A/N: Tomorrow is Friday, or it would have been had the chapter cooperated yesterday.
The sun was setting on their last day at the house. Oscar was up and about no worse for wear. The bags were packed, they had eaten and cleaned, and there hadn't been a single second of the day that Ruby's attention hadn't been on nearly every person except Jaune. He had watched her attempt to slip away several times but it seemed as if someone or something needed her undivided attention right then. The poor girl looked frazzled. Much of what kept her busy was explaining what to expect in the wilds. It was a two day travel by foot to get to the station for the Argus Limited. The house had finally quieted as everyone went to bed.
Jaune waited in the dojo for the rest of Ranger to join him. Through the day they had been quietly texting each other now and again setting up the quiet meeting. Ruby makes it down first and Jaune smiles softly as Ruby allows herself to relax against him with a sigh. He runs his hands through her hair, something that's quickly becoming one of his favorite things. He sighs and closes his eyes trying to ignore the bubbling nagging in the back of his mind. Too weak, disappoint her in the end, don't deserve, no room on her team. The thoughts never fully forming yet fully felt.
He opens his eyes when Ruby growls at him and he yelps in surprise when she tickles him out of nowhere. "You were putting me to sleep, ya butt!" She accuses.
His eyebrows shoot up. "Oh, so that's how it is huh?" He grins and retaliates with a tickle attack of his own. She yelps and soon an all out tickle war is on. The battle is fierce but short and ends with them laying on their backs catching their breath and laughing. "Call it a draw?" the blonde asks.
"Just this once, next time I'm not playing fair." Her tone making it sound like it should be obvious.
Ren and Nora finally join them and they come bearing snacks. The little group within a group held this little late night meeting as a kind of tradition before leaving for a new town. They talk quietly discussing likely scenarios that may come up. How Weiss might react to camping out for the first time for real, and just general banter. Ruby yawns exhaustion setting in. The group decide to turn in and leave up the stairs together. In the hall between the boys and girls rooms the two couples hug goodnight. They don't see Sun peeking around the corner. He wasn't spying, he had just gone to the restroom. Ren, Nora and Ruby filtering into their rooms. Jaune staring at the girls room door with a soft smile.
"Sooo, who knows?" Sun whisper yells having moved next to Jaune, the young knight manages not to shout in surprise.
"Sun, that scared the life out of me!" Jaune pouts a bit.
Sun runs his hand through his hair. "Heh, sorry, sooo?"
"So, what?" Jaune questions having already forgotten Suns question.
"Dude, you and Ruby who *knows*." He whispers but kind of loudly.
Jaune's eyes widen, he grabs Sun's arm dragging him a bit farther down the hallway. He sees no reason to dodge the question. "It's not exactly a secret, but we're keeping it kinda quiet."
Sun thinks things over a bit. "Why though? If it were me I'd be shouting from the rooftops if I had a girl as great as Ruby."
"We're kind of a recent thing, just a few weeks in. Then with Oscar, Yang and Weiss all showing up at once.. Ruby and I felt a little overwhelmed. Qrow, Ren and Nora know though." Jaune rubs his neck. "I kinda got a little over emotional when Qrow gave me his blessing, and confessed in front of Ren and Nora."
"Aww, that's kinda sweet. I'm happy for you man, you deserve it." Sun puts his hand on Jaune's shoulder. "I wont tell anyone. Your not a secret, secret is safe with me"
"Thanks man, I appreciate it." Jaune and Sun fist- bump
The group have completed their first days travel and have set up camp for the night. The more experienced Team Ranger take over all the watch shifts. They are accustomed to the routine and want the others to rest up. Qrow doesn't object and puts to rest anyone's concerns. The night passes as Ren and Nora complete their watches. Jaune is up now with as peaceful as things are he makes the decision to sneak off and train. He knows on some level that this is toxic behavior but his need to get stronger drives him. He returns to camp an hour later. He scans the surroundings, still safe, still quiet. The fire is getting a bit low so he adds a few more logs.
The fire crackles and flares with the new fuel added. A loud popping from one of the flaming timbers echoes through the camp. Ruby startles awake with a gasp. Jaune frowns, he had thought her nightmares were getting better. He gets up to go to her but Yang reaches out first sleepily calming Ruby. The dark haired girl waits for her sister to fall back to sleep before wiggling out of her bag to start her watch. She spots the young Knight and settles next to him by the fire. She leans on him enjoying their quiet camping ritual. "I missed this." She whispers.
He leans into her. "Me too" he whispers back. They sit in quiet compaionship for a long while. Jaune attempts to go back to sleep when Ruby decides to survey and patrol. He just can't seem to drift back to sleep. He grumbles deciding to get up and keep Ruby company. Standing he surveys the area in the low light but he can find no trace of her. The night is quiet and still yet he feels anxious, where is she? The young knight begins quietly calling her name. Sun being a light sleeper wakes quietly making his way over to Jaune.
"Dude, what's going on?" He whisper yawns.
"Ruby's supposed to be on watch, she's not here. It's not like her. We have a strict rule about staying close to camp." The worry in Jaune's voice is evident.
"I'll help you look, but I'm sure she's fine." He places his hand on Jaune's shoulder. They nod at each other and quietly begin walking the perimeter of the camp. The ever lightening sky while improving their range of vision brings still no sign of the tiny reaper. Sun is worried now as well, it's been an hour with no sign of her. He's about to suggest they wake the others when the familiar sound of Crescent Rose firing can be heard, it's distant but distinct. "Go, I'll get everyone else!" Sun shouts.
Jaune doesn't hesitate and takes off in the direction he heard the weapon. Thankfully it fires again sounding closer. He's going the right direction. The closer he gets to the sound of Crescent Rose the more his heart races. He begins to hear the sounds of angry shouts as he dodges trees and slashes through shrubs. He finally makes it to a clearing where he sees a group of bandits circling Ruby. Jaune charges one of the bandits from behind knocking him out. "Ruby! Are you okay?" He shouts taking up the position at her back.
"I'm fine, lets finish these guys off." She calls behind her.
The bandits seem to take her words as an invitation and all five remaining charge at once. Ruby and Jaune are managing but only just. "Ruby, fire a few rounds." He ducks a mace attack. "the sound will help the others find us!" He shouts.
"Got it!" She shouts spinning her scythe and connecting squarely with a bandits stomach sending him flying. She fires two rounds in the air before rounding on another bandit. She and Jaune regroup back to back again when the ground around them explodes. One of the bandits having a particularly nasty semblance. They are sent flying. The two land yards apart. To Jaune's horror Ruby landed squarely in the middle of three thieves. He rushes towards her managing to fend off a bandit in the process. He makes to her side before the three can charge her. They manage to fend them off as commotion surrounds them. The bandits have reinforcements and the rest of their teams arrive.
The battle is brief but furious the bandits chased off. Ruby collapses to her knees exhausted. Jaune is ad her side immediately along with their friends and family. Jaune puts his semblance to work on the silver eyed girl. She explains that one of the bandits caught her off guard patrolling the edges of camp. She broke away from her would be kidnapper just as they entered the bandits camp. She had been fighting them off for at least an hour before Jaune arrived. The young knight frowns. He should have stayed up with her and kept her company. With Ruby revitalized the group head back to the camp. Sun doesn't miss the way Jaune trails behind or the frown on his face.
A/N: This chapter was a butt, turned out okay after a rewrite though.