A/N: Happy Valentine's Day! (A day late, but whose counting?) Also, I started my third watch through of Steins Gate today. I apparently have too many feels and need to give them away again..This'll also diverge from the actual show a bit.
The boys settle onto the bench, several quiet minutes pass. They watch people pass by on the street. The wind blows gently setting fireflies dancing. Jaune can tell Ren is having reservations about whatever it is he wants to talk to him about. The blonde looks to Ren still confused deciding to start for his friend. "What's up Ren?"
The dark haired boy looks his friend over feeling a bit unsure how to start. He runs his hand through his hair. "The talk we had yesterday.. about Ruby.. I think I'm in a similar situation." He feels a little ridiculous.
Jaune's eyes go wide. "You like Ruby too?" He sounds utterly shocked and appalled. Ren waves his hands in front of himself, eyes wide "It's not that!" he explains. The blonde boy laughs. "Relax, I was only teasing. It's about time." He laughs a bit. " Honestly? Pyrrha and I had a bet on how long until one of you realized it."
"It's that obvious?" Ren asks embarrassed.
"Well, I mean, yea? Seems like you and Nora had me pegged for a long time too." The young knight points out.
"I suppose that makes us even then." Ren smiles.
"I guess it's my turn to ask. Now that you've admitted it to yourself, what now?" The blonde asks.
"Same as you, nothing, not yet. We help Ruby with her mission." Ren starts.
"After that, we tell them?" Jaune finishes, Ren nods "Deal." The boys shake hands and head up to their room. Jaune and Ren take mental note of a blackbird nearby.
"So, what were you two talkin' about?" Nora questions playfully.
The boys shrug. "Guy stuff." Jaune answers earning a quirked eyebrow from Ruby and a shrug from Nora. They all sort and pack their gear ready to head out tomorrow morning. The next evening finds them setting up camp for the night. The sky is clear and the forest is quiet, the three not on watch have no problem drifting off to sleep.
Jaune sneaks out to train again intent to keep improving. His need to avenge his fallen partner and to protect his friends still his driving focus. Ruby wakes this night like many others. Her brow furrowed hearing the faint sounds of the young knight and the ghost of his partner. She walks towards the noise intent on gently scolding the boy.
The sight playing out tonight much as it had weeks ago. The tiny reaper sighs and then growls to herself. She is angry, she turns away and walks back to camp settling back in her sleeping bag. She stares up at the stars trying to rationalize his decision to keep training like that. it's nothing short of self torture. He has friends here willing to help him if he would just ask! She hears his footsteps approaching. She doesn't want to start a fight or say or do something she would regret. The memory of the incent several weeks ago comes to mind. Ruby turns away from the fire and feigns sleep.
Jaune makes his way back to camp looking forward to the nightly ritual of sitting by the fire with Ruby. He frowns disappointed when she isn't already there. Movement catches his eye as she rolls over. She couldn't be awake could she? She didn't see him training again had she? He's left to his thoughts for the rest of the night. Ruby doesn't join him by the fireside she never turns towards him. The blonde boy begins to worry as the dawn lightens the sky. His three companions rouse soon enough and begin their daily routine. Ruby's conspicuous silence and refusal to look at Jaune cause Ren and Nora to raise their eyebrows at the boy. Their things packed and breakfast eaten Ruby announces its time to go. Jaune watched as she stalked past him, still unwilling to look at him. Nora looked between them, she shoots Ren a look and jogs to catch up with Ruby. The girl could walk when she wanted to.
"Did you and Ruby have a fight?" Ren's tone concerned.
Jaune sighs. "No, I went off training again." Ren gives the blonde an incredulous look. "I know.. I think she knows."
The dark haired boy thinks for several minutes. "If that's what happened, you understand why she's upset don't you?"
"It's because I lost touch last time. I scared her and, if I'm honest, myself." The young knight offers.
Ren facepalms and sighs. "That's not why she's upset."
"Then, why?" Jaune questions.
"She's worried about you, honestly, we all are. Think about things from her perspective. If the situation were reversed how would that affect you?" The dark haired boy points out.
Jaune is thoughtful for several minutes. He sighs. "I've been an idiot haven't I? What can I do?"
Ren shrugs, it's just not in his good nature to call his brother out like that. "If I were you I'd give Ruby some space today. Also, we should probably catch up." He points out, clapping Jaune on the shoulder while walking past.
"Hey! You didn't answer!" Jaune whines jogging to catch up with Ren, and then the girls. Nora has worked her magic and Ruby seems in better spirits. She greets the boys and they talk about this and that. Ruby is focusing on the map trying again to get the hang of reading the thing. Jaune sees an opportunity and takes it. "So… Ruby… I" He starts intent on apologizing but Ren sensing this sharply clears his throat. "Too soon." Jaune thinks mentally thanking the other boy. "We're not lost! Ruby, see over here is where my family came to camp." The two launch into cute banter excited to get to the town.
The light mood is short lived, there are screams coming from the settlement and the echos of dust rounds firing. The map is dropped and the four sprint towards the town weapons drawn. The sight of the town in flames in many places and the group of bandits raiding the town makes their hearts and stomachs drop. They set off after the first set of raiders they find. "Stay together!" Jaune calls out as another group from the back attempt to divide their forces. Ranger are pinned down and surrounded. Ruby scans the group around them desperately trying to workout where the weak link in the bandits formation could be. Jaune is doing much the same.
They spot what they are looking for. A tall scrawny looking dirty blonde man. His weapon seems to only be a simple dust pistol. Ruby recognizes the model instantly, its notoriously unreliable and subject to frequent jamming. Ruby looks at Jaune, they in turn look to Ren and Nora. A quick flick of their eyes conveying their plan. Ruby bursts into her semblance just long enough to confuse her target materializing in just enough time to connect a solid swing of Crescent Rose. The blunt side of the weapon connecting solidly with the mans chin sending him flying before he even manages to fire one round of his pistol. To Ruby's surprise the man quite literally bounces away ricocheting off of various people and objects, almost comically.
Her strike signals the battles beginning. With a battle cry the bandits rush the small group. Nora cuts their number by a quarter with a few well placed hammer swings. Jaune takes out three in quick succession but he is starting feel drained already. Ruby shouts for him to duck. He hears in time and Ruby leaps in sending a mace wielder flying. Jaune hadn't noticed the man coming for his unprotected back. Ren is providing cover fire when he can and taking out any bandits close enough. Jaune spots another mace wielder headed for Ren. He shouts out for the dark haired to lookout but he cant take his attention off of the two he has Storm Flower pointed at or Nora would be in trouble. Ruby is busy fighting off the first arriving grimm the bandits attack attracted.
Jaune charges the mace wielder they clash weapons briefly. The young knight is struggling, the bandit takes advantage of an opening and sends Jaune flying. Ren shouts his name getting the attention of the girls as well. They regroup around him as he gets to his feet. "Are you okay?" Ruby calls as she guards him. "Yea, the hit wasn't as hard as it looked." Jaune assures briefly glowing but its easily missed as a dust round whizzes by their heads. Ruby and Nora have had enough. The girls fly full force into the remaining bandits and grimm making short work of the stragglers. Ren stays at Jaune's back as they take out the last one together. The bandits retreat, Jaune falls to his knees exhausted as Ruby and Nora talk with the towns leader.
"Jaune, are you okay?" Ren leans down placing a hand on Jaune's shoulder.
The young knight finds he cant meet Ren's eyes. "No, I'm not, I am such an absolute idiot. My reflexes were slow, my timing was off, I was a complete mess today. I was the weak link because I stayed up all night training in secret and I could have easily gotten myself or one of you hurt because of it. I'm so sorry."
"Apology accepted, but, only if you promise to stop doing that to yourself. Training with that video I mean." Jaune looks up at the speaker. "Ruby?" She settles on the ground in front of him and takes one of his hands in both of hers. "I'm not asking you to stop training, I'm not asking you to delete the video. I'm asking you to stop tormenting yourself like that Jaune, please, promise me." Her eyes plead for him to aquiess.
Jaune breathes a sigh of relief. "I promise." His eyes widen when Ruby wraps him in a hug. He returns the hug when the shock wears off. "I promise." He whispers just loud enough for her to hear. Ren and Nora look to each other and then back to Ruby and Jaune as the two get up. "C'mon guys, the elder said there's another town a few hours away. If we hurry we might make it before lunch." Ruby explains leading the group out of the settlement.
A/N: I'm not the best at combat scenes but, I think that went okayish.