confusion she doesn't find Jaune and Ruby sitting quietly side by side. The fire has all but burned out, sitting up she spies Ruby sound asleep and Jaune's bag empty. Nora doesn't like this at all. The fire low, or the empty sleeping bag, if it were one or the other she could explain it away. She calls the camp awake.

"Jaune's missing" She calls. Ren and Ruby's eyes fly open. The three are up on their feet in seconds.

"Guys, be quiet just for a second. I have an idea to find him." Ruby offers and though confused Ren and Nora do allow her the quiet she asked for. "Ruby closes her eyes listening for several long minutes. The sound is faint but its there. He went farther away than usual. Ruby opens her eyes and sighs. "I know where he is." Nora begins to speak but Ruby holds her hand up. "I'll go get him, you two please stay here." She pleads with them.

Nora and Ren furrow their eyebrows in confusion. "But, why?" The redhead asks quietly.

"Do you trust me?" Ruby asks in return.

"With our lives." Ren steps forward placing a hand on Nora's shoulder. The three share a look. Ruby nods and walks off towards the sound. She finds him still training. He hasn't noticed her, a small part of her is glad for that fact. She sighs and searches for the words she is going to need. She takes a few deep breaths to calm her prickling nerves. She steps into the clearing and calls out his name. He doesn't seem to register her at all. She calls out again a bit louder. He's either ignoring her or so utterly focused he's drowned out the rest of the world. The look on his face is utterly heartbreaking she can see the rage, depression and fear. Still, she can't focus on that. She calls his name louder even though she's closer now. It still has no effect.

She has to switch her strategy. Every fiber in her being is telling her no, but this is the only option she can think of. His eyes are unfocused his ears unhearing. She can only hope she can snap him out of this without hurting either of them. She sighs and steels her nerves, its with great difficulty that she manages to not retrieve Crescent Rose from her holster. She sprints at the boy when he finishes another sword strike. She crashes into his side knocking him to the ground with her.

His brain and body take long seconds to reconnect. He isn't sure at first what just hit him almost out of reflex he shouts "Let go of me!" He shoves hard pushing the weight off. A familiar "oof" registers. The two of them move to sitting positions.

"Remind me to never do that again. I've been thrown into softer walls." Ruby grouses rubbing her forehead where it connected with his chest plate.

Jaune is still in a bit of a daze. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"It's morning and you weren't at camp." She points out simply.

The video turns over and rings through the clearing again. Jaune's eyes widen. He finds himself pinned down by her gaze. The sigh she heaves is tired and weary. "Ruby, I'm sorry." He begins. She shakes her head at him.

"Jaune, this has to stop." She motions towards his scroll. "If you want to train we can train together, but this? This isn't what Pyrrha would have wanted for you." She stops to take a few calming breaths her emotions becoming as frazzled and frayed as her cloak.

The flash of anger he feels startles even himself. It's not directed at Ruby by any means but himself. "I wasn't strong enough." He mutters bitterly and darkly.

She doesn't like the direction he's taking this. "Jaune" She calls out softly hoping her gentle tone will soothe him.

"She protected me." He grits out beginning to stand.

"Stop it Jaune." Her voice has a hint of warning to it that she didn't intend.

They are both standing. Jaune's eyes are wide and he begins pacing. She desperately tries to think of the words she needs to help him.

"I have to get stronger. I have to." He repeats over and over the volume of his voice raising each time.

Ruby finally catches both of his shoulders she plants both of her feet firmly on the ground. "Jaune that's enough" She shouts. "Look at yourself Jaune! Do you think She saved you just for you to torture yourself like this every night."

His eyes narrow in anger, not at her he' so incredibly angry at himself and he can't take it ant longer. He lashes out, his best friend the innocent bystander of his ire. "What would you know." He mutters.

"what?" She asks confused.

"I said what would you know?" He speaks even louder.

Ruby releases his shoulders and takes a step back. "Jaune, I don't understand"

He cuts her off. "Of course you don't understand!" He motions wildly. "You don't understand at all."

This is clearly something he needs to get off of his chest. She switches her tone to gentle. "Whatever it is, you can talk to me about. I'm here for you."

He laughs, but it's a harsh humorless laugh. "Just like you were there for her that night?" His eyes widen as the words leave his mouth. That barb was meant for himself. He's brought back to his senses by her gasp. Her face has gone pale and tears pool at the corner of her eyes. "Ruby, I.." He starts reaching towards her. She shakes her head and disappears in a flurry of rose petals. He shouts her name and doubles over in pain as something solid connects with his midsection. The squawk of the blackbird in the distance somehow manages to sound angry.

"Ren?" He gasps out confused. The hard look on Ren's face takes him aback. "I deserved that, what are you doing here?"

"We heard yelling." Nora growls at him.

"I wasn't mad at her." Jaune says sadly.

"I know" Ren says kindly. "Lets go find her so you can apologize." Jaune can only nod in response.

A/N: Holy cats, Batman. I told you the muse was in a mood. We've also seen in show Jaune lashing out in anger and saying something he doesn't mean, so this feels pretty in character. Am I a mean authoress leaving a cliffhanger? Yea, but that's where the muse wanted a break. So… If you're enjoying leave a review, if you have ideas or concerns leave a pm. I'm happy to listen. My guy The Exiled Darkness has give n me much of the inspiration for the scenes so far. Though this chap is solely the muses fault. Lastly, this is at most like three months after the fall of Beacon, so things are still pretty fresh for our young knight.