A/N: The darn slap a chicken to cook it meme has taken over my brain.
The meeting with Headmaster Lionheart had indeed been a trap. They were not happy about being right by any means. The battle was rough on everyone especially Weiss. There was a lot of good that had come from it though. Blake had reunited with them, the relic was safe, they saved the school and of course Jaune unlocked his semblance. The victory should have had Jaune in high spirits, but seeing Cinder there taunting him, nearly killing Weiss out of spite, his thoughts were just all over the place.
He was worried about Oscar, the boy passed out immediately after the battle. It seemed to be simple exhaustion though. Then there was Ruby, She had been knocked completely unconscious for several minutes, Emerald would pay for that should their paths cross again. The dark haired girl had fallen asleep not long after they arrived at the house. The young knight kept playing the scene over in his head. Cinder throwing the spear and it connecting with Weiss all while he lay helpless on the floor. He was pacing the dojo unable to sleep working himself into a sorry state.
"Jaune?" Ruby calls softly having woken not long ago.
He blinks having not heard her come down the stairs. "Ruby." He sighs softly. He's glad to see her and he smiles holding an arm out for her. She obliges him and walks into his embrace he doesn't miss her wince a little when he hugs her. "You okay? He speaks softly.
"Yea, just a little sore, That girl packs a punch." Her voice is quiet and soft.
"I think I can help with that." The blonde boy gently places his hand on her neck, calling on his semblance his hand glows the soft gold of his aura. She sighs in relief as the last lingering soreness melts away. He leaves his hand on her neck even when he withdraws his semblance allowing his fingers to twirl in her hair for just a moment.
"Your semblance feels warm." She sighs contentedly. "I knew you'd unlock it." She murmurs looking up at him. "Without it we could've.." She shakes her head not wanting to finish the sentence "you know"
"Cinder only got to her because I was too weak to take her out." The gentleness in Jaune's voice is gone, replaced with something between sorrow and anger.
"Jaune, what are you talking about? you were great." The confusion in her voice matches her face.
He steps away from her and shakes his head. "No I let Cinder get to me, she knew just what to do and say to push me and I fell for it. Weiss."
"Wasn't your fault, that was Cinder, aren't you proud of yourself for saving her? I'm proud of you." She reasons.
He feels his anger and frustration at his own uselessness and weakness bubbling. The young knight recalls the incident in the woods and takes a few calming breaths. "I'm going to bed." He leaves heading upstairs without looking back. Ruby could only look on confused and worried.
Their plans of going to the amusement park are out due to stormy weather. They decide to just relax at the house instead of finding something else to do. Sun and Blake have a lot to catch up on and tons of their own stories to tell. It doesn't escape Nora's attention that Ruby and Jaune's interactions today are strange. There's a not quite awkwardness about them and Ruby is carefully choosing her words when they talk. It's quite clear that something has happened. She's really worried about them. It's around midday and they are all getting hungry. Nora comes up with an idea. "Boy I'm hungry! Jaune, Ren, will you two come help me make sandwiches for everyone?"
"Of course" Ren confirms.
"Yea sure." Jaune responds. The boys follow her to the kitchen leaving Team RWBY and Sun to catch up. Nora brings out the sandwich ingredients and sets them on the counter. When she is very sure they are out of earshot of the rest of the group she turns to Jaune. "Okay, why are you and Ruby acting weird today?"
"Nora." Ren sighs "I've noticed the same thing.. did something happen?"
Jaune sighs focusing on making a sandwich. "I couldn't sleep last night, she came to talk to me.. I didn't respond the best. I'll apologize when I catch her alone."
"Anything you wanna talk about?" Nora offers.
"No talking wont help, I just have to get stronger. I'm sorry, I'm not hungry I'll be in our room." With that he leaves them. Ren and Nora share worried looks. The young knight stares at the ceiling above his bed again replaying the events of the battle in his minds eye again. After Weiss was revived and back to fighting, he had tried to block Hazel as the monster of a man charged Oscar. He was sent flying into Oscar. He was weak, pathetic. Inevitably his thoughts circle back around to Cinder which inevitably leads him back to Pyrrha and how he couldn't protect her. He stays in the room all afternoon stewing in his thoughts.
Sun heads upstairs some time later to get his scroll wanting to show off pictures of Menagerie. He's surprised to see Ruby in the hall, she must have wandered off during one of his stories. She has her hand raised ready to knock on the boys door. Sun furrows his eyebrows in confusion when she drops her hand sighing and walking off to the girls room. He looks between the two rooms inklings of something forming in his mind. He walks into the boys room and finds Jaune pacing quite obviously very upset. Sun isn't the kind of guy that can leave a friend in such a bad state. "Hey Jaune just here to get my scroll." He says while rummaging through his bag. "Yep, I'm about to tell everyone about the awesome time I had in Menagerie. I was kinda hoping you and Ruby would come down and listen."
Jaune blinks. "Ruby's not down there with everyone else?" Jaune seems worried.
Sun continues rummaging through his bag, though it's more for show at this point. "I mean she was for a while, when I came up here she was standing in the hall, looked like she was gonna knock but it kinda seemed like she chickened out. I wonder what's up with that."
Jaune sighs sitting down onto his bed. "Sun, have you ever felt like no matter what you accomplish it's not enough? I unlocked my semblance yesterday it saved Weiss's life. Ruby told me how great that was and how proud of me she is. All I can think of is how that doesn't change that I couldn't protect Pyrrha. How I let Cinder get in my head and because of that Weiss was nearly killed. I'm too weak, I wasn't able to make Cinder pay for what she did to either of them."
Sun turns to face Jaune. "I can't say I understand what you're going through exactly but, it looks to me like you're pushing your friends away. That's why I followed Blake all the way across the ocean. Don't do that, push everyone away. Like I told Blake, that hurts more than anything the bad guys can do to us. When it comes to Cinder, I'm honestly not sure what to tell you there. I can say that living for revenge? That's no way to live, it hardens your heart and hurts the people you care about. If you feel weak, train and get stronger, but don't do it alone you're surrounded by friends let us help you."
Jaune sits in silence for a minute. "Thanks Sun, somehow that's exactly what I needed to hear."
"I am wise beyond my years." Sun grins while pointing to himself. "I'm gonna go downstairs before everyone starts looking for me." With that Sun leaves the room leaving Jaune to his thoughts.
The things Sun said to him make sense in his head. His heart he still feels that there had to be something he could have done. If only he were stronger. If only he had defeated Cinder. If only he wasn't so useless in a fight. He sighs putting the thoughts aside for now. He gets up to leave the room when he opens the door he's surprised to see the girls room door partially opened. He peeks in and sees Ruby staring out the window watching the rain. He knocks gently on the door to get her attention. When she turns around she relaxes seeing him but she doesn't smile.
She looks worried or nervous he cant tell which. He kicks himself knowing its his fault. "Can I come in? He asks she nods in response. He surprises her by wrapping her in a tight hug that she returns. "I'm sorry, I got wrapped up in my own head. I didn't mean to make you worry." He whispers into her hair.
"It's alright, are you okay now?" She asks silver eyes looking up at him.
"yea." He lies, the smile that graces her face is worth the lie for now he thinks. "Sun's telling the others about Menagerie. Wanna go listen?" She smiles again. "Yea, that sounds good, but only if you come too." He laughs a little. "Since when are you miss clingy?" He teases. "Today, I guess, enjoy it while you can, we are going to Atlas soon as Oscar's up to it. We might not have much time for us on the way." He ruffles her hair affectionately. "In that case, I will make sure to enjoy every second of being by your side that I can." The two head down to the living room Ren and Nora breathe sighs of relief when Jaune and Ruby settle side by side seemingly have resolved the weirdness.
A/N: Jaune you butt, listen to your friends!